TUI Cruises Starts Homeporting Season in Portugal

TUI Cruises Starts Homeporting Season in Portugal

The Mein Schiff 6 recently kicked off a series of cruises to Western Europe and Morocco departing from Leixões in Portugal.

Located near Porto, the homeport serves as the starting point for two seven-night itineraries that sail to other destinations in Portugal, in addition to ports in Spain, Morocco, the United Kingdom and France.

Heading north, one of the itineraries features visits to Vigo, La Coruña, Bilbao and Le Verdon before returning to Leixões.

The second weeklong cruise heads south and includes stops in Lisbon and Cádiz, as well as Tangier and Gibraltar.

Guests are also able to book a 14-night voyage that combines both itineraries into a single cruise that does not repeat ports of call.

The Mein Schiff 6 will continue to offer similar cruises departing from Portugal through early September, when it is scheduled to embark on a repositioning voyage to the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Leixões to Palma de Mallorca, the eight-night cruise sails to a mix of destinations in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Highlights of the open-jaw itinerary include visits to Lisbon, Cádiz and Tangier, in addition to Málaga and Barcelona.

After a short fall season in the Mediterranean, the 97,000-ton ship embarks on a 53-night repositioning voyage to Southeast Asia.

The three-part cruise starts with a seven-night cruise to the Canary Islands that sails from Palma de Mallorca.

The 2,500-passenger ship will then operate a 20-night voyage to Cape Town, visiting Morocco, Cape Verde, Namibia and South Africa.

Before arriving in Singapore in early December, the Mein Schiff 6 also offers a 25-night voyage to the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

Departing from Cape Town, the cruise will sail to South Africa, Mauritius, Réunion, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

As part of its 2026-27 winter season in Southeast Asia, the 2,534-passenger ship is set to offer a series of 13- to 15-night cruises to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and more.

Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the Mein Schiff 6 was delivered to TUI Cruises in May 2017.

Celebrity to Cruise Year-Round In the Mediterranean Starting in 2023

Celebrity to Cruise Year-Round In the Mediterranean Starting in 2023

Celebrity Cruises announced today that it will sail year-round in the Mediterranean, adding on to its summer season with sailings from September 2023 through March 2024 with the Celebrity Infinity. 

The Celebrity Infinity will kick off her winter season embarking on nine and 10-night itineraries where guests will be treated to the best of the Iberian Peninsula. Rotating between setting sail from the ports of Barcelona, Spain, and Lisbon, 

Then, from October 2023 to January 2024, Infinity will call Barcelona home as she embarks on 11- and 12-night itineraries and returns to Morocco for the first time since 2008.

Capping off the winter season, the Infinity will then return to Greece in February and March 2024, sailing 10 or 11-night itineraries calling on three continents, with calls into the Holy Land. 

“Being able to sail through the Mediterranean all winter will open up infinite possibilities for our guests to satiate their wanderlust while experiencing new destinations as they Journey Wonder with us,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “With these new 2023-2024 offerings, we will continue to reintroduce our guests to the world with itineraries that reconnect them with cultures and experiences that will last a lifetime.”

MSC Cruises Invites Artists Worldwide to Design Hull of Euribia

MSC Cruises is giving artists and designers around the world the opportunity to design the hull of Euribia – the cruise line’s LNG-powered ship currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France.

According to a press release, the aim of this initiative is “to communicate the importance of respect for the environment.”

The design contest, which opens today, on International Artists’ Day, is a first for MSC Cruises.

“The winning design will be yet another sign of our ongoing commitment to protecting the oceans and achieving net-zero operations, an ambitious goal that we have set for ourselves to reach by 2050 or sooner. And through this contest, the MSC Euribia as she sails the world will be proudly showcasing this important message of our commitment on her hull for all to see,” said Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago.

The 4,888-passenger Euribia will come into service in 2023 and become the second LNG-powered ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, marking another step in the cruise line’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the press release, Euribia’s engines have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 21 per cent compared to standard fuels while also virtually eliminating other air emissions.

“We are a family company with over 300 years of maritime heritage, all we do and ever did is shipping. The sea is our livelihood and our passion. For this and more since our early days, we focused on looking after it for the next generations. Today this means that at MSC Cruises we are not only equipping our ships with the latest and most advanced environmental technologies and solutions. We also fund research and invest directly to support the accelerated development of next-generation solutions and embrace innovative technologies to minimize our impact, and protect and preserve our precious marine ecosystems,” Vago explained.

The ship is named after the ancient goddess Eurybia who harnessed the winds, weather and constellations to master the seas.

According to MSC, only one winner will have their artwork showcased on the ship’s hull, as a sailing outdoor gallery for the world to see. Five further shortlist finalists will also have their designs displayed in an exhibition on board the Euribia, where guests can enjoy the art and its important message for years to come.

The entries will be judged by a panel of international judges including sand artist Jben, known for his large sand frescoes that wash away with the tide, architect Martin Francis and Vago himself. Jben has travelled the world sculpting beach art in the United States, France, Morocco, Holland and Portugal, to raise awareness of sea-related environmental issues and encourage marine protection and preservation.

Royal Caribbean International announces 274-night world cruise

Royal Caribbean International has revealed its inaugural Ultimate World Cruise for 2023.

The 274-night voyage will visit all seven continents, across more than 150 destinations in 65 countries.

Serenade of the Seas will depart from Miami on 10 December 2023, sailing through to 10 September 2024.

Bookings can be made by phone with an exclusive one-week window through to 26 October for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members and above.

