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Orient Express Sailing Yachts celebrate milestone

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 February 2025 03 February 2025

On January 31, Orient Express and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrated a symbolic dual ceremony, opening a new chapter for Orient Express Sailing Yachts.

In maritime tradition, the keel laying and coin placement ceremonies were held, marking the official birth of Orient Express Corinthian, the largest sailing yacht in the world.

The sailing yacht’s keel laying took place at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, just 10 months after the cutting of the first steel plate. At the ceremony, Sébastien Bazin, President and CEO of Accor Group, Philippe Hetland Brault, CEO of Silenseas, the ship-owning and operational structure of Orient Express Sailing Yachts and, Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique lowered the first 606-ton steel block for the new ship in the dry dock. As part of the longstanding maritime tradition, executives from the cruise company and the shipyard placed newly minted coins on the first piece of steel to bestow good luck on the ship during both the construction process and future sailings.

Over the next two months, 13 further steel hull blocks and three balestron blocks will be meticulously lifted and assembled by two large gantry cranes to form the ship’s metallic hull which will be launched in June. Once completed, the ship will be transferred to an outfitting dock for the ultimate phase of its construction until delivery.

Orient Express Corinthian spans 220 meters long and develops 4,500 m² of sails spread across three tilting masts, reaching 100 meters above sea level. The SolidSail concept has been developed over the past ten years by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Under optimized wind conditions, the ship will be able to navigate under sails only and reach speeds of up to 17 knots, even exceeding the standard engine propulsion speed. The highest attention has been paid to set new standards for environmentally friendly operations and design.

The hybrid propulsion formula will combine wind power with a state-of-the-art powerplant running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Orient Express’ Commitment to sustainability has resulted in numerous additional state of the art equipment such as an advanced AI detection system intended to protect marine mammals by avoiding collisions and minimizing underwater noise pollution, or a dynamic positioning technology that reduces the yacht’s impact on the seabed by eliminating the need to drop anchor in shallow sensitive areas. Together, these efforts ensure a harmonious relationship with the ocean and its ecosystems. Orient Express Corinthian’s itineraries have also been developed to take advantage of the wind with special works in progress developed together with routing specialists coming in from the international sail racing world.

Steel cutting for Orient Express Olympian

Maritime traditions continued the same day with the steel cutting ceremony for the second yacht in the Orient Express Sailing Yachts fleet, marking a symbolic launch of the industrial phase of Orient Express Olympian, sistership to Orient Express Corinthian. A name that embodies the very ambition and grandeur of the world’s largest sailing yachts, steel cutting ceremony cut the very first of 80,000 pieces that will make up the yacht’s hull. This ceremony takes place at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s steel cutting workshop, where three plasma cutting machines operate continuously.

These maritime traditions embody the shared commitment to excellence and sustainability, standing among the greatest achievements in innovation. They also mark the continued partnership between Orient Express and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a collaboration pushing the boundaries of luxury yachting and engineering mastery.

"Orient Express’ universe knows no bounds – a realm of dreams, discovery, connection, movement, and emotion. With Orient Express Corinthian and Orient Express Olympian, the Orient Express legend is set to sail the world’s most beautiful seas, offering an unprecedented experience of travel and an authentic discovery of shore destinations. Inspired by the golden age of luxury travel, Orient Express Sailing Yachts reinvents motion and comfort on water while being designed to meet sustainability challenges of today and the future. A source of pride for all of us," said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor.

"With the celebration of these two industrial milestones, we are witnessing the birth of exceptional ships that will enter the legend of the most beautiful and high-performing vessels created here in Saint-Nazaire. Today, we are also taking partake in a major advance in the decarbonization of the maritime industry. This technological breakthrough is the result of 10 years of research and development on the SolidSail concept and the historical expertise in naval architecture and shipbuilding of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Thanks to Orient Express, the world’s largest wind-powered yacht will set sail: we appreciate their trust in this pioneering project – an incredible industrial, and above all, human adventure.” - Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique

Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to set sail in June 2026 with itineraries across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and the Caribbean. A technological jewel engineered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, this exceptional sailing yacht features a sleek and elegant profile, completed with stunning interiors designed by Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express. Orient Express Corinthian will propose 54 suites with panoramic openings to the sea, including six exceptional penthouse suites on deck 7, all of unforeseen sizes in the cruise market. With an exceptional crew ratio, the ship will offer five restaurants, eight bars and lounges, an amphitheater, cinema room, recording studio and a sophisticated spa wellness center.

MSC World Asia to sail in the Western Mediterranean from December 2026

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 January 2025 31 January 2025

MSC Cruises’ newest World Class ship, MSC World Asia, is now open for sale, offering guests an opportunity to experience the art of cruising in the Mediterranean beginning in December 2026.

MSC World Asia will be the cruise line’s third World Class ship, each of which is named after one of the world’s continents to reflect the fact that MSC Cruises sails to every corner of the globe and offers an unparalleled choice of destinations.

Starting December 11, 2026, and throughout the winter 2026/27 season, the ship will offer seven-night sailings to the most popular destinations in the Western Mediterranean – Barcelona (Spain); Marseille (France); Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, and Messina (Italy); and Valletta (Malta) with accessible embarkation in every port.

For the summer 2027 season, MSC World Asia will offer a seven-night itinerary serving Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples (Italy), Messina and Valletta.

MSC World Asia is the latest innovative ship in the cruise line’s LNG-powered World Class following MSC World Europa and the soon-to-be-launched MSC World America, which will sail from the new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal to the Caribbean starting April 2025.

