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Virgin Voyages welcomes Brilliant Lady in Miami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 October 2025 17 October 2025

Miami turned up the heat last night as Virgin Voyages threw a star-studded celebration to welcome its newest ship, Brilliant Lady, to the city. The glittering red-hot event drew more than 2,000 guests – including DJ Khaled, rapper Swae Lee, Selling Sunset’s Polly Brindle, actors Agustina Palma and Lilimar Hernandez, and The Real Housewives of Miami stars Kiki Barth, Alexia Nepola, Marysol Patton and Larsa Pippen – alongside journalists, influencers, brand partners, and 1,000 of the brand’s beloved First Mates.

The evening was pure Virgin – bold, musical and unmistakably glamorous. Guests were treated to the world premiere of Red Hot, a rockumentary-style spectacular inspired by Virgin Records’ legendary music catalog. Featuring hits from the Spice Girls, Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Queen, The Killers, and The Sex Pistols, the show celebrates Virgin’s 50-plus-year legacy in music, complete with archival footage of Sir Richard Branson and a high-octane cast that had the crowd on its feet.

The ship’s entertainment lineup also wowed with Up With A Twist, a Gatsby-inspired Supper Club that channels the Roaring Twenties with theatrical flair and old-world opulence. Throughout the day, guests discovered new Brilliant Lady exclusives – from Secret Vintage, a speakeasy-style wine tasting, to The Stitch Up in the Social Club, and Rojo, the ship’s fiery Spanish-inspired eatery. The night ended with Electric, a glowing, neon-drenched dance party in The Manor that pulsed long into the early hours.

Against the backdrop of the shimmering Miami skyline, the evening marked a symbolic and emotional homecoming for Virgin Voyages, recently crowned the World’s No. 1 Cruise Line for the third consecutive year. Brilliant Lady will spend the coming weeks sailing the Caribbean before making her way through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles and onward to Alaska in spring 2026. Soon after, all four of Virgin Voyages’ sister ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady – will unite in the Caribbean for the very first time, marking a defining moment for the brand as it continues to welcome more Sailors to experience its unique, adult-only take on travel at sea.

GTT, Bloom Energy and Ponant Explorations Group partner on integrated energy system for sustainable shipping

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 October 2025 17 October 2025

GTT, Bloom Energy and Ponant Explorations Group announced a joint innovation project to develop an integrated energy system combining Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) powered by LNG1 with Marine Carbon Capture (MCC) designed to cover the vessel’s energy needs related to onboard consumption. This breakthrough system is expected to equip Ponant Explorations Group’s future Swap2Zero cruise vessel by 2030, which will be propelled by wind-assisted system and fuel cells.

As part of this project, GTT will design and develop a Marine Carbon Capture system compatible with Bloom Energy’s SOFC technology. This integrated solution will supply auxiliary electricity for the vessel, covering hotel load such as lighting, hot water, and onboard services, while also capturing CO₂ from the combustion gases. This dual approach, combining emission reduction and the reuse of low-temperature energy from the ship’s cryogenic installations will further enhance the overall efficiency of the SOFC system through optimized thermal management.

This initiative reflects the partners’ shared commitment to advancing the decarbonization of maritime transport. By combining their expertise, they aim to develop next-generation onboard energy solutions that demonstrate the critical role of advanced technologies in this transition. Together, they intend to contribute to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s decarbonization goals and accelerate the shift of the maritime sector towards low-emission operations.

Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT, commented: “Combining GTT’s technology and expertise with our partners’ is how we will design the ships of the future and accelerate the decarbonization of maritime transport. This project reflects our shared ambition to deliver high-performance and innovative solutions that support the transformation of maritime transport. We are proud to contribute to this ambitious and forward-looking initiative.”

Aman Joshi, Chief Commercial Officer of Bloom Energy, commented: “We see solid oxide fuel cells as a cornerstone of the maritime industry's low-carbon future. We're proud to contribute to the Swap2Zero project, an ambitious collaboration focused on developing next-generation vessels aligned with the IMO’s carbon reduction vision. Powered by LNG, Bloom Energy’s high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell system not only delivers best-in-class electrical conversion but also captures and repurposes waste heat for onboard heating and cooling loads. By integrating fuel cells with onboard carbon capture and sequestration, this initiative exemplifies how innovation and collaboration can accelerate the transition to cleaner, more sustainable shipping.”

