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Viking Octantis meets water for first time

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 December 2020 24 December 2020

Viking has announced its first expedition ship – the 378-guest Viking Octantis – was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time that the new ship touches water. Scheduled to debut in early 2022, Viking Octantis will spend her maiden season sailing voyages to Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. A second, identical expedition ship, Viking Polaris, is set to debut in summer 2022 and will sail journeys to Antarctica and the Arctic. Viking has also developed a series of short videos about the new expedition voyages, ship design and prestigious scientific partnerships, which can be found on its website here .

“Working with Fincantieri over the last eight years, we have built the world’s most beautiful ocean ships. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Fincantieri’s VARD and celebrate this important milestone in the construction of our first expedition vessel,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In creating ‘the thinking person’s expedition,’ we are perfecting polar expedition cruising, and we will usher in a new era of comfortable exploration in the heart of North America. Viking Octantis and her sister ship, Viking Polaris, will allow our guests to explore further – to the ends of the earth as well as closer to home. I would like to thank our partners at VARD and everyone working at the yard for the hard work and dedication on the building of Viking Octantis; we look forward to welcoming her to our fleet in early 2022.”

The float out is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out ceremony of Viking Octantis took place on December 22; she was then moved to a nearby outfitting dock for further construction and interior build-out. After final outfitting, Viking Octantis will be delivered at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway.

Esteemed explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft will be honored as ceremonial godmothers to Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, respectively. Arnesen, a native Norwegian, became the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole in 1994. Bancroft is the first woman to successfully ski to both poles. Arnesen and Bancroft also became the first women to ski across Antarctica in 2001. Together they co-founded Bancroft Arnesen Explore / Access Water, an initiative that aims to engage and empower more than 60 million minds to create a sustainable tomorrow.

Royal Caribbean Group announces $40 million travel advisor support programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 December 2020 21 December 2020

Royal Caribbean Group, the world’s second largest cruise shipping company, has decided to launch a $40 million programme to support travel advisors to weather the Covid-190 pandemic.

Called "Pay It Forward," it is a second phase of its RCL Cares programme to support its travel advisors as they look to rebuild their businesses after a challenging 2020.

“The program makes a $40 million pool of funds available to qualifying travel advisors, who can apply for three-year, interest-free loans of up to $250,000 to keep their businesses focused on a return to growth at a time when the pandemic shows increasing prospects for coming under control,” the company said in a statement

"We know our travel advisor friends are suffering, too, and we will get through this tough period together, just as we always have," said Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean Group's chairman and CEO.

"Our travel partners have stood strong beside us for more than 50 years, and we are determined to be there for them now. We're going to get to the other side of this challenging time together," he added.

The company said details about the application process for the program would be shared directly with travel advisors in January.

(Corrected) Viking's ninth ocean newbuild to operate the 2022-2023 World Cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 December 2020 18 December 2020

In response to strong demand for its World Cruise itineraries, Viking has announced its new 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise, which will span 138 days, 28 countries and 58 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities. Departing on December 22, 2022 from Ft. Lauderdale, guests will sail on Viking’s newest ocean vessel, Viking Neptune, which will join the company’s fleet of award-winning 930-guest ocean ships in late 2022.

Viking World Cruise guests will embark in Florida and journey to Central America, before transiting the Panama Canal and sailing up the West Coast of North America. A shorter, 121-day Viking World Journeys itinerary, is also available, allowing guests to join Viking Neptune in Los Angeles and cross the Pacific Ocean to call in Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, before exploring ports of call in Asia and the Middle East. Finally, the ship will journey through the Mediterranean and conclude the voyage in London.

“We are pleased to offer this new opportunity for explorers to circumnavigate the world in comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “World Cruises are truly special voyages, and they continue to be one of our most sought-after offerings. Our 2021-2022 World Cruise has already sold out more than a year in advance, which speaks to the enthusiasm of our guests as they look forward to the return of international travel.”

2022-2023 Viking World Cruise highlights

Viking’s newest World Cruise itinerary visits dozens of the world’s most iconic cities, alongside lesser-known destinations, in one seamless itinerary. Overnight stays in 11 ports, such as Sydney, Haifa, and Istanbul, and double overnights in Auckland, Bali, Ho Chi Minh, Yangon, and Mumbai allow guests to delve deeper. While on board, Viking offers cultural enrichment through onboard lectures and entertainment – such as the Viking Resident Historian program, which provides guests with a high-level historical and cultural education specific to their journey. Guests will immerse themselves in the world’s rich cultures during included excursions that provide unmatched insight into daily life, as well as Privileged Access visits to cultural institutions.

Correction: Viking Neptune will be Viking's ninth ocean newbuild, not eighth.

