Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis completes multimillion-pound refurbishment at Cammell Laird shipyard near Liverpool

• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis has completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment programme at Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, becoming the first cruise liner to undergo work at the site for over 25 years.
• Borealis arrived on 28th October, for a 14-day refurbishment, including steel repairs, an overhaul of the shafts and propellers as well a new application of underwater paint, supported by more than 150 members of Cammell Laird’s workforce.
• The ship sailed out of Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead site at lunchtime on Saturday, ready to welcome guests back on board for a cruise in search of the Northern Lights, which left the city on Sunday.
• Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said: “As a family-run cruise line, we know how important it is to support local communities and we hope to continue to build these relationships in and around Liverpool for many years to come.”
• Borealis joined the Fred. Olsen fleet in 2020, and has called Liverpool its homeport since sailing resumed in 2021, offering more than 50 sailings from the city. A report to the local authority’s culture and visitor economy committee earlier this year found Borealis had contributed more than £2.25m to the local economy by using Liverpool as her homeport.
• Her upcoming sailings from the city include the chance to visit both Northern and Western Europe, including a special two-week Christmas sailing to the Canary Islands – before setting sail on an exciting ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ cruise in February – the first time Fred. Olsen has offered the chance to join a World Cruise from Liverpool.
• David McGinley, Chief Executive of Cammell Laird, said: “Cammell Laird was delighted to welcome Borealis and her crew to our facility, and be given the opportunity to showcase Cammell Laird’s ship repair capabilities.
• “It took over 150 members of the Cammell Laird workforce, including apprentices, to complete the programme of works – which injected well in excess of a million pounds into the local economy.

AIDA Cruises: makes a sustainable move ashore

• For many years, AIDA Cruises has been investing in a future-oriented and sustainable cruise market as part of its Green Cruising strategy. As part of its comprehensive commitment, the company is continuously advancing climate and resource protection with many small and large initiatives.
• For sustainable shore excursions, AIDA Cruises will use bicycles made of bamboo on all ships in its fleet in the future. To this effect, the cruise company AIDA Cruises and the manufacturer of bamboo bicycles, my Boo GmbH from Kiel, have concluded an agreement. By purchasing a total of 1,155 e-bikes and bicycles for its twelve ships, AIDA Cruises is supporting an innovative product as well as concrete social commitment and sustainable economic action.
• The first of these extraordinary bikes came on board in 2019.
• What makes these bikes so special is the unusual material from which the frame is made. Bamboo is a renewable resource that is as strong as steel and as light as aluminium. Its springy properties make for a particularly pleasant cycling experience for AIDA guests. In addition to the classic mountain bike version, there is also a choice of e-bikes, which are equipped with an electric auxiliary motor.

Viking takes delivery of newest ocean ship`

• Viking today announced it has taken delivery of the company’s newest ocean ship, the Viking Neptune®. The delivery ceremony took place this morning (11 Nov) when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. While identical to Viking’s other ocean ships, the Viking Neptune is equipped with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the cruise industry’s first ship to test the use of hydrogen power for on board operations. Viking is using the small system as a test to determine how hydrogen fuel could be used at a larger scale in future newbuilds.
• The Viking Neptune will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean before embarking on the company’s 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise, a journey from Fort Lauderdale to London that spans 138-days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities.
• The delivery of the Viking Neptune comes as Viking continues to mark its 25th anniversary this year. Viking Expeditions launched in January with the purpose-built Viking Octantis; her sister ship, the Viking Polaris, debuted in September. Earlier in the year, the company also welcomed eight new Viking Longships® on the rivers of Europe, new purpose-built vessels for the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi Rivers, as well as another new ocean ship, the Viking Mars.
• The Viking Neptune is the newest ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet of identical sister ships. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking’s ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests; the ships feature all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces and abundant al fresco dining options.

Delays for Queen Ann

• Cunard has been forced to delay the delivery of new ship Queen Anne due to supply chain issues.
• The sold out maiden cruise, a seven-night sailing from Southampton to Lisbon, on January 4, 2024 has been put back until May.
• Passengers have been automatically transferred to a new seven-night maiden voyage by the 3,000-passenger ship from Southampton on May 3, 2024, visiting La Coruna and Lisbon.
• A Cunard spokesperson said: “Due in part to unforeseen events that have occurred in recent years, the shipbuilding industry, like other industries, has faced numerous challenges including energy shortages and global supply chain constraints.
• “As a result, our new ship Queen Anne will be arriving slightly later than expected.”
• The ship’s new maiden season will include cruises from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Canary Islands and Norwegian fjords.
• The cruises go on sale on December 6 for Cunard World Club loyalty scheme members and on general sale the following day.
• Cunard sister brand P&O Cruises has also pushed back the maiden voyage of new ship Arvia from December 9 to 23 due to external issues.

