Top Headlines

Oceania Cruises takes delivery of Vista

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 01 May 2023 01 May 2023

Oceania Cruises has welcomed its newest ship – Vista. Delivered at Fincantieri's shipyard in Genoa, Italy, Oceania Cruises' initial Allura Class ship features several firsts in the realms of dining, accommodation and guest experience.

This 67,000-ton, 791-foot-long ship is one of the most anticipated new ships to join the global cruise fleet in 2023. The 1,200-guest Vista boasts the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, three brand-new dining concepts and operates with a market-leading service ratio of two staff members for every three guests. She is highly anticipated by brand loyal and new guests alike, with only a few select staterooms available for her inaugural summer season in the Mediterranean.

Vista builds on Oceania Cruises' exemplary reputation of destination-rich itineraries with world-class service and The Finest Cuisine at Sea by offering 11 culinary venues, three of which are new concepts – Ember, a signature restaurant featuring elevated American cuisine; Aquamar Kitchen, which brings wellness offerings to a new level; and The Bakery at Baristas, an expansion of popular coffee bar Baristas, serving freshly baked French and Italian pastries. In addition to an elevated mixology program with innovative specialty cocktails, Vista's new Broadway-caliber productions feature recognizable songs by some of the world's most beloved artists and contemporary dance numbers led by "Dancing with the Stars" choreographer Britt Stewart.

"Today we usher in a new era for Oceania Cruises with the delivery of Vista," said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "We could not have built such an exceptional ship without the close partnership enjoyed with Fincantieri. We thank each and every person who had a hand in bringing her to life. From the smallest of design details to the largest per capita galley at sea, Vista is a marvel that will be enjoyed by guests for decades to come."

When constructing Vista, Fincantieri's key intention was to embody Oceania Cruises' commitment to luxury and top-of-the-line guest experiences. The innovative ship is a reflection of Fincantieri's extensive abilities and commitment to quality.

Vista will be christened on May 8, 2023, in an exclusive ceremony in Valletta, Malta, by her godmother, celebrated Italian-American chef, author, restaurateur and Emmy Award-winning food personality Giada De Laurentiis. The christening is due to begin at 9 PM CEST, and the event will be livestreamed at 12 PM PDT/3 PM EDT/8 PM BST/9 PM CEST/5 AM AEST (next day) for anyone who wishes to join. The event site and livestream registration can be found here: www.VistaCelebration.com.

After her summer season in the Mediterranean, Vista will sail to Canada and New England before heading south for a series of winter itineraries exploring the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

Scenic Eclipse II sails inaugural cruise from Lisbon

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023

Scenic Eclipse II, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ new ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht, begins its inaugural Mediterranean season with a debut sailing from Lisbon, Portugal on April 13.

Aboard the ship for its maiden voyage – a 12-day Incredible Iberian Discovery cruise to Barcelona, Spain – are Scenic Group Chairman and founder Glen Moroney and his wife, Karen. Along with top tier loyalty guests, they will be joined by a host of specially invited VIPs who have all played a part in the vision and delivery of the much-anticipated new arrival.

An official naming ceremony will be held in Malaga, Spain on June 3, with Godmother Dr. Kathy Sullivan, doing the honors.

The addition of the 114-suite Scenic Eclipse II to the fleet is a milestone moment for Scenic, effectively doubling its capacity in the exclusive exploration cruise market. The 550ft vessel is a near-identical sister-ship to Scenic Eclipse, which set the benchmark for ultra-luxury cruising when it launched in 2019. For the first two months of operation, Scenic Eclipse II will explore the picturesque coastal waters and coves of Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Spain and France before heading north towards Norway for a series of Arctic expeditions.

“The arrival of Scenic Eclipse II really is a dream come true,” said Glen Moroney. “Seeing it here today is testament to the incredible hard work of the team at Scenic Group and MKM Yachts. Guests tell us every day that they simply cannot believe the experiences they get to enjoy when journeying with us – and Scenic Eclipse II will elevate that once again. We have pushed the boundaries to what is possible on an ultra-luxury vessel, both in terms of comfort and technology.”

Under the stewardship of Captain Erwan le Rouzic, guests on the debut sailing will enjoy enhanced ultra-luxury spaces, new culinary experiences, and exclusive cultural moments. Tom Goetter, Director of Food and Beverage for Scenic Group Oceans, will be on hand for a portion of the cruise to oversee the ship’s ten inspiring culinary options, including the new Chef's Garden @ Epicure immersive culinary masterclass experience and presentation area that will see the Executive Chef and his team personally share the secrets of local dishes and cooking techniques. Meanwhile, the yacht’s Discovery Team will provide expert insight during the sailing along with information on the many life-enhancing excursions available.

Among the design enhancement to Scenic Eclipse II are the new Sky Deck, which now features 270-degree views and a brand-new Sky Bar with indoor and outdoor seating including six private cabanas allowing guests to enjoy the stunning views with their favourite drink in hand. Another new feature is the large, oval shaped pool, complete with comfortable furniture by Italian design house Paola Lenti. A perfect venue for sail-away deck parties, the pool now incorporates special jets allowing guests to swim ‘laps’.

