blog - Page 565 of 610

Brothers to Co-Captain New Celebrity Cruise Ship

Celebrity Cruises News

Donna Tunney

-

Jan 25, 2023

Brothers to Co-Captain New Celebrity Cruise Ship

Celebrity Cruises is making cruise industry history with the appointment of two brothers as co-captains of Celebrity Ascent, the line’s newest Edge Series-class ship that will debut in late 2023. The Greek brothers are veteran Celebrity officers with more than 50 years of service to the cruise line between them.

‘Star-Powered Siblings’ at the Helm

Like ships that pass in the night, co-captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis will serve three-month rotating assignments on Celebrity Ascent. Their appointments mark the second time Celebrity Cruises has charted new territory on the bridge: The line in 2015 chose Kate McCue as captain of Celebrity Summit, making her the industry’s first female cruise ship captain.

Captain Dimitrios has been with Celebrity Cruises since 1990, his brother since 1998. The two will share the helm of the 3,260-guest ship, which is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said, “Captain Dimitrios and Captain Tasos are our star-powered siblings, a maritime dream team. They have given so much to the Celebrity family over the years that we are like a second family. Seeing their emotional reaction to this appointment and understanding what it means to share this pinnacle of their career together was something I didn’t expect and will never forget.”

Worth Reading: Popular Cruise Captain Will Helm New Ultra-Luxury Yacht

Lutoff-Perlo added: “This ship represents a monumental milestone for our brand, taking our innovative outward-facing design further than ever, and creating a whole new class of relaxed luxury resorts at sea. I am so proud to leave her in the hands of these expert mariners.”

The Pinnacle of Maritime Careers

Captain Dimitrios has spent his entire maritime career at Celebrity Cruises, starting as an Apprentice Officer onboard Celebrity Horizon in 1990. He graduated from the Merchant Maritime Academy of Syros-Athens. According to the cruise line, he was on the start-up teams for Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Apex, and served as captain of Celebrity Apex.

Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship Brother Co-Captains — Photo Courtesy: Celebrity Cruises

Captain Dimitrios said, “Nearly 35 years after Celebrity Cruises was founded in Greece, they will have not one, but two Greek captains taking the helm of their newest vessel in 2023 and I am honored for my brother and I to take this role, together. I am so proud for my family and proud of my brother. We look forward to welcoming everyone on board Celebrity Ascent this winter.”

Captain Tasos joined Celebrity after graduating from the Merchant Marine College, and was involved in the launches of Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Reflection. He most recently was captain of Celebrity Edge.

Captain Tasos commented, “Together, my brother and I share a love of the ocean, and a love for this company and our guests. To share a special moment together like this is something I could have only dreamed of.”

Construction Continues After Float Out

Celebrity Ascent, the fourth in the line’s Edge Series, reached a major construction milestone on January 21 when it was floated out of the shipyard. Work on the 140,600 gross ton vessel continues at her mooring location, prior to sea trials later this year.

Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Ascent is scheduled to debut on December 3 in Fort Lauderdale following her repositioning from France. Her maiden voyage from Florida will be a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise, calling at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata. Alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises will follow the inaugural voyage.

Celebrity Ascent will feature the same amenities and experiences as previous Edge Series ships, including two-story villa staterooms, two-story martini-shaped hot tubs, and the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered bar that sits on the edge of the ship, among other innovations. The ship will have 30-plus restaurants and bars, infinity plunge pools and private cabanas.

Cunard Adds Rail Cruisetours to Alaska Sailings

Cunard News

Donna Tunney

-

Jan 24, 2023

0

Cunard Adds Rail Cruisetours to Alaska Sailings

Luxury line Cunard this summer will introduce pre- and post-Alaska cruise add-on tours aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train. The multi-day excursions are offered to guests sailing on Queen Elizabeth’s Alaska voyages starting with early June departures.

All Aboard Rocky Mountaineer

Two well-known travel brands will come together in the summer of 2024 when Cunard teams up with the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train to offer a series of add-on rail tours to cruisers sailing aboard Queen Elizabeth. The Vista-class ship, carrying 2,092 guests, will cruise roundtrip from Vancouver, B.C., on 7- to 12-day voyages along the Alaskan coast.

Guests can choose a 4-night pre-cruise rail trip or a 3-night post-cruise tour, depending on the sail date. The pre-cruise option travels westbound from Vancouver to Banff, while the post-cruise trip heads east to Calgary.

