Updated March 8, 2020: Grand Princess to dock in Oakland

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 08 March 2020 08 March 2020

The State of California has been working in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of passengers from the Grand Princess. The entire mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembark, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities is protected.

Together, the United States Government and the State of California asked the City of Oakland and the Port of Oakland to partner in this mission. The mission will be a joint federal and state effort, with local support. The federal government and its contractors are already preparing the site for disembarkation. As soon as tomorrow, the ship will begin disembarking passengers at the Port of Oakland. The ship will only be docked during the duration of the disembarkation.

These passengers will not be released into the general public. Passengers who require acute medical treatment and hospitalization will be transported to health care facilities in California. If passengers do not require acute medical care following health screenings, those who are California residents will go to a federally run isolation facility within California for testing and isolation, while non-Californians will be transported by the federal government to facilities in other states. The crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, but importantly, the ship will only stay in Port of Oakland for the duration of disembarkment. This ship will depart Oakland as soon as possible and will remain elsewhere for the duration of the crew’s quarantine.

Almost 1000 of the ship’s passengers are Californians. They have been through a great deal of stress and were potentially exposed to this virus through no fault of their own.

After careful review of all options, the Port of Oakland was selected as the best site for the ship to disembark. There are limited docks that will be able to dock a ship of that size, and the Port of Oakland location was the easiest to seal off, securely move passengers toward their isolation destinations and protect the safety of the public.

“The City of Oakland, Alameda County and the Port of Oakland are stepping up in a major way, and their residents deserve universal praise. They are showing the world what makes our state great – coming to the rescue of thousands of people trapped aboard this ship and helping tackle a national emergency,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

“Oakland’s role in this operation is to support our state and federal authorities as they conduct a critical public health mission to help those impacted by the COVID-19 virus,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf. “I appreciate Governor Newsom’s leadership and have been assured no one will be quarantined in Oakland, nor will any passengers be released into the general public. True to our community values, Oakland is a safe harbor for all.”

“The Port will provide assistance as necessary for the safe disembarkation of the passengers,” said Danny Wan, Director of the Port of Oakland. “There has been close coordination to assure that port operations, port workers and the community are not impacted.”

“The health of our Bay Area community is our top concern, and we’ve been working across federal and state agencies to protect it,” said Colleen Chawla, Alameda County Public Health Officer.

“With a thousand California residents on the ship, it only makes sense that we all work together to help those in this crisis and ensure that they are quarantined, tested and make their way home when it is safe to do so,” said Senator Nancy Skinner.

“California values mean protecting the public and helping those in a crisis. We’re doing both. We are committed to supporting our federal and local health officials to help our fellow Californians get tested and be healthy, and to prevent any exposure to the general public,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta.

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"Princess Cruises can confirm personal protective equipment (PPE), which included gloves and face masks, was delivered to Grand Princess by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter yesterday evening (March 6). The PPE will supplement the supply already onboard," the company said in a statement. On march 6, the U.S. government confirmed 21 COVID-19 cases onboard.

Separately, a critically ill U.S. guest and their travel companion were medically disembarked from Grand Princess earlier this morning by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. They are being transported to a shoreside medical facility for treatment unrelated to COVID-19.

Grand Princess is at sea currently approximately 50 miles off the coast of San Francisco. The Captain of Grand Princess and the Princess Cruises port operations team continue to await specific directives from state and local response operations about where the ship will proceed and will continue to closely follow the guidance of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC), California Department of Public Health and other authorities.

"The safety, health and well-being of our guests and crew is always our top priority, and we continue to make every effort to ensure they are safe and comfortable while they remain onboard."

Victory Cruise Lines' fourth ship to debut in 2023

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 March 2020 05 March 2020

Victory Cruise Lines, operated by American Queen Steamboat Company, a Hornblower Families Company, has announced the addition of its fourth vessel, Ocean Discoverer, from Sunstone Ships, Inc. Currently under construction, the Ocean Discoverer will be delivered in September 2022 and will join Ocean Victory in Alaska in 2023. Ocean Discoverer will make its debut with the Discover Beyond Alaska Expedition Adventure Cruise itineraries, which are currently available for booking on board the Ocean Victory.

“We are pleased to welcome our second Alaska-bound expedition ship and expand our Victory Cruise Line experiences,” shares John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “Following the success of our inaugural season on the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritimes and coastal New England, we are excited to continue that momentum with the new Ocean Discoverer and look forward to showcasing the very best of expedition cruising in Alaska.”