Elsewhere on board, guests on the inaugural sailing (and all subsequent sailings) will be able to truly immerse themselves in the ship’s eclectic art collection. In a rare exclusive, British-born artist Carl Hush will be on board for a live installation of his new feature artwork inside Koko’s Asian Fusion restaurant. The acclaimed creator, whose work encompasses street art, collage and painting, draws heavily on Japanese culture to explore representations and constructions of women. Hush previously created a bespoke piece in a similar vein for Scenic Eclipse, and this is a rare opportunity for guests to see an artist at work.

Additional art on board includes an exclusive mural commission by Croatian designer Slaven Kosanovi Lunar in the Night Market @ Koko’s, and the resin mixed media work of Mitch Gobel, who resides in Australia’s Byron Bay, in the Scenic Bar & Lounge and each guest suite.

Scenic Eclipse II’s upcoming voyages have already attracted much interest, with an exciting array of itineraries through 2023 and 2024 now available. From the Arctic in the summer – exploring Norway, Greenland, Iceland and Canada – the Yacht tours the British Isles before heading across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal to South America, and eventually down to Chile, Argentina, and Antarctica for the Winter.

In March 2024, it then takes a turn across the Pacific towards French Polynesia, Tahiti and Fiji, before a series of cruises exploring the Kimberley coastline during Australia’s winter. New Zealand, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands are among more Pacific options up until October 2024.

Of special interest will be Scenic Eclipse II’s first appearance in Canadian waters in August this year as it spends three days exploring Canada’s largest island, Baffin Island, during the 14-day Uncover Greenland & Canada sailing. The yacht’s first visit to the USA will be in Boston on October 12 before she departs Portland, Maine the next day for an 11-day Bermuda & The Bahamas itinerary.

The Eclipse yachts have 114 luxurious suites across five decks, ranging in size from 345 to nearly 2,600 ft², 10 dining experiences, butler service to every suite, a staff to guest ratio of 1:1, a sumptuous 5,920 ft² spa sanctuary, and two on board helicopters and a submarine offering truly unique discovery experiences. Scenic Eclipse II has expanded the SPA steam room to include aromatherapy, added an integrated ice fountain, experience showers, and a KLAFS custom salt therapy lounge with heated beds, and an expanded dedicated infrared ‘ocean view' lounge includes color light therapy to energize and reinvigorate skin cells. The yacht’s electric submersible will hold eight guests.

MSC World Europa starts sailing in the Med

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 12 April 2023 12 April 2023

MSC Cruises’ innovative new ship – MSC World Europa – is starting her first summer season in the Mediterranean after arriving from the Arabian Gulf this week. The ship became MSC Cruises’ largest, and the company’s first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), when she was delivered by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique in October 2022. MSC World Europa is also the world’s highest performing large cruise ship in terms of CO2eq emissions per passenger.

Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “Our guests from the U.S. have been thrilled to cruise on board MSC World Europa during her inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf, and many more of them are flocking to Europe as she starts her first summer season in the Mediterranean. This groundbreaking ship exemplifies our unwavering commitment to sustainable cruising. MSC World Europa’s innovative environmental and marine technologies represent a major step forward on our journey towards meeting our target of net-zero emissions by 2050, and it offers a glimpse at our future in the U.S. as we move toward bringing MSC World America into service in 2025.”

MSC World Europa will be powered by LNG throughout the summer season, with her first bunkering in Marseille scheduled on April 15, 2023. LNG is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale. Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions – including sulphur oxides and fine particles – and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 percent.

LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation as it offers up to a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is paving the way for the uptake of sustainable non-fossil fuels such as bio and synthetic LNG.

Unique fuel cell technology showing promising results

MSC World Europa is the world’s first contemporary cruise ship to feature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by LNG. The ship includes a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that uses LNG to efficiently produce electricity and heat on board using an electrochemical reaction, which could be a key to unlocking significant environmental sustainability gains in the future. Thanks to this increased efficiency, SOFC has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with a conventional LNG engine without producing nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide or fine particle emissions. In addition to being compatible with LNG, the cell is compatible with potential low carbon fuels like green methanol, ammonia, liquid hydrogen and bio or synthetic LNG.

Linden Coppell, Vice President of Sustainability & ESG at MSC Cruises, said: “Nearly six months into testing, the fuel cell performance has been excellent, and we haven’t seen any signs of safety or maintenance issues. The efficiency to date – measured in terms of the energy we can generate from the same unit of fuel – is well above that of an internal combustion engine and has exceeded our expectations. We have operated the system continually and it has delivered a steady output even better than our forecast 150-kilowatt return. Obviously, this is a small fraction of the energy we need but we are confident that the system can be scaled up on future newbuilds. We recognize that this will requires close collaboration with partners across and outside of our industry, which is why MSC Cruises is actively involved in several different research initiatives and partnerships that all share the common objective of accelerating the transition toward a net-zero future.”

