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Seabourn takes delivery of Encore, the last newbuild of the year

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 November 2016 30 November 2016

Seabourn Cruise Line took delivery of its newest all-suite vessel, Seabourn Encore, today during an official handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy.

"We have been looking forward to this day for over two years. Seabourn Encore has become a stunning ship that will set a new standard in ultra-luxury cruising," said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. "I am very proud of our partnership with Fincantieri, and it has been a great pleasure to work together to transform raw materials into this incredible vessel that will make a great addition to the Seabourn fleet."

"The jewel we deliver today is the first built for Seabourn, and dry dock works for the second vessel of this new and prestigious client will start in the next few days in our shipyard in Sestri Ponente. I say this with a certain pride and a lot of satisfaction, because Seabourn represents the top range offer of the Carnival Group and Fincantieri is now identified as an absolute reference point from the market, able to offer tailor-made products to an ever wider range of customers," said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. "This gratifying result became possible thanks to the strategy stubbornly followed in the last years that has allowed us to be in the best conditions to seize the opportunities offered by the market."

Guests of Seabourn Encore will be treated to the line's extraordinary levels of personalized service, with a high staff to guest ratio. The ship carries 600 guests, based on double occupancy, who reside in 300 elegantly appointed suites each with a private verandah.

Designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany who intended Seabourn Encore "to feel more like a luxury yacht," the 40,350 gross ton vessel features modern design elements and innovations in keeping with Seabourn's reputation for understated elegance, as well as one additional deck and new expanded public areas. The ship expands and builds on the line's award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionized ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. New features include The Retreat, a sanctuary designed for guests to relax in private cabanas, with a Spa Treatment Cabana for personalized spa services.

In addition, guests will enjoy superb cuisine, including The Grill by Thomas Keller, the new signature restaurant from three-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller that was introduced on Seabourn Quest earlier this year and will be expanded to the entire Seabourn fleet. A new restaurant for Seabourn, Sushi, makes its debut as a destination for foodies, with a unique look and feel and high-quality dishes served throughout the day.

A new production show, 'An Evening with Tim Rice,' created exclusively for Seabourn in association with Belinda King Creative Productions, will open onboard Seabourn Encore in January 2017, when she sails from Singapore on her inaugural voyage. The new Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil mindful living program also debuts on Seabourn Encore in January. Both Tim Rice and Dr. Weil will sail on the inaugural voyage.

Encore will be officially christened at a ceremony in Singapore on January 7, 2017. International recording artist and world's best-selling Soprano, Sarah Brightman, will be godmother of Seabourn Encore and officially name the ship during the celebration. The vessel will then depart on its Inaugural Voyage, the 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise, bound for Indonesia.

Following her inaugural sailing, Seabourn Encore will move onto a 16-day Great Barrier Reef & Gold Coast and back-to-back 16-day Australia & New Zealand voyages. The ship will then reverse the earlier 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise to Singapore, proceed on 16-day Jewels of India & Arabia cruise to Dubai, and finish her first season with a 19-day Arabian Gems & Holy Land voyage before ending her winter season at Athens on May 5.

Seabourn Encore will spend summer 2017 along the Mediterranean, with numerous itineraries including a 7-14-or 21-day Mediterranean cruise departing from Piraeus (Athens), Greece on May 6, the 22-day Adriatic & Mediterranean Isles cruise departing June 24, and the 20-Day Mediterranean Encore cruise departing from Barcelona on Aug. 5. The ship will finish summer with the 20-Day UNESCO Gems of the Western Mediterranean cruise on Sept.13 for the start of its autumn season.

Celebrity Silhouette to Southampton in 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 November 2016 30 November 2016

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL) has decided that Celebrity Silhouette will replace Celebrity Eclipse in Southampton, offering northern Europe and Mediterranean itineraries from 2018, Travel Weekly reports.

Celebrity Eclipse would become the first ship from a major line to homeport in Dublin in 2018 after spending the last eight years sailing out of Southampton.

“Dublin is very popular with our North American guests who have great affinity with the country plus with its upgrades Silhouette can offer an enhanced experienced with sailings out of Southampton,” Jo Rzymowska, vice president and managing director for the UK, Ireland and Asia, was cited as saying.

Carnival Vista launches year-round service from PortMiami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2016 28 November 2016

PortMiami welcomed Carnival Cruise Line’s newest, largest and most innovative ship, Carnival Vista, when it arrived yesterday to kick off a year-round schedule of 6- and 8-night cruises to the Caribbean.

To officially welcome Carnival Vista to its Miami homeport, Carnival Vista Captain Stefano Battinelli and PortMiami Assistant Director Fred Wong participated in a traditional maritime plaque exchange prior to the ship’s inaugural departure from Miami.

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Vista takes cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX® Theatre on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide, part of the ship’s massive WaterWorks aqua park; and the RedFrog Pub & Brewery featuring the first brewery on a North American-based cruise ship.

