europe cruise News

Officials from the German Meyer Werft shipyard and executives from Norwegian Cruise Line joined in the Keel Laying Ceremony of Norwegian Breakaway, which took place in Papenburg a few days ago.

One thing about the current economic downturn is that those with a little money tucked away under the mattress for that dream cruise holiday of a lifetime can find better deals now than in a long time. Cruise lines are vying for your business and with a little research it is not hard to find a great offer.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has published its 2013 Europe and International brochure, which includes seven itineraries operating in German and English. MS Europa is, according to the influential 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, the top ranking cruise liner in the world.

Cruise passengers will be safeguarded by new security measures while on cruise holidays says the European Cruise Council – an association for cruise lines doing business in Europe.

AmaWaterways recently announced a new range of exclusive Culinary Delights – Bites & Sights tours. These will feature walking tours, cooking classes and tastings on a number of European journeys. From picking local produce to preparing local specialties such as smoked salmon folded with “cervelle de canuts” or the Bulgarian delicacy “banista,” AmaWaterways guests can refine their culinary skills while exploring the region’s culture and flavours.

German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ latest ship Columbus 2 has left on its maiden journey between Majorca and Malta.

High-end French cruise company Compagnie du Ponant is going to acquire a luxurious new cruise liner, Le Soléal, for its fleet in July next year.

Island Cruises says in a press release it was happy to announce that from March next year their ship Island Escape will offer all-inclusive cruise holidays, providing passengers with even greater value for money since food and beverages will be included in the cruise price.

Celebrity Cruises has extended its private land excursions programme to include more than 70 international ports, offering additional ways for passengers to better utilise their time on land by indulging in the convenience and luxury of a private car with a chauffeur. Private tour guides are also available.

Football fans on the cruise ships of Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean through the summer of 2012's European Championships will have the opportunity to watch every goal, possible penalty shoot-out and foul.

Crystal Cruises is planning nearly 30% more Crystal Adventures discovering Europe’s considerable Jewish heritage destinations for next year.

As a result of uncertainty and political instability in Egypt, Crystal Cruises has modified its “Ancient Land and Cultures” voyage planned for the 12th of October to substitute its visit to Alexandria with visits to Israel, Haifa and Bodrum in Turkey.

The inspiring couple consisting of United States astronaut Mark Kelly and ex-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will be boarding a ship of a different kind this year: Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity for a luxurious Mediterranean cruise holiday from Lisbon to Rome on the 25th July.

AIDA Cruises has issued a press release stating that it will be taking up the function of primary sponsor of the world’s biggest port celebration for the next three years.

The VP of logistics and purchasing at Norwegian Cruise Line says that the challenge is similar industry-wide “Prices are going up across the board, especially for protein products.”

For those cruise lovers whose love for travel is combined with a deep love of good food and good wine, super-luxury cruise line Silversea has introduced a number of new shore excursions in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean this coming summer.

Seabourn has announced that during the 2013 European cruise season the company’s six all-suite intimate ships will visit many hidden gems and captivating cities all over Europe.

In the spring of next year Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will add one more outstanding river cruise destination to their already impressive array of cruises: Italy.

Even a monarch sometimes outlives her usefulness. In this case the Monarch is only 21 years old – but in the world where she lives that is considered to be too old for the distinguished guests whom she has to entertain.

From the spring of next year, Celebrity Cruises will offer its biggest ever choice of great cruises on six of the most modern cruise liners in Europe, including the latest introduction to its fleet, Celebrity Reflection.

Hot on the heels of Fred Olsen launching their 2013-14 preview brochure a few days earlier, Norwegian Cruise Line launched is own brochure yesterday.

To be honest, in the past Europe never figured very highly on Carnival’s radar. The company’s European schedule consisted pretty much of new ships. They were built in Europe and then launched in early summer, just in time for a couple of quick European cruises – after which they would cross the Atlantic and take up their position in the American Carnival fleet.

During the upcoming summer season, Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer cruise lovers journeys of amazing cultural diversity through the alluring blue waters of Northern Europe. The company offers special discounts on 13 all-inclusive Celtic and Scandinavian sailings during its 20th anniversary year.

