Cruise Review- P&O Britannia Caribbean Cruise 2021.

P&O Britannia moored in Curacao Photo credit Spacejunkie2

Ship- P&O Britannia

Built- 2015

Capacity- 3600 pax

size- 141,000

Crew- 1350

Length- 330mtr

This was our first P&O cruise and was a bit apprehensive like everyone else I did the silly thing of reading reviews on the Britannia, even as an ex-travel agent/owner I know that the reviews need to be taken with a pinch of salt, but one of the recent moans was about the flow of the ship and no Aft Staircase and at first, the review seemed accurate, but being a bit qualitative we went looking and asked the crew a few discrete the reason was fairly obvious, the Aft 1/5th (20%) from just after the inside cabins were closed off due to there being a Covid-19 Quarantine area for the crew to do their 10-day isolation and in case of an outbreak, which is required in the 'Return to Sailing Order', mystery solved.

Due to the current climate of having Covid rules, Britannia could only sail at 70% capacity add to that all the legal flight and vaccination hoops we had to traverse (which I'll cover later on) she was only about 45-60% capacity which was nice.

As with all the other 5 cruise companies we have sailed with the Crew members were Fantastic and could not serve us enough, the bar staff knew our drinks and names after the first visit and the Java Bar the tenders Jay and Bernard were two of the best so friendly and attentive and Jay actually spoke Welsh phrases which were nice being Welsh ourselves. This bar is a great place for pre or post Theater drinks with new or familiar friends.

All of the Bar's had a lot of seating and we never had to go hunting for somewhere to sit, the live acts in the bars were very good and a couple were more than above the normal singers, in the Live Lounge we had a Rock night with the band Pulse and a male and female singer (sorry I can't remember their name to many Gin and Ginger ales drunk), and they were the stars of the whole cruise, singing anthem hits from Bon Jovi, Metalica, Queen, Guns & Rose's and a lot more and they had fantastic voices.

The Main Theater act 'HeadLiners' are very good singers and dancers with high energy shows and even a magical show, with a great LED screen and lighting backdrops, the only problem was that the shows started to become repetitive with the same songs and dance moves, to be fair to them they did very well considering that P&O could not bring any fresh acts on to the ship due to the Covid restrictions and the 10-day isolation rules. The Poolside show they did was fresh with new music and great dancing under the Caribbean stars and there was a great atmosphere on the top deck.

The main restaurant is a very stylish area with glass-walled wine racks and well laid out tables, the table waiters were very attentive and always kept an eye on what you were doing, if they saw you weren't keen on something they quickly came over and asked if a replacement or an alternative was wanted, on one occasion we were looking at the patterns on the breakfast cups and plates and commenting to each other how good they looked, the head waiter appeared for out of nowhere to ask what was wrong or if they were dirty and seemed confused when we said we were just admiring the patterns on the cups and plates, this is great service attentive but discrete. 

The Food in the main restaurants was of the best quality we have ever had at sea and so well presented, the only slight complaint was the variation it was always meat and two veg, no pasta and only chicken once, but saying that there was Venison, various Fish, Quail, Guinea fowl, and great Steaks all served with veg and mash. The quality of the food was also there at Breakfast and Dinner times, the Canteen (Horizon Food Court) had a limited offering but was very well cooked, there was always a roast joint a vegetarian option and even a Gluten-free option. Cold cut meats, and salmon (or a different fish option) freshly baked bread and plenty of desserts were available, at 11pm a night time snacks were available but nearly the same as the dinner time offering, Pizza and burgers were only on the poolside and only for a few hours per day.

Friends of ours who had massages in Thailand and on other ships had a few Spa treatments and were very pleased saying that they were the Best Massages they have ever had, a bit pricey between £120-£170 plus but worth it, the masses did try to up-sell creams and bath salts which ruins the relaxed feeling and didn't purchase.