Matt Gleaves, VP Commercial, Cunard, North America, said, ”We are excited to partner with Rocky Mountaineer so our passengers can enjoy the spectacular scenery and Alaskan wildlife in the utmost of luxury both by land and by sea.”

A High-End Rail Itinerary Awaits

The Rocky Mountaineer train offers a high-end experience and is the only passenger rail service on the western Canadian rail routes offered with the Cunard cruise.

Guests will enjoy expansive views from the train’s glass-domed windows as they pass by mountains, lakes, canyons and other scenery. Cunard guests who book the trip will receive the train’s GoldLeaf Service, which includes gourmet cuisine and full bar service.

Queen Elizabeth’s 7-night cruises call at Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, and her 12-night sailing visits those ports and adds Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm Fjord and Ice Strait Point.

The 11-night cruise visits the same destinations as the 12-night except for Hubbard Glacier and Haines, while the 10-night sailing visits Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Onboard Enrichment Programs for Guests

On Queen Elizabeth, which entered service in 2010, guests will travel and interact with experts from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and well-known maritime archeologist and explorer Mensun Bound.

Three service-level stateroom categories are offered on Queen Elizabeth – Britannia, Princess Grill and Queens Grill.

Cunard operates three ships, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. A fourth ship, Queen Anne, is under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy and is due to enter service in 2024. Her maiden voyage is tentatively set for May 3, 2024, roundtrip from Southampton, with port calls in Lisbon and La Coruna, Portugal.

The line is celebrating two 100-year anniversaries: The successful conclusion of Cunard’s first world voyage, aboard the RMS Laconia in 1922, and the introduction of professional photographers onboard its ships. The latter is the subject of the “Sea Views” exhibition debuting this year.

Holland America is Heading to Two Destinations Passengers Will Like

Holland America Line News

Donna Tunney

-

Jan 24, 2023

0

Holland America is Heading to Two Destinations Passengers Will Like

Holland America Line in 2024 will shine a spotlight on Canada and New England cruises, deploying two ships to the region during the April-to-October season. A special expedition sailing adds visits to Greenland and a circumnavigation of Iceland.

29 Voyages on Canada/New England Roster

The 1,432-guest Volendam and the 1,964-guest Zuiderdam will anchor Holland America Line’s series of cruises to Canada and New England in 2024 with a combination of weeklong and longer, in-depth voyages to adventurous destinations, including Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland.

A total of 29 cruises, all of which begin or end in Boston, are offered under the line’s Canada & New England Discovery series that highlights the region’s maritime history, seafood cuisine and natural beauty, the line announced on January 23.

Holland America Line in Canada — Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer, said, ”A Canada and New England cruise has it all for travelers looking to stay closer to home but experience a taste of Europe, beautiful scenery, amazing food, natural beauty and incredible history.”

She added: “Our expanded season allows travelers to explore the region from spring through autumn, including the popular fall foliage, and by offering longer cruises we can extend up to Greenland and Iceland for a truly unique vacation.”

Volendam to Circle Iceland in July

From mid-May to early October, Volendam will operate 7-day Canada & New England Discovery cruises between Boston and Montréal, Québec, calling at Bar Harbor, Maine, Québec City, Québec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Worth Reading: P&O Cruises Releases Winter Collection With New Destinations

Historic Coasts cruises, also seven days and sailing roundtrip from Boston, will have the Rotterdam-class Volendam calling at Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; and Halifax and Sydney.

Volendam Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

Volendam also offers 10-day Newfoundland & New England Discovery cruises between Boston and Montreal, calling at Quebec City, Baie-Comeau and Havre-Saint-Pierre, Québec; Corner Brook, St. Anthony and St. John’s in Newfoundland; Halifax, and Portland. One 11-day departure calls at Portland, Saint John, Corner Brook, Charlottetown and Quebec’s Saguenay.

The ship will circumnavigate Iceland on a 24-day expedition roundtrip from Boston, departing July 27 and calling at six destinations in Iceland and 10 ports in Greenland, Maine, and Nova Scotia, plus Labrador and Newfoundland.

Zuiderdam Joins the Cruise Series in August

From late August through September, the Vista-class Zuiderdam will sail seven-day Canada & New England Discovery itineraries between Boston and Québec City, visiting Bar Harbor, Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax.

Cruisers also can book Volendam’s 13-day repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal, from April 21 to May 4, and her 14-day repositioning cruise from Montréal to Fort Lauderdale from October 5 to October 19.

