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Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter to join P&O Cruises Australia's fleet in first half of 2021

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 22 October 2020 22 October 2020

Australia’s home-grown cruise line, P&O Cruises Australia, has announced the next stage of its fleet transformation with both Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter arriving in the first half of 2021 in a mark of confidence in the expected rebound of the local cruise industry. The ships currently trades as Golden Princess and Star Princess and registers 109,000 gross tons.

The Pacific Adventure is planned to begin sailing from Sydney on April 30 next year and the delivery of Pacific Encounter is being brought forward by at least six months to ensure the local fleet is poised to drive the resurgence of cruising at the right time.

Pacific Encounter is scheduled to call Brisbane home from May 7, 2021 – but additional voyages may be added even earlier, depending on the timing of the return of cruising in Australia.

The sister ships will sail alongside P&O’s current flagship, Pacific Explorer, which will extend its operational pause until January next year.

“The arrival of these much-anticipated ships, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, in the first half of next year represents a step-change for the fleet and a sign of confidence in the market,” P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said.

“This investment in our fleet is a demonstration that P&O Cruises Australia is ready to lead the industry in bouncing back when government and public health authorities agree it is appropriate to begin sailing again with protocols in place.

“It is also a mark of respect for our many loyal guests as well as crew, fresh food suppliers, entertainers and musicians, shore tour operators and port logistics partners who are looking to be a part of the resurgence of the Australian cruise sector over time.”

Myrmell said both Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will offer something for everyone from a range of inclusive dining options, speciality restaurants by renowned chefs Luke Mangan and Johnny Di Francesco as well as family-friendly activities and vibrant night-time venues brought to life by some of Australia’s leading comedians, musicians and our own talented entertainment staff.

In recent weeks, P&O Cruises Australia announced the early departure of Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria. It had previously been announced the ships would leave as part of a fleet transformation.

“These have been challenging times for the entire community and, for our part, we have sought to use this operational pause to fast-track our planned fleet refresh. Our pathway to a return to cruising may be unclear but we wanted to give our guests confidence about our future fleet and our commitment to Australia and New Zealand,” Myrmell said.

Key elements of announcement include:

– Pacific Adventure will call Sydney home. Her first voyage is a three-night Short Break scheduled for April 30, 2021. Pacific Adventure was originally planned to debut in November this year but was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

– Brisbane’s new international cruise terminal will become the new home port for Pacific Encounter. At this stage, her first voyage is scheduled to depart Brisbane on May 7, 2021 and is a three-night Short Break. Additional voyages may be added earlier.

– Pacific Explorer is planned to be homeporting from Auckland, New Zealand from February 6, 2021 to her last voyage on April 25, 2021.

– Extending the pause for Pacific Explorer until the end of the year, covering her Christmas and New Year cruises from Brisbane, to give certainty for guests over this important holiday period. Pacific Explorer’s first cruise is now scheduled for January 9, 2021.

“While the current pause in cruise operations is until 17 December in Australia, the pathway to re-start remains unclear. We felt the best approach was to cancel Pacific Explorer’s remaining 2020 cruises to allow families to plan with certainty for their Christmas and New Year activities. It was a difficult decision but in the end it was an effort to do the right thing by our guests on both Pacific Explorer and Pacific Adventure, which is also affected over the holiday period,” Myrmell said.

P&O Cruises Australia will assist those guests whose bookings have been affected by the changes. Guests can choose alternative arrangements including an option to move their booking to the same time next year and receive bonus onboard credit, request a full refund or bonus onboard credit if they choose the future cruise credit option.

P&O will pay refunds back to travel agents for guests who booked through that sales channel. The cruise line will also protect travel agent commissions on all bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full as at October 21, 2020 and for the total amount of the future cruise credits.

Looking ahead, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will have the signature experiences, entertainment and programmed activities that sets apart P&O as a contemporary cruise holiday for everyone.

Due to the complexities created by COVID, the waterslides will be installed at a later date but the ships will be a step change with a mix of fresh offerings, such as Byron Beach Club and the family pool area. With a retractable roof for all weather, the pool area is set to be one of the most popular areas on the ships with loads of family-oriented activities around the deck.

All the favourite dining options that guests love will continue such as The Pantry, Waterfront, Angelos, Dragon Lady, 400 Gradi and Luke Mangan’s restaurant and grill. The best production shows at sea will be showcased in Black Circus and fantastic music and performances throughout the other entertainment venues, Blue Room, bars and pubs onboard both ships. P&O will remain a major supporter of live Aussie comedy, a sector which has suffered in recent months.

The ships will also have Edge activities, kids clubs, top-class boutiques and a range of programmed events.

Swan Hellenic orders 12,000 gross ton expedition ship at Helsinki Shipyard

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 21 October 2020 21 October 2020

Swan Hellenic, the UK based expedition cruise operator, and Helsinki Shipyard in Finland announced that the cruise company has contracted a 12,000 gross ton Vega class that is due for delivery at the end of 2022.

The now contracted vessel will have a length of 125 metres and it will be able to accommodate 192 passengers. This means it will be slightly larger than the previous two ships, which will be of 10,700 gross tons, 110 metres in length and offer 148 berths. The latest vessel will have PC6 ice class and it will have a crew of 140.

“Featuring a 4.6 megawatt diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, 3-megawatt max. battery package and ice-strengthened hull, the new ship will not only be able to reach the most remote and inaccessible corners of the world, but also do so in almost total silence under battery power. Causing minimal disturbance to sensitive ecosystems and wildlife, Vega 3 will thus bring its guests a uniquely immersive experience seeing what others don't,” the two companies said in a joint statement.

With the three Vega ships scheduled for delivery in November 2021, April 2022 and year-end 2022, Swan Hellenic is demonstrating solid confidence both in the strength and resilience of the high-end cruise market and its own unique vision of cultural expedition cruising.

"The new order is significant for Helsinki Shipyard,” observed CEO Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, “as it shows our customers' confidence in our operations and is a strong signal of the long-term nature of our operations".

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito confirmed: “We see the increase in demand for experiences that are truly out of the ordinary and are confident in the bounce back of our industry.”

Helsinki Shipyard to sign third expedition ship contract in next few days - report

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 20 October 2020 20 October 2020

Helsinki Shipyard Oy, the Finnish company that is building two expedition cruise vessels that will be operated by Swan Hellenic, the UK based expedition cruise operator, will sign a contract for a third ship in the next few days, Managing Director Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch told the Finnish broadcasting company YLE.

“We are in talks to build a sister vessel for the two ships already in production. Hopefully these talks will leaf to a good result,” he was quoted by YLE as saying and adding that a contract should be signed in the next few days.

Rotkirch said that the Helsinki Shipyard is in talks with potential customers in the US and in Europe about further orders. He did not elaborate what kinds of ships are in question.

SH Minerva, the first if the two ships currently on order, is scheduled for completion in August 2021 and the second vessel in January 2022. Both are of 10,700 gross tons and they will have accommodation for 148 passengers.

 

 

 

 

AIDA Cruises chooses Italy for its restart

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 17 October 2020 17 October 2020

AIDA Cruises, the German brand of the Costa Group, restarts from Italy for the resumption of its cruises. The AIDAblu will depart on October 17 from Civitavecchia for its first cruise after the pause for the Covid-19 emergency, with a 7-night itinerary visiting exclusively Italian ports, calling at Naples, Palermo, Catania, La Spezia and with an overnight in Civitavecchia/Rome. The first cruise is set to begin October 17, with voyages offered weekly until November 28.

AIDAblu is the fourth ship of the Costa Group to resume operations, after the three ships of the Costa Cruises brand – Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema and Costa Smeralda – which restarted in September and October. Costa Smeralda was also today in the port of Civitavecchia, together with AIDAblu, as part of her first cruise, which departed on 10 October from Savona with calls only in Italian ports.

“The restart of AIDAblu is an important milestone for Costa Group, as it marks the return to cruising after a long pause also for our German brand AIDA Cruises, joining Costa Cruises,” said Group CEO, Costa Group & Carnival Asia Michael Thamm. “We are very proud that the restart takes place from Italy, because all of our ships fly the Italian flag and our Group is headquartered in Italy. Currently, cruises are only operating in the Mediterranean and in Italy, which would not have been possible without the support of the Italian Government and authorities. Thanks to AIDAblu’s cruise program, we are contributing to the restart of international tourism in Italy, bringing our German guests to a destination they love in a safe and responsible way. We see this ship as a symbol of the long-lasting, solid relationships between Italy and Germany."

AIDAblu will bring further benefits for the recovery of the tourism ecosystem in Italy, in addition to the other three Costa ships that have already resumed operations in Italy. Thanks to the cruises departing tomorrow from Civitavecchia, AIDAblu German guests will have the opportunity to visit five Italian destinations in a single holiday. The economic contribution coming from cruises represents important support for Italian tourism and economy. According to a study conducted by Deloitte & Touche, the University of Genoa and the University of Hamburg, the Costa Group generated in Italy a total economic impact in 2018 of 3.5 billion euros, creating around 17,000 full-time equivalent jobs and work for 4,700 Italian suppliers and partners.

The resumption of sailing from AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises is part of a phased-in approach by Costa Group to resume operations gradually, with enhanced health protocols developed in coordination with government and health authorities. Based on health and mitigation guidelines in Germany and Italy, the AIDA health protocols implemented on all of the brand’s cruises include measures encompassing the entirety of the cruise experience, from booking to disembarkation. Developed with leading medical experts, the program has been audited and confirmed by the renowned independent auditing company SGS Institut Fresenius and the classification society DNV-GL. The measures include guests and crew being tested for COVID-19 with negative results required prior to boarding. Other protocols include regular temperature and health checks for guests and crew, physical distancing guidelines, facial coverings when physical distancing is not possible, capacity controls and increased sanitization measures, as well as guided shore excursions managed by AIDA to maintain health protocols.