There were 4 formal nights 2 of which had a special menu which was very tasty, on one occasion my son and I wore tailored waistcoats, a shirt and a black tie (I wore a hand made silk tie) and were refused entry to the crow's nest bar lounge which did not impress us as my outfit must have cost a  lot more than the cheap of the rail suits that were aloud in

Conclusion- Would I cruise with P&O again? That would depend on the Itinerary and the price, we normally choose our cruise by the countries, cities being visited and if we have been there before, some cruise Itinerarys we would do over and over again, such as an Atlantic crossing (5 so far) because each one has been different, and the same as the Baltics, there so much to see on this cruise its worth doing a few times.

                       Would I cruise on Britannia again? That's a more simple answer and it's a yes, one good reason was in Saint Maartin we birthed next to the Celebrity Edge and two Oasis-class ships and Britannias Hugh Union Flag painted on her Bow was amazing and made you proud to be British, See below image.  

MSC Cruises Reveals MSC Seascape Will Debut in Miami in 2022

Thank you to https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/ for the report.

During a media briefing Thursday aboard the soon-to-be-christened MSC Seashore, Ruben Rodriguez, MSC Cruises North America president, revealed the line's next EVO-class ship will now be officially deployed to the U.S. upon completion in 2022.

"MSC Seascape is the sister ship to MSC Seashore. It’s currently under construction in Italy, to be launched at the end of next year,” revealed Rodriguez. "And we will be deploying Seascape in Miami as its homeport come winter 2022-2023." He added that the ship will bring "new experiences, new amenities and new features".

MSC Seascape is scheduled to be delivered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in November 2022. The 5,877-passenger ship will offer 11 dining venues, 19 bars and lounges, and will feature six swimming pools. Rodriguez's announcement coincided with the float-out of MSC Seascape at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Thursday.

MSC's decision to deploy its newest vessel Stateside isn't exactly a surprise. The Swiss-based, Italy-owned cruise line has been making big investments in the U.S. to stake a place in the highly competitive U.S. cruise market. These initiatives also include its three-year Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve project, which saw the line completely renovating and restoring an industrial island in the Bahamas into a thriving marine reserve with over 75,000 individually-planted plants, over 80 different species of marine life, and a coral restoration project.

MSC Cruises will also begin ground-breaking on their own dedicated terminal at PortMiami, designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica, the global architecture firm responsible for several buildings found in the Miami skyline as well as across the world.

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri mark float out of MSC Seascape

169,400-gt MSC Seascape will be able to accommodate up to 5,877 guests with 13,000 m2 of outdoor space (source: Fincantieri)

MSC Seascape will be delivered in November 2022 from Fincantieri, the second Seaside EVO-class ship to enter the MSC Cruises fleet, and the fourth vessel in the line’s Seaside class

MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said, “The float out of MSC Seascape marks yet another significant milestone in the growth of our fleet and the vessel will pay homage to the oceans through yet another host of highly innovative maritime and design features.

“We have continued with our ambitious newbuild plans in spite of the pandemic, and today is a double celebration for MSC as our next flagship MSC Seascape is floated out into water simultaneously as its sister ship MSC Seashore is officially named at our private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

“MSC Seascape – together with MSC Seashore – features some of the latest environmental technologies and solutions to minimise its impact on the environment which will help us take a further step forward towards realising our ambition of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.

Fincantieri chief executive Giuseppe Bono said, “Such an imposing ship makes it even more suggestive to reflect on the enormous work behind its construction. We began the work on MSC Seascape almost concurrently with the onset of the emergency and today, together with an established operator like MSC, we celebrate its float-out in line with pre-pandemic plans. The great determination in respecting production commitments and preserving the entire orderbook has become the hallmark of our Group, an authentic cornerstone of the culture of the company, and there could not be a better precondition for looking to the future with renewed confidence”.

169,400-gt MSC Seascape will be able to accommodate up to 5,877 guests with 13,000 m² of outdoor space.

MSC Seascape’s environmental technologies will include selective catalytic reduction systems on each of its four Wärtsilä 14V 46F engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% by converting the gas into harmless nitrogen and water, plus hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems to remove 98% of sulphur oxide from ship emissions.

