Oceania Vista officially named and christened

• Oceania Cruises’ leadership team including Founder Frank Del Rio, stood alongside celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis – God Mother, as they christened our highly anticipated first Allura Class ship, Vista. Being the first new ship to our fleet in over a decade, the 67,000 tonne masterpiece was everything and more that staff, crew, guests and travel partners alike could have imagined. If you missed the live event, click the link below to watch the recording of the christening, including the bottle-breaking ceremony.
• https://vimeo.com/826284546/9062172fd6?share=copy

Carnival Ship Helps Group After Boat Capsizes

• Carnival Dream’s crew helped rescue 17 people stranded in the Belize Channel Wednesday, after the group’s boat capsized. Carnival Dream was heading for Cozumel, Mexico, when the ship’s officers spotted the capsized boat and the group in distress.
• Carnival Dream Captain Francesco Fiorentino’s officers and crew immediately alerted the Belize Coast Guard, lowered one of its shipboard tenders into the water in conjunction with local Belize tenders, and helped to safely recovered all 17 people.
• Each member of the group rescued was in good condition before a transfer with the Belize Coast Guard was coordinated.
• Carnival Dream resumed its voyage, continuing on to Cozumel as scheduled. The ship departed Galveston, Tex. May 14 for a six-day sailing, and will return May 20.

Explora Journeys Announces Owner’s Residence On Board Explora I

• Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, today unveiled the design of its Owner’s Residence on board EXPLORA I, the first of up to six luxury ships. The Owner’s Residence creates the largest living space on board, featuring multiple harmonious spaces to relax, entertain and unwind while enjoying panoramic ocean views from the private outdoor terrace, extending over the full ship’s width.
• The luxurious living space spans over 280 sqm (3,014 sq ft), comprising a spacious suite area of 155 sqm (1,668 sq ft) and a 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft) outdoor terrace, complete with an infinity whirlpool and a dining table for eight guests.
• In addition, guests staying in the Owner’s Residence will enjoy roundtrip home to airport ground transfers, a complimentary pre- or post-journey hotel night, and roundtrip transfers from/to hotel and port. They will also have one private driver ashore subject to availability, and unlimited priority reservations for all culinary venues.
• The Owner’s Residence on board EXPLORA I is available for a maximum capacity of three adults or two adults and one child under 18 years old.
• The naming ceremony for EXPLORA I will take place in Civitavecchia near Rome, Italy on 8 July, followed by her Maiden Journey departing on 17 July from Southampton, UK for a 15-night sailing into Norwegian fjords and the Arctic Circle to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Swan Hellenic, Philippe Cousteau Foundation and SDG4MED Join Forces to Restore Ocean Health

• Swan Hellenic’s environmentally advanced expedition cruise ship SH Vega hosted the signing ceremony of an agreement by which Swan Hellenic, the Philippe Cousteau Foundation and SDG4MED engage to contribute jointly to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. Under the agreement, Swan Hellenic commits to provide its fleet for use as “ships of opportunity”, enabling the foundations’ scientists to gauge the health of our Blue Planet in its most remote and pristine regions, including Arctic, Antarctica and Africa coasts, where the Swan Hellenic fleet is, of course present for several months every year.
• In late 2021, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU mandated the Commission to accelerate Ocean and Water health conservation and restoration worldwide. The resulting EU Mission is a coordinated effort to pool the necessary financial, scientific and operational resources.
• The three organisations were among the first in the world to endorse the Mission Charter, which aims to create a sustainable, carbon-neutral, circular blue economy that plays a key role in achieving climate neutrality, since the oceans are major carbon sinks, protect biodiversity and foster economic prosperity, being expected to generate €2.5 trillion per year by 2030. The Mission 2030 targets include a 30% reduction in marine microplastics and the deployment of EU carbon neutral, circular blue economy communities.

Costa partners with bioLNG powered truck to supply Costa Firenze in northern Europe

• Costa Cruises has signed an agreement with LC3 Trasporti to start using bio-LNG-powered trucks to transport supplies needed by its cruise ships.
• The collaboration between the two Italian companies will officially begin on May 19, when the Costa Firenze ship will call for the first time in the port of Kiel, Germany, from where she will depart weekly until mid-September to offer seven-day cruises to the Norwegian fjords.
• The supply of goods needed by the ship, such as some types of food, beverages, and technical supplies, will be transported from Costa Cruises’ warehouses in Genoa to Kiel using LC3 Transport trucks powered by bio-LNG, the liquefied biomethane obtained by refining waste from the livestock industry.
• The use of this alternative fuel for the road transport of goods will cut CO2 emissions by almost 90 percent, and particulate emissions by almost 100 percent as compared to a conventional Euro VI diesel vehicle.

