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Seabourn Venture, Seabourn's first purpose-built expedition vessel embarks first voyage

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 July 2022 28 July 2022

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury ocean and expedition cruise line, is embarking on a new era of adventure on the high seas with the launch of Seabourn Venture. The first of the line’s two new ultra-luxury expedition ships, Seabourn Venture entered service and welcomed its first guests on board yesterday, July 27, 2022, on a 12-day Northern Isles expedition, departing Tromsø, Norway, and bound for the Arctic and the Svalbard Archipelago, one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas and home to wildlife from puffins to polar bears.

“Exploration has always been part of our brand legacy, but the launch of Seabourn Venture turns the page on a new chapter for us, offering our guests opportunities to explore remote destinations in every corner of the globe and truly be a part of the natural wonders, wildlife, history, and culture they’ll find there,” said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn. “Seabourn guests are as passionate about discovery as they are about traveling in ultra-luxury, and Seabourn Venture offers a new type of expedition experience allowing our guests to discover the magnificence from the Arctic to the Antarctic.”

Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Antarctica, Amazon and more

Seabourn Venture begins its inaugural season with a series of 12- to 15-day voyages exploring the Arctic, Greenland and Iceland, and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in Nunavut, the most remote and least-populated destinations explored during Seabourn Venture’s Arctic season. Destination highlights include Scoresby Sound, Greenland, home to the largest and longest fjord system in the world; Sermilik Fjord, located in southeastern Greenland and renowned for the many icebergs that flow from multiple glaciers at its head into the Denmark Strait; Svalbard; and Pond Inlet, Nunavut, the eastern entry to the Northwest Passage.

The ship will make its way south in October 2022, stopping at various locales in the Caribbean, Central America, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile on a series of 10- to 14-day voyages. There will be opportunities to explore in Zodiacs under cliffs teeming with birds, kayak among tropical coral islands, visit ancient Incan sites, and snorkel unspoiled Caribbean coral gardens, as well as a transit of the magnificent Panama Canal.

Between November 2022 and February 2023, Seabourn Venture will invite travelers on adventures of discovery cruising scenic sounds, fjords, channels and glaciers in Chile, sailing to Antarctica, and crossing back to explore South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. The ship will sail on 11- to 22-day voyages to “The Great White Continent” that will include the "Antarctic Experience,” offering up-close encounters with untamed wilderness and wildlife including bobbing icebergs, waddling penguin colonies, and feisty fur seals, as well as visits to research stations that have footholds on the continent. The voyages will include multiple daily operations using the Zodiacs for landings and cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. Optional excursions will also be available, such as kayaking and the ship’s submarines, allowing guests to explore the vast frontier below sea level.

In March and April 2023, Seabourn Venture will embark on a series of 7- to 12-day expedition voyages in Brazil and the Amazon. The ship will visit many colorful colonial cities on the coast of Brazil and sail into the heart of South America through one of the world’s greatest rivers, where guests can cruise in Zodiacs along the Amazon River and visit ancient sites and indigenous villages.

Designed for exploration and outfitted for adventure

Seabourn Venture is designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and includes modern hardware and technology that extends the ship’s global deployment and capabilities. The ship is a brand-new innovative design, created specifically for the ultra-luxury expedition traveler, and includes many features that have made Seabourn ships so successful.

Along with an attentive crew providing every level of Seabourn’s renowned service, the ship is staffed with a world-class 26-person Expedition Team whose role is to give guests the most from expeditions on land and at sea. Comprised of highly regarded wilderness experts, scientists, historians and naturalists, the team will regularly interact with guests, providing in-depth insights into the history, ecology and culture of the places they visit. Their valuable insights are offered both in formal presentations on a variety of topics and in more casual conversations over meals, on deck during scenic cruising or leisure experiences.