Fincantieri added in a statement that the vessel is fitted with best-in-class wastewater treatment systems with purification standards that are higher than most wastewater treatment facilities on land, advanced waste management systems, ballast water treatment systems approved by the US Coast Guard, the latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting able to save energy.

The ship will also feature an underwater radiated noise management system to reduce and isolate the potential effects on marine mammals.

MSC Cruises holds naming ceremony for MSC Seashore

Guests at the event had the chance to explore both the new ship and the private island

MSC Cruises has officially named its new flagship, MSC Seashore, in a ceremony at its private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas.

The celebration was the first naming ceremony for a cruise ship to be held at a private island. Italian actress Sophia Loren served as godmother in the ceremony, the 16th time she has performed the role for an MSC Cruises ship.

Guests at the event had the chance to explore the ship and private island, with festivities taking place both onboard and onshore. Events included a gala dinner and live entertainment from three-time Grammy Award-winner Nile Rodgers and his band Chic.

The naming ceremony also served to formally inaugurate Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, which opened in December 2019 and closed shortly afterwards due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ground was broken for the MSC Foundation’s Marine Conservation Center, which includes a laboratory and coral nursery areas. The facility will be a key element of the Foundation’s Super Coral Program, which seeks to help restore coral reefs in The Bahamas to a healthy state through the propagation of ‘Super Coral’ species to increase their resilience. This work will be carried out in partnership with the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Nova Southeastern University.

Following the event, MSC Seashore will begin sailing her inaugural seven-night cruise season from Miami, Florida, on 20 November.

P&O Australia Extends Pause in Operations Until March 3, 2022

P&O Pacific Exprorer

P&O Cruises Australia has extended its pause in operations until March 3, 2022.

“Despite tentative signs of a restart to cruising in Australia, uncertainty continues on the timing of when federal and state governments will allow cruising to resume. Given this difficult situation, P&O Cruises Australia has decided to further extend its pause in operations to March 3, 2022,” P&O Cruises Australia’s President Sture Myrmell said, according to the cruise line’s Facebook post.

According to the statement, the extended pause applies to cruises scheduled to depart between Feb. 15, 2022, and March 3, 2022, from Sydney and Brisbane.

According to him, the complex logistics necessary to have a ship back in Australian waters will take several months for once a return to service and accompanying protocols become clear.

“We are sorry for this disruption to your holiday plans. Our team will make contact with all guests whose cruises are affected by the pause extension,” Myrmell noted. “In the meantime, we want you to have certainty in relation to your holiday plans and to limit any inconvenience as much as we can. We hope that the pathway for the resumption of cruising becomes clearer as society continues to re-open and other forms of travel are able to resume.”

Former Costa neoRomantica To Be Scrapped

The Antares Experience – formerly known as the Costa neoRomantica and Celestyal Experience – is getting scrapped, according to Gadani Ship Breaking Yard.

The Pakistani shipyard posted several photos and videos of the former Costa Cruises ship on its Facebook page.

The ship was originally launched as the Romantica in the 1990s and renamed as the neoRomantica after Costa gave it a 90-million-euro upgrade in 2011-2012 adding two half decks, new staterooms and additional balcony-equipped accommodations.

Celestyal Cruises took delivery of the ship in summer 2020 and renamed it as the Celestyal Experience, according to the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News. The 1,800-guest ship immediately became the largest ship in the company’s fleet but, sadly, never sailed for the cruise line.

Celestyal CEO, Chris Theophilides, previously said that the purchase of the Experience allowed the cruise line to see “many more destinations.” It was expected to sail on March 5, 2022, with the seven-night Three Continents itinerary, calling in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. The ship’s sales price was not disclosed.

However, those operational plans were quickly scrapped as the pandemic showed no signs of stopping, and Celestyal published a statement on selling the ship – at the time to an undisclosed buyer. The vessel shortly reemerged as the Antares Experience.

