NEWS Scenic Aria


Scenic Group opens bookings for three new-build river ships


Scenic Group has opened bookings for three further new-build river ships set to be added to its fleet by early 2028. Two vessels will join the Scenic Cruises fleet, while a third ship will operate under Emerald Cruises. Scenic Spirit II will be a sister ship to Scenic Spirit and cruise the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. The 68-passenger vessel will visit ports including Phnom Penh and Angkor Ban and be able to travel directly into Ho Chi Minh City. Scenic Aria will sail on the Douro River in September 2027, joining Scenic Azure. The 96-passenger ship will operate two itineraries: the 11-day Unforgettable Douro and eight-day Delightful Douro between March and November. Emerald Nova will also offer itineraries on the Douro River, joining Emerald Radiance in June 2027. The three latest vessels will take the Scenic Cruises river fleet to 15 ships and Emerald Cruises’ river fleet to 11. The new-builds are in addition to previously confirmed new river ships Emerald Astra – launching in May 2026 on the Rhine, Main and Danube – and Emerald Lumi, debuting on the Seine in 2027. For the group’s ocean fleet, new yachts Emerald Kaia, Emerald Raiya and Emerald


Zara are due to sail in 2026, 2027 and 2028 respectively, alongside Scenic Ikon in 2028. scenic.co.uk


Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice has embarked on iÌà wÀÃÌ ÛoÞ>}i >vÌiÀ > LoÜ- Ìo-ÃÌiÀn ÀivÕÀLiÃhminÌ° /hi Ãhi« ÃiÌ Ã>il vÀom -in}>«oÀi on >ÀVh Ó ÜiÌh ÀiÛ>m«i` ÃÌ>ÌiÀoomà >n` ÃiÝ niÜ ÛinÕiÃ] inVlÕ`in} Ìo«-`iVk oÕÌ`ooÀ ÃiÌi -ÕnÃiÌ *>Àk]


ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌà /À>ÌÌoÀi> ,oÃÃ> >n` ini ÕÌ -Ìi>khoÕÃi] and entertainment spaces oÕliÛ>À` oÕn}i >n` ëoÀÌà >n` }>min} >Ài> /hi *>ÀloÀ° /hi ÀivÕÀL ià «>ÀÌ ov > fÓxä million -olÃÌiVi


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Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View Suite


Baillie Lodges and Tierra Hotels merge to form new brand


Silky Oaks Lodge, Australia


Boutique hotel group Baillie Lodges has merged with its sister company Tierra Hotels to form a new “experiential” brand that will offer “world-class experiences and assets”. The new company, named Beckons, will encompass the nine properties across Australia, Chile, Canada and New Zealand currently in the Baillie Lodges and Tierra Hotels collections,


with a view to “grow the portfolio across the world”. Each property will retain its individual name, but the Beckons brand will be the “unifying ecosystem” that brings the lodges together. The 10th addition to the Beckons portfolio is currently in development in Australia, with its launch scheduled for next year.


beckons.com


12 ASPIRE MARCH 2026


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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