One year on: Australian cruise renaissance gathers pace

• March 15, 2023 – More than 40 international cruise ships have returned to local waters in the year since Australia’s cruise suspension was lifted, reviving an industry worth billions of dollars a year to communities around the country.
• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said today Australia had undergone a cruising renaissance over the summer peak season and was on track to return to pre-pandemic prosperity by the end of the year.
• The Australian Government announced on March 15 last year it would not renew its national cruise suspension, paving the way for ships to return in a carefully managed revival that began initially with short domestic itineraries in May 2022.
• Australia has traditionally been one of the world’s most passionate cruise markets. In 2019 more than 1.2 million Australians took an ocean cruise, representing 4.8% per cent of the population or almost one in 20 Australians.

Costa Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

• On 31 March 2023 Costa Cruises celebrates its 75th anniversary. On that day, 75 years ago in 1948, the “Anna C”, the first passenger ship of the fleet, departed from Genoa bound for Buenos Aires, with 768 guests on board.
• A historic moment, which started the great success of Costa cruises. Over all these years, day after day, Costa Cruises has taken millions of guests around the world, sharing the happy and unforgettable moments of their holidays.
• To celebrate this important anniversary together, Costa Cruises has come up with a unique initiative: 75 cruises at a special price, available until April, with different dates depending on the markets, to sail throughout the year, from early spring to autumn, to discover incredible destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
• Ships and itineraries of the 75th anniversary cruises
• Costa Smeralda, Costa Toscana and Costa Diadema will offer week-long cruises in the Western Mediterranean, discovering the most beautiful destinations in Italy, France and Spain.
• In the eastern Mediterranean Costa Deliziosa will visit Marghera/Venice, Katakolon/Olympia (Greece), Mykonos (Greece) Santorini (Greece) and Bari, while during the summer Costa Pacifica will visit Taranto, Catania, Malta, Mykonos and Santorini. Both itineraries are one week long.
• During this summer, the Costa Fortuna will offer a never-before-seen 14-day itinerary between the Greek islands and the Balearic Islands, with Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Messina, four magnificent Greek islands, such as Crete (with a call at Heraklion), Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia (with a call at Argostoli), Palma de Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, and then Barcelona and Marseille.
• From May to September, cruises in Northern Europe will also be available. The Costa Fascinosa will offer 12-day itineraries to the North Cape, or nine-day cruises to the most beautiful cities in the Baltic; the Costa Favolosa will visit Iceland, the Lofoten Islands, Greenland, a new destination for this summer, or Great Britain and Ireland; the Costa Firenze will offer one-week cruises in the Fjords.

Celebrity Cruises brings world’s fastest growing sport, pickleball, to the high seas

• Get your game face on, because the world’s fastest growing sport, pickleball, is coming to the world’s greatest cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, with new courts added to nine ships* in the Celebrity fleet, including Celebrity Eclipse which is currently cruising Australia and New Zealand.
• A hybrid of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball has been embraced by celebrities and athletes around the world, including Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka and even LeBron James. Having officially made its way to Aussie shores in 2020 with the establishment of the Pickleball Australia Association (PAA), the sport has taken off, with membership to the PAA surging to 5,000+ members in just over two years. Jen Ramamurthy, director of the PAA estimates 15,000 people are now playing pickleball across the country – with numbers continuing to skyrocket!
• Whether a first-time player or an avid pro, travellers can now enjoy open-air courts and panoramic ocean views on participating Celebrity Cruises ships. Guests can either play at their leisure, or as part of an organised event or tournament led by the ship’s activities team.
• *The nine Celebrity Cruises’ ships now offering pickleball include: two Edge Series ships – Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Apex; plus Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit.

Celebrity Cruises Launches New Inspirational Content Series, ‘The Tangerine Table’

• Celebrity Cruises, is launching a new content series spotlighting a wide range of game-changing leaders and crew members across its fleet, diving into their real life stories and their extraordinary achievements.
• Called “The Tangerine Table, ” each 10-minute episode will feature a small group of Celebrity officers or crew sharing their career journeys, the people and places that have inspired them along the way, and their lives at sea.  The series name is a nod to the striking colour of The Magic Carpet®, an engineering feat soaring cantilevered above the sea on Celebrity’s industry-transforming Edge® Series ships and considered one of the greatest innovations in the cruise industry.
• The first episode out today honours International Women’s Day with an encouraging “SEA it to BE it” message from the groundbreaking women aboard the line’s flagship Celebrity Beyond, including:  
• • Captain Kate McCue, the first and only American female captain of a cruise ship and the world’s most-followed mariner on social media;
  • First Officer Elizabeth Marami, Kenya's first female marine pilot and first licensed Chief Officer, Navigation.
  • Executive Pastry Chef Atziri Chavez – a Mexican-born talented master of the culinary arts who proudly boasts her well-deserved black scarf;
  • Jelena Vukelic, a Serbian-born wine expert that serves as the ship’s Cellar Master.
• Viewers can tune into the conversation and watch full episodes on both YouTube and Facebook, while also seeing short and impactful clips on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Carnival – Alcohol Alternative Cocktails

• Carnival Cruise Line is mixing some of its most popular cocktails as delicious alcohol-free alternatives. Guest-favorite drinks from the mixologists at Carnival’s ever-popular Alchemy Bar are now available with non-alcoholic spirits produced by industry-leading distiller Lyre’s, making Carnival the first cruise line to offer a full range of alcohol-free cocktails.
• “Our new partnership with Lyre’s gives guests who want non-alcoholic cocktails the best options at sea. We’ve seen popularity for non-alcoholic cocktails grow rapidly, so to meet that trend, our mixologists have been working to craft alternative versions of our most popular cocktails with none of the alcohol, but all the flavour,” said Zachary Sulkes, Carnival’s senior director of beverage operations.
• Lyre’s is the world’s most awarded line of non-alcoholic spirits and a global leader in the emerging segment. The company uses all-natural flavours, including essences, extracts and distillates, to match the aroma, taste and appearance you find within time-tested classics.
• Seven Popular Alchemy Bar Cocktails Recreated with Lyre’s:
  • Martini Seduction: Red passion fruit nectar, fresh lime juice and a hint of orange mix with Lyre’s White Cane instead of vodka to create this swoon-worthy drink.
  • Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini: Lyre’s Agave Blanco stands in for vodka to bring this spicy, pineapple cocktail into its non-alcoholic form.
  • The Remedy: Orange juice, pineapple and fresh lime juice are mixed with Lyre’s White Cane and Spiced Cane instead of dark and coconut rum.
  • Hearts of Fire: This award-winning concoction featuring fresh thyme and raspberries is re-imagined with Lyre’s Dry London instead of gin.
  • Restorative Basil Drop: Lyre’s Dry London is mixed with fresh basil and citrus to stimulate and restore the senses.
  • The Perfect Storm: This invigorating boost features strawberry puree, fresh lime and a hit of rosemary and Lyre’s Dry London instead of vodka.
  • Cucumber Sunrise: Another award-winning favorite among Carnival guests delivers the same light and delicious flavour with watermelon nectar, cucumber, lime juice and a splash of orange juice mixed with Lyre’s Agave Blanco instead of vodka.

Windstar Cruises Announces New Whole-Food, Plant-Based Menu

• Windstar Cruises has partnered with the National Health Association (NHA) to create a new vegan menu on board all six of the small ship line’s yachts. The offerings are not only plant-based but also prepared without added salt, oil, and sugar and are gluten-free.
• Windstar has begun training its culinary team on the new menu and plans to roll out the program fleetwide in June. Vegetarian options, as well as the line’s existing omnivore menu items, will continue to be served as usual. 
• Sample dishes from the new menu include:
  • Daily Smoothies at Breakfast
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Velouté with Baked Pumpkin Seeds
  • Baked Cauliflower Croquettes with Salsa Verde and Sautéed Spinach
  • Penne Rigate Pasta, with Crisp Vegetables and Espelette Pepper Sauce
  • Veggie Enchiladas with Black Bean & Cilantro Sauce
  • Chia Seed Truffles with Dates & Coconut Sauce
  • Tahini Brownies with Fresh Strawberries
• The menu evolved out of hosting several plant-based groups, which have grown significantly in popularity since the start of the pandemic. Lisa McCarl, a former open heart recovery nurse turned travel advisor, has booked several plant-based groups on Windstar and says there is a huge demand for healthy travel options.

Holland America Line Introduces New Category of Extended Destination-in-Depth Voyages

• Holland America Line is globally recognized as an expert in longer voyages, and to commemorate its historic 150th Anniversary in 2023 the cruise line is introducing extended Legendary Voyages. These lengthier cruises, which range from 25 to 59 days, combine the ceremony of Holland America Line's Grand Voyages with itineraries that feature a comprehensive collection of ports that enrich the experience in each destination.
• Highlights of Legendary Voyages:
• Three Legendary Voyages are NEW itineraries for Holland America Line:
  • The previously announced 28-day “Arctic Circle Solstice” that heads north to the Arctic Circle and features 11 calls in Alaska, including lesser-visited ports like Nome and Homer.
  • 53-day “Majestic Japan” with 21 total ports, 13 calls throughout Japan and overnights at Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe.
  • 28-Day “Coral Triangle, Volcanoes and The Great Barrier Reef” that explores 10 ports in five countries, with scenic cruising in the famed Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and past the Kumba and Krakatau volcanoes.
• Destination-rich itineraries focus on a singular region, visiting some of the most unique ports while offering guests an in-depth exploration.
• Guests will enjoy the “best of” Grand Voyages on-board programming to further enhance each Legendary Voyage with experiences such as iconic theme parties memorable sailaways and classic cruise activities.
• Shipboard programming is specially curated to share insights into the history and culture of the destinations visited.
• Guests have more time in port to experience the nightlife with overnight stays in marquee ports including Anchorage, Alaska; Hobart, Tasmania; Honolulu, Hawaii; Manaus, Brazil; Moorea, French Polynesia; Papeete, Tahiti; Reykjavík, Iceland; and Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe, Japan.
• Holland America Line's Legendary Voyages:
  • 56-Day or 51-day “Tales of the South Pacific” departing Sept. 27 or Oct. 2, 2023, respectively, aboard Volendam. The 56-day is from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to San Diego, California; the 51-day is roundtrip from San Diego.
  • 34-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing Oct. 8, 2023, aboard Noordam. From San Diego to Sydney, Australia.
  • 28-Day “Amazon Explorer” departing Feb. 17, 2024, aboard Zaandam. Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • 35-Day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas” departing Feb. 17, 2024, aboard Koningsdam. Roundtrip from San Diego.
  • 25-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing April 6, 2024, aboard Noordam. From Sydney to Vancouver.
  • 28-Day “Arctic Circle Solstice” departing June 9, 2024, aboard Westerdam. Roundtrip from Seattle, Washington.
  • 35-Day “Voyage of the Vikings” departing July 20, 2024, aboard Zuiderdam. Roundtrip from Boston, Massachusetts.
  • 53- or 52-Day “Majestic Japan” departing Sept. 1 or 2, 2024, aboard Westerdam. The 53-day is roundtrip from Seattle; the 52-day is Vancouver to Seattle.
  • 56- or 51-Day “Tales of the South Pacific” departing Sept. 25 or 30, 2024, aboard Zaandam. The 56-day is from Vancouver to San Diego; the 51-day is roundtrip from San Diego.
  • 35-Day “Australia Circumnavigation” departing Nov. 17, 2024, aboard Westerdam. Roundtrip from Sydney.
  • 28-Day “Coral Triangle, Volcanoes and The Great Barrier Reef” departing Jan. 5, 2025, aboard Noordam. Roundtrip from Singapore.
  • 27-Day “Amazon Explorer” departing Feb. 8, 2025, aboard Zaandam. Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
  • 35-Day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas” departing Feb. 15, 2025, aboard Koningsdam. Roundtrip from San Diego.
  • 29-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing March 30, 2025, aboard Westerdam. From Sydney to Vancouver.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils brand new programme of sailing for 2024/25

• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has today unveiled a brand new programme of cruising for 2024/25, featuring a host of specially-timed sailings to coincide with natural wonders and destination events, chances to encounter native wildlife and uncover rich and vibrant histories across the planet.
• The new programme, unveiled on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ website this morning, includes opportunities to follow natural bird migrations, witness meteor showers, experience the world’s second largest carnival, and the chance to spot wild polar bears with a specially-planned scenic diversion away from the well-sailed route.
• For the first time since 2019, the new programme also features an 11-night Mystery Cruise setting sail from Southampton in November 2024 – with guests able to follow in the footsteps of explorers, navigators and seafarers as they guess their next port of call.
• Continuing their commitment to sailing from regional UK ports, Fred. Olsen will offer departures from Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth, Dover, Southampton and Portsmouth in 2024 and 2025.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils brand new 82-night ‘Discovering Asia with the Holi Festival’ Grand Voyage

• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has today unveiled a brand new 82-night Grand Voyage, offering the chance to discover the culture-rich lands of Asia on a journey timed specially to coincide with the Holi Festival.
• The sailing, aboard Fred. Olsen’s smaller-sized Balmoral, features calls into Myanmar and Cambodia, known for their ancient civilisations and rich histories, where guests can explore the temples of Angkor Wat from Siem Reap, the largest religious monument in the world, and Myanmar’s ancient city of Bagan.
• Wildlife lovers will have the chance to spot endemic species in Borneo, home to proboscis monkeys, or visit Sri Lanka’s Udawalawa Elephant Park, while those with a passion for wartime history can discover the Củ Chi tunnels, an extensive network of underground tunnels, in a call into Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
• An undoubted highlight will be time spent in India, where Chennai will act as the gateway to the ancient monuments and temples of Mahabalipuram, created by the Pallava dynasty, while time in Mumbai will allow those joining the cruise to experience the annual Hindu Holi Festival or immerse themselves in the local way of life by assisting busy dabbawallas delivering lunches across the city.
• What is more, in addition to the host of experiences on-board and ashore, guests who book to join this Grand Voyage can enjoy up to £500 per person to spend aboard Balmoral, plus free door-to-door transfers within 250 UK mainland miles to the port.
• Balmoral’s 82-night L2502 ‘Discovering Asia with the Holi Festival’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 18th January 2025.
• Itinerary: Southampton, England – Gibraltar, Gibraltar – Cruising Grand Harbour, Valletta – Valletta, Malta – Alexandria, Egypt (overnight stay) – Cruising Suez Canal – Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – Safaga, Egypt – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Colombo, Sri Lanka – Hambantota, Sri Lanka – Port Klang (for Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia – Kota Kinabalu, Borneo – Muara, Brunei Darussalam – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Sihanoukville, Cambodia – Singapore, Singapore – Yangon, Myanmar (overnight stay) – Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India – Kochi, Kerala, India – Mumbai, India (overnight stay) – Muscat, Oman – Salalah, Oman – Aqaba, Jordan – Cruising Suez Canal – Asdod, Israel – Haifa, Israel – Heraklion, Crete – Catania, Sicily, Italy – Cartagena, Spain – Lisbon, Portugal – Cruising by Cristo Rei and Abril 25 Bridge – Cruising by Belém Tower & Discovery Monument, Lisbon, Portugal – Southampton, England

P&O’s Pacific Partnership Program Sponsors First of its Kind Traineeship Program

• P&O Cruises Australia is delighted to announce it has partnered with Cruise Eden to sponsor a two-year School Based Traineeship (SBAT) in Certificate III Tourism. Tailored for cruise, the SBAT Programme is the first of its kind for an Australian regional port, and has been designed to create vocational employment and training pathways for young people in the South Coast region interested in a career in the Tourism industry.
• Practical training commenced this week when the program’s first trainees – Year 11 students of Eden Marine High School, Keely Grebert and Ocea Thiedeman, boarded P&O’s Pacific Adventure for a ship tour with the Captain during her port call to Eden.
• According to educator and Cruise Eden Manager, Debbie Meers, Keely and Ocea will be assisting the Cruise Eden with operations on cruise days, and training with other tourism businesses during the winter months to broaden their industry experience and knowledge.

NCL Expands Exotics Itineraries in 2024/2025

• NCL Has announced new 2024/25 exotic itineraries, including the debut of Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky in Asia, and new ports of call to Manama, Bahrain; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Sokhna, Egypt; and Akita, Japan.  
• With this new season of itineraries from October 2024 through December 2025, NCL is expanding its voyages to Antarctica, South America, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand by 37%, and its Extraordinary Journeys – the Brand’s collection of immersive and port-rich voyages – overall by 15%.  This collection of itineraries only reaffirms the company’s commitment to providing guests with carefully curated voyages to some of the most sought-after destinations in the world.
  • NCL’s maiden call to Bahrain, its first dedicated Middle East sailing – The Brand will offer a seven-day Middle East cruise on Norwegian Sun from Doha, Qatar to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) departing 12 April , 2025. An overnight stay in Abu Dhabi, UAE provides travellers with more time to explore the culturally rich destination. In addition, the open-jaw voyage includes visits to Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Manama, Bahrain – a first time visit for NCL; as well as Dubai and Sir Bani Yas, the largest natural island southwest of Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  • Extraordinary Journeys – NCL’s collection of immersive journeys that take guests to lesser-visited and once-in-a-lifetime destinations will include two new back-to-back voyages aboard Norwegian Sky. Departing December 2024, the vessel will offer a 16-day Africa sailing to Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Oman and more during its voyage from Dubai, UAE to Mauritius. Immediately following, she will offer a 17-day sailing from Mauritius to Singapore with calls to Seychelles, Maldives and Zanzibar. On 19 April , 2025, Norwegian Sun will embark on a 16-day cruise from Dubai, UAE to Haifa, Israel featuring 10 ports of call, including Sokhna, Egypt – a brand-new port for NCL. Visiting Sokhna, Egypt allows for easier access to Cairo, where guests can explore the ancient Great Pyramids of Giza.
  • Two NCL ships departing from Haifa, Israel – In November 2024, Norwegian Sky will sail a 16-day Middle East Extraordinary Journey from Haifa, Israel to Dubai, UAE, including the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to transit the Suez Canal in Egypt. Guests can also choose from an 11-day Mediterranean cruise from Haifa, Israel to Istanbul, Turkey aboard Norwegian Sun. Departing 5 May , 2025, the voyage will call to sought-after destinations in Greece, Turkey and Egypt.
  • Three NCL ships to Asia for the first time – As announced in NCL’s APAC deployment release distributed earlier this week, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky will debut in Asia, offering an extensive eight-month season from October 2024 through May 2025, sailing country-intensive voyages in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan – including a collection of coveted Japanese spring cherry blossom and fall foliage itineraries. For the very first time, NCL will call to Akita, Japan during Norwegian Sun’s 12-day roundtrip sailing from Tokyo, embarking on 23 October, 2024. Both ships will be joined in region by Norwegian Spirit, who will embark on a brand-new repositioning voyage from Australia to Asia on 7 December, 2024, followed by her first voyage in Asia on 21 December, 2024.
  • Brand-new Australian itinerary – As announced earlier this week, Norwegian Spirit returns Down Under for her third season and launches a new 14-day open-jaw voyage from Sydney to Bali via the Queensland coast in December 2024. The voyage includes calls to Cairns and Darwin, Australia; as well as an overnight visit to Bali (Benoa), Indonesia, providing more time for cruisers to enjoy this exotic destination. In addition, the ship will make the Brand’s first port of call to Rarotonga, Cook Islands in November 2025.

Sun Princess Milestone: Float Out Ceremony Celebration for Next-Generation Ship in the Fleet

• Princess Cruises, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year, celebrated a momentous construction milestone with the float out of the cruise line's bespoke, next-generation ship – Sun Princess – at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
• Following the Italian shipyard's tradition, the float out is marked by a special ceremony where a “Madrina” is named to offer blessings and best wishes for the vessel, celebrating the flow of water into the ship's building dock. Princess Cruises Hotel General Manager Simona Stumberger was selected to serve in this special role as an ambassador for Princess, because she epitomizes professionalism and always delivers service with a smile.
• A native of Slovenia where Stumberger studied hospitality management, she began her career at sea in the bar department and further diversified her hotel experience by working in guest services, and hand in hand with the hotel and food and beverage divisions. Stumberger has been with Princess Cruises for nearly five years.
• The float out completes the first comprehensive phase of construction for Sun Princess which now transitions to focus on building the ship's interiors.
• The 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer an array of exciting new dining, entertainment and activity offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. The ship will be highlighted by amazing, never-before-seen spaces such as The Dome, a transformational entertainment venue inspired by the terraces of Santorini, the next-level, brand-iconic Piazza, and three-story Horizons Dining Room that are sure to have everyone talking.

Cunard to Launch Silent Discos in Onboard Nightclubs

• You can dance, you can jive, and you can have the time of your life – in blissful silence – as Cunard is set to launch silent discos aboard its very own dancing Queens.
• The luxury cruise brand is world-renowned for its glamorous onboard entertainment, but lesser known is the fact that Cunard’s Queens are home to some of the liveliest nightclubs at sea.
• And now, as music lovers across the globe celebrate International DJ Day on 9 March, Cunard has announced that it is introducing silent discos to its iconic late-night venues on selected evenings.
• The stunning G32 onboard Queen Mary 2 is the biggest of the fleet’s nightclubs, which is where you’ll find partygoers seeing out the evening in style to the sounds of a live DJ and resident party band.
• Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, however, are home to the strikingly located Yacht Club, where, if you’re looking for a night to remember, travellers dance the night away into the small hours.
• The introduction of silent discos to these venues is a modern twist on the more established late-night traditions of luxury cruise travel – and is another example of the many immersive onboard experiences offered by Cunard.
• The concept involves partygoers wearing wireless headphones and dancing to music that is only audible through the headphones. This creates a uniquely entrancing and customisable experience as guests control their own volume and switch between channels to hear different genres of music.
• This new offering also enables Cunard to take the nightclub proposition out of the main venues and into more unexpected places – transforming areas with parties in the Grand Lobby, on deck or other pop-up locations around the ship.