Coronation Celebrations at Sea On Board Cunard’s Three Queens

• Cunard joins the nation in celebrating the historic coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort with a range of coronation-themed activities planned on all three of its Queens.
• From street parties in the majestic Grand Lobby to themed musical performances, films and quizzes, guests on board Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will be able to truly immerse themselves in the regal festivities.
• An exclusive Coronation dinner menu has been created for the evening of Saturday 6 May, inspired by King Charles’ love of farming, agriculture, game, and organic principles. It features a selection of specially curated dishes showcasing some of his favourite ingredients, to create a meal that perfectly commemorates this auspicious occasion.
• Specially designed cocktails will be available to toast Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, including a “Coronation Oath” made with Prosecco, White Vermouth, Grapefruit and Cardamom Bitters and a “Monarch Martini” using Cunard’s 3 Queens Gin.
• All three ships will be at sea for the big day and will broadcast the ceremony live from Westminster Abbey into the ships’ Royal Court Theatres and stateroom TVs. Queen Elizabeth guests will be just starting their nine-night tour of Southern Japan and Taiwan, visiting the stunningly beautiful island of Hualien and the idyllic tropical paradise of Miyakojima, while Queen Victoria will be returning from a 12-night voyage around the Canary Islands.
• A brand-new Coronation Celebration voyage was announced earlier this week, seeing Queen Mary 2 sail round-trip from Southampton on 2 May to Cunard’s spiritual home port, Liverpool.
• Cunard’s world-renowned Insights programme across the fleet will feature royal commentator Dickie Arbiter, historian Caroline Aston and etiquette expert Grant Harrold.
• Each ship will also host a deck walk in honour of The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May to raise money for youth charity The Prince’s Trust, a proud partner of Cunard’s for the past 15 years since the Queen Consort was named as godmother to Queen Victoria in 2007. This significant milestone will be celebrated on a special British Isles voyage in August. To date, thanks to the generosity of guests, crew and friends, Cunard has raised over £2.7 million for the Trust. The charity helps young people who have faced disadvantage and adversity to build a better future for themselves, through employment, education and enterprise.
• Cunard’s royal connections date back to August 1861, when Prince Alfred sailed from Halifax to Liverpool on Cunard’s SS Arabia. More recently, Cunard is immensely proud that members of the royal family have graced each of the ships in its fleet.

Swan Hellenic’s third and largest ship, SH Diana, sets sail for Arctic following Amsterdam Naming Ceremony Celebrations

• The cultural expedition cruise pioneer’s third purpose-designed expedition cruise ship is now on her way to Tromsø for an 11-day cruise of fjord exploration that opens her Arctic season before she voyages worldwide
• On the 4th of May 2023, Swan Hellenic announced that the Naming Ceremony of its third ice-class cultural expedition cruise ship, SH Diana, had taken place in Amsterdam.
• The purpose-designed new vessel was named by luxury travel visionary and icon Valerie Ann Wilson, Founder and CEO of Valerie Wilson Travel, in the presence of Swan Hellenic Senior Management, local dignitaries, VIP guests, the media and members of the cruise and travel industries from around the world.

Silver Nova Floats Out: 12th Silversea Ship Nears Completion at Meyer Werft

• Silversea Cruises and the Meyer Werft shipyard celebrated the float out of the new ship Silver Nova℠ in Papenburg, Germany, on April 28, 2023. After water had filled the drydock, tugboats manoeuvred the vessel from one of the world’s largest enclosed construction halls into the adjacent harbour. Set to become the 12th ship in the leading ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet when she launches in summer 2023, Silver Nova will be the most environmentally conscious ultra-luxury cruise ship ever built.
• Excitement ran high among onlookers at the Meyer Werft shipyard as the construction hall’s doors parted ahead of the ship’s repositioning. In a matter of hours, Silver Nova was positioned alongside the pier in the neighbouring harbour basin, where the fitting out phase will continue. Commemorating the important milestone and in observance of shipbuilding traditions, Captain Cosimo Pontillo welded a special coin to a wall on the pool deck, which will remain visible to the ship’s future guests as a symbol of good luck. Meyer Werft’s skilled craftspeople cleaned the ship’s hull, attached her funnel, and installed her LNG and radar masts. Unique to the Meyer Werft shipyard, Silver Nova’s next journey—scheduled for the end of May—will entail a conveyance of 32km (approximately 20 miles) down the narrow Ems River to the sea.
• Currently under construction in Papenburg as the first of two Nova class ships, the 728-guest Silver Nova is set to become the most sustainable ultra-luxury ship ever launched when she joins Silversea’s fleet in summer 2023. Silver Nova will represent the next iteration of Silversea’s unique take on luxury, with the largest choice of bars, restaurants, and lounges in ultra-luxury cruising; some of the most spacious guest suites at sea; and a range of innovative features—including an asymmetrical design and horizontal layout—that are unprecedented for the leading ultra-luxury cruise line.

