Insignia is final cruise call of the season for Milford Haven

The curtain comes down on a busy cruising season tomorrow when Oceania Cruises’ recently transformed ship ‘Insignia’ arrives in Milford Haven tomorrow (23 September).

The vessel, which this year has undergone a multi-million dollar transformation, is following an itinerary that explores engaging harbours across the UK, France and Spain and will arrive in Milford Haven at 0830 hrs carrying approximately 750 passengers and 350 crew.  Insignia is 181m long with a draft of 6m.

This will be the final cruise call of the season which has seen eight cruise visits and brought a total of around 4,700 visitors to Pembrokeshire. 

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What's New From Oceania

It's been a while since we featured the boutique and foodie-centric style of Oceania Cruises, so we thought we would provide a quick update and look ahead to what they have in store for 2014.

Well-known for their exceptional culinary offering and emphasis on comfort and service, Oceania has new itineraries, new culinary classes, a $50m refurbishment programme and a re-christening in store this year, as well as a new art book and new facilities on board the line’s five mid-sized luxury ships.

New cruises for summer 2014

Oceania's summer sailings include an almost entirely new line-up of over 90 voyages, including 70 European sailings (of which 93% are new), featuring 10 new ports of call in Tirana, Antibes, Hamburg, Chania, Kos, Syros, Ullapool, Lysekil and Milford Haven. 

 

In total during summer 2014, the line’s five ships – Riviera, Marina, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica – will sail to more than 180 destinations. In addition to the European programme, the ships will sail 10 Alaska voyages, 7 new Canada/New England cruises and 3 Panama Canal voyages.

New Grand Voyages for winter 2014

 

Oceania is adding 19 new Grand Voyages for winter 2014, ranging from 24 to 71 days. Included among the sailings is a 71-day South American Odyssey on board the 684-guest Regatta. This is a round trip from Miami, crossing the Panama Canal to Peru, sailing through the Chilean fjords and around the southern tip of Cape Horn, and spending two nights in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. 

 

Meanwhile, Nautica explores the East on a 46-day Imperial Explorer, a voyage from Cape Town to Hong Kong showcasing the best of Africa and Asia. Depending on the length of the voyage booked, guests will receive a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, laundry service and round-trip transfers.

 

Re-christening event

The big re-christening ceremony for the return of Insignia to the fleet will take place in April in Istanbul. The ship has been on a two-year 'sabbatical' with Oceania but returns this summer and will be feted in the Turkish port ahead of a 10-day Holy Land voyage to Greece, Israel and Cyprus.

The ship will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before rejoining the fleet, and the ceremony will be performed by Virginia Watters, wife of founding chairman Joe and the original godmother of the ship 10 years ago.

More info: call 0845 505 1920 or visit http://www.oceaniacruises.com.

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Milford Haven's Princess Debut

The Princess Cruises ship Ocean Princess makes her debut in Pembrokeshire today as she arrives in the Milford Haven Waterway, where the fast-growing Port of Milford Haven has been busy preparing to host the arrival of around 680 passengers on a cruise around the coasts of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. 

One of Princess’ smaller ships at 592ft long and 30,000 tons, Ocean Princess has sailed around some of the world’s most exotic destinations and will be at the Port from 8am to 5pm before moving on to Dublin and Rosyth.

Cruise Development Officer at the Port of Milford Haven, Sue Blanchard-Williams, is looking forward to welcoming passengers. She said: “Pembrokeshire is a fantastic port of call with its world famous coastline and some of the richest cultural landmarks in Wales. The ships come because the port is perfectly located for the best that West Wales has to offer. Historic castles, long sandy beaches, wildlife or retail, it’s all right here on our doorstep.”

The Port of Milford Haven is leading the promotion of Pembrokeshire as a cruising destination, providing a fantastic boost to the local economy. In 2012, almost 3,000 cruise passengers came ashore, spending more than £200,000 in Pembrokeshire alone.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises UK director, said: "Princess is known for its great destinations so we’re thrilled we’ve been able to add Milford Haven, another fantastic British port, to our holiday offering. With more than 150 different itineraries to choose from, Princess passengers can cover the globe, with sailings to all seven continents that call at more than 300 ports and destinations around the world.”

The next cruise call at Milford Haven will be on August 7 before the return of Ocean Princess on August 28.

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