Blog Page 595

Norwegian Cruise Line Cutting Back on Entertainment

Donna Tunney
-
0
Norwegian Cruise Line Cutting Back on Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is making further adjustments to its offerings onboard, and this time, it’s all about entertainment. The cruise line has communicated to impacted crew members that as it’s moving into a steadier state of operations, some of its shipboard options are changing. This includes staff cutbacks and reduced production shows.

This news comes after NCL has made several changes across the fleet recently, including increasing gratuities, reduced housekeeping, shoreside staff reductions, room service fees, and even removing crew member privileges in guest areas.

NCL Adjusts Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is continuing with its cutbacks, as some crew members are reporting the line is cutting cast members and other entertainment staff. In some cases, contracts were ended early, and recently hired workers were told not to report to their ship.

NCL informed crew members that it was moving into a steadier state of operations, and this included making some adjustments across its entertainment departments onboard ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line Deck
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

An email from the cruise line on Crew Center says, “After bringing our entire fleet back into service we have reached the time where we transition from operating in a ‘relaunch’ mode to a steadier state of operations. As part of this transition, Norwegian Cruise Line is adjusting its shipboard entertainment operations.”

Norwegian continues to say, “We regret to inform you that the decision has been made to reduce our Entertainment department manning across all vessels and as a result, your scheduled assignment has been cancelled and your services are no longer required.”

The show “Kinky Boots” is being discontinued on Norwegian Encore effective January 15, and staff were being sent home before their contracts were up. Others who were on vacation at the time of the announcement received notices to not return to their assigned ships. Norwegian’s press office did not respond to a request for confirmation about entertainment staff changes.

Earlier Cutbacks and Reductions

In mid-December 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced it would reduce shoreside staff by 9%, saying the decision was one of the company’s “prudent actions across our business to align with our strategic priorities.”

The company said, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to restructure and rightsize our shoreside workforce, reducing our current and planned shoreside roles by approximately 9%.”

“This action is part of a broader and ongoing effort to improve operating efficiencies, including cost minimization initiatives, to strengthen the foundation for sustained, profitable growth.”

Norwegian Bliss in Seattle
Photo Credit: casa.da.photo / Shutterstock

Entertainment staff reductions appear limited to Norwegian Cruise Line, since no mention was made of similar changes within Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Earlier in December, Norwegian Cruise Line took steps to increase some onboard charges, including certain fees and gratuities. These included a new $4.95 service fee for continental breakfast room service. While many cruise lines have rolled out room service fees in recent years, classic continental breakfast offerings have typically remained free of charge.

On the gratuity front, the Haven and Suite guests, who book the highest level of accommodations on Norwegian ships, are now charged $25 per day per person. Previously, the charge was $20 per day.

More From Cruise Hive

Club Balcony suite guests and all other guests now pay $20 per day per person. It represents a $2 increase from the previous gratuity charge of $18 per day for Club Balcony suite guests and a $4 increase for guests staying in all other cabin categories.

The cruise line also announced a cutback on housekeeping, with a decrease in cabin service and some adjustments to crew staffing.

Resorts World Cruises Acquires New Ship and Expands

Robert McGillivray
-
0
Resorts World Cruises Acquires New Ship and Expands

Resorts World Cruises has announced it has acquired the Explorer Dream, a cruise ship that sailed for Dream Cruises previously. The ship, now rebranded as Resorts World One, will offer cruises from Singapore for two weeks and, after that, offer two and three-night cruises from Hong Kong starting March 10, 2023. 

Resorts World Cruises is chartering the vessel and will be the first cruise line to be operating again in China following the relaxation of COVID measures in the country.

Second Cruise Ship for Resorts World Cruises

Resorts World Cruises will be chartering the former Dream-Cruises ship Explorer Dream starting mid-February. The vessel will be renamed Resorts World One and is the second former Dream Cruises ship that sails for the cruise line. Genting Dream has been operational in Singapore since last year. 

The capacity increase comes after the successful resumption of cruises with the Genting Dream in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (via Port Klang) in June 2022. These cruises proved popular in the Asian market, which has been at a virtual standstill since March 2020.

Resorts World One is a 75,338 gross-ton cruise ship that can accommodate 1,856 guests. The vessel previously operated for Dream Cruises as Explorer Dream and as SuperStar Virgo for Star Cruises.

Resorts World One
Resorts World One (Render Courtesy: Resorts World Cruises)

According to Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of Resorts World Cruises, the cruise line had a fair share in growing tourism in Singapore and Malaysia:

“We are pleased that Resorts World Cruises will have the first cruise ship to homeport in Hong Kong after the resumption of normal travel with the Mainland and overseas. We hope to support the growth of Hong Kong tourism as we had done for both Singapore and Malaysia,”

To celebrate the arrival of Resorts World One, the cruise line will offer a special 5-night repositioning cruise from Singapore, calling at Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, before arriving in Hong Kong on March 8, 2023. Guests can also embark from Port Klang for this repositioning cruise on March 2, making it a six-night cruise.

Before that cruise, Resorts World One will take Genting Dream‘s place for a two-week period, as that vessel needs to go to the dry dock for regular maintenance. This does mean that guests booked onboard Genting Dream will be moved to Resorts World One. 

A New Era for Hong Kong Cruise Tourism

The addition of Resorts World One to the Resorts World Cruises fleet marks the first time a cruise ship will homeport in Hong Kong after the resumption of normal travel within the Chinese mainland and overseas. 

Mr. Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises: “It’s been an exciting journey so far and we are looking forward to starting our next chapter in 2023 with the introduction of the Resorts World One cruise ship.”

“The ship will increase tourist arrivals and generate economic benefits to the hotels, transport, suppliers, and other service sectors in Hong Kong. Resorts World One will berth at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, contributing revenue to the government-owned facility.”

Genting Dream Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Pro Aerial Master / Shutterstock

Resorts World Cruises has also announced it will extend a goodwill offer to guests impacted by the cancellation of cruises in Hong Kong from January to April 2022 onboard Genting Dream.

This will include a complimentary cruise with an additional onboard credit of HKD350 per cabin on the Resorts World One sailing before 20 December 2023. These cruises were affected by the bankruptcy of Dream Cruises early in 2022. 

While it may not sound like big news, the fact that a cruise line is willing to take the risk to return to Hong Kong, and operate cruises from the city, will be watched with interest across the cruise industry. 

For many years, China has been labeled the most significant growth market in the industry, even prompting Carnival Corporation to begin a China-based cruise line. That growth was set to explode by 2020 until the pandemic hit, and many cruise lines are hopeful they can return to China sooner rather than later. 

Carnival Ship Changes Embarkation Time, Guests Must Be Early

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Ship Changes Embarkation Time, Guests Must Be Early

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests setting sail on Carnival Sunshine on January 16, 2023, to notify them that the ship will be leaving early, and guests’ boarding times have been adjusted accordingly.

This could be troublesome for guests who planned to arrive at the port at the last minute, but there are a few days for travelers to modify their plans for an on-time arrival.

Carnival Sunshine to Leave Early

Carnival Sunshine is homeported from Charleston, South Carolina, offering a variety of roundtrip cruises to The Bahamas and the occasional longer Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

It is the January 16, 2023, departure date for a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that is impacted by this departure change, and the ship will now be setting sail at 5 p.m. rather than the originally scheduled 6 p.m. sail away time.

Guests have been contacted via email about the change in time, and encouraged to recheck the cruise line’s website for their updated boarding pass and updated final boarding time.

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98 / Shutterstock

“We have modified the departure time for your sailing and will now be leaving the Port of Charleston at 5:00 PM (ET),” the email read. “All Guests must be on board by 4:00 PM (ET).”

It is standard procedure for guests to need to be onboard the ship an hour before setting sail, so the cruise line can be sure all guests have properly completed the muster drill, all cargo and luggage are properly loaded, and the ship has appropriate clearance to depart the port.

Guests who have planned to arrive at the port at the last minute – a common tactic to avoid crowds at the terminal – will need to be especially careful to arrive at the appropriate earlier time so as not to miss the ship.

This could be troublesome if guests have booked air travel, but there are still several days to arrange for changed flights or to reserve earlier ride shares or other transportation if necessary.

Why an Earlier Departure?

Carnival Cruise Line has offered no explanation about why Carnival Sunshine must depart the port early, but it is worth noting that similar Eastern Caribbean itineraries later in 2023 already have an earlier departure time.

The May 13 and September 16 departures, for example, are scheduled to sail away at 4 p.m. The December 4 departure, however, also has a 6 p.m. departure time for a 10-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. Guests booked on that cruise may want to check with the cruise line closer to the sailing date to confirm their departure time.

The first port of call on the January 16 cruise is a visit to St. Thomas, after the ship will already have spent two days at sea. St. Thomas is the first of five ports Carnival Sunshine will visit in five consecutive days, before spending two more days at sea and returning to Charleston on Thursday, January 26.

At this time, there have been no additional changes to the ship’s itinerary, port visit times, or its planned arrival back in South Carolina.

There could be several reasons why Carnival Sunshine may need to leave early on Monday. It is possible that marine traffic conflicts at the port have required a schedule shift for the vessel, or else staffing concerns at the port might require shortened hours for port personnel.

Poor weather could also be a consideration for an earlier departure if storms are expected in the evening, but the weather forecast for Charleston on Monday has a less than 15% chance of rain throughout the day and into the evening, and only light winds – no conditions that should impact the cruise port or the ship’s ability to safely navigate from the dock.

Early departures are relatively rare for cruise ships. More often, ships are late departing due to issues such as fog delaying the ship’s return to port, as happened with three cruise ships delayed in Tampa on January 2, or crowding at the cruise terminal that delays passenger processing, as has happened recently with the new cruise terminal in Galveston.

In recent weeks, Norwegian Cruise Line has also adjusted some port departure and arrival times in the name of better fuel efficiency to lower emissions.

Because so many factors can influence a ship’s arrival and departure times, cruisers should always plan for extra time in their travels and stay in close touch with their cruise line for updated information as their sailing date approaches.

Holland America Line Makes Major Entertainment Changes

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Holland America Line Makes Major Entertainment Changes

Holland America Line has long been known for its outstanding musical entertainment across the fleet, from intimate venues with superior musicians to live music in different locations for socializing, dancing, and just enjoyment.

Now, the cruise line is enhancing its musical offerings and making changes to bring even more great live music onboard for all guests to enjoy.

Holland America Line Updates Music Offerings

Known for its refined ambiance and cultured offerings, Holland America Line is further enhancing its premier entertainment with a series of updates to the live music onboard its fleet of 11 ships. Each change is intended to bring a new experience to more guests, and to provide superior music for everyone to enjoy.

“A decade ago we committed to offering the premier collection of live music venues at sea, and the changes we are making over the next several months are a chance for us to strengthen that experience for our guests,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development.

“Whether on a seven-day Alaska cruise or a 70-plus day Grand Voyage, our guests expect variety and quality in their live music.”

Lincoln Center Performances Moving to Larger Venue

It is indeed variety and quality that all guests will find aboard the Holland America fleet, with the first change coming to the popular Lincoln Center performances.

Rather than a quartet found on several ships, Holland America Line is elevating its partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and taking those shows to the main stage. Now, a traveling ensemble will perform throughout the fleet, using the ships’ World Stage main theater to accommodate more guests for the elite performances.

Holland America Line
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

The panoramic LED screen in the venue on Pinnacle-class ships – Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and the cruise line’s new flagship, Rotterdam – will also enhance the performance, providing a visual element to accompany the world-class music.

Holland America Line is working with Shanta Thake, Lincoln Center’s chief artistic officer, on the new vision for this program. While the details are still in development, it is expected that the performances will be finalized and rolled out to ships in the summer of 2023, and guests will enjoy performances by the highest caliber of musicians.

New Live Band on 6 Ships

Six of the cruise line’s vessels will be getting an entirely new live band experience in Ocean Bar, where a contemporary trio will now play pop arrangements showcasing top hits from the 1960s through today. This will create a richly musical ambience in the bar, as well as another opportunity for guests to dance to their favorite hits.

The new Ocean Bar band will be introduced on Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, and Nieuw Amsterdam beginning in February, though the complete rollout is expected to take until early summer.

Rolling Stone Hits

Widely regarded as one of the top bands of all time, the Rolling Stones and other classic rock artists will now be featured in two ways aboard different Holland America vessels.

Rolling Stone
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

On the Vista-class ships – Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, and Zuiderdam – the new Rolling Stone Lounge will replace the former B.B. King’s Blues Club and will feature an expanded repertoire of R&B, rock, and pop favorites. This will provide even greater musical diversity for all types of guests to enjoy, an excellent upgrade as these ships are typically scheduled for the cruise line’s longer voyages.

The lounge will feature live music six nights per week, with shows varying nightly. Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam will have the Rolling Stone Rock Room, featuring the best hits of classic rock.

Even More Music Options

Many of these changes have been gradually tested aboard different ships, with positive feedback from music-loving guests. “We are enthusiastic about the initial response we’ve received to the changes we’ve started to preview,” said Smith.

These aren’t the only music venues guests can enjoy with Holland America Line, however.

B.B. King’s Blues Club continues onboard the line’s five Signature and Pinnacle Class ships – Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam – bringing emotional music with soulful beats to guests. Furthermore, all ships except Volendam and Zaandam offer Billboard Onboard, a unique piano bar experience featuring chart-topping hits.

Guests can also enjoy music in other ways, such as part of the production shows performed by the Step One Dance Company, and the mesmerizing BBC Earth In Concert with its award-winning soundtrack set with incredible wildlife footage on the big screen in World Stage, shown on all ships.

MSC Cruise Ship Makes History at Arabian Gulf Port

Donna Tunney
-
0
MSC Cruise Ship Makes History at Arabian Gulf Port

MSC Cruises’ MSC World Europa made history on January 12 when she became the first cruise ship to call and disembark guests at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, the kingdom’s traditional cargo port on the Arabian Gulf. Saudi and cruise line officials marked the occasion with a traditional Plaque & Key Exchange Ceremony on board the ship.

Kingdom Aims to Create Major Cruise Port

The arrival of MSC Cruises’ newest ship, the 6,774-guest MSC World Europa, at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam heralds a new beginning for the cargo port as the kingdom takes steps to establish itself as a premier regional and global cruising destination.

Representatives of the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the Saudi Ports Authority, and Cruise Saudi, a government-funded cruise development agency, were on hand to celebrate the ship’s first call at the gulf port.

MSC World Europa at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam
Photo Courtesy: CruiseSaudi

Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen said, “As we welcome the first cruise ship and first group of passengers to King Abdulaziz Port, we open a new and important gateway connecting Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world – via the Arabian Gulf.”

Clasen added, “By leveraging the temperate climate, high-quality infrastructure and easy access to both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, we provide global cruise lines the opportunity to operate year-round cruising [and] position the region as a promising player in the global industry.”

According to Cruise Saudi, the kingdom’s cruising season in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf is from November to May, and the destination this season will receive about 75 port calls by ships from five cruise lines.

MSC World Europa is sailing 7-night roundtrip voyages from three departure ports, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, Qatar. All cruises feature calls at Sir Bani Yas Island and Dammam. Shore excursion options in Dammam include a visit to the Al Ahsa Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

World Europa First of Line’s World-Class Vessels

MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s first LNG-propelled ship, entered service in December 2022 and is the first of the line’s World-class vessels. Three additional World-class ships are on order for the line.

The 205,700-gross-ton ship offers 19 stateroom categories, seven swimming pools, and several adventure activities such as Venom Drop The Spiral, the industry’s longest dry slide at sea, spanning 11 decks. It also features the largest waterpark in the MSC fleet.

New Eatery Plus a Micro-Brewery Onboard

The ship is the first at MSC to offer guests two new food and beverage partnerships. Michelin-starred chef and author Niklas Ekstedt has collaborated with MSC Cruises to design the menu for the specialty restaurant Chef’s Garden Kitchen, which sports the industry’s first hydroponic garden at sea.

The MSC World Europa also partners with award-winning brewmaster Teo Musso, who created a range of MSC signature craft beers that are brewed at sea in the ship’s full-scale micro-brewery within the Masters of the Sea pub.

Following its inaugural season in the Middle East, MSC World Europa in mid-March will reposition to the Mediterranean to begin year-round cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples, and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain, and Marseille in France. MSC Cruises currently operates 21 ships.

Weather Forces Norwegian Cruise Line Itinerary Change

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Weather Forces Norwegian Cruise Line Itinerary Change

With severe weather forecast for Bermuda over the weekend, Norwegian Cruise Line is being proactive to keep ships safe and passengers comfortable by changing the current sailing for Norwegian Gem. The ship will still visit Bermuda, but will be leaving earlier than anticipated to avoid the poor weather.

Norwegian Gem Itinerary Change

The Jewel-class Norwegian Gem is currently homeported from New York, offering sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda. The ship is now on a 5-night Bermuda itinerary that was originally scheduled to spend more than 30 hours docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, but due to expected poor weather, the overnight stay has been shortened to just a typical port of call visit of 6 hours, 45 minutes.

“Although our dedicated team is committed to delivering unforgettable vacation experiences at every step of the cruise journey, at times there are elements that are out of our control,” the letter delivered to guests at embarkation said. “Unfortunately, as a result of expected inclement weather conditions, our itinerary has been revised.”

Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship in New York
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

Now, instead of remaining docked from 9 a.m. on Friday, January 13, through 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, the ship will only remain in port from 9 a.m. on Friday until 3:45 p.m. that same day, losing a full 24 hours of in-port time.

“We share your disappointment and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the letter continued.

There are no other changes to Norwegian Gem‘s itinerary, and the ship is expected to arrive back in New York on schedule at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023. The 93,530-gross-ton ship has a capacity of 2,394 guests, with 1,070 crew members aboard as well.

Compensation Offered

No alternative port of call is being substituted for the loss of the full day in Bermuda, and because of that, the cruise line is offering compensation to all guests onboard.

Every stateroom will receive $100 (USD) of non-refundable onboard credit, with $50 applied for the first and second guests in the stateroom. The credit can be used for any onboard expenses, such as drinks, spa treatments, photos, souvenirs, or specialty dining.

Any shore excursions booked for Bermuda will be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the ship’s new time in port. If the tours are unable to be run, including those planned for Saturday, January 14, they will be cancelled automatically and the full refund returned to guests’ onboard accounts.

Severe Weather Predicted

All cruise vacations are at the mercy of the weather, and poor conditions can not only make an oceangoing getaway less enjoyable, high winds and tall swells can make cruise conditions dangerous. Even if a ship is docked, bad weather can make a gangway dangerous or may make the ship unsafe adjacent to the dock structure.

Cruise lines take every precaution to avoid poor weather and the safety of the ship, guests, and crew is always the primary concern.

Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock

On Saturday, January 14, Bermuda is expected to have severe thunderstorms with steady winds predicted as high as 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour), while wind gusts may occasionally reach 60 mph (96 kph). A total of 1-2 inches of rain is expected.

In comparison, while the ship is in port on Friday, the chance of rain is less than 5% and while it will be breezy, the winds will only likely reach 20-30 mph (32-48 kph). The wind direction is also slightly different, which can impact docking conditions. Overnight on Friday, the weather is expected to worsen with higher wind gusts, late thunderstorms, and a much higher chance of rain.

Read Also: Rough Seas on a Cruise Ship – How They Handle It

Norwegian Gem is the only cruise ship scheduled to visit Bermuda early this weekend, but poor weather can impact any cruise port worldwide. Guests should always stay alert to weather forecasts and stay in touch with their cruise line for updates on schedule adjustments or itinerary changes.

Adventures by Disney Unveils 2024 River Cruises

Donna Tunney
-
0
Adventures by Disney Unveils 2024 River Cruises

Adventures by Disney, a unit of Disney that operates guided land and sea family and group travel vacations, revealed details of its 2024 European river cruises in partnership with Ama Waterways. The cruise roster includes the company’s first New Year’s holiday river cruise on the Danube.

22 Cruise Options in Europe Next Year

In 2024 Adventures by Disney will offer 22 river cruises in Europe, with sailings on the Rhine, Danube and Seine rivers. The company uses chartered ships owned by luxury river line Ama Waterways under a partnership that began in 2015.

A new itinerary, Danube River Cruise: Magical Holidays, represents the company’s first themed cruise during the New Year’s holiday, with visits to Germany, Austria and Hungary. Guests on the holiday cruise will board the ship in Munich on December 28, 2024, travel to Mondsee, Melk and Vienna, Austria, and to the holiday markets in Schonbrunn, Austria, before moving on to Hungary.

Disney Cruise Line Very Merrytime Christmas
Photo Credit: Matt Stroshane / Disney Cruise Line

Bookings for the eight-day holiday cruise will open on January 20, 2023; earlier for past cruisers and Disney Vacation Club members.

Other sailings in the 2024 lineup include Oktoberfest and Christmas markets river cruises, along with food and wine-themed sailings. A team of Disney-trained Adventure Guides travels on each cruise.

The company said, “Guests become part of the story on an Adventures by Disney river cruise, and itineraries are designed for everyone in the family. The masterful narratives, knowledge of the places visited and the culture and history are brought to life by the Adventure Guides. Through these experiences, families discover real world magic in a way only Disney can do.”

European river cruise highlights include toboggan rides in Germany’s Black Forest, viewing the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, still under reconstruction from a 2019 fire, exploring Schonbrunn Palace in Austria, and viewing castles and castle ruins along the Rhine.

More Cruise Offerings From Disney

Adventures by Disney also markets expedition cruises onboard chartered Ponant ships in a partnership forged with the luxury expedition line in 2021.

Sister brand Disney Cruise Line operates five ocean-going ships, Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder and its newest vessel, Disney Wish, which launched in June 2022 and is home-ported in Port Canaveral, Florida. Two more ships are scheduled to join the fleet: Disney Treasure in 2024 and an unnamed ship slated for a 2025 launch.

Cruise Line Has Biggest Booking Day in its History

Robert McGillivray
-
0
Cruise Line Has Biggest Booking Day in its History

P&O Cruises has reported its biggest-ever booking day during the Wave Season of 2023, with four of its five biggest booking days ever falling in the period.

The most popular itineraries booked were in the Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean, and the Norwegian fjords. With two Excel-class cruise ships operational currently, the UK-based cruise line has one of the youngest fleets in the industry.

Wave season is proving to be a hit for UK-based P&O Cruises, as the cruise line reported a record-breaking period in the first weeks of January. Of the five busiest booking days in history, four were recorded in the past period. 

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “These record-breaking days are testament to the fact that a P&O Cruises holiday provides extraordinary value for money, which is critical at the moment, and also demonstrates how much everyone values a holiday.”

“There are so many priorities for our hard-earned or hard-saved money in the current climate and a cruise offers an almost all-inclusive, individual holiday. This is clearly recognized by a new generation of cruisers with the Norwegian fjords perennially popular for those trying a cruise for the first time.”

The most popular itineraries booked by guests since the start of Wave Season are the Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean, and the Norwegian fjords.

P&O Cruises Ship
Photo Credit: Smeerjewegproducties / Shutterstock

Popular cruises include a seven-night Norwegian fjords cruise on the Britannia. Departing on June 30, 2023, the cruise will sail from Southampton to the ports of Stavanger, Olden, Flam, and Haugesund. 

Another exciting cruise included in the wave discounts is a 14-night Canary Islands cruise on the Excel-class cruise ship Iona. Departing on December 16, 2023, the cruise will sail from Southampton to ports such as Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Arrecife de Lanzarote, Cadiz, and Lisbon. 

The popularity of the Wave Season deals with P&O Cruises is not surprising, given what is on offer. Besides operating two Excel-class cruise ships, the cruise line offers guests £500 of onboard credit available for select departures through April 1, 2025. This credit can be used for various onboard amenities, such as spa treatments, shore excursions, and specialty dining. 

The wave season deal is valid through March 6, 2023, and includes a low 10% deposit but excludes inside cabins on cruises under seven nights. 

P&O Cruises Now Has Two Excel-class Cruise Ships

P&O Cruises is a British cruise line operating under the Carnival Corporation flag. With over 200 destinations worldwide and a wide choice of holidays from two days to three months, there is something for everyone, with most cruises operating from the UK and through fly-cruises in the Caribbean.

P&O Cruises’ newest cruise ship, the 180,000 gross ton Arvia, joined the fleet in December 2022 as the second LNG-powered, Excel-class ship.

P&O Arvia Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: P&O Cruises / James Robinson for Christopher Ison

Arvia offers a Caribbean maiden season of fly-cruise holidays from homeport Barbados starting January 20. The vessel is currently sailing a transatlantic crossing that will call at Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St Lucia; and St Georges, Grenada. 

After some hiccups during the maiden voyage, the creases seem to have been ironed out, and the vessel has received positive reviews.

The ship boasts a unique SkyDome with a retractable glass roof and 16 guest decks. It features the first Altitude Skywalk high ropes experience, the tropical-themed Altitude Minigolf, the Altitude Splash Valley aqua zone, an outdoor Sports Arena, a swim-up bar, and an infinity pool. 

Overall, cruise lines seem to be going all out during this Wave Season, when guests are rewarded with deep discounts for booking their cruise vacation early on. Yesterday Cruise Hive reported on discounts of up to 75% from Celebrity Cruises and 800 dollars worth of onboard credit. 

Cunard Celebrates 100 Years With Special Exhibition

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Cunard Celebrates 100 Years With Special Exhibition

Cunard is celebrating two unique centenaries – 100 year anniversaries – with a special “Sea Views” photography exhibition that will include not only archival images, but also carefully curated images from guests.

This distinctive project is being led by world-renowned British photographer Mary McCartney, and the exhibition will go live near the end of February 2023.

Special Exhibition Includes Never-Before-Seen Images

The “Sea Views” exhibition is planned to include hand-picked images from Cunard’s extensive photography archives that will help showcase the gorgeous imagery of life on the ocean waves as well as the iconic moments that make a Cunard cruise so special.

“With over 14,000 images stored in the Cunard archives in Liverpool – the founding home port of Cunard Line – we have a wealth of memories from the 1920s to present day to choose from,” said Siân Wilks, Cunard Archivist at the University of Liverpool Library.

British photographer Mary McCartney, who has been involved with many notable projects including photographing Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 to celebrate the fact that Her Majesty was the longest-reigning British monarch in 1,000 years, has been chosen to curate the new exhibition.

British photographer Mary McCartney
British photographer Mary McCartney

Not only will McCartney delve into Cunard’s extensive archive, but she will also select from submitted guest photos to add even more richness and perspective to the exhibition.

Guests interested in submitting digital images may do so by February 5, 2023, via the exhibition’s website. Entries must include the basic information such as the ship the image was captured on, the date it was taken, and a short description of the photograph.

“I’m pleased to curate an exhibition within this treasure trove of 100 years of on board photography,” said McCartney. “I’m looking forward to exploring the archives and the crowdsourced images to hand pick a portfolio of iconic images that will reflect a century of luxury travel.”

Celebrating Two Special Anniversaries

The “Sea Views” exhibition celebrates two 100-year anniversaries for Cunard: the successful conclusion of cruise line’s first-ever world voyage, and the introduction of professional photographers onboard to capture all those special cruise moments.

Cunard’s first world voyage was aboard the RMS Laconia, a 19,695-gross-ton ocean liner that set sail on the historic sailing on November 21, 1922. The voyage lasted 130 days and brought 347 passengers to 22 ports of call. While not initially marketed as a “world cruise,” the sailing was later acknowledged as the first continuous circumnavigation by a passenger vessel, and thus the first world cruise.

Cunard Cruise Ships
Photo Credit: Jason Wells / Shutterstock.com

Read Also: Two MSC Ships Embark on Simultaneous World Cruises

“We’re extremely proud of Cunard’s 183-year history and particularly of the fact we pioneered the round-the-world voyage 100 years ago,” said Sture Myrmell, Cunard President. “What better way to celebrate this centenary anniversary than by curating a fantastic selection of images from our guests who’ve travelled with us.

“We’re delighted to be working with the wonderful Mary McCartney to create this exhibition and can’t wait to see the unforgettable moments that our guests have captured over the years.”

The second centenary celebration is that in 1923, Cunard first hired professional photographers to capture iconic moments of cruise vacations to preserve guests’ memories and special moments in style.

Today, no cruise vacation would be complete without various snapshots, portraits, and poses, and nearly every cruise ship offers photography services onboard, from silly props and backdrops to elegant formal and family portraiture.

1...594595596...637Page 595 of 637