Guests will sail to 57 destinations that are new to the cruise line, with highlights including Casablanca, Morocco, Greenland, and Simizu, Japan, to see Mount Fuji.

Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley said: “This is the world cruise of world cruises. Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for the lost time.

“Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate holiday that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travellers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.”

Following its departure from Miami, Serenade of the Seas will visit a range of Caribbean destinations before heading to Antarctica and Cape Horn.

The ship will then travel to Central and South America, finishing the Americas and Antarctica expedition portion of the world tour.

From 11 February to 9 May 2024, Serenade of the Seas will continue its tour in Asia and the Pacific, visiting the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Tokyo and more.

The Middle East and the Mediterranean portion of the cruise will feature calls in Dubai, Egypt, Turkey, Rome, Greece, Split, Croatia and France, from 9 May to 10 July 2024.

The voyage will end with Serenade of the Seas visiting Barcelona, Morocco, Russia, Norway, Iceland and New York before the ship heads back to Miami.

The UK will join the EU Covid vaccine passport scheme imminently

Sources in Westminster and Brussels told the Daily Telegraph Britain was on the verge of integrating the UK database into the EU system.

 

The UK formally applied to join the scheme on 28 July and work has continued since to merge UK data. Once complete, it will digitally verify Covid credentials not just in the UK, but across the EU and beyond, as the EU scheme covers more than 40 countries including Morocco and Turkey.

 

The scheme will benefit double-jabbed Britons who will no longer have to test before departure to enter some countries once the EU Covid certificate is issued to them. It will also make entry to bars and restaurants easier.

 

The system enables border guards and restaurant and bar owners to use an app to read the QR code on an individual’s vaccine certificate.

Norwegian Cruise Line honoured

Norwegian Cruise Line honoured once again as “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian is named “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” for the fourth consecutive year and recognized for “World’s Leading Cruise Line Website”

Wiesbaden, December 14, 2015 –Norwegian Cruise Line has once again been named the “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards, marking the fourth consecutive year that the company has been honored with this accolade. In addition, Norwegian won the award for the “World’s Leading Cruise Line Website.”

The awards were presented to Norwegian Cruise Line at the 22st annual World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala, held on December 12, 2015 in El Jadida, Morocco. The annual awards are voted on by thousands of travel and tourism professionals from across the globe and honour travel companies that provide outstanding products and customer service.

In addition to the award for top large ship cruise line worldwide, earlier this year Norwegian Cruise Line was also recognized by the World Travel Awards as “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the eighth consecutive year as well as the “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” for the third consecutive year.

“We are overjoyed to once again be honoured as a worldwide leader in the travel industry, and we thank all of the many travel partners, industry professionals and guests who voted for us,” said Andy Stuart, President and Chief Operating Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are very proud of this incredible achievement, which is a testament to our commitment to excellence across our fleet and our hard-working crew’s dedication to providing our guests with an outstanding holiday experience.”

Norwegian’s fourteen Freestyle Cruising vessels sail a variety of exciting itineraries, from the Caribbean to Panama Canal, South America and Mexican Riviera. The line’s newest ships, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Getaway, cruise the Caribbean year-round from Miami. In addition, Norwegian has six vessels sailing the Caribbean and the Bahamas from convenient locations including New York, Tampa, Port Canaveral (Orlando), New Orleans and Houston. Norwegian Sun is currently sailing alternating 14-night itineraries in South America, while is sailing 7-night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, Norwegian Epic is sailing the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands from Barcelona this winter, and Pride of America sails weekly inter-island Hawai’i cruises that offer 100 hours of port time.

The World Travel Awards has been recognizing and acknowledging excellence amongst companies involved in the global travel and tourism industries since 1993, and has set high standards for all of their participants.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is an internationally operating cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida with three offices in Wiesbaden, Malta and Southampton overseeing operations in Europe.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 49-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to explore the world on one of 14 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise holiday on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. In September 2015, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the eighth consecutive year, as well as in October 2015, for the third consecutive year, “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards. In addition the company has received the World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” from 2012 to 2015.

The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4.200-passenger Norwegian Escape in October 2015 and has three further 4.200-passenger vessels on order at Meyer Werft with delivery in the spring of 2017, 2018 and autumn of 2019.

Cruise ship Boudicca hit by engine room fire

The Fred Olsen cruise ship Boudicca is carrying 784 passengers and 356 crew

A cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 people was left without power off Morocco after an engine room fire.

Holidaymakers on board the Boudicca were told to don life jackets and gather at emergency muster stations, according to the son of one passenger.

The fire at 04:00 BST left the ship "listing" and "in pitch black", said Dave Tonkin, whose father is onboard.

Fred Olsen, the company which owns the ship, said it was now fully stable and had five engines running again.

Spokeswoman Rachael Jackson said Boudicca listed for "a short period" but was now stable and travelling again, although more slowly than normal.

"The fire was in the engine room, but has now been extinguished, and no guests or crew have been injured," she said.

She said two main engines and three auxiliary engines were running, while two other engines were still being mended.

The ship will aim to arrive in Lanzarote, Spain, on Monday as planned, she added.

It currently has 784 passengers and 356 crew on board.

The Boudicca is one of four cruise liners owned by the UK-based, Norwegian-owned company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

The ship's online locator currently shows it off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco. It left Cadiz, Spain, on Saturday.

It is not the first time the Boudicca has been in the news. Last year Fred Olsen paid £280,000 in compensation to 130 holidaymakers who suffered gastric illnesses on board between October 2009 and May 2010.

The ship was also hit in 2013 when 98 passengers contracted a vomiting bug.