56 CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com
September/October 2024
Hays Travel Invests in the World’s Cruise Booking App
Viking Marks Float Out of Newest Ocean Ship, Viking Vesta
VIKING has announced its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta, was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Classified as a small ship, as are all Viking
ocean ships, the Viking Vesta has a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The ship is scheduled to debut in July 2025 and will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe. “It is always a good day when a new ship meets
water for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Over the last
decade, we have built the world’s most elegant small ocean ships together with Fincantieri. As we prepare to welcome the Viking Vesta next summer, as well as her identical sister ship, the Viking Vela, this autumn, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to the Viking way of exploration.” The traditional float out ceremony took
place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out of the Viking Vesta began on
4 July at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time when the Viking team cut a cord that signalled water to flow into the ship’s building dock.
Princess Cruises Sets New Guinness World Records Title
IN celebration of a new partnership with Chef Tony Gemignani, the 13-time World Pizza Champion and the undisputed greatest pizza maker in modern history, Princess Cruises, recognised for the Best Pizza at Sea, today established a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title for “World’s Largest Pizza Party” at multiple venues aboard its fleet of Love Boats with hungry guests devouring more than 60,000 slices of fresh-from-the-oven pizza prepared by the line’s master chefs. Chef Gemignani has created two pizzas
exclusively for Princess, each with an exciting blend of savoury flavours and premium ingredients from Soppressata sausage and hot honey to agave pesto and fresh goat cheese. He also provided recipes for three of his signature, award-winning pizzas, further enhancing the line’s position as offering the Best Pizza at Sea. “There was great excitement on board as Princess
Cruises set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the World’s Largest Pizza Party at multiple venues,” said Callie Smith, Adjudicator from Guinness World Records. Chef Gemignani’s recipes will initially debut at
Alfredo’s onboard the new Sun Princess, adding to the greatest assembly of culinary experiences at sea, with plans to extend to the rest of the fleet this summer. Chef Gemignani personally trained Princess chefs at his famous Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco and onboard Princess ships, ensuring all five pizzas are thoughtfully prepared to replicate his original, hand-crafted pizzas at sea. Chef Gemignani is the most decorated pizzaiolo
in American history, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, master instructor, philanthropist,
founder of Slice House by Tony Gemignani, and author of PIZZA, The Pizza Bible, and The Pursuit of Pizza. Born and raised in Northern California, he opened his first restaurant in San Francisco in 2009 – Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – offering several styles of pizzas including Classic American, Italian, Sicilian and Neapolitan, artfully made with artisan flours, an array of authentic sauces, and seasonal ingredients, and finished in seven different, regionally-specific ovens. The new Chef Gemignani-designed pizzas will take centre stage at Alfredo’s and Gigi’s speciality pizzerias, charming, sit-down venues offering an enticing menu of freshly prepared, individual-size pizzas, salads, wine and beer and more, and voted “Best Pizza at Sea” by USA Today. Princess is now a two-time GUINNESS WORLD
RECORDS title/record holder having broken a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest marriage vow renewal ceremony in multiple venues on 11 February 2020 after 1,443 couples participated onboard three ships. Similarly, Chef Gemignani, who was part of the previous record for “World’s Largest Pizza Party” set in 2023, is now a four-time Guinness World Record holder, including “World’s Longest Pizza,” “Most People Tossing Pizza Dough at Once,” “Largest Pizza Base Spun in Two Minutes,” and “Most Consecutive Pizza Rolls Across the Shoulders in 30 Seconds.” By the Numbers: Stats from the World’s
Largest Pizza Party Total Weight of Dough Used: 6,512 pounds Total Weight of Flour Used: 3,417 pounds Total Weight of Pepperoni Slices Used:1,393
pounds Total Weight of Cheese Used: 2,323 pounds
Following a two-day process that will set the Viking Vesta afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. With a clear focus on creating experiences
for The Thinking Person, Viking does not try to be all things to all people. This approach has resonated with guests, and in 2023, Viking was rated #1 for Oceans, as well as #1 for Rivers and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveller in the most recent Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking was also named Best Boutique Ocean Cruise Line by readers of The Telegraph in the 2023 Telegraph Travel Awards and Best Premium or Luxury Ocean Cruise Line by Silver Travel Advisor.
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Port of Philadelphia as a New Homeport
HAYS Travel Group has invested in My Kind of Cruise – the world’s first cruise booking app, created by CEO Sefton Monk and described by Forbes as “a true 21st century revolution for the cruise industry.” Dame Irene Hays said: “When we first met, we were
so impressed by Sefton and his innovative approach – making the decision to invest in his growing business was the obvious next step. We are delighted to be on board and look forward to supporting My Kind of Cruise’s growth ambitions.” Since launching in 2022, My Kind of Cruise has
amassed 303,000 users across mobile app, tablet, and web platforms – over half of whom are Millennials or Gen Z – with repeat bookings averaging at 46%. Users of all ages are attracted to the app for its ease of use and ability to search, compare, and book with big- name cruise operators, all in one place. Sefton Monk, founder and CEO of My Kind of Cruise,
said: “As a tech consultant and cruise fan, I had seen a gap for an app that would simplify and modernise booking a cruise for people in my generation, who are used to doing pretty much everything on their phone. In March 2020 I was wondering what to do with myself, so unable to make banana bread, I got cracking on the app. Two years later we launched, and the response has been incredible.” Two Hays Travel directors – Chief Operating Officer, Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, and Finance Director, Ken Campling – will join the My Kind of Cruise board to support Sefton and his team with their business growth ambitions. Sefton continued: “Our ambition is to move beyond
the UK cruise marketplace and diversify our product offering to appeal to all sectors of the public, including those new to cruise. To scale up well, we need access to experience, as well as financial support, and were impressed by the drive and ambition of the Hays team, who continue to grow and innovate in the travel arena. “Partnering with Dame Irene and the Hays Travel
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line has announced its 2026 spring/summer itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, and Canada and New England, as well as a new season of voyages from the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in many years. On 16th April, 2026, Norwegian Jewel will commence seven- to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda, launching the city as a new cruise destination. Departing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans are currently underway with the local government to develop a facility to welcome cruisers in 2026, Norwegian Jewel’s Bermuda itineraries will feature overnight calls to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, providing guests more time to enjoy and discover the island’s turquoise blue waters and pink-sand beaches.
team, including Jonathon and Ken was an easy decision; it’s the perfect opportunity to work with a business partner who can provide expert advice and guidance, whilst strengthening our reach via their long-standing and successful relationships with their river and cruise partners. “Having Hays Travel as our partner ideally places us
to continue our rapid pace of growth and development of both our technology and product offering over the coming years. Who better to give us the access to the infrastructure, commercial buying power, and business acumen we need than the UK’s largest independent travel agent?” As the world’s first fully bookable cruise app, My
Kind of Cruise markets its app mainly through social media and recommendations, and over 58% of its bookings are from customers who are new to cruising.
Explora Journeys Unveils Iconic Art Collection Onboard EXPLORA I
EXPLORA Journeys have unveil a newly curated art collection and immersive art experiences on board EXPLORA I, including a collection of rare limited-edition screenprints and lithographs by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as well as an original acrylic and silkscreen on canvas by Andy Warhol. This new exhibition perfectly complements the permanent art collection of fine art and sculptures, offering an inspiring and immersive journey for guests on board. Koray Savas, Vice President Hotel Operations Explora Journeys said, “Art has always been one of the main focal points of the guest experience on board our ships. The carefully curated art selection features a blend of renowned and emerging artists, alongside master artisans, creating an immersive art experience for guests throughout their journey. “
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