Carnival Cruise Line Extends Homeport COVID Testing Through Year-End

Carnival Cruise Line has extended the availability of coronavirus testing at its homeports through the end of December 2021. This was announced in a Facebook post by the cruise line’s brand ambassador John Heald.

The testing is available for vaccinated guests who sail from Galveston, Baltimore, New Orleans and Long beach through DocGo and for vaccinated passengers sailing from Miami, Port Canaveral and Tampa via Rapid Cruise Testing.

Appointments must be made online and are non-refundable at the price of $100 per person.

Heald asked Carnival guests to use the homeport testing services only if they “exhausted all other ways to get tested such as tests by your local pharmacy, monitored home tests etc.”

“This will be more affordable plus most importantly it will give you peace of mind knowing you already have your negative result 48 hours before your fun starts,” Heald explained.

Any appointment made with the testing centres and not taken will not be refunded in December, according to him.

“The reason for this is that we had people not show up and then ask for a refund which in turn meant that people who wanted appointments could not get them. So, for December there will be no refunds made,” Heald explained.

The Pandemic didn't stop us - Nobody is growing like Us (MSC)

With the new flagship MSC Seashore recently named at its private island Ocean Cay, MSC Cruises is eyeing US expansion, sustainable innovations and “hidden” destinations in the Middle East. Tom Parry speaks to chief executive Gianni Onorato.

A Welsh journalist and an Italian cruise boss discussing Darwin on board a ship in Miami might sound to some like the set-up for a Christmas cracker joke – December is upon us after all.

 

But the reference to the famous naturalist by MSC Cruises chief executive Gianni Onorato neatly conveys the journey his line has taken in recent years, and the course it has plotted out of the pandemic and into the future.

 

“I love Darwin and his theory of survival,” says Onorato, relaxing in his chair in MSC Seashore’s Top Sail Lounge. “Covid has led us to do things we would never have thought about – we’ve adapted and evolved.”

 

Evolution is an appropriate label for Seashore. MSC’s new flagship is its first Seaside Evo-class vessel, larger than sisters MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. In fact, it’s the largest ever built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri.

 

We’re speaking in mid-November, the day before Seashore is christened 65 miles east at Ocean Cay in the Bahamas, MSC’s private island and marine reserve.

 

A former aragonite sand mine and “industrial wasteland”, the island has undergone an environmental evolution of its own since it was acquired by MSC in 2015, one the line hopes will entice guests.

 

Bringing Seashore to Miami marks “the next phase” in the Italian-owned line’s stateside aspirations.

 

EXPANSION PLANS

 

Onorato says the brand is hoping to reach one million US guests across its fleet within the next two years, an ambition fuelled by plans to open a new PortMiami terminal in 2023 – the world’s largest – capable of housing three ships and welcoming 36,000 passengers a day.

British cruisers will be a vital source market, with Onorato of the belief that MSC is the “only truly international cruise company” able to adapt its offering to suit multiple nationalities on board.

 

Seashore is MSC’s seventh ship to launch in four years, with the line’s fleet due to growing to 23 ships by 2025. “Even the pandemic did not stop us – nobody is growing the way we are growing,” says Onorato.

 

Ocean Cay will be central to attracting new customers. A three-year restoration project has seen 7,500 tonnes of industrial waste and scrap metal removed from the island and 75,000 plants and shrubs planted, while 64 square miles of Ocean Cay’s waters are now protected. A marine research centre is also being built to support coral conservation.

 

It’s been a labour of love for MSC executive chair Pierfrancesco Vago. Speaking at Seashore’s christening ceremony, Vago said it was “a dream come true” to see Ocean Cay’s transformation come to fruition, six years after he conceived the plan.

 

Onorato says the Bahamian island “fits perfectly with UK expectations” of a Caribbean cruise; but with the destination marketed more on its environmental credentials than visitor attractions, MSC is taking a different approach to industry rivals.

