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Swan Hellenic reports 90% occupancy on its Antarctic cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 March 2024 25 March 2024

Today, the ice-class Swan Hellenic cruise ship SH Vega sailed into Cape Town from Ushuaia, bringing the cultural expedition cruise pioneer’s 2023-2024 Antarctic season to a close.

And a very successful season it’s been, the company reports. The figures speak for themselves. Almost 3,000 guests chose Swan Hellenic to discover the continent, and stateroom occupancy averaged just shy of 90%. Guests from the USA and UK continued to account for the majority, with an increasing number from China and Brazil. Bookings for the 2024-2025 Antarctic season are already equally strong on the back of powerful online buzz.

It’s clear that Swan Hellenic’s cultural expedition cruises have now built a strong reputation for being desirably different, with their elegant but informal boutique ships, expertly curated itineraries, gourmet cuisine, specialist talks and hands-on expeditions.

Marking the moment of SH Vega’s Cape Town arrival, Swan Hellenic has released full details of its 2025-2026 Antarctic Season, giving ample time to secure a booking in the face of this increasingly strong demand. Offering a wide choice of vacation lengths, the proven 9, 10, 11, 13, 17 and 20-night itineraries continue with subtle enhancements, offering 12 cultural expedition cruises aboard the five-star SH Vega and SH Diana, accommodating 152 and 192 guests respectively. The first cruise of the season departs Buenos Aires on 14 November 2025, and the concluding cruise sails from Ushuaia on 17 March 2026.

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito comments: “We’re delighted with the booming popularity and outstanding reputation we’ve earned for our Antarctica cultural expedition cruises – all true adventures of discovery while always being conducted to the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility. But, above all, we’re over the moon with the feedback we’ve received from our guests, telling us all about their life-changing experiences aboard and ashore. That’s exactly what we work so hard to achieve and our recently announced 2025-2026 Antarctica cruises have been expertly designed to build even further on everything we’ve learned.”

The voyage to Cape Town was a spectacular 20-night cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina. After crossing the notorious Drake Passage, her intrepid voyagers explored the Antarctic Peninsula in depth and then struck out northeast to Paulet Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, subsequently sailing on to Gough Island, part of the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, before finally reaching Cape Town.

Enriching the voyage as part of Swan Hellenic’s Explore Space at Sea Series in partnership with the SETI Institute, cruise guests were accompanied aboard and ashore by Dr. Jeffrey C. Smith, Expert in Planetary Science, AI and Data Analytics. During the voyage, Dr. Smith gave four fascinating talks: “How do Astronomers Find Exoplanets?”, “Yes, look up! Utilizing AI to Find Exploding Meteors and to Help Protect the Earth from Dangerous Asteroids”, “Why do Scientists Love Antarctica so much?” and “Will we ever really find E.T.?”

Meyer Werft and Disney Cruise Line celebrate keel laying of Disney Destiny

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 March 2024 24 March 2024

The construction of the next cruise ship for Disney Cruise Line has reached another milestone: assembly of the ship's hull began last week with the traditional keel-laying ceremony. The Disney Destiny is the sister ship of the Disney Treasure, which is also under construction, and the Disney Wish, which launched in 2022.

The keel was laid in the 504-metre-long covered building dock at Meyer Werft. In keeping with maritime tradition, Philip Gennotte, Portfolio Project Management Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Germany, placed a lucky coin under the keel of the new ship before the shipyard gave the signal to lower the block onto the bracing and the coin. The keel-laying block is 38,9 metres wide, 14 metres long and 6,3 metres high.

"With the keel laying, we have reached another milestone in our partnership with Disney Cruise Line. The third ship in the Wish class will also impress with Meyer quality and be rich in Disney storytelling," says Thomas Weigend, Chief Sales Officer of the Meyer Group and Managing Director of Meyer Werft.

The third ship in the Wish class will have approximately 1,250 cabins and a size of around 144,000 GT. Delivery is planned for 2025. Like the Disney Wish and the Disney Treasure, which is expected to be delivered this year, the ship will have a low-emission LNG propulsion system. The Meyer Group is also completing the conversion of the Disney Adventure cruise ship in Wismar for Disney Cruise Line.

Star Clippers names Grenada as its newest homeport for Feb-March 2026 Caribbean sailings

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 March 2024 24 March 2024

Star Clippers has announced that Grenada will serve as its newest homeport for the fleet’s 166-guest Star Clipper, during several new Feb-March 2026 sailings. Working with the Grenada Tourism Authority, Star Clippers has also been able to add Grenada’s friendly – and beautiful – Carriacou and its Paradise Beach as one of the ports on the 10- and 11-night itineraries. Full details are available in the just released 2024-2026 Star Clippers brochure.

“Although our ships have been visiting Grenada on our many Caribbean itineraries for some years, when we saw the opportunity to homeport one of our clipper ships there, we immediately set to work with the Grenada Tourism Authority to make it a reality,” offered Mikael Krafft, CEO & President of Star Clippers. “The Caribbean is an ideal region for us as the famous Caribbean winds are always there to power our clipper ships, and to be able to offer our guests more opportunities to experience the beauty and culture of Grenada opens up a host of new possibilities.”