Holland America Line’s First Grand World Voyage Since 2020 Successfully Concludes after 128 Days, 57 Port Visits and 34,651 Nautical Miles

• Holland America Line’s 2023 Grand World Voyage concluded today at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 128 days after it departed from the port Jan. 3, 2023. This is the first Grand World Voyage the cruise line has operated since 2020 and the 59th since its first world cruise departed aboard Statendam Jan. 7, 1958.
• During Zuiderdam’s journey around the world, the ship visited 57 ports in 30 countries on four continents and cruised 35,651 nautical miles (39,875 land miles). Highlights included funds raised for Bernhard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia, Africa; blankets knitted by guests for Project Linus; and celebrating the company’s 150th Anniversary in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha.
• Guests Raise Funds and Knit for a Cause
• Zuiderdam guests raised $10,000 for The Bernhard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia, which was presented to the organization during the ship’s call at Walvis Bay. The BNC services approximately 150 kids in grades one through seven who come in after their school day to receive support, food, additional education and positive social interaction.
• Continuing a tradition that began more than a decade ago on the Grand World Voyage, guests made 618 blankets for Project Linus throughout the sailing. Nearly 75 blanketeers and 20 non-knitting volunteers participated in the Project Linus endeavor this year. With yarn brought on by guests, donated prior to departure and funds given by Holland America Line, guests of all knitting and crocheting abilities made blankets for children in the United States who are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need.
• Organized this year by guests Gail and Marty Gottlieb, the couple drove a U-Haul truck to Port Everglades for the start of the Grand World Voyage with one-million yards of yarn in over 40 different colors, along with hooks, needles and ball winders. The blankets will be picked up by the local South Florida chapter of Project Linus at the port.
• Themed Events and Culinary Delights
  • During the voyage, guests dressed to the nines for events that featured a Grand Masquerade, Derby Night, Casino Royale, Mardi Gras Night of Music and “Once Upon a Time.”  More than a dozen casual, themed evenings around Lido pool included a glamp out, Burgers and Beer, Grand Fair, surprise party with the ship’s team members, Biergarten Festival, “Let Them Eat Cake” and “An Evening in France.”
• 2023 Grand World Voyage Highlights and Fun Facts:
• Zuiderdam visited imaginary Null Island (0°N/S & 0°E/W) where the equator crosses the Prime Meridian and visitors became an Emerald Shellback, the rarest shellback (a sailor who has crossed the equator) designation.
  • On April 18, Antorcha visited the ship in Amsterdam during an overnight call to celebrate the company’s 150th Anniversary.
  • Guests indulged in 31,248 bottles of wine and champagne.
  • 200,606 lbs. of fresh vegetables and 173,903 lbs. of fresh fruit were consumed.
  • 40,905 fresh eggs were scrambled, poached and used as ingredients.
  • Guests drank 133,293 soft drinks.
  • The ship served nearly 200,000 lbs. of meat (beef, pork, lamb, poultry, veal).
  • Guests enjoyed 56,306 lbs. of seafood.
  • 7,793 tea bags were used to brew a cuppa, as well as 3,277 bags of coffee.
  • More than $200,000 in foreign currencies were exchanged.

New Star Princess and Sun Princess Headline 2025 Europe Cruises & Cruisetours Season as Princess Cruises Celebrates 40th Anniversary Sailing in the Mediterranean

• Princess Cruises is celebrating its 40th anniversary sailing the Mediterranean by featuring two of its newest and largest ships there in 2025 – Star Princess and Sun Princess.
• The 2025 cruises and cruisetours season offers travellers looking for the ultimate European adventure abundant natural beauty, history and traditions, combined with diverse cultures, all while enjoying a relaxed, stress-free travel experience on six beautiful Princess cruise ships: NEW! Star Princess and NEW! Sun Princess, plus Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Emerald Princess.
• Voyages aboard ships sailing out of Southampton UK (London) in 2025 – Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Emerald Princess – go on sale May 25, while sailings on Mediterranean-based ships – Star Princess (NEW), Sun Princess (NEW) and Majestic Princess go on sale June 1.
• Princess first set sail in the Mediterranean in 1985, and to celebrate the 40th anniversary the new Star Princess joins sister-ship Sun Princess in the Mediterranean for her debut season of cruising. Her maiden voyages depart August 4, 2025, sailing a nine-day Grand Mediterranean voyage to Italy and Greece roundtrip from Rome, followed by a variety of 10-day cruises, also roundtrip from Rome, that visit iconic destinations such as Florence, Barcelona and Mykonos.
• Both of the cruise line’s newest ships offer next-generation features, host 4,300 guests, offer more than 1,500 balconies and 29 restaurants and bars throughout 21 decks. Their ground-breaking design centres on a glass sphere that infuses the Piazza with light and connects guests with dynamic views of the world. Another standout venue is The Dome, a cutting-edge top-deck entertainment space inspired by the tiered cliffs of Santorini.