Baz

Celebrity Flora Returns to the Galapagos Island

Celebrity Flora Returns to the Galapagos Island

Travellers who have waited more than 15 months to experience the wonders of the world set sail yesterday in the breath-taking Galapagos Islands aboard the luxurious, state-of-the-art mega yacht, Celebrity Flora. The first of the new-luxury brand’s three ships to resume sailing the extraordinary archipelago, guests will be treated to a curated seven-night itinerary through a world unlike any other.

The sailing will be shortly followed by the award-winning Celebrity Xpedition on 24 July and the intimate 16-guest Celebrity Xploration on 18 September. They will both equally explore the Galapagos with Northern and Southern Loop itineraries, while offering ultimate individual indulgences.

MSC Seaview’s first departure from Kiel, Germany

MSC Seaview's first departure from Kiel marks the start of MSC Cruises' Northern Europe summer sailings from Germany

MSC Seaview, Kiel. Credit: Frank Erpinar

MSC Cruises commenced the Northern Europe summer season this weekend when MSC Seaview departed from the German port of Kiel for the first of her 7-night cruises in the Baltic Sea.

MSC Seaview is the seventh MSC Cruises’ ship to resume sailings with guests on board with a further three preparing to start future voyages, which will see half of the Company’s fleet back at sea by the end of summer.

MSC Seaview will homeport in Kiel until the beginning of October and the ship will welcome German and European guests for an attractive itinerary to Visby on one of Sweden’s largest islands Gotland,  Nynäshamn near the Swedish capital city of Stockholm and Estonia’s capital Tallinn before returning to her North German base.  MSC Cruises’ industry-pioneering protected shore excursions are available at all ports of call. 

Another German port will be added to MSC Seaview’s itinerary to further enrich the cruise for guests. The ship will call at Warnemunde (for Berlin) from July 23, adding another port in Germany that will allow guests to embark and disembark as well as offering another option for shore excursions. At the mouth of the river Warnow, on the Baltic Sea, Warnemunde, is a former fishing village and popular seaside resort, which surprises with its charm. Guests can also visit Rostock and Berlin, the vibrant German capital city.

Cunard Announces New Itineraries across Fleet

Including the cancelation of Australian season

Cunard resumes operations from July 19, 2021 as Queen Elizabeth welcomes guests on board for a series of UK voyages from Southampton, England; and beginning October 13, 2021, sailing internationally with new voyages including to the Iberian coast and the Canary Islands. Queen Elizabeth will then leave the UK in mid-February to resume her previously scheduled season in Japan from April 13, 2022.

Queen Mary 2 will resume sailing with a Transatlantic Crossing on November 14, 2021 as per her existing schedule, and will now sail on a series of voyages around the Caribbean between January and April 2022, with embarkation options from Southampton, New York and Hamburg before resuming her existing published schedule on April 24, 2022.

Queen Victoria will embark on three new voyages departing from Southampton from April 22, 2022 which includes Western Europe, the Baltics and the Iberian Coast before resuming her existing published schedule on May 20, 2022.

Due to the ongoing complexities of navigating global travel, Cunard has today announced that they will be cancelling the following voyages:

  • Queen Elizabeth’s sailings from the UK to Australia and her homeport season in Australia from October 18, 2021 up to and including March 9, 2022.
  • World Voyages on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in 2022 are now cancelled.
  • Queen Victoria’s sailings from September 10, 2021 up to and including April 29, 2022 are now cancelled.
  • However, five of Queen Victoria’s sailings will transfer onto identical voyages on sister ship Queen Elizabeth. These voyages are V126, V128, V129, V130 and V201.

Crystal Expedition Cruises Announces 2023-2024 Deployment

2023-24 Crystal Endeavor Deployment

Crystal Expedition Cruises announced the full roster of 2023 voyages as well as two early January 2024 itineraries for its luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor.  The first ever “Made in Germany” Polar Class Six (PC6), all-suite, all-veranda ship will feature 27 world-spanning itineraries, taking guests on adventurous journeys to new and remote corners of the globe in bespoke luxury and comfort on the line’s state-of-the-art vessel.

Highlights include polar expeditions, remote island explorations, immersive voyages to Japan, Russia’s Northeast Passage, cruising into the heart of Seville, and more

Thoughtfully crafted itineraries range from 10 to 28 nights and will offer intrepid travellers a diverse range of adventures including expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic; South America and offshore islands; Cape Verde and the Canary Islands; the Mediterranean and Western Europe; the British and Scottish Isles; Iceland and the Faroe Islands; Norway, the North Cape and Svalbard; the Russian Arctic and the Northeast Passage; Japan and the Inland Sea; the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago; and Australia including New Year’s Eve in Sydney.

