AmaWaterways introduces enhanced hiking, biking excursions

AmaWaterways is beefing up its biking and hiking tour options for its 2016 Europe river cruises, in response to customer demand.

 “Over the past two seasons, we have seen steadily increasing demand from our passengers for more active excursions,” Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner of AmaWaterways, said in a release. “While we have always maintained a commitment to healthy and active travel, we decided to start the New Year by kicking it up a notch.”

The company introduced an array of new tours that will debut in the upcoming season. AmaWaterways has been carrying a fleet of bicycles onboard its vessels for passengers to use for several years now, but for 2016 it is introducing several new escorted bike tours. They include:

• A tour of the historic waterfront town of Willemstad, the Netherlands;
• Cycling along the Sava River and through Kalemegdan Park in Belgrade, Serbia;
• A ride through the Belgian town of Antwerp;
• Tours of the Wachau Valley along the Danube;
• A ride through the historic town of Bamberg, Germany;
• A tour along the Inn River in Passau, Germany

Additionally, in 2016, there will be new hiking tours in 12 port cities. They include:

• A hike to the castle ruins in Durnstein, Austria, which includes two wine tasting options;
• A hike up Fourviere Hill in Lyon, France;
• A Passau Castle hike in Passau, Germany;
• A hike up Mount Pipet in Vienna, Austria;
• A hike to Chateau Gaillard in Les Andelys, France;
• A hike to the Dom Luis Bridge, Old Harbor Quarter and the cathedral in Porto, Portugal

The new guided biking and hiking tours are included in the cruise fare in addition to AmaWaterways’ standard excursions that are often offered at a variety of paces, including gentle, regular and active.

Last year, AmaWaterways developed a partnership with tour operator Backroads to create a series of river cruises that include Backroads-led biking, walking and hiking excursions, which will have their first departures this year. More information about the Backroads Danube river cruise departures can be found on the Backroads website.

River cruise news to watch in 2016

KV Ganges Voyager

By Michelle Baran 

As I look ahead at what news the river cruise industry will bring in 2016, I’ve got my eye on several stories and developments.

As we kick off the year, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is launching its first-ever program on India’s Ganges River with Haimark Travel’s luxury vessel, the 56-passenger Ganges Voyager II. We’re bound to start hearing some of the initial feedback and reviews from that product launch in the coming days and weeks after completion of the first few cruises.

Michelle Baran

This spring, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the launch of CroisiEurope’s 80-passenger Elbe Princesse, a paddlewheeler the French company has custom-built for Germany’s shallow Elbe River. And of course I’ll be looking for new innovations and ideas among all the ship launches in Europe this spring. With Viking River Cruises, Amawaterways, Avalon Waterways, Tauck, Scenic and Emerald Waterways all adding inventory this year, someone is bound to surprise us with something, no?

Come summer, I’ll be looking for word on how the new Adventures by Disney river cruising product plays out after the first sailings begin in July on AmaWaterways’ AmaStella. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say one of the developments I’m most curious about is the introduction of Crystal Cruises’ first river cruise effort, the renovation and relaunch of the former Peter Deilmann Mozart, which will set sail anew on July 13.

This will be our first glance not only at Crystal’s version of river cruising but at how an ocean cruise line interprets the river cruise market. I, for one, am agog. And Crystal only has additional excitement planned for us in 2017 when it introduces us to its version of four river cruising newbuilds.

Elsewhere in the river cruising world, I’m wondering how and whether the Nile will pull out of its perpetual slump, and if the Amazon will see an uptick in interest due to the Rio Olympics. I’m also following developments in Asia, where Pandaw River Expeditions keeps surprising with new river routes and other companies keep adding capacity.

And imagine, that’s just the stuff we more or less already know about. There’s no telling what river cruising bombshells (either good or bad) are yet to be dropped on us. Take cover!

THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

The Cavern Club

The Norwegian Edge introduces a new standard of excellence that encompasses the entire guest experience, from culinary program enhancements to exclusive destination developments. The program starts with a focus on the heart of Norwegian, our ships. 

