Norwegian Cruise Line takes delivery of Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian's newest ship debuts in Europe before commencing her inaugural tour around the U.S. and her official christening ceremony in Seattle, Washington

Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft, Captain Karl Staffan Bengtsson, Andy Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 168,028-gross-tonne Norwegian Bliss, from Meyer Werft during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, marking the conclusion of an 18-month building period. In attendance were executives from Norwegian Cruise Line, including Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer, Harry Sommer, executive vice president of international business development, Robin Lindsay, executive vice president of vessel operations for the 16-ship fleet, representatives from Meyer Werft including Bernard and Tim Meyer, managing partners of the German-based shipyard, and the ship's captain and hotel director. Before cruising to Southampton, England to begin her transatlantic journey on April 21, Norwegian Bliss will showcase all she has to offer to her first guests during a two-day European inaugural preview cruise hosted by Andy Stuart and Harry Sommer.

Royal Caribbean Welcomes World's Largest Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean International's Symphony of the Seas departs from Saint-Naziare, France for her new homeport in Barcelona, Spain.

Silver Whisper to undergo refurbishment.

Ahead of her World Cruise 2019, Silver Whisper is preparing to undergo a refurbishment.

Between the 8th and 19th of December 2018, Silver Whisper will go into dry dock in Freeport in the Bahamas, for improvements that will further increase the already excellent level of guest satisfaction.  This exciting announcement follows the opening of sales for Silversea's pioneering 140 day World Cruise, 2020, which will see Silver Whisper travel to all seven continents, including Antarctica, as part of an itinerary that is unprecedented in its variety.

Guests embarking Silver Whisper will benefit from a broad-ranging set of enhancements.  Skilled craftspeople will invigorate many of the ship's public areas, both inside and out, with a fresh décor, including a refresh to all guest suites.  The ship's latest enhancements will be implemented with a similar stylistic motif to the recently delivered Silver Muse, Silversea's flagship, and Silver Spirit, which is currently undergoing a significant renovation.

Inside Silver Whisper, new carpets will be laid in the hallways, main restaurant, casino, card/conference room, main bar and in the theatre.  The main restaurant will undergo a full upgrade, bringing it to an exceptional standard, while Le Dame, another sophisticated dining space, will benefit from new soft furnishings and a polished floor.  The casino and card/conference room will have the soft furnishings refreshed and new furniture.  The Zagara Spa, which was recently introduced to Silver Whisper following its success aboard Silver Muse, will receive an added level of luxury, complete with new furniture and equipment.  In the ship's gym, new state-of-the-art machinery will be installed to optimise the offering of on board wellness facilities.

Guest accommodation will be improved in line with the design of Silver Muse to ensure that ultimate comfort is delivered to travellers.  Nine Terrace Suites on deck five will be transformed into Veranda Suites, offering guests enhanced privacy with their own outdoor retreat.  In addition, 40" flat screen televisions, loaded with innovative interactive media systems, will advance the in-suite entertainment options.  All bathrooms will be revitalised with polished granite surfaces.

Outside, storage space for Zodiac® boats and a crane will be installed, in preparation for the addition of these nimble motorboats ahead of the World Cruise 2020.  As a result, guests travelling aboard Silver Whisper for the World Cruise 2020 will have further opportunities to access remote locations and travel deeper when visiting destinations on this extraordinary itinerary.

From the selection of entertainment available in guest suites to the assigned scents of each space, every aspect of the refurbishment project has been conceived with guest comfort in mind.  Silver Whisper's background music will also undergo a transformation, which will see Silversea partner with Radiopark, a specialist supplier of mood music, in order to enhance the on board atmosphere, offering modern renditions of timeless melodies.

The renovation of Silver Whisper is just part of Silversea's extensive investment in its famous fleet.  With the addition of Silver Muse and the conversion of Silver Cloud to an expedition ship in 2017, and the current extensive renovation and lengthening of Silver Spirit, this is an exciting time in the history and development of Silversea.

For more information, contact your travel professional or Silversea Cruises on +61 2 9255 0600 or 0800 701 427 (New Zealand), or visit www.silversea.com.

Viking orders Six more Ocean Ships

Viking today announced a new agreement with Fincantieri that could see the delivery of six additional ocean ships by 2027. The new understanding expands Viking's partnership with Fincantieri, raising the company's total ocean ship order and options to 16 – the highest-ever for a shipyard from a single owner. The agreement for the six additional ships, which will be delivered in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, is subject to specific conditions.

