MARITIME HISTORY

• Chris discusses the current and previous ships of the P&O Australia Fleet from the early days fo Fairstar through to the latest ships to join the fleet Pacific Encounter & Adventure

CRUISE NEWS

• Holland America Line (HAL) celebrated its 148th anniversary last Sun.
  • The mainstays of the cruise line’s business throughout the 19th century were transportation and shipping, before HAL offered its first vacation cruise in 1895. Today, the cruise line operates 10 ships that visit more than 500 ports across all seven continents.
• Holland America Line Introduces ‘Have It All’ Premium Package
  • For travellers who appreciate taking an inclusive vacation with extra amenities factored upfront into the price, Holland America Line is launching a new “Have It All” premium package that includes shore excursions, beverages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi in one base cruise fare.
  • Available year-round on all itineraries six days or longer except Grand Voyages, “Have It All” is valued at $99 per guest, per day, for a seven-day cruise, and “Have it All” cruise fares represent incredible savings of 50% or more off the included amenities compared to purchasing them individually. “Have it All” fares will be available for booking April 21, 2021.
    • Cruises of 6 to 9 days:
      • One shore excursion up to $100 value or $100 off any one tour for all guests in a stateroom. Choose from among thousands of tours all over the world – from active ziplining adventures to immersive, historical explorations.
      • Signature Beverage Package for all guests in a stateroom. Enjoy a large selection of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soda, coffee and more. Up to 15 drinks per day allowed, and bar service charges are included.
      • One night award-winning specialty dining for all guests in a stateroom. Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, while Tamarind showcases the traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with sensuous flavors and dishes. Canaletto is a relaxed venue that serves authentic Italian cuisine. Ships with Tamarind receive one night at Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill. Ships without Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill or Canaletto.
      • A Wi-Fi package for the first and second guests in a stateroom
    • Cruises of 10 to 20 days:
      • All of the extras included in the package for six- to nine-day cruises, PLUS an additional $100 shore excursion or tour credit ($200 per guest total).
      • Two nights specialty dining: ships with Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Tamarind. Ships without Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto.
    • Cruises of 21+ days (excluding Grand Voyages):
      • All of the extras included in the package for 10- to 20-day cruises, PLUS an additional $100 shore excursion or tour credit ($300 per guest total).
      • Three nights specialty dining: Ships with Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill, one night at Tamarind and one night at Canaletto. Ships without Tamarind receive two nights at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto.
• Seabourn, Barbados Partnering To Launch Summer Luxury Cruises From July 2021
  • Seabourn, together with the Government of Barbados, is developing plans to restart guest sailings on a second ship through a series of new summer voyages operating round-trip out of Bridgetown, Barbados, beginning on July 18, 2021.
  • The brand also previously announced plans to resume guest operations in Greece aboard Seabourn Ovation starting July 3. More details on those plans are available here.
  • Seabourn Odyssey will operate 7-day cruises from Barbados to Southern Caribbean destinations, including idyllic ports of call in Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Kitts. The voyages are open for booking on April 21. Guests can also choose a 14-day option, which combines the two distinct 7-day itineraries between Windward and Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Previously released itineraries for Fall 2021 sailings include additional port calls in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
  • The itineraries include unique Seabourn experiences that become highlights of every traveller’s trip. The “Caviar in the Surf” at Carambola Beach has become a perennial favourite, allowing guests to enjoy beautiful beaches while Seabourn team members wade through turquoise water to serve chilled caviar and Champagne.
• Silversea announces restart of cruising
  • With demand at an all-time high, Silversea Cruises today opened sales on brand new voyages aboard Silver Moon to the Eastern Mediterranean, departing from Greece from June 18, 2021. The leading ultra-luxury cruise line unveiled a collection of nine voyages—each 10 days in length—which will sail round-trip from Piraeus (Athens), taking in many of Greece’s most beautiful destinations, such as Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, and Crete, among others, as well as Haifa (Israel) and Cyprus
• Viking takes delivery of Venus
  • Viking® announced it took delivery of Viking Venus®, the company’s newest ocean ship. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. Viking Venus will now make her way to the United Kingdom, where she will be officially named on May 17, 2021 by her ceremonial godmother, Anne Diamond, the esteemed British journalist and broadcaster. The ship will then sail spring and summer departures of the England’s Scenic Shores itinerary.
• Aida to commence cruises from Greece May 2021
  • Aida Cruises today announced it will offer new cruises in Greece from May 23, 2021, with 7-day cruises departing from Corfu and traveling through the Greek islands to Crete and Rhodes, as well as to Katakolon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens). Guests can also enjoy the amenities on board with multiple restaurants, bars, cultural activities and sports facilities, as well as organized shore excursions to explore the ports of call.
  • Greece is one of the most popular vacation destinations for German travelers. From May 14, 2021, the Mediterranean country will reopen for tourism from May 14. Its turquoise waters, fascinating culture, unique Greek flair and more make a vacation in this country so attractive.
• MSC updates 2021 Summer deployment
  • Three ships in the West Mediterranean, calling Italy and Malta  
    • • MSC Grandiosa will initially extend her current 7-night itinerary, calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Naples, Palermo as well as Valletta, Malta. The Spanish ports of Valencia and Barcelona will be added to the ship’s current itinerary as soon as these destinations confirm their availability.
      • MSC Seaside will commence sailing on 1 May from Genoa calling at the newly introduced ports of Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia, as well as Civitavecchia for Rome and Valetta in Malta. The ship’s itinerary will then be enriched with calls to the French port of Marseille as soon as its availability is confirmed.
      • Regarding MSC Seaside, in addition to the range of protected excursions developed for this itinerary MSC Cruises will introduce a special private beach experience in Taranto, exclusively for the ship’ guests. A day out at the beach is an important part of a summer holiday so now guests on MSC Seaside will be able to relax on the sandy beach next to the clear waters of the Ionian Sea.
      • MSC Seashore at the end of July will join the MSC Cruises fleet to become its new flagship and from 1 August until 31 October will offer 7-night cruises calling the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.

• • Three ships in the East Mediterranean, calling Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro
    • • MSC Cruises will deploy three ships in this ever-popular region for the upcoming summer season offering a range of different itineraries in the East Mediterranean, offering ports of embarkation in Italy from Trieste, Venice and Bari as well as Piraeus for Athens in Greece, calling at some of the most beautiful Greek Islands, Kotor in Montenegro as well as the vibrant ports of Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia.
      • MSC Orchestra will now depart on 5 June offering guests embarkation in the Italian ports of Venice on Saturdays, Bari on Sundays and then call at the Greek Islands of Corfu, Mykonos as well as Dubrovnik in Croatia.
      • MSC Splendida will commence sailing from 12 June with embarkation in Trieste, Italy on Saturdays and in Bari on Tuesdays, calling at Dubrovnik in Croatia, Corfu in Greece and Kotor in Montenegro.
      • Rounding out the offering in the East Mediterranean is MSC Magnifica from 20 June with embarkation in the Italian ports of Venice on Sundays, Bari on Mondays and Piraeus for Athens on Wednesdays, then calling at the Greek Island of Mykonos and Split, Croatia.
  • UK Domestic Cruises
    • From 20 May, the line’s flagship MSC Virtuosa will perform her inaugural season in the UK and offer mini cruises from Southampton calling at Portland in Dorset on the Jurassic coast. From 12 June she will operate 7-night cruises from Southampton with embarkation in Liverpool, Greenock for Glasgow and also calling at Portland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. These cruises are designed for British residents only. The sailings are open to vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests and all guests will be tested prior to embarkation.
• Germany, Northern Europe
  • • In Germany, considering the current uncertainty regarding the timing for the reopening of local ports, MSC Cruises ships must delay the start of their summer season out of the country’s ports until 15 June.
    • At the same time, MSC Cruises today announced that MSC Seaview will homeport in Kiel, Germany starting on 19 June replacing MSC Virtuosa.
    • Additionally, MSC Preziosa is planned to depart on 21 June from Hamburg, Germany and MSC Musica on 20 June from Warnemunde, Germany, if the German ports are open.
    • The three ships are planned to serve 7- and longer nights sailings with itineraries either to the Norwegian fjords or the Baltic capitals, as per their current schedule.
• MSC Cruises signs landmark agreement with Cruise Saudi to bring its ships to Saudi Arabian waters
  • Line to deploy MSC Magnifica and MSC Virtuosa to the region, two of its most innovative and modern ships
  • Under the terms of the agreement, MSC Magnifica will homeport in Jeddah, the commercial hub and one of the largest cities of Saudi Arabia, as well as the second-largest port in the Middle East with a historical centre that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Operating seven-day Red Sea cruises from November 2021 to March 2022, the vessel will visit a selection of ports and destinations in the region and three Saudi ports including weekly calls to the port of AlWajh, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of AlUla.
  • As the Kingdom prepares to host the inaugural Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on 5 December in Jeddah, MSC Magnifica guests will have the chance to follow this exciting global sports event during their trip aboard MSC Magnifica.
  • In addition to MSC Magnifica’s Red Sea sailings, MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC Virtuosa will see her winter 2021 programme in the Arabian Gulf enriched with calls in the port of Dammam, visiting AlAhsa oasis, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • MSC Virtuosa will call at this new exciting destination every week from December 2021 to March 2022.
  • Move marks milestone in positioning Saudi Arabia as premier global cruise destination. The two companies expect a total of up to 170,000 guests to explore Saudi Arabia’s historical, cultural and natural treasures on board the two MSC Cruises ships during the upcoming winter 2021/22 season
• Hurtigruten Expeditions Donates 1% of each Alaskan Booking During Earth Week to Protect Alaskan Wildlife
  • Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel and advocate for sustainable travel, is launching a sale for Earth Week to allow more Americans to discover some of the most unique places on Earth, while its Hurtigruten Foundation will donate to support Alaskan wildland. The Foundation will donate 1% of the total cost of each Alaskan cruise sold during Earth Week to Alaska Wilderness League, which will help protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, located in Alaska’s northeast corner, as well as other wildlife reserves. Comprising 19.6 million acres of wildland, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest unit in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
  • Earth Week, April 19 to 26, 2021
• Oceania launches Virtual Experiences Platform.
  • Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line, has launched the Oceania Cruises Virtual Experience, an interactive platform designed to showcase the brand’s unique points of difference and inspire guests to book their next cruise.