Extensive revitalizations have already begun to elevate them with the premium look and feel of the line’s newest and most spectacular ships. When the renovations are complete, our ships will look even better than when they first left the shipyard. We’re investing $400 million to make sure a Norwegian vacation is up to the high standards we’ve set for ourselves – and those that our guests expect from us.

So when you board one of our ships for the fifth time, but she looks as good as the first time you saw her, that’s The Norwegian Edge. When you savor an array of international tastes and gourmet dishes from our new enhanced menus, you’ve tasted The Norwegian Edge. 

If you find yourself surrounded by natural beauty in Harvest Caye, our premier resort-style island in Belize, you’ve found The Norwegian Edge. And finally, when you’re sharing stories (and selfies) from your incredible vacation weeks after your cruise, you know you experienced The Norwegian Edge.

• • Exciting new entertainment venue, The Cavern Club, inspired by the famous Liverpool nightclub of the same name where The Beatles got their big break
• • A complete makeover of La Cucina to create a more authentic Italian atmosphere
• • Upgraded The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design
• • Upgraded spaces for the whole family including Entourage, Splash Academy and the new SplashGolf in the Kids’ Aqua Park
• • New library and card room for guests to enjoy while on board
• • Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers

HARVEST CAYE

In November, our newest cruise destination in southern Belize will be transformed into a 75-acre resort-style experience featuring an expansive pool, lagoon for water sports, private luxury cabanas and exclusive beach for our guests to discover.

GREAT STIRRUP CAY

We're enhancing our eco-fun paradise in the Bahamas with more of what our guests love: more beaches, more activities, and more places to relax and indulge.

Norwegian Gem, Refurbished November 2015

• • Renovated Bliss Ultra Lounge and introduced a new area for Casino games
  

• • Brand new photo gallery set up with new computer displays, furniture and a more open layout
  

• • Renovated The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design
  

• • Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers
  

• • Revamped The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck to include more shaded areas, cabanas and loungers

NCL~Dry Dock Schedule

Norwegian Ships	Dry Dock Schedule
Pride of America	Q1 2016
Norwegian Sun	Q2 2016
Norwegian Dawn	Q2 2016
Norwegian Spirit	Q1 2017
Norwegian Sky	Q1 2017
Norwegian Pearl	Q1 2017
Norwegian Jade	Q1 2017

MSC Cruises the latest line to drop Turkey port calls

MSC Cruises said that it is substituting calls in Greece for planned stops in Istanbul and Izmir on its cruises this spring and summer because of "growing concerns by guests as a result of the recent tragic events in Istanbul.”

The decision impacts the MSC Magnifica, which will be based in Venice starting March 26 and was scheduled to call in Turkey beginning March 29.

Those calls will be replaced by calls in Athens and Mykonos. MSC said calls to Turkey are suspended “until further notice.”

Previously, Crystal Cruises announced it would forgo stops in Turkey on two of its cruises this spring.

The moves follow a Jan. 12, a suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 people, mostly German tourists. 

Last summer, after an attack on the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Celebrity and Costa canceled calls in Turkey.

Disney Cruise Line seeks further growth

Disney Cruise Line seeks further growth

Disney Cruise Line will continue to look for growth opportunities, says company president, Karl Holz. By David Mott

The 17-year-old cruise line’s four-ship fleet came in two tranches – Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in the late 1990s, as the initial ships, augmented more than a decade later by the larger Disney Dream in 2011 and Disney Fantasy a year later. Karl Holz says the launch of the two larger ships “transformed our cruise business in many ways. Simply put, we further expanded the blueprint for family cruising.” Both the newer ships have a passenger count of 4,000 against 2,700 for each of the first two vessels. The latest ships, at 130,000gt, are classed as large resort ships because of the self-containment of their facilities.

“We have noticed continuing popularity among our passengers since Disney emerged in the cruise industry in 1998,” says Holz. “With this expansion we have more opportunity to surprise and delight with an ever-increasing list of ports of call around the world.” These include a return to New York in autumn 2016, where Disney Magic will operate a series of cruises and a first-ever British Isles cruise with calls in England, Scotland and Ireland as well as in France.