“When we launched our first ocean ship in 2015, we set out to reinvent ocean cruising. We focus on the destination, and we do not cram our ships with gimmicks and waterslides. Our understated, elegant, award-winning ships are designed to simply enable our guests to better explore their destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In our first two years of operation, we have been named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry. As we continue to expand our brand, we look forward to bringing guests to more destinations around the world and introducing them to the Viking way of exploration.”

This announcement comes just prior to the naming of Viking's fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, on March 8 in Shanghai. The ship is currently sailing Viking's sold-out 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London, and its stop in Shanghai will mark the first time one of Viking's ocean ships has visited China. Viking Sun will also be the first-ever cruise ship to be named in Shanghai.

Viking Sun is the newest addition to Viking's award-winning ocean fleet. The line will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, including Viking Orion in June 2018, which will home port from Sydney to Auckland from December this year. With the arrival of Viking Jupiter in 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Ten additional ships are now on order for delivery starting in 2021, which will bring Viking's ocean fleet to 16 ships by 2027.

For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 138 747 (Australia) and 0800 447 913 (New Zealand) or visit www.vikingcruises.com.au.

MSC Cruises Northern Europe for 2018

• MSC Cruises Northern Europe itineraries take you to the Norwegian Fjords, Baltic Capitals & Iceland.
• Weekly departures every Saturday & Sunday with four ships seasonally
• Be quick to secure your spot on one of the hottest itineraries for 2018!

Departing Hamburg, Germany on July 29, 2018 MSC Meraviglia takes you on an 11-night journey.  Launched in June 2017, MSC Meraviglia is packed with extraordinary features. Enjoy outstanding dining options and entertainment including the exclusive Cirque du Soliel at Sea. An innovative ocean-view aft lounge, a two-deck "inside promenade" with a 480 square metre LED dome and a spectacular amusement area connected to an outdoor water park, will keep everyone entertained. In the Shetland Islands visit the 17th century town of Lerwick and Scalloway Castle, built by tyrant Patrick Stewart, in 1600 before admiring the peat and heather covered landscapes. Continuing to Iceland you will stop at three ports, Reykjavik for an overnight stay, Isafjordur and Akureyri. From here you will sail to Invergordon in the UK before returning to Hamburg. Priced from $3,099*pp twin share. PLUS your choice of FREE gift- onboard credit, all-inclusive drinks package or WiFi package, if you book by March 15, 2018.

MSC Meraviglia (supplied)

Ranked among the most beautiful destinations in Europe, the Fjords of Norway are a must see on everyone's bucket list. Departing July 14, 2018 MSC Orchestra takes you on a 7-night journey through the fjords from Copenhagen, Denmark. Priced from $2,199*pp twin share for a balcony cabin. PLUS your choice of FREE gift- onboard credit, all-inclusive drinks package or WiFi package, if you book by March 15, 2018.

Departing August 18, 2018, from Kiel, Germany, MSC Preziosa, calls at Bergen, where you will see Sognefjord, the country's longest and deepest fjord and the colourful wooden houses of Bryggen and the fjords of Flaam and Hellesylt/ Geiranger on a 7-night cruise. Priced from $1,427*pp twin share. PLUS your choice of FREE gift- onboard credit, all-inclusive drinks package or WiFi package, if you book by March 15, 2018.

For a longer journey join MSC Magnifica on a 10-night journey through the Norwegian fjords.  Explore the Fjords of Stavanger, Bergen, the pretty town of Olden and Alesund.  Founded in 1793 and destroyed by fire, today Alesund is one of the great art nouveau towns. Ports of call also include Le Havre (Paris) and Hamburg, Germany. Departing Southampton on July 9, 2018 and priced from $2,199*pp twin share.  PLUS your choice of FREE gift- onboard credit, all-inclusive drinks package or WiFi package, if you book by March 15, 2018.

With weekly departures, you can choose a date to suit, but don't delay to secure your cabin for 2018!  Book TODAY by calling 1300 028 502, www.msccruises.com.au or call your local travel agent and don't miss out.

*Conditions apply. Pick your gift on selected departures only. New bookings only. Onboard credit, based on twin share booking Inside cabin $100pp, Oceanview $150pp, Balcony $200pp. Adult all inclusive drinks package available for first passenger only. All passengers in the cabin must purchase the all-inclusive drinks package. Wifi Streamer package with 340MB up to 4 devices.

