5


OF THE BEST


NEW OCEAN SHIPS


Carnival Mardi Gras: Launched this year and entering service in 2021, this highly anticipated behemoth will be the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by liquefied natural gas, and will feature an at-sea rollercoaster alongside six themed family zones.


Bolette and Borealis: Soon to emerge from a makeover, these former Holland America ships are joining Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in 2021. They offer a faster sailing speed along with several facilities new to the fleet, including two-tiered theatres, a culinary demonstration kitchen and a greater choice of bars and restaurants.


Odyssey of the Seas: The first Quantum Ultra- class ship to sail in the US and Europe in 2021, this new Royal Caribbean vessel will feature all the standout attractions you’d expect from the line – skydiving simulator, ‘FlowRider’ surf ride, dodgems and a rock-climbing wall – plus a 360-degree glass observation pod elevated 100 metres above the sea.


Rotterdam: Named after Holland America’s first ship, the line’s new vessel is set to be delivered in July, and will spend the summer sailing northern Europe and the Baltic on round-trip cruises from Amsterdam. The third in the Pinnacle Class series, it will carry 2,668 guests and offer nightly live music at signature venues such as BB King’s Blues Club, alongside a roster of entertainment, activities and dining.


Seabourn V enture: Seabourn will be combining


expedition with ultra-luxury when polar-class V


enture(below) is delivered in December 2021.


Featuring 132 all-veranda, all-oceanfront suites, the purpose-built vessel will explore the polar regions, the Amazon, Europe and beyond, and be followed by a sister ship in 2022.


EMBARKATION Alongside guest screenings, lines will be staggering arrival times to avoid overcrowding. Princess Cruises says guests will be able to choose their preferred slot, while others, including Celestyal Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Silversea and Azamara), will be providing guests with set boarding times to spread things out. Digital, contact-free check-in is also likely


24 10 DECEMBER 2020


example, while Hurtigruten will be carrying out contactless temperature scanning on embarkation and as guests enter the restaurants each mealtime. Testing and screening will be


even more stringent for the crew. Seabourn says its staff will have daily temperature and Covid surveillance checks as well as frequent tests, while Crystal’s crew members will be tested before leaving home, at embarkation, and then a third time after a seven-day quarantine on the ship, before they can begin their duties.


33Digital, contact-free check-in is also likely to be commonplace, as will luggage disinfection and self-declaration forms


to be commonplace, as will luggage disinfection procedures and self-declaration forms.


ON BOARD


Clients can expect social distancing, face coverings in public places and/or where social distancing isn’t possible (specifics depend on the individual lines), and even more hand sanitiser units than usual. Many have also enhanced their ventilation systems;


Emerald Waterways, Crystal, Celestyal, Saga and MSC are among the raft of lines putting the emphasis on 100% fresh, non-recirculated air. Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises will meanwhile have medical- grade Hepa air filters across their fleets. Ships will be reducing overall passenger numbers. Saga, for example, says it will have a maximum of 800 passengers (usually 1,000), while upping its crew-to- guest ratio to enhance cleaning regimes. Those cleaning protocols will of course be


everywhere, especially around high-touch areas and public spaces. Uniworld River Cruises is upping the game further by spraying its ships with an “odourless,


travelweekly.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64