“Miami has been our home since our company’s inception in 1972 and homeporting the new Carnival Vista here not only provides consumers with a convenient homeport with renovated facilities and numerous operational enhancements but speaks volumes about our confidence in growing this important market,” and said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.

“We are thankful for Carnival Cruise Line’s continued growth at PortMiami,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “The arrival of new and innovative cruise ships such as Carnival Vista helps solidify our place as a global hub for travel and tourism, vital to the continual growth and development of our community.”

“It’s an exciting day at PortMiami,” said PortMiami Director/CEO Juan M. Kuryla. “There’s no doubt that the arrival of the Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line’s newest and largest cruise ship, represents a new vacation option for passengers sailing out of the Cruise Capital of the World. We’re grateful to have this opportunity, and we look forward to continue strengthening our partnership with Carnival,” he added.

Island-intensive Caribbean cruises from Miami

Carnival Vista kicked off its new schedule from PortMiami with a special 6-night cruise to Grand Turk, Ocho Rios and Nassau that departed yesterday. The ship will then launch a year-round schedule of 6- and 8-night cruises beginning with an 8-night voyage departing Dec. 3, 2016. Six-night cruises feature Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while a mix of different 8-night itineraries visit some of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations, including Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and La Romana (Dominican Republic).

The ship will also offer a combination of one-time voyages, including a 5-night cruise departing Dec. 11 and 7-night voyages departing Dec. 17 and 24, 2016, that offer an exciting selection of ports including the Caribbean’s newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, as well as Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk, Belize, San Juan, St. Thomas and Cozumel, depending on the itinerary.

In addition to visiting breathtaking Caribbean destinations, guests can experience all the Carnival Vista has to offer – from the colorful Havana area with tropics-inspired staterooms and suites and Family Harbor with special accommodations and a new family concierge to delicious choices like Seafood Shack and new al fresco options at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top, featuring a mixed-to-order premium ice cream bar.

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri celebrate float out of the MSC Seaside

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2016 28 November 2016

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri, heir to the great tradition of Italian shipbuilding and one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world, on Saturday celebrated the float out of MSC Seaside, one of two new groundbreaking megaships that MSC Cruises is bringing into service between June and December 2017. The ceremony took place this at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, where the ship is being built.

MSC Seaside will homeport in PortMiami as of December 2017 and will sail year round in the Caribbean – further enriching the company’s offering in the region with MSC Cruises having a total of five of the most modern cruise ships serving the Caribbean once MSC Seaside debuts.

“This is another exciting milestone in our ambitious expansion plans as we see the second of our 11 next-generation cruise ships entering the final stages of her construction,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman. “MSC Seaside has been specifically designed to provide our guests with a unique onboard experience in warmer regions and boasts one the highest ratios of outdoor space in the industry so that guests can enjoy a range of open-air activities such as dining and drinking al fresco, strolling along the promenade or simply taking in the beautiful sea views from the privacy of one of the many balcony staterooms.”

“We are delighted with the strength of sales for MSC Seaside so far, from both American and European guests alike,” said Vago. “The Caribbean continues to be an ever popular destination for travelers. With the addition of MSC Seaside, we are further strengthening our ability to serve this demand in this key region with five cruise ships for the winter 2017/18 season, each bringing our own, distinctive Mediterranean flair and elegance to the Caribbean vacation experience.”

“Seeing this ship taking shape has a value which is not only symbolic for the group that I lead, but also for me personally,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “We acquired the order for the construction of it, along with a sister ship, in 2014, at the turn of an unprecedented crisis and an equally extraordinary explosion of the market. We placed such great ambitions for this order, undertaking to give the owner a state-of-the-art product, able to meet its vision of modern cruising. Being successful with a prototype and such a recognizable design, which confirms our commercial and technology leadership in this sector, makes us doubly proud of the result.”

MSC Seaside is the first of a completely new and innovative generation of cruise ships being built by MSC Cruises leading Italian shipyard Fincantieri. With this new prototype inspired by an elegant beach condo, MSC Cruises is pushing the boundaries with its bold design concept and demonstrates the Company’s continued commitment to put the guest experience at the center of all innovation and product development. Every element of the ship is designed to bring guests closer to the sea with special design features such as a unique 360° ocean level promenade, panoramic glass elevators, and a breathtaking 98 foot bridge on the top deck. In addition, with 73 percent of the staterooms featuring balconies, guests will never be far from a view of the ocean.

MSC Seaside brings to life the key distinguishing elements of an MSC Cruises’ experience. An extensive range of comfortable accommodations will meet the various needs of a wide range of cruise guests, including chic aft corner suites as part of the unique beach condo design, clever modular connected staterooms designed for families and groups of up to ten people, and a collection of balcony staterooms with a private terrace overlooking the promenade.

