30 CRUISE NEWS


ILVERSEA Cruises is expanding its all-inclusive offerings in time for the upcoming Wave Season, providing guests with increased flexibility, addi- tional savings and a limited-time reduced deposit of just 15%.


Here’s a snapshot of the new all-inclusive fare op- tions:


Door-to-Door All-Inclusive Fare– Now with 15% Re- fundable Reduced Deposit. Already among the most robust all-inclusive offerings available in cruising, Silversea’s popular Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares now feature a 15% refundable reduced deposit on all worldwide voyages sailing through 31 March 2023, if booked between now and 28 February 2022. This limited-time 15% reduced deposit compli- ments an unmatched collection of all-inclusive benefits, including roundtrip economy airfare, reduced business class air, or air credit; all airport/hotel/ship transfers, including new private executive transfers from home; pre- and post-cruise hotel night/s or hotel day-rooms; and luggage handling — all in addition to Silversea’s


Princess Cruises Debut Brand New Discovery Ship


Princess Cruises achieved a major milestone in prepa- ration for the debut of its newest ship – Discovery Prin- cess – with the completion of sea trials.


Discovery Princess set out to sea from the construc- tion dock at Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and was put through her paces with a series of tests of the steering, navigation equipment and propulsion. Af- ter a successful five days of trials, Discovery Princess is now back in the shipyard for further exterior and interi- or finishing to prepare for her maiden seven-night Mex- ican Riviera cruise, sailing roundtrip from the Port of Los Angeles on March 27, 2022.


The 3,660-guest Discovery Princess is the sixth and


final Royal-Class newbuild and shares all of the spec- tacular style and luxury of her sister ships – Enchanted Princess,


Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Royal Princess. With an array of innovative experienc- es, guests can enjoy 270-degree sweeping views from the largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites, unwind at The Sanctuary and indulge the senses with world-class din- ing options. Plus, Princess live entertainment presents new West End-style production shows that can only be seen in the Princess Theatre.


In addition, Discovery Princess is the newest ship


to join the fleet offering Princess MedallionClass holi- days which begins with the Medallion, a 10 pence-sized, wearable device that enables everything from expedited contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having what- ever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favourite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best Wi-Fi at sea, as well as stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream movies and shows. Discovery Princess will sail on a series of Mexican Riviera and California Coast voyages from March 27 – April 24, 2022, before heading up the Pacific coast to be- gin a season of seven-night Alaska cruises from Seattle. More information about Discovery Princess can be found at https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experi- ence/ships/xp-discovery-princess/ Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 0344 338 8663 or by visiting the company’s website at princess.com.


inclusive shore excursions and onboard services. NEW! Port-to-Port All-Inclusive Lower Fares. Appealing to travellers who prefer to make their pre-and post-cruise travel arrangements independently – including their air, hotel, and transfers –the new Port- to-Port All-Inclusive lower fares are now available on selected itineraries and departure dates. With an offer around an average 25% savings compared to Door-to- Door fares. These lower fares offer a great value with- out sacrificing luxury as guests will enjoy included shore excursions and all of Silversea’s onboard amenities and services. The Port-to-Port fares, which are subject to availability and offered for a limited number of Vista and Veranda suites on select voyages, will be revised from time-to-time starting on 28 February 2022. These fares require a non-refundable 15% deposit. Those who wish to benefit from these fares are encouraged to book. “In anticipation of Wave Season, we have enhanced


our all-inclusive offering with the addition of a reduced deposit and our new Port-to-Port All-Inclusive promo- tion, designed specifically for those guests who may


January 2022 Travel News


Silversea Launch New “Wave Season” Promotion S


Havila Capella Sets Out on First Voyage


prefer to design their own pre- and post-cruise travel arrangements,” says Barbara Muckermann, Chief Com- mercial Officer, Silversea Cruises.


Continued Peace of Mind with Cancellation Policy for COVID-19, for both rates.


Demonstrating a strong commitment to both guests and travel advisors, Silversea’s Refund and Cancellation Policy for COVID-19 applies to both rates and benefits new bookings made on sailings through 30 April 2022. Under this policy, guests booked with either fare option may cancel their booking and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit or a 100% refund for the total cruise fare paid to Silversea if the guest is prohibited from travel- ling to the vessel due to a governmental travel restric- tion, or should the guest or a member of their travelling party test positive for COVID-19 within 30 days of embarkation. See Silversea’s Refund and Cancellation Policy for COVID-19 for details.


Find more information on Silversea’s two all-inclu- sive fares at: https://www.silversea.com/best-luxury- cruise-deals.html


Explore the Galápagos with Hurtigruten Expeditions New 2023/24 Itineraries Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Galápagos guests will be


Hurtigruten Expeditions’ inaugural Galápagos expe- dition cruise departs on January 7, 2022, but the compa- ny has already revealed an additional three new itinerar- ies available for 2023 and 2024. Guests will be able to choose from four different small-ship expedition cruises, ranging from four to eight nights – covering the full span of the remote 19-island archipelago considered one of the most unique places on Earth. “The iconic Galápagos can be considered a planet within planet Earth due to its distinct wildlife and pris- tine landscape. This is one of the most distinct and pris- tine destinations there is. We are exceptionally proud to offer even more chances to sustainably connect with this adventure travel treasure,” said Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions. PROLIFIC NATURE: The biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands is uniquely


rich. The six-night Eastern Galápagos itinerary that


launches this January will be complemented with a four- night Northern Galápagos cruise, a four-night West- ern Galápagos cruise, and an eight-night combination covering Northern and Western Galápagos. All four options are now available to book for travel in 2023 and 2024.


In addition, Hurtigruten Expeditions expands the land-based pre and post-program, adding the award-winning luxury rainforest hotel Mashpi Lodge, located a few hours northwest of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, as a unique three-night pre or post-tour for any Galápagos cruise. MASHPI MAGNIFICENCE: The award-winning Mashpi Lodge offers a different luxury deep in the rainforest.


the first to experience the “new” MS Santa Cruz II. Cus- tom built for small-ship exploration, and with only 50 cabins and suites, the ship offers guests an intimate and comfortable way of exploring Galápagos. MS Santa Cruz II has undergone a multi-million dol- lar upgrade, including all public areas, cabins and suites – effectively operating as a virtually brand new ship with a light and modern Nordic design.


Besides the spacious Darwin Suites, the ship also has dedicated family and single cabins to suit diverse needs better. All cabins have also been upgraded with new mattresses and beddings. A separate upgrade is the dining menu, which now features vegan and more vege- tarian options at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. UPDATED FEATURES :


A Science Corner was also added during the upgrade in line with Hurtigruten Expeditions’ industry-leading Science Program, offering guests to even deeper ex- plore the true wonders of the archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.


Hurtigruten Expeditions has entered into a long-term partnership with Ecuador’s’ Metropolitan Touring, that effectively founded expedition cruising in Galápagos more than 70 years ago. This gives Hurtigruten Expe- ditions guests unique access to the local experience and knowledge, as well as exclusive access to the best land- ing sites in the Galápagos archipelago.


“The added itineraries and experiences are the result of what has proven to be a very fruitful partnership for the benefit of our valued guests. Our expanded offering will truly cover all the key areas of the Galápagos, which are all distinctively different from each other, offering guests an otherworldly experience combined with in- credible wildlife, ” said Lassesen


Maiden Cruise of Swan Hellenic’s SH Minerva Launches New Era


Cultural expedition cruise pioneer’s purpose-designed new ship left Ushuaia on a stunning 9-day New Year celebration Antarctic cruise.


