54 | CRUISE NEWS Scenic Eclipse Announce
Helicopter Excursion FOLLOWING a successful start to the 2023/2024
Antarctica season, Scenic
Eclipse’s expert crew led by Captain Radomir Novosel and the specialist Polar Discovery
Team have created a truly
once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests on its recent 13-day Antarctica in Depth ultra-luxury voyage. Guests joined an exclusive helicopter excursion to land on the Sea Ice near Snow Hill Island, located in the Weddell Sea. There, they had the rare opportunity to view the emblematic Emperor penguin colony, which is home to over 4,000 breeding pairs. “This is an incredibly
unique experience, available only with ships that have helicopters, so it’s a truly remarkable moment for our guests,” highlights James Griffiths, Scenic’s General Manager, Ocean Operations. With two on board helicopters,
www.nitravelnews.com
Silversea Unveils its First-Ever Full Curated by Silversea’s destination
Summer Season in French Polynesia RESPONDING to strong guest demand, Silversea has announced its first-ever full summer season in French Polynesia, opening an exclusive pre-sale on 17 voyages between April and September 2026 aboard Silver Whisper — the most luxurious ship to sail in the region.
experts following an extensive scouting mission in the region, the leading ultra-luxury travel brand will operate two itineraries in rotation, offering deep immersion into 11 of some of the world’s most remote destinations in three of the region’s five archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands.
January 2024 Celebrity Cruises Hosts N
SETTING a new standard for modern cruising and elevating the premium travel experience, Celebrity Cruises introduced the world to its newest cruise ship – Celebrity Ascent – in a special naming ceremony. Headlining the festivities
were her inspiring co- Godmothers,
Captain Sandy
Yawn, star of Bravo TV’s hit franchise, Below Deck, and her sister Michelle Dunham, Founder of the Jacksonville School for
Autism, who Scenic Eclipse is
uniquely positioned to offer this exclusive Discovery excursion.
Its
custom-built Airbus H130 aircraft are the quietest helicopters in the sky, ensuring minimal disturbance to wildlife and the environment. Led by the expert Polar Discovery Team, guests landed one kilometre from the colony and enjoyed a snow hike to view the Emperor penguins. Scenic Eclipse’s Ornithologist Dr. Maricel Grilli, who has been working with Scenic in Antarctica since 2020, provided deep insights into the behaviour and ecology of Antarctica’s most
iconic wildlife. The dedicated
crew ensured all IAATO and biosecurity protocols were followed during this unique excursion.
Viking Returns to Antarctica for Third Season
VIKING is celebrating the start of its third expedition season in Antarctica, as the Viking Octantis® and her identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris® have arrived again in the region. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, before returning to North America’s Great Lakes for voyages throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. To meet strong demand for Antarctica voyages, Viking has also announced that the 2025-2026 season is now open for booking, including a new 87- day expedition, From the Arctic to Antarctica,
sailing from Nuuk,
Greenland to Ushuaia, Argentina. Departing in September 2025, this epic journey will allow guests to explore the natural beauty and historic waterways of the Canadian High Arctic before travelling down the east coast of North and South America, calling on ports in the Caribbean, Peru, and exploring the Chilean glaciers before continuing to Antarctica. “As we welcome guests back for a third
season in Antarctica, we are pleased to introduce even more opportunities for the curious traveller to experience this phenomenal region in Viking comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “By creating expeditions for The Thinking Person, our guests are able to explore some of the most pristine destinations on Earth in the most responsible way possible, while also participating in meaningful scientific discoveries. On my own trip to Antarctica, I witnessed firsthand the incredible scenery and wildlife this fascinating continent has to offer. In my view, everyone should experience Antarctica at least once in their life.”
