Princess Cruises debuts 2015-2016 'Exotics' sailings

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 27 May 2014 27 May 2014

Princess Cruises has debuted its 2015-2016 Exotics program which will take guests to a myriad of fascinating destinations that span the globe.

The diverse deployment includes more than 40 unique itineraries to 140 destinations in 70 countries on six continents. Guests will be able to book cruises to Tahiti and the South Pacific, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Asia and Africa. In addition, cruisers will experience less-traveled ports- available on the line’s small ships, or circumvent the globe on a 111-day World Cruise sailing roundtrip from North America.

Among the highlights of next season’s offerings are the lines’ largest ever deployment of cruises in Australia as Golden Princess becomes one of five ships to sail from the area - more ships than ever before for Princess; the line’s first Perth-based deployment during the Australian summer; longer cruises to Africa, Asia and the South Pacific; and sailings roundtrip from Singapore on Sapphire Princess.

“Our award-winning itineraries offer our guests the chance to travel the globe and enrich their lives by being introduced to the worlds’ cultures and peoples,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Our upcoming 2015-16 Exotics program underscores our position as a destination leader in the cruise industry."

Princess’ 2015-16 Exotics cruise program includes:

Asia & Africa cruises

Sapphire Princess will offer a robust season of departures from Singapore to both ancient locales and bustling cities - sailing not only roundtrip from the port of Singapore but to Hong Kong or Beijing as well. In addition, Sapphire Princess will continue offering the line’s most popular Asia cruise- the 17-day Grand Asia itinerary, while small ship Ocean Princess will sail on a 36-day West Africa Adventure from London (Dover) to Cape Town, followed by a 35-day voyage ending in Rome, or a combined 71-day Grand Adventure cruise to a number of exciting destinations around Africa, home to a variety of vibrant cultures and fascinating wildlife.

Australia & New Zealand cruises

An unprecedented five ships will be deployed to four homeports in Australia this season, offering the widest variety of itineraries ever. Golden Princess will debut for the first time in Australia sailing during summer “Down Under” from Melbourne on five different itineraries visiting New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Tasmania.

Sydney will be home to both Diamond Princess and Dawn Princess. Diamond Princess will offer voyages to an of assortment destinations, including a 33-day full circumnavigation of Australia, and two special sailings between Sydney and Auckland. Dawn Princess will offer two-week cruises throughout the season to New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.

Sun Princess will sail year-round, remaining in Sydney winter through June 2015 for a mix of cruises, and for the first time ever, will homeport in Perth (Fremantle) for the Australian summer offering both shorter and longer cruises – including a 46-day voyage to South Africa and the Indian Ocean. Sea Princess will return to Brisbane for the Australian summer season sailing seven-, 10- and 11-day voyages to New Zealand and islands in the South Pacific including Papua New Guinea.

South America cruises

Star Princess sails to the Southern Hemisphere sailing between Santiago (Valparaiso) and either Rio de  Janeiro or Buenos Aires on itineraries sailing the southernmost tip of South America and the Chilean Fjords. In addition, Star Princess will sail between two continents and cross the Equator on two departures of Andes and South American cruises featuring Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and and optional overland tour of Machu Picchu.

The start of 2016 will see Ocean Princess sail on her first-ever full circumnavigation of South America, sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. This 64-day Grand South America voyage will offer guests the opportunity to visit Antarctica on an optional overflight tour from Punta Arenas.

Tahiti & Polynesia cruises

Pacific Princess will return to Tahiti’s clear blue waters and offer 10-day voyages sailing from Papeete throughout the fall to explore this beautiful destination. Each departure includes two full days in Bora Bora.  Adding variety to the 10-day program, Pacific Princess will include one departure of a 10-day Marquesas & Polynesia itinerary featuring the remote island of Nuku Hiva.

World Cruise

Princess’ World Cruise will once again depart from and return to North America. The 111-day voyage on Pacific Princess will sail roundtrip from Los Angeles or Ft. Lauderdale visiting 35 destinations, 26 countries and includes overnight stays in Hong Kong, Dubai and Venice, as well as maiden calls to Chania, Crete and Bari, Italy.

AmaWaterways announces 2015-2016 Mekong River sailings for new AmaDara

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 27 May 2014 27 May 2014

AmaWaterways today announced details of its newest custom-designed vessel, AmaDara, which will enhance the line's Vietnam, Cambodia & The Riches of The Mekong program in 2015.  AmaDara is slated to make its anticipated debut with an inaugural sailing August 17, 2015 and will join its sister ship AmaLotus in offering incredible 16-day river cruises on the fabled Mekong in 2015 and 2016.  Both ships sail as part of the AmaVoyages program, an extension of AmaWaterways' core product line that delivers the highest standards available for travel in remote, undiscovered destinations.

"AmaWaterways continues to meet traveler demand for more river cruise options by expanding our fleet of custom-built ships in some of the world's most sought-after destinations," said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner of AmaWaterways. "The new AmaDara will be a welcome addition to our family, as we enhance our offerings of unforgettable journeys on the magnificent Mekong River."

AmaWaterways' Mekong River itineraries begin in Vietnam's bustling capital, Hanoi, with sightseeing tours including visits to the city's most famous historical spots.  Then, a scenic ride to the breathtaking Ha Long Bay will include boarding a contemporary junk for a once-in-a-lifetime overnight experience. Travelers will enjoy a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia to experience the ancient Khmer empire and mingle with the warm, friendly Cambodian people. Travelers will also embark upon a three-day adventure, touring the ancient temples of Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before beginning their Mekong cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake. The epic journey will conclude with an overnight stay in Phnom Phen, the capital of Cambodia, followed by two nights in Ho Chi Minh City.   

