P&O Cruises Pacific Encounter on the Way from Singapore to Join Flagship Pacific Explorer in Australia

• Pacific Encounter, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, today sailed from Singapore on her way to Australia, another step in the revival of Australia’s $5 billion a year cruise industry.
• Pacific Encounter will sail into Sydney Harbour on August 2 where flagship Pacific Explorer is already home ported having become the first of Australia’s home-grown cruise line to return home after more than two years.
• Encounter’s time in Sydney will be a relatively ‘brief encounter’ before heading to Brisbane where she will continue the long tradition of basing P&O ships at the epicentre of the Queensland cruise market.
• Pacific Encounter will depart on her first guest cruise from Brisbane on August 20, a 7-night Barrier Reef Discovery Cruise.

Silversea acquires Crystal Endeavor

• Royal Caribbean Group has been confirmed as the purchaser of the Crystal Endeavor expedition yacht which was on the auction block following the collapse of Crystal Cruises parent Genting Hong Kong.
• The ship will sail under RCG’s Silversea Cruises brand as Silver Endeavour – the fifth expedition ship in the line’s 11-strong fleet – with the company paying USD$275 million for the vessel. The purchase price is significantly less than the USD$385 million which Genting Hong Kong paid for the ship’s construction, making it the most expensive passenger ship ever built at USD$1.9m per berth.
• Endeavour, which was delivered to Crystal just last year has capacity for 200 guests, as well as a submarine and helicopter, which Silversea MD Roberto Martinoli said would no longer be part of its offering.
• She will sail in Antarctica in place of the 132-guest Silver Explorer, with guests booked on that ship to be moved to Endeavour.

Costa Group Starts the use of Bio Fuels

• A few weeks after announcing the creation of its dedicated decarbonization department, the Costa Group, Europe’s leading cruise operator with its two companies Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, and a member of Carnival Corporation & plc, has taken a major step forward in its decarbonization strategy by announcing that it will start testing the usage of biofuel aboard one of its AIDA Cruises ships.
• As part of its CO2 emissions reduction efforts, on July 21, 2022, AIDAprima became the first larger scale cruise ship to be bunkered with a blend of marine biofuel, which is made from 100 percent sustainable raw materials such as waste cooking oil, and marine gas oil (MGO) during its layover in Rotterdam. The cooperation partner is the Dutch biofuel pioneer GoodFuels. AIDAprima is currently sailing on seven-day voyages to the metropolises of Western Europe and to Norway from/to Hamburg.
• The current project represents an important milestone of the Costa Group’s decarbonization strategy, which includes testing technologies and processes to improve the efficiency of the existing fleet.
• With the successful start of biofuel usage, it will be proven that gradual decarbonization is possible even on ships already in service. An important prerequisite to be able to use biofuels, however, is that it becomes widely available on an industrial scale and at marketable prices.

Carnival Cruise Line Brings Texas Flair to Carnival Jubilee’s Keel Laying Ceremony

• Carnival Jubilee is fixing to start sailing from Galveston, Texas, next year and Carnival Cruise Line’s third cruise ship to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) got its first taste of Texas today with the keel laying ceremony at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
• Wearing cowboy-shaped hard hats, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy was joined by Meyer Werft Managing Director Bernard Meyer and Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Newbuilds Ben Clement, among others, to celebrate the construction milestone by placing coins under a 375-ton keel block.
• The coins signify good luck for the ship and will remain under its foundation as the structure is built. One of the ship’s lucky coins is an official ship coin, which commemorates an important part of Carnival history while celebrating its future by showing Carnival Jubilee alongside the original MS Jubilee from 1986. The coins will later be placed in a special compartment near Carnival Jubilee’s mast as permanent fixtures of the ship.
• Carnival Jubilee will be the first Carnival Cruise Line ship built in Papenburg, Germany. Meyer Werft has already built four other LNG-powered ships for other cruise lines under Carnival Corporation. Carnival Jubilee will be Carnival’s third ship to run on a liquified natural gas (LNG) technology platform. Carnival Corporation pioneered the introduction of LNG fuel in the passenger cruise sector as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction. Meyer Turku in Finland delivered sister ship Mardi Gras last year and will deliver Carnival Celebration later this year.
• Carnival Jubilee will begin sailing from Galveston in November of 2023 and will offer seven-day Western Caribbean cruise vacations with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.

Virgin Voyages relaxes Voyage Well

• In response to the conclusion of the CDC’s voluntary program, Virgin Voyages will continue to consider the recommendations set forth by the organization, while also adhering to the industry policies outlined by CLIA. As a result of this update, Virgin Voyages will remove the requirements for pre-embarkation testing.
• Virgin Voyages has responded immediately to the CDC’s decision to discontinue their voluntary COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships and will mirror the rest of the travel industry in removing pre-embarkation testing for sailings from July 24 on EU sailings, and from July 27 on US sailings. Vaccine requirements will remain in place for both Scarlet Lady, operating out of the US, and Valiant Lady in the EU. Virgin Voyages is currently evaluating this policy and will announce further updates in the near future.
• Passenger and crew well-being is the major focus and they continue to follow the advice of their expert medical team. To clarify these updates:
  • From the dates mentioned above, passengers will no longer be required to complete a pre-embarkation COVID test, applicable across the fleet, including US and EU operations.
  • For US sailings, passenger vaccination requirements will now be marked at 90%. This opens the opportunity for passengers who are not vaccinated to contact Virgin Voyages’ Sailor Services to book a sailing if these thresholds are met.
  • Ship crew on all US and EU sailings will maintain their fully vaccinated status.

Holland America Line Reveals Plans to Mark 150th Anniversary

• On April 18, 2023, Holland America Line is celebrating its 150th Anniversary — making it one of the longest-operating travel companies in the world. To commemorate the milestone, the cruise line is planning special events and activities, including two commemorative transatlantic crossings. The April 4, 2023, crossing has opened for booking, while the October 15, 2022, departure has limited space remaining.
• During the October and April 150th Anniversary Transatlantic crossings, Holland America Line is planning memorable experiences that will weave the company’s history into the menus, activities, entertainment, special guest speakers and more.
• “A milestone like a 150th Anniversary doesn’t come around often for most companies, and our celebrations will bring to life our century-and-a-half of amazing history,” said Gus Antorcha, Holland America Line’s president. “Holland America Line has touched the lives of millions of people throughout the years — whether by bringing them to a new life in America or providing a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. We have some really special experiences planned over the next several months to honour our heritage.”
• 150th Anniversary Commemorative Celebrations:
  • 15 crossing, 15 nights: Rotterdam VII will depart Rotterdam, the Netherlands, exactly 150 years to the date of the departure of Rotterdam I’s maiden voyage, which took place before the company was incorporated. The crossing will recreate Holland America Line’s first sailing, leaving from Rotterdam and visiting Plymouth, England, and Le Havre (Paris), France, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to New York City for a rare overnight call; then it sails on to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • April 4 crossing, 16 nights: Departing Fort Lauderdale, Rotterdam heads to New York City for an overnight call; it 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.
• During the crossings, guests will be treated to a host of experiences, including commemorative historic menus and cocktails offering a taste of the brand’s history, live music with special performances by guest artists, presentations reliving the history and roots of Holland America Line, and an Olympic-style event with classic cruise sporting activities and games.
  • New York City Anniversary Event: Holland America Line will kick off its 150th anniversary year with a special ceremony aboard Rotterdam when the ship overnights at New York City Oct. 26, 2022, including a memorable stage performance to mark the historic night.
  • Rotterdam Welcome: When Rotterdam arrives at Rotterdam in the Netherlands April 18, 2023, the ship will receive a grand welcome on its 150th birthday in the city of the company’s founding. During the overnight call, guests and city of Rotterdam will help mark this historic milestone at an evening event on board.
  • Additional Special Anniversary Themed Cruises: The anniversary year will include specially marketed cruises that help relive Holland America Line’s history of exploration through unique ports visited. The cruise dates will be announced in the coming months and will include special programming for each voyage.
  • Retail Merchandise: Limited-edition, specially designed 150th Anniversary retail items will be available in the shipboard shops.

Le Commandant Charcot takes guests to the geographic North Pole for the first time!

• On Wednesday 14 July guests on board PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury icebreaker, reached the geographic North Pole, a first for PONANT passengers.
• 14 July which coincidentally is Bastille Day, Le Commandant Charcot, reached the geographic North Pole. This is a highly symbolic achievement for PONANT, expert in expeditions to polar regions and the only cruise company sailing under the French flag.
• Indeed, last September, Le Commandant Charcot was the first French vessel to reach this latitude (90,00,000°). This time, the feat has been repeated with guests on board, who are living a unique experience in the footsteps of great polar explorers.
• Le Commandant Charcot is also the first hybrid-electric LNG powered polar exploration ship to accommodate scientific research teams onboard, providing them with dedicated work areas. She puts scientific research at the heart of PONANT’s commitment and unique concept of travel.

Navy Bronze Medal of Merit awarded to Captain Pietro Sinisi of Costa Cruises

• The medal was awarded by the Commandant of the Italian Coast Guard by delegation of the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino, during the military ceremony held on the occasion of the 157th anniversary of the establishment of the Harbour Masters Corps, which occurred on July 20, 1865.
• As stated in the announcement, the prestigious recognition has been awarded because “on the occasion of the shipwreck of the motor vessel Kilic, on which a fire had developed of such magnitude that it could not be extinguished by the systems on board, Captain Sinisi, in command of Costa Luminosa, supported rescue operations demonstrating high expertise and uncommon nautical skills, contributing in an effective manner to the rescue of the 11 crewmen of the Turkish motor ship. Despite adverse weather conditions, Captain Sinisi was able to ensure the safety of his guests while simultaneously putting in place a timely intervention, which turned out to be providential for the success of the rescue operations. With his behavior, he brought prestige to the image of Italian Navy in the institutional framework.”
• The rescue that is referred to happened on November 21, 2018. At around midnight, Costa Luminosa – sailing south of the Peloponnese and heading towards the port of Katakolon – received a distress call from the Greek Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center. Commander Sinisi was asked to provide aid to the motor vessel “Kilic,” a cargo ship used to transport fish, which was in serious trouble due to an outbreak of fire on board. The crew of eleven men were rescued by a Costa Luminosa tender steered by Safety Officer Marco Genovese, and then transshipped to another cargo ship previously involved in operations by the Greek Coast Guard