Swan Hellenic partners with JRE - Jeunes Restaurateurs

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 21 April 2023 21 April 2023

Swan Hellenic, the Cyprus based expedition cruise line, said that it has partnered with JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs to create Maris, a tailored dining experience, lived with the gourmet organisation’s chefs.

“Maris brings a different JRE leading light aboard in a series of exclusive cultural expedition cruises on Swan Hellenic’s elegant designer ships SH Vega and SH Diana.” 

“Here, they take guests on a parallel voyage of discovery, exploring the celebrated culinary creativity that has made their name, driven by a passion for tradition, sustainability and quality local ingredients,” the company said in a statement.

SunStone takes delivery of Ocean Albatros

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 21 April 2023 21 April 2023

SunStone Maritime Group A/S, the world’s largest tonnage provider to the expedition cruise industry, has taken delivery of the sixth Infinity class vessel, the Ocean Albatros. “Final documents were signed on Thursday, April 20, completing delivery of the vessel from the CMHI Shipyard in Haimen, China, to the SunStone companies. She will now begin repositioning before going on a year-round charter to Albatros Expeditions,” the company said in a statement. 

The Infinity series is the product of collaboration between European design and technology and Chinese shipbuilding efficiency, resulting in an expedition cruise vessel with best-in-class safety and comfort features as well as high operating efficiency. The Infinity series has been awarded the Magellan Awards Gold Medal for two consecutive years. Albatros Travel won the gold medal for the Ocean Victory as the Overall-Eco-Friendly “Green” Cruise Ship in 2021, and Aurora Expedition received the gold medal for the Greg Mortimer as the Overall-Eco-Friendly “Sustainable” Cruise Ship in 2022, SunStone said. 

Infinity class vessels are 104 meters long and 18 meters wide, with a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130 and 200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115. The Vessels feature the X-Bow® by Ulstein Design & Solutions. 

They are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6, and are being built with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning, and Zero Speed Stabilizers. They are both large enough to provide all expected services and amenities, including a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, a boutique, a gym, a spa, and a sauna, while still being small enough to create an exclusive atmosphere. 

Six Infinity Class new builds have now been delivered: the Greg Mortimer, the Ocean Explorer, the Ocean Victory, the Sylvia Earle, the Ocean Odyssey, and now the Ocean Albatros. The seventh and final Infinity Class vessel will be delivered in 2025. All vessels ordered have long-term charter agreements in place.

MSC Cruises launches year-round sailings from New York City on MSC Meraviglia

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 20 April 2023 20 April 2023

MSC Cruises – the world’s third-largest and fastest growing cruise line – arrived in New York City this morning when MSC Meraviglia docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Starting Saturday, the modern and glamorous megaship will sail from the Big Apple to The Bahamas and Florida, Canada and New England, and Bermuda. Itineraries will be available year-round, resulting in a sizeable and ongoing economic impact to the region and confirming MSC Cruises’ commitment to the New York cruise market.

MSC Meraviglia is one of the world’s biggest ships, with a long list of activities and amenities to match. She is known as “The Ship for All Seasons” thanks to expansive indoor and outdoor public spaces and a pool deck with a roof that opens and closes depending on the weather. MSC Cruises is deploying the ship to New York as part of an ongoing pledge to bring its largest, most modern ships to the U.S. market as it continues to grow in the region. New York City joins Miami and Port Canaveral on the cruise line’s roster of North American homeports.

Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “When we chose New York as the next step in our North American expansion, we knew that MSC Meraviglia would be the perfect ship, given her versatility and offerings for a wide variety of climates. She’s big and innovative, she offers something for everyone, and now she’s more accessible than ever for our guests in and around New York. We’re thrilled to give guests from the Northeast a direct link to our private destination – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve – which is part of our fantastic itineraries to The Bahamas. As the year goes on, they’ll have other options like spending several days exploring Bermuda, or heading north for the breathtaking fall foliage in Canada and New England."