Holland America Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock

Zuiderdam will sail a repositioning cruise from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale in October, on a date not yet shown on the cruise line website.

Early booking incentives for the Canada/New England/Newfoundland/Iceland cruise series include Holland America’s Have It All premium package, which covers shore excursions, a beverage and specialty dining package, and prepaid crew gratuities, among other services.

Special Programs on Both Ships

Holland America said that exclusive Canada/New England shore excursions will be operated in partnership with Food & Wine magazine and will highlight the foods of the region, such as “farm-to-fork” cuisine in Quebec City, and Prince Edward Island’s oysters, lobster sliders and home-grown mussels.

Onboard the ships, cruisers can take advantage of new entertainment programs, such as a new Rolling Stone Lounge on Zuiderdam. It replaces the former B.B. King’s Blues Club and expands performances of blues, rock and pop.

Both Zuiderdam and Volendam will host performances by a traveling ensemble, part of the line’s partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, in the ship’s World Stage theaters.

Carnival-Owned Line Sees Busiest Wave Season in 10 Years

Cunard News

Robert McGillivray

-

Jan 24, 2023

0

Carnival-Owned Line Sees Busiest Wave Season in 10 Years

Cunard reports it’s the busiest Wave Season for the cruise line in the past decade. The British-based cruise line, that’s owned by Carnival, has seen strong booking momentum across 2023 and 2024 sailings, with summer itineraries and Queen Anne’s maiden season proving particularly popular with guests.

Cunard’s Wave Season promotion runs from January through March 2023, and it’s clear that guests are looking forward to stepping back on board both in the UK and worldwide.

Record-Breaking Bookings

Cunard’s Wave Season has been a major success for the luxury brand. The Carnival-owned cruise line has seen a significant increase in bookings during the first week of January, surpassing any equivalent period in the last decade.

This strong booking momentum continues across 2023 and 2024 sailings, with summer itineraries and Queen Anne’s maiden season proving particularly popular among guests.

Queen Anne Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Cunard Line

In a statement, Carnival UK president Sture Myrmell said: “Following two of our strongest booking periods in 2022, we have seen unparalleled bookings during the start of Wave. We’ve increased our marketing investment significantly, including the use of TV advertising for the first time as we reach and appeal to new audiences.

“It’s clear that guests are looking forward to stepping back on board both in the UK and across all our global markets,” Myrmell added.

Cunard’s Wave Season promotion has been effective in attracting cruisers to book their next vacation, and for a good reason. Cunard runs three special promotions that offer guests additional onboard credit of up to $500, $510 to $1000, and more than $1000 on select voyages.

Worth Reading: MSC Cruises Kicks Off Wave Season With New Year’s Sale

Voyages, where guests can get more than $1000 on onboard credits, include a 53-night Sydney to Southampton Centenary World Voyage onboard Queen Victoria sailing on March 1.

Other voyages include a 68-night Sydney to New York cruise onboard Queen Mary 2 and a 23-night transatlantic crossing that sails from New York to Canada, the UK, and ends in Hamburg, Germany. The entire promotion runs across various worldwide itineraries of varying lengths.

A Busy Wave Season for the Industry

It’s more than just Cunard that has experienced a busy Wave Season. Other major cruise lines have reported record-breaking bookings as well.

P&O Cruises reported its biggest-ever booking day during the Wave Season of 2023, with four of its five biggest booking days during the beginning of January. The UK-based cruise line operates two Excel-class cruise ships and offers guests £500 of onboard credit available for select departures through April 1, 2025.

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

AIDA Cruises, another Carnival Corporation brand, is also experiencing the most successful start-of-year booking weeks in its history, with record bookings for 2023 and beyond.

The cruise line caters to a German audience and has some of the newest ships in the Carnival Corporation, including AIDAnova, the first-ever Excel-class LNG-powered cruise ship, and AIDAcosma, its newest excel-class ship. Both ships are 183,858 gross tons and have a capacity for 5,252 guests at double capacity.

Wave Season is the period of time when cruise lines offer their best deals and promotions to entice travelers to book their next cruise vacation.

This period typically runs from January to March and is considered the prime booking season for cruises. During this time, cruise lines offer a wide range of discounts, promotions, and incentives to attract travelers to book their next vacation.