  • Featuring a stunning collection of specially curated content and inspirational videos presented by Jason Worth, Vice President Australia and New Zealand at Oceania Cruises, users can learn about the line’s award-winning culinary offering, destination-rich itineraries, fleet of small, luxurious ships and generous amenities’ packages and inclusions.
• Cunard announces 2022 Event Voyages
  • Music, Literature, Theatre and new Art & Design themed Transatlantic Crossing take Centre Stage on flagship Queen Mary 2, and sister ship Queen Elizabeth
  • Luxury cruise line Cunard announced its 2022 line-up of Event Voyages, offering a rich and compelling variety of themes on board flagship liner Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth. Welcoming back guest favorites including the Literature Festival at Sea in partnership with Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Times and The Sunday Times; and much-loved Anthony Inglis and the UK National Symphony of Orchestra, Cunard also introduces the line’s first Art & Design Week, and Beatles and Beyond: Celebrating the Best of British. Also joining the roster is the highly anticipated London Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards.
  • Here’s a taster of what to expect:
    • 15-22 May 2022, Queen Mary 2: London Theatre at Sea, with the Olivier Awards: This eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, created in partnership with Society of London Theatre, will showcase Olivier award-winning talent, both on and off the stage. This Event Voyage will feature spectacular performances and an illustrious line-up of guests in conversation about their careers, as well as talks on productions, how they are produced, and the theatres themselves
      • Highlights include a dazzling show with the stars in the Royal Court Theatre in a production looking back at the last 45 years of the Olivier Awards; an immersive workshop about the secrets and techniques of putting on a production; and dance classes lead by world class choreographers.
    • 8-17 May 2022, Queen Elizabeth: Beatles and Beyond:  Queen Elizabeth will sail a nine-night roundtrip voyage departing Tokyo, tracing the shores of Japan and South Korea, and play host to Cunard’s first ever Beatles and Beyond: Celebrating the Best of British voyage.  Through music, film, tastings and demonstrations, the sailing will celebrate beloved aspects of British culture, culminating in a spectacular finale in the Royal Court Theatre by the superb Bootleg Beatles, the world’s leading Beatles tribute band.
    • 28 August-4 September 2022, Queen Mary 2: Art & Design Week: Cunard’s first ever Art & Design Week is a one-of-a-kind experience that will take guests on a journey celebrating the best of design, past, present and future. Unmissable insights, expert-led masterclasses and special on board exhibitions promise to inspire the inner creative life of those who participate. In addition, guests will have an exclusive opportunity to hear from creative influencers at the forefront of design for Cunard’s newest ship.
    • 25 October-1 November 2022, Queen Mary 2: Anthony Inglis and the UK’s National Symphony Orchestra: A regular favorite in the Cunard calendar, the UK’s National Symphony Orchestra sets sail again with Maestro Anthony Inglis leading the ensemble in memorable orchestral performances in the Royal Court Theatre.  Guests will enjoy an evening of all-American music, including Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” after departing New York; and an evening celebrating the best of British music before arriving into Southampton. Charismatic conductor Inglis leads the audience, guest choir, soloists and orchestra in both concerts, as well as presenting another afternoon concert featuring Ravel’s “Bolero.”
      • “The annual Transatlantic Crossing by the National Symphony Orchestra and myself is keenly looked forward to by the musicians, as much as the guests on board the magnificent liner, Queen Mary 2,” said Anthony Inglis. “After the year we have all had, the orchestra and I have decided that we need a huge celebration in 2022, not only on behalf of the ship and her wonderful crew, but also the guests we have all missed. Therefore, I have planned some exciting surprises, which will be both hugely challenging and equally rewarding. We look forward to welcoming guests for a gigantic, seven-night party with an orchestra playing some favourite classical pieces of music, a choir made up of the guests, plus many other entertaining events as we cross the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Southampton.”
    • 3-10 December 2022, Queen Mary 2: Literature Festival at Sea in partnership with Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Times and The Sunday Times:  This extraordinary eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, crafted by the programming team of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, will offer book lovers the opportunity to join some of the best-loved authors, historians, poets, and critics, as well as journalists from The Times and The Sunday Times, to bring the spirit of the Festival to the voyage.

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