Tallink invests 16 million euros for the refit of Silja Europa

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 10 October 2016 10 October 2016

AS Tallink Grupp invests over 16 million euros into refurbishment the passenger ferry Silja Europa, which is returning to Helsinki-Tallinn route from the docking on 12th of December. The renewal works include the majority of cabins, five restaurants and bars and conference area.

One of the largest works on board is the total renovation of total 1016 cabins, including the cabins of all cabin class starting from standard to the suites. The renovations include the whole interior and furniture, whereas the new interior design has been made by the company Aprocos.

Alongside the renovation of cabins, cabin corridors, lobbies, reception and public restrooms, also new restaurants and bars are built. The buffet restaurant and Grill House restaurants are fully renovated, the cafe Coffee&Co introduced to the route and one bar and pub fully renewed.

In spring 2016 Silja Europa’s shops, the nightclub and showbar were renovated and the Italian restaurant Tavolata and fast service restaurant Fast Lane were launched on board of Silja Europa.

The ship will start sailing on Helsinki-Tallinn route from 12th of December with a cruising schedule of departing from Helsinki every day at 18.30, arriving to Tallinn at 22.00 and departing from Tallinn the next afternoon at 12.30 and arriving to Helsinki at 16.00. Tallink transports every year almost five million passengers on Helsinki-Tallinn route. Aside of the cruise ferry Tallink also operates with two fast ferries under Tallink Shuttle brand on that specific line. In 2017, the company introduces the new environmentally friendly LNG driven fast ferry Megastar to the route.

Town & Country announces first-ever cruise awards

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 07 October 2016 07 October 2016

T&C Travel, Town & Country magazine's bi-annual travel issue, has announced its first-ever Cruise Awards, anointing the crème de la crème of ships and experiences. The winning cruises are grouped into five categories -- mainstream luxury, classic luxury, contemporary luxury, river cruises, expedition cruises -- and broken down into sub-categories including best for design, food, families, activities, suites, and more. Whether you fancy a suite that can sleep 14, a vessel with a Michelin-starred chef on board, are traveling with family or are looking for a solo adventure, you will find the best cruise for you in this Awards guide.

"With this feature, we sought to answer the following question for every reader of T&C, whether they've never cruised before or have many times: What is the best way for me to cruise now?" says Klara Glowczewska, Executive Travel Editor. "As with hotels, so with cruises -- there is always an appetite on the part of people who travel for a carefully curated, editorial take on this vast world of possibilities. How, and where, is the best way to spend your travel dollar -- and acquire indelible memories?"

To help us select these top-rated vessels, T&C commissioned Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, who has been on every ship out there multiple times. Not only does she know the industry like no one else, she will always tell it like it is. A roundtable of eight experts known for years of experience booking cruises for their customers weighed in as well on the choices T&C made.

T&C Travel's Cruise Award winners include:
Mainstream Luxury:
– Norwegian Cruise Line (Best Overall, Best for Food)
– Royal Caribbean International (Best for Active Travelers, Best for Families, Best for Suites)
– Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (Best for Pet Lovers)
– Cunard (Best for Onboard Activities)
– Celebrity Cruises (Best for Design)
Classic Luxury:
– Crystal Cruises (Best Overall, Best for Onboard Activities, Best for Families)
– Seabourn (Best for Design, Best for Food, Best for On-Shore Activities, Best for Active Travelers)
– Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Best for Suites, Best for Not Nickel-and-Diming)
– Paul Gauguin Cruises - The Paul Gauguin (Best Match of Ship and Destination)
– Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Europa 2 (Best Ship You've Never Heard of)
Contemporary Luxury:
– Viking Ocean Cruises (Best Overall, Best for Design)
– Oceana Cruises (Best for Food, Best for Suites, Best for On-Shore Excursions)
– Crystal Esprit (Best for Active Travelers)
– Windstar Cruises (Best for Families)
River Cruises:
– Amawaterways (Best Overall, Best for Food, Best for Onboard Activities)
– Viking River Cruises (Best for Suites, Best for Design)
– Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection (Most Distinctive Ambience, Best for Active Travelers)
– Amawaterways (Best for On-Shore Activities)
– Adventures by Disney (Best for On-Shore Activities)
– Scenic (Best for Independent Travelers)
Expedition Cruises
– Abercrombie & Kent/Ponant (Best Overall, Best for On-Shore Activities, Best for Food)
– Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic (Best for Families, Best for Onboard Activities)
– Aqua Expeditions (Best for Suites, Best for Design)
– REI Adventures (Best for Active Travelers)
– Silversea Expeditions (Best for Adventure Newbies)
For more information on the T&C Travel Cruise Awards and to read the feature, visit www.townandcountrymag.com/2016cruiseawards.