 

“Everyone has conceived their islands differently – it depends on the DNA of the company,” he says. “In some cases, lines want to fill an island with waterslides [but] that wouldn’t be MSC and our love for the sea. In our case, we wanted to create a natural lagoon.”

At a press conference the following day, Vago adds: “We didn’t want to offer a theme park – the ship is already the theme park. We wanted natural authenticity [and] I think the island speaks for itself.”

 

Given its shipping heritage, the company having been founded by captain Gianluigi Aponte in 1970, sustainability – or more specifically love and desire to protect the sea – is an issue high on the agenda for MSC.

 

Several of the line’s upcoming ships will be fuelled by the more environmentally-friendly liquefied natural gas, while its future Miami home and the Horizon terminal opened in Southampton this summer offer plug-in shore power.

 

Other methods for cleaner cruising are also being developed, says Onorato, including better ways to store energy onboard and use it for hotel operations. MSC is already exploring hydrogen fuel, with testing taking place on its cargo ships.

 

So could a hydrogen-powered ship be a reality in the next decade? “It’s a long process,” he says. “We can’t do it alone, but we’ve got great partners to help us.”

Other efforts such as itineraries enabling ships to sail more slowly, using more environmentally-friendly silicone paint and developing air conditioning systems that adapt to the number of people in the room, will also play their part. “Each one of these measures is little, but they all add up,” says Onorato.

 

EYES ON THE EMIRATES

 

An important milestone, and further evolution, will come with the launch of its next-generation vessel – MSC World Europa – in December 2022.

 

Hailed by the line as its “most innovative and environmentally advanced ship”, World Europa will make its debut in the Middle East and sail its inaugural season in the Gulf, including a call to Dammam in Saudi Arabia to visit the Unesco World Heritage site of Al Ahsa.

 

The kingdom is a destination in which MSC has invested heavily and earmarked for future expansion, with MSC Bellissima due to spending the forthcoming winter season operating out of Jeddah, after a five-year agreement with Cruise Saudi for preferential berthing rights at the port.

 

But with this expansion into the region, both by MSC and other major cruise brands comes a level of scrutiny. Onorato, who insists Saudi Arabia possesses “hidden treasures” for cruise guests to explore, is candid about the reputation of the country and its leaders but believes Saudi opening up to tourism is “a sign they want help” and presents travel companies with the chance to help modernise things.

 

“They are open to being confronted by our world. They are offering us their hand and we need to take it,” says Onorato. “They’re trying to improve and we have a duty to help. We have a duty to support them. Tourism can change the culture.”

 

Closer to home, and after being the first line to restart the UK cruising in May, MSC delivered another brand first last month – ex-Southampton winter cruises to northern Europe on MSC Magnifica, which will run through to April.

 

Onorato returns to Darwin and the adaptability needed to first restart successfully, and then evolve its outlook.

 

“We’d never thought about domestic cruises in the UK; I think the success we had shown there is undoubtedly a market [for winter cruises from Southampton] and that there is a market for northern Europe.”

 

So much so, Onorato teases a ship “larger than Magnifica” will sail in Southampton next year. The line’s investment in Southampton’s Horizon terminal “means larger ships and more ships” too, Onorato smiles.

 

“We need to invest in travel agents’ and consumers’ minds,” he says. “We’ve seen a huge improvement in brand awareness from the trade – they have seen we’re seriously committed to the UK.”

 

It seems yet more evolution from MSC will soon be on its way.

MSC Ready to Name New MSC Virtuosa in Dubai

MSC Cruises today will host the naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa when Hollywood superstar Sophia Loren officially names the ship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a press release.

MSC Cruises chose Dubai to host the ceremony in recognition of its long-term commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East market where it is the brand leader, the company said, in a statement. 

