Costa Serena Restarts in Asia

• Costa Cruises announces that Costa Serena returned to service in Asia.  After two cruises between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Costa Serena departed today from the port of Busan, in South Korea, heading to Nagasaki and Yatsushiro, in Japan.  It is the first outbound cruise to resume in South Korea after the end of cruise travel restrictions.
• From June to October 2023, Costa Serena will be operating a program of “charter” cruises in Asia, in cooperation with local travel partners. The total number of cruises is thirty-five. Eight cruises, in June and October 2023, will be dedicated to the South Korean market; from July to October 2023 another twenty-seven cruises are planned for the Taiwan market.
• The itineraries, lasting from 4 to 7 days, include some of the most beautiful destinations in East Asia, particularly Japan, such as Otaru, Muroran, Hakodate, Aomori, Fukuoka, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Yatsushiro, Kagoshima, Naha, Ishigaki and Miyakojima.  Departures are scheduled from the ports of Busan, Sokcho and Pohang in South Korea, as well as from Keelung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
• Costa Serena is an Italian-flagged ship built by Fincantieri and entered service in 2007. She has a gross tonnage of 114,000 tons and can accommodate up to 3,780 guests.

HAL LEGENDARY VOYAGES

• Three Holland America Line ships are set to explore the lush landscapes and natural wonders of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in 2024-2025. From unspoiled islands to cosmopolitan cities, Westerdam will spend the season Down Under, while Koningsdam and Zaandam each offer a longer Legendary Voyage to the South Pacific and Hawaii.
• Highlights of the Australia and New Zealand 2024-2025 Season:
  • LEGENDARY: The 35-day “Australia Circumnavigation” departing Nov. 17, 2024, sails Roundtrip from Sydney. Westerdam visits 16 ports around the continent of Australia and includes scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the remote Ribbon Reef and Far North Regions. Guests enjoy overnight calls at Freemantle (Perth), Australia, and Hobart, Tasmania, along with a late-night departure from Adelaide. Beyond Australia, the ship will call at Komodo Island.
  • From January through March 2025, Westerdam offers 14-day “Australia and New Zealand” cruises between Auckland and Sydney. The sailings include six ports around New Zealand and a call at Hobart. All itineraries include scenic cruising in Fiordland National Park, and select dates also include Milford Sound.
  • A special 14-day “New Zealand Holiday” cruise departing Dec. 22, 2024, is roundtrip from Sydney. Guests spend the holidays exploring six ports around New Zealand, including an overnight call at Wellington. The holiday itinerary also features scenic cruising in Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.
• Highlights of the South Pacific 2024-2025 Season:
  • LEGENDARY: 51- or 56-day “Tales of the South Pacific” voyage aboard Zaandam. The 51-day itinerary is roundtrip from San Diego departing Sept. 30, 2024, while the 56-day cruise is from Vancouver to San Diego departing Sept. 25. The exploration takes a counterclockwise route around the South Pacific, with 20 calls in Hawaii, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Cook and Society Islands, Marquesas and Tahiti. Guests have extra time ashore with overnights at Honolulu, Hawaii, and Papeete, Tahiti, as well as late-night departures from Honolulu and Suva, Fiji.
  • Westerdam’s 23-day “South Pacific Crossing” departing Oct. 24, 2024, is from Seattle, Washington, to Sydney. The Pacific Ocean crossing includes seven ports in Hawaii, New Caledonia, Fiji and American Samoa.
  • LEGENDARY: The 35-day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas” aboard Koningsdam departs Feb. 15, 2025, and is roundtrip from San Diego. The ship makes four calls in Hawaii and six additional island calls throughout the South Pacific. Overnights include Honolulu, Raiatea, Moorea and Papeete.
  • LEGENDARY: Westerdam’s 29-day “South Pacific Crossing” departing March 30, 2025, is from Sydney to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Guests discover 12 ports in Hawaii, American Samoa, Fiji and New Caledonia. The itinerary offers an overnight at Honolulu, plus late-night departures from Lahaina and Kona, Hawaii; Suva; and Nouméa, New Caledonia.

A-ROSA adds e-bikes on A-ROSA SENA

• A-ROSA has introduced e-bikes on A-ROSA SENA for the first time, including two bikes for teenagers. The move means that e-bikes are now available across 12 ships in its fleet, covering the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine and Rhone/Saone.
• In addition, A-ROSA has also introduced complimentary e-bike hire this year. This means that in selected ports guests now have the options to take an e-bike out for a spin independently, create their own route and explore a city or town on two wheels as they wish. 
• Perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels, each e-bike is fitted with a compact electric motor. Riders can pick which level of assistance they require whilst riding, from various different options. It is also possible to switch the motor off altogether, for those who want a harder workout.
• A helmet and bike lock are provided with each hire and there is no charge as it is included within A-ROSA’s Premium All-Inclusive package.
• A-ROSA also continues to offer an extensive programme of guided bike tours for those who prefer to be led by an expert, with over 50 different options available across the entire 2023 season.

Carnival Venezia headed for New York.

• Carnival Cruise Line has welcomed its first guests to experience “Carnival Fun Italian Style” aboard the cruise line’s latest addition to the fleet, Carnival Venezia, as the ship began sailing in Europe on its way to New York City. The ship departed Barcelona, Spain on a two-week transatlantic Carnival Journeys sailing on May 29 and will arrive to its new homeport at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 13.
• The ship’s first cruise from New York, a four-day cruise to Bermuda, is set for June 15, 2023. From its New York homeport, the ship will operate 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries. In the winter of 2024, Carnival Venezia will reposition from New York with a 12-Day Southern Caribbean Carnival Journeys Cruise arrive to Port Canaveral on Dec. 18, 2024 to begin a season deployment in Florida. After a series of departures from Port Canaveral, visiting popular destinations across the Caribbean and the Bahamas, the ship will return to New York in the spring of 2025.
• Godfather announced for Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Cruise Line today announced that acclaimed late night talk show host and comedian Jay Leno will serve as its first ever godfather to one of its ships, Carnival Venezia™, at a celebratory event on June 14, 2023 when the ship is blessed and enters service from New York City. The ship is the first to incorporate “Carnival Fun Italian Style” that adds Carnival’s signature fun to the beautiful Italian theming of the vessel. In addition to serving as the Godfather, Leno will perform a special comedy show exclusively for Carnival’s event guests.