Itineraries from New York on MSC Meraviglia include:
– The Bahamas and Florida – Tropical 7- to 11-night sailings with a selection of destinations including Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.
– Bermuda – Starting in August, guests can enjoy 5- and 6-night sailings to Kings Wharf in Bermuda, with several days in port to explore the beauty of the island.
– Canada and New England – Just in time for the fall, MSC Meraviglia will offer 10- and 11-night itineraries calling at Newport, Boston and Portland in the U.S and Saint John, Halifax, Charlottetown, and Sydney in Canada.

Economic impact

According to data from the NYC Economic Development Corporation and CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, MSC Cruises’ expansion to New York City and ongoing deployment of MSC Meraviglia in the region is expected to generate significant economic impact:
– Up to 10,000 full time-equivalent jobs, including the direct hiring of 150 New Yorkers to facilitate terminal operations in partnership with SMS International Shore Operations and NYC’s Workforce1.
– More than 200,000 domestic and international visitors to the city each year.
– Up to $102 million in local spending each year while those visitors are ashore.

Holland America Line marks 150th anniversary in Rotterdam with royalty, citywide fanfare and dual-ship events

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 19 April 2023 19 April 2023

Holland America Line’s flagship Rotterdam arrived at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday morning following a 150th Anniversary crossing that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 3. The ship’s arrival on the exact date of Holland America Line’s 150th birthday kicked off all-day celebrations that included royalty, local dignitaries, port officials and guests who commemorated the special day.

Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha was joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and descendants of Holland America Line’s original founders for a celebration at Hotel New York, home to Holland America Line’s original headquarters from 1901 to 1977.

“The celebration of 150 years is about more than our history, it’s about how we are building on the legacy of a great brand to make it relevant for the next 150 years,” said Antorcha. “From those first early days, we built our reputation on the care we provided to every person who stepped on board. And through the decades, whether that person was an immigrant, a titan of industry, a soldier or a vacationer, each of them was treated as though they were a guest in our own home. It is still a hallmark of our brand.

“The fabric of history is woven from the threads of millions of stories, and at the heart of each of those stories is a person,” Antorcha continued. “I am certain that there are many chapters still to be written. And I hope that decades from now, those who come after us will gather on this very spot at Hotel New York to share them.”

From the ship’s arrival through an overnight stay, memorable moments marked the milestone. Inside a room that once collected luggage for immigrants in the early 1900s, Holland America Line presented a commemorative 150th Anniversary bell to be permanently displayed at Hotel New York. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet poured champagne over the bell, which is a Holland America Line tradition usually reserved for a new ship launch.

Holland America Line worked closely with PostNL, the postal office of the Netherlands, to design a collectable 150th Anniversary gold-foil stamp that was revealed by Bob van Ierland, director of mail, Netherlands, at the ceremony. The stamp, designed by Frank Janse, features an illustration of two iconic ships from the company's long history: Rotterdam VII, Holland America Line’s newest ship, and Rotterdam I, its first ship. The limited-edition stamp is available for purchase throughout the Netherlands.

In addition, members of one of Holland America Line’s founding families presented an original company share that will be kept as part of a special collection in the Rotterdam City Archives. Attendees at the Hotel New York ceremony included Holland America Line team members and more than 60 of the line’s top Mariners, guests who have sailed at least 1,400 days on the line’s ships.

Following a Gala dinner on board Rotterdam VII, Antorcha invited the ship’s guests to a party around the Lido Pool where he toasted to Holland America Line’s anniversary alongside ship’s Captain Bas van Dreumel and Mai Elmar, executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam and the ship’s madrina.

“To the builders, architects, visionaries and explorers who have brought us to today. To our generations of crew who have seen our guests from shore to shore. And most importantly, to all of the passengers and guests who have trusted us along the way. Cheers to 150 years and many more to come,” toasted Antorcha.

As a finale to the evening’s events, the city of Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge was illuminated with a special light display honoring Holland America Line’s 150th Anniversary. Following the lighting of the bridge, Antorcha made his way to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and joined Zuiderdam and Grand World Voyage guests around the Lido Pool to commemorate Holland America Line’s birthday. The additional nine ships in Holland America Line’s fleet also held anniversary parties on board for guests.