MARITIME HISTORY

• Celeste asks “My late uncle worked on a multi-use ship that I think delivered mail, supplies and passengers to a small island (St Helena) in the South Atlantic. What do you know of this ship and service?

CRUISE NEWS

• Australian Minister for Tourism Dan Tehan has come out strongly in favour of a resumption of cruising, saying consumers should have no hesitation in making bookings. “The cruise industry has done a lot of work to make sure that cruising now is COVID-safe,” Tehan “They’ve put protocols in place, so people should be confident to be able to go and book cruises.” The Australian Government’s official Human Biosecurity Emergency Period, is currently in place for about six more weeks, after being extended until 17 Mar by Minister for Health Greg Hunt. However at the time he announced the extension, Hunt confirmed the government was working closely with the industry to “develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk”.
• Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas’ Singapore season has been extended until Jun. Quantum will remain in Singapore for at least another four months, following the success of its safe cruises pilot program. Now available for bookings for local residents only, the two-, three and four-night Ocean Getaways will continue to operate with mandatory coronavirus testing, reduced sailing capacity and strict physical distancing measures. Likewise, Dream Cruises, which is also successfully operating highly popular COVIDsafe voyages out of the Lion City and a similar program in Taiwan.
• MSC Cruises has revealed details about its futuristic MSC Starship Club featuring Rob, the first-ever humanoid, robotic bartender at sea. The MSC Starship Club will be exclusively available onboard the line’s newest flagship MSC Virtuosa, which will be in service from Apr. 16, 2021. “This integrated bar and entertainment experience … includes 3D holograms, an immersive digital art wall and a 12-seater infinity digital interactive table, giving guests the possibility to explore space with their own personalized galactic tour,” the cruise line wrote. Preparing drinks is not Rob’s only talent. He can speak an impressive eight languages – English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese – according to the language chosen when the guest makes the order.
• Keel Laid for New Saga River Ship, Spirit of the Danube – The keel laying ceremony was held at Vahali’s shipyard in Serbia for Saga’s new river ship, the Spirit of the Danube. As per tradition, a lucky penny was laid and will become embedded into the first piece of hull marking the start of construction. The Spirit of the Danube will have the capacity for 190 guests onboard when it departs on its inaugural cruise from Amsterdam. Once launched, Spirit of the Danube will join Saga’s first river cruise ship, the Spirit of the Rhine, which is currently preparing for its inaugural cruise in May 2021. Saga previously announced that it will require all its guests to be fully vaccinated before traveling
• Swan Hellenic announced the keel laying of SH Vega, the second of three purpose-designed ice-class expedition cruise ships that Helsinki Shipyard is building for the iconic cultural expedition cruise pioneer. Named after the first vessel to navigate the Arctic Northeast Passage, the elegant new ship represents the next generation of polar expedition vessels, having been designed for worldwide cruising with a strong focus on high-latitude areas. SH Vega will feature a 5-megawatt diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, 3-megawatt max. battery package and PC5 ice-strengthened hull. At 113 m, the 10,500-ton vessel has been specially designed to explore the most inaccessible and inspiring places in the world. Providing uncompromising 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Vega will be operated by an onboard team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service. SH Minerva, the first ship in the series, will be delivered in November 2021, while Vega is due early the following year. The third vessel, which will be somewhat larger than her sisters, is scheduled for delivery just months later, towards the end of 2022.

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