Paul Gauguin Cruises Voted #1 Small-Ship  Ocean Cruise Line

• Paul Gauguin Cruises – operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship exploring Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and the South Pacific – has won top honours in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. Voted on by the world’s most discerning travellers, Le Paul Gauguin placed Number 1 in the “Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line” category in the acclaimed travel magazine’s 2022 World’s Best Awards earning a top score of 96.59.
• This is particularly exciting as Paul Gauguin Cruises is anticipated to be a bucket list destination for Australia and New Zealand due to the close proximity of Tahiti and the recent news that Air Tahiti Nui has resumed a full flight schedule in and out of New Zealand.
• Recently reimagined with a contemporary, chic ambience, the 330-guest ship boasts a carefree, easy elegance with indulgent suites and spacious staterooms – many with private balcony – exceptional cuisine, authentic explorations ashore, a commitment to sustainability and the genuine hospitality of a welcoming and friendly crew. On every voyage, guests enjoy the hospitality of the ship’s own troupe of Tahitian hosts and entertainers who bring the spirit of Polynesia to life through dance, traditional songs and local handcrafting during hand-on demonstrations. Couples celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary can even attend a Polynesian blessing ceremony.

Viking takes out honours for Ocean and River

• Travel + Leisure readers have voted Viking first in its categories in the 2022 World’s Best Awards, which were announced today by the publication. Viking was named the #1 Ocean Line for ships with 300 to 799 cabins and the #1 River Line, making it the first cruise line ever to top both categories in the same year.
• Viking is also rated #1 for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler; no other cruise line has simultaneously earned #1 in its categories from both publications. 

P&O Cruises Australia Widens its Cruise Horizons in the Pacific After Two-year Pause

• P&O Cruises Australia is today letting guests on its Fiji Adventure cruise on Pacific Explorer departing Sydney on August 8 know they have an opportunity to be part of cruising history.
• Under a revised itinerary, Pacific Explorer will become the first ship to visit Auckland and two ports in Fiji following the resumption of cruise operations in the region.
• It will be the first time that P&O Cruises has visited an international port since cruise operations were suspended in March 2020. Until now, the restart of cruising in Australia has been limited to domestic itineraries.
• “Our guests have been looking forward to again being able to visit magical destinations in the Pacific,” said President of P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald.
• “We now see the pathway back to cruising in our beautiful part of the world and I am sure our guests on this cruise will enjoy being part of cruising’s return to New Zealand and Fiji.”
• Under the revised itinerary, Pacific Explorer will now visit Auckland on August 12, followed by Lautoka on August 15 and Dravuni on August 16. However, scheduled calls to Mystery Island or Noumea will not proceed and P&O Cruises looks forward to ultimately returning to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

P&O Cruises Australia Raises a Toast to Pacific Encounter’s New Look Bars

• P&O Cruises Australia is once raising the bar when it comes to the guest experience onboard, revealing a sneak peek at the contemporary design onboard Pacific Encounter ahead of herinaugural season commencing next month. This includes the brand new Encounter Hotel ‘super pub’, thenew Lobby precinct on Deck 5 and the ever popular live music bar, The Blue Room.
• Sitting at the heart of the ship on Deck 7, one of the biggest transformations is the Encounter Hotel, whose tasteful renovations were inspired by Sydney’s vibrant pub scene. Bringing together a winningcombination of locally sourced art, banquette seating with custom fabrics and a fresh colour scheme, Encounter Hotel is a modern, welcoming venue and will become the go-to pub for guests who enjoy trivia, karaoke, or simply sampling the extensive menu of draft beers, boutique ales and ciders.
• Created in partnership with Archie Rose Distilling Co the transformation of P&O Cruises’ signature Bonded Store will appeal to guests seeking a craft cocktail menu at sea. The artisanal bar with its cosy furniture and quirky decor has plenty of vintage appeal and is destined to favoured by lovers of cocktails, gin and whiskey.
• Reminiscent of a New Orleans “speakeasy” the opulent Blue Room has been meticulously detailed with luxe velvet brass finishings, and dim lighting for dramatic effect. Complete with art detailing musical instruments, The Blue Room will continue its reputation for showcasing some of Australia’s best live musicians – appealing to those with a particular penchant for blues, RnB, funk, soul and jazz.
• Known as the ship’s “living room”, The Ocean Bar has been designed to make guests feel right at home, complete with lounge chairs, sofas and a soothing palette of green, white and subtle black accents. Located at the top of the Atrium, The Ocean Bar invites guests to watch the world go by no matter the time of day; morning cappuccinos and evening martinis are welcomed equally.
• The newest feature on Pacific Encounter is The Lobby on Deck 5. It’s home to several bars and cafes including Avalon Café for a morning coffee fix and all day casual dining, Charlie’s Bar for cocktails, and Lilly’s – with oversized windows and sweeping views, it’s the idea spot to unwind with an afternoon cheese platter and glass of wine. Once the sun goes down, Lilly’s transforms into a Piano Bar where song requests and singalongs are encouraged!
• Finally, sitting atop of the Pacific Encounter on Deck 18 is Altitude. With its incredible ocean views, it’s an inviting, nautical inspired space to while away the day with a book. Once darkness falls, Altitude transitions into a high-energy club where the night owls can dance the night away.
• Pacific Encounter will initially arrive in Sydney next month 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 welcomes her first guests on 20 August on a 7-night cruise departing from Brisbane.

MSC Cruises builds on award winning family offerings on MSC Seascape

• MSC Cruises has unveiled details of its upcoming flagship, MSC Seascape, that will elevate the family experience and provide children with endless options for onboard entertainment. The ship will delight family members of all ages with 98 hours of live entertainment per cruise, 700 square metres of dedicated kids’ space and cutting-edge amusement options when she launches in December 2022, offering 7-night cruises in the Caribbean.
• NEWLY DESIGNED SPACES FOR AGES 0 TO 17
• MSC Seascape will offer one of the largest children’s areas in the fleet with 700 square metres of dedicated space featuring a fresh, futuristic design. New spaces include:
• TWO LEGO® ROOMS: The cruise line will build on its partnership with LEGO®, debuting two exclusively designed LEGO® rooms that cater to different experience levels. One room will offer LEGO® DUPLO® for ages 3 to 6, and the other room will cater to Juniors ages 7 to 11 with LEGO® bricks and the opportunity to earn a certificate for becoming a LEGO® Master Builder.
• THREE NEW CONCEPT SPACES FOR TEENS: Guests aged 12 to 17 will enjoy three new concept spaces with varying themes to engage with other kids their age. The first space will center around “Future” and features a technology area with the latest generation consoles, VR and screens. The “Chill Out” area will offer a place to teens to talk, exchange social media contacts and challenge each other to games of ping pong and foozeball. And the third space, celebrates “Music” as a disco with light and sound effect, where kids will choose their own music late into the night.
• NEW INTERACTIVE GAME SHOWS INCORPORATING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
• Family entertainment will bring together people of all ages aboard MSC Seascape, with live interactive games incorporating the latest technology. New game shows launching on MSC Seascape include:
• BREAK THE WALL: During this new high-tech game, guests will stand in front of a giant technological wall that will determine which surprise tests must be performed on stage in front of a jury composed of the audience. Bringing an element of surprise and laughter, kids of all ages will be talking about this game for the entire trip.
• VIKINGS: For the first time on board an MSC Cruises ship, families can participate in an “edutaining” game that will teach participants about the history of Vikings while presenting them with a fun unprecedented challenge at sea.
• CABIN 12006 – THE SECRET GAME: Inspired by the MSC original “Cabin 12006” web series, this immersive experience combines music, videos, Tik Tok trials, memory games, and more as guests try their hand at solving mysteries on board.
• BEAT THE MUSIC: During this interactive and digital game show dedicated to music suitable for all ages, the whole family will be the star of the show. Guests can play the game through a dedicated app where parents will be challenged to know the latest music hits their kids are listening to and kids will have to guess the classics their parents love. With eliminations and prizes, the game is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences of the cruise.

Swan Hellenic’s second ship, SH Vega, sets sail for Arctic after Naming Ceremony

• Swan Hellenic announced that the Naming Ceremony of its second ice-class cultural expedition cruise ship, SH Vega, had taken place at Helsinki Shipyard. The ship is now on her way to Norway and her first cultural expedition cruise of the Arctic, an 11-day exploration of the Svalbard Archipelago, departing Tromsø on the 20th of July 2022.
• The purpose-designed new vessel was named by Patrizia Zito née Passalacqua, wife of Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito, in the presence of Helsinki Shipyard Senior Management, the media and members of the cruise and travel industries from around the world.
• SH Vega is the second in a series of three elegant, high ice-class, cultural expedition cruise vessels made for premium discovery experiences worldwide, with a strong bias for extreme latitude areas. SH Vega features a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a PC5 ice-strengthened hull with extra-large stabilisers for exceptional passenger comfort. At 113 m, the 10,600-ton vessel has been specially designed to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet.
• Providing spacious 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Vega is operated by an onboard team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service.