As part of this impressive itinerary, visitors touring the Angkor Archaeological Park will have the chance to visit the Oprhans and Disabled Arts Association's (ODA) Free Village English School in Siem Reap, Cambodia. A proud sponsor of ODA, AmaWaterways supports this institution in offering young children free English language instruction and providing a safe, comfortable community center for the village's residents.

Complimenting this unforgettable, immersive itinerary and experience is the ship itself.

The sister ship of AmaLotus, AmaDara will feature the most innovative ship design in the river cruise industry.  Elegant French Colonial décor will be accented by authentic Mekong artifacts and design elements in all air-conditioned cabins and public spaces. Each of the ship's 62 extra-spacious outside staterooms and luxury suites - the largest on the Mekong at 226-452 square feet - includes a private "Twin Balcony," consisting of a French Balcony with a second full-sized step-out balcony. Two elegant, stylish restaurants serve Western-style cuisine while keeping with AmaWaterways' passion for regionally inspired dishes, boasting an infusion of local flavors like sweet coconut, lemongrass, curries, chili peppers and fresh citrus.  Entertainment abounds with special folklore dances, live musical performances, cultural discussion forums, themed dinners and more.

Travelers choosing AmaWaterways for their voyage along the Mekong, "The Mother of Water," will have access to incredible amenities onboard AmaDara, including salon and spa services, a refreshing sun deck and swimming pool, fitness center and complimentary in-room "Infotainment" system with Internet, music, popular new release movies and English-language television programming. Complimentary unlimited wine is available with lunch and dinner; complimentary house spirits, local beer, soft drinks and bottled water are available all day every day, and complimentary bottled water is provided daily in all staterooms.

"At AmaWaterways, one of our core philosophies is to focus on building the most innovative ships on the market.  With AmaDara, travelers will see the benefits of this innovation in the form of authentic Southeast Asian touches, the comforts of home like air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, and the largest cabins on the Mekong," said Karst.  "When you see AmaDara in port, there is a clear distinction in design and décor and we are excited to see the reaction of our guests!"

Cruise only pricing for a seven-day sailing onboard AmaDara or AmaLotus on the Mekong River starts at $2,299 per person.  For cruise only passengers, an optional four-day/three-night pre-cruise stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia is available, starting at $799 per person including luxury hotel accommodations, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing tours.  Pricing for the full 16-day land and cruise itinerary starts at $4,498 per person.*

DFDS fleet signs with Lloyd's Register

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 27 May 2014 27 May 2014

DFDS, northern Europe’s largest integrated shipping and logistics company is transferring eight ships into Lloyd’s Register class to help further support the DFDS Seaways operational activities.

DFDS Seaways operates a network of 30 routes with 50 freight and passenger ships. DFDS Logistics provides freight and logistics services in Europe with trailers, containers, and rail.

The increase in ships classed by LR deepens and broadens the support provided by the classification market leader in the passenger ship, ro-pax and ro-ro freight ferry sectors. Lloyd’s Register’s Ship Emergency Response Programme (SERS) has also been contracted fleet wide to provide damage stability and crisis support to DFDS, further underlining the extent of safety and operational services now available to DFDS.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in their office in Copenhagen today, Kasper Moos, Vice President of DFDS and heading the company’s technical organisation commenting on the decision to choose LR for fleetwide class and emergency response, said: "DFDS Fleet has been growing because of recent acquisitions, and this means that by coincidence we have our ships registered in various classification societies.  We have therefore decided to transfer a number of our ships to LR in order to reduce the number of partners and achieve a leaner process in our daily work with the class. LR has already proven that they have the size and the services we need for fully covering our needs for a safe and efficient operation of our ships."

Lloyd’s Register’s Kim Wiese, Marine Business Development Manager for Denmark said: "DFDS has always maintained a close relationship with LR, with the vast majority of newbuildings being ordered to LR class. Our relationship has been strengthened through the agreement to transfer a number of vessels to LR Class. Furthermore, enrolling their fleet in to our SERS programme shows DFDS’ commitment to safety of life at sea and their care for the environment. Through our services LR will assist DFDS to provide a high level of safety and operational performance input to their fleet as we strive to help the company realise its commercial and technical ambitions to transport passengers and freight safely and efficiently. LR is highly committed to the ferry business. As well as our day-in/day-out service delivery, our research and innovation activities - including projects in which we have worked closely with DFDS - help drive our global leadership in passenger and freight ferry classification. This is an important sector where a combination of economic challenge and regulatory change means that ferry operators are looking for deeper and broader support."

MSC Cruises sees Fantasia class ship in UK by 2017 – report

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 23 May 2014 23 May 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, is reported to be considering a return to the UK after a break next year and to have a 137,000 gross ton Fantasia class ship based in Southampton by 2017.

“Speaking to Travel Weekly at the CLIA Selling Cruise Conference in Southampton after the cruise line announced an order for two new ships, Giles Hawke, executive director of MSC Cruises, said he believes a Fantasia-class ship will sail out of the UK in three years' time,” the Travel Weekly reported in a daily newsletter.

The company will not have a ship in the UK in 2015 as the current Southampton based MSC Opera is one of the four smaller ships of the company that will be lengthened next year.

MSC Cruises yesterday unveiled an order for two 154,000 gross ton ships at Fincantieri, two months after it had opted for two 167,000 gross ton ships to be built at STX France.

Hawke said: "It's exciting news. Globally we are the third biggest cruise line in the world and these new ships widen our strength. We will have 16 ships and the smallest will have more than 2,000 passengers. There is a real opportunity for the UK to grow and in 2017 the aim is that we will have a Fantasia-class ship ex-UK, and that's an exciting prospect," he was quoted as saying.

But Hawke stressed that current efforts were focused on growing UK sales for Mediterranean fly-cruises after the line announced it would not have a ship based in Southampton next year.