For a family entertainer like Disney, where the focus is every bit as much on the children as it is on the adults, safety and the environment have a particular resonance and the cruise line is no exception. “We focus our environmental efforts on utilising new technology, increasing fuel efficiency, minimising waste and promoting conservation. We comply with and sometimes exceed all international environmental regulations,” says Holz.

To boost fuel efficiency, Disney claims it is the first cruise line to use an innovative hull coating on its ships which is both 100% non-toxic as well as reducing surface resistance in open water. “In addition, all Disney ships have dedicated environmental officers who are responsible for compliance and are ranked among the most senior leaders onboard.”

Much has been said over the years about the position of people without children on a Disney vessel and this is a subject Holz tackles. “What I can tell you is that there is that there is something for everyone on Disney ships, which all include areas created exclusively for adults. They also have the options of spas, nightclubs and lounges, as well as adult-exclusive dining and pools.” In addition, there is an adult beach at Serenity Bay at Disney’s private island in Florida, Castaway Cay.



Asked how Disney has been able to transpose its stories to shipboard life, Holz says this has been achieved by the extensive use of new technology. “Our team of ‘imagineers’ is always working to bring to life Disney stories for our passengers. 

We have a portfolio of characters and intellectual property and are always looking to anticipate industry trends and plan strategically to deliver entertainment on our ships. As a member of the cruise industry we are always looking to identify trends alongside our competitors and to innovate.” Indeed, Disney’s use of technology has enabled it to become one of a growing number of lines which give passengers in interior cabins a real-time view of the ocean thanks to high-definition cameras positioned outside the ship.

With ships relying so heavily on shipboard attractions, a constant programme of technical updating is obviously important. Holz says: “Reinvesting in our ships, also to meet increased business, is part of the Disney heritage and over the years we have made many changes to upgrade our vessels. In 2013 the Disney Magic spent six weeks in drydock in an operation which made a wonderful ship even better.” The work involved the ‘reimagination’ of the whole upper deck. This autumn Disney Dream will dock in Freeport, Bahamas, when spaces throughout the vessel will be transformed. This work will include the addition of two interactive youth areas, one with a Star Wars theme and another slanted towards Disney Infinity.

In keeping with the international nature of its business, Disney Cruise Line, headquartered in both London and Florida, positions its ships in North America and Europe. In May this year, Disney Magic started sailing the Baltic and the Norwegian fjords out of Copenhagen. That done, she switched to Dover in the UK for two Baltic sailings and a repositioning voyage to Barcelona for two Mediterranean cruises before returning to Miami in the autumn.

Disney Wonder sailed Alaska out of Vancouver this summer before going to Hawaii for two cruises, followed by a return to San Diego for trips to Mexico. Throughout this year, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will operate out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Early in 2016 Disney Magic will carry out her maiden British Isles cruise as well as calling at ports in northern Europe, the Greek islands and the Mediterranean. Disney Wonder will reposition from Galveston to San Juan for a southern Caribbean itinerary including, for the first time, the French island of Martinique.

In common with a number of companies operating ocean cruises, Disney has just gone into the river cruising business. But in Disney’s case this is quite separate from the ocean cruise line and river itineraries are operated by Adventures of Disney in conjunction with AmaWaterways. From next year, sailings along the Danube will be operated using AmaViola. There was an initial programme of five sailings and another two have just been added. Passengers will be able to visit eight destinations in four countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

So growth is certainly on the cards for the operator, but (for now) this does not imply any new additions to the fleet, says Holz. “At this time we do not have any further details to share on building new ships,” he concludes.

Miami port parcel is ideal for proposed Cuba ferry

At this point, it is anybody’s guess who will be sailing to Cuba from Miami this year.

The Cuban government has issued no approvals for cruise lines, and several of the companies that have been selling cruises to Cuba have not done anything to reserve berth space at PortMiami, according to a Miami Herald report.

But one piece of nonsense ought to be easy to clear up. A proposal by the city of Miami to build a terminal to accommodate a ferry service to Havana ought to be pursued. Unlike cruises, several ferry licenses have been granted by the Cuban government. Miami is the port that makes the most sense for quick and comfortable ferry service to Cuba.