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Door Magnets

Disney Cruise Line Advice

Emrys Thakkar

-

Jan 24, 2023

0

Decorating your cabin door on a cruise ship is a fun and exciting activity that can make your cruise even more unique, especially when you’re on a Disney Cruise Line ship with so many characters to choose from.

In This Article…

Some of Disney’s Favorite Door Magnets
Where to Buy Disney Cruise Ship Magnets on Your Disney Cruise
Conclusion

Not only will you get to look at your favorite character every time you return to your stateroom, but you can also take your door magnet home, stick it on your refrigerator, and remember your cruise every time you walk into the kitchen.

But why would you want to buy Disney cruise door magnets in the first place? Decorating your stateroom door helps you engage with the culture of the cities you’re visiting and identifies you and your interests.

Disney Dream in the Bahamas — Photo Credit: Juan Camilo Bernal / Shutterstock.com

In the case of Disney, the fun magnets are really family-friendly and are an excellent way for your kids to bring their imaginations and interests to life. Plus, the Disney Universe is so vast there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Buying Disney magnets for your cruise ship door lets your door stand out and cements your memories of your Disney cruise. There are many places to find a Disney cruise door magnet, including when you’re on the ship, but we recommend getting something before you go.

Some of Disney’s Favorite Door Magnets

There are many door magnet options when going on a Disney cruise. You can stick with the classics, like Mickey and Minnie magnets, or opt for a classic with a twist, like Pirate Mickey Mouse. You can’t go wrong picking a character from your favorite movie, whether it’s Aladdin, Lilo & Stitch, or The Lion King, or go with The Little Mermaid, Moana, or Frozen to stick with the water theme.

You can even go for a personalized magnet to make your door more special, like a personalized Disney Cruise Cast Member badge or a custom Disney Cruise Family magnet.

Disney Magnet on Door — Disney Door Magnet (Photo Credit: arctic_whirlwind / Shutterstock)

And don’t forget, the Disney Universe has expanded to include Star Wars and Marvel, so you can always add a magnet of Chewbacca, Grogu/Baby Yoda, Iron Man, or Captain America.

Something to keep in mind is that not all cruise ship doors are magnetic. It’s always a good idea to bring along extra adhesive, just in case you need an alternate way to hang up your magnet. Just make sure it won’t damage the surface of the door when you remove it.

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Ship Magnets on Your Disney Cruise

One of the most direct places to buy Disney cruise door decorations and fun magnets is on board your cruise in the gift shop! However, Disney advises that the magnets in the gift shop are pretty generic.

The other option for your Disney cruise is Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, where you might be able to find something special.
Your best bet, though, is to find a Disney magnet for your door decoration before you go.

Disney Cruise Line Silver Anniversary at Sea — Image Courtesy: Disney Cruise Line

Amazon has a vast selection, but you’ll find many unique ideas on Etsy, and you’ll also be supporting a small business. Decorating your cabin door is a fun part of cruising that can make the experience even more special, and it’s better to come prepared than it is to hope you’ll find something special when you’re on the cruise and have limited options.

Conclusion

There are many places to find a Disney magnet to decorate your cruise ship stateroom door on your next Disney cruise. Etsy and Amazon are your best bets if you want to have something when you board, but if you haven’t found something you like, you can always check the Disney Cruise Line gift store or Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.

Disney cruise door magnets are a fun way to make your family’s trip a little more unique, adding to the sense of togetherness you get while onboard the cruise of a lifetime. You can also take your magnet as a souvenir of your trip and solidify the memories you made onboard.

Every time you pass by your Disney magnet, you’ll remember your cruise and all the fun times you had.

Norwegian Cruise Line Confirms Return of Traditional Muster Drill

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Jan 23, 2023

0

Norwegian Cruise Line Confirms Return of Traditional Muster Drill

Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to travel agents and partner agencies with news that the traditional, in-person, synchronized muster drill will be returning fleetwide, effective immediately. This makes Norwegian the second major cruise line to reinstate classic muster drills, after Disney Cruise Line did so mid-November 2022.

E-Muster to End for Norwegian Cruise Line

In a communication sent to travel partners, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that the simplified e-muster drill, which has permitted guests to complete much of their safety briefing online and then check in to their muster station at their leisure on embarkation day, will be ending, effective immediately.

“The safety of our guests and crew members is our number one priority. We continuously evaluate our procedures for providing detailed instructions on safety and security measures to our guests, and as such, have made the decision to reinstate synchronized muster drills on embarkation day across all vessels in the fleet,” the email read.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship — Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock

“This policy will go into effect immediately up each vessel’s next embarkation day.” Norwegian Cruise Line currently operates 18 vessels, including the new Norwegian Prima, and every ship will be returning to the traditional drill.

