The International Day of the Seafarer was celebrated around the world last Saturday, June 25, and this important day was certainly marked in style on board global cruise ships fleets

Comeback Complete! Celebrity Cruises Sailing Entire 15-Ship Fleet

• Coinciding with the Day of the Seafarer, Celebrity Infinity set sail for the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on 25th June, 2022. Celebrity’s return to service began almost one year ago to the day when the award-winning Celebrity Edge made history on 26 June, 2021, as the first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in 15 months after being grounded due to the global pandemic. The line then systematically returned more ships to the water to feed peoples love of travel with sailings to breathtaking destinations from the Caribbean to Europe, Alaska and the Galapagos. Now, Celebrity Infinity’s return to sailing closes a chapter and opens a new one for the brand.

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter Sails for Home after Historic Encounter with Sister Ship Pacific Adventure

• P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter is sailing home to Australia after a spectacular overnight encounter with sister ship Pacific Adventure while berthed side-by-side in Trieste Italy exemplifying the transformation of Australia’s homegrown cruise line fleet.  
• It was also a case of back-to-back visits to the shipyard for Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure as ‘wetdock’ preparations continued for their return to cruising from Brisbane and Sydney respectively.  
• Their return to service signals yet another landmark in the resumption of cruising in Australia and P&O’s growing part in the revival of Australia’s $5 billion a year cruise industry.  
• Pacific Encounter will initially arrive in Sydney before heading for her new cruising home in Brisbane, which has been host to P&O ships throughout the line’s 90-year cruising history in Australia.  
• Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure are undergoing final preparations ahead of joining Pacific Explorer to complete P&O Cruises Australia’s three-ship fleet.  
• The work on the two ships includes important technical upgrades as well as other enhancements such as upgraded hotel facilities and interior furnishings, and adding P&O’s iconic red, white and blue bow livery depicting the Southern Cross. 
• Pacific Encounter welcomes her first guests on 20 August on a 7-night cruise departing from Brisbane. Pacific Adventure will welcome her first guests on 22 October on a 3-night cruise from Sydney.

P&O Cruises Australia’s Tribute to The King cruises are back

• With the King currently gracing big screens around the world, rock ‘n’ roll fever is sweeping the nation! And fans can keep on rocking with the announcement of P&O Cruise Australia’s newest Tribute to The King Cruises for the 2022/23 season.
• Following the sold-out Sydney July cruise, the popular tribute voyage is being offered for the first time from Melbourne in December, followed by Brisbane and Auckland in 2023.
• P&O can’t wait to welcome on board 14 entertainers who’ll be transporting our guests back in time with 42 dedicated tribute shows, a movie marathon, 50s and 70s dress-up nights plus themed trivia and karaoke that will have everyone rockin’ around the clock!”

MSC Relaunches Gala Night

• Shortly after news of the entire fleet returning to sea, MSC Cruises today announced the relaunch of its popular Gala Night, giving guests the perfect excuse to don their favourite elegant outfit and join officers and crew for stylish events and exciting activities taking place throughout the ship. From special dining experiences and unique performances to photo opportunities and parties, guests of all ages will find joy in the return of the most extravagant night of the cruise. 
• A highly anticipated evening for all guests, the relaunch of Gala Night will feature a programme of celebratory events including elevated dining experiences, special spa offerings and photo opportunities that surprise and delight. Highlights include:
  • Pampering Services and Special Shopping Events — Special spa services will be available on Gala Night for guests to pamper themselves and prepare for the elegant events of the evening. The shops and boutiques on board will also host a Sparkle with Swarovski Glamour event showcasing unique jewelry pieces that will be available for guests to purchase and help commemorate the most extraordinary night onboard. After pampering themselves and dressing up, there will be plenty of photo opportunities throughout the ship for guests, including the chance to get a professional photo as a memento of the evening – either with the Captain or on the glamourous Swarovski stairs.
  • Upscale Dining Experiences — A Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and presentation will kick off the evening, honouring the crew and kicking off a night of celebratory events. After the Welcome Cocktail, a special Gala Dinner menu will be served in the main restaurant, giving guests an opportunity to toast to their waiters. The dinner will include live entertainment, a special dessert offering and a special thanks from the Captain to the dining staff.
  • Theatre Show and Entertainment — The best production show of the cruise will take place on Gala Night, offering an awe-inspiring event for guests. Along with the show, live music will be available in various venues and activities throughout the ship will be scheduled to complement the evening. In addition to the return of Gala Night, MSC Cruises’ world class daily entertainment options are back in full force, rounding out the cruising experience for all ages.

