Holland America Line’s Special 150th Anniversary Crossing is a Celebration of the Brand’s Journey

• Exclusive musical piece composed for Lincoln Center Stage, collector’s menu covers, culinary surprises, special gifts and more highlight the voyage
• As Holland America Line prepares for its 150th Anniversary in 2023, the cruise line is kicking off a year of celebrations with a special transatlantic crossing in October. Primed to recreate a bygone era of ocean travel through Holland America Line’s history, guests on board the voyage are in for a journey from past to present with special events, activities, and commemorative keepsakes.
• Departing Oct. 15, 2022, from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to New York City aboard Rotterdam, the voyage retraces Holland America Line’s first cruise back in 1872 aboard Rotterdam I. Guests will see the brand’s history come alive through onboard enrichment programming, memorable culinary experiences and exclusive entertainment.
• Exclusive Lincoln Center Piece Composed for Anniversary
• A highlight of the crossing will be a performance of a musical piece by Emmy Award-winning producer and Emmy-nominated composer Steven Schoenberg, written exclusively for Holland America Line’s anniversary to accompany a special short film about the cruise line’s journey. The composition will be performed by a 25-piece ensemble of former Holland America Line’s Lincoln Center Stage musicians. The piece will debut on board Oct. 26 in New York on World Stage.
• During the sailing, guests also will be entertained by Dutch sensation Tiny Little Big Band, bringing their unique sound of jazz and soul with a hint of swing, along with the ship’s Music Walk entertainment featuring BB King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, Lincoln Center Stage and Rolling Stone Rock Room.  
• Culinary Delights an Ode to Dutch Heritage
• Every evening in the Main Dining Room, menus will showcase Holland America Line’s 150-year history with a Classic Entrée reminiscent of a dish served as early as the 1920s. Guests can choose from selections including Royal Rib of Beef a la Medicis, Holland Duckling Port Wine Sauce and Artic Char a la Normande.
• A special 150th Gala Menu one evening in the Dining Room will be a memorable collection of dishes, with every option — from appetizers to desserts — from a previous Holland America Line voyage. The menu is designed to evoke a feeling of days gone by and features a keepsake cover that guests can take home.
• At least once during the voyage as a pop-up experience in Tamarind, guests can indulge in a Rijsttafel — a Dutch word that translates to “rice table” — with side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. The Dutch adapted the Indonesian tradition so they could enjoy a wide array of dishes at a single sitting with an abundance of flavors and textures.
• The toasting continues with a “Throwback Happy Hour” that will roll back time and feature drinks priced to when the brand began, as low as 25 cents. Guests who want to learn about wine can join Holland America Line Vice President of Dining and Beverage Operations Anthony Stice for wine tastings and surprises around the ship.
• Additional culinary delights in honor of Holland America Line’s 150th Anniversary include a special Dutch High Tea, Dutch station in Lido Market that features traditional sweet and savory items, one Dutch-themed lunch with classic Dutch items and one Indonesian-themed lunch, both in Lido Market.
• Enrichment and Activities Bring History to Life
• Presentations reliving the history and roots of the company will be offered by Bill Miller, maritime historian, and Holland America Line authority, while Dr. Jennifer Foray, professor of history at Purdue University, will deliver lectures on Dutch history.
• Origin Story, a staple on every Holland America Line cruise, is visual telling of the company’s history from founding through present day. The presentation is offered in World Stage with 270-degree wraparound LED screens that envelop the audience in an emotional journey that includes incredible, historical images.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­Holland America Line’s 75th Anniversary Season in the Great Land Comes to an End

• Following a full season of 107 cruises and Cruisetours aboard six ships, Holland America Line set sail from Alaska for the last time this year with Eurodam and Koningsdam completing a final port visit at Ketchikan yesterday, Thursday, Oct. 6, before ending at Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, respectively on Saturday.