Wherever they’re headed, guests on Seabourn Venture are in for quite an extraordinary travel experience in the embrace of stunning interiors and exteriors. Designed by Seabourn partner and hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany and managing partner Alessia Genova of New York-based atelier Tihany Design, the vessel’s spectacular allure blends sumptuous authenticity at sea with modern romanticism. The ultra-luxe setting is a perfect complement to a ship purpose-built for exploration and arrayed with features and amenities to enrich and enlighten guests on board, on shore, and even beneath the waves.

As on every vessel in the Seabourn fleet, the 132 oceanfront suites of Seabourn Venture are defined by thoughtfully crafted furniture, tactile materials, and bespoke details that capture the timeless luxury of travel and elevate the experience. Public spaces throughout the ship have narratives all their own, with tactile and elemental materials employed to evoke ruggedness, the spirit of adventure, and the thrill of discovery balanced with Seabourn-style luxury and comfort. Among a dozen settings sure to be magnets for guests are the Expedition Lounge on Deck 4; the adjacent Discovery Center, generously sized for all guests to gather in a classroom-like setting and enjoy natural history and cultural programming; and the Bow Lounge, a prime setting for watching marine life with the closest access to the water on the ship. The highest indoor viewing point on Seabourn Venture is the Constellation Lounge on the top deck, with stunning, 270-degree views and an intimate interior dressed up in dark blue and red inspired by constellations in the night sky.

The ship is equipped with kayaks and enough Zodiacs to transport every guest on expeditions at once, as well as two custom-built submarines, each with capacity for six and capability of exploring shipwrecks and natural wonders under the sea in luxurious comfort.

Carnival Cruise Line brings Texas flair to Carnival Jubilee’s keel laying ceremony

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 July 2022 21 July 2022

Carnival Jubilee is fixing to start sailing from Galveston, Texas, next year and Carnival Cruise Line’s third cruise ship to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) got its first taste of Texas today with the keel laying ceremony at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

Wearing cowboy-shaped hard hats, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy was joined by Meyer Werft Managing Director Bernard Meyer and Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Newbuilds Ben Clement (pictured from left), among others, to celebrate the construction milestone by placing coins under a 375-ton keel block.

The coins signify good luck for the ship and will remain under its foundation as the structure is built. One of the ship’s lucky coins is an official ship coin, which commemorates an important part of Carnival history while celebrating its future by showing Carnival Jubilee alongside the original Jubilee from 1986. The coins will later be placed in a special compartment near Carnival Jubilee’s mast as permanent fixtures of the ship.

“Our plans for Texas are as big as the state itself, and we’re looking forward to bringing guests aboard our third Excel-class ship that will be just as magnificent as her sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. I’m ecstatic to be here for this important moment and witness construction now officially underway. Carnival Jubilee will significantly enhance our offerings from Galveston as the industry leader in the Texas cruise market and an important contributor to the Galveston tourism economy,” said Duffy.

Carnival Jubilee will be the first Carnival Cruise Line ship built in Papenburg, Germany. Meyer Werft has already built four other LNG-powered ships for other cruise lines under Carnival Corporation. Carnival Jubilee will be Carnival’s third ship to run on a liquified natural gas (LNG) technology platform. Carnival Corporation pioneered the introduction of LNG fuel in the passenger cruise sector as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction. Meyer Turku in Finland delivered sister ship Mardi Gras last year and will deliver Carnival Celebration later this year.

“We are pleased to take another symbolic step in the construction of Carnival Jubilee with the keel laying. The Meyer team will once again produce an advanced and innovative cruise ship that will provide a great vacation for millions of passengers,” said Meyer.

As the newest ship in the Excel class, Carnival Jubilee will share many of the same features guests love on Mardi Gras – including the award-winning BOLT, The Ultimate Sea Coaster. She will also feature unique experiences and signature venues of her own, with more details to be shared about those aspects closer now that construction is underway.

Carnival Jubilee will begin sailing from Galveston in November of 2023 and will offer 7-night Western Caribbean cruise vacations with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.

Silversea acquires the Crystal Endeavor

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 18 July 2022 18 July 2022

Silversea Cruises today welcomes Silver Endeavour to its fleet – one of the world’s most luxurious expedition ships. The fifth expedition ship in its fleet of 11, Silver Endeavour strengthens Silversea’s position as the leader in ultra-luxury expedition cruising, broadening the industry’s most diverse polar offering for guests’ enjoyment. Designed specifically to take travellers to the world’s most remote destinations, including both Polar Regions, Silver Endeavour will enter service in November 2022, replacing Silver Explorer from the 2022/2023 Antarctica season – including the ship’s highly popular Antarctica Bridge sailings.

Silver Endeavour was originally constructed at the MV Werften for Crystal Cruises and delivered last year. Both companies were part of Genting Hong Kong, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

“One of the most luxurious expedition ships afloat, Silver Endeavour will accelerate our strategy of growth, enriching our offering to unprecedented levels and reaffirming our position as the leading ultra-luxury expedition cruise line,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “The expedition cruising industry is poised to resume accelerated growth, driven by demand among high-end, affluent customers for travel to remote and hard-to-access destinations. Silver Endeavour will strengthen our polar offering, further diversifying our broad-ranging product. With the ongoing support of Royal Caribbean Group, we are enhancing the cruise experience for our guests, unlocking the world’s most rewarding destinations in a way that only Silversea can.”

“To honour the spirit of expedition travel, we have renamed the ship Silver Endeavour – paying testament to one of history’s most famous vessels,” said Barbara Muckermann, Chief Commercial Officer, Silversea Cruises. “Aboard Silver Endeavour, travellers will channel the same sense of discovery that guided pioneering explorers, such as James Cook, in bygone eras.”

Built to PC6 polar class specifications, Silver Endeavour is designed for polar exploration. She carries state-of-the-art amenities, with an industry-leading Zodiac-to-guest ratio; kayaks; and cutting-edge navigation and exploration technology, including a remote gimbal camera system, which can capture high-quality images from 5km, among other amenities. She will maintain Silversea’s trademark level of luxury, with a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.

Spread over eight public decks, the all-suite Silver Endeavour offers guests the most spacious accommodations in expedition cruising, upholding Silversea’s trademark level of comfort; multiple restaurants, bars and lounges; an expansive spa; a two-storied solarium with a swimming pool and whirlpool; and an array of indoor and outdoor observation areas. She fosters an intimate onboard atmosphere, enabling guests to discover destinations like Antarctica in depth, with great interaction between travellers and Silversea’s expedition experts.

As part of the ongoing RCL Cares program, Royal Caribbean Group will protect the deposits of guests who were originally booked on Crystal Endeavor and make a new booking on one of the Group's global brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

“We are delighted to offer an additional incentive to all guests who were booked on the former Endeavor to experience the Silversea difference. They are invited to sail on any Silversea ship from our beautiful fleet of 11”, said Roberto Martinoli.

To the extent the Crystal Endeavor guests do not receive their deposits back from Crystal or other sources, the Royal Caribbean Group will refund any amount paid on their new booking up to the amount of their lost deposits from Crystal. Complete terms of the offer will be provided on www.silversea.com soon.

The cruise line wishes to welcome Endeavor’s former crew to the Silversea family, where they will receive priority. For more information, please visit crewcareer.silversea.com.

Bookings for Silver Endeavour open immediately. Guests can book their voyage aboard Silver Endeavour for the upcoming Antarctica season under Silver Explorer. Silversea’s website will reflect the change of ship in the coming weeks.

Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot reaches the North Pole

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 14 July 2022 14 July 2022

On July 13, 2022 at 12:00PM EST, Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, reached the geographic North Pole, marking the first time for a luxury passenger vessel to bring travelers to the most northern point of the Earth’s axis of rotation.

This is a highly symbolic achievement for Ponant as an expert in expeditions to the polar regions and the only cruise company sailing under the French flag. This follows Le Commandant Charcot’s first voyage to the North Pole in September 2021, the first French vessel to reach this latitude.

“It is with great humility, and emotion that we have reached this latitude, each of us aware of the exceptional character of this moment we have been living,” said Captain Patrick Marchesseau, at her helm.

Ponant has been a leader in responsible tourism for more than 30 years, and Le Commandant Charcot, which debuted in November 2021, is among the most environmentally friendly ships in the sea, powered by battery and liquified natural gas. When in battery mode, the ship is able to sail for up to eight hours at a time without producing any emissions. Le Commandant Charcot also serves as a floating research center with dedicated onboard laboratories, allowing scientific research teams access to these remote polar regions. Under the supervision of the team of naturalist guides and the onboard scientists, guests are also able to participate in citizen science experiments, helping set up a research station on an ice floe or deploying an Argos transmitter, a satellite-based system which collects and shares environmental data. While off-ship excursions range from ice fishing and snowshoeing to polar diving and ice floating, the ship is designed to feel more like a yacht versus a traditional cruise ship. It features 123 staterooms and suites, chef-crafted meals designed by Alain Ducasse, a wellness area in partnership with Biologique Recherche, and amenities like a snow room – chilled to 14 degrees Fahrenheit with fresh powder snow – as well as heated blue lagoon baths.

Disney Cruise Line celebrates christening of Disney Wish

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 July 2022 03 July 2022

The Disney Wish, the fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, was christened on June 29 during a celebration filled with spectacular musical performances, special guests and characters from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar stories.

With an astounding assembly of princesses, heroes, Jedi and pals on stage, three Make-A-Wish children stole the show as they played a historic role in the celebration.

Disney Cruise Line honored Make-A-Wish children past, present and future in the prestigious role of godchildren for the Disney Wish, redefining the longstanding maritime tradition of appointing a ship “godmother.” Three ambassadors — Colby, 10; Megan, 16; and Jenna, 12 — represented all Disney Wish godchildren and recited a time-honored blessing of the ship, which symbolically bestows good fortune on the vessel and its travelers.

Tony Award-winning entertainer Anika Noni Rose, the Disney Legend known for voicing Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog,” performed a stirring rendition of the beloved Disney Parks ballad “Wishes,” evoking the spirit of optimism and wonder woven into the fabric of Disney’s enchanting new cruise ship.

The event culminated with the ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle like only Disney can do, with a dash of pixie dust and a symphony of pyrotechnics, special effects, music and fanfare.

“The Disney Wish embodies the incredible magic that only Disney can deliver,” said Bob Chapek, chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “It celebrates nearly 100 years of Disney storytelling excellence, bringing fantastic worlds and beloved characters to life like never before through innovative technology and new approaches. Every element of the Disney Wish reflects our relentless focus on our guests, and everything they love about Disney.”

The newest Disney Cruise Line ship is infused with more storytelling than ever before and filled with one-of-a-kind entertainment and innovative “firsts” from bow to stern.

These include the first Disney attraction at sea, family dining adventures themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, an immersive tour of the Star Wars galaxy, interactive virtual quests that unlock hidden magic around every corner, original Broadway-style stage productions, signature fireworks at sea, imaginative clubs for kids of all ages, and an expanded collection of experiences exclusively for adults.

“We’re constantly innovating and creating big, bold experiences for our guests that connect them to our stories in amazing new ways,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “With the Disney Wish, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with awesome new entertainment and experiences and combining them with Disney Cruise Line fan-favorite offerings. This new ship is one more symbol of our incredibly bright future, and just the beginning of where we can go.”

The 144,000 gross ton Disney Wish, which was constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, sails its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by 3- and 4-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida. Two more LNG-powered new builds will join the fleet in 2024 and 2025.

Photo credit: Port Canaveral