Mathieu Petiteau, Newbuilding and R&D Director of Ponant Explorations Group, commented: “This partnership is a key milestone in developing innovative and efficient ways to capture CO2 and embodies our commitment to finding new solutions to decarbonizing the maritime industry. It also marks another step forward for our Swap2Zero vessel project, co-funded by the European Union Innovation Fund and France 2030. It represents an important step towards delivering the next generation of low-emission vessels.”

Meyer Werft delivers Disney Destiny

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 October 2025 16 October 2025

Meyer Werft delivered its latest cruise ship, Disney Destiny, earlier this week. The handover to Disney Cruise Line took place on schedule in Eemshaven, the Netherlands. Disney Destiny features the most complex and innovative entertainment facilities in the cruise industry. The first passengers will board in November.

"We are delighted to deliver the Disney Destiny to Disney Cruise Line today. It is the latest milestone in our long-standing partnership with Disney Cruise Line. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved," said Bernd Eikens, CEO of Meyer Werft. Eikens signed the delivery documents together with Joe Schott, President of Disney Signature Experiences.

Mythical adventures await families aboard the Disney Destiny, where iconic Disney, Pixar and Marvel heroes and villains come to life. Exclusive to the Disney Destiny is Disney Hercules. Larger-than-life characters, spirited comedy and legendary music from Walt Disney Animation Studios are brought to the stage. Fun and action can also be found on the upper deck, where there are ten pools and water play areas. Several imaginative restaurants are available on board, including the ‘Pride Lands’, where singers and dancers perform a musical retelling of ‘The Lion King’ during dinner.

The Disney Destiny is the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and the sixth ship that Meyer Werft has built for the shipping company. Meyer Werft and Disney Cruise Line have a long-standing partnership that began with the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, which were delivered in 2010 and 2012. In 2022, the Disney Wish, the first ship in the Wish class, was delivered. Another sister ship is currently under construction in Papenburg and will be delivered in autumn 2027.

Meyer Werft's order book thus consists of eight cruise ships and two offshore converter platforms and extends into 2031

Viking takes delivery of newest river ships in Europe and Egypt

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 October 2025 15 October 2025

Viking announced yesterday the delivery of its newest river ships, the Viking Honir, which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and the Viking Thoth, which will sail the Nile River. The delivery ceremony for the Viking Honir took place in Basel, Switzerland; the Viking Thoth was presented for delivery at Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.

“We are proud to welcome the Viking Honir and the Viking Thoth to our growing river fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With the arrival of these elegant new ships, we are pleased to offer even more curious travelers the opportunity to explore some of the world’s most iconic waterways in Viking comfort.”

Royal Caribbean International appoints new Head of Sales for Nordics

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 October 2025 15 October 2025

Royal Caribbean International last week announced the expansion of Sergio Arévalo’s role as Head of Sales for Iberia to also encompass the Nordics region, underlining the holiday brand’s commitment to further strengthening its presence across Europe.

Since joining Royal Caribbean in 2018, Arévalo has managed sales and marketing teams in Spain and Portugal, playing an instrumental role in driving sales growth and building strong trade partnerships across markets. In his newly expanded remit, he will lead sales strategy and relationships across both Iberia and the Pan-Nordics region, working closely with travel partners to grow business opportunities and deliver continued success.

Sergio Arévalo, Head of Sales – Iberia & Nordics, Royal Caribbean International, said: “It’s a privilege to expand my remit to include the Nordics, alongside Iberia. This region has a thriving travel trade community, and I am thrilled to build on the excellent work already being done. My focus will be working hand-in-hand with our partners to understand their goals, strengthen our collaboration, and create new opportunities together. With so much on the horizon for Royal Caribbean, I can’t wait to see what we achieve as a team.”

The regional sales team includes Bente Borvik, Senior Sales Manager for Norway and Finland, supported by a new Key Account Manager, and Christian Erikson, Senior Sales Manager for Sweden and Denmark, supported by Therese Engstrom, Key Account Manager.

The expansion of Arévalo’s role comes at an exciting time for Royal Caribbean, as the brand continues to invest in creating unforgettable holiday experiences. This includes the highly anticipated arrival of Legend of the Seas in Europe in summer 2026, which will offer an even greater choice of memorable holiday experiences for guests across Europe and beyond.

Karen Tucker, who has been holding the position of Sales Director Nordics for the past three years, is transitioning in the next few months to the company’s UK office in a new role as Commercial Marketing Director, EMEA.