P&O Cruises Returns to Noumea as Cruising Resumes in New Caledonia

• The resumption of cruising in the South Pacific is gaining momentum, with P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Explorer today becoming the first cruise ship to return to New Caledonia.
• Pacific Explorer sailed into Noumea this morning for a historic overnight stay following the reopening of New Caledonia’s maritime borders to cruise tourism.
• The call is the latest in a series of milestones for P&O’s flagship, which was the first cruise ship to return to Australia in April this year, as well as the first ship to visit New Zealand and Fiji in August.
• Ships from across Carnival Australia’s family of brands will make more than 20 visits to New Caledonia over the remainder of 2022, with more than 150 calls scheduled for 2023.

Light Camera & Action on Carnival Celebration

• With a ship as expansive and exciting as Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Celebration, there will be countless ways to celebrate with never-before-seen live entertainment.
• From new main production shows and aerialist acts to game shows, parties and events, the ship’s new unique offerings have been designed to be as much celebrations as they are performances, with elevated and engaging presentations, upbeat vibes, energetic music, playful choreography, colourful scenes, and tons of fun.
• Highlights from the new Playlist Productions and Center Stage offerings include:
• The Most Magnificent Circus – a story of celebrating self-discovery and acceptance will unfold to reimagined popular hits as a big-top circus comes to life. Taking talent to new heights – literally – wire-rigged performers will showcase their skills leaving the stage behind to soar above and beyond the audience, creating action in every direction. Guests will adventure through a fully immersive theatrical circus experience as the most extravagant aerialist show in the fleet uses all of the ship’s high-flying capabilities to the max, with mesmerizing trapeze, chair, chandelier, hoop, ladder and mirror aerial performances throughout.
• Colour My World – An Indie Rock and Pop Love Story – romance will be in the air as a popular artist and his assistant go on a journey of love through art and colour. The artistic love story will blend fun dance styles such as street jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre and ballet with the best songs from indie rock and pop genres. Combining different mediums of art to create a visually captivating experience, this vibrant and colourful show will feature live painting on stage with music and choreography to match.
•  Visual Symphony (starting in December) – as the name suggests, this innovative show will use Celebration Central’s 16 massive moving LED screens, lasers and classical rock music to create a high-tech visual masterpiece. Pushing the boundaries of theatrical performances, the show will take full advantage of the cutting-edge technology and special effects in the zone’s three-deck-high space. As the LED walls’ content is synced with the choreographed lighting designs, the elevated multimedia experience will deliver an extraordinary live performance.
• Rio Carnival (starting in May) – coming soon, this vibrant and high-energy Brazlian extravaganza will have guests moving their hips in a parade and celebration of music and dance as the cast performs authentic samba, bossa nova, marchinha, batudada, forro, carimbo and capoeira to some of the most famous Latin pop songs of all time in both in Portuguese and English.
• In addition to Family Feud Live, Deal or No Deal and the Love and Marriage game shows, some of the new offerings will include:
• What’s Age Got to Do With It – in this question and answer trivia show for fun of all ages, one parent and child will have to prove they are the best family duo.
• Cash Bash – in partnership with the casino team, guests can win cash prizes as they compete in Fun Squad challenges and interactive activities.
• Guess That Grove – guests will have to listen up and get ready to move as they show off their knowledge of iconic tunes and groovy dance skills

