24 CRUISE NEWS
Cruise Line Reflects on the ‘Best of 2020’
FRED. Olsen Cruise Lines is closing the year by reflecting on the very best of 2020, which has included a host of awards, a thriving Virtual Cruising programme and the introduction of two new ships in what has been a challenging and unprecedented year for the industry. On 13th March 2020, Fred. Olsen paused its operations and adapted to a new way of working. In April, it launched its award-winning Virtual Cruising programme. Since then there has been a new virtual cruise set sail every week, supported by hundreds of social media posts and almost 200 videos, which between them have been viewed over 1.6 million times. In July, Fred. Olsen announced it would be welcoming two new ships: the new flagship Bolette, and sister ship Borealis, which between them bring a host of new facilities for guests, including two-tiered theatres and restaurants, all-weather pools and culinary demonstration venues, to complement their fleet of smaller ships. Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen
Cruise Lines, said: “If there is one thing that 2020 has taught us, it is that while it has without doubt brought its challenges, we have also achieved an awful lot, and we must recognise and celebrate that. “We may have spent the majority of the year not
sailing – which is a first for us all in the cruise industry – but in that time we have still managed to win a number of awards, and have found a new way of connecting with our guests. “Through our Virtual Cruising programme, we have
been able to bring the joys of cruising to our guests directly into their homes, transporting them virtually to destinations including Norway, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and more. But more importantly, it has provided a platform for our guests to be able to interact with ourselves and each other, helping to combat isolation and loneliness throughout periods of lockdown. We have also seen an increase in the number of those booking with us for the first time, which is testament to the hard work of our teams this year in putting our customers at the heart of everything we do. What’s more, when we do welcome our guests back on board next year, we will be doing so with two fantastic new ships among the fleet – Bolette and Borealis – and we can’t wait! Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is set to resume sailing
from 23rd April 2021, with new ship Borealis the first to set sail with the six-night ‘Scottish Lochs and Isles’ cruise.
Good news for early bookers in Belfast - looking to the future of travel T
HE latest survey by cruise specialist Mundy Cruising paints a largely optimistic picture of the future of cruising, with 69% of respondents
believing that the development of zero emission cruise ships is either fairly likely or very likely by the year 2050. By comparison, only 44% thought that zero emission air travel was possible on the same timescale. The survey also revealed that 67% believe Covid-19 will be eradicated worldwide within the next 30 years. The findings were the latest from Mundy’s new
Cruise Expert Panel, launched in October 2020 to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary, and provide some fascinating insights into where cruisers believe the travel industry is heading. Although there was optimism about the roll-out of
new sustainable technology, there was recognition of the fragility of habitats vulnerable to climate change, with 70% of the panel expecting cruise ships to be banned from Antarctica within the next 30 years. Change seems less likely when it comes to the onboard culinary offering – the overwhelming majority (74%) thought it was either fairly unlikely or very unlikely that there will be vegan-only cruise ships by 2050. The survey wasn’t limited to travel by sea – just over
half of the panel (54%) think that commercial space travel will become a reality within the next few decades, while 61% expect self-driving cars to become legal on all UK roads. Also of interest to small ship specialists such as Mundy was the fact that just 32% expect to see the world’s first 10,000-passenger cruise ship by 2050,
January 2021 Travel News
Cruising in the Year 2050: Cleaner and Greener?
which tallies with previous Mundy research indicating a shift towards smaller vessels in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. “Although some of these predictions may seem
fanciful, it is perhaps under appreciated just how much the cruise industry is doing on sustainability,” commented Mundy Cruising managing director Edwina Lonsdale. “We are already seeing the roll-out of hybrid-powered
ships by the likes of Hurtigruten and Ponant, along with cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions such as Ulstein’s X-BOW design, which has been embraced by Aurora Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions and others. Here in the UK, we’ve also seen the recent announcement of a new cruise terminal at Southampton with shoreside power connectivity, allowing ships to ‘plug in’ while in port rather than running their engines. As for space travel, well, who knows? Given how well- travelled and adventurous our clients are, we’re not surprised that some of them are now eyeing the stars!”
Royal Caribbean Sells Two Ships – Majesty and Empress
ROYAL Caribbean will soon say farewell to its two
oldest ships as Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas are sold. Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International said: “Empress and Majesty made indelible marks on the cruise industry with their revolutionary design and size. They continued to make history throughout their more than three decades of service.
“Saying goodbye to these two beloved ships is a
major moment in Royal Caribbean’s history – one that is difficult but necessary.” Empress and Majesty joined the fleet in 1990 and 1992 respectively.
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