CRUISE THE DAWN OF CRUISING
NI Travel News’ Sarah Pickering joined agents onboard the beautiful Norwegian Dawn who made her way into Belfast in July. Treated to an extensive tour and meal, agents were
given a real feel of the ship whilst passengers disembarked their British Isles’ cruise to explore NI for the day. Norwegian Dawn has something for all ages, with a
splash club for toddlers and an arcade that can be fun for all.
A mid-sized ship compared with other ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, Norwegian Dawn offers guests a relaxed and intimate holiday experience. Onboard, there is something for everyone and each age-
group is catered to with care and thought. Children aged between 3-12 years old can make a splash at sea on Deck 13 with the Splash Academy entertainment area. Young people can avail of interactive dance parties, active spaces, and even a cinema where kids can sit back, relax and enjoy a film. Adults are treated to a
cruise that awakens all of the senses. Guests can unwind at the luxurious Mandara Spa facilities, or get a boost of adrenaline from the range of activity areas onboard, including the swimming pool, a jogging track, and multiple sports courts.
Norwegian Dawn offers plenty of complimentary dining
options from O’Sheehans bar and grill, Bamboo - a taste of Asia, Bimini Grill, and Garden Cafe. Not to mention the two complimentary dining halls onboard. Foodies will have options from across the globe from with the speciality options of Los Lobos Cantina, a Mexican restaurant that packs a punch, and Moderno Churrascaria, an authentic Brazilian restaurant. On Deck 7, guests can enjoy
a taste of Japan with a speciality Sushi Restaurant and a Teppanyaki dining experience onboard. On Deck 6, those seeking to experience the taste of French cuisine are in luck with the elegant dining experience of Le Bistro. Also on Deck 6 is La Cucina, a vibrant Italian ristorante where you are sure to fall in love with the decadent and traditional dining options. Deck 13 is home to one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s
most loved speciality restaurants, Cagney’s Steakhouse, an American steakhouse where excellence is the standard. When on Norwegian Dawn, prepare to be entertained
with Elements! An enchanting performance bringing to life the four elements, Earth, Air, Water and Fire through an enchanting display of dance and music innovation. The 2,800 maximum capacity
cruise arrived in Belfast filled with many American tourists eager to explore and will continue to do so before heading east for the winter months.
ROYAL Caribbean International officially welcomed the next big thing in vacations to the family: Utopia of the Seas. A celebration was had in Saint-Nazaire,
France, as the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard handed Royal Caribbean the keys to Utopia just five weekends before its July debut in Port
Silversea Opens General Sales on World Cruise 2027
SILVERSEA has opened general sales on its World Cruise 2027, The Three Oceans. Set to call in 80 destinations – more destinations than any voyage in the company’s history – the 149-day sailing will connect 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 35 countries. Additional opportunities to meaningfully connect with the local culture will abound, with exclusive events crafted by Silversea’s destination experts, dozens of S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) culinary experiences, various seasonal enrichments, and much more. Silver Dawn will depart Los Angeles on January 8 and
arrive in Copenhagen on June 7, 2027, unlocking the unique cultures, histories, and ideas of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans for guests.
PRIME Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece is considering imposing a cap on cruise ships in an attempt to mitigate the damage caused by crowds of tourists.
This follows the Greek ombudsman has called for urgent reform to manage tourism in a more sustainable way. Mr Mitsotakis said that the new regulations are likely to come into force “next year” and that they “could either restrict the total number of island berths or introduce a bidding process for slots”.
Cruises generated nearly £715 million Greece Considers Imposing Cap on Cruise Ships
in revenue in 2023, more than double the figure of the previous year. In total, tourism accounts for a quarter of Greece’s economy, with record numbers of tourists travelling after the end of pandemic restrictions. In 2023, Santorini welcomed 800 cruise ships, disgorging 1.3 million people, a figure that was 17% higher than in 2022. The island has only 15,000 residents. Santorini was closely followed by Mykonos with 749, up 23% year on year. However, there are fears that capping the number of ships could have a negative effect on the tourist industry.
Royal Caribbean International Offically Welcomes Newest Ship to the Fleet
Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason
Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley and General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique Laurent Castaing hosted Utopia’s first party of many to recognise the achievements of the nautical engineers, designers, architects and more. “Taking delivery of Utopia of the Seas is an
incredibly important milestone, as it marks yet another evolution of our game-changing ships and our mission to create the best vacation experiences responsibly,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on
Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. More than two years of construction culminated in the new vacation’s final building milestone, the delivery, when 1,600-plus crew members and workers came together to mark the moment in the signature AquaTheater.
this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests.” In the weeks leading up to the debut of the
summer on July 19, Utopia will make its way to the U.S. as the Royal Caribbean teams make finishing touches to get the ship party ready.
Scenic Announces 2026 Worldwide Discoveries Collection
SCENIC luxury Cruises & Tours has announced the launch of the Worldwide Discoveries
Collection,
which spans departures from October 2025 to March 2027. The two ultra-luxury Discovery Yachts will take guests toover 163 itineraries visiting 278 ports in 50 countries, spanning seven continents, offering unrivalled exploration in truly all-inclusive ultra-luxury. Highlights of the Worldwide Discoveries Collection include voyages to witness the Solar Eclipse in Greenland and Iceland; Christmas in Antarctica; a dedicated itinerary to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States departing from New York in 2026; a Monaco Grand Prix sailing along the French and Italian Rivieras; and wellness focused sailings to Panama.
Scenic
Eclipse guests can also cruise the world’s most iconic rivers in ultra-luxury, from Europe’s Guadalquivir and Seine rivers to the iconic Thames; as well as the Delaware, York and Cape Fear rivers in North America.
MSC Cruises Sees Record-Breaking Onboard Future Cruise Bookings
DURING May 2024, MSC Cruises saw its Future Cruise Programme produce record-breaking results with a staggering sales
increase of
160%. UK and Irish guests took advantage of the programme to secure their next cruise holiday and enjoy added benefits. The MSC Future Cruise Programme allows guests tobook their next cruise on board to secure exclusive benefits including a reduced deposit, onboard credit, double MSC Voyagers Club points and having a year to decide on the cruise destination and travel dates. Agents also benefit from MSC Cruises’ Future Cruise
Programme bookings with commissions from any onboard bookings being awarded directly to the agent who booked the guest’s original cruise. Steve Williams, Director of Sales at MSC Cruises commented: “With our Future Cruise Programme, your next cruise
holiday starts before your current one ends, and I’m delighted to see our guests enjoying their holiday with us so much that they choose to book with us again while they are still on board.
“Last month we saw that on board Yacht Club bookings were very popular, and that customers were choosing much longer cruises with us. For example, one booking came from a guest on a 2-night mini cruise on board MSC Virtuosa who went on to book the full MSC 2026 World Cruise valued at £37,874.10.” Guests travelling on board an MSC Cruise can find the
Future Cruise Office onboard to book their upcoming cruise and take advantage of the incredible privileges offered by the Future Cruise Programme.
NEWS
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