News

Viking takes delivery of first expedition ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 23 December 2021 23 December 2021

Viking has taken delivery of Viking Octantis, the company’s first of two new purpose-built expedition ships. The delivery ceremony took place yesterday at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway. Viking Octantis hosts 378 guests and sets sail tomorrow toward South America to welcome guests in January 2022 for Viking’s first voyages to Antarctica.

Viking Octantis will be officially named in April 2022 in New York City by her ceremonial godmother, Liv Arnesen, the famed explorer and educator. The ship then makes her way to the Great Lakes, for a series of voyages during spring and summer. A second, identical sister ship, Viking Polaris®, joins the fleet in August 2022 for journeys to the Arctic and Antarctica.

“Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family as we welcome our first expedition ship to the fleet and usher in a new era of exploration. Our guests have asked us to build on our award-winning river and ocean voyages to take them further, and that is just what we have done,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Leveraging our long history of destination-focused travel, enrichment and innovative ship design, we are now perfecting expedition voyages and offering curious travelers the opportunity to visit the world's most pristine destinations in the most responsible way possible. With the arrival of Viking Octantis, Viking is now exploring all seven continents, and we look forward to welcoming her first guests on board in the coming weeks.”

Viking’s new expedition ships were designed by Richard Riviere, Founding Principal of internationally acclaimed interior design firm Rottet Studio of Los Angeles, who also designed Viking’s award-winning Longships and ocean ships. SMC Design of London contributed with their expertise in the maritime sector. Together the two firms were recently awarded “Design Studio Team of the Year” in the 2021 Cruise Ship Interior Awards for their work on Viking’s expedition ships. More detail on the design and features of the ships can also be found in a new virtual video tour, Discover Our Expedition Ships, now available on Viking’s website and narrated by Viking Executive Vice President Karine Hagen.

Silversea opens pre-sale reservations for Silver Nova

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 16 December 2021 16 December 2021

Ultra-luxury travel brand Silversea Cruises has opened pre-sale reservations for Silver Nova, the first vessel in the cruise line’s revolutionary Nova class of ships. The limited-time offer for travel advisors and the Venetian Society (Silversea’s Loyalty program) is available until January 6, 2022. Silver Nova, with a planned summer 2023 launch, will be the first low-emissions luxury cruise ship with advanced hybrid technology featuring fuel cells, paving the way for the future of luxurious, sustainable cruising.

The inaugural season for Silver Nova will commence on July 15, 2023, and include highly curated and immersive sailings ranging from 7 to 23 nights. The ship’s 10-night maiden voyage from Southampton to Lisbon will include calls in Saint Malo, three days in Bordeaux to explore the region’s historical sights, 18th-century cultural heritage, castles, vineyards, and French-style gardens, followed by Bilbao, before ending in Lisbon.

During its inaugural season, Silver Nova is scheduled to offer a total of 21 journeys in the Mediterranean and a grand voyage to South America to kick off 2024, as well as a transoceanic crossing to unlock over 100 destinations and 50 countries.

Silver Nova’s innovative asymmetrical design allows for unprecedented passenger connectivity to the destinations it visits with luxurious interiors and many outdoor venues. Passenger comfort is assured with the largest offering of suite types in Silversea’s history, among the most spacious in the cruise industry, and a collection of prized aft suites affording stunning 270-degree ocean and land views.

Other Silver Nova amenities will include Otium, Silversea’s wellness program introduced in 2021 on Silver Dawn, and S.A.L.T., an immersive culinary concept that was first experienced on Silver Moon, bringing destination authenticity to the ship’s cuisine through locally sourced products, market trips and visiting chef demonstrations. According to Silversea’s executives, Silver Nova will take both raved-review concepts to “the next level.”

“We are thrilled to offer our guests a new way to travel with this evolution of luxury and sustainability,” says Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Silver Nova represents more than a new luxury ship; its launch advances responsible cruising and new leadership and innovation in the cruise industry.”

“To say Silver Nova is spectacular is an understatement. The ship surpasses traditional standards of luxury cruising and propels our fleet towards the future,” adds Barbara Muckermann, Chief Commercial Officer. “Her revolutionary design will elevate all levels of onboard indulgence and comfort, with personalized experiences focused on deep destination authenticity.

Ocean Victory becomes the first ever ship to be christened in South Georgia

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 11 December 2021 11 December 2021

Albatros Expeditions celebrates the first ship ever to be christened in the archipelago of South Georgia,simultaneously reaching new environmental standards for the industry.

Earlier this month in Copenhagen, the Scandinavian boutique expedition cruise operator, Albatros Expeditions, christened the Ocean Victory in South Georgia on its maiden voyage. This event on 3 December 2021 set records in navigation history while chasing the sun eclipse in Antarctica.

The ship was christened by Elise Grøndahl, Albatros Expeditions’ Head of Operations and Product, in an environmentally friendly way b yreplacing the traditional bottle of champagne with a block of ice. Elise Grondahl says: “I'm proud to be part of the team staring up the season on this magnificent new vessel. Before its first sailing it was already awarded with a gold Travel Weekly Magellan Award in the category ‘Cruise -Overall-Eco-Friendly Green Cruise Ship’

”Albatros Expeditions’ President, Hans Lagerweij,says: “We choose for this event to happen in South Georgia, because of our great love for this unique place. We enthusiastically support The South Georgia Heritage Trust and are helping with the establishment of the sculpture “Commensalis – the Spirit Tables of South Georgia” at the old Grytviken Whaling Station. It tells the powerful story of an eco-system in recovery."

Laura Sinclair Willis, Chief Executive of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands says: “We are delighted that Albatros Expeditions chose South Georgia for such a momentous occasion”. Albatros Expeditions also launched its 2023/2024 Antarctica season, which sets a new record for number of visits to South Georgia.

Albatros Expeditions’ Chairman and Owner, Søren Rasmussen,says: “At Albatros we are always looking for the most unique and inspiring destinations around the world. The growth in interest we have seen in the immense nature of South Georgia is reflected in our new product range. We are proud to explore more of these magnificent islands in the future with the Ocean Victory and the Ocean Albatros, both with the lowest environmental impact in the industry."