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Ponant announces new nature-themed expedition featuring Costa Rica & The Panama Canal

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 February 2019 20 February 2019

Ponant has announced An Exploration In Nature In Costa Rica & The Panama Canal, a 10-night nature experience aboard the new luxury Explorer ship, Le Dumont-d’Urville, scheduled for January 6 -16, 2020. Rates start at $5,570 per guest based on double occupancy.

The new itinerary is part of Ponant’s Quintessential Collection, a series of themed immersion cruises designed to inspire travelers to dig deeper into their destinations. The program will feature speaker Paul Donahue who has worked with birds and mammals in nature reserves throughout Central America since 1972 and has explored virtually all of the sites on the itinerary.

The expedition highlights Costa Rica’s outstanding efforts to preserve its natural treasures, more than any other Central American country. It will explore the luxuriant vegetation and fascinating fauna of three national parks, including Corcovado National Park, described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity.”

Guests will board the ship at Puerto Caldera in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, followed by a visit to Curù National Park where more than ten thousand species of plants, three hundred species of birds and two hundred species of butterflies are present and where the less dense undergrowth makes spotting wildlife easier than in the deeper forest. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths, two- and three-finger hooded vultures, brown pelicans, Scarlet Macaw, and toucans call this area their home.

The itinerary continues with visits to Manuel Antonio National Park, before moving on to Osa Peninsula; Cebaco, Panama; and Punta Alegre/Darien Jungle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On day eight, the ship will transit the Panama Canal for a visit to the San Blas Islands to learn about the culture and craftsmanship of the indigenous Kuna people. A visit to Holandes Cayes follows before disembarkation in Colon on day eleven.

Adding to the fascination will be talks by Paul Donahue who has extensive experience leading birding and natural history tours all over Central and South America. He has divided his time between research and ecotourism, and with his wife Teresa Wood, has constructed rain forest canopy walkways in Peru and Costa Rica. From 1991-94 they co-directed the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research in northeastern Peru.

Black Watch to sail around the world from Liverpool in 2021

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 February 2019 20 February 2019

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise line, will offer its first around the world cruise from Liverpool in 2021, the company said in a statement.

The 880 passenger Black Watch will sail from Liverpool on 6 January and from Southampton on 8 January. The cruise will terminate in Liverpool on 29 April.

Ports of call of the cruise are: Southampton, UK – Oporto (from Leixões), Portugal – Funchal, Madeira – Santa Cruz, Tenerife – Santa Cruz, La Palma – Bridgetown, Barbados – St John's, Antigua – Road Town, Tortola – Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos – Havana, Cuba – Colón, Panama – Cruising Panama Canal – Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica – Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia – Fakarava, French Polynesia – Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia – Raiatea, French Polynesia – Bora Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia – Crossing the International Date Line – Nuku'alofa, Tonga – Savusavu, Fiji – Mystery Island (Inyeug), Vanuatu – Noumea, New Caledonia – Sydney, Australia (two-night stay) – Burnie, Tasmania, Australia – Melbourne, Australia – Albany, Australia – Perth (from Fremantle), Australia – Surabaya, Java, Indonesia (overnight stay) – Singapore (overnight stay) – Sabang (Weh Island), Sumatra, Indonesia – Colombo, Sri Lanka – Kochi, Kerala, India – Mormugao, Goa, India – Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (overnight stay) – Aqaba, Jordan – Cruising Suez Canal – Haifa, Israel (overnight stay) – Limassol, Cyprus – Valletta, Malta – Malaga, Spain – Southampton, UK.

MJM Marine secures its largest ever contract

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2019 19 February 2019

Global marine outfitter, MJM Marine has been appointed as the main outfitting contractor by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to undertake a complete refurbishment of Norwegian Joy as the company repositions the ship to the West Coast of the United States.

In a multi-million dollar project, MJM Marine will play the lead role in the design, manufacture, installation and project management of the interior refit of the cruise liner.

Speaking three weeks before the contract commences, Gary Annett, CEO MJM Marine commented,

“Norwegian Joy is MJM Marine’s largest contract to date and will involve a team of 1400 people completing works in over 40 spaces throughout the ship.

Planning, design and manufacturing has been underway for many months in preparation for installation start date. We are exceptionally proud to be awarded this contract, which we see as a reflection of the strength of the partnership which we have built with NCL.

It is confirmation that MJM Marine is respected as a world leading global marine outfitter who can and will deliver on projects of this size and scale.”

