Silversea world-first, 7-continent World Cruise 2020

. The leading ultra-luxury cruise line will enrich its pioneering 62-port itinerary with a selection of once-in-a-lifetime events, shore-side excursions and expedition-style embellishments. Over 140 days, Silversea's Silver Whisper will take guests closer to the authentic beauty of the world, unlocking unique experiences in the most spectacular destinations between Fort Lauderdale and Amsterdam.

Pushing the boundaries of ultra-luxury cruising, Silversea's World Cruise 2020 will be the first time guests will be able to step foot on all seven continents on a world cruise. In 2020, the groundbreaking voyage will incorporate many 'soft expedition' features, including an extraordinary 3-day Antarctic experience, in which guests may well witness penguins, seals, whales, and other species in their natural habitat. Led by a team of nine qualified specialists – including marine biologists, a geologist, a naturalist, an ornithologist, a glaciologist, and more – Silversea's guests will explore the final continent on Zodiac® excursions, landing for shore-side adventures, before learning more about this spectacular region through onboard lectures and workshops from industry-leading experts. Guests will also unlock a special range of immersive travel experiences in the South Pacific, accompanied by a team of nine expedition experts.

Dream Cruises expanding to Australia

source: Cruise Weekly

DREAM Cruises will operate outside of Asia for the first time in 2019/2020, with parent company Genting Hong Kong yesterday unveiling a series of 21 seven- day Australasian voyages for the newly transformed Explorer Dream (CW breaking news).

The 1,870 passenger vessel, currently sailing with sister brand Star Cruises as SuperStar Virgo (pic above), will undergo a US$30 million makeover next year prior to the down under deployment, which will offer cruises in Australia and New Zealand to its Asian-sourced passengers, according to Genting Hong Kong executive chairman, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay.

The refurbishment will incorporate all new food and beverage options combining the best of “East meets West”, a Crystal Life Spa, and Dream Cruises’ signature The Palace private luxury enclave with 50 suites and butler service.

“Explorer Dream will offer another option for our Asia-based guests to expand their travel horizons with new rail/cruise and fly/cruise opportunities to see the world,” Kok Thay said.

Prior to her Australian season, the ship will homeport in Shanghai and Tianjin during the northern summer of 2019, cruising to Japan, Russia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The local deployment will include six Barrier Reef voyages calling at Mooloolaba, Brisbane, Newcastle and Gladstone; eight Tasmania and Melbourne cruises calling at Port Arthur, Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne, Philip Island and Eden; and seven New Zealand itineraries cruising to Wellington, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Napier, Bay of Islands, Akaroa, Picton and Gisborne. The Genting chief said the move would help accelerate the company’s vision to “develop Dream Cruises into Asia’s global cruise line”.

SeaDream first ever cruises to Cuba

SEADREAM Yacht Club has had amazing reaction to its first-ever program of sailings in Cuba from early January to April of next year, with all eight of its 7-day voyages already between 80- and 90-percent sold out.

And Australians have been amongst the keenest to book, with company Vice-President Jannicke Rognstad saying our interest has not been surprising, as we have always been to the forefront in sailing SeaDream's voyages to new and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

The mega motor-cruiser SeaDream II that carries just 112 guests and 95 crew will open the inaugural Cuba season on January 26 2019 with 9-days from San Juan in Puerto Rico, to Cienfuegos via the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Eight 1-week sailings will follow, visiting hideaway ports few holidaymakers have ever had an opportunity to experience, each sailing embracing Trinidad, Cayo Largo, Isla de Juventad, Maria la Gorda, a day at sea, and a day and overnight in Havana.

Along the way there'll be visits to one-time pirate haunts where divers still treasure-hunt today, two of the world's finest beaches opposite grand hotels and these beaches both gay-friendly and clothing-optional, ports famed both for their wildlife and exceptional seafood dining, the walled city of "Old Havana" founded in 1519… and Santiago de Cuba where Bacardi Rum was created in 1862.

Plus for classic car buffs, the streets of Cuba are something of a rolling museum of tens of thousands of American cars from the 1950s, the result of a grudge by the late-leader Fidel Castro who banned new-car imports from the USA from the 1950s to the 1990s, and today imported car prices still way beyond the reach of most Cubans.

For itineraries and prices of SeaDream Yacht Club's Cuba sailings from January to April 2019, visit www.seadream.com/cuba or see travel agents.


[] CUBA'S streets are today a rolling museum of classic American cars from the 1950s, a continuing result of late-leader Fidel Castro's four-decade long grudge-ban on cars from the USA.

[] SEADREAM II will make the company's first-ever sailings of Cuba from January to April 2019.

Silversea savings

Silversea Cruises is offering its guests a 10% special single supplement on selected cruises, available on bookings made before 31 August 2018. This special offer applies to a selection of cruises in Asia, Antarctica and the Galapagos.

In addition, guests can also enjoy 20% off when booking a second suite until the end of August 2018. This applies to select voyages in Asia, Antarctica and the Galapagos.

Suites strictly limited. Terms and Conditions apply. For more information please visit the Silversea website www.silversea.com

Pacific Aria’s drydock and refurbishment

P&O Cruises' Pacific Aria has entered has entered her 12-day dry dock in Singapore and will soon emerge sporting several stylish new touches.