About Traditional Drills

The classic safety drill requires all guests to meet at their assigned muster station, typically late in the afternoon on embarkation day, after all passengers have embarked the ship.

During the drill, the ship’s safety signal is sounded – seven short blasts and one long blast on the horn – and crew members provide guests with different safety policies and information, including how to report to their muster station should there be an emergency, how to properly wear a life jacket, what phone number to call onboard in case of an emergency, and more.

During the safety briefing, all shipboard activities and services are suspended to ensure participation by all guests. Bars and dining venues close, no ship tours or spa services are offered, and shore excursions or shipboard reservations for specialty dining, shows, or exclusive activities cannot be booked.

Cruise Ship Muster Drill — Photo Credit: MikhailBerkut / Shutterstock

A typical safety drill can last from 20-45 minutes, depending on the size of the vessel and how easily guests cooperate by reporting to the proper muster station when directed.

Guests aboard different Norwegian Cruise Line ships have reported “traditional” safety briefings in recent weeks, but this new communication confirms that no ships will continue with the virtual or e-muster process.

Why Change Back?

The updated e-muster, also called virtual mustering or the online safety drill, was adopted by most cruise lines as travel cautiously resumed after the pandemic lockdown and cruising gradually restarted. This helped minimize crowds and promoted social distancing. Now that other onboard health protocols have ended, however, the logic behind a virtual safety drill no longer applies.

At times, all cruise lines have experienced difficulties with the e-muster, such as guests failing to report to their muster stations upon embarkation or an inability to confirm that guests have, in fact, reviewed safety information prior to setting sail.

The in-person drill ensures that all travelers are instructed about safety procedures, including life jacket demonstrations and onboard risks, such as fire, and what to do in case of an emergency. While some guests will undoubtedly be disappointed at the change back to traditional mustering, it must be noted that all cruise lines prioritize safety of their guests and crew members above all else.

Ensuring that guests have the proper safety information is critical in case an emergency should arise, and each cruise line will work with the proper authorities and maritime officials to determine the best way to conduct safety drills, which are always subject to change based on evolving needs and circumstances.

Fourth Edge-Class Celebrity Cruise Ship Floats Out at Shipyard

Celebrity Cruises News

Emrys Thakkar

-

Jan 22, 2023

0

Celebrity Cruises has reached a significant milestone with its fourth Edge-class cruise ship, Celebrity Ascent. The vessel, currently under construction, has floated out onto the water for the first time at the shipyard.

Celebrity Ascent Float Out

The cruise line, which Royal Caribbean owns, marks a major construction milestone for its upcoming new cruise ship, the Celebrity Ascent. The fourth Edge-class ship officially touched water for the first time at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on Sunday, January 21.

This now marks a new phase in the construction process, with most of the exterior work completed. Workers at the yard and contractors will begin to shift their focus on the interior spaces, bringing the Celebrity Ascent to life just in time for delivery at the end of 2023.

“So much more than a ship, Celebrity Ascent will be the embodiment of a relaxed luxury resort at sea, and I can’t imagine a more exciting way to start the new year than by celebrating this important construction milestone,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

“The collaboration between the shipyard and Celebrity teams continues to be extraordinary and I am grateful to all involved for their passion and expertise. Momentum and anticipation is quickly building for this ship and we’ll continue to share her progress and all that awaits our guests onboard this next installation in our groundbreaking, next-generation Edge Series,” Perlo added.

The last major construction milestone took place in August 2022, when Celebrity Cruises celebrated the keel-laying ceremony. Less than a year later, the ship’s substructure is already complete!

Over the coming months, the Celebrity Ascent will be moored at another location out of the dry dock as work continues. Still to come will be the much important sea trials to ensure the ship is sea-worthy. The delivery ceremony will then take place not long after, just before the maiden voyage.

Fourth Edge Class Cruise Ship

The Celebrity Ascent is scheduled to debut in December 2023. When it does, the ship will bring all the innovative features that sister ships Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Beyond have brought.

Celebrity Cruises’ newest vessel will have transformational accommodations, including two-story Edge Villa staterooms, allowing guests access to the ship’s suite-only Retreat Sun Deck. Just like the other ships in the class, there will also be Infinite Veranda staterooms that take advantage of what would be a balcony.

One of the most notable features of the Edge class is the Magic Carpet; located on just one side of the ship, it can become a platform that lowers to water level and can be used for things such as tendering. The venue can also be used as a bar and restaurant when not being lowered.

Read Also: Who is Captain Kate McCue?

The ship also features the Nate Berkus-designed Sunset Bar and 30 different food and drink venues, including Le Petit Chef, the Eden Restaurant, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud.

Following a transatlantic journey from Europe to Florida, Celebrity Ascent will debut on December 3 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with guests for the first time. The maiden voyage from the port will be a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise, including visits to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Purto Plata, before returning home on December 10, 2023.

The new 140,600 gross ton Celebrity cruise ship will continue to sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The ship will be able to carry 3,260 passengers at double occupancy.

New MSC Cruise Ship Suffers Unforeseen Technical Issue

MSC Cruises News

Robert McGillivray

-

Jan 20, 2023

0

New MSC Cruise Ship Suffers Unforeseen Technical Issue

The MSC Seascape, a newly constructed cruise ship based out of Miami, has been forced to change its scheduled itinerary due to problems with one of its engines.

Captain Francesco Di Palma sent out a letter to guests explaining the situation, stating that the ship had been experiencing a technical issue with one engine, which had resulted in a power reduction and is affecting its speed.

As the problems could not be resolved, the vessel was forced to cancel its call to Ocho Rios in Jamaica and will be sailing at reduced speed for the remainder of the cruise.

MSC Seascape Limps Back to Ocean Cay

Despite the efforts of the technical team and specialized personnel brought on in Grand Cayman, an engine software issue has not been resolved onboard MSC Seascape, and the scheduled call to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, today, January 20, has been cancelled.

Although there were no issues with the vessel until the stop in Cozumel, Mexico, the problem started after departure from Mexico. The cruise ship arrived 4.5 hours late to Grand Cayman, where it was announced that the call to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, would be cancelled.

MSC Seascape Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises

The Captain announced in his letter to guests that MSC would give a 50% refund on the cruise fare after the sailing and reimburse guests for any pre-booked shore excursions in Ocho Rios:

Captain Francesco Di Palma, in a letter delivered to guests onboard MSC Seascape on January 19: “As you are aware, MSC Seascape has been experiencing a technical issue with one of our engines, which has resulted in a power reduction and consequently is affecting our speed.”

“Despite the continuous efforts of our technical team combined with the expertise of the specialized technician who embarked today in Grand Cayman, I regretfully have to inform you that the issue has not been resolved, and we will be forced to cancel our scheduled call into Ocho Rios, Jamaica tomorrow.”

The plan is now to proceed with the vessel’s available speed to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for an afternoon stop on Saturday, January 21, followed by the scheduled arrival into Miami on Sunday, January 22.

During an announcement on board, the Captain stated that the issue was an engine software problem that compromised one engine. However, several crew members supposedly stated that 3 out of four engines were not working due to the problem.

The Brand New MSC Seascape

The 170,412 gross-ton MSC Seascape was completed in 2022 and arrived in Miami in December of last year after the naming ceremony in New York City on December 7. The MSC Seascape sails seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises, which can be combined into 14-day cruises with an additional stop in Miami halfway through.

MSC Seascape Sea Trials — Photo Courtesy: MSc Cruises

Ports of call include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and, typically, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on the Western Caribbean itineraries. In the eastern Caribbean, the vessel calls on San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Every voyage includes a stop at MSC’s private island resort Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC’s gesture of offering a 50% refund on the cruise fare and reimbursement for pre-booked shore excursions in Ocho Rios is an excellent way to compensate for the inconvenience caused to the thousands of disappointed guests onboard.

The cruise line will investigate the cause of the engine problem and take necessary steps to prevent a similar incident. However, incidents such as these are not uncommon on new cruise ships. So far, the following cruise for MSC Seascape on January 22 is not affected. If this changes, Cruise Hive will keep you informed.

Who Owns Viking Cruises?

Cruise Advice & Tips

Emrys Thakkar

-

Jan 19, 2023

0

In this article, we’ll talk about this rich and robust cruise ship company with strong European roots and a foothold in its market niche.

In This Article…

The History of Viking Cruises
About Torstein Hagen
- River Ships
- Ocean Ships
Conclusion

The History of Viking Cruises

The history of Viking Cruises is a rich one. It is a company with over two decades of longevity and a sterling reputation in Europe and America. It has received ratings such as the Best River Cruise Line and the number one Ocean Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards of 2022.

