Cruise
Princess Unveils New Sapphire Features, Upgrades
Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess has emerged from an extensive two-week dry dock in Singapore proudly displaying the cruise line's signature logo on its bow. The ship was also upgraded with enhanced onboard spaces and product innovations keeping it as one of the most desired ships in the fleet. Finishing up a season cruising throughout Asia, Sapphire Princess departed on a 28-day voyage from Singapore to London, before beginning European voyages to sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe including Monte Carlo, Lisbon, Brussels, St. Petersburg and an...
Carnival Takes Delivery of Horizon
In a traditional maritime handover ceremony held yesterday at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Cruise Line officially took delivery of the new 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, the 26th ship in its fleet. The 3,954-passenger ship will reposition to Barcelona, Spain, where it will depart April 2 on an inaugural 13-day voyage – the first of four sailings from the European port. The ship will then operate a transatlantic crossing before arriving in New York May 23 for a pier-side overnight gala and naming ceremony featuring the ship’s godmother, Grammy award-winning musical...
Avalon Adds India’s Ganges River To Lineup
Avalon Waterways has added a new river to its extensive portfolio – The Ganges. Starting in 2019, the line is adding the 56-passenger Ganges Voyager to its fleet. Built in 2015, the Voyager will be offered as part of a two-week itinerary which also includes stays in deluxe hotels in Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, allowing travellers to see some of India’s most famed and beloved attractions – including the Taj Mahal during a sunrise visit – before they board the Voyager in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The six-night cruise will then take them at a leisurely pace to the cities of...
AmaLea Sets Sail On Maiden Voyage
AmaWaterways reports its newest ship, the 156-passenger AmaLea, set sail this week on its inaugural Tulip Time voyage. The ship embarked on its first journey from Amsterdam and is currently sailing along the canals of the Dutch and Belgian Waterways, returning to Amsterdam on April 1. AmaLea will begin Danube itineraries starting May 6 with an official christening ceremony – led by AmaLea’s godmother and respected travel industry executive, Filomena Andre, taking place on May 26 in Vilshofen, Germany. Sister ship to the award-winning AmaKristina, AmaStella and AmaViola,...
Welcome to the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean International honoured the instrumental project team of Symphony of the Seas during a highly anticipated delivery event at STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France Friday. Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Laurent Castaing, general manager of STX France, led the traditional flag-changing ceremony, which symbolizes the ship’s official delivery from the ship builder to Royal Caribbean. The maritime ritual was followed by a celebration of the industry’s best, the...
‘New’ Carnival Paradise Resumes Service From Tampa
Carnival Paradise has returned to year-round service from Port Tampa Bay following an extensive month-long dry dock that added a variety of spaces and innovations, including a water park, 38 new staterooms, 98 balconies added to existing accommodations and an array of food and beverage outlets. Paradise departed on a five-day Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman yesterday – part of the ship’s year-round sailings from Tampa that also include four-day cruises to Cozumel and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Mahogany Bay (Roatan), Key West or Grand Cayman. The ship also offers...
Paul Gauguin Debuts New Itinerary, Diving Excursions
Paul Gauguin Cruises has unveiled a new seven-night Society Islands & Tahiti Iti itinerary, along with new shore and SCUBA diving excursions. Paul Gauguin is the first cruise line to visit the port city of Vairao in Tahiti Iti, which is the smaller of two landmasses comprising the island of Tahiti, and offers a wild coastline, marae (temples), Polynesian culture and surfing fame. Tahiti Iti is scheduled on seven-night Society Islands & Tahiti Iti voyages that depart and return to Papeete, Tahiti, and visit Huahine, Society Islands; Motu Mahana (Taha’a), Society Islands;...
Princess Debuts Curated Culinary Experiences
Princess Cruises has introduced a new culinary shore excursion program in collaboration with Bon Appétit, offering guests the opportunity to indulge in culinary experiences inspired by their surroundings while cruising to destinations around the globe. Through this new partnership, Princess guests will receive a deepened understanding of the destinations visited through a small group, sensory journey of authentic culinary experiences drawing from the life of locals. The shore excursion offerings will immerse explorers in local ingredients and cooking styles, as well as demonstrations...