Asia's Dream Cruises heading Down Under

Dream Cruises is working to build up the Australian market to allow it to bring a Global Class vessel to local waters in 2021.

At 204,000 tonnes, the Global class would be larger than the 168,666-tonne Ovation of the Seas, which currently holds the title for the largest cruise ship to ever sail in Australian waters.

Dream Cruises are aiming to bring the ship down under in 2021 and firm deployment plans would have to be ready by 2019.

Sydney and Melbourne have been pinpointed as potential ports for the Global class, with Dream Cruises emphasising it would have to be a major city which could support the ship’s capacity for up to 9,000 people, including crew.

Dream Cruises would target a mix of Australian guests and fly-cruise, anticipating a split of 50-60% local cruisers and the remaining from international passengers.

Construction is underway on the first of two Global class ships on order with shipyard MV Werften, with delivery slated for late 2020 and 2021.

Windstar Cruises - New Sommeliers, Beverage Experts and Beverage Package Enticements on Star Collector Voyages

Windstar Cruises Announces Sommeliers on Four Ships, Beverage Experts on James Beard Culinary Cruises and Beverage Package Enticements on Longer Star Collector Voyages

Small ship cruise line, Windstar Cruises has hired a team of Sommeliers to serve guests on sailings in 270 ports around the world.

These new wine experts provide a major guest enhancement as the northern Summer cruise season begins and builds on the trend for ongoing fleet-wide enhancements to Windstar's wine, beverage and culinary programs in 2018.

MSC Cruises announces MSC Bellissima's deployment to Asia in Spring 2020

MSC Splendida arrives in Asia after completing maritime Silk Road sailing

On the occasion of MSC Splendida's arrival in Chinese waters, MSC Cruises, the world's largest privately-owned cruise line, announced that MSC Bellissima will be deployed in Asia in Spring 2020. She will become MSC Cruises' newest flagship for the region. MSC Bellissima, MSC Cruises' second Meraviglia-class ship, is currently being constructed at STX France's shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is due to first come into service in March 2019.

Following her inaugural season in the Mediterranean next summer, MSC Bellissima will bring a range of cutting-edge innovations to China and Japan, including the longest LED Sky Screen at Sea at 80 metres long encompassing a stunning 96 metre long Mediterranean-style promenade, designed to become the social hub of the ship. Guests will be able to enjoy brand-new and exclusive to MSC Cruises Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows every night as well as next-generation MSC Yacht Club, with new features and luxurious accommodations spanning three decks, private facilities and butler service round-the-clock. MSC Bellissima will be among the biggest and most innovative cruise ships deployed in the region.

While MSC Bellissima will be mostly based in Shanghai to serve the Chinese home market, she will also offer a number of sailings from Japan with a number of Asian sailings for guests wanting to discover this popular region from the comfort and style of an MSC Cruises ship.

Speaking at an official meeting with Mr CHEN Qun, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises' CEO, commented: "MSC Splendida does not mark the end of our ambitions in China and Asia overall. This market is a global priority and we are committed to serving it with our very best ships and product. For this reason, I'm delighted to announce that MSC Bellissima will homeport in Asia as of Spring 2020, marking the next step of our growth in one of the world's most appealing cruise markets."

MSC Splendida has completed her Maritime Silk Road sailing, which has taken her from Dubai, UAE, to Shanghai, China. During her season in Asia, she will also operate mostly out of Shanghai as well as Yokohama, Japan. With 137,936 GRT, MSC Splendida is one of the largest, most modern cruise ships currently operating in the Asia region. She features 1,637 cabins, 76% of which come with a balcony and can accommodate up to 4,363 guests.

Prior to her arrival in Shanghai, MSC Splendida went through an extensive overhaul process to renovate her interiors, install new as well as upgrade the onboard experiences. MSC Splendida now features an exclusive selection of Asian and Western cuisines in three new restaurants: the signature hot pot restaurant Sea Pavilion by the acclaimed Chinese chef Jereme Leung globally recognised for his contemporary interpretation of Chinese cuisine; the Hong Kong style Dim Sum & Teahouse; and the Butcher's Cut, a popular American-style steak house on board MSC Cruises' fleet.

MSC Splendida is also now equipped with the latest evolution of MSC for Me, MSC Cruises' digital innovation programme bringing the very latest advances in customer-centric technology to guests at sea. The holistic and guest-centric programme is focused on connecting guests to their desired holiday experience through cutting-edge technology that is specially engineered to meet their every need, regardless of how they prefer to use technology when travelling. MSC for Me provides guests with smart features geared toward a fully optimized holiday experience. These include a dedicated app to help guests tailor their holidays at any point on their journey, whether they are booking their excursions prior to embarkation or a specialty restaurant whilst relaxing by the top-deck pool. This will improve the overall guest experience, while also freeing up more time to enjoy one's holiday at sea.

MSC Splendida is due to arrive in Yokohama on 27 April, where MSC Cruises will also celebrate its ten-year anniversary in Japan.

MSC Splendida further information here

Discover Japan with MSC Cruises on MSC Splendida, departing Yokohama August 2, 2018, here.

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.