P&O AU & Princess extend AU cruise pause

• P&O Australia has cancelled its cruise holidays through 17 Dec, and Princess through 19 Dec, with both brands citing ongoing uncertainty around a pathway to resumption in the country.

RCI delays final payment date

• Royal Caribbean International has suspended the final payment due date for its Australian cruises.
• The cruise line took similar action with Alaska cruises earlier this year, continuing to push back the final payment date until cruises got the go-ahead.
• However, with Australian Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt earlier this month extending the human biosecurity emergency period until 17 Sep, it is unclear how RCI’s move will affect its scheduled summer season.

Azamara pulls out of Australia for 2021

• Azamara Cruises is the latest international operator to suspend its upcoming Australasian summer season, this morning confirming the “difficult decision to replace many sailings between Sep 2021-May 2022 due to the ongoing complexities of cruise operations in Latin America and Australia”.
• The move has seen the cancellation of 13 Azamara Journey voyages, including operations in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Japan and Asia. Azamara has also cancelled Azamara Pursuit voyages until Jan.

P&O Cruises welcomed first guests in 15 months as Britannia sets sail

• The first guests in 15 months were welcomed by P&O Cruises, Sunday June 27, 2021, as Britannia departed Southampton for a four night summer sailing around the UK coast to where the sun shines brightest.
• P&O Cruises ships anchored locally, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora, and those of sister brand Cunard, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, celebrated the occasion with a horn-sounding departure salute as Britannia left the Port of Southampton at 6pm and sailed down the Solent.
• Britannia will sail a series of three, four and seven night UK coastal cruises until September 25, 2021 when western Mediterranean itineraries will commence prior to her winter Caribbean season.
• Iona’s maiden voyage will be on August 7, 2021 and she will then sail weekly seven night scenic coastal cruises, before beginning Atlantic coast holidays

Captain Kate welcomes guests back to Celebrity Edge

• On 26 June Celebrity Edge set sail on a new-luxury experience that will – once again – feed peoples’ love of travel.” as the exquisite Celebrity Edge prepared to sail from Ft. Lauderdale at 6.00pm ET, becoming the first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in more than a year.
• What seems only fitting, now, 15 months after being at the helm of history for the first all-female bridge and officer team sailing in March 2020 and the last sailing before the industry was put on pause, Captain Kate McCue, the first and still only American female to captain a major cruise ship, now leads the fleet – and the industry – back into operation from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. The ship set sails for Mexico and the Bahamas.

Crystal Expedition Cruises Christens Crystal Endeavor

• Crystal Expedition Cruises officially welcomed its new 20,200 GRT luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor to the Crystal fleet as the ship was christened by Godmother Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Stralsund, Germany.
• Inaugural Voyages, Iceland, the Arctic Circle and Europe
• As the first and only true luxury expedition yacht to restart cruising in the Arctic and Northern Europe, Crystal Endeavor will set sail beginning July 17 with five 10-night immersive voyages circumnavigating Iceland’s most dramatically beautiful and fascinating locales. The Luxury Iceland Expedition voyages will sail round-trip from the ship’s homeport of Reykjavík, affording travellers convenient air options, just six hours from New York City, three hours from London and with frequent non-stop flights from many major cities in the U.S. and Europe and will be followed by the 10-night Journey of Vikings: Iceland & Norway from Reykjavík to Tromsø departing September 5, 2021.

Princess Announces 2023 Cruises & Cruisetours to Europe

• Princess Cruises today revealed the best of cruising throughout Europe in 2023, with popular itineraries sailing from the Mediterranean and British Isles to Scandinavia and Russia, Iceland and Norway. All 177 departures go on sale to Elite Guests only on July 16, 2021 and to the General Public on July 17, 2021.
• With 67 unique itineraries, ranging in length from seven to 33 days, cruisers have an array of choices to select their bucket-list Europe cruise to fit their lifestyle, budget and travel dreams. Five MedallionClass ships – Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Emerald Princess and Island Princess – will sail to 116 destinations in 32 countries, offering guests the opportunity to visit 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• The 2023 Europe season runs from March to December. Deployment highlights include:
  • Enchanted Princess sails her first Mediterranean season on a series of 14-day voyages departing from either Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) or Athens (Piraeus), for those with more time, Princess will offer the ultimate, 21-day exploration of the region.
  • Regal Princess returns to the Baltic sailing 11-day Scandinavia & Russia cruises roundtrip from Copenhagen, featuring an overnight in St. Petersburg on every sailing.
  • Sky Princess comes back for a second season sailing roundtrip from London (Southampton) on a variety of voyages from seven- to 14-days featuring Iceland and Norway, the Canary Islands and a 24-day adventure to Canada & New England.
  • Emerald Princess departs on 12-day British Isles sailings with options including Liverpool, Portland (for Stonehenge) or to the very tip of Scotland to the Orkney Islands, all departing roundtrip from London (Southampton). Guests also have the unique opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring Edinburgh Military Tattoo from Glasgow (Greenock) on the July 31 and August 12, 2023 departures.
  • Island Princess offers many voyages throughout Europe, including above the Arctic Circle in search of the Northern Lights from London (Southampton) and to the Mediterranean and Israel on 14-day cruises sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia).
  • Sky Princess and Island Princess spend the Summer Solstice at the top of the world when the sun never sets on 14-day or 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun & Summer Solstice voyages.
  • All five ships sail spring and fall Transatlantic voyages for the ultimate ocean crossing between Ft. Lauderdale and Barcelona, Copenhagen, London (Southampton), New York or Rome (Civitavecchia).
• Princess will visit 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including:
  • White City of Tel-Aviv from Ashdod in Israel
  • The Acropolis from Athens, Greece
  • Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville from Cadiz, Spain
  • The Kronborg Castle from Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Gorham’s Cave Complex from Gibraltar
  • The Ancient City of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Turkey
  • Mount Etna from Messina, Italy
  • The City of Lübeck from Hamburg, Germany
• Princess will offer 24 “More Ashore” late night and overnight calls in port, guests can make the most of their time exploring and experiencing the local sites and cultures. Princess is also offering five distinct cruise tours:
  • Opportunities to sightsee in the cosmopolitan city of Madrid are available on the Highlights of Spain cruisetour
  • Discover the birthplace of the Renaissance on the Classic Italy cruisetour
  • The Imperial Treasures cruisetour is available for those who want to take in the art and architecture of Prague, Vienna and Budapest
  • Guests can marvel at the sweeping landscapes on the Ring of Kerry cruisetour
  • Our new Best of Greece cruisetour includes a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mycenae, Meteora and Delphi

RSSC Offers bonus land programme

• Regent is providing travellers the opportunity to extend their cruise with its latest offer, Ultimate Alaska, elevating the immersive Regent destination experience to new heights with a FREE three-night land programme.
• The pre- or post-cruise land programme has been expertly crafted to showcase the most iconic and hidden gems that the Canadian city of Vancouver has to offer. Spanning four days and three nights, Vancouver Adventures is FREE on 17, seven-night itineraries cruising between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, from May to September 2022. A 13-night sailing from San Francisco, California to Vancouver and a 12-night sailing from Vancouver to Los Angeles, California are also available as part of the offer. All cruises are on board the elegant Seven Seas Mariner®.
• Ultimate Alaska also offers 50% reduced deposits and applies to new reservations made between 1 July – 31 August 2021.
• FREE 3-Night Land Programme Highlights
  • With all voyages either arriving or departing from Vancouver, Ultimate Alaska offers guests incredible immersion of this vibrant city with a FREE 3-night land programme pre- or post- cruise, Vancouver Adventures.
  • This remarkable land programme includes the opportunity to discover the historical yet chic neighbourhood of Gastown, featuring the soaring Capilano Suspension Bridge where guests can literally walk above the trees, as well as allowing travellers to reconnect with nature at the city’s stunning Queen Elizabeth Park.
  • Additional highlights include indulgent discoveries for shoppers and foodies alike at the arty Granville Island and the harbour-front Stanley Park, where guests can hire a bike and cycle through an old-growth forest. Travellers will also ascend Grouse Mountain on the Skyride – an aerial tramway system – where they will enjoy astonishing views of the city and can visit a bear refuge.

Seabourn expands Seabourn Source Mobile App

• • Seabourn have expanded their “Seabourn Source” Mobile App, giving guests more instant information to enhance their travel experience. The mobile app is accessible to all guests on a complimentary basis and available to download prior to a sailing.
  • Seabourn Source will be a vital tool for guests aboard to manage their stay, with up to-the-minute access of daily details of their voyage via smart phone, tablet or laptop – being an efficient, convenient and enjoyable tool for guests to utilise.
  • Within the app, some updates are especially convenient which will include access to digital dining menu’s throughout the venues of every Seabourn ship, as well as allowing digital boarding passes access to assist in the pier embarkation experience. Online guest registration, book and browse shore excursions as well as accessing the internet are all features guests can experience.
  • The app is complimentary to download whether at home or onboard, and is available on both the Apple App Store, and Google Play Store

PONANT’s 2022 and 2023 Tropical Expeditions explore a kaleidoscope of enticingly remote destinations

• Ponant has released an extensive range of tropical small ship luxury expeditions, including some brand new itineraries, all aimed at revealing a diverse range of cultures, wildlife and landscapes, with many unique locations designated UNESCO World Heritage status.
• 67 exceptional itineraries, exploring remote coastlines and islands with an emphasis on cultural discoveries and encounters with local populations. 
  • On board Le Soléal, two 7 night departures during May 2022 explore rarely visited Japanese Subtropical Islands including the Ryukyu Islands and Okinawa Archipelago and the magnificent Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park where wild beaches mix with traditional villages and lush jungle, mangroves, rivers and waterfalls. From Kikaijima’s beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, onwards to pristine Zamami, in the Kerama Islands, known worldwide for its distinctive “Kerama blue” waters, while the remote island of Yonagunijima, the easternmost of the Ryukyu Islands, offers a striking contrast: cliffs, windswept meadows, wild horses…
  • …Or, perhaps, commence with the spice-scented bazaars of a Zanzibar and the Jewels of the Indian Ocean voyage. Pristine powder white beaches greet you as you explore untouched atolls in the Seychelles, including Cosmoledo Atoll, regarded as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Here enjoy exceptional dives in its aquarium-like lagoon exploring the rich marine life. Stunning La Digue and Desroches are also featured stops along with the sublime Assumption Island. Adventures by day build an appetite for the French inspired cuisine and casually chic lifestyle on board your modern luxury expedition ship, Le Jacques Cartier. Two 12 night expeditions available during February and March 2023.
  • Trust PONANT to add a twist of exotic to its regular Kimberley season of expeditions by adding a new 14 night itinerary that departs Broome 5 September 2022 onboard Le Lapérouse. This Wild Landscapes of the Kimberley & South-East Asia itinerary features the impressive highlights of Australia’s own Kimberley including the Hunter River, King George Falls and Montgomery Reef, plus Dili in East Timor, the Alor islands in Indonesia and an opportunity to see Komodo dragons, before disembarking in beautiful Bali.
  • Are you ready to join an 11 night cultural odyssey Revealing the Mysteries of Melanesia where, to a great extent, time in paradise has stood still? One departure only in November 2022 will be enriched by travelling with a National Geographic expert and photographer – all the better to prepare you for time ashore visiting traditional villages on Vanikoro, sailing into the flooded caldera of Ureparapara or viewing the awe-inspiring volcanic activity at Hades-like Mt Yasur. Snorkelling and diving are on the agenda in order to discover the rich maritime world beneath.

MSC Resumes cruising from Barcelona

• The port of Barcelona reopened on the weekend for international cruises when MSC Grandiosa became the first ship to embark Spanish guests and holidaymakers from other Schengen countries.
• The 7-night cruise holiday calls at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Naples and Palermo, plus Valetta, Malta
• More ports will reopen in the coming weeks across Europe and MSC Cruises’ phased restart of operations is continuing as planned with the Company offering a choice of six different ships and itineraries this summer across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
  • MSC Seaview will start Baltic Sea cruises beginning 3 July from her homeport of Kiel in Germany with 7-night sailings to Sweden and Estonia and MSC Seaside on 4 July will mark the official reopening of Marseille, France to cruising.
  • MSC Meraviglia from 2 August will resume Caribbean cruises from Miami and will be joined in the region from 18 September when MSC Divina restarts sailing from Port Canaveral near Orlando in Florida.
  • MSC Seashore will come into service in August with voyages in the West Mediterranean before the Company’s newest flagship transfers in November to Miami for a season in the Caribbean.

MSC begins construction of MSC Euribia

• The first steel was cut 28 June, 2021 at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France marking the official start of construction of MSC Cruises’ most environmentally advanced ship to-date, and her name was also revealed. Set to come into service in June 2023, MSC Euribia will become the 22nd vessel in the MSC Cruises’ fleet and the second to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest marine fuel available at scale today. As every ship that joins MSC Cruises’ fleet, she will be equipped with some of the latest and most advanced technologies and solutions to minimise her environmental impact. The beginning of construction of MSC Euribia effectively marks another milestone in the Company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
• The start of her construction was marked by a traditional steel cutting ceremony in Saint Nazaire bringing the ship owner and shipyard together. As maritime custom dictates, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago joined Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s General Manager Laurent Castaing to launch the cutting of the first steel for the new ship and, with it, the next step in MSC Cruises’ journey towards zero-impact operations.
• MSC Euribia named after Ancient Greek goddess of mastery of the seas
• Ship’s cutting of the first steel ceremony marks next step in MSC Cruises’ ongoing journey towards zero-impact operations
• MSC Euribia to become second ship in the MSC Cruises’ fleet powered by LNG to achieve substantial emissions reductions
• Ship set to come into service in 2023 and become 22nd vessel in the MSC Cruises fleet

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