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Ocean Victory becomes the first ever ship to be christened in South Georgia

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 11 December 2021 11 December 2021

Albatros Expeditions celebrates the first ship ever to be christened in the archipelago of South Georgia,simultaneously reaching new environmental standards for the industry.

Earlier this month in Copenhagen, the Scandinavian boutique expedition cruise operator, Albatros Expeditions, christened the Ocean Victory in South Georgia on its maiden voyage. This event on 3 December 2021 set records in navigation history while chasing the sun eclipse in Antarctica.

The ship was christened by Elise Grøndahl, Albatros Expeditions’ Head of Operations and Product, in an environmentally friendly way b yreplacing the traditional bottle of champagne with a block of ice. Elise Grondahl says: “I'm proud to be part of the team staring up the season on this magnificent new vessel. Before its first sailing it was already awarded with a gold Travel Weekly Magellan Award in the category ‘Cruise -Overall-Eco-Friendly Green Cruise Ship’

”Albatros Expeditions’ President, Hans Lagerweij,says: “We choose for this event to happen in South Georgia, because of our great love for this unique place. We enthusiastically support The South Georgia Heritage Trust and are helping with the establishment of the sculpture “Commensalis – the Spirit Tables of South Georgia” at the old Grytviken Whaling Station. It tells the powerful story of an eco-system in recovery."

Laura Sinclair Willis, Chief Executive of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands says: “We are delighted that Albatros Expeditions chose South Georgia for such a momentous occasion”. Albatros Expeditions also launched its 2023/2024 Antarctica season, which sets a new record for number of visits to South Georgia.

Albatros Expeditions’ Chairman and Owner, Søren Rasmussen,says: “At Albatros we are always looking for the most unique and inspiring destinations around the world. The growth in interest we have seen in the immense nature of South Georgia is reflected in our new product range. We are proud to explore more of these magnificent islands in the future with the Ocean Victory and the Ocean Albatros, both with the lowest environmental impact in the industry."

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville partners with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 08 December 2021 08 December 2021

Today, Margaritaville announces Margaritaville at Sea, an offshore resort experience. The first cruise ship, Margaritaville Paradise, will offer the fun, escapism, and state of mind synonymous with the global lifestyle brand.

“To me, the only thing better than being on a beach by the ocean, is to be on the ocean. Now you can follow in our wake,” said singer, songwriter and best-selling author, Jimmy Buffett.

Departing on her first passenger sailing on April 30 from the Port of Palm Beach Florida to Grand Bahama Island, Margaritaville Paradise will include 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins in various stateroom categories. Following a multi-million investment and refurbishment, the ship’s cabins and common spaces will feature Margaritaville’s signature casual-luxe design with subtle nautical details and colors influenced by the surrounding sea, sand, and sky.

“Margaritaville at Sea will be a new, exciting, and fun way for guests to escape and vacation in Margaritaville,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville. “From oceans to lakes, Margaritaville has an organic tie to the water and with Margaritaville at Sea, we’re able to put our iconic lifestyle, resort experiences, and elevated service directly on the sea. We look forward to seeing guests on, and in, Paradise.”

Margaritaville Paradise, formerly Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s flagship vessel, Grand Classica, will feature gourmet food and beverage options, including JWB Prime Steak & Seafood, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Port of Indecision Buffet, LandShark Sports Bar, and Margaritaville Coffee & Pastry Shop as well as the Euphoria Lounge, Sunset Bar, and 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. Additionally, the ship will offer onboard leisure activities and entertainment, including the Par-A-Dice Casino, a Stars on the Water Theater, St. Somewhere Spa, Fins Up! Fitness Center, pools, a retail shop, and more. The ship was built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and entered service as a pioneer ship. She has opened many new markets and frontiers during her lifetime, so it is fitting that Margaritaville Paradise will again be a pioneer for Margaritaville at Sea.

“We’re excited about this new partnership as we launch Margaritaville at Sea out of the Port of Palm Beach. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and are appreciative of our loyal customers and trade partners who have stood by us through so much. We’re excited about this next phase of our evolution, rebranding as Margaritaville at Sea. The collaborative concept will add a different dimension to the cruising industry, appealing to a new audience of travelers,” added Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, who will serve as CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “Margaritaville at Sea will provide guests with Margaritaville’s authentic culture, entertainment, and food en route to a beautiful destination in Grand Bahama Island. The experience will be complemented by an unmatched, personalized approach to guest service from start to finish via valet service and exclusive cruise terminals for smoother embarkation and disembarkation. It’s the perfect partnership in paradise.”

Meyer Werft begins construction of first Nova-class cruise ship for Silversea Cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 03 December 2021 03 December 2021

Ultra-luxury travel brand Silversea Cruises has announced the name of its first ship, Silver Nova, developed as part of its innovative newbuild project known as Project Evolution, as well as the commencement of the ship’s construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. Executives from Silversea and Meyer Werft marked the occasion with a traditional steel cutting ceremony on November 18. The revolutionary vessel, set for delivery in summer 2023, will be the first hybrid, luxury cruise ship free of local emissions at port, positioning Silversea at the forefront of sustainable cruising for years to come.

