44 | CRUISE NEWS


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January 2023 NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE CELEBRATES MILESTONE DEBUT


NORWEGIAN Cruise Line celebrated a new milestone as Norwegian Epic became the first of its 18 ships to homeport in Haifa, Israel. The 4,100-passenger and 155.873-gross tonnage ship will embark on her open-jaw 11-day voyage to five countries including Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Italy. Nick Wilkinson, NCL Regional Vice President of


Israel, Middle East and Africa, said: “The Israeli market is hugely important to us, and we know that our Israeli guests have been longing for embarkations out of their beautiful country for a while. We are delighted to offer our guests the opportunity, signifying the beginning of a long-standing partnership between NCL and the region. What’s more, we’re thrilled to announce that none other than the newest ship in


our Prima Class, Norwegian Viva, will be visiting Haifa in 2025, reaffirming the significance of the Israeli market to us at NCL.” The celebration was marked with a traditional


plaque exchange ceremony on board Norwegian Epic, attended by the Vice President of Ministry of Tourism, Israel, Kobby Barda. Barda said: “Minister Yoel Razvozov has


worked tirelessly to bring back cruising to Israel, to increase tourism to the country, particularly to the city of Haifa and the north. Norwegian Epic’s debut sailing out of Haifa today, as well as the line’s commitment to Haifa, is a celebratory moment for Israel’s tourism.” Commencing her maiden voyage from Haifa on November 15), Norwegian Epic will sail a variety


of 10-, 11- and 12- day sailings in December 2023 as well as in March and October 2024, calling to Ashdod, before stopping in Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes (Greece) (Turkey), Patmos, Piraeus (Greece) Naples, Livorno, Venice (Trieste) and Civitavecchia (Italy) as well as Split in Croatia. Norwegian Epic’s The Haven by Norwegian™ underwent an extensive refurbishment at the end of 2020, which resulted in 75 reimagined and upgraded suites combined with redesigned experiences including The Haven Restaurant and The Haven Courtyard Pool and Sundeck.


Norwegian Epic was the first in the fleet to premiere the brand’s key-card access ship-


within-a-ship concept in 2010, complete with private amenities, dedicated services and the most luxurious accommodations on board and she continues to feature one of the largest The Haven spaces in the NCL fleet. The international cruise line has further announced that Norwegian Viva, its newest ship and the second vessel of its ground-breaking Prima Class, will offer open-jaw voyages from Istanbul, Haifa and Piraeus (Athens) in summer 2025. The 9- and 10-day sailings will visit highlight


ports in the Eastern Mediterranean including Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Kusadasi in Turkey as well as Alexandria and Port Said in Egypt. NCL will be the only cruise line to offer open-jaw


sailings between Istanbul and Haifa for Eastern Mediterranean sailings in spring and fall 2025. Mirroring the upscale design and structure of


her record-breaking sistership Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, will boast a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept as well as the Prima Class’ signature experiences including Indulge Food Hall, the brand’s first upscale food marketplace with 11 eateries, the fastest freefall drop dry slides at sea with The Rush and The Drop and the largest three-level racetrack at sea with the Viva Speedway.


Japan to Welcome Back International Cruise Ships


Explora Journeys Reveals Latest Programme of Entertainment


HAVING presented the fascinating destinations, wellbeing experiences and dining opportunities that guests can expect, Explora Journeys now reveals its programme of original entertainment and enrichment designed to stimulate the mind and feed the soul.


Explora Journeys has invested well-considered insights, creative thought and careful planning in every aspect of its onboard pursuits to ensure that they are distinctively original.


From resident and guest artistes to invited enrichment experts,


programme will continuously evolve throughout the journey,


reflection of the regions and destinations that make up each sailing.


