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Regent Seven Seas schedules 2018 World Cruise on the Navigator

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 May 2016 19 May 2016

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced yesterday plans for another epic voyage to circumnavigate the globe in 2018 with an innovative itinerary that explores sensational destinations across the Southern Hemisphere. The 137-night Navigate the World voyage will set sail aboard the luxury line’s most intimate ship, Seven Seas Navigator, which recently underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment and features a stunning and sophisticated new look.

Setting sail January 8, 2018, the 38,528-nautical-mile sojourn will begin and end in Los Angeles, taking a southerly route to explore the world’s most exquisite destinations, visiting five continents, 28 countries and 64 ports of call – including 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The 490-guests onboard will be able to indulge in Regent Seven Seas Cruises most inclusive luxury experience, which includes a vast array of complimentary and unlimited shore excursions – allowing guests to become immersed in each destination visited.

Guests sailing on the world cruise will also enjoy several complimentary shoreside experiences as they traverse the globe, including exclusive engagements such as a pre-cruise gala at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Los Angeles, dinner in the bush at the Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve in Richards Bay, South Africa and a tranquil visit to the Australian countryside with a visit and tasting at a local winery in Adelaide, Australia.

In addition, guests sailing on the world cruise will receive additional included amenities, such as first-class air, door-to-door luggage service, a comprehensive visa package, unlimited laundry service, satellite phone time and onboard medical services.

“The overwhelming response to our 2017 world cruise prompted us to offer another unprecedented global adventure,” said Jason Montague, president and COO, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “The newly refurbished Seven Seas Navigator is absolutely stunning, and for our 2018 Navigate the World voyage we added more included amenities, making this world cruise the most luxurious and inclusive world cruise available.”

Seven Seas Navigator was the first Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship to be refurbished as part of a $125 million fleet-wide renovation project. The public spaces and suites were updated to feature the same elegant style and indisputable attention to detail famously featured on Regent Seven Seas Cruises newest ship, Seven Seas Explorer.

Unprecedented itinerary

The 137-night journey departs from Los Angeles and sails across the Pacific Ocean to the lush Hawaiian Islands and tropical oases of French Polynesia, American Samoa and Fiji. Multiple stops in picturesque ports of New Zealand and Australia precede a cruise through such exotic Southeast Asian destinations as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

Seven Seas Navigator will then cross the Bay of Bengal, making many stops to explore the cultural wonders of Richards Bay, Durban, East London and Cape Town of South Africa.

Crossing the Atlantic, the ship will arrive in South America with stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. From there, Seven Seas Navigator will cruise the Caribbean Sea to Curacao and Aruba and then traverse the iconic Panama Canal. The ship will explore delightful Central American ports in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala before returning home to Los Angeles on May 25, 2018.

HELCOM and CLIA jointly organise workshop on cruise industry’s future in the Baltic Sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 May 2016 18 May 2016

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have jointly held a workshop on the cruise industry and the Baltic Sea. Organised in the framework of the European Maritime Day, which is being celebrated in Turku (Finland) this week, the workshop on “Effective solutions for responsible growth” has given participants a chance to discuss a range of issues regarding the cruise industry’s future in the Baltic.

Moderated by Hermanni Backer, HELCOM, the workshop speakers included Tom Strang, Carnival Corp.; Anna Petersson, Swedish Transport Agency; Kirsti Tarnanen-Sariola, European Sea Ports Organisation; and Pauli Merriman, WWF Ecoregion Programme. Together they discussed a range of relevant topics, including the industry’s economic impact in the Baltic countries, state of the art developments in the cruise industry, and the potential for maritime stakeholders’ cooperation for responsible growth.

Together with the audience, the speakers have also discussed some of the challenges that the industry faces, particularly in terms of sustainability and environmental protection, focusing on issues such as ships’ air emissions abatement and wastewater treatment and discharges. They provided suggestions to remove bottlenecks for a prosperous future of cruising and a sustainable maritime economy in the Baltic.

Particularly on the topic of wastewater discharges, the International Maritime Organization has recently designated the Baltic Sea as a Special Area under MARPOL Annex IV, banning passenger ships from discharging sewage offshore from 2019/2021. The discussion focused on the practicalities of its implementation, particularly the need expand and improve the region’s network of port reception facilities in order to make sure that cruise ships will be able to discharge their sewage while at berth.

“Sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region is a common goal and regional collaboration is vital,” said Anna Petersson, Head of Environment Section at Swedish Transport Agency and the Chair of HELCOM Maritime Group. “It is important to investigate possibilities and incentives for voluntary application prior and beyond regulations.

“All stakeholders should work together in order to find pragmatic, workable solutions that help ensure the Baltic Sea’s sustainability and also the cruise industry’s future in the region for years to come,” said Tom Strang, SVP Maritime Affairs at Carnival Corp. and & Chair of CLIA Europe’s Environment, Safety and Security Subcommittee. “There is an urgent need to balance economic and environmental policies so that they complement each other, rather than get in each other’s way.”

Costa Cruises launches Maldives, Sri Lanka and India itinerary

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2016 17 May 2016

Costa Cruises is to launch a two-week itinerary aboard Costa neoClassica that will with ports of call in India and the Maldives in the winter of 2016-17, the company said in a statement.

“The Colours of India, between Yin and Yang itinerary provides a unique cultural trip with the possibility of dividing the cruise into two distinct seven day segments, with flights to Male and Mumbai,” Costa said.