A long-standing maritime tradition, the official Naming Ceremony of the ship will take place in the presence of the Master of the Vessel, Captain Francesco Veniero and local dignitaries.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, said: “We are honoured to host this time-honoured maritime tradition ceremony in the United Arab Emirates during its Golden Jubilee year and with it, to mark our longstanding and long-term commitment to this region. This is also why this winter MSC Virtuosa, a new and one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced ships in our fleet, will homeport in the country as part of our deployment in the Gulf region. Cruising is an integral part of the UAE’s dynamic tourism industry, and thanks to our uniquely global distribution network we will continue to promote the country and the Middle East all around the world as an attractive holiday option to support the further growth of the tourism industry locally.”

Hosted by well-known UAE TV personality Omar Butti as Master of Ceremonies, Hollywood icon Sophia Loren will take to the stage to officially name her 17th MSC Cruises’ ship by cutting the ribbon that breaks the bottle on the ship’s hull.

Event guests will be also treated to a performance by internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Rag'n'Bone Man, who will perform his best-known hit songs.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “It is a proud moment for us to host the MSC Virtuosa naming ceremony at Mina Rashid that has consistently reaffirmed its status as a leading destination, regionally and globally. The port’s state-of-the-art facilities, passenger handling capacity and strategic location have helped us win several significant accolades, the recent being The Middle East's Leading Cruise Port Award at The World Travel Awards 2021, received for the 14th consecutive year. To ensure that the port continues to be an integral contributor to the UAE’s economy and a significant economic pillar of Dubai, we are working to enhance its capabilities. Our sole aim is to reinforce its status as a preferred recreational facility that represents Dubai’s rich cultural heritage. Through our efforts, we will strive to ensure that the Emirate continues to gain recognition globally as a world-class cruise destination. We are also expecting a total of 126 ship calls and over 500,000 cruise visitors for the upcoming 2021/22 cruise season. This will further bolster Dubai’s tourism figures and drive our progress.”

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “Dubai continues to chart a course forward as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and the cruise capital of the Middle East, as we continually strive to realise the goal inspired by our visionary leadership to make Dubai the most preferred, visited and revisited destination. Hosting the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ newest flagship vessel, MSC Virtuosa in Dubai is a testament to the popularity of the city as the cruise gateway to the region. Dubai’s reputation as a cruise hub continues to grow in stature and iconic moments and milestone events such as these reflect the crucial contribution of cruising to the city’s tourism industry. With Dubai continuing to welcome international tourists, this event will build on the momentum generated by the recent launch of the new cruise season, further fuelling growth during this landmark year for Dubai featuring Expo 2020 and celebrations surrounding the UAE Golden Jubilee, and beyond.”

Following the naming ceremony, MSC Virtuosa will depart on Nov. 28 from Dubai for her maiden Gulf voyage with visits to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha.

Photo: From left: Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC; Hoor Al Khaja- Acting AVP, international operations, Dept Economy and Tourism Dubai; Gianni Onorato; CEO, MSC.

 

Disney Cruise Line’s Float Debuts at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Disney Cruise Line’s ship float – named the Magic Meets the Sea – has debuted in New York City as part of the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 25.

The float was inspired by the Disney Wish, which sets sail in summer 2022.

The Magic Meets the Sea’s participation in the parade was accompanied by a special performance by actor and singer-songwriter Jordan Fisher.

The float featured 15 Disney characters that represent the stories and experiences on the Disney Wish – including Captain Minnie Mouse who adorns the ship’s bow, Princess Tiana who's part of an interactive adventure aboard the ship, Aladdin and Jasmine whose story has been reimagined into a stage show onboard, and Cinderella whose bronze statue will stand in the Grand Hall.

The Magic Meets the Sea featured design elements including a Mickey Mouse-inspired colour palette, towering red funnels and a filigree motif along the hull.

Norwegian Deployment Moves: More Destinations and Two More Ships

Norwegian Bliss arriving in Southampton Photo credit Spacejunkie2

Two additional cruise ships resumed service for the Norwegian Cruise Line in November. After first welcoming guests back in July, the brand now has nine vessels back in revenue service.

While more capacity is added, Norwegian is also returning to more homeports and destinations – including the Middle East.