Work will begin onboard Norwegian Joy on 11th March in China with completion on 21st April in Seattle.

“This is a truly global project which will take MJM Marine around the world in 42 days,” continued Mr Annett.

“The design, planning, manufacturing and logistics for the project started at our headquarters in Newry, Northern Ireland. Our team will join the ship in China and sail to Singapore where the drydock will take place before making its way to Japan. Works will continue at sea as the ship makes its way to Seattle in the Unites States, where we will hand over the new look vessel before our team returns to Northern Ireland.

The global footprint on this project is particularly unique but is an indication of the global nature of our business.”

Following the refit, Norwegian Joy will embark on a series of cruises to Alaska before repositioning to Los Angeles.

“Norwegian Joy will be very similar to sister ships Norwegian Bliss, which launched just last year, and Norwegian Encore, which will make her debut this November,” added Mr. Colin Gant, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Vice President of Vessel Refurbishment.

“It is a challenging and complex project which is large in scale and short in time, requiring meticulous planning and execution by a top tier outfitter to see it through. We are delighted to join forces with MJM Marine who has been a reliable partner of ours since 2015.

MJM Marine bring scale, experience, skill and ability to think outside the box to pull off a project of this magnitude. We are looking towards an exceptionally busy few weeks, at the end of which we will deliver a stunning ship of new build quality to our cruise guests.”

Hanseatic Inspiration launched in Romania

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2019 18 February 2019

Hanseatic Inspiration, the second of three 16,100 gross ton expedition cruise ships on order for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in Germany, has been launched at the Tulcea shipyard of the Vard group, the cruise line said in a statement.

The hull, which weighs 6,400 tonnes, will be towed for fitting out to the Langsten shipyard of the Vard group, a distance of some 4,000 miles. The tow will take between 24 and 28 days. The ship is due for delivery in October this year.

The 230 passenger capacity, manoeuvrable expedition ships feature cutting-edge technology and have the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC6).

“Their routes will take the ships from one extreme to the other – from cold polar waters to the warm regions of the Amazon. The construction, design and routes of the new ships focus on providing a true expedition experience, getting as close to nature as possible and incorporating state-of-the-art equipment to minimise the environmental impact,” Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said. The company is part of the TUI AG group, while Vard is owned by Fincantieri.

Virgin Voyages to include call at Bimini beach club in all Scarlet Lady cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2019 18 February 2019

Virgin Voyages, which is part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of companies, said that all voyages of the line’s first ship will feature The Beach Club at Bimini, a Virgin Voyages experience in Bimini, Bahamas.

A cornerstone of every voyage of Scarlet lady as the 110,000 gross ton ship would be called, will be The Beach Club at Bimini, where sailors – the line’s preferred name for passengers - can feel the sand in their toes in a stylish setting with white-sand and crystal clear waters and programming that will rival the best beach clubs in Ibiza and Saint-Tropez.

“Just a short transfer from the pier, and built in partnership with Resorts World Bimini, The Beach Club at Bimini is designed with Miami-based architects EOA, Inc., featuring natural materials and soft earth tones that organically blend into the seascape. The Beach Club at Bimini will overlook the ocean and cascade down to the sea with an expansive lagoon-style pool as the central anchor of the club,’ Virgin Voyages said in a statement.

The Beach Club will also have complimentary food that is thoughtfully sourced. “Its locally inspired menus will serve up island favourites such as conch and mango salad, banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, Bahamian rum cake and more. As Sailors start to explore the club they will be pleased to discover creative social spaces with hammock groves and six bars where Sailors can congregate in groups of friends,” Virgin Voyages said.

Those looking for a home base for the day can enjoy the many beach loungers, or opt for a more private place to cuddle up, with beach-side and poolside cabanas available for rent. The Beach Club at Bimini will also feature active areas for watersports and beach play.

Sailors staying in RockStar Suites will have their exclusive slice of paradise at The Beach Club at Bimini, with a dedicated bar, complimentary food service, an outdoor terrace lounge, sun loungers and beach cabanas.

Sailors looking to explore the island of Bimini will have ample opportunities to do so in this off-the-beaten path tropical destination. The island is a beach-lovers paradise with welcoming and warm residents.

It was a known favourite of author Ernest Hemingway, who described it as “like the end of the world.” This intimate seven-mile island offers extraordinary sea experiences such as boating, snorkelling, and even wreck diving, with the SS Sapona just a few miles off the coast of the southern part of the island.