A range of other environmental features

MSC World Europa is equipped with shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port, as well as an advanced wastewater treatment system (AWTS) that meets the world’s highest regulatory requirements, including the so-called Baltic standard. It treats all wastewater produced onboard to near tap water standards. The ship also includes a ballast water treatment system that prevents introducing invasive species in the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in full compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention.

The vessel has an entire team dedicated to implementing strict waste management protocols which separate all wastes into seven distinct types (i.e. glass, aluminum and paper) with specialized equipment to crush or bundle each type in the ship’s waste management facility.

MSC World Europa also features an underwater radiated noise management system to minimize disturbance to marine life, along with a comprehensive range of energy efficient equipment onboard to optimize engine use and hotel energy needs and further reduce emissions. It is fitted with enhanced automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimize operational efficiency onboard.

Next-generation cruise experience

During this first summer season in the Mediterranean, guests on MSC World Europa will be able to experience the trailblazing ship’s extraordinary features and impressive spaces, including the spectacular World Promenade, immersive restaurants, next-level entertainment options and MSC Cruises’ largest, most action-packed kids’ area.

Disney Cruise line to homeport ship acquired from Genting Hong Kong creditors to Singapore

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 30 March 2023 30 March 2023

Disney Cruise Line and Singapore Tourism Board agreed to collaborate to homeport the newbuilding Disney Cruise Line bought from the creditors of the failed Genting Hong Kong group in Singapore for at least five years beginning in 2025.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date, the company said in a statement.

Disney Cruise Line estimates the passenger capacity of the 208,000-gross-ton ship to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members. It is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fueled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available The passenger capacity envisaged by Disney Cruise Line is much lower than the original figure of 9,500 cited by Genting Hong Kong.

Construction is projected to be completed in Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish and is constructing two additional Wish-class ships.

Cruising in Singapore and Southeast Asia

Singapore’s strategic location, world-class air connectivity and port infrastructure make it a thriving cruise hub in Southeast Asia, a diverse region that is home to over 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The addition of a Disney Cruise Line ship in Singapore has the potential to add millions of local and foreign cruise passengers across the five-year period, including fly-cruise passengers who arrive in Singapore by air.

It is also expected to bring about significant spillover benefits for the wider economy. These include greater demand for port and ship-related services, as well as on-ground spending in Singapore for the lifestyle and hospitality sectors.

New Disney Cruise Ship for Families in Southeast Asia

The new ship will feature innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart. Guests of all ages will find dedicated spaces and activities designed just for them, and families will create unforgettable memories with beloved characters such as Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse, Disney Princesses, Marvel Super Heroes and more.

Silversea and Meyer Werft celebrate keel laying of Silver Ray

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 24 March 2023 24 March 2023

Silversea Cruises and MEYER WERFT celebrated the keel laying of Silver Ray on March 23, hosting select Travel Advisors for a symbolic ceremony at the shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. An age-old shipbuilding tradition, the keel laying marks the start of a ship’s assembly. The second ship in Silversea’s pioneering Nova class, the 728-guest Silver Ray is expected to enter service in summer 2024, joining her sister ship, Silver Nova, as one of the most sustainable ships in her class.

Barbara Muckermann, Silversea’s President and CEO, and Jan Meyer, Managing Director of MEYER WERFT, were among the attendees as a commemorative coin, bearing Silver Ray’s silhouette, was placed under a pre-assembled module – weighing 230 tonnes, and measuring approximately 47m by 8m (155ft by 27ft) – as a symbol of good luck. Attendees subsequently raised a glass to celebrate the important milestone.

“We were delighted to welcome select members of our valued trade community to the MEYER WERFT shipyard in Papenburg to witness this milestone in the build of Silver Ray – one of the first times that Travel Advisors have attended the keel laying of an ultra-luxury ship,” said Barbara Muckermann, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “Anticipation is building for the introduction of our pioneering Nova class ships, with Silver Nova set to join the fleet this summer. In addition to being two of the most sustainable ultra-luxury cruise ships ever launched, the Nova class ships will introduce an asymmetrical design and a horizontal layout for the first time in our cruise line’s history, as well as all-new public venues that are among the most spacious at sea. Silver Nova and Silver Ray represent important milestones on Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to achieving a net zero newbuild, and I thank the entire team at MEYER WERFT, as well as those involved at Royal Caribbean Group and Silversea, for their invaluable collaboration.”

"The Nova class will set new standards on the way to net zero emissions cruising. We are therefore delighted to take another symbolic step in the construction of Silver Ray today with the keel laying. I am sure that the ultra-luxury ship will be able to meet the high demands of her guests and will inspire them with her innovative design," said Jan Meyer, Managing Director of MEYER WERFT.

Before Silver Ray’s official keel laying ceremony, attending guests were given a tour of Silver Nova, which nears completion at the MEYER WERFT shipyard and is set to join Silversea’s fleet this summer. A first for Silversea, both Nova class ships will incorporate an innovative asymmetrical design and a horizontal layout, with public spaces and suites spanning the entire length of each ship. Silver Nova and Silver Ray will enrich guests’ travels with an unprecedented openness to the destination.