Norwegian Escape
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,200
Built: 2015
Homeport: Port Canaveral (United States)
Itinerary: Eastern and Western Caribbean
First Cruise: November 13

The Norwegian Escape welcomed guests back on November 13, becoming Norwegian’s eighth vessel to resume commercial operations. After a 20-month operational pause, the vessel also marked the company’s return to Port Canaveral.

The ship is now offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean from the Florida port. The voyages feature visits to major ports in the region, including Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas.

The Norwegian Escape originally entered service in 2015 as the first vessel of the company’s Breakaway-Plus series.

Before resuming service, the vessel spends time in a European shipyard, undergoing maintenance and mandatory work.

Norwegian Joy
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,200
Built: 2017
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
First Cruise: November 20

After the Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Cruise Line saw the return of its ninth ship on Nov. 20 as the Norwegian Joy welcomed guests back in Miami, kicking off a series of Caribbean cruises.

For its comeback program, the vessel is sailing seven-night voyages calling at Roatán, Bay Islands; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Harvest Caye, Belize – the brand's private resort destination in Belize.

The week-long itinerary is available through April 23, 2022.

Built-in 2017, the Norwegian Joy is one of the biggest ships in Norwegian’s fleet. As the second Breakaway-Plus vessel, it has unique features, including a two-level go-kart track, an open-air laser tag course, simulator rides and two multi-story waterslides.

The Joy underwent a major refurbishment in 2019 before debuting in the U.S. market.

Four Ships Moving Around

As the winter season approaches, four of Norwegian’s ships are launching new deployments – including the Norwegian Jade, which is now sailing in the Middle East after a summer in Europe.
Here are the details:

Ship: Norwegian Jade
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,400
Built: 2006
New Homeport: Dubai (UAE)
New Itinerary: the Middle East and Africa

The first ship to resume service for Norwegian, the Norwegian Jade recently concluded its first post-pandemic season in the Mediterranean. The vessel is now offering a winter program in the Indian Ocean, with itineraries visiting the Middle East and Africa.

Ship: Norwegian Gem
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,400
Built: 2007
New Homeport: New York City (United States)
New Itinerary: Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and East Coast

After embarking on a series of cruises sailing from Miami, the Norwegian Gem recently started a New York-based program. Sailing from Manhattan, the vessel is now offering voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,000
Built: 2013
New Homeport: New Orleans (United States)
New Itinerary: Caribbean
In November, the Norwegian Breakaway marked Norwegian’s return to New Orleans. Initially sailing from New York City, the ship resumed service in September.

Ship: Norwegian Encore
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,200
Built: 2019
New Homeport: Miami (United States)
New Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas

After a summer season in Alaska, the Norwegian Encore launched service from Miami on Nov. 21. The 2019-built ship is now offering week-long Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Norwegian’s Pearl of Miami Cruise Terminal.

MSC Cruises Reveals Details of Bellissima’s Red Sea Season Starting in November 2021

MSC Cruises has confirmed the details of an updated sailing itinerary for MSC Bellissima’s winter season from her homeport of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia beginning on Nov. 6. According to a press release, the ship will offer seven-night cruises calling at the Saudi Arabian ports of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Yanbu, then on to Aqaba in Jordan before returning to Jeddah.

MSC said that the port of Safaga in Egypt has been cancelled as many countries from where guests for the Red Sea cruises originate have the country currently listed as a high-risk destination due to the pandemic and for their return home they would have to undergo a period of quarantine.

The Bellissima will now spend an overnight stay in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia so guests can visit AlUla, one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula and home to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Guests will also be able to visit a secluded island, partake in coral reef snorkelling or a desert excursion.

MSC said that KAEC has been added to the ship’s itinerary to include a sightseeing tour of the holy city of Medina or a day on the beach.

