Seabourn Signs Formal Deal For New Ship

We have been eagerly awaiting the news of the formal signing of the contract for Seabourn to confirm a fourth new ship, and here it is today.

And the confirmation includes the details that the latest ship from their 2009 Odyssey-class series will be their biggest to date at 40,350 tons and is due for delivery in mid-2016.

The contract for construction of a new ultra-deluxe, all-suite vessel continues the fleet modernisation the company began with the launch of Seabourn Odyssey (above) and followed up with Seabourn Sojourn (2010) and Seabourn Quest (2011), and which has been widely recognised as a game-changer in the luxury cruise sector.

The configuration of the as-yet unnamed vessel will be based on the 32,346-ton Odyssey-class, with one additional deck and new expanded public areas. The ship will be built by Fincantieri S.p.A. in Italy, and is expected to carry  604 guests, based on double occupancy of the all-suite lower berths, as compared to the Odyssey trio's 450. However, the design will maintain Seabourn’s high ratio of space per guest and enable highly personalised service by nearly one staff member per guest on board. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda. 

Seabourn president Richard D. Meadows insisted: “The new ship will continue the evolution that began with Seabourn’s fleet expansion, adding modern design elements and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance. With its delivery, the most highly rated cruise line in the world will also offer travellers the newest fleet of ships in the luxury segment.”

The new vessel will replace capacity - Seabourn Pride, Legend and Spirit - that is being transferred to new owners Windstar Cruises in April 2014, April 2015, and May 2015, respectively. The contract with Fincantieri also continues a longstanding relationship of more than two decades between Seabourn’s parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc and the Italian shipbuilder.

More info: call 0843 373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk.

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Viking Star Takes Shape

By Editor Simon Veness

 

Fledgling new ocean-cruise line Viking Cruises took another step towards their big 2015 debut yesterday with the keel-laying ceremony of their first ship, the Viking Star.

 

The ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside Venice, where the ship is scheduled to be delivered in early 2015.

 

Viking Cruises is already a major name in European river-cruises, but the 48,000-ton ship (the first of four in the next three years) is a major undertaking for them.

 

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “Our new ocean itineraries are selling at an unprecedented rate, and the enthusiasm we have seen from guests is truly remarkable.

 

"There is undoubtedly interest in an ocean cruise experience that returns the focus to the destination, and Viking is actively planning to meet that demand.” The first steel was cut for Viking Star

in June and the laying of the keel is a formal recognition of the start of construction. 

The 930-passenger vessel will feature state-of-the-art design from experienced nautical architects and engineers. The latest stepping stone follows the announcement on Monday of two more ships for the brand, following their initial two.

 

Next year will also be a busy one for the river-cruise division as the company will launch a record-breaking FOURTEEN new Viking Longship vessels, all at the same launch ceremony in March.

 

More info: in the UK, call 0800 319 66 60 or visit www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk; in the US, 1855 884 5464 or www.vikingcruises.com.

 

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Welcome, Viking Ocean Cruises

The world's luxury cruise lines will have a new competitor in 2015 after Viking River Cruises revealed full details of its new Ocean Cruises brand, with its first all-new vessel, Viking Star (above), set to debut in two years' time.

The first ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet, carrying 928 passengers, will launch in May 2015 with itineraries to Scandinavia, the Baltic and Mediterranean. It is aimed to compete (in size and style) with the likes of Azamara Club Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Crystal.

Viking already has a firm order for a second ship (for 2016) and options for four more, all to be built by Fincantieri in Italy.

The onboard value will INCLUDE shore excursions, drinks (beer and wine) with lunch and dinner and free Wi-Fi, along with port charges and taxes. The line also plans to maximise guests' time in port, using late evening departures and overnight stays, making for a destination-intensive experience.

Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen explained: “It is our view that, in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail. With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and on board experiences to make destinations the true focus.”

The all-balcony Viking Star will have five cabin categories, ranging from standard 270sq ft varieties to a sumptuous 1,448sq ft suite. There will be two pools, one with a retractable dome, the other a glass-backed infinity pool at the ship's stern. There will also be a completely novel feature called a "snow grotto" in the Spa, where Vikings says "snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air."

For dining, there will be five main venues, the main dining room simply called The Restaurant, an Italian Grill, a Viking Deli (offering the line's Scandinavian specialities), a World Cafe and an intimate restaurant called The Kitchen Table, plus a cooking school and a special Chef's Table.

However, the 2015 maiden season is initially being offered only in the US, but Viking will begin marketing in the UK, Australia and New Zealand later this year. 

Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking River Cruises UK, added: "We are very excited about the introduction of Viking’s new ocean ship, allowing us to offer our customers the chance to experience even more destinations in style and comfort. We look forward to launching to the UK market later in the summer and, until then, we continue to focus on our ever popular river product and the overwhelming demand for the new Longships."

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Windstar's New Pride For Europe

Windstar Cruises has announced the name for the first of its three new, all-suite, power yachts as Star Pride (above), launching in May of 2014.

Windstar, who acquired the three 10,000-ton vessels from Seabourn Cruise Line, will place newcomer Star Pride in Europe for its first season, offering exciting new voyages which open for bookings on May 14. The names of the additional two yachts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

“Star Pride and the additional two yachts will fit perfectly into Windstar’s intimate, yacht-style cruising by offering a small-ship luxury cruise with 300 passengers or less in a casually elegant style going to places bigger ships cannot go,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar’s chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to now be able to offer even more intriguing choices in Europe for the 2014 season.”

The addition of the new yachts is part of Global Windstar, the line’s fleet expansion and new product development initiative. Increasing the size of the fleet enables the line to cruise a global set of itineraries to new destinations, such as Wind Spirit’s much anticipated return to Tahiti and Star Pride’s European voyage collection, which will include new destinations, such as a voyage in the Black Sea. Future options will include opportunities to visit Asia and South America.

The new 'power yachts' are identical, with a guest capacity of 212 each in 106 suites. As the trio enter the fleet, they will all undergo a Windstar branded renovation to add signature experiences, including the line’s famous deck barbecue, the open Bridge policy, and the celebrated sail-away party.

Following the May 2014 introduction of Star Pride, Windstar will take possession of the additional two yachts in April and May 2015, to start sailing in May following their dry-dock period. 

 

For bookings, click on this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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Best New Ship Of The Year?

The first of the year's five major new ship offerings has just been launched, amid much Italian fanfare, by MSC Cruises in Genoa.

MSC Preziosa is the 12th new vessel to join the MSC fleet and another example of the amazing range and appeal of modern ship design. Interestingly, she also makes the Italian company the third-largest in the world after Carnival and Royal Caribbean, edging Norwegian Cruise Line into fourth place (for now!).

With that in mind, we at World of Cruising thought it would be an interesting idea to run a poll of our readers, asking what they think is the most keenly anticipated new ship of the year. The five contenders are as follows:

MSC Preziosa: the latest and greatest from MSC Cruises, overseen by godmother Sophia Loren to add star power and boasting a capacity of 3,502 passengers. She includes seven restaurants and the latest enhancements of the line's exclusive MSC Yacht Club, the ship-within-a-ship area that effectively recreates a first class style of travel.

Norwegian Breakaway: a large-scale refinement of Norwegian's largest vessel, Norwegian Epic, Breakaway will be notable for her dedication to providing a sea-view aspect with many of her public areas. Due out at the end of April, she will feature The Waterfront, a quarter-mile of outward-facing dining, bars and lounges that give her 4,000 passengers a true connection with the sea (a rarity these days). While still monolithic in appearance, she should be spectacular inside.

Royal Princess: the largest ship ever ordered for the Princess brand, this should also be the most spectacular, with a whole raft of extra amenities, facilities and design features when she debuts in June. At 140,000 tons, she is 20% larger than the biggest vessels currently in the fleet, but she will add a great range of new dining and entertainment choice, including an expanded Atrium area that serves as the focal point and a unique top-deck pool arrangement featuring a water and light show.

Europa 2: going for a smaller and more exclusive style in May, Hapag-Lloyd's first new-build project in several years features a sumptuous arrange of distinctive, six-star amenities that should make this one of the most distinctive ships in the world, from a service point of view. With cutting-edge interior design and an array of six specialist restaurants that promises to be truly deluxe, Europa 2 will also be one of the most spacious ships ever built, with some of the largest staterooms and the highest Space Ratio of any ship at sea.

Le Soleal: the smallest of our Fab Five for 2013, the latest offering (launching in July and just 10,600 tons) from French line Le Compagnie du Ponant, this sleek cruiser should be a known quantity as she is the third in this novel series. Carrying barely 250 passengers, Le Soleal should be the latest word in exclusive small-ship sophistication and chic, within the company's style of Yacht Cruising that is wonderfully elegant and individual. 

So, those are the contenders for our Ship of the Year feature - now go and vote in our poll (you will find it at the top of our home page, on the right, with the heading What Is The Most Anticipated New Ship Of The Year For You?) and let us know what YOU think will be No 1.

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A Royal Treat For Kids

Even the youngest passengers will enjoy the many special features aboard Princess Cruises new Royal Princess when the ship debuts in June, as the line has now revealed the amenities just for kids and teens that will wow younger cruisers aboard the new ship.

Royal Princess will offer expanded space for the kids and teens centres that add a new level to the onboard experience for young passengers. All age groups will find more space with dedicated outdoor areas, including a new teen lounge. Toddlers can also join the fun with a special area just for the under threes.

Some of the fun children will find includes:

Princess Pelicans (ages 3-7): The youngest age group will enjoy a great space for group activities like movie nights, a new mini air hockey table, a special area for arts and crafts, and a new indoor play area. In addition, they’ll have a new outdoor play space, which includes toys, games, tricycles and a new playground. These features add to the line-up of popular activities that kids love on Princess ships, including Jr. Chef@Sea, educational workshops, pyjama and ice cream parties, and a kid's Fun Fair.

