Cruise & Maritime Voyages are to sub-charter their 550-passenger vessel, Azores, to French cruise specialists and tour operator, Rivages du Monde.
Royal Caribbean International's newest cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas, has arrived in Southampton for the first time. The 4,905 guest ship will spend the summer season operating out of the UK, before heading to New York.
Thomson Cruises has finally announced the name of their soon-to-be largest cruise ship. Thomson Discovery, currently sailing with Royal Caribbean International as Splendour of the Seas, will transfer to the Thomson fleet in summer 2016.
The world's most luxurious cruise ship, Regent's Seven Seas Explorer, will make its North American debut on December 2nd 2016, offering an inaugural season of Caribbean sailings from Miami. Meanwhile Seven Seas Navigator will offer exotic African voyages.
In 2016, Disney Cruise Line will offer several cruises departing from Dover, as well as introducing it's first British Isles cruise itinerary, which will visit Scotland, England, Ireland and France. Throughout the summer of 2016, Disney Cruise Line also will return to Norway, Iceland and ports of call in more than 15 European countries.
Royal Caribbean has released a series of preview itineraries for their new Quantum class ship, Ovation of the Seas, which will debut next year.
At least 17 tourists have been killed during an horrific terrorist attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunisia. Two gunmen deliberately targeted cruise passengers as they were exiting coaches on a shore excursion.
Thomson Cruises has announced that they will acquire Royal Caribbean International's Splendour of the Seas in summer 2016.
Adverse weather in the Atlantic has affected Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Azores from reaching the UK on time. Originally scheduled to arrive into Bristol Avonmouth on Wednesday 25th February, after her maiden voyage with CMV - a 30-night exotic voyage to the West Indies, the ship was forced to make an unscheduled call into Lisbon, where it took shelter, until conditions improved.
Viking Cruises brand new ocean cruise ship, Viking Star, has successfully completed its sea trials.
Carnival Cruise Line have revealed their much anticipated new ship, Carnival Vista, due to enter service in spring 2016.
Holland America Line's new cruise ship msKoningsdam, due to be launched in 2016, will be home-ported in Amsterdam from April 2016. Following a series of Mediterranean cruises based out of Civitavecchia, Rome, the 99,500 ton vessel will reposition to Amsterdam for the summer season. It will sail on itineraries to Norway, the Baltic and Iceland.
Ultra-luxury cruise line, Silversea, has announced that shore excursions and WiFi will be included on all Mediterranean cruises booked from 15th January.
Celestyal Cruises, the new brand for Louis Cruises, has announced the itineraries for its latest addition to the fleet, Celestyal Odyssey.
The first charter flight under a partnership between Air France KLM and MSC Cruises took off from Paris (Charles de Gaulle) this week carrying 432 MSC guests to the Dominican Republic for a week-long Caribbean cruise.
British cruise operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has added a series of Mediterranean fly-cruise itineraries. Following the announcement of new ship Magellan, joining their fleet in March 2015, CMV now have the capacity to expand the choice of cruises offered. Starting in September 2015, Azores will operate five fly-cruises. Bookings made before 12th December 2014, will also benefit from the hugely successful 'Buy One Get One Free' offer. The first departure will leave from Bristol – Avonmouth on 8th September 2015. Sailing on a 9-night voyage to Genoa in Italy. The cruise will visit La Coruña in Spain, Leixoes (Oporto), Lisbon, Gibraltar and Malaga before arriving in Genoa where guests will return to the UK by air. Prices are from £1369 for two people (£685pp) Azores will then offer two fly-cruises from Genoa on 17 September and 9th October. The ship will sail an 11-night voyage visiting Civitavecchia with an optional excursion to Rome, Santorini, Mykonos, and Kusadasi for Ephesus. Next up is the beautiful island of Samos, then Piraeus for Athens and on to Katakolon where Olympia is not too far away. Azores will then call into Corfu and Korcula (Croatia) before arriving in Venice where passengers will stay overnight on board before flying back. On 28th September and 20th October 2015, this cruise will operate in reverse sailing from Venice to Genoa and then a flight back to the UK. Prices start from £1999pp for two people (£999pp). Mike Hall, Head of Marketing at CMV said: We are delighted to add these cruises in the Mediterranean with the opportunity to visit a wide range of interesting and scenic places. Those CMV cruises involving Venice, Piraeus for Athens and Civitavecchia for Rome are bound to be attractive to many of our regular passengers who have been asking us for cruises in the Med. Book before 12th December and you will benefit from the 'Buy One Get One Free' promotion. Flights are based on London airports, regional flights can be arranged subject to an additional cost.