As the Bellissima does not leave the Jeddah port until late on Saturday evenings, guests can check-in and embark on the ship and then go ashore in the afternoon to make the most of their day in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city. According to MSC, A City Of Culture & History tour offers a "journey through centuries of culture and traditions" including a visit to the old town of Al Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Medina sightseeing tours offer a glimpse into the site of Islamic pilgrimage. 

The ship will remain in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia overnight to allow guests the opportunity to visit Hegra, AlUla ancient town and the Elephant Rock. The UNESCO World Heritage site Hegra is an ancient city hidden in the sands of the desert. A guided tour will allow guests to discover some of its monuments, of which there are more than 100 at the site.

AlUla is situated in a desert setting in the Hijaz mountains and where pilgrims, travellers and permanent settlers have gathered over the centuries. Surrounded by an ancient oasis, the town boasts a citadel dating back to the 10th century, 900 brick houses, 400 shops and a maze of alleyways and squares.

Elephant Rock is two monolithic rocks, the "trunk" and the "body", which stand out against the desert backdrop and have been shaped over the centuries by the weather into the shape of an elephant.

MSC said that Yanbu is "known as the diving capital of Saudi Arabia” and snorkelling will be available at Iona Coral Reef to see various fish, the marine flora and the sunken wreck of the British ship Iona. A secluded spot on Baridi Island is also available, as well as a desert camp under the stars.

A "highlight" of the voyage, according to MSC, is a visit to the Wonders of Petra – the ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage site in the middle of the Jordanian desert, rediscovered in 1812. 

Azamara’s Fleet Comes Under V.Ships Leisure’s Ship Management

Azamara’s four-ship luxury fleet is now under the ship management of V.Ships Leisure, which has assumed all technical oversight, crewing and port operations, according to Per Bjornsen, CEO, V.Ships Leisure.

After private equity firm, Sycamore Partners’ acquisition of Azamara from the Royal Caribbean Group earlier this year, the Azamara Onward entered V.Ships’ management following the ship’s acquisition, while the company brought the Quest into management on October 23, the Pursuit on October 28 and the Journey on October 31.

Detailed Way

“We’ve been through the plan in the most detailed way to ensure there is no change to the guest experience. That has been the core,” said Bjornsen, noting that while it is rare to decouple brands from a major cruise group, V.Ships has done it several times.

Taking over four sister ships, the crew will stay the same, but be managed by V.Ships, while other new systems have been put in place.

“We are moving toward more data-driven management for planned maintenance, for example,” Bjornsen told Cruise Industry News. “The data is being migrated to our platform, ShipSure, which is the digital platform in the centre of everything we do. There has been detailed planning with Azamara, Royal Caribbean Group and our team to make this smooth.”

“There has been thorough planning of crewing, the procurement hand over and customization of the safety management system – making sure there are no gaps compared to the service which was provided previously. However, we see this as a greenfield opportunity to do things smarter.”

Four Ships

“When you have the opportunity to have four sister ships, it’s quite interesting what you can do, comparing the fleet, how you operate and sharing best practices. There is a tremendous amount of data and if you use it cleverly you can move towards predictive maintenance,” Bjornsen explained.

Moving to V.Ships, Azamara has access to a global network of offices, purchasing power and redundancy of resources.

“It’s important that we share the same culture,” Bjornsen said of Azamara’s and Sycamore’s relationship with V.Ships. “Safety is the number one priority and we are going into this with a long-term horizon working together as partners.”

Royal Caribbean's World Cruise is 70% Sold Out

Royal Caribbean's 274-night world cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas is 70 per cent booked after going on sale recently to just former loyalty members.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said the average price of a room is $75,000 for a standard balcony cabin, which would mean a ticket price of $136 per person per day assuming double occupancy. 

"The Royal Suite sold within a week at $760,000 and all of these suites have booked with non-refundable deposits, so even we were taken aback by the Unbelievable response of our loyalty customers," said Bayley.

"The fact that within a week we were 70 per cent booked on a ship that carries around 2,100 guests and is on a nine-month world cruise was just remarkable and I think that's indicative of what we're seeing."