16 | CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com SOLO TRAVEL: EXPLORE THE WORLD ALONE
February 2023
TOP 20 BENEFITS OF SOLO HOLIDAYS ACCORDING TO TRAVELLERS:
• Make my own decisions • Doing what I want to do when I want to do it
• Eating where/what I want • Planning my day with no one else to consider
• Feeling free • Having the whole day to do what I want with
SOLO travel is climbing in popularity, with many people choosing to leave friends or family at home and go on a trip by themselves. Over one in three travellers (37%) claim they prefer to go it alone, and three in ten (31%) have already booked onto a solo holiday for 2023.
According to research commissioned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), two thirds of people have indulged in a solo trip before, with the top reasons for doing so being to simply have a break (33%) or treat themselves (30%). Almost one in five (17%) booked a holiday to reconnect with themselves after a break-up. Not having to put up with annoying habits such as snoring from fellow travellers (18%) and no risk of drama or fallings out (17%) were revealed as some of the top perks of travelling solo.
Although there are clear positives, many still enjoy being sociable with other holidaymakers, with 29% claiming they’re still good friends with fellow travellers they met on vacation. The study of 2,000 adults further revealed that for a third (34%) of Brits who are yet to travel alone, a cruise (19%), a relaxing getaway (28%) and a city break (27%) score high on wish lists.
Gary Anslow, Head of UK and Ireland Business at NCL, said, “We can see from the survey that enjoying the beauty of travel on your own enables a truly authentic experience and provides for self-discovery and growth. Plus, meeting fellow solo travellers can
even lead to long lasting friendships.” NCL was the first cruise line to launch its award- winning Studio concept back in 2010, designed and priced exclusively for solo cruisers – and created as a stylish space to escape and connect with other solo travellers. The Studio complex can be found on nine ships within the NCL fleet sailing to some of the most sought-after destinations worldwide including Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe. In 2023, Norwegian Viva, the second ship in the Brand’s ground-breaking Prima Class, will provide solo guests with 73 Studio cabins, all with exclusive access to the Studio Lounge, a shared private area where they can socialise with other solo holidaymakers and swap travelling tales. Those cruising on their own will have the flexibility to enjoy the plethora of onboard activities ranging from the world’s first and only three-storey racetrack to Broadway-style entertainment and 17 different dining options either by themselves, or with friends they’ve met on their trip.
Norwegian Viva will sail through the Mediterranean later this year, homeporting in key Southern European port cities including Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; as well as Athens (Piraeus), Greece. She will then voyage to the Southern Caribbean for her 2023-2024 Winter Season, offering sun-kissed solo getaways from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Cunard and Contemporary Circus Company Join Forces for Queen Elizabeth’s 23/24 Homeport Season
first partnership with contemporary circus
• Taking my time exploring • Do everything I want to do • Spend as much or as little money on what I want
Direct Flights from Belfast to World’s Largest Ship this Summer!
FOLLOWING the incredible reaction to Royal Caribbean International’s direct flights from George Best Belfast City Airport to Ravenna, Italy, the cruise line has announced it will be expanding its air offering to Barcelona for summer 2023. Guest departing from Belfast will have the opportunity to fly direct to Barcelona thanks to the partnership between Royal Caribbean International,
Belfast International
Airport and Easy Jet. The enhanced flight programme will offer direct flights from Belfast
to Barcelona for guests sailing
onboard Symphony of the Seas this summer. From 4th June until 17th September, guests have one less thing to worry about thanks to a smoother holiday experience from start to finish.
Jennifer Callister, Head of Ireland sales at
Orient Express Silenseas: The Legendary Train Heads Out to Sea LUXURY cruise line Cunard announced a world
company Circa, culminating in a 6-week residency on board the magnificent Queen Elizabeth whilst the ship sails Australian and New Zealand waters in early 2024.
Royal Caribbean International, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer our guests sailing the Western Med the opportunity to fly direct to Barcelona. It’s now simpler than ever to book that ultimate family holiday and guests can spend the time saved getting prepared for all the excitement in store onboard.”
140 YEARS after the launch of its first luxury trains, the Orient Express legend continues with the unveiling of the world’s largest sailing ship, Orient Express Silenseas. This
revolution in maritime history is an ambitious undertaking that pushes the limits of what is possible. The result of a unique French partnership between world leader in hospitality Accor and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a globally leading shipbuilding company, this extraordinary sailing yacht of the future with spectacular interiors will set sail in 2026. “With Orient Express Silenseas, we are beginning a new chapter in our history, taking the experience and excellence of luxury travel and transposing it onto the world’s most beautiful seas. This exceptional sailing yacht, with roots in Orient Express’ history, will offer unparalleled service and refined design spaces, reminiscent of the golden age of mythical cruises. Innovation is at the heart of this ultra- modern ship that will revolutionise the maritime
world with new technology to meet today’s sustainability challenges. It is a boat designed to make dreams a reality, a showcase for the best of French savoir-faire.” -Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, Accor. “With a signed letter of intent to order two
ships, Chantiers de l’Atlantique is proud to herald a new era in the shipbuilding industry with Silenseas. This concept, born in our design offices in 2018, is the quintessence of our savoir-faire in the fields of naval architecture, the construction of sophisticated hulls, as well as the design of luxurious spaces. In addition, the installation of three SolidSail rigs, a revolutionary 1,500-square meter unit wind propulsion system, for which
we have developed and tested a first prototype, will contribute significantly to the propulsion of the ship. Combined with a
hybrid propulsion
system running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), Silenseas will thus become the ship of reference in terms of environmentally-friendly operation and design. ”
-Laurent Castaing, Managing Director,
Chantiers de l’Atlantique. A 220-meter-long ocean treasure with a tonnage of 22,300 UMS, Orient Express Silenseas will feature 54 Suites measuring on average 70-square-meters, including a monumental 1,415-square-meter Presidential Suite (including a 530-square-meter private terrace), two swimming pools
including a restaurants and a speakeasy bar. lap pool, two
• Not having to go somewhere just because someone else wants to
• I can be as sociable or as anti-social as I want to be
• Going to bed when I want • Not having to compromise • No waiting around for others to get ready / go out for the day
• Not having to commit to social plans with others
• No annoying habits to put up with e.g. snoring, moaning about walking far etc
• Free time to reflect/think • Shopping without feeling like I’m dragging someone else around
• Step outside of my comfort zone
• Waking up when I want
www.NCL.com
American Jazz Repositions West for Historic New 2023 California River Cruise
AMERICAN Cruise Lines has announced that American Jazz, one of the company’s ten new riverboats, is repositioning from the Mississippi River to the West Coast for brand new California river
cruises
beginning February 2023 – the first of their kind since the 1940s. Already underway on the journey from the Mississippi River to San Francisco Bay, American Jazz is expected to transit the Panama Canal in the coming days. American Jazz’s repositioning voyage is following a similar route to the historic US mail ships of the Gold Rush era that carried passengers, mail and gold between the East and West coasts.
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