Drew Gowland, Senior Lead Entertainment, Experience & Enrichment, summed up the concept: “We’ve adopted a new thoughtful and personalised approach to entertainment, enrichment and experiences at sea. The discerning traveller looking for something that authentically reflects their mood and journey will find a subtle, layered, intimate and exciting choice of experiences aboard our ships.”


explore an unprecedented seven onboard venues, offering simultaneous choices from a wide variety of different styles of entertainment.


Instead of a single main event, they can freely


enjoy any experience they wish at whatever time they choose. With no restrictive starting times, they simply dip in and out at their own pace, finding the right vibe at the right time. With their cutting-edge sound, light and visual capabilities, the ship’s lounges and can play host to a vast range of possibilities. Deeply conscious of the power of music to


heal, change a mood, and create evocative soundtracks that will remind travellers of their experiences long after they have resumed everyday life, Explora Journeys places music front and centre of its offering. But always on guests’ terms. Guests can enjoy pre-and post-dinner poolside chill-outs in the Astern Lounge, or contemporary pop inspired by Scott Bradley’s Post-Modern


At any point along a journey guests can an authentic the


Jukebox in the Explora Lounge. If their mood calls for a laidback, candlelit evening of music inspired by the route the ship is sailing, they can find it in the Journeys Lounge. And there is always music to accompany a coffee or a drink in the Lobby Bar.


is designed to be astonishing. Each of the supremely versatile resident artistes has been chosen from an international line-up of skilful performers and storytellers who hold their audiences spellbound.


The sheer quality of onboard musicianship


JAPAN is set to welcome back international cruise ships following its almost three-year ban. Japan’s Transport Ministry said cruise lines and ports agreed to adopt guidelines for managing foreign ships safely at ports. Transport and Tourism Minister


Tetsuo Saito said: “Japan is now ready to start receiving international cruise ships again. “We will create an environment that allows tourists to enjoy their


cruise without worry.” The exact date when cruise ships will be allowed to dock again has not been announced. Japan banned international cruise ships in


All have the gift of exceptional versatility,


moving smoothly from classical to rock ’n roll and disco to jazz. Each journey sees them morph across a variety of set-ups as required by changes of style or genre, geographical locations, or simply guests’ preferences. And joining them on every journey are


celebrated guest artistes whose intimate performances and interactions with guests both on- and off-stage unfailingly surprise and delight.


March 2020.


Windstar Celebrates First Call in Australia


WINDSTAR Cruises’ 312-passenger, all-suite Star Breeze yacht has made its first-ever call in Australia when it embarked on a 13-day privately chartered cruise from Sydney to Melbourne last month. The charter cruise kicks off several weeks of


Australia-centric consumer sailings for the small ship cruise line. It’s the first time Windstar has sailed extensive itineraries in the region, including first-time ports in Mooloolaba and Phillip Island. Windstar will leave Australia on 7th February 2023, returning in December 2023.


Cunard Launches New 2024 Summer Season with Over 190 New Voyages


LUXURY Cruise Line Cunard has launched its 2024/25 cruise schedule. Cunard World Club members are now able to book the new itineraries. The new programme features over 190 new voyages across 90 destinations worldwide. Guests will be able to make the most of more time in port thanks to several late evening departures and overnight stays, in place such as Reykjavik, Tromso, Rotterdam and Quebec. Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, will


set sail on 3 May for her seven-night maiden voyage to La Coruna and Lisbon. She will depart for 14-night voyage in the Canary Islands before travelling around the British Isles.


DISNEY Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed 6,000 passenger ship, Global Dream. The ship was left unfinished after the failure of


Genting Hong Kong, the former owner of Crystal Cruises. The new ship, which will reportedly be based out


of the US, will feature Disney experiences along with entertainment and dining options, and the exterior will be adorned in the Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels. Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney Parks, Experiences


and Products. said: “Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before.” The 208,000-gross-tonne ship is expected to be


among the first in the cruise industry to be powered by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available. Disney expects the passenger capacity to be


approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.


Disney Aquires New 6,000 Passenger Cruise Ship Global Dream


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