One of the hallmarks of a Celebrity Cruises holiday has always been the exploration of fine wines guided by experienced wine stewards. The cruise line has now expanded its wine programme to include even more wines from a wider array of wine producing regions, thereby offering cruise lovers the opportunity to become familiar with a bigger range of wines than ever before.

To celebrate the rich wine and culinary traditions of France, Tauck has introduced a new Rhine river cruise. The nine-night itinerary is called A Taste of France and it starts with a two-night stay in a Paris hotel to give guests an opportunity to explore the local food culture. After this they leave on an eight-day river cruise on the river Rhone aboard the MS Swiss Emerald.

The ever-popular Princess Cruises had a surprise up its sleeve this February: the company will offer a number of special fares on cruises to Europe just in time for the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

When MSC Cruises added the French Antilles to their destination list for next year’s winter, with it came the prospect of a seemingly endless array of interesting shore excursions. The company has indeed created the perfect chance for travel lovers to indulge themselves in the best this idyllic area has to offer.

Given the history of the past few months, Liverpool made a surprising announcement on Friday: the port claims that its Pier Head terminal will start operating as a turnaround terminal within the next three months.

Savvy cruisers are said to be comparing cruise prices this week in an attempt to find bargains after the Costa Concordia incident. On the other hand, the leading cruise lines in the UK have suspended all their marketing activities for now.

Hebridean Princess, probably the Queen’s most beloved ship, has been granted a Royal Warrant. This is believed to be the very first time that a shipping company receives a Royal Warrant, says Lord Sterling, Hebridean Island Cruises’ Chairman.

For those who have always dreamt about the magical part of Italy called Tuscany, there is now the option to combine a tour of the region with a luxury cruise. Silversea cruises will offer no less than three cruise-land itineraries that include a visit to Tuscany during 2012. They will go by the name of “Slow Food Adventure in Tuscany.”

Windstar Cruises is for those who want something really different. The company operates three luxurious yachts that explore the most secluded corners of the world. The company currently offers sail and stay packages on certain European cruises, which offer two free nights in a hotel in either Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, Roma or Lisbon and two-for-one cruise fares. These are valid until the 24th February 2012.

While most of us were enjoying a much-needed holiday over the festive season, others were busy preparing the cruise ships that will take us to the four corners of the earth in 2012.

When one hears reports of a cruise operator that has gone under it is always a disturbing experience. One automatically thinks of the hundreds if not thousands of passengers whose dreams might have been shattered in the process and the many staff members who will now be out of work.

As Hurtigruten’s cruise liner MS Fram traverses the Northern European waters in May next year, its convenient size allows for easy on/off access – often in or near city centres. The approach to educate guests about the local cultures, histories and things to do is also unusually personalised.

Norwegian Cruise Lines will have four cruise ships plying European waters in the summer of 2013. Two of them will be based in the region year-round in future.

Even now it is still not too late to escape the winter blues on a last-minute cruise, to experience the wonder of Europe’s Christmas markets or to cruise into the New Year with style. What’s more, nearly all these cruises offer excellent value for money.

Both the Queen Mary 2 and the Oriana are currently undergoing upgrades at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The Queen Mary arrived on the 26th November and the Oriana on the 16th November.

The biggest cruise company in Europe and Italy’s largest travel group, Costa Cruises, has announced that its new flagship, the Costa Fascinosa, will be christened in Savona on the 6th May next year. The announcement was made by Pier Luigi Foschi, the CEO and Chairman of Costa Cruises. The christening ceremony will be organised by the Savona Chamber of Commerce, the Port Authority, the Municipality, the Provincial Administration and the Liguria Regional Administration.

From the 21st of March next year P&O Cruises will also succumb to the new trend of adding a tipping charge to your account. The company says it will do this to eliminate confusion over tipping.

Regular readers will already know that Splendour of the Seas recently enjoyed a visit to a Spanish dry dock for a comprehensive overhaul. The 25th November, in fact, marks the day on which she emerges from this visit – virtually a new ship.