MSC World Asia features subtle design elements that reflect Asia’s rich culture, art and beautiful landscapes. It retains the signature plumb bow rising vertically from the waterline and the iconic Y-shaped aft that opens onto the impressive outdoor promenade—hallmarks of MSC Cruises’ World Class ships.

Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises said, “MSC World Asia will further enhance our lineup in the region, giving guests even more choice of embarkation ports and itineraries for their winter escape or summer getaways. As with each of our new ships, we’ll introduce innovative new concepts, venues and services to deliver the ultimate cruise experience for our guests.”

Viking promotes Leah Talactac as President, Hagen remains Chairman and CEO

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 January 2025 30 January 2025

Viking Holdings Ltd yesterday announced the appointment of Leah Talactac as President of the Company, effective immediately.

Talactac will continue to serve as Viking’s Chief Financial Officer while assuming her new responsibilities as President. She will continue to report directly to Torstein Hagen, who remains Chairman and CEO, and to the Board of Directors.

Talactac joined Viking in 2006 and has since then been an important member of the executive team. Talactac led Viking’s successful IPO in 2024, which was the largest of the year on the NYSE. As President, she will lead the Company’s executive committee – a team of executives with complementary skillsets who have worked together for over 15 years driving Viking’s outstanding performance leading up to and following the IPO.

“On behalf of the entire Viking family, I would like to congratulate Leah on her appointment as President,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Since joining Viking in 2006, Leah has been instrumental in our success. With her long tenure and impressive financial acumen, she is well-positioned to help lead Viking in our next chapter.”

Viking remains focused on its well-defined long-term growth plans and committed to its strategy, continuing to be a global leader in experiential travel. As part of Viking’s commitment to continue to grow capacity, the Company also announced that it has ordered eight river ships for delivery in 2027 and 2028. This is in addition to the 16 river ships already committed to be delivered by 2026 and the nine additional ocean ships for delivery by 2030. With these orders, Viking will have 107 river ships in 2028 and 21 ocean and expedition ships in 2030.

Celebrity Cruises to launch river vacations with 10 new ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2025 28 January 2025

Celebrity Cruises will usher in a new era in river cruising with Celebrity River Cruises, a premium river cruise vacation that will begin taking bookings this year. The brand has signed an initial order for 10 transformative ships that will take guests to historic cities on the world’s most iconic rivers, launching in Europe. Celebrity Cruises will bring the elevated design and sophistication of the Edge Series ocean ships to the river. When you combine that with the brand’s signature hospitality and unique itinerary offerings, Celebrity River Cruises will deliver unforgettable experiences – The Celebrity Way.

“We’re thrilled to announce our entry into the river cruise market through our Celebrity Cruises premium travel brand. Our guests and travel partners should expect us to do what we do best – innovate and elevate the river cruise experience as we meet the growing demand for intimate, culturally enriching travel experiences,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “With about half of our guests having experienced or intending to vacation on a river cruise, we know they will enjoy Celebrity’s elevated offering on the river. By leveraging our valuable loyalty programs across our three brands, we will deepen customer engagement and further our ability to keep guests within our ecosystem of vacation offerings. We are the best in the world at delivering the vacation of a lifetime, and this is the latest example of how we are building the capabilities to deliver a lifetime of vacations.”

Celebrity River Cruises is a natural extension of Celebrity’s premium offering that will bring its unique service-first approach to the river. Guests will get the keys to sail through the heart of culturally and historically significant cities, experience locally inspired cuisine and unique shore experiences – The Celebrity Way. With ships that will give guests 360 degrees of breathtaking views, every moment will be designed to immerse guests in the beauty of the journey.

“Celebrity River Cruises will bring the quality and sophistication of our Edge Series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe,” added Laura Hodges Bethge, president, Celebrity Cruises. “We’ve redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style. We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other.”

MSC Cruises announces long term commitment to Port Canaveral

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 January 2025 27 January 2025

MSC Cruises unveiled plans today to offer more cruises from Port Canaveral, giving guests additional vacation options when sailing from the popular Florida port. The line’s fourth World Class ship will join the lineup at Port Canaveral for the Winter 2027-2028 season, offering year-round 7-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship, which has yet to be named, will join MSC World America as the company’s second World Class ship operating in North America.

In the meantime, MSC Grandiosa will begin offering year-round 7-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral starting with the Winter 2026-2027 season, building upon previously announced plans to deploy the ship at Port Canaveral for an inaugural season during Winter 2025-2026. MSC Seashore will continue to offer year-round 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Lynn Torrent, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, MSC Cruises USA, said: “Our commitment to Port Canaveral is stronger than ever, thanks to the incredible support from our partners there and the growing demand from our guests who love the port’s convenient location. Having ships dedicated to offering both short and 7-night cruises year-round will ensure we have the right options available no matter when someone wants to sail. We’re especially excited to bring a World Class ship to Port Canaveral, continuing our long-standing pledge to deploy our most modern and innovative ships in the Caribbean market.”

Capt. John Murray, CEO, Port Canaveral, said: “We are excited to have MSC Cruises expand their presence at Port Canaveral with the arrival of MSC Grandiosa and the deployment of their fourth World Class ship to homeport with us. The addition of these exceptional ships to our homeported fleet will add even more sailing options from Central Florida and reaffirm the cruise industry's confidence in our ability to consistently deliver a world-class guest experience.”

MSC Cruises’ World Class platform launched with MSC World Europa in 2022. In April, the company’s U.S. guests will discover a new world of cruising when the brand new MSC World America begins sailing 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami.