Congratulations to NCLL

• Norwegian Prima is the first major cruise ship to be christened in Iceland, currently sailing her inaugural voyage from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik arriving in Amsterdam on 03 September.
• Norwegian Prima is the first of six brand-new Prima Class ships to be delivered through 2027. A ship full of firsts – from the first three-level racetrack at sea to the brand’s first upmarket open-air food hall – Norwegian Prima also boasts the most outdoor deck space of any new ship in her competitive set. She will redefine what’s possible at sea with her ground-breaking onboard experiences, including NCL’s largest-ever accommodations, Broadway entertainment, indulgent relaxation and incredible culinary experiences.
• At 294 metres long and more than 143,535 tonnes with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Prima offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any contemporary or premium cruise ship. She also boasts the largest variety of suite categories available at sea as well as a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. Her variety of recreational activities including the fastest slides at sea – The Rush and The Drop – and the Prima Speedway, the first three-level racetrack at sea, provide guests with adrenaline-pumping moments. Spaces like Ocean Boulevard, the 4,088 square metres outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; The Concourse, which boasts a multi-million dollar outdoor sculpture garden; and expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach, offer guests a chance to slow down and relax

Introducing Robotron

• MSC Cruises continues on a path of innovation, today announcing details of the technologically advanced onboard entertainment options on the line’s upcoming ship, MSC Seascape. When she debuts this December, MSC Seascape will feature new and innovative experiences for thrill-seeking guests of all ages. The highlight will be ROBOTRON – a thrilling amusement ride that offers the breath-taking thrill of a rollercoaster at sea combined with a personalised DJ music experience. The ship will also feature two brand-new VR experiences and a whole host of other exhilarating high-tech entertainment designed to be enjoyed by thrill-seekers of all ages.
• In addition to ROBOTRON, other high-tech entertainment features on board MSC Seascape include:
  • VR 360° Flight Simulator: With all the thrills of an outdoor rollercoaster, this immersive simulator is the ultimate virtual roller coaster experience, complete with VR headsets and impressive special effects. Guests may choose from various worlds in which to dive into a thrill ride like no other.
  • VR motorbikes: Guests with a need for speed will love MSC Seascape’s new VR motorbikes, where players will feel transported into the racing ring, with wind and water effects to complete the experience.
  • MSC Formula Racer: Perfect for car racing enthusiasts ready to get their high-speed fix, this activity will place guests in the driver’s seat for a thrilling racing simulation game with realistic effects that will get guests’ heart rates going.
  • Immersive XD Cinema: The minute guests put on their 3D glasses, they will dive into alternate worlds through this immersive activity, where players will battle it out against zombies, skeletons and more. Only one player can be crowned the victor, so guests will need to prove their sharp-shooting skills against each other for ultimate bragging rights.
• MSC Seascape will be launched in New York at a glittering Naming Ceremony on 7 December this year and will then move to PortMiami offering incredible cruises in the Caribbean year-round, with two different itineraries:
• Eastern Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in The Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic
• Western Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica
• Ahead of her spectacular Naming Ceremony, MSC Seascape will offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience on her inaugural cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, across the Atlantic to New York City, USA.
• This 17-night Grand Voyage will take in the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Valencia and Cadiz, before heading out into the Atlantic to begin her crossing. Funchal, Madeira and King’s Wharf, Bermuda act as exciting stopovers en route to New York, the city that never sleeps.

Holland America Line’s 2022 ‘Culinary Cruises’ Welcome Celebrity Chefs from its Culinary Council Back On Board

• Foodies and culinary novices alike, who are ready for a gastronomic adventure can set sail on a Holland America Line “Culinary Cruise” in 2022 with a member from the line’s Culinary Council. The celebrity chefs will share their expertise and secrets on everything from the correct way to make a sushi roll and how to perfectly temper chocolate to preparing seafood and creating a delicious sauce.
• 2022 CULINARY CRUISES:
  • Ethan Stowell – Westerdam, 7-Day Alaskan Explorer, Sept. 11-18, 2022, roundtrip from Seattle, Washington. Stowell incorporates the flavours of the Pacific Northwest on ships sailing in that region, using fresh, sustainably sourced Alaska seafood. His fare also is featured at New York Pizza and Lido Market across the fleet. Stowell is founder and CEO of ESR with an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants. He was named one of the Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine magazine and one of the Best New Chef All-Stars.
  • Jacques Torres – Zaandam, 9-Day The Atlantic Coast, Oct. 1-10, 2022, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A French-trained master chef and artisan chocolatier, Torres guides chocolate desserts as well as the Chocolate Surprise Dessert Parade on board. After rising to executive pastry chef at New York’s legendary Le Cirque, he opened a chocolate factory and retail stores throughout New York. The James Beard Award winner is co-host and head judge on the Netflix culinary show “Nailed It” with Nicole Byer.
  • Rudi Sodamin – Koningsdam, 7-Day Mexican Riviera, Nov. 12-19, 2022, roundtrip from San Diego, California. As Holland America Line’s master chef and Culinary Council chairman, Austrian-born Sodamin oversees all aspects of shipboard dining. Rudi’s Sel de Mer is his namesake French seafood brasserie on board. His latest culinary masterpiece is an art table book called “Food Faces” that features more than 150 images of edible creations.
  • David Burke – Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Eastern Caribbean, Dec. 4-11, 2022, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Burke enhances the menu at Pinnacle Grill, adding contemporary flavours and signature recipes. He recently opened five new restaurants, including Orchard Park by David Burke. During the pandemic, Burke’s #FeedtheHeroes program cooked and delivered 100,000 meals to frontline workers and charities. He has been featured on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef Masters.”
  • Andy Matsuda – Nieuw Statendam, 10-Day Southern Caribbean Seafarer, Dec. 17-27, 2022, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The Japanese-born Matsuda leads the sushi offerings at Nami Sushi, Tamarind and Lido Market. At Matsuda’s Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles, California, he teaches aspiring chefs and professionals about sushi and Japanese cuisine. Matsuda is at the forefront of sushi trends and techniques.
• All events are complimentary excluding the specialty dinner. Each chef will be aboard their designated “Culinary Cruise” for four to ten days.

Revolutionising the Internet at Sea with Elon Musk’s SpaceX

• Royal Caribbean Group announced today its plan to implement SpaceX’s Starlink – making the Group the first in the cruise industry to adopt its high-speed, low-latency connectivity for a better onboard experience for guests and crew fleetwide. The innovative broadband internet service will be installed on all Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises ships, along with all new vessels for each of the brands.
• Deployment of the Starlink technology across the fleet will begin immediately, leveraging the insights obtained from the trial onboard Freedom of the Seas, which has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from guests and crew. The installation is slated to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
• Celebrity Cruises rollout includes:
  • The groundbreaking Celebrity Beyond to be our first ship to offer the service from 5th September, 2022 (next week!)
  • All Edge Series ships (Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond) to offer this service by year-end.
  • Australians will have the chance to experience the transformational internet service in their own backyard when Celebrity Edge debuts in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the 2023-2024 season

Virgin Voyages unveils “The Sailing Club” perks program

• Virgin Voyages has made its mark on the travel industry as one of the most sought-after holiday havens for rejuvenation, relaxation and a hint of adventure on the high seas. Having launched two award-winning ships in a span of just nine months, 2023 promises more industry-first milestones for Richard Branson’s newest travel brand. As an exciting precursor to the most epic loyalty program at sea, set to make its formal debut in 2023, Virgin Voyages is saying “Ahoy!” to The Sailing Club. This incredible dual-pronged perks program is teeming with brilliant benefits and exclusive offers for the remainder of 2022 and unlocks a limited window of opportunity for its Sailors to elevate themselves to the brand’s highest status tier in 2023.
• 2 Perks in 2022:
  • As part of the brand’s perks program, Virgin Voyages’ Sailing Club is introducing 2 Perks, exclusively available to loyal qualifying Sailors in 2022. The introduction of these new perks will reward and benefit those who book or sail in the near future, promoting end-of-year travel set to coincide with increases in booking trends and the cruise industry’s comeback.
  • Perk 1: Sail in 2022 with Deep Blue Extras: Deep Blue Extras, a collection of unrivalled luxuries that elevate qualifying Sailors to VIP treatment. From one free Shake for Champagne, anytime boarding and premium wifi (when available), to exclusive cocktail parties and laundry services, these rewards are meant to amp up the experience and encourage Sailors to unleash their inner RockStar. With rebooking rates as high as 50% from past Sailors craving another adventure with Virgin Voyages, the line continues to impress travellers, earning the most five-star reviews than any other cruise line on TripAdvisor. Now, the company is rewarding these travellers, as well as giving avid sea-goers, an opportunity to step aboard while maintaining their benefits from other lines. Deep Blue Extras are available for all qualifying Sailors that sail from September through December 2022.
  • Perk 2: Book in 2022 with Red Hot Booking Bonus Months: Virgin Voyages is also introducing Red Hot Booking Bonus Months. Spanning from Aug. 30 through Nov. 15, 2022, any new qualifying booking made during these select Red Hot Months (excludes bookings made with existing voyage credits), will allow all qualifying Sailors to be treated to special on-board spending perks and chances to win extraordinary experiences across the Virgin family. More exciting prizes will be announced next week. For a sneak peak, these will include a luxurious trip to Ulusaba, Richard Branson’s private game reserve in South Africa, and Virgin Points through Virgin Red, the rewards club from Virgin designed to give you exclusive access to the Virgin family and beyond. In addition, Sailors who take advantage of this perk by making a qualifying booking between now and Nov. 15, 2022 will earn an extra $200 in Sailor Loot (aka on-board spending credit), which is combinable with all other promotions, offering rich rewards to loyal Sailors.
• Three Ways to Unlock the 2022 Perks:
  • The 2022 Perks will be available to all loyal qualifying Sailors defined as:
  • Sea-Blazers – Pioneers who took to the high seas in 2021 were dubbed Sea-Blazers to match the trail-blazing brand. These Sailors were the first to come aboard and will be rewarded handsomely for their support. Additional perks include a $125 Bar Tab Bonus for life.
  • Sea-Rovers – We’re coining anyone who has sailed with Virgin Voyages twice in 2022 as a Sea-Rover as they too, are bold and inspired. Sea Rovers will earn a $100 Bar Tab Bonus for two years (valid through 2024). 
  • Match & Sea More Sailors – World travelers enrolled in other cruise and select airline travel rewards programs will now have the opportunity to come aboard and Virgin Voyages will match their status. They’ll also be granted Sea-Rover status, which includes the $100 Bar Tab Bonus for two years (valid through 2024)

PONANT launches sales for 2024 to the Far North

• From Spitsbergen to America’s Great Lakes via Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland’s west coast, the PONANT voyage magic will be operating in the Far North in 2024, with sales launched on 26 new sailings. With these 16 itineraries, 6 of which are new, PONANT combines the dream of adventure with discovering nature’s kingdoms in the Arctic and the grandeur of North America’s landscapes.
• On the programme, depending on the destination, are meetings with Inuit peoples, observing wildlife, visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, landings in Zodiacs with an experienced team of naturalist-guides, hiking and kayaking, among others.
  • Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada – NEW
    • An infinity of majestic polar wilderness awaits on this brand-new expedition voyage departing from Greenland to explore Canada’s Far North all the way to the shores of Labrador and Newfoundland Island. Encounters with local people, the rich variety of wildlife, the exciting history of the Arctic territories, and many unforgettable hikes will mark this polar odyssey aboard Le Lyrial. First port of call will be Sisimiut with its colourful houses facing the Austral Ocean. The ship then sets course for the Labrador Sea to Canadian shores at Nunavut and the clear waters of the Grinnell Glacier. Next comes the splendid Nachvak Fjord and town of Rigolet, accessible only by sea, and Newfoundland Island. The journey will end on the island of Saint-Pierre, a fragment of France on the other side of the world, which is home to fascinating wild biodiversity.
    • From Kangerlussuaq to Saint-Pierre Island, 14 nights onboard Le Lyrial
    • Transfers, Paris – Kangerlussuaq and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon – Montréal flights included
    • Departs 25 August 2024
  • Expedition along Saint Lawrence – NEW
    • A river that turns into an ocean, a sublime scenery inhabited by wildlife, an echo of history at every bend… this original expedition voyage on Le Lyrial takes guests along Canada’s coast from the peaceful islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to Montreal. The shores of the Saint Lawrence River alternate between lagoons and rugged cliffs, with a chance to see wildlife when out hiking. Newfoundland Island, one of the first places in the New World known to Europe, then reveals the secrets behind its Viking history. After sailing down the Saguenay River, there’s a chance to explore the historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, of the Belle Province capital, Québec.
    • From Saint Pierre Island to Montreal – 11 nights on board Le Lyrial
    • Departs 8 September 2024

• • From Québec to the Big Apple: nature and remarkable cities – NEW
    • From Montréal to New York, this new itinerary opens the doors to vast protected areas and cultural treasures from Canada to America’s east coast. First port of call is Québec and its historic city centre that conceals fortifications and picturesque stone houses with their mansard roofs, then on to Tadoussac. Located at the mouth of the Saguenay River, it is a must for whale watching. Next is the Gaspé Peninsula and Percé, one of the most beautiful villages in Québec, bordering a national park with a truly remarkable natural, historic, and geological heritage. The white sandy beaches and red cliffs of the Magdalen Islands beckon, followed by Nova Scotia, Boston, Cape Cod and finally New York, its famous Statue of Liberty standing proud at the city’s entrance from the sea.
    • From Montreal to New York, 13 nights on board Le Lyrial
    • Departs 19 September 2024
  • Expedition in the heart of the American Great Lakes – NEW
    • During this expedition voyage, Le Champlain will be exploring the natural and cultural treasures of America’s chain of Great Lakes in the heart of flamboyant nature, departing from Milwaukee. The voyage takes in the vast panoramas of the pine forest ringed lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Protected islands, picturesque villages and national parks reveal the history of this region, in the footsteps of the Native American communities and first European settlers. It will be an opportunity to observe a rich diversity of fauna from moose, reindeer, brown bears and racoons to migratory birds. From Port Colborne, the Niagara Falls provide an impressive sight before the ship arrives in the multicultural city-world of Toronto.
    • From Milwaukee to Toronto, 10 nights on board Le Champlain
    • Departs 24 September 2024
  • Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen
    • Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, boasts an exceptional diversity of fauna and flora between fjords, glacier fronts and green valleys. In the wake of former whalers, the ship will sail from Hornsund, Bellsund and the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, before setting course for Ny-Ålesund and its international research station, renowned as one of the northernmost communities on Earth. This is an exceptional opportunity to see polar bears, walruses, marine mammals, arctic terns, puffins, and reindeers, with that unique feeling of having arrived at the end of the world.
    • From Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen – 7 nights on board Le Boréal and Le Lyrial
    • 6 departures between June and July 2024
    • Transfers and Paris-Longyearbyen return flights included
  • Disko Bay and Inuit villages
    • This one-off expedition voyage into the heart of the Arctic’s stunning scenery begins in Kangerlussuaq on Greenland’s west coast. After a first port of call in Evighedsfjorden, the Eternity Fjord where many bird species nest, Le Boréal will reach Sisimiut, a colourful harbour nestled between rolling hills. The ship then crosses Disko Bay to the shores of the Eqi Glacier, an ice giant of crystalline reflections, and the Paul-Émile Victor research base. A world of ice will open up between majestic icebergs, mountainous basalt formations and brightly painted houses. A unique opportunity to meet the local people, discover Greenland’s Inuit culture, and observe a plethora of marine life during the many Zodiac landings.
    • From Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq, 7 nights onboard Le Boréal
    • Departs 21 August 2024
    • Paris – Kangerlussuaq return flights and transfers included