Cunard Celebrates The Float Out of Queen Anne

• 4 May 2023 –the world’s most iconic luxury cruise brand celebrated a momentous construction milestone today with the float out of Queen Anne at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.
• The 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, Queen Anne officially touched water for the first time exactly 365 days before she will set sail on her maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 May 2024.
• Steeped in tradition, the float out is marked by a special ceremony where a ‘Madrina’ is named to offer blessings and best wishes for the ship, celebrating the flow of water into the ship’s dry dock.
• The float out, completes the first comprehensive phase of construction for Queen Anne, which now transitions to focus on building the luxury ship’s interiors.
• Queen Anne
  • The design concepts for Cunard’s newest ship have been founded on heritage, craftmanship, style, storytelling, and innovation, and the 113,000-ton, 3,000-guest Queen Anne, which spans 14 decks, will offer travellers several breath-taking moments, including the largest curated art collection at sea.
  • For more than 180 years, Cunard has constantly refined the definitive experience of ocean travel, and Queen Anne will be bursting with Cunard’s signature experiences, including world-class dining, exceptional entertainment, and luxurious accommodation.
  • Entering service in May 2024, Queen Anne will make up a remarkable quartet for Cunard alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. It will be the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service.
  • The float out ceremony follows September’s iconic keel laying, in which a coin was embedded into the ship’s keel by Captain Inger Thorhauge, alongside an original coin from the ship’s namesake’s reign, to mark the formal start of her construction.

Holland America Line Announces First Grand Voyage ‘Pole-to-Pole’ Cruise Roundtrip from the U.S.

• Holland America Line will sail what is believed to be the first ever Grand Voyage “Pole-to-Pole” roundtrip from the United States in 2025. Details of the new 133-day sailing along with a simultaneous 124-day 2025 Grand World Voyage. 
• With the Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole and Grand World Voyage both departing in January 2025, this will be the first time that Holland America Line is offering two Grand Voyages of more than 120 days simultaneously. The Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole aboard Volendam enables cruisers to visit five continents on a journey that travels south-to-north, while the Grand World Voyage aboard Zuiderdam covers six continents on an east-to-west route, each conveniently sailing roundtrip from a U.S. homeport.
• 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole Highlights — Volendam
  • 133 days. Departing Jan. 25, 2025, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
  • Follows a south-north-south route through the Panama Canal, down along the west coast of South America to Antarctica, then up along Argentina and Brazil to the heart of the Amazon River. The ship then crosses the Atlantic Ocean to Africa, sails north to Europe and up to the North Cape before heading west across the northern Atlantic Ocean via Iceland and Greenland, and finally down the eastern shores of North America.
  • Pole to Pole: Down south Volendam spends four days of scenic cruising in Antarctica and up north the ship crosses the Artic Circle to the North Cape.
  • 68 total ports across five continents and 28 countries.
  • 8 overnight calls: Fuerte Amador, Panama; Callao (Lima), Peru; Buenos, Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Reykjavik, Iceland.
  • Memorable Moments: Panama Canal transit, Cape Horn, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, exploring the Amazon River, Strait of Gibraltar, Norwegian fjords, North Cape, Iceland and Greenland.
• 2025 Grand World Voyage Highlights — Zuiderdam
  • 124 days. Departing Jan. 4, 2025, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
  • Transits the Panama Canal and makes way to Easter Island before crossing the South Pacific to Australia. Explores the Great Barrier Reef en route to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, then sails south to Cape Town, South Africa, by way of the Seychelles, back up along the eastern coast of Africa, through the Suez Canal to Portugal before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
  • 46 total ports in 32 countries across six continents.
  • 9 overnight calls: Callao (two nights); Easter Island; Papeete, Tahiti; Sydney, Australia; Singapore; Cape Town; Mombasa, Kenya; Safaga, Egypt; and Barcelona.
  • 7 late-night departures: Manta, Ecuador; Seychelles; Cape Town and Durban, South Africa; Aqaba, Jordan; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Gibraltar, U.K.
  • Memorable Moments: Panama Canal transit, two nights at Callao allowing time to visit Machu Picchu, Easter Island, scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef, two full days in Cape Town, the opportunity to visit Petra from Jordan and experience Luxor from Safaga.
• Grand Rendezvous in Barcelona
  • On April 24, 2025, Volendam and Zuiderdam will meet in Barcelona, Spain, for a joint overnight call, bringing the two Grand Voyages together for a celebration. Special festivities involving both ships will mark the occasion of the perfectly planned dual visit.

