Viking celebrates 25th anniversary in Amsterdam

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 01 October 2022 01 October 2022

Viking yesterday marked the company’s 25th anniversary with a historic celebration in Amsterdam. To commemorate the milestone, for the first time ever, three classes of Viking ships – a river ship, an ocean ship and the company’s newest expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris – met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands. Participating in the convoy with the Viking Polaris were the Viking Longship, the Viking Mani, and the ocean vessel, the Viking Mars.

During the Amsterdam event, Viking also named the Viking Polaris and her identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis, which is currently sailing her inaugural season in the Great Lakes. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, before traveling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.

“Today is historic for Viking – to celebrate our 25th anniversary, to have all classes of our ships sailing together for the first time, and to name our phenomenal new expedition vessels. We are very grateful to their godmothers, Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, for honoring us. As renowned explorers who became the first women to ski across Antarctica, they are the perfect choice for ships that are designed for expeditions,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “I am very proud of what we have accomplished in our first 25 years. And in our view, we are just getting started. Where do we go next? Onwards.”

Renowned explorers and educators Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, the respective ceremonial godmothers of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris, were in attendance in Amsterdam and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the new ships – with Arnesen offering her blessing remotely via video to the Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes. In keeping with the naming tradition, Arnesen and Bancroft assisted in breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit on each of the ship’s hull. During the ceremony, guests enjoyed performances from Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, and violinist Tor Jaran Apold. Guests on all three Viking ships in Amsterdam were able to join in the naming ceremony, as well as witness the historic convoy, from their ships’ respective outdoor viewing areas.

Viking’s 25th anniversary celebration in Amsterdam is the most recent event during a milestone year in which the company has also welcomed to its fleet eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe and new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers. By the end of 2022, two new, identical ocean ships will have also joined Viking’s fleet. Earlier this year, Viking was named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards, in which the company became the first cruise line ever to top both categories in the same year. Viking is also rated #1 for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler, making it the first cruise line to ever simultaneously earn #1 in its categories from both publications. Additionally, Viking has published a new video about the company’s history and some of the key partners who have contributed to its success, which was shared on board all Viking ships as part of the 25th anniversary celebration.

Hotel and resorts group Four Seasons enters cruise yacht sector

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 28 September 2022 28 September 2022

Four Seasons, the Toronto, Canada, based hotels and resorts group said it had set up Four Seasons Yachts and that it stands behind an order for two luxury vessels Fincantieri won in July, when the client was not named.

With its inaugural journey anticipated for late 2025, the first Four Seasons vessel will be 207 metres (679 feet) long and 27 metres (88.6 feet) wide with 14 decks. At a cost to build of $4.2 million per suite, no expense is being spared in terms of the remarkable custom design. The first Four Seasons Yacht will offer nearly 50% more living space per guest than currently available, offering ultimate privacy, flexibility and spaciousness in an all-suite nautical residential setting.

“Along with Four Seasons, this new venture brings together an unparalleled group of partners: Nadim Ashi and Philip Levine, leading luxury entrepreneurs and bold visionaries of this exceptional yacht experience, as well as Fincantieri, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding groups, which will deliver the first new vessel by the end of 2025,” four Seasons said in a statement.

The order, which was announced in July, includes the option for two additional vessels and amounts to approximately €1.2 billion.

“Four Seasons Yachts represents the next chapter of our long history of industry leading innovation, and a milestone moment for our company as we continue to capitalize on new opportunities to extend the world of Four Seasons,” said Christian Clerc, President, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, in the statement.

Veteran luxury travel industry expert Larry Pimentel is responsible for leading the new enterprise. “In partnership with Four Seasons, we are creating a new category of luxury lifestyle travel that appeals to discerning guests. We are bringing together the very best across industries to create the pinnacle yachting offering through world-class design, curated experiences, and truly exceptional service,” said Pimentel.

“When we launch in 2025, there will be nothing else like it on the open seas. Our shipbuilding partnership with Fincantieri rounds out a triumvirate of industry leaders in this unprecedented luxury lifestyle project.”

 Deck height 2.4 metres, largest suite 892 sq.m.

The vessel’s 95 accommodations will feature an extensive network of joining suite combinations creating adaptable, villa-like residences. Each suite will offer floor-to-ceiling windows providing unobstructed natural light and access to expansive terrace decks. The combination of generous indoor and outdoor private guest space and ceiling heights of more than 2.4 metres (7.9 feet) will achieve a new level of guest comfort.

Suite accommodations will start at an average of 54 square metres (581 square feet) of indoor/outdoor living space, designed seamlessly to be part of each room. Sixty percent of the vessel’s inventory is in excess of 76 square metres (818 square feet) of indoor/outdoor space.

The most expansive residence, the “Funnel Suite” will be an astonishing four levels, offering more than 892 square metres (9,601 square feet) of combined indoor/outdoor living space, including a private wading pool and dedicated private spa area, creating a sea view home away from home.

Globally renowned design partners have been engaged including Tillberg Design of Sweden as lead architect responsible for the design of exterior and guest suites, and London-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio for the design of many of the yacht’s spectacular guest areas. These design partners will be paired with the creative direction of Prosper Assouline.

“An Unparalleled Guest Experience at Sea”

The vessel’s restaurants, lounges and bar concepts will celebrate the excellence and creativity that has been the hallmark of Four Seasons history of culinary innovation and attention to guest preferences.

A perfect cappuccino in the lobby, a Mediterranean-inspired lunch, a dinner tasting at the sushi bar or a glass of champagne on the breathtaking terrace – guests will never be far from a perfect bite always paired with remarkable sea views, renowned intuitive service, and much more. 

The Four Seasons Yacht will also offer guests a full-service spa, salon, and wellness programming – from fitness to health, and nutrition. The classic canoe-shaped aft will be home to an expansive pool deck, allowing for moments of leisure and relaxation. This area will also transform into an outdoor movie theatre or space for an array of private events.

The elegant and industry-first transverse marina is also an ideal spot for guests to enjoy the inviting water, sunbathe or explore the specially-designed aqua leisure toys and accessories. Many more of the vessel’s unique features and programming will be revealed in the coming months and up to the vessel’s delivery in late 2025.

The onboard yacht experience will be led and staffed by a dedicated Four Seasons Yacht team to bring each voyage’s itinerary and destinations to life. The vessel will have an industry-leading staff-to-guest ratio to deliver an unmatched standard of highly personalized service.

Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD to operate vessels

Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, was founded and conceived by luxury entrepreneurs, Nadim Ashi and Philip Levine. Nadim Ashi, owner of Fort Partners, is responsible for Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida and multiple other properties, including the future Four Seasons hotel in Rome.

Philip Levine is former two-time Mayor of Miami Beach and, real estate and cruise entrepreneur. Mr. Levine is the recipient of the distinguished French award, “Officer of Légion d’honneur” for his passionate work in combatting climate change.

Both Ashi and Levine serve as co-executive chairs of the newly formed luxury yacht company. Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD is incorporated in Valletta, Malta and is responsible for yacht sales and marketing, marine, technical operations, navigation, deployment strategy and related shoreside and vessel crewing out of its Miami, Florida operations office.

Reservations for the Four Seasons Yacht are anticipated to open in the third quarter of 2023.