Aerial view large cruise ship at sea, passenger cruise ship, sailing through the Ksamil, … [+]
New ships and themed cruises are hitting the high seas this spring and summer as cruise lines have new surprises in store for travellers. If you want to rub shoulders with a famous chef or a famous winemaker, there are plenty of opportunities (as well as special discounts) available to you. Here are some of the newest ships and specialty cruises to book this year.
Norwegian Adds New Johnnie Walker Cruise
Norwegian’s “Meet the winemaker” series brings well-known food and drink personalities on board … [+]
As part of the line’s Meet the Winemaker series, Norwegian Cruise Line is adding a new Johnnie Walker cruise for whiskey lovers. Master Blender Emma Walker will be aboard Norwegian Prima during a September sail in Northern Europe. Being a master blender is the highest rank in whiskey craftsmanship. Travelers can learn about the brand and taste many rare whiskeys. It is part of the line’s wine cruises that bring well-known names in food and drink on board. They include celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez, winemaker and fashion scion Salvatore Ferragamo, Napa Valley icon Michael Mondavi and winemaker Gérard Bertrand.
Oceania Cruises names second Allura-class ship after her
Oceania Cruises’ new ship will be called Oceania Allura.
Upscale, food-focused cruise line Oceania Cruises now has a name for its second Allura-class ship, Oceania Allura. It will be the brother of the Oceana Vista which will soon sail. The 1,200-passenger ship is currently under construction in Italy and is expected to debut in 2025. The ship will have the largest staterooms in the line as well as a new American gourmet restaurant and chef’s studio. When it launches, the cruise line plans to send it to many smaller ports that large cruise ships cannot easily access.
Cunard partners with the Greatest Generations Foundation
Cunard Queen Mary 2 will host veterans to lead special presentations on an upcoming sail.
During a transatlantic crossing on May 26, Cunard will host World War II and Vietnam War veterans aboard the Queen Mary 2 to lead daily programs and history lectures. Q&A sessions and presentations will cover the Battle of the Atlantic, the D-Day landings in Normandy, Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Ia Drang Valley, the Tet Offensive and the Siege of Khe Sanh, among others. Cunard offered a similar cruise last November to honor Veterans Day.
Star Clippers lets customers choose summer promotion
Star Clippers operates a fleet of sailboats that can enter smaller ports than large cruises … [+]
As part of the line’s latest promotion, travelers on summer cruises can choose between $400 in airfare or onboard credits plus prepaid gratuities. The offer is available for European crossings booked by the end of March for this summer as well as crossings lasting until 2024 between six nights and two weeks. The company’s signature tall ships visit smaller ports that aren’t often frequented by larger cruise ships.
MSC Cruises launches the eco-designed MSC Euribia
The MSC Euribia will be launched this summer in Denmark.
Launched in Copenhagen in June, the new MSC Euribia will be the second ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is the cleanest marine fuel available on a large scale. Where shore power is available, the vessel will have zero emissions thanks to its advanced on-board environmental systems. The ship features a livery, a tribute to green operations, by German graphic designer Alex Flaemig. This summer, the ship will begin sailing from Denmark and Germany on routes in Scandinavia, to Greenland and around the Norwegian fjords.
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentii is the new godmother of Oceania Vista
Giada De Laurentiis and Oceania Cruises President Frank A. Del Rio at Vista Godmother Reveal … [+]
Italian-American chef, restaurateur and Emmy-winning culinary personality Giada De Laurentiis has a new feather to add to her cap. She is now patron of Oceana Vista, which will debut in May. Accompanied by a serenade from singer, pianist and actor Harry Connick Jr., she will christen the ship May 8 in Malta, while adding her own signature touch to the onboard menu. This is the first new vessel for culinary-oriented Oceania in over a decade. It will make trips to the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea from this year.