Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot reaches the North Pole
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- 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
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- 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
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrate construction milestones
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 22 June 2022 22 June 2022
The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated two important milestones over the weekend for MSC Cruises’ first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, both under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France.
MSC World Europa successfully completed its first set of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests included measuring the performance of the ship’s engines, along with assessing its maneuverability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. MSC World Europa will be the first LNG vessel to join the cruise line’s fleet in November 2022 and is set to become the largest LNG-powered cruise ship in the world.
Meanwhile, MSC Euribia was floated out and moved to a wet dock for work to continue on the ship before she joins MSC Cruises’ fleet in June 2023.
MSC has invested more than $3.14 billion in three LNG-powered cruise ships. The construction of the third ship – ‘World Class II’ – will begin at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard early next year.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “We made an important pledge last year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, leading the cruise industry on the path to decarbonization. MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will play a fundamental role in this journey.
“LNG is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale that reduces emissions significantly and offers compatibility with future alternative fuel solutions. We are actively investing in research and development regarding LNG, including a pilot LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell onboard MSC World Europa. If bio or synthetic LNG was available at scale today, both our newbuilds could operate with net zero emissions from the very first day.”
MSC World Europa – next-generation cruise experience
MSC World Europa is the first in the trailblazing MSC World Class – a brand new class of ships that will introduce a completely new cruising platform and accommodate up to 6,762 passengers.
MSC World Europa will incorporate future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, redefining the cruise experience with a variety of new concepts and creative areas unlike anything at sea today. The ground-breaking design features a Y-shaped aft that leads to the impressive 341-foot long, open-air Europa Promenade with breathtaking ocean views. Brand new balcony cabins overlook the stunning space, which features a striking architectural centerpiece in the form of The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck-high dry slide set to be the longest at sea.
MSC World Europa will debut in the Arabian Sea for winter 2022/23. MSC Cruises is deploying more capacity in the Middle East than ever, aiming to strengthen its position as the region’s market leader for vacations at sea. The ship will offer 7-night voyages between December 2022 and April 2023 from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Doha in Qatar before returning to Dubai.
In March 2023, the ship will head to the Mediterranean Sea and sail 7-night cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina; Valletta in Malta; Barcelona in Spain; and Marseille in France.
MSC Euribia – symbol of MSC Cruises’ respect for the oceans
MSC Euribia will become one of the most environmentally advanced ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet and is named after the ancient goddess Eurybia, who harnessed the winds, weather and constellations to master the seas. The ship will have a noticeably different look than others in MSC Cruises’ fleet thanks to exclusive artwork that transforms her hull into a giant, floating canvas to communicate the importance of sustainability and the Company’s commitment to the sea.
Starting in June 2023, MSC Euribia will spend her inaugural season in Northern Europe sailing from the German port of Kiel. Her 7-night itineraries to the Norwegian fjords include calls at Copenhagen, Denmark; Hellesylt, Norway for the Geirangerfjord; Alesund and Flam, also in Norway; and other destinations.
For details on MSC Euribia’s itineraries, click here.
MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia – environmentally advanced
Both MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will be powered by LNG fuel, which eliminates emissions like sulphur oxides and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 percent. LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation, as it reduces CO2 emissions by 25 percent and is paving the way for the uptake of sustainable non-fossil fuels like green hydrogen.
The two vessels will both feature selective catalytic reduction systems, shore-to-ship power connectivity, advanced wastewater treatment systems to comply with the Baltic standard – the strictest global standard for wastewater disposal to sea, underwater radiated noise management systems to reduce potential noise and vibration impact on marine mammals, and a wide range of energy efficient equipment and systems to optimize engine use.
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