As part of Sunstone Ships’ Infinity-class of expedition ships, the aptly named Ocean Discoverer was designed for in-depth destination access and exploration, while promoting responsible and sustainable travel. Providing world-class accommodations and amenities, guests will enjoy immersive shore excursions led by expert marine biologists, scientists and naturalists throughout the 12- to 13-day expedition voyages.

The 8,500-ton, 104.4-meter and 200-passenger Ocean Discoverer will be identical to the Ocean Victory and feature 93 suites, of which 68 will have balconies, nine French balconies and 16 panoramic windows. The vessel will carry a crew of 100 and boast a 2-to-1 guest to crew ratio. Onboard venues include two restaurants, in addition to an open-deck dining area, observation and lectures lounges, piano bar, library, gym, spa, swimming pool with a pool bar and jacuzzi.

Once complete, Ocean Discoverer will share the same cutting-edge design, technology and operating efficiencies as the Ocean Victory. Signature elements include a patented X-bow design which creates a smoother, more comfortable ride to lower noise and vibration levels and consequently seabed disturbance; Rolls Royce Zero Speed Stabilizers to reduce rolling and therefore make cruising more comfortable for guests; and Dynamic Positioning (aka “virtual anchoring”) - a computer-controlled system that automatically maintains the vessel’s position utilizing its own propellers and thrusters resulting in top-rated ship maneuverability. Lastly, the smaller size and low draw of Ocean Discoverer allows it to dock in many of Alaska’s smaller ports not accessible to larger cruise ships.

The Ocean Discoverer will also utilize Victory Cruise Lines’ partnership with the acclaimed Department of Marine Biology at California Polytechnic State University to feature marine biologists, scientists and naturalists among the ship’s expedition team. This along with the vessel’s fleet of zodiacs and kayaks, will provide guests with endless opportunities for active and responsible adventure and up-close wildlife viewing. Offering the same premier service, dining and accommodations guests have come to expect onboard Victory Cruise Lines and the American Queen Steamboat Company, Ocean Discoverer will feature the finest regional cuisines, top-of-the-line entertainment and immersive shore excursions.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to visit 224 destinations in 2021-22, highlights advantages of small ships

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 March 2020 05 March 2020

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focus cruise operator, said that in 2021-22, its fleet of smaller, more intimately-sized ocean ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will be visiting no fewer than 224 destinations in 73 countries, on 93 different itineraries, with durations between three and 153 nights, including 88 different areas of scenic cruising.

Complementing the UK departure ports of Southampton, Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh (Rosyth), Fred. Olsen will also be offering an expanded programme of fly-cruises in 2021-22.

Furthermore, Fred. Olsen has unveiled a new look ‘Worldwide Cruise Holidays 2021-2022’ brochure, aimed at simplifying and refreshing the famous brand and making it easier for guests to decide where in the world they would like to explore.

Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are thrilled to be introducing our new itineraries for 2021-22, underpinned by our desire and commitment to help our guests to explore, to discover and not just to ‘see’. For us, smaller ships bring big benefits, and we feel that we are just the right size for us.”

Fred. Olsen’s new 2021-22 ocean cruise programme will feature 12 maiden calls: Bluff and Picton in New Zealand; Crotone, Gallipoli, Milazzo and Monopoli in Italy; M’Diq in Morocco; Port d’Alcudia in Mallorca; Sandakan in Borneo; Savina in Formantera, in Spain’s Balearic Islands; Setubal in Portugal; and Trelleborg in Sweden.

Focussing on its small-ship strengths, Fred. Olsen’s new 2021-22 worldwide itineraries highlight the following key themes:

Fred. Olsen’s shallow-drafted Braemar made history in October 2019, when it traversed Greece’s historic Corinth Canal, at just 24-metres wide at its narrowest point – much to international acclaim. In April 2021 and September 2022, Braemar will return on another two outstanding ex-UK ‘Greek Islands & Corinth Canal’ voyages, of 25 nights each, showcasing small-ship cruising at its best.

Braemar will also be undertaking two new 10-night Corinth Canal fly-cruises from Valletta, Malta, which will visit four different Greek Islands, as well as offering the chance to take in the ancient Acropolis from Piraeus and Olympia from Katakolon, birthplace of Olympic Games.

Boudicca’s 28-night ‘Transpacific Voyage with French Polynesia’ fly-cruise from Costa Rica to Auckland, New Zealand in November 2021 offers remote exploration to places that are difficult to reach, and culturally very different.

Guests will get the chance to cross the largest ocean in the world and sail past remote and sparsely-populated islands, including volcanic San Benedicto, Sorocco and Clarion, part of the Revillagigedo Islands isolated off the coast of Mexico.