The hitch? Some Miami-Dade County commissioners want to stick with a 2011 master plan that calls for hotel and office development at the port.

The land to be used for either proposal is at the southeast corner of the port adjacent to the headquarters of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. It is the same parcel that was briefly considered as a stadium site for a professional soccer team dreamed up by star player.

That died, due in part to opposition from Royal Caribbean. The ferry terminal is a much better idea on the face of it, and if it proves itself it would at least fit with the port’s purpose.

Some at the county like the idea of developing the real estate because the port is in significant debt and office rents and hotel revenues could improve cash flow.  But there are more convenient places to have an office than at a working port. More importantly, the office and hotel can be built anywhere, while the ferry terminal can’t.

The most fitting application for scarce port real estate is for maritime uses. The county should investigate other ways of restoring the port’s finances to firmer footing.

New photos of Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

photos by Jad Estuaire.

Royal Caribbean has released the latest construction photos of Harmony of the Seas from the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Even though the huge 227,000 gross ton vessel looks complete on the outside there is still lots to do inside. 

All the interior spaces are being put together so that guests first walk onboard this May they will feel the WOW factor. Crew members are starting to set up their departments and get the ship ready for sailing.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will be the line's third Oasis class cruise ship and she is launching in Spring 2016, but already, people are getting really excited about this new ship.

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas construction almost half complete

Royal Caribbean's next Quantum class cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, has reached a construction milestone that brings it one step closer to entering service.

Royal Caribbean Australia & New Zealand shared this photo of Ovation of the Seas to show that she is almost half way to being completed.

It has been thirteen months since the steel cutting ceremony took place and if all goes well, she will be ready for conveyance down the River Ems for sea trials in the middle of March 2016.

Ovation of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Werft ship yard in Papenburg, Germany.  Ovation of the Seas will be debuting in April 2016 and will be offering cruises in Asia and Australia.

Royal Caribbean signs deal with China's Forbidden City Imperial Palace to showcase Chinese culture on Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean and the Chinese Imperial Palace Museum (the Palace Museum) held a joint press conference today at a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement in the Forbidden City’s Jianfu Palace. 

As part of the agreement, experts from different research fields selected by the Palace Museum will be invited to give lectures of Chinese history and culture to guests on Ovation of the Seas. 

The Palace Museum also will provide professional consultation of the ship’s interior décor and art program. In addition, signature pieces from the collections of the Imperial Palace Museum will be on display to promote the traditional culture and arts of China. Paintings and art pieces created by artists from the Palace Museum will be available for guests to purchase at auctions held onboard.

Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that debuts in April, will be the first to homeport in China immediately after its delivery and will begin service from Tianjin beginning June 2016.

The signing ceremony officially launches the “2016 – Let’s Ovation” campaign in China and marks the countdown to Ovation of the Seas’ maiden voyage in China.

“We are proud of the extensive collection of art and relics that represent the imperial treasures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and it is our goal at The Palace Museum to showcase the traditional Chinese culture to people all over the world,” said Shan Jixian, Director of the Imperial Palace Museum. “This partnership with Royal Caribbean International and our programs on Ovation of the Seas will help to further these objectives. We are excited to promote the rich heritage of the Forbidden City and China to the guests of the world’s largest global cruise line and we hope to continue to expand on these efforts.”

Dr. Zinan Liu, President of North APAC and China, Royal Caribbean International said: “Cruising is becoming increasingly popular with Chinese travelers and Royal Caribbean’s award-winning and state-of-the-art ships with features found only on Royal Caribbean are very appealing to those consumers looking for a high quality vacation experience. Quantum of the Seas has been very well received by our Chinese guests and we are excited to now bring Ovation of the Seas to Tianjin. Sailing two of the world’s newest and most technologically advanced ships in China demonstrate our leadership and commitment to the market and this partnership with the Palace Museum showcasing China’s rich heritage will bring yet another unique element to our vacation offering.”

Ovation of the Seas will be officially launched in April 2016, when she departs Southampton for Tianjin, China on a 53-day Global Odyssey. She will begin her first homeport sailing season in China from Tianjin in June 2016. Ovation of the Seas, together with Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, will make up the largest fleet of any cruise line sailing in China.