Viking Announces 10 Additional River Ships in Europe
VIKING has announced it will welcome an additional 10 Viking Longships to
its
fleet in the coming years. To
meet strong demand
river for
European river voyages, eight of the new vessels will sail Viking’s popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two
additional Viking Longships will join the fleet on the Seine River. The total order is also inclusive
of one Viking Longship for the Seine River that was announced in February 2023. Five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining five to be delivered in 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line Christens All-Inclusive Norwegian Viva with a Star-Studded Event in Miami
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) has celebrated the christening of Norwegian Viva, the Company’s highly anticipated newest vessel and the second ship in the award- winning Prima Class. “To christen Norwegian Viva in Miami is incredibly special to many of us at NCL, not only because Miami is our hometown, but also because we can share this moment with our local family and friends,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Launching a ship is no solo endeavor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team,
our partners
and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests.” Following Norwegian Viva’s debut this past August and its inaugural summer season of European voyages, over 1,500 guests joined the christening ceremony held in the Company’s LEED Gold Certified terminal at PortMiami.
The Prima
Class is committed to breaking new ground in ship design and amenities, reflecting Norwegian Cruise Line’s unwavering dedication to putting the guest and onboard experience at the forefront.
Discover the Mythology and
Splendour of Ancient Greece and Meteora
CROISIEUROPE has launched a brand new cruise through the cradle of ancient civilisation taking in the splendour and mythology of ancient Greece and Meteora.
With just four departures in
March 2024, this cruise visits some of the most beautiful and iconic sites in the region before the tourist season kicks in, allowing guests to take advantage of fewer crowds and easier access. The seven-night cruise onboard the 198-guest La Belle de l’Adriatique is round trip from
VIKING has announced its newest ocean ship—the 998-guest
Viking Vela—was
“floated out,” marking a major construction milestone. Scheduled to debut in December
2024, the Viking Vela will spend her inaugural season sailing voyages in
officially named the ship in true maritime tradition with the breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship’s hull. They were joined by Greek brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis, who will take the helm of the new ship, after being named Co- Captains of Celebrity Ascent, a first for the brand and the industry. The ceremony was fitting for a ship that shatters preconceived notions of cruising with its forward- thinking design by the world’s leading architects and interior designers; culinary excellence from Michelin starred chefs; expansive onboard entertainment and more. Kicking
off its inaugural
Caribbean season, Ascent will set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on the 3rd Dec. and travel on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing, visiting such popular destinations as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic. “With each new ship, our ambition is to debut the ultimate vacation experience and Celebrity Ascent achieves this by raising the bar for premium travel,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
“Her elevated design and new
onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry.” “Celebrity Ascent has been designed to feed our guests travel wanderlust and provide unique experiences they will covet and love,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President at Celebrity Cruises.
“Captain
Sandy and her sister Michelle, co-Godmothering Celebrity Ascent, add another, and more personal dimension, to this already extraordinary ship. Their connection,
combined
with the brotherly bond of the ship’s captains, exemplifies the sense of welcome and warm hospitality we strive for on every cruise.”
CEREMONY: PRINCESS Cruises and the line’s partners at Fincantieri Shipyard celebrated the beginning of construction of the second cruise ship – Star Princess – with the official keel laying ceremony in Monfalcone, Italy. The keel, the bottommost part of the ship and main foundation, is the first block of the vessel to be constructed.
Athens with calls in Gythion, Katakolon and Igoumenitsa. With all excursions included within the cost of the cruise, guests can enjoy visits to The Acropolis; UNESCO World Heritage Site Mystras, the centre of Byzantine power in the 13th century; the ancient city of Sparta; Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games; Meteora, one of the most spectacular sites in Greece with dozens of monasteries built on magnificent rock formations; and Cape Sounion where the ruins of Poseidon’s temple overlook the shimmering sea.
the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe. “Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world’s most elegant ocean vessels, and it is always a proud day when our newest ship meets water for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of
Onboard, guests will continue immersion into local culture with a Greek lunch on the sun deck accompanied by traditional Bouzouki music as well as an evening of Greek folklore. Departures on 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th March 2024. Book before 15th January 2024 to save £533 per person or enjoy no single supplement. Cruise prices from £1,690 per person for the cruise with all meals and drinks, entertainment,
excursions, port
fees and emergency repatriation insurance.
Viking Marks Float Out of Newest 998-Guest Ocean Ship
Viking. “We are different than other lines because of all that we do, but Viking also stands apart for all that we do not do. No children. No casinos. No nickel and diming. We look forward to welcoming the Viking Vela to our award-winning fleet next year.”
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 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