Boudicca’s follow-on 13-night ‘Exploring Cultural New Zealand’ fly-cruise from Auckland, to Sydney, Australia in December 2021 offers cultural experiences synonymous with New Zealand, from the indigenous Māori to the Scottish, and scenic cruising within the forest-topped mountain peaks of the Fiordland National Park, exploring Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. 

Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships can also dock in the heart of beautiful destinations, navigating low bridges and shallower waterways. In Seville, Spain, sail the Guadalquivir River right into the city centre. In Helsinki, Finland, Fred. Olsen can dock on the edge of the market square. In Bordeaux, France, explorations begin right at the end of the gangway. In Copenhagen, Denmark, the Little Mermaid statue and Amalienborg Palace are just a short walk from the ship.

Balmoral’s new ‘Northern Fjords of Norway’ cruise from Newcastle in August 2021 offers unique and size-restricted scenic sailing to Trollfjord, Nordfjord, Nærøysundet, Lodingen Channel, and Torghatten, and calling at the lesser-known ports of Leknes, Bodø and Åndalsnes, as well as passing Svartisen glacier. Due to the departure ports northern UK location, this incredible itinerary can be achieved in just nine nights.

Braemar’s 14-night ‘Uncrowded Caribbean Islands with Havana’ itineraries, in January and February 2022, feature lesser-known destinations, such as Kralendijk, Bonaire, and avoid guests being overwhelmed by thousands of other cruisers, as they will not be in port alongside multiple big ships; for instance, Braemar will be the only ship docked in Port Royal, Jamaica and Basse-Terre, Guadaloupe.

- Braemar’s nine-night ‘Loughs, Isles & Iconic Sites of Ireland’ cruise in August 2021, sailing past uninhabited islands and a glacial fjord, only navigable by smaller ships

- Black Watch’s 14-night ‘Fjords & Icebergs of Remote Greenland’ cruise in August 2021, taking in rugged mountains and icebergs, including the glaciers of Prins Christiansund

- Balmoral and Boudicca will both be offering ‘Uncrowded Baltic’ cruises in Autumn 2021, showcasing the ‘Jewels of the Baltic’ at a time when fewer tourists are visiting

- Braemar’s 14-night ‘Rivers of Spain & France’ scenic river sailing in September 2021 to places that are mostly off-limits to the larger ships, such as Seville, Nantes and Rouen

- Braemar’s 27-night ‘Adriatic’ adventure in September 2021, docking at the heart of 10 city centre ports – Ibiza, Kotor, Sibenik, Chioggia, Monopoli, Trapani and Aviles, Cadiz, Cartagena and Lisbon, with maiden calls to Crotone, Gallipoli and Monopoli. Visit the ‘marquee’ ports of Venice and Dubrovnik

- Take a trip to the Briskdal glacier in Norway with a locally born Professor of Geology from Olden

- Don’t just watch the hustle and bustle of local life in Mumbai, India; join a Dabbawala for the day and become part of it!

- Learn dog-sledding techniques from a local husky handler and ‘mush’ your own sled from Tromsø, Norway

- Join a local Pastry Chef in Lisbon, Portugal and make your own Pasteis de Nata

- In Andalucía, Spain watch a Flamenco show and then learn the moves from a local Bailaora

- Meet the owners of a local family-run chateau in Bordeaux, France and be guided through each stage of the wine-making process, from grape to glass

Fred. Olsen’s new 2021-22 itineraries will be released to its Oceans loyalty club members from 4th March 2020, and will go on general sale from Monday 9th March 2020.

 

Award winning chef Gunnar Hvarnes teams up with Havila Voyages

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 March 2020 05 March 2020

The Norwegian chef Gunnar Hvarnes has just led the Norwegian culinary team to Olympic gold and now he has teamed up with Havila Voyages, the nascent Norwegian passenger shipping company, to curate menus, the shipping line said in a statement.

“The last time Norway won the Culinary Olympics was in 2008. Then, Gunnar Hvarnes participated as one of the chefs. Norway has now managed to secure another win, this time with Hvarnes as the coach and team leader,” Havila Voyages said.

The company is building four 15,800 gross ton ships for use on the coastal express run along the wet coast of Norway.

Hvarnes will be working on creating the menu for the guests travelling with Havila Voyages, which will operate four of the eleven ships between Bergen and Kirkenes. “When cooking for so many people on board a boat, logistics and other practical issues become particularly important, but we want to highlight the quality of Norwegian ingredients by preparing them in a simple manner, and we must also serve a varied range of cuisine – from the tasty and crispy waffle in the café to the most delicious reindeer fillet steak at the á-la-carte restaurant,” he said.