Visit cruiseandmaritime.com, call 0844 414 6185 or visit your travel agent for more information about these amazing itineraries. Norwegian Cruise Lines has revealed that Norwegian Epic will host new shows when she is based year-round in Barcelona from April 2015. Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical will replace current headline show, Rock of Ages starting from October 18th. Burn the Floor, which already features on board Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, will be updated for European guests on board Norwegian Epic, with the first performance taking place on the April 19th transatlantic voyage. A new entertainment venue, called the Cavern Club, will features sounds of the Beatles and other international musicians. The venue has been created thanks to a partnership with the owners of the original Cavern Club in Liverpool, where the Beatles made their name. The new club will open on the October 11th sailing. Drew Madsen, Norwegian Cruise Line's president and CEO, said: These new world-class entertainment offerings, along with Norwegian Epic's innovative accommodation and plethora of dining options, are the perfect combination for the European cruise market. Greek cruise line, Louis Cruises has rebranded itself as Celestyal Cruises.
The small ship operator offers guests an authentic Greek experience and the new rebrand will help promote this ethos. Celestyal Cruises gives cruises the opportunity to visit legendary archeological sites, experience music by traditional Greek musicians and dancers, as well as to enjoy delicious Greek cuisine and wine. The Louis Cristal will be renamed Celestyal Crystal with a new livery to match. Louis Olympia, a former Royal Caribbean ship, will be named Celestyal Olympia. All social media pages have been changed to reflect the new corporate identity. Visit www.celestyalcruises.com for more information. The world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, has arrived into the port of Southampton for the first time today.
40% larger than any other cruise ship to dock in the port, Oasis of the Seas boasts two rock climbing walls, two surf simulators, a zip-line, carousel, rising tide bar and several distinct 'neighborhoods' including the Boardwalk and Central Park, featuring various plants and foliage. The ship arrived into Southampton shortly before 10am and was greeted with the traditional salute from a fire-tug as well as a horn salute from Saga Sapphire and Azura. The ship will stay in the port until midnight, where she will head up to the 'upper swinging ground' to perform a 180 degree turn and head back down the Solent en-route to Vigo, before returning to her home port of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She briefly made a visit to the Solent in 2009, prior to entering service, to drop off workers. Royal Caribbean will also be in the spotlight again this month, as Southampton prepares to welcome their newest and most technological vessel to date, Quantum of the Seas. She will arrive in the UK on 31st October before heading to New York on 2nd November. Image: Twitter / @RoyalESP
Oasis of the Seas has finally arrived into Barcelona. The largest cruise ship in the world, departed For Lauderdale on September 1st, before crossing the Atlantic and calling at Malaga on the 11th. The ship will stay in Barcelona until 7pm tonight and will then complete two 5-night cruises to Rome and Naples. After which she will sail to Rotterdam for routine maintenance. Image: Cruise & Maritime Voyages
British small ship operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages has announced a new ship charter for 2015. The 550 passenger classic cruise ship 'Azores', has been chartered from Portuguese based, Portuscale Cruises on a long term basis. The ship will enter service for CMV on 26th January 2015 and operate year round sailings from the UK, commencing operations from Bristol Avonmouth with a 30 night maiden voyage to the West Indies. Azores will also be sailing from Hull and London Tilbury with programme highlights including; the Solar Eclipse & Northern Lights, Seville Fiesta, Summertime Gardens & Medieval Cities and a Scottish themed Edinburgh Festival cruise. Chris Coates, Commercial Director of CMV commented, “Azores is an excellent, upgraded addition to our cruise fleet and has been affectionately and very well maintained by her Owners. We are confident that Azores will prove to be a ‘real winner’ with our dedicated growing number of loyal customers and will also attract new clients seeking smaller ship alternatives and regional ex-UK no fly cruise options”. Rui Alegre, Chief Executive Officer of Lisbon based Portuscale Cruises added, “I’m a strong believer in developing close and long term business partnerships. I’m very pleased to have concluded a charter with CMV and look forward to working closely with their team in successfully establishing Azores on to the British market. Azores is a beautiful ship and has been operating very well in achieving high levels of customer satisfaction. I am proud that she will be carrying CMV passengers next year and for many years to come”. Full details of CMV’s new ship Azores and her exciting programme alongside Marco Polo and Astor will be unveiled on Tuesday 1st July 2014 when a 2015 first edition preview brochure will be released featuring a cruise collection of over 50 sailings through until October 2015. Cruises on board Royal Caribbean's latest ship, Anthem of the Seas, went on sale to its Crown and Anchor members on Wednesday 26th February.
The sister ship to Quantum of the Seas, will launch in April 2015, sailing from Southampton in the summer season, and Fort Lauderdale for the winter season. The ship will operate various itineraries ranging from short 3- and 4-night 'taster' cruises up to 16-night Mediterranean itineraries. A 3-night taster cruise from Southampton to Brugge and Le Havre starts at £399. If you're wanting a longer cruise, 14-night cruise in July 2015 costs £1599. |
Subscribe To Our Email Updates!Meet The EditorJordan Bailey is 19 and loves to travel! He has been on over 20 cruises around the world, with many different cruise lines, making him a source of knowledge.
MEET THE WRITERS Archives
May 2015
Categories
All
All images copyright of Cruise Capital, unless otherwise stated.
|