In addition, MSC Cruises has taken its MSC Yacht Club – a unique ship-within-a-ship concept first introduced by MSC Cruises – to the next level. Located on the prestigious foredecks of the ship and offering a private sun deck, a private lounge and private restaurant, the MSC Yacht Club has been expanded on MSC Seaside to now be over five decks. The MSC Yacht Club will also feature two coveted apartment suites that include a living room and a large balcony with a dining area and private whirlpool.

On board MSC Seaside, the dining experience has been designed to inspire and delight with a huge choice of Mediterranean and international cuisines served in 11 different dining venues, including five specialty restaurants. Of these, one is a Pan-Asian specialty restaurant created in partnership with world renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi and two are buffets serving food 20 hours a day, with one designed specifically for families.

The onboard entertainment, another award-winning feature of the MSC Cruises offering, will cater to all age groups and includes a stunning 934 seat theater offering four performances every night. Meanwhile, the interactive aqua park with its four exhilarating slides will provide hours of fun for the entire family, the 394 foot long zip line will appeal to thrill-seekers, and the aft pool will be the perfect spot for those looking for complete relaxation.

In addition to all of the fun that will be had while on board, MSC Seaside will enable guests to experience the Caribbean Sea like never before, while calling at exotic and stunning ports such as George Town in the Cayman Islands, Cozumel in Mexico and Nassau in the Bahamas. From October 2018, MSC Seaside will also call at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the stunning marine reserve private island in the Bahamas, exclusively available for MSC Cruises guests.

The float out is an important milestone in the construction of a cruise ship as it is the moment where the ship first floats on water when the dry dock is flooded and the ship is moved to a wet dock for the final phase of her construction. The exterior of the ship is complete and work moves to complete interiors, fixtures and fittings.

At 1059 feet long with a gross tonnage of 160,000 tons, the ship will feature a maximum capacity of 5,179 guests (4,140 guests at double occupancy). MSC Seaside is the first of two identical ships in the Seaside generation. Her sister ship – MSC Seaview – is set to enter service in the Spring 2018 and will be based in the Western Mediterranean, while a third one – reflecting an existing option for one additional Seaside generation ship – would be delivered by 2021.

Costa Cruises' 'Bravo Chef: The show' debuts on Costa Pacifica

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2016 28 November 2016

Costa Cruises is known for showcasing Italy's finest, especially when it comes to the cuisine onboard. Now Costa is sharing insider tips and tricks with guests through "Bravo Chef: The Show," a new cooking experience starring the onboard executive chefs preparing typical Italian regional recipes and international dishes. The culinary presentations debuted on Costa Pacifica and will gradually roll out to seven more Costa ships.

A "show kitchen" set is created on the main theater stage, with cameras projecting the cooking action onto large screens. Costa chefs demonstrate how to make dishes in the Italian tradition, as well as some international recipes, preparing them step by step for guests.

Fleetwide, every day Costa ships serve 520 representative dishes from 18 regions of Italy to showcase Italian culinary excellence. With "Bravo Chef: The Show," guests will learn how to prepare some of these traditional recipes at home and see how to make international dishes from several of the destinations on Costa's itineraries. For example, guests will learn how to make spaghetti with anchovies and breadcrumbs from Sicily, veal saltimbocca alla romana from Rome (veal, prosciutto and sage rolled up and cooked in dry white wine and butter), the traditional Basque dish bacalao pil-pil (dried, salted cod cooked with olive oil, chili pepper and garlic) and French bouillabaisse, just to name a few of the dishes that are presented during the show.

In addition to demonstrating how to prepare the dishes, "Bravo Chef: The Show" also provides useful tips on how to serve a perfect dinner. The ship's maitre d' will explain the correct selection and positioning of dishes, cutlery and glasses, while the sommelier will suggest complementary wines to serve with each recipe. The format will resemble a real television show with the cruise director serving as host.

Each "Bravo Chef: The Show" will end with a contest for guests in attendance who will be invited to answer a question related to the recipe. The first guest to give the correct answer via a remote-control button will win dinner for two at the Club Restaurant.

In addition to the demos, Costa is featuring a "Bravo Chef: The Battle" version. Guests will compete in a real-time cooking challenge to earn the title of "Bravo Chef for a Day." Contestants will prepare a dish using surprise ingredients contained in special "mystery boxes" for a jury composed of the ship's food and beverage director, the maitre d' and a guest. The cruise director will host the competition on the open deck poolside and the winner will receive dinner for two at the Club Restaurant or at Burger d'Autore, which serves gourmet Italian burgers.

"Bravo Chef: The Show" and "Bravo Chef: The Battle" premiered on Costa Pacifica Nov. 18 and will roll out on seven additional Costa ships: Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Luminosa, Costa Magica and Costa Mediterranea, where they will be staged on every cruise.