30 | CRUISE NEWS
MSC Cruises Cancels Three ‘Grand Voyage’ Sailings Due to the Risk to Shipping in the Red Sea
MSC Cruises has cancelled three
repositioning ‘Grand Voyage’ sailings in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe because of the risk to shipping in the Red Sea. Ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the region has obliged the company to cancel a 24-n ig ht cruise of MSC Splendida fr om Durban, South Africa to Genoa, Italy, a 21-night sailing of MSC Opera from Dubai,
U A E
to Genoa and a 23-night voyage of MSC Virtuosa from Dubai to Southampton, UK. The safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority and as there was no viable alternative itinerary, the Company has regrettably had to cancel the voyages. The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without any passengers on board and avoid transiting through the Red Sea. Instead, they will sail around the west coast of Africa with no ports of call on their journeys to their respective European homeports for the summer 2024 season. None of the company’s other ships in its fleet are affected. All passengers booked on the three
repositioning cruises have been, or are in the process of being, contacted directly or through their travel agent and can transfer their booking to a future Grand Voyage of a similar duration for free. Alternatively, affected passengers can rebook to any other cruise in the company’s global network, with either a partial refund or additional payment for the difference in price of the original booking, or receive a full refund with no cancellation fee.
www.nitravelnews.com
February 2024 Viking Announces First-Of-Their-Kind China Voyages
VIKING have announced three new, first- of-their-kind itineraries that will provide guests with exclusive access to China in 2024. The new voyages range from 10 to 20 days and explore iconic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Each itinerary also includes a domestic sailing of China’s coast that highlights rarely-seen destinations and ports to which only Viking has access—something that has never before been offered for international visitors.
The new
voyages will operate from September to November on the Viking Yi Dun—formerly the Viking Sun—a sister ship featuring the same award-winning design and service as all other ocean ships in Viking’s fleet. The Chinese-flagged Viking Yi Dun will be the first ship dedicated specifically to the foreign market to operate domestic sailings in China. Each voyage will offer The Viking Way of exploration, with immersive experiences to introduce guests to the people, history and culture of China, including insightful lectures, Chinese-inspired cuisine and destination experts. “We are proud that Viking will be
the first to operate domestic sailings in China for international travellers. Our guests are curious travellers who are interested in experiences that broaden their mind—and China, with one of the richest cultures in the world, has been inspiring travellers for centuries,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “For more than 15 years, our Yangtze River voyages were among our highest- rated itineraries. We brought guests to China’s Yangtze River, to Beijing, to the
Great Wall, to the Terra Cotta Warriors and to many other iconic places in this captivating nation. We introduced the real China to our guests, and visiting local school children was always a particular highlight. Now, we are delighted to offer such encounters once again with new voyages to a destination that never ceases to capture the imagination.” New China Voyages Wonders of China — 20 days; Beijing
roundtrip — This comprehensive 20-day cruisetour itinerary delivers China’s main highlights. Guests can meet a Tibetan family at their home, walk on the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Additionally, guests experience the scenic coast of Dongtou and have opportunities to explore Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Shenzhen, a UNESCO city of design. Classic China & the Coast — 15
days; Beijing, Xian – Hong Kong (Shenzhen) — This voyage combines the experiences of Viking’s 10-day China Discovery voyage with opportunity to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors and other iconic landmarks. While sailing China’s coastline, guests can experience a phenomenal diversity in languages, cultures and cuisines. China Discovery — 10 days; Shanghai
– Hong Kong (Shenzhen) — This 10-day itinerary allows guests to experience the Buddhist shrines of Zhoushan and the cliffs of Dongtou, follow the steps of 19th-century European diplomats on Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, or try Cantonese dim sum in Shenzhen.
HX Announces MS Maud To Return This April
HX announces the return of MS Maud to service in April 2024. Following necessary repairs due to weather damage in late December, the purpose-built expedition ship will be ready to embark on journeys once more.