Fred Olsen reports record start to 2016

Fred Olsen reports record start to 2016

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is claiming a 27% hike in sales in the first week of January.
The seven days represented the line’s most successful in its history for both yield and volumes with an increasing number of bookings by first-time cruise passengers.

The line says 80% of people booking new five-night Norwegian fjords cruises from Newcastle are first-time cruisers, and are seven years younger than the Fred Olsen average.
The boost over the same record breaking period last year means that some 2016 departures are now sold out.

Sales and marketing director, Nathan Philpot, said: “We are in a very fortunate position that our smaller ships provide us with the ability to create and tailor-make such rich itineraries, for example, our popular river and waterways cruises on shallow-drafted Braemar.

“Our regional departures also give us the significant benefit of making a Fred Olsen cruise even more accessible to our guests.

“A number of our sailings for 2016 are already sold out, or only have a handful of cabins left. We will be moving our largest ship, Balmoral, to Newcastle this year, which was an ambitious decision, but the travel trade have been extremely supportive, and our sales in the north-east are well ahead of expectations.”

He added: “A key strategic driver for us is to attract new guests to the brand. Whilst we have a very high repeat rate – with a significant number of Fred Olsen cruisers returning time and time again – January has seen the share of ‘new to cruise’ guests shift by seven percentage points, and the average guest age has fallen by 11 months across the fleet.

“This is against a backdrop within the cruise industry that has seen the average age grow by five years, with an increasing reliance on existing customers.”

The line’s 2017/18 cruise programme is being released in March, which will see its fleet of four ships sail from ten UK departure ports to more than 200 destinations worldwide.

Crystal replaces Turkey port calls on two cruises

Crystal Cruise

Crystal Cruises said it would substitute Greek ports for Turkish ones on two upcoming cruises "in response to ongoing security concerns for travel within Istanbul."

Revised itineraries for the Crystal Symphony's April 24 and May 1 voyages will drop calls at Istanbul and Kusadasi. 

The April 24 voyage will substitute Souda Bay/Chania (Crete), Hydra, and overnights in Nafplio and Athens/Piraeus, while the May 1 cruise will include Patmos, Rhodes and an overnight in Athens/Piraeus.

Crystal also said that pre-reserved Crystal Adventures in Turkey will automatically be canceled, while the line is in the process of developing new shore excursions.

On Jan. 12, a suicide bomb killed 10 people in Istanbul, mostly German tourists. Before that incident occurred, Disney removed Greece and Turkey calls from a summer 2016 cruise. Last summer, after an attack on the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Celebrity and Costa canceled calls in Turkey.

Scenic combining adventure and luxury with super-yacht

The Scenic Eclipse will be equipped with helicopters and a submarine.

River cruise operator Scenic will make its foray into ocean cruising with the launch of Scenic Eclipse, a 228-passenger yacht, in 2018.

The company calls Scenic Eclipse a "six-star, ultra-luxury mega discovery yacht." It will be an all-suite, all-balcony vessel with suites ranging from the 344-square-foot verandah suite to the 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom owner’s penthouse suite.

There will be six onboard dining options, including contemporary fine-dining French, Pan-Asian and Italian cuisine, and casual al fresco dining on the pool deck or in the Ocean Cafe Lounge. There will be Jacuzzis on the sun deck and several bars and lounges.

The Scenic Eclipse will have indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and plunge pools.

The ship will also feature a nearly 5,000-square-foot spa offering a menu of treatments, as well as indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and plunge pools. A gym will house a studio for yoga and Pilates.

The Scenic Eclipse will embark on its maiden voyage on Aug. 31, 2018, when it will sail from Istanbul to Venice, followed by itineraries that will include the Americas, Antarctica, Europe and the Mediterranean, and the Arctic.

The ship will have a Polar Class 6 rating (Ice Class 1A Super). For Arctic and Antarctica cruises, guest numbers will be limited to 200, which will enable more landings per day for each guest. The vessel will also utilize to provide greater stability.

