Princess Ship Completes Drydock in Rotterdam

Princess Ship Completes Drydock in Rotterdam

The Sky Princess successfully completed a routine drydock at the Damen Verolme in Rotterdam earlier this month.

According to the Dutch shipyard, the Princess Cruises vessel spent a total of 16 days in the facility undergoing regular maintenance, in addition to technical upgrades.

The scope of work included the installation of class-certified parts for a new air lubrication system and a full hull painting program, Damen said.

A total of 1,200 crew members and 700 contractors worked around the clock to complete the project, which the shipyard called a logistical challenge.

Following the successful drydock, the Sky Princess resumed service on May 5.

Spending the summer in Northern Europe, the 2019-built vessel is presently offering a series of cruises departing from Southampton, England.

The program includes itineraries to Western Europe, the Norwegian Fjords, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and more.

In May, for instance, the ship is offering a seven-night cruise to Scandinavia, in addition to a special 14-night cruise to Iceland and Norway.

Also sailing roundtrip from Southampton, the two-week cruise features visits to Akureyri, Isafjord and Grundarfjordur in Iceland, as well as Skjolden, Olden and Alesund, in Norway.

Following its summer program in Europe, the Sky Princess is set to return to North America in November.

Starting on Nov. 25, the vessel offers a series of itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from Princess’ cruise terminal in Port Everglades, Florida.

Fourth in a series of six ships known as Royal Class, the Sky Princess originally entered service in 2019.

Built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the 141,000-ton cruise ship was followed, in 2020, by the Enchanted Princess – which also completed a drydock recently.

After arriving in Europe in March, the 3,660-guest vessel underwent routine work at a facility of the Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo, Italy.

A third ship also spent time at a shipyard recently, as the Sapphire Princess visited the Vigor Shipyard on the U.S. West Coast for regular maintenance in April.

AIDA Announces Substitute Ports in the Baltic with Russia Out

AIDA Announces Substitute Ports in the Baltic with Russia Out

AIDA Cruises, Carnival Corporation's German brand, has announced replacement ports in the Baltic and not call in Saint Petersburg this summer. 

The AIDAdiva, AIDAmar, AIDAnova and AIDAvita will see calls in Russia cancelled and replaced by destinations such as Riga (Latvia), Copenhagen (Denmark), Oslo (Norway) or Visby (Gotland/Sweden).

The AIDAdiva will call at the Latvian capital Riga or Copenhagen instead of Saint Petersburg on its seven-day Baltic Sea roundtrip from Warnemünde starting between May 14 and October 8, 2022. The voyage with a departure date of May 7, 2022, will include a visit to Hamina in southern Finland.

For the seven-day round trips in the Baltic Sea with the AIDAnova from Kiel with departure dates between May 14 and October 15, 2022, AIDA Cruises has developed alternative routes in the Baltic Sea as well as to Norway and Denmark. Baltic cruises now include an extended stay in the Estonian capital Tallinn. Copenhagen/Kalundborg is also new on the itinerary.

The AIDAnova is now setting course for Scandinavia on new voyages. In addition to a visit to Copenhagen and Kristiansand, AIDAnova’s guests can enjoy a two-day stay in Oslo.

On its 10 day Baltic cruises, the AIDAmar will call at the port of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland and the Latvian capital Riga instead of Saint Petersburg.

In addition, the first sailing of the AIDAvita will depart on July 24, 2022. 

New cruise line to run Norwegian voyages

New cruise line to run Norwegian voyages

A new cruise line is being formed to run “environmentally responsible” itineraries along the Norwegian coast from spring 2021

Havila Voyages is a new family-owned Norwegian shipping company which has ordered four ships, designed to be the most environmentally friendly to operate along the coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes.

This will pitch the company in direct competition with long-established Hurtigruten.

The first two 179-cabin ships – Havila Castor and Havila Capella – will operate from next year with two more – Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux – following in 2022.

The ships are operating as part of a ten-year government-funded contract to sail the historic route, with Havila operating four of the 11 ships departing daily from Bergen.

Each of the new ships will be fitted with what are claimed to be the world’s largest battery packs, meaning they can sail through fjords and other vulnerable areas for up to four hours emission-free. The batteries will then be charged in the numerous ports along the route, using clean hydropower.

Newly-appointed UK country manager Matthew Valentine, who joins from Hurtigruten,  said: “2020 has not been an easy year for the travel industry, especially the cruise sector.

“We clearly didn’t plan to launch a new cruise line during a worldwide pandemic, so it is really heart-warming to have received such a positive response from the UK travel trade.

“We have some exciting plans for the launch of Havila Voyages and I’m delighted to once again be working with operators and agents from across the UK.

“We know that the success of our business will rely on us building strong trade partnerships, so I look forward to catching up with as many industry colleagues as possible in the near future.”

The 12-day Havila Voyage, costing from £829 per person cruise-only in December 2021, takes in 34 ports while passengers can choose to join the round trip, complete just the northern or southern journey or even spend two or three days on board.