Carnival will transport 3m passengers to Mexico this year

• Carnival Cruise Line is marking this Cinco de Mayo by highlighting that it expects more than three million guests to sail to Mexican ports this year on its ships, with projections growing to 3.5 million by 2024. Cozumel is Carnival’s most popular destination in Mexico, with an estimated 1.6 million guests visiting the port this year. Additional ports in Mexico that Carnival ships visit regularly include: Progreso, Costa Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada and Mazatlan.
• Carnival offers various tours and excursions across Mexico. Here are five experiences that are among the most enjoyed by Carnival guests in the cruise line’s most popular Mexican destination of Cozumel.
• Five Experiences Popular Among Carnival Guests Visiting Cozumel
  • Ancient City of Tulum. This tour brings guests to the ancient Mayan paradise kingdom of Tulum. Guests learn the history of Mayan culture and see a former Mayan trade site that stands atop a cliff. A guided tour explores the main temples of “El Castillo,” the Temple of the Descendent God, the Maya Water Temple, and the Temple of the Frescoes.
  • Adventure Jeep, Snorkel & Anemona Beach Club: The natural beauty of Mexico’s east coast is on full display during this tour. Punta Sur Ecological Park is the largest nature reserve in Cozumel. It includes Anemona de Mar Beach Club, one of the most exclusive, secluded and untouched beaches located in the natural reserve as well as a visit to the Celarain Lighthouse – a picturesque place that provides the perfect backdrop for a tequila tasting session.
  • Tabasco’s Chef Maestro, Cooking & Tasting: Guests learn the secrets of traditional Mexican regional cuisine as they prepare a delicious three-course meal under the guidance of a master chef. Along with the meal, guests also learn how to prepare a perfect margarita.
  • Amazing Secret River: One of the Cozumel region’s most unique natural treasures is a series of caverns connected by underground waterways called the Rio Secreto Natural Reserve. Guests are guided through a subterranean world to marvel at natural formations as they wade through the many caverns and swim in the crystal-clear cenote.
  • Xcaret Park: Thanks to its privileged location next to the Caribbean Sea in the Mayan jungle among underground rivers and cenotes, Xcaret Park offers a wide variety of different activities for guests to enjoy. From the aviary that provides sanctuary to more than 1,500 native birds to the underground Blue, Manatee and Mayan rivers and the aquarium that showcases the richness of Mexico’s coral reefs, Xcaret Park and attractions honor Mexico’s natural wonders and the wildlife that inhabit them.

Carnival Venezia receives iconic livery with a twist

• With the debut of Carnival Cruise Line’s “Fun Italian Style” offering only weeks away, Carnival Venezia is showing off her new hull livery, but with a nod to the ship’s Costa Cruises roots, the red stripe on the hull has been painted yellow and will correspond with the yellow on the ship’s funnel.
• The unique take on the Carnival livery is just the beginning of what the ship holds in store for its guests, who will experience fun influenced by the ship’s Italian design with the same warm hospitality Carnival is known for fleetwide.
• Once Carnival Venezia’s enhancement project is completed in Spain, the ship will embark guests on a 15-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic sailing May 29, 2023 from Barcelona and arrive to her new home at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.  The ship’s first cruise from New York – a four-day cruise to Bermuda – is set for June 15, 2023.
• The ship accommodates more than 5,000 guests and will offer 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries.

Viking doubles capacity for second season in North America’s Great Lakes

• The Viking Polaris Makes Her Great Lakes Debut in Toronto, Joining the Viking Octantis
• Viking today is celebrating the start of its second season in the Great Lakes, as the new purpose-built Viking Polaris arrived in Toronto for her first port of call in the region. The Viking Polaris joins her identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis, which began sailing in the Great Lakes for the 2022 season and returned to the region in April 2023. With two 378-guest expedition vessels now in the region, Viking has doubled its capacity in the Great Lakes for 2023. The ships will remain in the Great Lakes through September 2023, sailing all five lakes and a variety of itineraries that operate between Toronto and Duluth.

AIDA Cruises expands the use of shore power

• Thanks to the growing shore power infrastructure in Northern Europe, AIDA Cruises has reached another milestone on its decarbonization path. With AIDAsol, the first cruise ship in the AIDA fleet could already be connected to shore-side facilities in four out of five ports during its voyage from April 16 to 21, 2023, in Rostock-Warnemünde, Aarhus (Denmark), Kristiansand (Norway) and Hamburg.
• AIDAsol’s voyage started with a premiere in Rostock-Warnemünde last Sunday, April 16, 2023. During a double call, AIDAmar and AIDAsol were the first two cruise ships to be supplied simultaneously with green energy on the same day in a German port.
• Another premiere followed just one day later: In Aarhus, Denmark, AIDAsol was the first cruise ship to conduct shore-side and shipboard integration tests on the newly built facility. The official opening of Denmark’s first shore power plant for cruise ships is scheduled for later this year.
• Also during the voyage, AIDAsol was successfully supplied with energy from shore during its stop in Kristiansand, Norway, as it was already in 2022.
• This Friday morning, AIDAsol arrived in Hamburg, her home port for this year’s summer season. Shortly after docking at the Cruise Center Altona, the ship was connected to Europe’s first shore power plant for cruise ships and switched off its main engines.