Five consecutive remote expeditions explore Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia beginning in January through March 2023, featuring magnificent icebergs and glaciers to thriving colonies of chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins as well as whales and basking seals. The Falkland Islands and South Georgia offer amazing wildlife experiences including abundant seabirds, regal King penguins and an impressive fur seal colony. Beyond the Antarctic Circle more isolated and pristine experiences abound, allowing for landings and expedition stops and more opportunities for helicopter flightseeing.

Two remote Ross Sea expeditions in Antarctica in early January 2024, explore snow and ice-covered landscapes and marine rich waters along a route rarely travelled and called “The Last Ocean” as it is so pristine, remote and untouched by humans. The expedition team will attempt visits to the well-preserved huts and outposts of historic explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Captain Robert Falcon Scott, expedition time capsules preserved by the cold and ice.

  • Expedition Antarctica (Remote Expedition)
    • 11-night, January 7 – 18, 2023, Round-trip Ushuaia, Argentina
    • 11-night, February 6 – 17, 2023, Round-trip Ushuaia, Argentina
  • Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Wildlife Expedition (Remote Expedition)
    • 19-night, January 18 – February 6, 2023, Round-trip Ushuaia, Argentina
  • Beyond the Antarctic Circle (Remote Expedition)
    • 14-night, February 17 – March 3, 2023, Round-trip Ushuaia, Argentina
  • Falkland Islands & South Georgia Wildlife Expedition (Remote Expedition)
    • 15-night, March 3 – 18, 2023, Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Antarctica & The Ross Sea Expedition (Remote Expedition)
    • 22-nights, January 6 – 28, 2024, Hobart, Australia to Dunedin, New Zealand
    • 22-nights, January 28 – February 18, 2024, Dunedin, New Zealand to Hobart, Tasmania

 

Two South America voyages showcase world-renowned cities, beautifully preserved history, and the natural beauty of Brazil’s Green Coast, where remote beaches and abundant bays provide the perfect chance to explore with the ship’s ocean kayaks. A trans-Atlantic voyage begins with calls along the Brazilian coast and the chance to discover the marine and ecological splendors of UNESCO-listed Fernando de Noronha archipelago and explorations in the island country of Cape Verde.                   

  • Exploration in Brazil & Argentina (Destination Exploration)
    • 10-night, March 18 – 28, 2023, Buenos Aires, Argentina to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Atlantic Explorer: Brazil, Cape Verde & The Canaries (Destination Exploration)
    • 15-night, March 28 – April 12, 2023, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Canary Islands, Spain

 

Two Mediterranean voyages of cultural discovery blend explorations of picturesque isles and iconic cities. Guests can choose to experience the mystique of Marrakesh and the Moorish history of the Alhambra en route to the Balearic Isles and the Côte d’Azur, or explore the charms of Provence, the treasures of Barcelona, and the chance to cruise into the very heart of Seville for a rare overnight.

  • Andalusia, Morocco & The Mediterranean (Cultural Discovery)
    • 11-night, April 12 – 23, 2023, Canary Islands, Spain to Nice, France
  • Cote D’Azur, Catalonia & Andalusia Discovery (Cultural Discovery)
    • 12-night, April 23 – May 5, 2023, Nice, France to Seville, Spain

 

Three voyages in Western Europe & the British Isles offer new perspectives on classic itineraries.

A 10-night river exploration navigates the Guadalquivir River and Andalusian countryside to dock in the heart of Seville and transits the Garonne River for an overnight in Bordeaux. A journey to Bordeaux, Normandy and The Hague offers an overnight in Bordeaux and a cruise up the Seine for a two-night stay in Rouen, rich with medieval history and gothic architecture. A springtime voyage of the British Isles explores the Scottish Highlands and windswept Shetlands and offers the chance to dock near Tower Bridge and overnight in Edinburgh a short walk from the Royal Yacht Britannia, now a museum.

  • River Discovery: Guadalquivir, Tagus & Garonne (Cultural Discovery)
    • 10-night, May 5 – 15, 2023, Seville, Spain to Bordeaux, France
  • Journey to Bordeaux, Normandy & the Hague (Cultural Discovery)
    • 11-night, May 15 – 26, 2023, Bordeaux, France to Portsmouth, United Kingdom
  • Exploration: Springtime in the British Isles (Destination Exploration)
    • 14-nights, May 26 – June 9, 2023, Portsmouth, United Kingdom to Edinburgh, Scotland

 

Three voyages in the Faroe Islands, Iceland & Svalbard take guests to explore Viking history and geological wonders. A destination exploration of Iceland reveals geothermal marvels, thundering waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. The rocky coastlines of the Faroe Islands feature waters patrolled by Orcas and long-finned pilot whales, while a remote expedition in Svalbard offers extraordinary birdlife and the chance to spy polar bears, walruses and seals.

