Travel News February 2019


Celebrity surveys music round globe


CELEBRITY Cruises commissioned detailed research into where in the world are to be found the most sung about cities, towns and locations. Celebrity Cruises wanted to know if people whom travel were inspired to do so because of a song about a romantic or just an inspiring and interesting place to visit. The list has New York as the outright winner with 161 songs and some distance behind is London in second place with 102 songs. London was in second place with just over 100 songs. They are followed by Los Angeles 87, Paris 52 and Miami in fi fth place with 46 songs mentioning the city. Paris was in fourth place on the Music Mapped listing. Southampton a port used by Celebrity Cruises has three songs on the Music Mapped list by Craig David, John and Yoko and Tinie Tempah. Although one song on the very detailed listing was written about a small town in North East England, Hartlepool. The song from there was from the 1960’s and by Benny Hill, a slightly bawdy English comedian.


Burgh Island had one song on the list, although this tiny island resort off the South Devon coast would be dwarfed if one of the latest cruise ships dropped by! Milan in Italy made it to number 20 on the Music Mapped list.


The research data was compiled by scanning lyrics of over 200,000 charting singles from the past 60 years. Celebrity Cruises used manual and automated analysis to scan the songs that charted in the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Offi cial Singles chart since 1960.This resulted in a fi nal data set of over 2,000 songs by 897 artists with 422 diff erent places being mentioned around the world.


This is the full top twenty:


1. New York, USA – 161 songs 2. London, UK – 102 songs 3. Los Angeles, USA – 87 songs 4. Paris, France – 52 songs 5. Miami, USA – 46 songs 6. New Orleans, USA – 43 songs 7. Rome, Italy – 30 songs 8. San Francisco, USA – 28 songs 9. Memphis, USA – 28 songs 10. Chicago, USA – 24 songs 11. Atlanta, USA – 23 songs 12 Detroit, USA – 23 songs 13. Compton, USA – 21 songs 14. Tokyo, Japan – 20 songs 15. Houston, USA – 16 songs 16. Las Vegas, USA – 16 songs 17. Ibiza, Spain – 12 songs 18. Mumbai, India – 11 songs 19. Liverpool, UK – 11 songs 20. Milan, Italy – 10 songs


CRUISE NEWS 13 Mix of old favourites


and new experiences CARNIVAL Cruise Line has revealed the fi rst look at design details for the highly anticipated Mardi Gras, the line’s most innovative ship set to debut in 2020 and the fi rst cruise ship in North America powered by LNG. Mardi Gras will off er an extensive array of popular Carnival guest favourites along with new exciting experiences highlighted by six themed zones. Throughout the ship’s 20 decks and in each of these distinctive areas, guests will fi nd fun, memorable ways to create their own personalised holiday with dining, drinking, entertainment, recreation and relaxation options. The accommodation on Mardi Gras will include more than 20 diff erent stateroom categories and multiple levels of spacious and luxurious suites. Mardi Gras will also include the most expansive open decks on any Carnival ship and a spectacular atrium that will serve as the hub of the ship as well as a stunning focal point where guests will be welcomed on board.


Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen takes technology to new heights


Taking cruisers to new expedition heights...


TECHNOLOGY will take the guest experience on Hurtigruten’s world’s-fi rst hybrid powered expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen to a new level. Her high-tech centerpiece: the tallest and most spectacular LED screen at sea.


Spanning seven decks and 17,5 meters, the screen will give the Hurtigruten guests a truly unique welcome when they step on board MS Road Amundsen – the world’s fi rst hybrid powered cruise ship. “Our focus on state-of-the-art design, innovation and technology is not limited to the exterior. It also includes the interior and will take the guest experience to a whole new level.


“By introducing the tallest LED-screen at sea, we will bring – and magnify - the splendid beauty of the passing nature, to the guests inside,” said Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam.


Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise company, currently has two next-generation expedition ships under construction at Norway’s Kleven yard. In addition, Hurtigruten and Kleven recently announced plans for a third hybrid powered sister ship. Launched in 2019, 2020 and 2021, MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and their yet to be named sister, will explore some of the most unique areas on our planet.


The stunning scenery will be refl ected in a modern Scandinavian design - with features spanning from the high-tech Amundsen Science Center, vast observation decks, an infi nity pool, panoramic sauna, wellness center, three restaurants, bars, Explorer Lounge, aft-facing suites with private outdoor hot tubs, and the laidback atmosphere that creates the special Hurtigruten on board feel.


The screen will be located in MS Roald Amundsen’s atrium. Facing the three all-glass elevators, it towers all the way up to and including deck 10. Featuring cutting edge LED technology, the screen will provide a resolution beyond 4K Ultra-HD, with perfect seamless and borderless display.


With stunning image quality, the technology off ers endless possibilities.


“When our guests Choose Fun and book a holiday on Mardi Gras, they are going to fi nd many fi rsts and exciting experiences, all enhanced by the fun atmosphere our great Carnival crew deliver on every cruise,” said Christine Duff y, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’ve specifi cally designed Mardi Gras to invite everyone to create their own personalised fun holiday experience with options to suit every age, mood or taste.”


Oceana mid-size ships


OCEANIA Cruises has ordered two new €575 million ships, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2025. The cruise line, a premium subsidiary of NCL, said the vessels would be a new class of mid-size ship, with each accommodating approximately 1,200 guests. “This new class of ships will represent an evolution of the Oceania Cruises experience with all the elements our guests treasure - a warm, intimate, residential style; the most spacious standard staterooms afl oat; amazing suites, and of course, the fi nest cuisine at sea,” said CEO Bob Binder.


He said the new Allura class ships will retain the popular design elements and signature amenities of the line’s Marina and Riviera while aff ording guests an additional level of comfort, convenience and many new luxury amenities.


The ships will be built at the Italian shipyard, Fincntieri.


The Marella Explorer 2 is undergoing extensive refurbishment ahead of its April launch Marella Explorer 2 Refurbishment begins


THE latest addition to the Marella Cruises’ fl eet - Marella Explorer 2 - is now on the blocks in Cadiz, Spain as its refurbishment process begins. The adult-only ship is set to leave the port on March 27 before embarking on her fi rst customer sailing around the Mediterranean, leaving from Palma, Majorca on April 2.


With just eight-weeks in dry dock before she takes to the seas, around 1,520 people, from partners, contractors and the Marella Cruises team, will provide more than 190,000 man hours to deliver an extensive multi-million pound refurbishment.


A total of 43 square kilometres of carpet will be laid, along with more than 70km of network cabling and 640 wi-fi access points.


There will be 9.5 tonnes of Marella-branded items, including uniform and almost 1,000 show team costumes are already enroute to Spain. Not to mention the tens of thousands of litres of paint, 2.9km of bathroom trims and mile-upon-mile of fabric that go into giving a 71,545 GRT ship a makeover.


At 265.5 meters long and 32.2 meters wide Marella Explorer 2 is the second of the Explorer ships to be welcomed into the Marella Cruises fl eet. The 1,814 capacity ship (double occupancy) boasts 907 cabins, nearly 40 per cent with balconies, and spans 14 decks.


It will boast three new venues including a new clubhouse bar, the 19th hole, with quirky golf buggy- seating and two golf simulators - the funky bar will even serve up golf themed cocktails and craft beers! Other highlights include Flutes, a sophisticated bubbles bar catering for prosecco and Champagne lovers, Nonna’s, a traditional Italian trattoria off ering traditional pizza and pasta and The Beach Cove which serves up barbecue inspired delights with an on the beach al fresco dining feel.


Marella Explorer 2 will also be home to a Champneys Spa, off ering a full-service thermal suite, treatment suites with their own showers and a beauty salon. Guests will also be able to book an exclusive Marella treatment.


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