Founded in 1997 by Torstein Hagen, Viking Cruise Line is a smaller cruise ship company dedicated to cultural immersive and destination-focused journeys. Viking Cruises offers trips to all seven continents through rivers, oceans, and other expedition channels.

Viking Offices (Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock)

It entered the American market at the turn of the millennium, in 2000. Committed to its values of facilitating in-depth excursions for intrepid travelers, each Viking river ship offers deep immersion in its destinations, programs replete with music, art, cooking demonstrations, information-rich port talks, and guest lectures by cultural experts. Some significant rivers it covers include the Nile, Danube, Seine, Rhône, and most recently, the Mississippi River.

About Torstein Hagen

Torstein Hagen started Viking Cruises with only four ships, all purchased from Russia. He brought Viking Cruises into the American market in 2000 and established a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles, California.

Ever committed to careful yet robust expansion of his fleet and its offerings, in 2013, he introduced Viking Cruises to ocean expeditions with its first ocean vessel created in 2015. His ships have stunning verandas, and the ships most recent to the fleet are all named after planets. Viking has just begun to offer cruises on American rivers in 2022.

Hagen is a Scandinavian native, born in Norway, so his company’s name is apropos. His tenure in the cruising industry is vast. From 1980 to 1984, he held the esteemed position of CEO at Royal Viking Line, arguably the most prominent cruise line of its time.

Having also served on the board of directors for two other major cruise lines and as a management consultant for McKinsey and Co. (Europe), his knowledge of the business principles of managing a successful enterprise runs deep.

Hagen studied computers at the esteemed Wesleyan University, one of the preeminent liberal arts colleges in America. Having received one of the most prestigious university awards available, the Fulbright Scholarship, he also completed his master’s at the Norwegian Institute of Technology and studied Business Administration at Harvard University.

Features of Viking Cruise Ships

Viking Cruises’ ships are equipped and power-packed with many features and amenities, which differ between its river and ocean ships.

River Ships

All Viking Cruises’ longships – its river ships – have an abundance of stateroom categories and two-room suites with verandas overlooking the majesty of the ships’ surroundings. Each Viking longship is identical and includes a restaurant, bar and lounge, sun deck, and library.

A separate terrace for al fresco dining (open-air dining) boasts elegant Scandinavian designs that promote environmentally-friendly features such as solar panels, an onboard garden, and high-efficiency hybrid engines.

For the new Mississippi River ship, environmental consciousness was key to its construction and vision. It is designed to maximize energy efficiency and minimize emissions expenditures. It’s a diesel-electric hybrid system (better than most hybrid cars!), electric hydraulic units, and an exhaust scrubbing system that significantly reduces sound and emissions. This ship also has expansive windows and views.

Ocean Ships

These luxurious vessels are equipped with the connoisseur’s paradise of amenities and features. Every stateroom has a private veranda, several restaurants to choose from – including fine dining, a Nordic spa, and many other cultural resources and gems to make ship goers’ visits indelible memories.

One of the unique features of Viking Cruises’ ships – and indeed, borne of its philosophy of cultural immersion – is that they dock at ports for travelers to maximize their time off-ship. From Northern Europe (including an emphasis on Scandinavia) to the Mediterranean and everything in between, Torstein Hagen has designed a modern luxury travel fleet to enrich and inspire.

Lastly, Viking’s ocean ships are also deliberately engineered to respect the environment as much as possible. Their internal mechanics have won the Best Energy Efficient Design Index (EEDI) in its class. Each Viking ocean cruise ship has a closed-loop exhaust system to migrate and dispose of pollutants safely.

Conclusion

Viking Cruises is an exceptional cruise ship line because it cares so much about its visitors being immersed in the culture of their selected destinations. Offering a full boutique of restaurants featuring cuisine local to the countries it visits, it has both Viking river cruises and ocean cruises replete with verandas, haute couture, and educational offerings.

Torstein Hagen, an entrepreneur and systems thinker, designed the company to be highly environmentally conscious, from the outer parts of the ships to their innards.

With hybrid engines, efficient hydraulics and pollutant disposal systems, solar panels, and more, Hagen has built an enterprise based on sound principles and superior attention to detail. Go figure that Viking Cruises has earned coveted top spots in reader’s choice magazines.