According to the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, SeaDream Yacht Club operates the top Boutique Ships in the world. The Cruise line has now published more information about its upcoming 2012 itinerary featuring unique Greek and Turkish ports. The cruise was specially planned to follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul – one of the Roman Empire’s most famous citizens.

As the only cruise line that offers a dedicated school programme on board a cruise ship, Voyages of Discovery recently announced the successful completion of another School Cruise. In a tradition dating back nearly 50 years, this cruise saw close to 700 students from 29 different schools take part in an extensive programme that has been specially developed to provide every passenger with the maximum educational benefits during their cruise.

Hurtigruten’s line-up for 2012 includes a cultural immersion cruise to Greenland during which passengers can learn more about the country’s indigenous Inuit culture through direct conversation and interaction. The cruise is aptly named “Heart of Greenland” and passengers who book before the end of December will get a 10% early booking discount.

Even cruise ships and celebrities have to bow before the forces of nature. Dame Shirley Bassey for one found this out the hard way on Sunday: she was supposed to visit P&O Cruises’ Adonia, the cruise liner that she christened six months ago, but massive storms sweeping the South of France prevented the ship from entering the harbour of Monte Carlo.

Oceania Cruises has announced that the company’s new pride and joy, the 1,250-passenger Riviera, will be christened in the port of Monte Carlo on the 19th April next year. The ceremony will be lavish – and sadly by invitation only. It will take place at the pier of Port Hercules.

Regardless of the economic slowdown the cruise industry is still doing remarkably well – some cruise lines more so than others. One of the more successful seems to be Costa Cruises. The company has recently announced that its cruise ships brought close to four million passengers to Italian shores in 2011, which is double the number of the previous year.

Royal Caribbean Cruises signed a deal with Spanish shipyard Reparaciones Navantia in Cadiz on the 1st November 2011 in terms of which Splendour of the Seas will receive a comprehensive makeover.

Costa Cruises has always been the choice of the discerning cruise lover and Costa Romantica in particular has been very popular among those in the know ever since its launch.

Whether you want to experience the beautiful scenery and fascinating culture of Northern Europe, visit the Norwegian Fjords, explore the many marvels of the Mediterranean or simply delight in the evergreen mystique of Europe, Cunard Line has something for you next year.

If you are forever in the position that you have to pay excess baggage fees at the airport on the way to joining your cruise, there is now an easy solution to your problem: a nudist cruise to Croatia.

Saga will soon take possession of its latest ship, which will eventually be called Saga Sapphire – after it has undergone extensive renovation. The 37,000 ton cruise ship is currently called Bleu de France, but it used to be known as Europa.

Nearly 50% of Princess Cruises’ ships will be deployed in European waters during the summer of 2012.

Fifty years ago the Baltic was a virtually unexplored gem waiting to be discovered by cruise lines. Today it is an ever more popular destination for cruise lovers who want something different.

One of the most useful sections in the new Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships that was released on the 1st October is no doubt the one explaining how there are often hidden costs involved with low cruise fares.

Princess Cruises’ passengers will have a hard time making a selection from a bigger array of cruises than ever before for next year. There will be a host of new cruises exploring Northern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia, while the always popular Mediterranean cruises will still be available.

It has just been confirmed by Swingers Date Club that they will offer a special Mediterranean cruise for swingers in 2013 on board the magnificent Azamara Quest. For eight glorious days between the 16th and the 23rd May 2013 swingers will get the best of three worlds: mix with other swingers, experience hand picked destinations and be pampered in the lap of luxury.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been voted “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the fourth year in a row by the prestigious World Travel Awards. The company was also honoured with Europe’s Sustainable Tourism Award for its latest cruise liner, the Norwegian Epic.

Costa Cruises is to feature a number of new, unique itineraries next year. With the strongly growing Mediterranean and Northern European cruise markets in mind, the company will offer several new itineraries in these regions.

On the 1st September Norwegian Cruise Lines launched one of the best cruise deals currently on offer: they give passengers up to $500 spending money per cabin when making a reservation on one of their selected 2012/13 European itineraries.

