Viking Ocean Cruises christens second ship in London

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 May 2016 06 May 2016

Less than one year ago, Viking Ocean Cruises launched its first ship, Viking Star, and marked the arrival of the travel industry’s first entirely new cruise line with newbuilds in a decade. Yesterday in London the company officially welcomed its second ship, Viking Sea, to its fleet during a celebration on the Thames River in Greenwich.

Though Viking’s ocean ships are classified as “small ships” by Cruise Critic, the 930-guest, 47,800-ton Viking Sea is the largest ship ever launched in London. After passing through the Thames Barrier this morning, the ship received a warm welcome by 28 able sea men, who manned the yardarms of the Cutty Sark – the iconic 19th Century British clipper ship – and saluted Viking Sea as she arrived in Greenwich.

“Today is a proud day for our Viking family. London is one of my favorite cities, and Greenwich is a significant port for Viking. We look forward to bringing more guests here this spring and in future years,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “Our ships are built for exploration; they are vessels that help our guests spend more time immersed in and surrounded by their destination. With the arrival of our second ship – and with four more sister ships on the way – we are focused on introducing travelers to the Viking way of destination-centered cruising, a unique style that was inspired by our success on the rivers.”

After arriving today in Greenwich, Viking Sea was positioned in the Thames River with decorated pontoons nearby to welcome guests for various shore excursions around the city. This evening onboard, as part of the ship’s christening – or naming – ceremony, guests were treated to a concert from Norwegian soprano Sissel and The Olav’s Choir. Guests also enjoyed a talk by Stein Olav Henrichsen, the director of Oslo’s Munch Museum – as part of the official launch of Viking’s exclusive new partnership with the museum that is designed to celebrate the life and artwork of Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch, with daily “Munch Moments,” staged for guests each day in the ship’s Atrium.

During Viking Sea’s christening ceremony, Karine Hagen, Viking’s senior vice president and daughter of Torstein Hagen, served as ceremonial godmother and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for Viking Sea – a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years. Widely recognized as the face of the brand in Viking’s television ads and online cultural enrichment videos (www.exploringmore.com), Karine is responsible for infusing the company’s itineraries with extraordinary experiences. She is also the author of the children’s books, “The World of Finse” (www.finse.me), an educational series that showcases the adventures of Karine’s yellow Labrador, Finse. The series is set largely along the global destinations and routes of Viking’s cruises, and the books are sold onboard Viking’s ships. As a response to guest requests, Finse also took part in today’s christening events.

Several elements of the christening ceremony paid homage to the company’s Norwegian heritage. Instead of champagne for the traditional bottle-breaking, Viking Sea was christened with a bottle of Gammel Opland aquavit, which hails from the same town in Norway where Torstein’s mother and Karine’s grandmother, Ragnhild – also lovingly known as “Mamsen” – was born. “Mamsen’s,” the Norwegian deli onboard Viking Sea, was also named after Ragnhild, and Gammel Opland was her favorite brand of aquavit. Additionally, in honor of the original Vikings who once explored the British Isles, a Viking battle axe was used to cut the cord for the aquavit christening. The particular broad axe used is a replica of an 11th-century Viking axe discovered in the 1920s when it was dredged from the bottom of the Thames River near the London Bridge. Following the christening and a fireworks show held in the middle of the Thames River, Viking Sea will set sail tomorrow for Bergen, and from there she will continue on to Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm on the popular 15-day Viking Homelands itinerary.

Viking Sea’s christening was the culmination of a maiden voyage that began April 3 when the ship set sail in the Mediterranean. Over the last month, she made stops in what will be regular ports, including Athens, Santorini, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice, Rome and Barcelona. Viking Sea will spend the summer sailing itineraries in Scandinavia and the Baltic; she will call on Greenwich again in June as part of Viking’s new Into the Midnight Sun itinerary that sails between London and Bergen and explores the northernmost reaches of Scandinavia and sails across the Arctic Circle.

Adonia finally arrives in Havana

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 03 May 2016 03 May 2016

Alan Lam reporting

After an earlier delay caused by failing the US Coast Guard inspection and the Cuban government’s initial refusal to allow Cuban born American to sail to Cuba, Fathom’s Adonia finally arrived in Havana.

After a ceremonial departure from Miami 18 hours earlier, the ship arrived at Havana’s Sierra Maestra Cruise Terminal at 9 AM on 2 May with 700 passengers onboard, including 20 or so Cuban Americans and Carnival Corporation & plc’s CEO, Arnold Donald, to a warm welcome by a crowd of curious people who gathered at the seafront waving Cuban and US flags.

Adonia thus became the first cruise liner to arrive in Cuba from the US with American passeners in half a century, marking the end to a long process of diplomacy, negotiation and planning, not to mention hostility. This is a highly symbolic and historic moment recognised by the wider world of politics and international relations.

While Carnival’s Fathom became the first US-based cruise line to send a ship to Cuba, Arnoldo Pérez, a Cuban born American, was the first to disembark Adonia, accompanied by Arnold Donald, in a carefully choreographed exercise.

“This is a very emotional and significant moment,” said Pérez, who left the island when he was only nine months old. Hereafter Adonia is scheduled to sail to Cuba every two weeks, calling at ports such as Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, besides Havana.

The ship flies the British flag and is managed by P&O Cruises in Southampton, which is also part of the Carnival Corporation & plc group.