Excursions offered to include a whale safari, king crab fishing in a frozen fjord, dog-sledging in the Arctic wilderness or snowmobiling across the North Cape Plateau.

Prices lead-in at £241pp for a two-day trip from Trondheim to Bergen,  cruise-only basis.

The six-day southbound voyage from Kirkenes to Bergen starts at £497pp.

A range of payment options is offered with cheaper, non-refundable rates or a choice of more flexible options.

Agents and tour operators will be able to make a booking via Havila’s B2B booking system once a contract is in place.

Noah’s Ark Crashes Into Coast Guard Vessel… You Read That Right

A full-size replica of the Ark of Noah is seen after it crashed into a moored coast guard vessel in Oslo harbour, Norway June 10, 2016. NTB Scanpix/Gorm Kallestad

A 230-foot long replica of Noah’s Ark collided with a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel as it arrived in Oslo, Norway on Friday, causing damage to both ships. 

Media says the wooden replica, built by a Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers after he dreamed of a flood in his home town, was being towed into Oslo harbor when it somehow lost control and crashed into the moored patrol vessel Nornen.

Watching the video its hard to tell exactly what happened, but photos posted by Norwegian media show a big hole in the side of the Ark’s wooden hull. 

A crew member inspects damages on the hull of a full-size replica of the Ark of Noah after it crashed into a moored coast guard vessel in Oslo harbour, Norway June 10, 2016. NTB Scanpix/Hkon Mosvold Larsen

The Ark is now owned by the Ark of Noah Foundation, which was planning on bringing the educational vessel across the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games this summer.

Media reports said there were no animals on board when the collision occurred.

Ark of Noah Foundation

Fred. Olsen's four ships converge on Bergen

All four ships in Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet have come together for the first time in Bergen today (Tuesday).

Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch carrying almost 4,000 passengers have converged on Norway’s second city for a joint ‘Four Bs in Bergen’ celebration.

All four ships arrived in the port of Bergen at 8am and will depart at 6pm.

The Fred Olsen Company originated in the village of Hvitsten, outside Oslo, in 1848, when three Olsen brothers – Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas – bought their first ships and began an international shipping company.

The company is now into the fifth generation of the family.

Managing director, Mike Rodwell, said: “This is a very special occasion for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, and we know that the city of Bergen is looking forward to welcoming our fleet on this unique day.

“We are committed to the city of Bergen – known as the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ – on our Norwegian cruise itineraries.

“The Olsen association with Bergen can be traced a long way back, probably as far as the original Olsen brothers themselves, and we shared in a very successful partnership with Bergen Line during the 1960s and 1970s.

“In fact, the number of days that Fred Olsen ships have spent in Bergen from 2006 to 2015 is 176 in total, and we know that the city is a highlight to many of our guests on cruises to our historic homeland.”

Ryanair faces call for boycott in Norway

By Ian Taylor

Ryanair has been accused of employing cabin crew on “slave contracts” in Norway.

The accusation by a Norwegian trade union follows a claim by two former cabin crew members who are suing Ryanair over their dismissal.

Norway’s Parat union described the flight attendants’ terms and conditions as “a contract of slavery”. The crew allege there was a “culture of fear” at the carrier.

Ryanair hit back by accusing its former crew members of making “false claims” and the union of trying to distract attention from its role in negotiating job cuts at SAS Scandinavian Airlines.SAS

The former crew members released details of their contracts, causing a public furore in Norway and leading to calls for a boycott of the airline.

Ryanair leased the crews from agencies which employ the staff on Irish contracts despite them being based at Rygge airport outside Oslo.

Norwegian media reported the contracts included the following provisions:

• Employees had to pay for training and uniforms
• Employment could be terminated at any time, with from 0-14 days’ notice.
• Crew were required to pay a €200 fee to resign in the first 15 months of the contract.
• Hourly pay was set at the equivalent of $21 an hour in flight, with no extra pay for weekends or holidays.
• There was no sick pay.
• Crew were entitled to 20 days holiday, booked well in advance but subject to cancellation if Ryanair required staff to work.
• Employees were required to take at least four weeks’ unpaid leave a year.
• Crew were required to be on standby for work without payment and be able to report within an hour.
• Participation in union action was grounds for immediate dismissal.
• Contract terms were to remain confidential, with violation grounds for dismissal.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary dismissed the claims and described the former flight attendants as “unsuccessful and dismissed”.

He told the Norwegian press: “They just invented these false claims some six months after they were dismissed.” O’Leary argued no one was forced to work for Ryanair.

He said there was a waiting list for jobs and suggested the crew were “supported by labour organisations in the process of agreeing thousands of job cuts and 17% pay cuts in SAS”.

O’Leary added: “We’re an Irish airline operating Irish-regulated aircraft. Our employees are employed under Irish contracts.”

However, following questions in parliament, Norway’s foreign minister Espen Bart Eide was quoted on Friday saying he would not fly on Ryanair until the issues were resolved.

Questioned by MPs, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said: “The government fights social dumping, but it’s extra complicated with the airline industry.”