Seven Seas Voyager next up for refurbishment

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 October 2016 06 October 2016

Another Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship is about to experience a transformation with Seven Seas Voyager scheduled to undergo renovations later this month as part of the luxury line’s $125 million fleet-wide refurbishment program. Following the refurbishment effort, Seven Seas Voyager will feature the same elegant style and indisputable attention to detail famously featured on Seven Seas Explorer, providing guests with a consistent look-and-feel, no matter which Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship they choose to sail.

Seven Seas Voyager joins Seven Seas Navigator as the second ship to receive this stylish new update to the public spaces and suites onboard, with Seven Seas Mariner scheduled to receive a similar makeover in April 2017. Seven Seas Voyager will emerge from this refurbishment with a sophisticated new look reflective of the pinnacle of luxury. The first post-refurbishment cruise will be a 23-night Barcelona to Dubai voyage departing on Nov. 9, 2016, which is also the line’s annual Reunion Cruise hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Jason Montague.

“This fleet-wide renovation brings a new level of elegance to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet, strengthening our position as the undisputed leader in luxury cruising,” said Montague. “Our continued fleet investment ensures our ships look better today than the day they were delivered from the shipyard. We are making certain that we not only have the most luxurious ship ever built with Seven Seas Explorer, but the most luxurious fleet at sea.”

Miss USA Deshauna Barber to serve as godmother of new Carnival Vista

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 05 October 2016 05 October 2016

Miss USA Deshauna Barber has been named godmother of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest and largest ship, Carnival Vista. Barber made history earlier this year when she became the first woman serving in the U.S. military to win the title of Miss USA.

Barber will officially name the massive 133,500-ton vessel during a shipboard ceremony that is part of an overnight gala event honoring Operation Homefront and featuring an exclusive invitation-only concert by seven-time GRAMMY-award winning country music super star Carrie Underwood. In addition to the concert, the festivities will include overnight accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment for hundreds of military families.

The concert and overnight gala event are the culmination of Honor. Family. Fun., Carnival’s year-long celebration designed to raise funds for Operation Homefront to help the organization fulfill its mission of building strong, stable, and secure military families.

“Deshauna is the ideal candidate to serve as Carnival Vista’s godmother, embodying the spirit of commitment and sacrifice to those who protect our freedom each and every day,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival is a longtime supporter of the military carrying more active and retired Armed Forces personnel than any other cruise line so it’s our honor and privilege to have Deshauna serve as the godmother to our newest and largest ship.”

The daughter of a retired Army master sergeant who was a member of the Special Forces, Barber joined the Army Reserve as a quartermaster officer in 2011. After earning her bachelors in business management from Virginia State University, Barber went on to complete her masters in computer information systems from the University of Maryland University College. She currently serves as logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit in Rockville, Md.

A passionate advocate for the U.S. military and a champion of gender equality, Barber will focus her efforts on PTSD treatment for soldiers returning from deployments and suicide prevention throughout the Armed Forces.

“It is truly an honor to be named the godmother of Carnival Vista and I’m very excited to represent the U.S. military and be a part of the ship’s official naming ceremony next month,” said Barber. “I love that Carnival carries more families, including military families, than any other cruise line and I’m looking forward to checking out all of the ship’s many innovative features when I’m on board next month.”

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Vista has introduced a number of groundbreaking innovations including the first brewery on a North American-based cruise ship, the first IMAX Theatre at sea, the most elaborate water park in the fleet highlighted by the 455-foot-long Kaleid-o-slide, a groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, and the new Family Harbor with specially designed staterooms for families, a family concierge and more.

Currently sailing its inaugural season in Europe, Carnival Vista will reposition to the U.S. in November operating a pair of 11-day sailings from New York before launching year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean service from Miami later that month.

Cruise Business Review Editor and Publisher Teijo Niemelä will be onboard Carnival Vista from Barcelona to New York later this month.