MSC Takes family cruising to the next level on MSC World Europa 

• MSC Cruises has revealed details of the spectacular line-up of dedicated facilities and activities designed especially for kids and families on board MSC World Europa, the line’s most innovative, most environmentally advanced and most exciting new flagship set to come into service in December 2022.
• As a family-owned company, MSC Cruises is known for its award-winning family offering, delivering an unforgettable cruise experience for kids of all ages and their families, and MSC World Europa is set to take this to the next level with a whole host of brand-new features.
• Spanning 766m2, MSC World Europa will feature the largest, most action-packed kids’ area in MSC Cruises’ fleet, offering seven distinct spaces dedicated to different age groups from 0 to 17 years old.
  • The Kids’ Clubs are available from the youngest guests through to teens and activities are organised according to age group:
  • Specially for babies: Baby Club for toddlers up to 3 years, with qualified crew members
  • For the younger kids: Mini Club and Juniors Club (3 – 11 years)
  • For the older kids: Young Club and Teen Club (12 – 17 years) including the brand-new TEENS LAB, a totally immersive, tech-filled, modern room just for teens
• MSC Cruises offers, a range of services for babies and young children including the Mini-Club for children under 3 as well as a dedicated childcare service giving parents the freedom to enjoy the ship, safe in the knowledge that their children are being cared for by dedicated and highly trained staff. Many of these services are offered in collaboration with Chicco® – the leading global baby brand and a long-term MSC Cruises partner.
• Brand-new activities waiting to be discovered include:
  • LEGO® CELEBRATION ROOM: The long-standing partnership between LEGO Group and MSC Cruises continues to surprise fans with a never-seen-before room celebrating LEGO® “90 years of Play”, designed to thrill kids of all ages
  • HIGH-TECH ACTIVITIES: Pushing the boundaries of kids’ entertainment, MSC Cruises has developed exciting new activities blending games with high-tech features to create moments pure pleasure. Within Juniors, Young & Teens clubs, guests will have access to over 21 of the latest consoles, 7 VR stations and over 50 different videogames
  • 3,2,1 KNOCK: This never-seen before gameshow for the whole family is inspired by the challenges and colours of Asian entertainment: K-pop, Japanese games and tests that will leave the audience breathless
  • BEAT THE MUSIC: The whole family will be the star of an unmissable interactive and digital game show dedicated to music and suitable for all ages. For the first time on an MSC Cruises ship guests will be able to play the game through a dedicated app. In this battle parents work to identify the latest music their kids are listening to, while kids work to name the classics their parents love the most
  • Z ACTIVE: A brand new and exciting sports program for kids & teens including football, basketball, zorb ball and, for the first time on board, pickleball and hoverboards
  • DRONE ACADEMY 2.0: This high-tech and high-energy drone relay race comes to life at night thanks to fluo effects and glowing drones. New POV cameras and VR bring the experience to life while navigating 15 obstacles in the quickest time possible
• Popular favourites will also be returning to MSC World Europa:
  • CABIN 12006-THE EXPERIENCE: More than a cabin, Cabin 12006 a live entertainment experience, with seven different activities including a family game show and a casting session with performances. The web series, with over four million views and two million interactions on the web, has been written and shot in collaboration with Viacom, the media group behind kids’ channel Nickelodeon, to develop an original, authentic and high-quality web content for kids. 
  • MSC DANCE CREW: Developed in partnership with Fremantle, the production company behind the globally successful TV talent shows including Idols, The X Factor and Got Talent series, this competition experience sees teams of 10-17 years battling it out to win the title of dance crew of the year.
  • LEGO® EXPERIENCE ON BOARD: With a wide range of LEGO ® bricks and toys on board, kids have the opportunity to express their creativity whenever and wherever they want! At the end of the LEGO® EXPERIENCE ON BOARD, each child will receive a diploma, certifying that he/she is now a Junior LEGO® Master Builder.
  • MSC FOUNDATION JUNIOR AMBASSADORS: Thanks to the MSC Foundation, the MSC Group is committed to providing our young guests on board with tools for understanding projects (such as Environment (marine conservation), Education, Community Support) making them centre of dedicated activities, Junior Ambassadors of the Foundation and voices of the right of a new generation to live in a better world.

Holland America Line Adds Second Commemorative 150th Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing in April 2023 Aboard Rotterdam

• New eastbound voyage sails from Fort Lauderdale on historic route that ends at Rotterdam on company’s 150th birthday          
• As its 150th anniversary approaches April 18, 2023, Holland America Line is adding a second commemorative transatlantic crossing aboard Rotterdam to the schedule of celebratory events. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 3, 2023, the 16-night itinerary sails to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, retracing in reverse the company’s first voyage.
• From Fort Lauderdale, the ship heads to New York City and makes a rare overnight call, giving guests extra time to experience the attractions that make this vibrant city come to life, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Broadway and more. Rotterdam will then spend eight leisurely days at sea crossing the Atlantic Ocean, calling at Plymouth and Dover (London), England, before arriving April 18 — Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary — at Rotterdam for an overnight full of festivities.
• To kick off a season of celebrations, Holland America Line announced the first special 150th anniversary crossing that will depart Rotterdam Oct. 15, 2022, exactly 150 years to the date of the departure of Rotterdam I’s maiden voyage. The crossing will recreate that first sailing, going from Rotterdam to New York, with calls at Plymouth and Dover, then on to Fort Lauderdale. The ship will stay overnight in New York for special celebrations.

Guy Fieri launched new FUNDERSTRUCK burger across the Carnival fleet.

• Starting today, guests sailing on any Carnival Cruise Line ship can enjoy a new Funderstruck Nacho Burger created by chef, restaurateur and Carnival partner Guy Fieri.
• Available only at Guy’s Burger Joints across the Carnival fleet for a limited time, the Funderstruck Nacho Burger is comprised of a toasted brioche bun, the chef’s famed 80/20 burger patty, donkey sauce and super melty cheese, and stacked with nacho seasoning, borracho beans, crispy corn tortilla strips, fried jalapenos and fresh pico de gallo. To watch Fieri put together the special burger, click here.
• Fieri also introduced Fully Loaded Fundertots, which are now available for a limited time at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse Brewhouse aboard Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Mardi Gras. A video of Fieri putting the Fundertots together can be viewed here.
• Other popular menu items at Guy’s Burger Joint include The Plain Jane, The Straight Up, The Pig Patty, The Ringer, and The Chilius Maximus. And at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, guests can enjoy a full-blown smokehouse experience, from music and beers brewed on board to the most real-deal barbequed brisket, pulled pork and more, all smoked on board.

Seabourn takes deliver of Seabourn Venture

• Seabourn, took delivery of its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, during an official handover maritime ceremony at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy. Seabourn Venture is the first of the line’s two purpose-built, ultra-luxury expedition ships and the newest expedition ship in the industry.
• Seabourn Venture has been designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and will include a plethora of modern hardware and technology that will extend the ship’s global deployment and capabilities. The ship will provide an exceptional luxury small-ship experience with the addition of world-class equipment that allows the line to offer its widest range of expedition activities led by an expert 26-person team of scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more. The ship will offer complimentary Seabourn Expedition amenities such as Zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, scuba diving, and snorkelling, as well as additional curated complimentary excursions. In addition, the ship will offer optional shore excursions and optional Seabourn Expeditions with kayaking and two custom-built submersibles at select destinations. These experiences will provide close-up views of wildlife and natural scenery, as well as unforgettable intimacy with the underwater wonders of the ocean.
• Seabourn Venture features 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites and will take travellers to some of the most awe-inspiring places in the world, some of which are only accessed by ship.

Helsinki Shipyard announces successful acquisition of SH Vega by Swan Hellenic

• Helsinki Shipyard, having received bids for the auction of NB 517, today announced that Swan Hellenic has been awarded the tender.
• Helsinki Shipyard exercised the right to sell the ship by tender, provided for by the shipbuilding contract, after the original buyer failed to take delivery of the ship. The auction ended at midnight on Friday the 24th of June and was satisfactory for Helsinki Shipyard, which analysed the bids and declared Swan Hellenic the winner.
• The ship will, as anticipated, be delivered to Swan Hellenic as soon as all the registry formalities in The Bahamas have been completed, and Swan Hellenic becomes the sole owner of SH Vega.
• The vessel will start operating in the Arctic as scheduled from the 20th of July.

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