Gin cruise returns

• Off the back of a highly successful inaugural partnership in 2022, award-winning premium cruise line Celebrity Cruises, and Australia’s leading craft distillery Four Pillars Gin are back, serving up a new range of gin-inspired experiences for guests cruising on Celebrity Edge for its down under 2023-24 season debut.
• Year two of the partnership sees new and exciting offerings including a limited-edition Celebrity Cruises x Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin, as well as a new Celebrity Cruises signature cocktail available onboard Celebrity Edge. Guests will be able to take in the stunning coastlines of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, while sipping on their favourite gin cocktail, available at all 11 bars and lounges onboard.
• Offering the ultimate gin-spired holiday, travellers on the six-night sail to Tasmania, departing Sydney on 7 March 2024, will be hosted by Four Pillars Ambassador Lizzie Willans, marking Celebrity Cruises’ second gin-focused sailing. Pairing two award-winning trailblazers in the food and drinks space, culinary-curious travellers will have the opportunity to refine their palate with exclusive gin tasting and food pairing experiences designed to enhance guests’ knowledge, appreciation and love of gin.
• Taking guests experience to the Edge, highlights of the Celebrity Edge six-night gin-centric itinerary include:
  • An Introduction to Gin with Australia’s Best, Four Pillars – an exclusive gin tasting experience accompanied by an intimate Q&A session with Four Pillars Brand Ambassador, Lizzie Willans, discovering the story behind the brand and method of making their signature, award-winning gins.
  • Four Courses, Four Cocktails, Four Pillars – a four course, gin cocktail-paired dining experience.
  • Back for a second year by popular demand, Four Pillars Gin & Tasmanian Oyster Evening – pairing Tassie’s freshest produce with gin
  • Four Pillars Cocktail & Chocolate Masterclass
  • The Four Pillars of Martinis – a cocktail ‘mini-martini’ masterclass so guests can create the perfect serve at home long after their holiday.
• This sailing is one of 12 bespoke itineraries available to book onboard the award-winning resort at sea,

Holland America Line Completes Shore Power Connectivity Installation Across Fleet

• With the completion of shore power installation on Volendam, Holland America Line’s entire fleet is now shore power-capable. Volendam completed installation in Vancouver, British Columbia, and connected to the port’s shoreside electricity for the first full day on Sept. 27.
• The cruise line began converting ships to have shore power connectivity in 2006 with its four Vista Class ships; its Pinnacle Class ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) all were built with shore power systems installed, and the Signature Class ships (Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam) were launched with a partial installation that has since been completed.
• As a part of its sustainability initiatives, Holland America Line uses shore power, also referred to as cold ironing, to sreduce emissions and noise in port. Shore power works by plugging the ship into a dockside source, and the power source enables the ship to run all electrical equipment on board without using the ship’s engines. Holland America Line can connect in more than 18 ports worldwide, with more than 25 additional ports actively constructing shore power facilities or investigating the option to do so.
• Ports that Holland America Line ships visit with shore power include Juneau, Alaska; New York; San Francisco and San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver, Canada; Bergen, Ålesund and Kristiansand, Norway; Kiel, Germany; and Shanghai and Xiamen, China. In 2024, the port of Rotterdam is expected to be shore-power ready, allowing Holland America Line ships to connect in another of its major ports

Holland America Line Launches Global Fresh Fish Program and Names Chef Masaharu Morimoto as its ‘Fresh Fish Ambassador’