When the feisty little cruise liner Spirit of Adventure completes her final winter season in the Far East next year and sails from Cyprus to Rome for the last time, it is fortunately not the end of the road – or the sea – for her.

According to Carnival, their latest cruise liner is simply a ‘bundle of fun’. The company promises that Breeze’s 2012 season will be filled with more fun than ever before. The ship will depart on a series of cruises from Venice and Barcelona next year.

Long weekends away and city breaks have become enormously popular over the last few years, which explains why Fred Olsen Cruises has no less than 12 short cruises planned for 2012. These will depart from a number of different UK ports.

Expedition cruise line Hurtigruten has cruised right into the Guinness Book of Records. The company achieved this feat with the longest ever live TV-documentary on a cruise between Bergen and Kirkenes.

Carnival Cruise line had a very successful season in Europe during 2010 with its cruise ship the Carnival Magic. The company now hopes to build on this success with a new promotion that highlights its new ship Carnival Breeze.

The easternmost port in Italy, Trieste, was treated to a spectacular midnight ceremony on Saturday when Costa Cruises’ latest ship, the Costa Favolosa was named at the local waterfront.

Fred Olsen’s stylish cruise liner, Braemar, has docked at the Spanish port of Seville for the first time.

Italian Cruise Company Costa experienced strong growth in the 2010/11 financial year, with revenues up by 12% to nearly €3 billion.

Numerous picturesque and virtually undiscovered ports have opened up for cruise lovers thanks to the recent acquisition of the Adonia by P&O Cruises. Ports that are completely inaccessible to the latest cruise giants can easily be reached by the much smaller Adonia.

A mysterious British cruise lover has forked out a cool million dollars to charter a luxurious cruise ship for her birthday party. The lady, who is apparently reaching a significant age, has also sponsored the flight tickets of 200 friends who will join her in Venice for the week long birthday bash on board Seabourn Spirit.

If you are planning a cruise holiday that will dock at Hamburg in Germany, we have good news for you: you will arrive at a brand new cruise terminal.

In a rather innovative move, Azamara Cruises has decided to offer cruise lovers the option to combine more than one cruise into a single cruising experience. By combining a selection of cruises on board the Azamara Journey or the Azamara Quest, passengers can make up their own itinerary, without visiting the same port twice.

A three-year expansion plan at Seabourn Cruises ended on a high note with the delivery of the company’s latest cruise liner – the Seabourn Quest.

Airline clients and travel agents who are faced with flight cancellations in Norway after renewed occurrences of ash clouds have received an offer of help from Cruise and Maritime Voyages.

When you embark on a cruise holiday, the last thing on your mind is to fall ill or to hurt yourself while on board. Fortunately incidents like these are actually quite rare in the cruising world, but it is nevertheless reassuring to know that should something go wrong, there will be help available.

In response to an increased demand in the area and as part of Royal Caribbean’s worldwide growth plans, the company has decided to open a corporate office in Paris from the middle of July 2011.

When Brenda Filer last went on a cruise, the year was 1961. She was only 32 at the time and her husband and two children accompanied her on a cruise from Australia back to the UK.

MSC Opera received quite a bit of press this week. First it had to be towed in after suffering an electrical failure of some sort. Then P&O Cruises announced that the ship will embark on a 3-night mini cruise in December with none other than Russell “The Voice” Watson to entertain guests.

In a pioneering move for the luxury cruise line, Holland America has decided to base MS Rotterdam in Europe from September 2012. The ship will be based in the Dutch port that bears its name. The reason for the company’s decision lies in the deep historical ties they have with the city and its strategic location in the European North West.

Most illegal immigrants have to be satisfied with an overloaded fishing boat and long days in the relentless sun, sometimes without food or water. Some even arrive in a cardboard box.

The brand new Portsmouth International passenger terminal has been officially opened by Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business.

When P&O’s latest ship, the Adonia, is christened by none other than Dame Shirley Bassey next Saturday, it will start a new era in the life of a cruise ship was has had a quite eventful life up to now.

Portsmouth warmly welcomed a new resident last weekend when the cruise ship Discovery arrived there for the first time. This will be Discovery’s home port from now on.

In an announcement that might come as a surprise to many cruise lovers, Silversea Cruises has decided to rename its expedition ship the Prince Albert II to Silver Explorer.

To celebrate the Royal Wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William, Fred Olsen lines is going to try their hand at the printing business. The company plans to publish a four-page Wedding Special to make sure passengers on board their four ships remain fully up to date with what is happening on the Royal Wedding front.

Apart from a number of new cruise ships being launched over the next few years, many cruise lines are either busy upgrading or plan to soon upgrade a number of their cruise ships.

Historic Italy continues to be an enduring attraction for cruise lovers. With a civilisation that stretches back for thousands of years come great artworks and unforgettable architecture. Add to that the well-know Italian zest for good food and great times and you have a winning recipe.

With the number of UK cruise passengers expected to break through the 2 million level for the first time in 2014 and new cruise ships and new itineraries being added all the time, it is sometimes hard to keep track of what’s happening in the cruise industry. Below we will highlight some of the new ships that will join the ranks of the major cruise lines soon.

Southampton has long been Britain’s busiest port of call for cruise ships. It handles nearly 1.5 million passengers each year. This year it will deal with 360 ship visits, each one boosting the local economy with about £1.5 million.

Cruise passengers who are afraid they might be hit by hefty fuel costs during the 2012 cruise season have just received good news from Fred Olsen Lines. The company announced that all reservations for the 2012 season made before the end of August 2011 will carry no fuel surcharge.

Seabourn Cruises, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Cruises, will have six luxurious all-suite cruise ships exploring a record 165 destinations during its 8-month European season that starts in April 2012.

The latest figures released by the UK arm of MSC Cruises shows a massive increase of 80% in their bookings for February 2011 compared to February 2010.

Fred Olson has just released an action packed new video on the company’s YouTube channel to highlight the fundraising efforts of its passengers in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The introduction of new mega cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas has brought a new era to the cruise ship industry. A cruise holiday on one of these ships promises to be an enjoyable, professionally run experience at an affordable price. Facilities will be excellent and the range of entertainment options virtually unbeatable.

Cruise lovers will either be disappointed or delighted to hear that Fred Olson's cruise ship Braemar will in future no longer carry out Caribbean cruises, but will instead concentrate on cruises from UK ports.

According to the latest figures released by the Passenger Shipping Association, Germans are taking to cruising in large numbers. Britons still make up the largest percentage of cruise passengers, but while their numbers only grew by six percent during the past year, the number of German cruisers increased by a remarkable 19 percent. The figure is even more remarkable when taking into account the current economic situation in Germany.

As far as Celebrity Cruises is concerned, cruisers embarking from Southampton by far make the best passengers.

In a press release Saga Cruises has confirmed that the latest addition to their cruise fleet will be called the Saga Sapphire. The ship is currently cruising the world under the name of Bleu de France. It will undergo an extensive upgrade during the winter months and be re-launched under the name Saga Sapphire early next year. She will embark on her maiden voyage from Southampton on the 26th March next year.

According to the latest figures, 2010 was a record year both for the number of visitors embarking on cruises from the United Kingdom and for cruise passengers visiting a UK harbour during the course of their cruise.

It won't be long now before the revamped cruise terminal at Portsmouth will open for business. More than £16.5 has been invested here in an attempt to divert some lucrative cruise ship traffic away from the port's biggest rival, Southampton.

Good news for UK cruise lovers is that Oceania Cruises’ new luxury cruise ship, the Marina, will embark on two cruises from UK locations during 2011. This will form part of her very first European cruise season.

With its luxurious three cruise ships, Cunard Cruise Lines will offer a record number of 84 cruises in 2012. A total number of 129 ports in 48 countries will be visited in the process.

According to an announcement by P&O Cruises, their two ships Aurora and Arcadia will be the first UK cruise ships that will visit Brisbane after the recent flood devastation suffered by this city.