Guests and crew of German cruise ship AIDAbella enjoy Victoria Harbour Fireworks and New Year Party
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 31 December 2023 31 December 2023
As Hong Kong's picturesque Victoria Harbour came alive with a 12-minute New Year Countdown Firework Musical, about 2,000 passengers of German cruise ship AIDAbella berthed at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui took their “front-row seats” on deck to herald in the New Year in a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The pyrotechnic show themed “New Year New Legend”, playing out in a 1,300-metre stretch extending from Central to Causeway Bay, was the biggest and longest yet taking centre-stage at iconic Victoria Harbour. Hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors packed the vantage points along both sides of the harbour to farewell 2023 and ring in 2024.
On the open deck of AIDAbella, cruise guests could relax to enjoy unobstructed views and best camera angles of the firework extravaganza, set against the spectacular skyline of the city that has been made ever more vibrant with festive lights and decorations.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board made the countdown party for AIDAbella guests all the merrier with a New Year Countdown Celebration party onboard, featuring a host of traditional Chinese craft demonstrations and performances.
In the Hong Kong-themed party from 10pm to midnight, the ship’s open deck was lined with stalls offering local treats like dragon beard candy and Chinese cookies, and demonstration of crafts such as calligraphy on paper fan, Chinese rainbow calligraphy and flour doll-making. Captivating cultural performances were also staged – the energetic LED lion dance was symbolic of Hong Kong's diverse cultural scene, and the harmonic duet performances pairing traditional Chinese instruments mesmerised the audience with rich artistic expression in Chinese style.
AIDAbella perfectly timed her Hong Kong port call for her guests to join in the greatest show of the year in Hong Kong right at the world-famous Victoria Harbour. The specially curated New Year Countdown Celebration party onboard infused with local flavours exemplified how cruise passengers get twice as much fun with the integration of major onshore events with culturally rich activities onboard.
Throughout the year in Hong Kong, renowned as the event capital of Asia, there is a robust lineup of world-class art exhibitions, sports events and cultural festivals that can enrich the onshore experiences for international cruise passengers to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and dynamic spirit of Hong Kong.
American Cruise Lines continues its ambitious newbuilding program
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 27 December 2023 27 December 2023
American Cruise Lines has announced that it currently has five more new ships under construction, all scheduled for delivery over the next two years. These are in addition to the three ships the company took delivery of this year. All five ships will be for the U.S. market and will include a mix of American Riverboats and Coastal Cats. The new ships will further American’s expansion on the coasts and renew its focus on the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers, where the Line’s acclaimed modern riverboats lead the U.S. market.
American Cruise Lines has specialized in river and small ship cruising for over 50 years and has ordered the vast majority of all American-built cruise ships during that time. The company operates the only fleet of 100% U.S. registered riverboats and cruise ships in the world.
“The new contract is an exciting expansion of the American Cruise Lines fleet,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “After several years building the coastal fleet, we are once again ready to begin building out the U.S. River cruise capacity.”
The new ships will be built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD; more details, including schedules, will be available in the first quarter of 2024.
Margaritaville at Sea acquires Costa Atlantica to start sailings from Tampa
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 06 December 2023 06 December 2023
Margaritaville at Sea is offering an entirely new way to float into island time aboard their new flagship vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. Starting June 14, 2024, the fully-reimagined ship will sail 4- and 5-night cruises with stops in Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso, expanding the growing cruise line’s itinerary availability to the Gulf of Mexico along with entertainment-packed sea days designed to fully immerse guests in the Margaritaville state of mind. Guests can reserve 2024 sailings online starting today and take advantage of exclusive preview incentives available for a limited time.
“Since we launched our first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, last year, we’ve been working to expand what our guests have been asking for: more amazing views, longer itineraries, and new ports of call,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “The addition of the Islander is an exciting moment for Margaritaville at Sea and marks the next chapter of growth for our business.” Christopher continued, “We are also pleased to add Tampa as a new homeport – the perfect location to provide access to our adventurous new itineraries in and around the Gulf of Mexico.”
“We’re honored Margaritaville at Sea has chosen Port Tampa Bay to homeport this new addition to their fleet and we welcome them to the Gulf Coast,” said Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay. “Our port’s cruise terminals are easy to navigate and provide a variety of unique and interesting activities just steps from the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The ship will be a great addition to our portfolio of cruise lines and a fantastic new option for cruisers from Florida’s west coast.”
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander spans 12 passenger decks accommodating 2,650 passengers and was originally built for Costa Cruises. Currently undergoing an extensive transformation, Margaritaville at Sea will fully redesign all 1,100 staterooms with custom styling reminiscent of the sand, sea and sky and all new furnishings including Margaritaville’s signature bedding, pillows, and linens. With more than 700 Breezy Balcony staterooms, Grand Terrace Suites, luxurious Corner Suites, and ultra-exclusive Islander suites, couples, families, and friends alike can chase the sunset from their spacious balconies with endless gulf breezes.
The ship will feature a soaring 14-story atrium with a unique nautical Margaritaville flip flop and a lively atrium bar with three awe-inspiring multi-story floating margarita glass chandeliers. Exclusive innovations like the only three-story poolside LandShark Bar at Sea and a Margaritaville-inspired cornhole and mini-golf course alongside new family-friendly spaces like the Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide and signature favorites like JWB Prime Steakhouse and Rita’s Taco House will make sailing aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander a journey of discovery. The more than 250,000 guests who have sailed aboard the Palm Beach-based Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will find several familiar favorites, including Paradise Pickleball at Sea, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Margaritaville Coffee Shop, and Cheeseburger in Paradise, surrounded by unforgettable new spaces and experiences to explore.
“We are excited to expand our cruise line with the launch of Margaritaville at Sea Islander as our flagship vessel,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville Holdings. “The addition of this ship will allow our guests to visit more island destinations and, while at sea, enjoy a broader and more elevated range fun and signature Margaritaville onboard experiences.”
Margaritaville at Sea Islander’s first available sailing will be June 14, 2024 on a 4-night itinerary from Port Tampa Bay, Florida featuring a stop in Cozumel, Mexico and two sea days.
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