• Holland America Line is taking its cuisine beyond the plate and further innovating its award-winning dining experience by launching a new, global fresh fish program. The pioneering initiative engages a global network of 60 ports to source and serve 80 types of fresh fish on board in all restaurants, going from port to plate in less than 48 hours.
• After becoming the first cruise line to serve 100% fresh, certified sustainable Alaska seafood on board its ships in Alaska, Holland America Line is now taking fresh fish worldwide. Under the new program, the cruise line will offer guests fresh fish and ingredients native to various regions, yielding destination-inspired menus and local specialties that tell the story of each itinerary through cuisine.
• The program also includes daily fresh fish specials and a planned expansion of the cruise line’s “Savor My Catch” excursion where guests can catch fish that is then prepared and served by chefs on board — all with engaging world-renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto to serve as Holland America Line’s “Fresh Fish Ambassador.” Chef Morimoto brings his signature style to curated dishes served in the ships’ Dining Rooms this fall, as well as in a new pop-up restaurant available fleetwide by early 2024. Morimoto’s dishes and all seafood dishes served across Holland America Line dining venues will be sourced and prepared as part of the global fresh fish program.
• Chef Morimoto’s creations are being crafted for the cruise line’s main Dining Room menus starting this week and will be available for a supplemental charge fleetwide by early October. Menu additions include “Fresh Black Cod Yuzu,” “Morimoto Epice Lobster Tails” and “Fresh Halibut XO.”
• ‘Morimoto by Sea’ Pop-Up to be Featured on Every Ship
• Beginning in November, Holland America Line guests can indulge in a full Chef Morimoto experience with an exclusive pop-up restaurant: “Morimoto by Sea.” The restaurant and its menu of artfully presented dishes and beverages will take over Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill, depending on the ship, at least once per cruise. Offered to guests for a $55 per person cover charge, the experience will include a multi-course menu, along with vegetarian and vegan selections.
• An evening at “Morimoto by Sea” is a multi-course dinner that celebrates the fresh fish program with inspired cuisine for a broad range of palates. “Morimoto by Sea” also showcases Chef Morimoto’s exclusive alcoholic beverages including Morimoto Brut Rosé and Sake Junmai Morimoto that complement his fresh dishes. The pop-up restaurant will be open fleetwide by early 2024.

Japan shines for princess through to 2025

• In response to increasing demand for cruises in Japan – one of the hottest trends in travel – Princess Cruises has released its 2025 Japan cruise season. The newly announced 2025 Japan cruise season offers travellers the wonders of this island nation where ancient traditions and modernity co-exist in harmony.
• From ancient temples and storied castles to bustling markets and breathtaking gardens, cruisers experience the best of Japan with Princess in 2025 on 35 cruises ranging in length from seven- to 22-day. The March through August season features Japan-built Diamond Princess sailing from Tokyo (Yokohama) to 36 destinations in 3 countries with the #1 North American Cruise Line in Japan. The season is now on sale.
• 2025 Itinerary Highlights:
  • 10-day and NEW 11-day Spring Flowers cruises in March and April, cruising to all four main islands and following the predicted blooming season as it moves from south to north.
  • 9-day Southern Islands itineraries with two calls to the Okinawan islands and two calls to Taiwan, including a return to Hualien.
  • 9-day and 10-day Sea of Japan voyages that feature ports along the historic Kitamaebune trading route.
  • 10-day Hokkaido voyages that visit Otaru (for Sapporo), Hakodate, and Kushiro.
  • 10-day Japan Explorer voyages that call to some of the country’s most iconic destinations like Shimizu (for Mt. Fuji), Osaka or Kobe (for Kyoto), Hiroshima, and more.
  • Scenic cruising of the Kanmon Straits, the stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu.
• Festivals:
• Traditional Japanese summer festivals take place throughout the country in the summer, especially in August. Guests sailing to Japan with Princess in 2025 will have the chance to enjoy four of these unique festivals:
  • Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2 and 7)
  • Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival (August 12)
  • Tokushima Awa Dance Festival (August 13)
  • Kumano Fireworks Festival (August 17)

Vegan menu expands across the carnival fleet

• Building on a fleetwide initiative to add even more options for guests in its dining rooms, Carnival Cruise Line is introducing new vegan menus, that have just been added on board Carnival Freedom in Port Canaveral and Carnival Horizon. Going forward, the new vegan menus will be implemented fleetwide in a phased approach through the end of year.
• At each meal in the ships’ dining rooms, the new vegan menus will offer a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts that are entirely vegan. Carnival chefs created recipes for each menu item to be prepared without the use of animal products, and the proteins included are made from meat substitutes.
• Options guests will find featured on the new vegan menus include:
• Appetizers
  • Hawaiian Salmon Poke – a refreshing starter that combines plant-based salmon, edamame, mango and cucumber.
  • Stuffed Mushrooms – four fried mushrooms, stuffed with delicious plant-based cheeses and spinach.
  • Spaghetti Carbonara – a flavourful pasta with vegan bacon, onion and garlic, this dish can be ordered as a starter or entrée.
• Entrees
  • Grilled Tofu Steak – a savory tofu steak covered in honey barbecue sauce, accompanied by a Hasselback potato and mixed vegetables.
  • Baked Vegetable Au Gratin – a medley of mixed vegetables, combined with vol-au-vent and sprinkled with melted plant-based cheeses.
  • Eggplant Cutlet a la Parmigiana – a tasty entrée, covered in savoury vegan mozzarella, topped with pesto and basil leaves.
• Desserts
  • Key Lime Velvet Cake – a fruity spin on the classic key lime pie, this cake combines flavours of citrus with raspberry and strawberry.
  • Dutch Double Chocolate Pave – with alternating layers of cake and buttercream frosting, this dessert is a chocolate lover’s dream.
  • Cappuccino Pot de Créme – a treat with coffee Flavors, surrounding cinnamon crème Chantilly.
• The new vegan-specific menus will be introduced throughout the fall. The new offerings were already piloted on Carnival Magic. Carnival Dream will be the next ship to implement the menus and by the end of this month, guests will be able to order from the menus on Carnival Valor, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama and Mardi Gras. Next, the new vegan menus will become available on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Glory, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Elation by the end of October. Carnival Paradise and Carnival Spirit will introduce the menus by the end of November and Carnival Legend, Carnival Venezia and the new Carnival Jubilee follow before the end of December