Crystal unveils design for Crystal Mozart, the company's first river ship

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 03 May 2016 03 May 2016

After months of anticipation and several groundbreaking announcements about its tremendous luxury travel brand expansion, Crystal today unveiled the ultra-chic design for the first vessel in the Crystal River Cruises fleet. Crystal Mozart will set sail on July 13 on its maiden voyage round-trip from Vienna, with spacious and stylishly outfitted guest suites, public lounges and dining venues. Beyond the stylish décor – fashioned by London’s AD Associates and Toronto’s II by IV Design – the “Queen of European Rivers” will also boast innovative entertainment spaces, adventurous amenities and the luxurious appointments that the world’s most discerning travelers have come to expect from Crystal.

“The experience awaiting guests when they step aboard Crystal Mozart will be true to the superior standard of luxury for which Crystal has always been celebrated, with some additional and original offerings that will be exclusive to Crystal River Cruises,” says Crystal’s president and CEO, Edie Rodriguez. “We’re bringing what was already a grand dame of European rivers up to the superlative Crystal level, with a modern but ‘classically Crystal’ twist.”

Among the more exceptional touches on the reimagined river ship will be pop-up bar area on the top “Vista” deck, complete with a vanishing movie screen for al fresco evening show times. Also on the Vista deck will be a living rooftop garden area with teak bench seating areas for guests to enjoy nature as they sail along the Danube River. Two custom tender boats will be available on board for more intimate exploration of the waterway’s picturesque locales, plus abundant outdoor space will ensure that travelers don’t miss any of the magnificent views.

Crystal Mozart will be cloaked in a timeless color palette intended to transcend seasons and complement the stunning surroundings found in the destinations throughout Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia. Calming foundations of cream, gray and white are accented with rich jewel tones in deep blue, green and the occasional vibrant print. The furnishings offer equally contemporary and welcoming comfort for guests to enjoy during cocktail hours and musical performances.

The soothing color palette and plush fabrics continue into the guest suites, all of which will feature king-size beds, Nespresso machines, 40-inch flat-screen televisions and sparkling marble bathrooms. The 158-guest capacity Crystal Mozart will have window suites of 219 square feet, deluxe suites with French Balcony of 219 square feet, penthouse suites of 330 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 883 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessel afloat. One-bedroom Penthouses and the two-bedroom Crystal Suite will feature French Balconies, walk-in closets and separate showers and oversized bathtubs. Crystal’s acclaimed butler service will be available with every guest suite.

The ship’s four main decks – named, from bottom to top, Harmony (homage to Crystal’s first ocean ship), Seahorse, Crystal and Vista – will offer numerous public areas for guests to enjoy onboard enrichment, fitness and wellness, and world-class dining. A newly installed elevator will be located mid-ship to take guests between the Harmony and Crystal decks. Crystal Mozart will offer guests an array of elegant and casual dining options throughout the day, including:

– Waterside – The main dining area with an indoor/outdoor setting, which will serve elaborate breakfast and lunch buffets, followed by upscale evening dinner service.
– Palm Court – Reminiscent of the Palm Court on Crystal Symphony, the venue will be a main hub for dancing and live local entertainment, as well as casual cocktails and tea.
– Blue – This aft indoor dining area will offer a casual atmosphere and a menu of global comfort food, similar to Tastes aboard Crystal Serenity.
– Bistro Mozart – Often the go-to spot aboard Crystal vessels for freshly baked pastries, fruit and snacks, plus coffee, espresso and tea, Crystal Mozart’s bistro will serve light bites throughout the day.
– The Pantry – A self-service wine and beverage bar, ideal for a quick snack on the go.
– The Vintage Room – As aboard Crystal’s ocean ships, the intimate dining room for approximately a dozen guests will host winemakers’ dinners and special occasions.

In addition to the expansive menu of dining options, lounges and bars aboard Crystal Mozart will foster camaraderie among guests as they share stories, cocktails and music. The Cove will be a main hub, housing a Yamaha AvantGrand Piano, manned by the vessel’s entertainment host. On the upper Vista deck, the pop-up bar area will set the scene for celebrations under the stars.

Crystal Mozart will also feature fully-equipped fitness, spa and salon facilities at the Crystal Life Spa, marking the first time ever the spa on a Crystal ship will be operated and staffed by Crystal’s own trained crew. An indoor pool will complement two treatment rooms, and male and female sauna and steam rooms.

Says Rodriguez, “At the heart of every Crystal Experience is the genuine service and expert attention to detail our guests enjoy. With our newest vessels, we’re upping our own ante by making every possible effort to ensure these components of a Crystal vacation are unparalleled.”

This includes offering a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.75 – that is, 91 expertly trained crew members to attend to Crystal Mozart’s 158 guests.

Crystal Mozart is named after the famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 meters), which is double the width of an average industry river boat.

Viking announces World Cruise for Viking Sun

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 02 May 2016 02 May 2016

With just days before its second ship, Viking Sea, is christened in Greenwich on the Thames River in London on May 5, Viking Ocean Cruises today announced that its fourth ship, Viking Sun, will spend her maiden season sailing the company’s first-ever World Cruise, spanning 141 days and visiting five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports, with 12 port overnights.

Departing on December 15, 2017, this epic journey from Miami to London will allow guests to explore Cuba and the Caribbean; sail the Panama Canal and the South Pacific; call upon ports in Asia, from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City; and see the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean Seas, before concluding in the North Atlantic. Like on all Viking itineraries, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 66 ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi; they will also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.

“Ever since our first ship set sail last year, we have been focused on bringing the destination back to ocean cruising. Our unique, award-winning approach allows our guests to explore comfortably, with experiences that enrich their lives along the way,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “This World Cruise is the most extensive and culturally immersive itinerary we have ever offered, and we are pleased by the early interest in pre-sales we have seen from our guests and industry partners.”