  • Scottish Isle, Faroes & Icelandic Wildlife Expedition (Destination Exploration)
    • 12-nights, June 9 – 21, 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland to Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Expedition Iceland (Destination Exploration)
    • 10-nights, June 21 – July 1, 2023, Round-trip Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Arctic Adventure: Iceland, Svalbard & The North Cape (Remote Expedition)
    • 15-nights, July 1 – 16, 2023, Reykjavik, Iceland to Tromsø, Norway
    •  

Three voyages in Russia feature Remote Expeditions including an epic 28-day transit of Russia’s Northeast Passage offering the chance to see polar bears, walruses, seals, Arctic foxes and seabird colonies, and to explore Russian history and culture on Solovetsky Island, a UNESCO gem on the White Sea. A 17-night Russian Arctic Expedition & The North Cape voyage visits the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago off the coast of Siberia and provides a taste of the Northeast Passage for guests whose schedules call for a shorter itinerary. A 17-night expedition from Anadyr to Tokyo spotlights brown bears and herds of reindeer on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Steller sea lions in The Kuril Islands.

  • Russian Arctic Expedition & The North Cape (Remote Expedition)
    • 17-nights, July 16 – August 2, 2023, Round-trip Tromsø, Norway
  • Northeast Passage (Remote Expedition)
    • 28-nights, August 2 – 30, 2023, Tromsø, Norway to Anadyr, Russia
  • Expedition: Kamchatka, The Kurils & Hokkaido (Remote Expedition)
    • 17-nights, August 30 – September 16, 2023, Anadyr, Russia to Tokyo, Japan

 

Four voyages explore Japan showcasing sweeping adventures in a timeless empire steeped in tradition, lore and natural beauty, from the mountain ranges of Kanazawa to the UNESCO-listed castle ruins in Hagi. Voyages explore Japan in autumn, draped in a fiery splendor of garnets and golds, and feature breathtaking Japanese gardens, Samurai shrines and Buddhist temples as well as snow-capped mountains, pristine beaches and cultural treasures.

  • Russian Far East & Japan (Remote Expedition)
    • 17-nights, September 16 – October 3, 2023, Round-trip Tokyo, Japan
  • Japan’s Cultural & Coastal Discovery (Cultural Discovery)
    • 17-nights, October 3 – 20, 2023, Round-trip Tokyo, Japan
  • Autumn in Japan: Gardens & Empires (Cultural Discovery)
    • 16-nights, October 20 – November 5, 2023, Round-trip Tokyo, Japan
  • Island Explorations of Japan (Destination Exploration)
    • 16-nights, November 5 – 21, 2023, Tokyo, Japan to Taipei, Taiwan

 

Three voyages exploring Indonesia & Australia featuring winter escapes to exotic isles and balmy shores. Explorations in Indonesia include Komodo Island and the spectacular coral reefs of the Raja Ampat archipelago, as well as calls in the Philippines and Borneo. A Holiday Expedition in Australia includes an overnight in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Christmas Day enjoyed on an overnight in the idyllic Whitsunday Islands, and the chance to ring in the New Year with a double overnight in Sydney.

  • Philippines, Borneo & Indonesian Quest (Remote Expedition)
    • 16-night, November 21 – December 7, 2023, Taipei, Taiwan to Bali, Indonesia
  • Expedition to Bali, the Raja Ampat & Queensland (Remote Expedition)
    • 16-nights, December 7 – December 23, 2023, Bali, Indonesia to Cairns, Australia
  • Holiday Expedition: Great Barrier Reef to Tasmania (Destination Exploration)
    • 14-night, December 23, 2023 – January 6, 2024, Cairns, Australia to Hobart, Australia

 

Images: Crystal Endeavor. Credit: Crystal Cruises

A-ROSA sets sail again

A-ROSA celebrates successful first departure of 2021

Successful restart of A-ROSA cruises in Portugal. Photo: A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH

A-ROSA successfully welcomed guest back onto its cruises on the river Douro today. After an enjoyable first night on board in Porto, A-ROSA ALVA and her guests departed on a seven-day cruise through the Douro Valley to the Spanish border and back.

Cruises on the Danube will resume in two days’ time on 19 June, on board A-ROSA DONNA, calling at three European capital cities – Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava. By the end of this month cruises on the Rhine will be back in operation and by the middle of the summer, A-ROSA plans to have three quarters of its fleet operating along the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Douro and Rhone rivers.

Having sailed successfully for over five months in 2020, A-ROSA used the winter months to further fine tune its sophisticated health and hygiene protocols. 2021 will see the return of A-ROSA’s popular gourmet buffets, plus as in 2020, the SPA-ROSA with its sauna, treatments room and gym, the pool/whirlpool and a range of excursions will be available, all in compliance with strict hygiene measures.

Full details of A-ROSA’s health and hygiene measures can be found on its website www.arosa-cruises.com. A seamless COVID-19 testing strategy has also been designed to support the line’s protocols and providing guest with the utmost protection.

Itineraries plan to go ahead as per normal, however due to official regulations or changing local conditions, adjustments may be necessary.

The first guests go on a discovery tour along the Douro. Photo: A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH.