Travel Experiences News

Maritime medical operations and public health provider VIKAND said it has entered into a multiyear agreement with Azamara to manage all medical operations aboard its four-ship fleet. Holistically designed for Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit, and the newest ship in the fleet, Azamara Onward, VIKAND’s comprehensive approach to cruise line healthcare includes medical facility operations, outbreak prevention and mitigation, emergency support, formulary and biomedical equipment management, medical staffing, and ongoing consultation.

There was important cruise news in January: Viking – a premier European ocean and river cruise company - will offer two new “destination-focused travel experiences,” starting in 2022. One set of cruises becomes Viking’s first foray in the inland North American market, in this case the Great Lakes. Another set of cruises will head to the Arctic and Antarctica. Viking is building two new vessels: the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris, under construction now in Norway, by Fincantieri’s VARD.In a press release Viking writes that it has created “the thinking person’s expedition.”  Indeed…

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, a global player in expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, has celebrated the float out of National Geographic Endurance in Ulstein Verft, Norway.The first polar newbuild for the line, the 126-guest vessel is fully stabilized with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, according to a press release.The vessel is scheduled for delivery in January 2020.Read Maritime Reporter & Engineering News' feature on Sven Lindblad from earlier in 2019 here: https://www.marinelink.com/news/explorer-profile-sven-lindblad-463899"Due to Polar Class 5 (PC5), the ship can venture far into polar areas.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences,  and Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer Ulstein Group have celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s second polar new build at the Crist shipyard in Gdynia, Poland.The occasion also served as the official naming ceremony of the vessel. It is named as National Geographic Resolution,  in honor of Captain James Cook.Captain James Cook was the first to circumnavigate Antarctica, cross the Antarctic Circle, and the first European to reach Hawaii. While he captained several ships in his career, his favorite was the 'MS Resolution'.The newbuild is sister ship to the National Geographic Endurance which is being finalized at Ulstein Verft.

Building on its 125-year heritage, Norwegian shipowner Hurtigruten has become a leader in exploration travel offering voyages to more than 200 unique destinations in more than 30 countries ranging across the globe from the Arctic to the Antarctic and including cruises in Norway, Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland, Western Europe, and the Americas. In an interview with Maritime Reporter and Engineering News, Dan Skjeldam, the company’s CEO, emphasizes the need for the cruise industry…

Tackling the time-sensitive challenges of maritime operations is at the forefront of all crew managers’ minds. They face an ongoing balancing act of supporting their Captain and crew in the best possible way to ensure a smooth and efficient running of the ship, whilst making sure it is commercially viable. This is rarely a straightforward operation, especially when it comes to managing travel for the 1.5 million people employed in the shipping sector, but there are key areas that…

The production of Viking Line’s new passenger cruise ship started at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) shipyard in China.The first steel plates are being cut in the traditional Steel Cutting ceremony. The new vessel will be one of the most climate-smart ships in the world. The project has involved extensive engineering and development work with the intention to create a unique new-generation passenger ship.The collaborative project has engaged several suppliers in Finland and Europe. The vessel will be launched for operation in early 2021 on the Turku–Åland–Stockholm route.The new vessel is designed with a focus on providing open and unobstructed views of the unique archipelago.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, and Ulstein Group, Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer, celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s first polar new build. The keel laying at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, marked a milestone in the construction of the sophisticated expedition ship, and served as the official naming ceremony of the line’s latest addition to the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. “We are thrilled to announce the name of our new polar ship: National Geographic Endurance, due for delivery in the first quarter of 2020,” said Sven Lindblad, President and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that its "Tonde (fly and) cruise to Kyushu, - Around-the-Kyushu -", which were planned and offered by its group company Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line (MOPAS), won the Award of Excellence in the "Cruise of the Year 2017" awards sponsored by the Japan Oceangoing Passenger Ship Association (JOPA). The awards recognize inventive approaches by cruise lines, travel agencies, and others in creating new travel experiences that contribute to the expansion of Japan's cruise market. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the awards. The "Tonde (fly and) cruise to Kyushu, - Around-the-Kyushu -" was planned as a cruise traveling to all seven Kyushu's prefectures in one voyage…

Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation & plc announced today the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the construction of one next-generation cruise ship for luxury brand Cunard. The agreement will become operational when all the financial and technical conditions will be satisfied, the shipbuilder said. The ship will be built at the Monfalcone yard and join the Cunard’s fleet in 2022. The 113,000 ton ship will carry 3,000 guests and be the 249th to fly the Cunard flag…

June 20, 2017 began the next construction stage for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ first newbuild expedition cruise vessel, HANSEATIC nature. During a keel laying ceremony at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises CEO, Karl J. Pojer, placed a coin inside the steel block; the coin was welded into the block and will accompany the ship on all its future cruises. HANSEATIC nature‘s keel consists of two steel blocks: each block is 9 meters long, 11 meters wide, 1,5 meters high and weighs 33 tons.

Finnish ferry company Viking Line  continues to modernise its vessels. The M/S Viking XPRS, which has just undergone dry-docking, has been back sailing its usual Helsinki–Tallinn route starting on February 1. Passengers on the renovated vessel can now look forward to even more enjoyable restaurant and café experiences as well as improved shopping options. During its weeks of dry-docking, the vessel’s restaurant facilities in particular underwent major changes. On Deck 7 a brand-new entertainment venue – the dayand nightclub Club X – will open on February 11. We listened to customers’ wishes and expanded the space there by a third, adding seats for another 150 guests, says the company. As a result, we have increased the level of passenger comfort, especially on day cruises.

FRS has acquired a majority interest in Clipper. FRS is a global ferry and shipping group, currently operating 60 vessels in 12 countries, and carrier of more than 7 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles last year on national and international ferry lines. Clipper, operator of Clipper Vacations, is a recognized company in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, offering unique regional travel experiences, including high speed Victoria Clipper ferry services from Seattle to Victoria, and Seattle to San Juan Island.

Corsica Ferries is first to tap into MCPs new entertainment and information platform for the ferry and cruise industry. Following a successful pilot, five vessels in the Mediterranean Ocean will be equipped with Value Adding Voyage Experience platform (VAVE) this summer. MCP said passengers will enjoy rich digital leisure opportunities from an innovative onboard digital entertainment and information solution. Access to Internet and entertainment services from personal devices is not something crew and passengers on cruise ships and ferries have been spoiled with.

Azamara Quest Exits Drydock with Refreshed Spaces and New Azamara Blue Hull. Azamara Quest, the first of Azamara Club Cruises’ twin boutique ships to undergo refurbishment, emerged today from an eight-day drydock – complete with a refresh of all public spaces and staterooms and a new “Azamara Blue” hull. Named for the cruise line by Navantia Shipyard, the unique navy-blue color tone of Azamara Quest’s hull adds to the elegance of the ship’s silhouette. The cruise line known for…

When Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 commences its 2002 schedule of transatlantic crossings it will offer travellers the chance to travel in one direction via British Airways’ supersonic Concorde. Passengers can purchase the upgrade to Concorde service for an additional $1,995, a savings of more than $4,000 per person. A six-day QE2 transatlantic crossing between New York and Southampton is priced from $1,349 per person, double occupancy, including all meals, entertainment, port charges and Economy Class air (either to or from the ship). Business Class air is included for upper-level staterooms. air journey for just $1,995 per person. As a special bonus, passengers can schedule their Concorde flight on any day they choose, subject to space availability.