2 | CRUISE NEWS
continued from page 1... Malaysia, and Hong Kong, represents one of the final pillars in our global return to service.” Solo travel and first time travel has become
a standout way to explore for 2023 which is believed to have stemmed from the long periods of lockdowns throughout 2020-21. “Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people who are choosing to cruise for the first time, and even more interestingly, an increase in the number of people who’ve previously enjoyed cruising but are coming to Saga for the first time. We put that down to the fact we’re doing things a bit differently. While other cruise lines are producing increasingly huge ships and filling them with as many people as possible, we’re doing the opposite.
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We’re maintaining and continuing to build on our incredibly high standards, and our beautiful, boutique ships catering to just 987 guests are helping to woo discerning travellers.” said Saga Cruises CEO Nigel Blanks. NCL Head of UK and Ireland Business Gary Anslow also highlighted a unique situation regarding this years travel trends, “Keen to look into this in more detail, we recently conducted a survey with OnePoll, which found that over one in three travellers (37%) claim they prefer to travel alone, with three in ten (31%) already booking onto a solo holiday for 2023. In 2010, NCL debuted a cruise-industry first with our Studio concept, an area dedicated to solo travellers complete with a private lounge and solo cabins that come without any single surcharges, which revolutionised how many viewed the cruise experience and, as a result, the industry as a whole.” And with business booming, cruise companies are having to look beyond 2023 and in some cases, beyond 2024! “For many itineraries, particularly the Nile, the demand is so high we have already opened availability for 2025.” Said a spokesperson for Viking cruises. “For our ocean itineraries, Iceland is currently our
EXPLORA JOURNEYS REVEALS DETAILS OF CULINARY OFFERING
EXPLORA Journeys has presented additional information on five of its six onboard restaurants on EXPLORA I, the first of six ships, that will set sail on 17 July 2023 from Southampton in the UK. Among the ship’s 18 food and beverage venues these 5 restaurants offer guests superb all- inclusive menus that include unique signature dishes influenced by a variety of international
cuisines.The visual excitement and sheer variety of luxury dining experiences at Explora Journeys’ restaurants come thanks to the leadership of Franck Garanger and his extraordinarily talented team.
Scenic Reveals New 2024 & 2025 East Antarctica and Ross Sea Voyages
ULTRA-LUXURY cruise operator Scenic has announced three new Scenic Eclipse II voyages in the East Antarctic and Ross Sea region. The new itineraries will give guests the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the world’s greatest explorers including Dr Douglas Mawson, Robert Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. Scenic guests will be among just a few who make it that far south each year, immersing themselves in wild landscapes teeming with seabirds, penguins, whales and seal species. Exclusive to only a limited number of guests
per season, three new itineraries are included in the 2024/2025 programme, each allowing guests to experience regions traditionally unexplored and unavailable to exploration cruise lines. The 28-day Mawson’s Hut & Commonwealth
Bay, Australia’s Antarctic Expedition sailing from the spectacular Milford Sound fjord on New Zealand South Island to Hobart, Tasmania Highlights include: • A visit to the Mawson’s Huts complex at Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, in the far eastern sector of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The buildings here were built and occupied by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of
1911–14, led by geologist and explorer Dr Douglas Mawson, a close friend and contemporary of Sir Ernest Shackleton. The site is one of just six still surviving from the so-called ‘heroic era’ of Antarctic exploration. • Subject to permits, Scenic Eclipse II will make a landing on Macquarie Island, ones of the most wildlife rich places in the world, giving guests the chance to see the endemic royal penguins. Balleny Islands are windswept and remote islands, heavily glaciated and have received few human visitors since their discovery in 1839. The rich waters surrounding result in diverse wildlife including humpback, fin and minke whales along with crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals.
• The 28-day Antarctica’s Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife sailing from Hobart, Australia to Dunedin, New Zealand or the 23-day Antarctica’s Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife round-trip sailing from Dunedin.
• Both itineraries (weather permitting) include a visit to Ross Island, the ultimate in Antarctic experience. Here, on a clear day guests can view Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth and visit the historical hut of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
• The Ross Sea Ice Shelf is the largest floating body of ice on the planet, estimated to be the size of France, with cliffs of up to 50 metres and ice extending across 800 kilometres.