In mid-April, MS Maud will set sail for an
expedition around the British Isles. Guests will explore diverse coastlines and remote islands, uncovering hidden gems and natural wonders with the support of HX’s industry- leading Expedition Team. MS Maud will welcome beloved Scottish weather presenter Carol Kirkwood on its second British Isles journey, where she will engage guests with insightful talks and Q&A sessions while sailing from Douglas to Dover. In July, MS Maud will venture into the Arctic,
offering guests unparalleled expeditions to Greenland and Iceland, where it made history as the first cruise ship to connect to shore power in the latter. Handcrafted by HX’s team of experts, the itineraries bring guests closer to the local communities and wilderness of the north. With its almost 130 years of Arctic experience, HX pioneered expedition cruising in the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard in 1896. Come October, the small ship will head south to Antarctica for a series of new, immersive expeditions combining the majestic Patagonian fjords with Antarctica. At the heart of the adventure is the 17-day
Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica expedition. Additionally, MS Maud will embark on 23- and 24-day voyages that offer guests the chance to explore South America, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia in one remarkable adventure. All MS Maud sailings from April are part
of HXs current Wave Season offer, featuring free flights and an additional discount for members of the HX loyalty program. This campaign extends to HXs entire fleet, including all expeditions to Alaska, Galapagos, Northwest Passage, Antarctica, Greenland, and Iceland. Committed to its guests, HX has curated a
range of options for those originally booked on MS Maud from February 3 to March 16, 2024. Mirroring its Northern Lights Promise, guests can now choose to experience the same Northern Lights itinerary on MS Spitsbergen (subject to availability). Moreover, guests have the flexibility to rebook another voyage between January and April 2024. This includes select Norway sailings with sister brand, Hurtigruten, such as the North Cape Express, a Classic Roundtrip voyage from Bergen, and sailings from Hamburg on MS Otto, with the option to retain their original cabin category choice where available. Guests affected by these changes also have
the option to receive a future cruise voucher to book a new expedition at a later date or a full refund.
Swan Hellenic Unleashes Explore Together Savings for Travel Companions
SWAN Hellenic has announced a New Year’s celebration offer that unleashes a full 50% off the price for travel companions when you book one or more of its 2024 cultural expedition cruises by 29 February 2024. The offer applies to almost all the cruises on its boutique, Scandi-design expedition ships, from Antarctica to the Arctic, Africa, the Mediterranean, Western Europe and the Americas. What’s more, there’s no limit on party
size, so Explore Together isn’t just perfect for couples, but ideal for larger groups of friends as well. If ten of you are travelling, for example, then five benefit from this great 50% reduction. Equally, there are practically no restrictions on choice. So Explore Together offers the same 50% saving opportunities for Swan Hellenic’s acclaimed SETI Explore Space at Sea Series. Each of these brings a different world- renowned scientist from the SETI Institute aboard to provide guests with expert insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy,
astrophysics, astrobiology and
planetary science, as well as the quest to find other forms of life within and beyond our solar system. Explore Together even applies to Swan’s exclusive Maris gourmet cruises,
which
each showcase the skills of a different rising light from JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, the organisation for chefs under 40 who have already won international acclaim, including Michelin stars. The Swan Hellenic website can already take all this into account, making it easy to ensure you don’t miss out. Patrizia Iantorno, Chief Commercial Officer
of Swan Hellenic, says: “We wanted to start 2024 on a special note, offering adventurous travellers the opportunity to live exceptional experiences more accessibly with their closest friends. Explore Together does this generously and with total flexibility worldwide. Catching the Explore Together wave, you can make 2024 an unforgettable year, sharing life- changing exploration in depth”. For more information on Swan Hellenic’s
“Explore Together” wave offer, see: https://
promo.swanhellenic.com/wave2024 For more information about Swan Hellenic,
please visit:
www.swanhellenic.com For more information about Maris, please
visit:
https://maris.swanhellenic.com
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