Swan Hellenic announced that its new ship SH Minerva had left Ushuaia on her maiden cultural expe- dition cruise of the Antarctic at the end of December, for a 9-day New Year celebration of discovery. Cruising in the expert hands of industry veterans


Captain Tuomo Leskinen and Hotel Director Philipp Reutener, SH Minerva’s first guests looked forward to celebrating the New Year deep in the splendours of Antarctica. Here, they then began exploring the in- spiring sights and wildlife of the Peninsula and milder Shetland Islands in the company of Expedition Leader Pablo Brandeman, polar expert Steve Blamires and


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renowned ornithologist Andy Bunten. Internationally acclaimed chef Jörg Lehmann is


bringing Swan Hellenic’s distinctive new gastronomic vision to life on board, presenting varied menus of freshly cooked delicacies that include original Italian and Asian fusion dishes, created in partnership with multi-award-winning Consultant Chefs Andrea Ribal-


done and Sang Keun Oh. Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito commented: “We are immensely proud to have welcomed our


first guests aboard this wonderful new ship to live unique new experiences that advance the revered Swan Hellenic tradition, taking them to see what others don’t


in exceptional comfort and style.” CEO of Havila Voyages, Bent Martini, says they are


“very happy to finally cast off and get the very first expe- rience of the Norwegian coast and become an integral part of everyday traffic which forms part of the lifeblood of the coast”.


Havila Voyages has spent around NOK 500 million to make the ships environmentally friendly. Among other things, the plug-in hybrid ships have the world’s largest battery packs designed for passenger ships. They weigh 86 tons and have a capacity of 6.1 megawatt hours which is equivalent to 600 top of the range Teslas. The batteries allow these ships to sail for four hours without noise and emissions, and therefore they can sail quietly and sustainably through world heritage fjords and pristine nature.


The battery packs are just one of several measures that mean that the ships cut NOx emissions by around 90 per cent and CO2 emissions by around 25 per cent. The food concept on board with no buffets and where guests are personally served at their tables for all meals also means that Havila Voyages will cut food waste by a total of 60 tonnes per year.


Martini says Havila Voyages sails among “the world’s heritage and priceless nature and should do so in such a way that even those who come after us can experience it in the same way”.


Make 2022 A Year To Remember With Emerald Cruises


Guests can embark on a truly unforgettable voyage with exceptional offers from Emerald Cruises for 2022. From now, generous limited-time discounts are availa- ble across the complete portfolio of river cruises, with journeys through historical Europe and majestic South- east Asia, and across coastal yacht cruising itineraries, including the Mediterranean, the Adriatic coast and the Red Sea on the brand-new luxury superyacht, Emerald Azzurra.


Take a peek at some of the itineraries included: European river cruises


The eight-day Legendary Rhine & Moselle river cruise which sails from Bernkastel to Mainz, taking in Trier, Cochem, Koblenz, Rüdesheim and Wiesbaden, based on a 18 September 2022 departure on board Em- erald Dawn. Itinerary highlights include wine tasting and a bike tour in Bernkastel, a visit to Cochem Castle with entertainment and a guided hike to Niederwald- denkmal – a monument overlooking the valley of the Rhine.


Southeast Asia river cruises


Emerald Cruises’ 15-day Wonders of Vietnam, Cam- bodia & the Mekong itinerary takes guests on a journey from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, visiting Phnom Penh, Long Khanh Island, An Long, Sa Dec, Cai Be and My Tho along the way. Witness the incredible spectacle of acrobatics, theatre and music at the Phare Cambodian Circus, visit Angkor Wat for an incredible sunrise experience and explore Phnom Penh by night on a remork (tuk tuk). Journey to a family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory and visit a local scarf-weaving workshop on Long Khanh Island. Luxury yacht cruises


Emerald Azzurra’s eight-day Mediterranean En- chantment itinerary sails from Athens to Dubrovnik, taking in Itea (Delphi) and the Corinth Canal, Cepha- lonia Island, Párga, Kérkira (Corfu), Sarandë (Albania) and Kotor (Montenegro) en route. Be entertained by a guitar duo during an exclusive concert within a local church in Kotor, indulge in a mussel cooking demon- stration and tasting in a local Albanian restaurant and embark on several coastal kayaking tours. For more information on these offers or to book please visit www.emeraldcruises.co.uk


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