• On Cape Adare, guests will be able to take a Zodiac trip to marvel at the largest Adélie penguin rookery in Antarctica, while the volcanic past of Franklin Island offers another opportunity to explore the Adélie penguins and otherworldly landscapes such as the Mars-like Dry Valley, only accessible by helicopter^.
top selling destination in the UK. Following this demand for the destination we are launching
multiple new itineraries which combine Iceland with other fascinating destinations”. Viking also highlighted how guests are opting for different times of year than the traditional summer and winter periods saying, “We have seen an increase in people choosing to travel in shoulder seasons – there is a growing demand amongst travellers to be able to explore iconic cities but without the crowds and travelling outside of peak times affords our guests this option. For this season in particular we have seen an increase in guests choosing to travel to the Mediterranean outside of the popular – and busier - summer months”. Princess Cruises, a regular sight in Belfast
dock has also seen a strong performance coming in for years to come, projecting a strong 2023 and 2024.“Cruise bookings are looking very strong for 2023 and 2024. Our itineraries departing from and return to Southampton remain particularly popular
February 2023
for our UK guests, with Regal Princess sailing the British Isles – including stops in Belfast – and Sky Princess sailing to destinations including Norway, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and even Canada and New England, which has proven to be an itinerary that is high in demand.” said Sales Director for Princess Cruises UK and Europe Nick Hughes. MSC Cruises are also set for a record-breaking year; That’s according to UK and Ireland Managing Director Antonio Paradiso. “We have had a great wave season so far and looking at current sales patterns, 2023 is looking like a record breaking year for us. Since Covid, many people now recognise the value of a cruise and the fact that it is budget-friendly. Our cruises stand out as exceptional value for money, and the icing on the cake is that they are all-inclusive and include gratuities, so there are no surprises”. Princess Cruises noted a rise in “all-inclusive bookings”as holidaymakers are preferring “to know how much to budget for their holiday”, just as MSC Cruises agreed. “Our Mediterranean cruises are one of the firm favourites amongst our Irish guests and our most sustainable ship, MSC World Europa, will be based in the med this summer.” said Antonio. As Belfast sails into a booming 2023, holidaymakers and travel companies share in a desire to propel cruising back to its pre- pandemic levels and to make the ultimate holiday available to everyone once again.
RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION WITH ACQUISITION OF FOUR ADDITIONAL SHIPS
GERMAN hotelier, Seaside Collection, has announced the expansion of Riverside Luxury Cruises’ fleet with the acquisition of MS Bach, MS Ravel, MS Mahler and MS Debussy originally designed and operated by Crystal Cruises. Beginning April 2023, the new line will offer
luxury Danube cruises aboard the Riverside Mozart, widely hailed as the most luxurious ship on the rivers. Riverside Ravel will include sailings on both the Rhône & Saône, providing guests a chance to indulge in all that Southern France has to offer sailing from Burgundy to Provence. Riverside Debussy will enchant guests as they sail along the Rhine and pass sheer cliffs, fairy- tale castles, ancient princedoms and shining cities from Amsterdam to Basel. Itineraries for the Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler are slated for 2024 and will be announced later this year for booking. “We are thrilled by the expansion of our fleet
to include these storied vessels,” says Gregor Gerlach, who founded Riverside Luxury Cruises. Gerlach continued, “This acquisition allows us to expand our itinerary offerings, showcasing a level of space, personalised service and elegance not found with any other river cruise line.”
Excitement as Viking’s Newest Ocean Ship Named in Los Angeles
VIKING named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Neptune, with a celebration in Los Angeles. As part of the event, the ship’s ceremonial godmother, Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship—a maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years. The Viking Neptune arrived in Los Angeles
early in the morning on 8 January and departed for Honolulu following the naming ceremony. The ship is currently sailing the 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise, an epic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to London that spans 138-days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities.
P&O Cruises Reports Biggest Ever Booking Day During Wave
P&O Cruises has reported its strongest booking day during the Wave period in P&O Cruises history, with four of its five biggest booking days ever falling in Wave 2023. P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “These record-breaking days are testament to the fact that a P&O Cruises holiday provides extraordinary value for money, which is critical at the moment, and also demonstrates how much everyone
values a holiday. “There are so many priorities for our hard-
earned or hard-saved money in the current climate and a cruise offers an almost all-inclusive, individual holiday. This is clearly recognised by a new generation of cruisers with the Norwegian fjords perennially popular for those trying a cruise for the first time.” The most popular itineraries booked were the
Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean and the Norwegian fjords. Ludlow continued: “This peak booking day demonstrates that a
cruise holiday shines, not only for value, but for versatility. It is a city break with friends, a family summer holiday, island-hopping fun, an adrenalin- fuelled adventure or a longer “grown-up gap year”. For more information or to book, call P&O
Cruises on 03453 555 111, visit www.pocruises. com or visit a travel agent.
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