Silver Nova and future Nova class ships are the latest examples of Silversea’s ongoing efforts to offer travelers an ultra-luxurious experience while simultaneously protecting the treasured destinations it visits and the communities it serves.

With its hybrid power sources, Silver Nova is expected to achieve a cruise industry-first – local emission-free operation in port by using fuel cells and batteries. Silver Nova will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its main fuel. The new hybrid technology not only helps in port, but will also allow Silver Nova to achieve a 40% overall reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions per double suite when compared to its previous class of ships (the Muse class).

“Our Nova class ships represent a significant investment in unprecedented technological solutions. They support our mission to preserve the planet without compromising on comfort or luxury,” says Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Silver Nova is the manifestation of Silversea and Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term commitment to sustainability.”

"Sustainability is the future of luxury travel and the name Silver Nova is representative of the incredible innovation of Silversea’s luxury," added Barbara Muckermann, Chief Commercial Officer. "Silversea is already a leader in environmentally conscious travel and now, with Silver Nova, we will go even further to meet the expectations of both today’s and tomorrow's luxury traveler."

Aligned with the company’s commitment and progress to carbon-neutral construction, Silver Nova is being built in Papenburg by Meyer Werft, one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world. Meyer Weft is known for working with customers and suppliers to develop environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies that will comply with future regulations.

"We are delighted to begin the construction of this innovative ship and to continue our long partnership with Royal Caribbean Group. This day is a very special one for us, as it is the first time that a Silversea ship is being built at our shipyard," says Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.

Sustainable features of Silver Nova and all future Nova class ships include a micro auto gasification system, which reduces onboard waste volume, resulting in lower incineration emissions. In addition, the ship class is also projected to achieve an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) rating of approximately 25% better than applicable International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements. Shore power will allow the ship to shut down its main generators at select ports and plug into the onshore energy supply, thereby cutting onboard local emissions to zero. Overall, the ground-breaking hydrodynamic ship design and optimized innovation technology help lessen the ship’s impact on environment.

Silver Nova will be one of the most spacious cruise ships ever built and will offer passengers an ultra-luxurious experience. This includes a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-passenger – the highest in Silversea’s fleet – offering one of the most personalized services at sea with a 1:1.3 crew-to-guest ratio, as well as the line’s butler services for all suites. The ship will have a travel capacity of 728 guests and a gross tonnage of 54,700 tons.

Silver Nova is scheduled for delivery in summer 2023. Members of Silversea’s loyalty program, the Venetian Society, and travel advisors will have pre-sale access starting December 16, 2021. General sales will open on January 6, 2022.

Meyer Turku delivers Costa Toscana 

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 02 December 2021 02 December 2021

Meyer Turku in Finland has delivered  the 180 000 gross ton Costa Toscana to Costa Crociere, the Italian unit of Carnival Corporation & plc group.

It is the third Excellence class the Finnish shipbuilder has delivered and follows Mardi Gras for Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Smeralda for Costa Crociere. In addition, the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg has so far delivered two ships of the class - AIDA Nova for AIDA Cruises and  Iona for P&O Cruises. All these companies are parts of the carnival group.

“With Costa Toscana we are turning a new page at the shipyard. We have been pushing our ship building processes onward and are now seeing the results with this beautiful vessel. We are very proud of her and I feel confident that the guests onboard will really enjoy Costa Toscana in the coming years”, Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer said in a statement.

Costa Toscana is a highly sophisticated ship with many different technologies dedicated to making it one of the most environmentally sustainable cruise ships in operation.

"Costa Toscana reinforces our commitment to responsible innovation by further contributing to the use of LNG applied to cruise ships, a technology in which we pioneered. It is an innovation that is part of a constantly evolving path of ecological transition. Indeed, we are also working on testing further innovations, such as fuel cells and batteries, with the aim of arriving at the first ship with net zero emissions",  Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises, says.

Costa Toscana is a veritable travelling "smart city". In addition to being powered by liquefied natural gas, the ship features a series of cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce environmental impact. The entire daily water requirement is met by transforming seawater using desalination plants. Energy consumption is minimized thanks to high-level design and an intelligent energy efficiency system.

“The high energy efficiency of the ship has been archieved by our designers and builders through many years of simulation, testing and experience. With each new ship design we are pushing the limits of what is possible”, Tim Meyer states.

Costa's new flagship is a tribute to Tuscany, curated by Adam D. Tihany, designed to enhance and bring to life in a single location the best of this Italian region, which gives its name to the ship, its decks and main public areas. 

Onboard you will find the Solemio Spa, entertainment areas, themed bars and 21 restaurants and areas dedicated to the "food experience". Comfortable and elegant, the over 2,600 cabins also perfectly reflect Italian style and taste. The "terrace over the sea" cabin’s category will offer a splendid outbuilding where guests can have breakfast, sip an aperitif or simply enjoy the view.

Costa Toscana's first cruise will depart from Savona, Italy, on March 5, 2022, with a week-long itinerary visiting Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Palermo and Civitavecchia/Rome. Following her debut, the new flagship will remain deployed in the Western Mediterranean throughout the year.

Costa Toscana Facts:

Length: 337 m

Width: 42 m

Gross Tonnage: 185 000

Passengers: 6730

Crew: 1646

Flag: Italy