Shockwaves (ages 8-12): Children in this age group will now have their own dedicated outside area complete with a variety of fun games. Shockwaves kids will really get into games and activities geared for their age, like air hockey, skeeball and exciting game stations. They’ll also find their own lounge with a giant TV, a DJ Booth and arts and crafts tables. Plus kids can hang out and enjoy their own pizza and ice cream parties or kids-only dinners.

Remix (ages 13-17): The Remix area for teens will feature a Princess DJ booth loaded with cutting-edge music where music lovers can create their own playlist, relax or dance to the latest club mix. In addition, there’s a new lounge area, perfect for meeting new friends, with games like table football, skeeball and the latest video games. A brand new outdoor lounge fulfills a request from teens, and offers cool club lighting, contemporary seating, a great new wading pool and, of course, music perfect for parties under the stars. Teens will also enjoy activities specially designed for their age group, including sports competitions, late night movies, hip hop dance classes, teens-only ‘mocktail’ party, formal dinners and the ever-popular video game tournaments.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship currently under construction for Princess. Among the special features on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28ft beyond the edge of the vessel; private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the Autumn. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's cruise-agent specialists.

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A Fantasy Photo Tour

OK, no words this time, just a handful of our best photos from last week's preview cruise aboard the new Disney Fantasy:

Bahamian idyll - the ship at Disney's private island of Castaway Cay

That Art Nouveau touch - a design style reminiscent of the Golden Age of cruising

You want fun - try the main pool deck, complete with the AquaDuck flume ride

Or for the grown-ups - the tranquility of the adults-only Cove area

Classic look - the proper wrap-around Promenade Deck, complete with steamer chairs

All this and princesses, too - the true Disney family touch with the Atrium meet-and-greets

More soon...!

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Oceania's Marina: The first ship built for Epicureans

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina, which makes its debut later this month, looks poised to set new standards for culinary excellence at sea with no less than TEN dining venues, six of which are gourmet restaurants and offer culinary excellence at no supplement.

The 1,250-guest ship has been designed for food and wine lovers, with the aim of offering dining experiences comparable to the very best shore-side restaurants.

Oceania’s president Bob Binder explained: “Marina is the first ship purpose-built for epicureans. Unlike many lines, all of our meals are cooked to order, a la minute. We are committed to serving cuisine that rivals some of the world’s very best restaurants.”

Here's how this phenomenal array of deluxe dining choice will be offered.

Continental Cuisine, Asian Fusion & American Favourites

Marina will offer six, open-seating gourmet restaurants, two private-dining venues and two casual eateries. The décor of each is distinctive, yet a common design thread is evident in the extensive use of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and supple leather. There will be no less than eight no-charge dining venues and two exclusive additional options:

1. The Grand Dining Room (above)– Tuxedo-clad wait staff serve a six-course menu in a classic setting reminiscent of a five-star restaurant at one of Europe’s grandest hotels. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Toscana – Three illuminated etched-glass panels provide a dramatic backdrop to savoury specialities, many of them family recipes handed down from Oceania Cruises’ staff and crew. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

3. Polo Grill – Plush and supple leather upholstery, a rich palette of crimson, gold and green, and gold-edged mahogany wall panels evoke the glamour of a vintage Hollywood steakhouse. Fine cuts of Prime, dry-aged beef, as well as chops and fresh seafood, are featured. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

4. Jacques – The first-ever restaurant at sea for its namesake, internationally renowned chef Jacques Pépin, draws inspiration from fabled brasseries of Paris and his hometown of Lyon. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

5. Red Ginger – Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese flavours are showcased in a contemporary setting that features three Buddhas carved from a single piece of backlit glass as a dramatic centrepiece. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

6. Terrace Café – Shades of burgundy, burnt orange, gold and lemon create a bright and pleasant ambiance, or guests may dine al fresco. Regional delicacies and sumptuous buffets are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Waves – This relaxed, open-air bistro serves gourmet burgers, swordfish, chicken and other grilled items and features a salad bar and home-made ice cream bar. Open for lunch (weather permitting).

8. Baristas – This coffee bar adjoining the Library is the place throughout the day to enjoy Illy espresso and cappuccino, homemade biscotti and coffee cake.

Optional Wine Dinners & the Ultimate Chef’s Table

9. La Reserve by Wine Spectator – La Reserve is an intimate venue that hosts wine tastings and seven-course pairing dinners with premium wines selected in consultation with Wine Spectator editors. Extra charge for wines; reservations required.

10. Privée – An exclusive private dining room that offers the ultimate Chef’s Table. Eight fortunate guests can create a personalised menu featuring such specialities as Kobe beef, Brittany lobsters, foie gras, caviar and truffles. Room charge is $1,000. Open select evenings; reservations required.

Marina also features a Bon Appétit Culinary Centre and full-service Canyon Ranch® SpaClub. Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand lobby, luxurious suites designed by Dakota Jackson as well as Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

To find out more about Oceania Cruises, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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