A key highlight of the refurbishment will be the refresh of popular late night hotspot, The Dome, with the venue set to take on a contemporary nautical theme featuring dark navy blue and white hues, drapes and soft lighting. Overlooking the bow of the ship, The Dome is one of the best places to relax during the day.

The makeover will also include new, modernised décor in the kids zones (Turtle Cove, Shark Shack, HQ and HQ+) and a revamp of the ship's 28 suites and 120 balcony cabins to include new carpets and outdoor furniture. In total, 10,528 square metres of new carpet will be laid throughout the ship.

Pacific Aria's finishing touch will be the Southern Cross livery emblazoned on her hull, now a signature feature of P&O's fleet.

The dry dock is the ship's first since she joined the P&O Cruises fleet in November 2015.

SeaDream Mediterranean includes Monaco Grand Prix

SEADREAM Yacht Club has an exceptional sailing in the Mediterranean in May of next year that is not only for 9-days rather than a usual seven, but three of those days will be on the French Riviera – including being there for the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.

SEADREAM I at Portofino in Italy, one of the most
popular of her tiny ports of call in the Mediterranean.

The 112-passenger mega motor-cruiser SeaDream I will sail from Rome’s port of Civitavecchia next May 18, visiting ports in Sardinia and Corsica and on the Italian and French Riviera’s, and arriving in Nice in France on May 27.

She will be on the French Riviera for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 26, and will offer a package covering transfers and entry for those who are interested, the price for this being additional to the voyage fare and yet to be announced.

The 9-day sailing is priced from US$6348pp twin-share, including SeaDream’s award-winning cuisine, drinks with meals and from the bars, power and sail water-sports, use of the onboard golf simulator and fitness centre, port charges and taxes, and even crew gratuities.

For details including SeaDream’s other enticing Mediterranean and also Caribbean sailings this year and in 2019, see your favourite travel agent or visit www.seadream.com

(SeaDream I’s 9-day Mediterranean sailing next May 18 from Civitavecchia will include Port Cervo, Portovenere (the Cinque Terre) and Portofino in Italy, Bonifacio and Calvi as well as Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Villefranche-sur-Mer in France, and finally Nice.)

MSC Seaview is named in glittering ceremony in Genoa, Italy

• The striking ship has been designed for the Mediterranean to create a very special connection between guests and the ocean
• Godmother Sophia Loren cut the ribbon on her 13th MSC Cruises ship
• MSC Seaview became the third MSC Cruises ship to be launched in just 12 months 

The newest addition to the ever-growing MSC Cruises fleet and new flagship MSC Seaview was christened in true MSC style in the presence of a suite of stars, VIPs, key travel partners and international media as well as top management from MSC Cruises and its parent company MSC Group. Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Group's founder and executive chairman as well as the ship owner, attended together with the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families.

The christening ceremony was hosted by Italian TV star, Michelle Hunziker who welcomed to the stage 'father of Italian blues' Zucchero Fornaciari. TV star Lorella Cuccarini hosted a special moment on stage and Italian children's choir Piccolo Coro Dell'Antoniano performed as the UNICEF ambassadors, to acknowledge the important partnership that seeks to improve the lives of children and their families in developing countries and those affected by crises. Also taking to the stage was Matteo Bocelli, son of the world-famous Andrea Bocelli.  Matteo Bocelli sang during the Officers' Parade, an important tradition to honour the crew from the ship.

Finishing off the traditional proceedings, Godmother Sophia Loren cut the ribbon to launch the bottle of champagne to name MSC Seaview.

Also present at the ceremony was Ramon Freixa, the Spanish two Michelin-starred chef who has now extended his partnership with MSC Cruises to develop his first restaurant at sea on board MSC Seaview. Pan-Asian chef Roy Yamaguchi attended his second MSC christening along with other stars such as Spanish model and actor Jon Kortajarena, Brazlian presenters and actors Giovanna Ewbank and French television personality Ariane Brodier.

Described as a game-changing cruise ship, the vision was to create something truly unique that would enable guests to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean sea. The ship is designed to enhance the enjoyment of the open water and sunshine, specifically intended to cruise in warmer climates and to create a very special connection between guests and the ocean.

Most cruise ships are planned and engineered to offer entertainment, dining and other experiences inside the ship whilst MSC Seaview is designed to bring guests to the outside of the ship to the open decks and walkways. Featuring the highest ratio of outdoor spaces of any MSC Cruises ship every element of the ship enables guests to enjoy the outdoors in every aspect of their life on board, from cabins and suites with outdoor spaces such as terraces and balconies, eating and drinking in true Mediterranean style "al fresco" through to outdoor fitness and luxury spa cabanas in the open air.

MSC Seaview is the 15th addition to the MSC Cruises fleet and the third ship to come into service just 12 months under the Company's industry-unprecedented €10.5 billion investment plan.

MSC Seaview commenced her maiden voyage from Genoa on June 10 offering six embarkation ports in the Western Mediterranean including the popular ports of Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona as well as other much sought after Mediterranean destinations including Naples, Messina in Sicily and Valetta in Malta.