The itinerary will run from 15 December 2016 to 10 March 2017 and the first call will be in the Maldives, where the ship will remain for two days. “Costa Cruises have partnered with Paradise Island Resort, where guests can enjoy the white sandy atoll, blue waters and coral reef,” the company said.

Leaving Male, the ship continues to Sri Lanka where guests will embark at Colombo. Guests will visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, one of the best-known attractions of the island, home to more than 60 elephants.

From Colombo, the cruise journeys to India where the first stop will be Goa, famous for its beaches and for its Portuguese colonial architecture, as well as being one of the 21 hotspots of biodiversity in the world. “Guests will be able to choose from a number of excursions, including a tour of the old city and of the capital, Panjim, and a visit to the Basilica de Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site,” Costa said.

From Goa, guests will continue on to Mumbai, where the ship will stop for two days to allow guests to fully savour the distinctive contrasts of the city. Guests can visit the main attractions, including the Banganga Tank.

Heading back down the Indian coast, the journey will continue to New Mangalore before arriving at Cochin in the state of Kerala. “The ship will stop for another two days, giving guests time to explore the village of Kumbalangi and enjoy a houseboat ride in the Kerala Backwaters. Costa neoClassica will then return to Male or guests can embark at Mumbai,” Costa concluded.

Fathom adds sailing dates through December 2017

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 May 2016 13 May 2016

Fathom, the pioneer in social impact travel and Carnival Corporation's 10th brand, today announced additional sailing dates, extending Fathom Adonia's stay in the Caribbean region through December 2017. The move comes as demand continues to grow for Fathom – a different kind of cruise that combines one's love of travel with the desire to make a difference in the world.

"We have been humbled by the tremendous response Fathom has received from travelers eager to experience Fathom while helping the Dominican Republic to flourish and making history through human connections and immersive experiences in Cuba," said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation. "Fathom resonates with travelers as the best way to travel with intention, to culturally immerse, to experience and to see more. For example, Fathom visits three incredible, diverse locations in Cuba during its itinerary while having the convenience of unpacking once and savoring the comforts of premium accommodations aboard the intimate, small-ship, Adonia – not to mention its excellent and diverse dining, service and onboard amenities."

According to Russell, Fathom also appeals to travelers as a meaningful way to experience personal growth while making purposeful and engaging contributions to the world, starting in the Dominican Republic. "There is genuine excitement about Fathom's ability to empower travelers to serve and immerse alongside locals in the Dominican Republic to create scalable and sustainable, transformative impact that will play an important role in helping the Caribbean region flourish," she said.

Fathom will depart on weekly 7-night voyages from PortMiami aboard the Adonia, a 704-passenger vessel redeployed from Carnival Corporation's P&O Cruises (UK) brand and ideal for delivering an intimate onboard experience. Fathom's reservations systems will be ready to take 2017 bookings by June 1, 2016.

"The decision to add 2017 Fathom sailing dates underscores our enthusiasm for Fathom and our experience to date with the impact it is having," said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. "The feedback from travelers, travel professionals, community leaders and our own employees has been extremely positive. Our travelers and trade partners are asking for additional sailing dates – and we are happy to oblige."

Prices for the 7-night trips to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person, excluding taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences, three on-shore social impact activities and related supplies. Prices vary by season.

Prices for 7-night itineraries to Cuba start at $1,899 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, lunch during scheduled on-the-ground activities, onboard immersion experiences and certain on-the-ground cultural immersion activities. Prices vary by season.

Celebrity Cruises completes Celebrity Millennium makeover

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 May 2016 12 May 2016

Movies viewed under the stars and paired with a specially curated menu of delectable food; freshly redecorated suites; a modernized, fully realized Italian steakhouse -- modern luxury vacationers need look no further than Celebrity Millennium to understand what all of these experiences have in common. This month, the 2,138-guest vessel will emerge from a drydock refresh reenergized and more luxurious than ever, with the same lineup of enhancements that Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Infinity have received in recent months. Guests sailing on Celebrity Millennium in Alaska this summer will be among the first to enjoy her new spaces and experiences.

“We are beyond thrilled that Celebrity Millennium will soon be even more stunning than ever before as a result of the $8 million that we’re investing in this drydock,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “We have added new elements and experiences that will help open up the world for modern luxury travelers, from our gorgeously updated Suite Class staterooms onboard to the amazingly delicious Tuscan Grille menu, and, of course, the new Rooftop Terrace.”

The new Rooftop Terrace, complete with its large screen, chaise lounges, cabanas, soundscape and decorative lighting, is a modern relaxing backdrop for Celebrity’s sumptuous new multisensory experience, “A Taste of Film,” which presents films that evoke a specific cultural, culinary or destination experience, paired with cuisine that brings the scenes on the screen to life through guests’ taste buds. The cruise brand’s culinary team, led by Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Gallagher, has specially crafted a multi-course tasting menu for each “A Taste of Film” selection. The Rooftop Terrace is on the ship’s 12th deck.

Additional drydock enhancements will include significant renovations of the ship’s Penthouse and Royal Suites.

As part of the $8 million refresh plan, Celebrity is investing heavily in its Suite Class experience on Celebrity Millennium, as every Penthouse and Royal Suite will receive new glimmering fixtures, marble surfaces, and comfortable seats in the bathrooms. The rest of the suite will get refreshing touches like new carpeting, drapes, and bed linens.