MSC Cruises publishes 2022 summer programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 December 2020 17 December 2020

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, has published its programme for the summer 2022 season with sales opening today for the Caribbean and Mediterranean, whilst Northern Europe will open soon.

The programme that runs from April to November entails 19 ships, of which 10 will be based in the Mediterranean, five in Northern Europe, two in the Caribbean and two in Asia.

Western Mediterranean – five ships offering 7-night cruises

MSC Seaside offers departures on Saturday from Genoa to Civitavecchia, Palermo, Cagliari, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Marseille;
MSC Splendida departs Genoa on Saturdays, calling Marseille, Barcelona, Ibiza, Naples, Livorno;
MSC Seaview will depart Genoa each Sunday to offer MSC Cruises hugely popular itinerary to Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille;
MSC Fantasia offers itineraries departing on Sunday from Genoa to Marseille, Barcelona, La Goulette, Palermo, Civitavecchia;
MSC Meraviglia departs from Barcelona on Saturdays, sailing to Cannes, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Palma de Mallorca;

Eastern Mediterranean – five ships offering 7- night cruises

MSC Musica will offer cruises from Venice on Saturdays to Bari, Santorini, Chania, Corfu, Dubrovnik;
MSC Armonia offers sailing on Sundays from Venice to Brindisi, Mykonos, Piraeus, Corfu, Kotor;
MSC Lirica departs Venice with cruises to Split, Santorini and Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Ancona;
MSC Sinfonia departs on Saturday from Venice, calling at the Greek Islands of Mykonos and Santorini, Kotor, Sarande and Bari;
MSC Opera will homeport in Trieste will sail on Saturdays to Bari, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split;

The Caribbean – two ships

MSC Seashore, the Company’s flagship, will homeport in Miami and offer two alternative itineraries to Eastern or Western Caribbean offered every other week, always calling at Ocean Cay;
MSC Divina will homeport in Port Canaveral, sailing to Ocean Cay, Nassau with 2, 3- or 4-night cruises and Ocean Cay and Mexico with 7-night cruises. MSC Divina will also offer a 12-night cruise at the start of the summer season, embarking in Miami, visiting Jamaica, Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ocean Cay finishing at Port Canaveral.

Autumn 2022 - Special long cruises from Genoa

MSC Splendida offers 9-nights from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean – Genoa, Malaga, Casablanca, Lisbon, Barcelona and Marseille. calling at Casablanca and Lisbon.
MSC Poesia offers 11-nights from Genoa to the Canary Islands, Madeira and Casablanca.
MSC Orchestra offers a new 11-night itinerary from Genoa to Greece and Turkey, with MSC Cruises returning to Istanbul with an extended stay in port.
MSC Lirica offers four 11-night cruises from Genoa, calling in Rome, Limassol in Cyprus with an overnight stay in Haifa, allowing two days to visit the Holy Land: Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem and on the way back calling Crete and Olympia.

Northern Europe – five ships

MSC Grandiosa will spend her first season in Northern Europe offering two alternative itineraries every other week from Kiel on Saturdays and Copenhagen on Sundays (7 night to Baltic Capital and 7 night to Fjords);
MSC Poesia: homeporting in Warnemuende will offer cruises from 7 to 21 nights, visiting the Baltic capitals, Fjords and Greenland;
MSC Orchestra will offer mixed cruises from 10 to 14 night from Hamburg to Iceland, Ireland, North Cape and Spitzbergen;
MSC Preziosa will serve two alternative itineraries from Kiel on Sundays to the Baltic capitals or Fjords;
MSC Magnifica will be based in Southampton offering 2 to 14-night cruises to a range of destinations including the Baltic capitals, Fjords as well as the Mediterranean Sea and Canary Islands.

ASIA – two ships

Summer 2022 will see MSC Cruises deploying two ships in this region for the first time – with MSC Virtuosa, one of the Company’s newest ships joining her sister-ship MSC Bellissima. Detailed itineraries for both ships will be released later.

Swan Hellenic extends partnerships to India

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 December 2020 16 December 2020

Swan Hellenic, the Nicosia based expedition cruise line, said it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Travel Planners (E.I.) Pvt. Ltd., based in India, to provide a direct presence in the Indian subcontinent.

“Travel Planners (E.I.) Pvt. Ltd. offers the highest standards of service and efficiency, with over 30 years’ experience across the travel and tourism sector in India. Serving a niche of discerning travellers who are sports lovers, wildlife and expedition enthusiasts, the company is a strong choice to provide Swan Hellenic customers in India with the highest standards of tailored service,’ the company said in a statement.

The strategic agreement is in line with Swan Hellenic’s long-term approach of establishing a direct presence in every market worldwide to offer the close personal service to which it is committed. “Significantly increasing Swan Hellenic’s direct presence in Asia, it follows a similar agreement with TAM Wing Kun Holdings Limited, covering Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia,” the company said.