Space Cruisers Program to Debut on Carnival Celebration this November

• In celebration of World Space Week, Carnival Cruise Line announced today that it is partnering with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to launch a children’s space program with activities inspired by NASA science, which will debut on Carnival Celebration this November.
• As part of Camp Ocean’s science and discovery programming, the credible Space Cruisers curriculum supported by NASA is designed to be as educational as it is fun and will enable children of all ages to explore the universe and our home planet in an array of hands-on and one-of-a-kind learning experiences. Children will be able to complete “missions” (activities) to earn a special, themed mission patch representative of the program.
• A summary of the Space Cruisers programming can be viewed here. Highlights include:
• Optimal Orbit (ages 2-8) – learn the pull of gravity and how planets, satellites and other objects move through space in a hands-on experience with a giant trampoline.
• Design Your Own Mission Patch (ages 6-11) – join the long-standing tradition among astronauts and design your own take-home mission patch to tell your story.
• Space Cruisers Rocket Workshop (ages 6-11) – follow in the footsteps of NASA’s talented engineers and build your own paper rocket to fly high to the sky.
• Mars Base Connect (family-friendly) – explore the steps it takes to build a Mars base and come together with family members to create your own.
• ASTRO! (family-friendly) – call out constellations as they’re displayed on a unique star projector in a space-themed BINGO game for the chance to win special giveaways.
• The program will debut on Carnival Celebration when it sets sail on its inaugural voyage from Miami this November, and will then be rolled out to the Space Coast with Mardi Gras in Port Canaveral in time for the holiday season. Various activities from the program will later go fleetwide in time for spring break.

Freshly refurbished Le Ponant hoists sails again

• PONANT’s iconic three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant, which was the founding ship where the PONANT story began, has undergone a major renovation ahead of her voyage to Australia to set sail for her inaugural Kimberley season in 2023.
• After several months undergoing renovation at the San Giorgio del Porto yard in Italy, the yacht offers a remarkably private setting and has been entirely updated with cutting edge eco-responsible innovations. After an exclusive collection of itineraries in the Mediterranean, Le Ponant will spend the winter in the Seychelles before arriving in Australia in April 2023.
• The newly imagined Le Ponant is an invitation to go sailing whilst recharging the batteries on voyages that respect the world around, where privacy and exploring with others go hand in hand with eco-responsibility.
• When luxury and privacy combine with the magic of travel and eco-responsible navigation
• Thirty years after her launch, Le Ponant has been transformed to provide guests with a unique travel experience. After undergoing a complete renovation, the ship now accommodates just 32 guests with a 1:1 passenger to crew ratio. The sleek, refined layout was designed by the Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel and Sterling Design International to create a sense of luxury, privacy and tranquillity that makes guests feel as if they are on their own private sailing yacht.
• The 4 passenger decks provide 16 spacious staterooms including a 60m2 Owner’s Suite on the upper deck ‘Zephyr’ with a private balcony. The common areas have been refitted to allow guests to fully enjoy the panoramic gastronomic restaurant; to re-energise in the spa, wellness area or gym; or relax in the sun lounge area in an ambiance of quiet contemplation.
• In line with the company’s policy, Le Ponant reflects an ongoing commitment to a more responsible tourism. The sailing ship is equipped with all the latest technologies to optimise emissions reduction: connecting to electricity grids where available in ports, using the sails, an innovative SCR filter system to eliminate fine particles and cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, sorting waste and latest generation wastewater treatment. Every guest experience has been thought through to help protect the environment and heritage, such as non-motorised water sports and individual or small-group landings at ports of call with the focus on local heritage.
• Uncrowded, Le Ponant offers guests the ultimate luxury invitation to enjoy authentic experiences and moments of rare privilege close to nature, under sail as the preferred mode of travel. On board, an expedition leader and naturalist guides share their unrivalled knowledge as they discover unusual treasures at sea and during ports of call. In addition to exclusive activities, on board and off, guests enjoy exquisite cuisine based on locally sourced ingredients.
• Aboard Le Ponant, every detail has been included to offer a timeless experience; a voyage that awakens the senses within a bubble of exploration at its most authentic.

