Celebrity Cruises takes delivery of its new mega yacht specifically designed for Galapagos

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 14 May 2019 14 May 2019

The first ship designed specifically for the Galapagos Islands – Celebrity Cruises’ revolutionary Celebrity Flora – is preparing to embark on her transatlantic journey to her new home in the diverse archipelago following an intimate delivery ceremony.

In honor of the significant moment – a culmination of more than two years of planning and 18 months of construction – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain hosted a ceremony aboard Celebrity Flora, while docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Company and shipyard executives were also in attendance, plus more than 70 crew members, many of whom are Ecuadorian natives.

“The delivery of Celebrity Flora is a momentous occasion,” said Fain. “Designing a new ship specifically for the Galapagos Islands was an exciting challenge and we think Celebrity Flora succeeded beautifully. It is of course luxurious – but it’s also the most energy-efficient ship of its kind in the region, which further demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and protecting the vital ecosystem of this unique place.”

“More than two years of planning, collaboration and construction have led to this very exciting moment,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Thanks to the hard work of hundreds of architects, artisans, engineers and more, we’re one step closer to the first-ever sailing of the beautiful Celebrity Flora, which will forever change the way guests experience the Galapagos. Travelers will soon be able to step on board our stunning 100-guest mega yacht with the largest and most luxurious all-suite accommodations in the Galapagos Islands.”

The most energy-efficient ship of its kind in the region, the 100-guest Celebrity Flora was designed specifically to explore the Galapagos. The cutting-edge new ship will feature Celebrity’s signature outward-facing design concept, giving guests 360-degree views of the islands, and all-suite accommodations – including an unprecedented 50-percent Sky Suites with Infinite Veranda – with service provided by personal attendants. Unique to Celebrity Flora are the first-ever glamping experience at sea, new dining venues, an open-air stargazing platform, expert-led ecological seminars, and custom-designed Novurania yacht tenders, which create a seamless sea-to-shore experience.

Celebrity Flora will have the highest ratio of Certified Naturalists per guest (1:9) in the Galapagos, who will offer travelers an in-depth experience with certification by the Galapagos National Park, recognizing their extensive educational training and commitment to maintaining the pristine nature of these islands.

With the launch of their newest ship, Celebrity had the opportunity to blend exploration and research by making Celebrity Flora the first vessel in the Galapagos to be equipped with cutting-edge oceanographic research equipment, known as Oceanscope. The program builds on a more than 20-year relationship with University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science that benefits from a cruise ship’s consistent itinerary to create a perfect and cost-effective way for scientists to gather and measure ocean circulation dynamics. The system will track and map the region while measuring sea-surface temperatures and gathering data critical to research prediction of El Niño and La Niña. All findings gathered by Celebrity Flora will become open source data – globally accessible to research – a first for scientists around the world and anyone with a passion for this information. Another first is that guests will be able to view the data through compelling real-time visualizations on board the ship. These visualizations will give guests the opportunity to learn more about the beautiful Galapagos Islands region and its scientific importance.

Celebrity Flora will sail from Baltra year-round, making her first sailing on June 30, 2019. Bookings are open at www.celebritycruises.com/galapagos/ships/celebrity-flora or through a travel advisor, for the ship’s alternating seven-night inner and outer loop itineraries and selection of 10-, 11-, and 16-night packages, which feature either pre- or post-cruise expeditions.

54th MedCruise GA reconnecting Eastern Mediterranean

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 09 May 2019 09 May 2019

Alan Lam reporting from Kuşadasi

The 54th MedCruise General Assembly is currently underway in Kuşadasi, Turkey, hosted by Global Ports Holding (GPH), the biggest specialist cruise port operator in the world. Unsurprisingly, the main focus of the conference is on the revival of Eastern Mediterranean cruise market in general, the Turkish market in particular.

As the geopolitical impact subsides and the memories of recent unfortunate events fade, cruise ships and passengers are coming back to the region in bigger numbers and at increasingly quicker paces. Most Turkish ports are experiencing rapid recoveries.

There is a very human story to be told here. This is the part of the world where human history and civilisation are measured by millennia, not by centuries. It is the home of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The connection and yearning to reconnect with the past is so strong that no geopolitical force can render it asunder. Cruise ships approaching and departing the ancient harbours of Eastern Mediterranean are symbols of this reconnection. Cruise business of this region has now a new perspective of its mission.

Not all cruise lines withdrew their ships in the aftermath of the recent events. Those who never left are now reaping the rewards and thriving.

As creating new itineraries needs time, major differences in traffics will only begin to be felt in 2021 and beyond.

Meanwhile, cruise ports and destinations in Turkey have taken the opportunity to upgrade their facilities and rethink their strategies. GPH ports are already feeling the forces of the returning tides and are rising to the challenges.

There is much excitement, euphoric anticipation, and optimism among the stakeholders. A full analytical feature of the Assembly will appear in the next issue of CruiseBusiness.com Magazine