The Scenic Eclipse will have two helicopters for excursions as well as a seven-seat submarine. A fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks will be onboard along with scuba diving and snorkeling equipment.

An onboard Discovery Team will be led by experts in various fields and will cover a range of subjects and interests during lectures and excursions.

There will be no extra charge for any dining venues on the Eclipse.

Included in the cruise fare: all meals (there will be no surcharge at any onboard dining venue), top-shelf beverages all day, butler service, and onboard entertainment and lectures in the 240-seat theater. As with all Scenic cruises, all gratuities are included in the price as is Wi-Fi, shore excursions, Scenic Freechoice activities and special events.

Scenic recently established an ocean cruising division, an initiative that was three years in the making. The Scenic Eclipse is being designed in collaboration with naval architects including Foreship in Finland and is being built by the Uljanik Group in Croatia. There is an option for a second ship to be delivered in June 2019.

The Scenic Eclipse joins Scenic’s fleet of 21 river cruise ships throughout Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia. Scenic, an Australia-based company, also offers escorted tours in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas.

The Eclipse brochure, detailing 18 itineraries, will be available in February, Scenic said.

Smartphone the most essential travel item, survey finds

Worldwide, smartphones are travelers’ most indispensable items when they travel, even ahead of their toothbrush and driver’s license, according to the Expedia/Egencia Mobile Index.

The index, commissioned by Expedia.com and Egencia (Expedia’s business travel brand), was conducted by consulting firm It was based on input from 9,642 travelers from 19 countries.

Among U.S. respondents, one-fifth considered their smartphone to be their most essential travel item, on par with the number of respondents who said their driver’s license was the most important item to travel with. In the United States, those items tied for the most essential item for travelers.

Worldwide, 66% of respondents said smartphones are the most essential item, while 74% considered it an important travel item.

China, Taiwan and Thailand topped the charts on the countries where respondents placed the most priority on having smartphones while traveling; in China, 94% of respondents said they consider their mobile phone an important travel companion. Taiwan saw the same percentage, and in Thailand, it was 91%.

The study also found that worldwide, 84% of travelers said they want to access information from anywhere. Over half, 60%, said they do not “unplug” on leisure trips, and 35% said they use their smartphones more on vacation than at home.

Globally, 60% of travelers said they wouldn’t go on vacation without a mobile phone, and 63% sleep with their phone next to their bed on vacation.

“We have found that travelers are using mobile devices at every stage of the travel process, from researching and booking trips to capturing and sharing the travel experience,” said Aman Bhutani, president of Brand Expedia Group.

Samsung technology helps set sail to a new generation of smart cruise ships

Samsung technology helps set sail to a new generation of smart cruise ships

MSC Seaside

Samsung has partnered with major cruise line brand MSC Cruises to supply on-ship technology that aims to make the travelling experience ‘smart’.

The upgrade to the MSC Cruises fleet was announced in Milan today but the first two routes to receive the upgrade won't be in use until June and December 2017.

The MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside, consisting of seven ships in total, will be newly built and have a host of Samsung devices and technology added as part of the experience.

According to the announcement, visual displays such as in-cabin flat screen HDTVs, public screens and digital signage will be used throughout. Samsung will also supply mobile solutions such as smartphones, tablets and accessories as well as the medical equipment and expert technology for on-board medical centres, as well as printing solutions.

Samsung Italia president Carlo Barlocco, said, “The partnership with MSC Cruises is an example of how our advanced solutions are able to enhance the passenger experience: not only monitors and tablets to access information and infotainment contents on board but also advanced medical equipment to support first aid in case of emergencies. This partnership, finally, allow Samsung and MSC to bring innovation to the whole cruise industry.”

It’s not the first cruise ship to launch as a ‘smart’ experience. A Royal Caribbean ship launched last year included robot bartenders that created drinks based off orders taken on tablets aboard the ship.

As part of the launch MSC Cruises has launched a new brand positioning and campaign, celebrating the launch of the seven new ships that its building. A TV campaign in Italy, France, Germany and Spain will run with the theme of MSC Cruises being ‘not just any cruise’.

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.