Why Australians Have Fallen in Love with Cruising Alaska

Australians are choosing to cruise Alaska in record numbers, as premium cruise line Celebrity Cruises prepares to send three ships to the region for the 2018 summer season to cater to the incredible demand.

"The number of Australians choosing an Alaskan cruise with Celebrity has grown by more than 100 per cent over the past five years – a phenomenal increase which is significantly higher than the industry-wide upward trend for Alaska cruising," said Adam Armstrong, managing director, Celebrity Cruises Australia & New Zealand.

Silversea Silver Spirit in for a long stretch

Silver Spirit - a multi-award-winning cruise ship in Silversea's fleet of nine - has made her final port call before undergoing an extensive lengthening project in Italy. Docking in Dubai on 22 February 2018, the ship completed an eight-night cruise from Mumbai.

Silver Spirit will enter dry dock at the industry-leading Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo on 5 March, where she will remain until 1 May 2018. She will undergo large-scale refurbishment works, which will include the insertion of a prebuilt 15-metre-long (49-feet-long) segment into the ship's midsection, making her the first luxury ship to be lengthened in this manner. With the aim of augmenting the onboard experience for Silversea guests, the project will dramatically enhance each of the ship's public spaces with beautiful interior design, taking inspiration from the cruise line's flagship vessel, Silver Muse.

"Based on the wonderful feedback from guests sailing aboard our beautiful Silver Muse, we believe the comprehensive makeover we have planned for Silver Spirit will enrich the onboard experience and be equally appreciated by guests. They will see many of Silver Muse's innovations and elevated comforts embodied by our reimagined Silver Spirit," says Christian Sauleau, Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations for Silversea.

Enjoyed by the ship's guests and characterising Silversea's superior cruising experiences, Silver Spirit's atmospheric sense of intimacy will not be compromised by the planned enhancements. While some areas will grow in size, evoking the feel of spaciousness and enhancing comfort, special measures have been made to retain the ship's bijou feel. Silversea's trademark level of service will also continue: the improved Silver Spirit will enjoy an impressive crew-to-guest ratio of almost 1:1.

Following a lengthy phase of research, the turn-key transformation of Silver Spirit will amplify everything that matters most to Silversea's guests: dining options will increase in variation and advance in quality; additional suites will enrich the onboard accommodation; stylish décor enhancements will be made to existing suites and the ship's public areas; the pool deck area will be enlarged and reimagined; the addition of a new health and fitness centre will improve wellness facilities; and various other amenities such as the casino, will undergo tasteful transformations.

Following the enormous success of the distinct culinary concepts offered aboard Silver Muse, the dining options on Silver Spirit will be fundamentally reimagined to increase choice and improve guests' experiences: delivering gastronomic authenticity from across the world, Atlantide, Indochine, Spaccanapoli, and Silver Note will be installed to complement the existing Seishin, La Dame, The Grill, and La Terrazza – each of which will undergo refurbishment. Inspired by guest feedback, menus will be altered and refined across the ship's prevailing restaurants.

Elsewhere, new public spaces will elevate the overall comfort of the ship. A new addition to Silver Spirit, the Arts Café - an innovative, modern, multi-faceted area - will stimulate guests' senses on the eighth deck. Offering a relaxed setting for readers and tea/coffee lovers, the Arts Café will display exhibitions and performances. Inspired by Silversea's Italian heritage, Dolce Vita will occupy pride of place on Silver Spirit. It will be an elegant venue in which sophisticated travellers will gather, interact, and make lifelong friends. Cool cocktails will provide the perfect accompaniments to the smooth sound of live piano. Guests also stand to benefit from the installation of the Zagara spa - a blissful sanctuary that proved to be extremely popular on Silver Muse - and a fitness centre that will boast state-of-the-art facilities.

The lengthening project will create 34 new luxury suites, as well as a Balsorano suite – the pinnacle of onboard accommodation, which will be adorned with decorative items that are of personal value to Silversea's chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio di Balsorano de Clunieres. The best existing suites on Silver Spirit's will grow in their appeal, with the addition of handmade Savoir® mattresses, horse hair toppers, and new HD screens for guests' comfort.

On 6 May 2018, Silver Spirit will commence her service with a seven-day cruise between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona, calling at Porto-Vecchio, Corsica; Livorno; Portofino; Cannes; and Marseilles. Fares start from AUD$7,800 per person, based on double occupancy in a Vista Suite.