P&O Cruises Australia Reopens Cruising Adventures to Vanuatu’s Mystery Island And Luganville

• Two more iconic cruise destinations in Vanuatu — Mystery Island and Luganville — are reopening with P&O Cruises Australia’s Sydney-based Pacific Adventure on its current 10-night cruise to the South Pacific.
• Amid a festival atmosphere, Pacific Adventure and its 2000 guests were today welcomed back to Mystery Island by the community of nearby Aneityum for whom cruising is the key economic driver.
• A similar welcome is anticipated on Sunday when Pacific Adventure visits Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo with a call to the Vanuatu capital Port Vila in between. Pacific Adventure visited Noumea in New Caledonia on the way to Vanuatu’s three signature destinations.
• Pacific Adventure’s visit to Mystery Island is being celebrated with a number of community initiatives. P&O had already been working with the Aneityum community for some time in preparation for today’s visit.
• The initiatives being supported include:
  • Contributing to the registration and safety training of 80 boat operators
  • Sourcing 500 lifejackets for the boat operators to comply fully with national safety regulations
  • Funding the reinstallation of marker buoys for the safe operation of ship tenders.

Holland America Line Introduces 150th Anniversary ‘Heritage Cruises’

• With celebrations for its 150th Anniversary year underway, Holland America Line is introducing Heritage Cruises that authentically focus on ports rich in the brand’s history and feature unique onboard and shoreside experiences. From a marquee city like Rotterdam, the Netherlands, that shares an intwined connection to the company’s beginnings to meaningful ports like Skagway and Juneau that introduced the world to Alaska cruising, guests will become fully immersed in Holland America Line’s Dutch seafaring heritage.
• Over the next year, 48 “Heritage Cruises” will be rolled out with special itineraries in Alaska, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii, South America and Mexico. Guests who want to explore dedicated Heritage Cruises can click a link on Holland America Line’s homepage that will display the departures.
• Heritage Cruises Port Spotlights:
  • Alaska: Sitka, Skagway, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Icy Strait, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert.
  • Northern Europe: Copenhagen, Eidfjord, Ålesund, Geiranger, Bergen, Oslo, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
  • Mediterranean: Trieste, Naples, Rome, Florence, Dubrovnik, Sarande, Katakolon, Nice, Le Havre, Barcelona, Cartagena and Lisbon.
  • Caribbean: Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, Curaçao, San Juan, Oranjestad, Philipsburg and Colon.
  • Hawaii: Hilo, Honolulu, Kona and Maui.
  • Mexico: Ensenada, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.
  • West Coast: San Diego.
  • South America: Lima, Pisco, La Serena, Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt.
  • Australia/New Zealand: Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Auckland, Hobart and Port Chalmers.
  • Panama Canal.
• Exclusive Heritage Cruises Experiences
  • Dinner menus in the Dining Room showcase Holland America Line’s history with regional-based Heritage Dishes.
  • A Throwback Happy Hour rolls back time and features select drinks priced as low as 75 cents.
  • A special Dutch High Tea offers sweets like Oliebollen, Specoolus, mini bossche bollen, Gugelhupf and Tompouce, along with tea sandwiches including smoked salmon on curry bread and chicken sate in peanut sauce on spiced bread.
  • Special port fact sheets to showcase fun, historic and unique facts about the Heritage Ports.
  • Classic cruise activities and sporting games like Sjoelen turn back the clock, along with anniversary-themed trivia.
• 150th Anniversary Celebrations on All Cruises
  • A Captain’s Gala Menu one evening in the Dining Room is a collection of classic dishes, with every option coming from a previous Holland America Line menu.
  • New exclusive Holland America Line “De Lijn” gin follows a western-style flavor profile, capturing the essence of rose and orange, alongside a tinge of lemon verbena and raspberry. De Lijn is featured in three new anniversary cocktails: Dutch 150, 150th Martini and 150th Gin and Tonic.
  • HAL Pils, a limited-edition 150th Anniversary Pilsner made in partnership with Pikes Brewing from Seattle, in a commemorative can.
  • “Origin Story” is a visual telling of the company’s history from founding through present day. The presentation is offered in the World Stage with LED screens that envelop the audience in an emotional journey.
  • Mariner Society members receive a 150th Anniversary Royal Goedewaagen tile.
  • Limited-edition, specially designed 150th Anniversary retail items in the shops.

Holland America Line Launches ‘Refer a Friend’ Program

• Cruising is an incredible way to see the world that offers an exceptional value, and Holland America Line is encouraging loyal past guests to share their passion for the brand with a new “Refer a Friend” program launching this week. Running indefinitely, Refer a Friend is aimed at introducing both new and seasoned travelers to Holland America Line.
• Refer a Friend rewards members of the line’s Mariner Society loyalty program for encouraging their friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances to make a new booking. The referred guest, who must be new to Holland America Line, receives $50 Onboard Credit per person, and the Mariner, or past guest, who made the introduction earns a $50 Future Cruise Credit once the booking is made to put toward their next Holland America Line voyage.