Petra Roach, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, said “The Pure Grenada and Star Clippers brands are aligned in prioritizing authentic experiences for our customers, designed to nourish and feed the soul. Nature treks, beautiful birdsong, delicious cuisine, local traditions and heritage all cascade into an enriching experience second to none. And with convenient direct airlift from the USA and Canada, and our starring role as the newest home port for Star Clipper, there’s never been a better time to visit our beautiful tri-island state.”

Four new itineraries will utilize the new homeport of St. George’s, Grenada, with departures in February and March 2026, offering a who’s who of Southern Caribbean ports. Although each sailing calls on different ports, highlights include Tobago, known for its wide, sandy beaches and biodiverse tropical rainforest; Tobago Cays, a collection of several uninhabited islands in the southern section of the Grenadines that offer some of the best beaches for swimming, tanning and snorkeling; Bridgetown, Barbados capital city and famous for its British colonial architecture, 17th-century Garrison and horseracing track, Nidhe Israel Synagogue and its museum, and lots of shopping opportunities; the aforementioned Paradise Beach in Carriacou, voted the Best Caribbean Beach in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2022; the near 400-year-old town of Saint-Pierre, Martinique; and Soufrière, St. Lucia, best known as the home of Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the iconic pair of now-dormant volcanoes that rise from the crustal-clear Caribbean.

For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has been introducing travelers to the thrill of modern tall ship sailing to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Central America. The company operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying 166 guests, while the 227-guest Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, convivial tropical bars on deck and piano lounges.

HX to become all-inclusive

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 March 2024 22 March 2024

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), the global leaders in expedition cruising, have announced plans to further enhance their onboard guest offering. As part of a phased approach, starting with Antarctica & Galápagos expeditions departing in October 2024, they will be introducing an ‘all-inclusive’ offering as standard across the whole fleet from November 2024, covering all destinations.

Since rebranding to HX last December, this product evolution is one of many new initiatives that seek to combine their renowned exploring heritage with the modern-day guest experience. The ‘all-inclusive’ offering ranges from including expert-led daily expeditions, access to a whole series of science-led activities both on board and out in the wild, to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and even professional photographs. These changes look to enhance the guest experience onboard, part of a larger project aimed at crafting the ultimate expedition cruise experience, but importantly simplify the product offering for trade.

Alex Delamere-White, HX Chief Commercial Officer, states:“Expedition cruising can be a complex product for agents to sell, given the unique destinations we visit and varying experiences by operator. We’re confident that by including so many elements as standard in the price, we can simplify life onboard and enhance our trade-friendly focus.”

“We want our guests to fully embrace being curious travellers when they’re with us. By making things as easy as possible, they can focus on exploring remote parts of the world and learning from our expert team. We believe adventure should be all-inclusive, which is why our daily expeditions, talks and access to the science centre come at no extra cost, alongside delicious food and drink.”

“In direct response to guest and partner feedback, this product evolution marks one of many initiatives to establish our new brand identity and enhance the guest experience. We have been the experts in expedition since 1896, now our team are focussed on strengthening our position as the global leaders in expedition cruising by providing pioneering experiences, unmatched itineraries and great value.”

For guests booking a HX expedition, starting with Antarctica & Galápagos expeditions departing in October 2024, their regular grade cabin will now include:

– Daily expeditions and activities such as hikes, community visits, talks and more
– Full board dining, including breakfast, lunch and dinner with house wine and beer
– Wine, beer, spirits and cocktails available across the day and evening
– All-day coffee, tea & soft drinks
– Free Wi-Fi
– Gratuities
– Interactive science programme, Science Centre and activities both on and off the ships
– Access to sauna, hot tubs, fitness room and more
– Professional photos from the onboard photographer
– Opportunities to engage with and support local communities and environmental initiatives through Hurtigruten Foundation.
– Take home expedition gear and reusable water bottle

Albatros Expeditions to celebrate christening of Ocean Albatros in Copenhagen

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 March 2024 19 March 2024

Albatros Expeditions, a leading name in polar exploration and adventure travel, has announced the christening ceremony of its latest state-of-the-art vessel, the Ocean Albatros. The event is taking place on 7 May 2024 at Nordre Tolbod, in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The addition of the Ocean Albatros to the fleet signifies a milestone, cementing Albatros Expeditions' position in polar exploration and adventure travel. The christening ceremony not only marks the celebration of a cutting-edge vessel in its fleet but also symbolises a moment of pride for the Danish family-owned company as the ceremony unfolds in the heart of the country's capital.

Søren Rasmussen, Founder and Chairman of Albatros Expeditions, expressed his enthusiasm about the christening ceremony, stating, "Since 1986, with the establishment of Albatros Travel Group, our goal has been to create life-changing memories for our guests. With these modern, eco-conscious vessels, we are able to offer small-ship expeditions inspired by our Nordic heritage that are truly once-in-a-lifetime journeys. While we usually only traverse between Antarctica and the Arctic, we are looking forward to welcoming the Ocean Albatros to our hometown and celebrating with our family, friends, and partners."

Guests of the ceremony will be treated to a unique opportunity- the chance to step aboard the Ocean Albatros and receive a guided tour. This firsthand experience will allow them to appreciate the elegant interiors and technical features that set this vessel apart. The day will complete with the traditional champagne christening on the bow, a moment of celebration as Albatros Expeditions officially welcomes the Ocean Albatros into its fleet.