Viking Celebrates 25^th Anniversary in Amsterdam

• Viking marked the company’s 25th anniversary with a historic celebration in Amsterdam. To commemorate the milestone, for the first time ever, three classes of Viking ships—a river ship, an ocean ship and the company’s newest expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris—met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands. Participating in the convoy with the Viking Polaris were the Viking Longship, the Viking Mani, and the ocean vessel, the Viking Mars.
• During the Amsterdam event, Viking also named the Viking Polaris and her identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis®, which is currently sailing her inaugural season in the Great Lakes. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, before travelling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.
• Viking’s 25th anniversary celebration in Amsterdam is the most recent event during a milestone year in which the company has also welcomed to its fleet eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe and new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers. By the end of 2022, two new, identical ocean ships will have also joined Viking’s fleet. Earlier this year, Viking was named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards, in which the company became 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, making it the first cruise line to ever simultaneously earn #1 in its categories from both publications. Additionally, Viking has published a new video about the company’s history and some of the key partners who have contributed to its success, which was shared on board all Viking ships today as part of the 25th anniversary celebration.

Paul Gauguin Cruises opens sales for 2024

• A unique opportunity awaits to explore the paradise isles and sunny shores of Polynesia as Paul Gauguin Cruises launches sales for its 2024 small-ship cruises with 33 sailings to 7 destinations, including 2 new itineraries crafted by the company’s destination experts.
• The various itineraries for 2024 centre on water sports including swimming, scuba driving, kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling, discovering local traditions and visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites. Aboard Le Paul Gauguin, attentive service and fine cuisine take inspiration from the Polynesian lifestyle. Combining this with privileged moments such as a traditional Polynesian barbecue on Motu Mahana off the protected Taha’s Island.

Uniworld’s New 2023 Itineraries

• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises announces brand-new mystery cruise itineraries in Europe, as well as enhancements to its Exotics Collection for 2023, with the launch of its first Cruise and Rail journey in India and a new itinerary in Egypt as part of its family-focused Generations Collection.
• 2023 Mystery Itineraries
• Back by popular demand, in 2023, Uniworld will launch two brand-new mystery cruise itineraries across Europe. Departing on June 18, 2023, the first 10-day mystery cruise will be a roundtrip sailing along iconic rivers throughout Amsterdam, Netherlands. On July 7, 2023, the second 10-day mystery cruise will be hosted by Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge, and will start in Nice, France and end in Lyon, France. On-trip excursions, special events, and overall itineraries will remain a complete mystery to cruise passengers
• Cruise & Rail: The Sacred Ganges & the Maharajas’ Express
• Following the success of the inaugural season of its Cruise and Rail itinerary in Europe, Uniworld is teaming up with Maharajas’ Express to offer a new 16-day immersive journey through India. The trip combines seven nights’ sailing in supreme comfort aboard the Ganges Voyager II from Kolkata, with a 7-night luxury private train journey through the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan to Mumbai, spending an additional two nights in Oberoi Hotels in New Delhi and Mumbai.
• Unmissable icons such as the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort and Ranthambore National Park – home to one of the world’s largest populations of Bengal Tiger – are included alongside more local encounters, stopping at smaller temples and villages along the way. The itinerary also features four MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences including learning about the art of making ornamental brass objects at an artisan workshop in Matiari and a visit to local NGO Calcutta Rescue, which serves the area’s underprivileged children.
• Departing on October 28th, 2023.
• Egypt Generations sailings
• Departing on December 16th, 23rd, & 30th, 2023, Uniworld’s new dedicated Generations departures will introduce guests of all ages to Egypt’s ancient wonders, vibrant capital and welcoming people. Combining seven nights aboard the all-suite River Tosca sailing round-trip from Luxor with a four night land stay at The Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Cairo, the trip mirrors the popular 12-day Splendors of Egypt and the Nile itinerary, with additional experiences aimed at keeping the whole family entertained.
• Alongside must-sees such as the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings and Temples of Karnak, Luxor and Hatshepsut, activities include taking part in a family-friendly football match with local children and some of the ship’s crew, sand dune boarding and a swim in the Nile, exploring the river by bike and traditional felucca, and a behind-the-scenes visit to the Captain’s wheelhouse.