P&O Cruises & Cunard improve Wi-Fi connectivity on board with the roll out of SpaceX’s Starlink

• P&O Cruises and Cunard are improving Wi-Fi connectivity and bandwidth across the fleet with the roll out of SpaceX’s Starlink.
• Starlink, the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology will provide guests with greater capacity across P&O Cruises and Cunard ships, allowing for sharing photos and videos, streaming films and enjoying other content on board at even faster speeds.
• The roll-out of Starlink on P&O Cruises and Cunard ships began in June 2023, with the service due to be available in both public spaces and cabins on Cunard ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth by the end of 2023. Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne will launch with the service in May 2024.
• P&O Cruises ships Britannia and Azura have introduced Starlink to the public spaces on board and it will be available in both public spaces and cabins on Arvia, Iona, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora by the end of 2023.

The 1,800-Piece Art Collection Aboard Silver Nova

• Comprising approximately 1,800 pieces by 59 artists from 25 countries, the art collection of Silver Nova® is the largest of any ship in the history of Silversea®, meticulously curated to illuminate a new way of sensing, being, and discovering. Taking guests on a visual journey that sparks curiosity and stimulates their desire for exploration, the art program brings together an international collection of works — most of which were commissioned for specific locations aboard Silver Nova to complement the ship’s many architectural innovations.
• ICArt, an international art consultancy that has specialized in creating unique art experiences for over three decades, curated Silver Nova’s art collection with great thoughtfulness, sourcing over 1,250 framed artworks, 9 installations, 8 sculptures, and more – including intriguing and storied antiques, Murano glass vases, and artistic books.
• Highlights of Silver Nova’s extensive art collection include:
• THE MESSINA COLLECTION: 38 BRONZE SCULPTURES – The Messina collection comprises 38 bronze sculptures by famed Italian sculptor Francesco Messina, in the classic 20th century Novecento style. Silversea acquired the collection in 2006 and 14 important pieces have come together for the first time aboard Silver Nova. One of the collection’s most noteworthy sculptures is the 4.5-foot-tall (1.37m) ‘Scuola di Danza’ — translated as ‘School of Dance’ — which depicts a ballerina who welcomes guests with open arms on deck 2.
• SUITE CORRIDORS: A DIALOGUE BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT – The artistic direction for the suite corridors continues the exploration of history, culture, and nature found throughout the staircases. Photography by long-term Silversea ambassador Steve McCurry in key focal points, alongside a myriad of maps from the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum — considered the first true modern atlas — creates a dialogue between past and present, inviting guests on a journey through time. Each suite corridor, from deck 6 to deck 9, focuses on a distinct geographical region: deck 6, Europe; deck 7, Asia; deck 8, Africa; and deck 9, the Americas.
• OTIVM℠: ROMAN-INSPIRED ARTISTRY – Paying testament to Silversea’s Otium wellness program, which enhances the onboard experience for guests, Roman-inspired artworks decorate the Otium Spa and the two Otium suites (five pieces in each suite) aboard Silver Nova. Venus Fragmentée #2, for example – a Romanesque bust in plaster, by artist Marina Mankarios – sits on a plinth at the entrance to the Otium Spa. In Roman culture, Otium — the opposite of negotium, the nonexistence of pleasure — was an indulgent period of time dedicated to leisure, in which people bathed, conversed, theorized, drank, ate, and relaxed.
• THE LIBRARY: A DREAMY LOOK AT THE SEA AND SKY – In the concealed Library on deck 10, Albanian artist Artur Sula has created an arresting mural on the ceiling, inviting visitors to survey the sea and look deep into the constellations of the night’s sky. The work, covering 280 square feet, was hand-painted in place and highlighted using 24K gold leaf.