Millennials And Cruising – Russians Acquire Cruise Ship For Crimea – Stern’s Guide to European Riverboats

The Cruise Examiner for 30th January 2017

Beginning life as P&O’s Eagle in 1971, the former Royal Iris is now to go under Russian flag to serve Crimea

Recently there has been more attention paid to the younger passengers, the so-called millennials, and their role and interest in cruising. So this week we take a quick look at what is happening in the cruise market for 18-34-year olds. The Russians, meanwhile, are busy getting back into the cruise business with a newly-acquired cruise ship to serve Crimea. And the latest edition of Stern’s Guide to European Riverboats and Hotel Barges is now available.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                    (See previous columns)

Short Cargo Ship Voyages: 14-day Voyage From Liverpool to Portugal Replaced By 21-day Round Voyage From Felixstowe to Turkey

Earlier this year, The Cruise People Ltd announced a new fortnightly cargo-passenger service from Liverpool to Dublin and Bristol, Leixoes, Algeciras and Setubal with a return call at Leixoes on the northbound voyage.

The 11,367 dwt tonne Elbstrand, built in 2002, featured two Single suites, one starboard and one port side, on C Deck, each with an open view to the side. The fare for the  14-night round voyage was £1,210, including full board, dues and taxes.

Update: The above voyage has now been withdrawn but instead we can offer the following 21-day voyage from Felixstowe to Antwerp and the Turkish ports of Gebze, Istanbul and Gemlik. This voyage is on the larger MSC Cordoba, with one Owners cabin and two Double cabins, for a total of six passengers.

The 63,352 dwt tonne MSC Cordoba, built in 2008, features one Owners and two Double cabins, and offers a 21-day round trip from Felixstowe to Turkey. Fares for the full round voyage, including full board, dues and taxes, are £2,050 or £2,140 per person, depending which cabin is occupaied, or for singles £2,635 or £2,740.

For further details on these cargo ship voyages please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or email PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

Bravo! A Cruise Of The Performing Arts 2018 – 7 Nights On Board Celebrity Silhouette Plus The Guggenheim – A Cruiseco Special

Ship: Celebrity Silhouette
Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
Departure: May 19, 2018
Duration: 7 Nights
Ports: Southampton, Bilbao, Vigo, Cherbourg, Southampton

Cruising aboard modern luxury in the Celebrity Silhouette, Bravo! A Cruise of the Performing Arts will be departing Southampton for seven glorious nights, May 19-26, 2018.

The Performers: 

KATHERINE JENKINS	ALFIE BOE
Wynne Evans	Ruthie Henshall
Mirusia	The Celtic Tenors
Julian Lloyd Webber	The Jonathon Welch Choir
The National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Guy Noble and Anthony Inglis)

Plus more than fifteen other stars who will perform around the ship morning, afternoon and evening.

In Bilbao, passengers will have an exclusive visit to the stunning Guggenheim Museum and each guest on board will receive a private tour of the Galleries followed by a Reception in the stunning atrium designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry included in their fare. In the days leading up to the visit, on board lectures will enhance passengers’ enjoyment and appreciation of the visit.

For further details on this most entertaining of cruise opportunities please click here

For further details please contact The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or email PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

Two New Ships For Holland America Group – Virgin To Fly Adonia Passengers To Barbados – Carnival Australia Reports To Los Angeles

The Cruise Examiner for 23rd January 2017

Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, first of the “Pinnacle” class ships

This week sees two items of news from Carnival Corp & plc’s Pacific-based operations. First it has ordered new ships for each of Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. And second, Carnival Australia will now report to Los Angeles instead of Seattle. Elsewhere under the Carnival umbrella, the Adonia returns to P&O Cruises from Fathom, and will be based in Barbados next winter, with flights from London and Manchester by Virgin Atlantic.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                           (See previous columns)

Empress Follows Churchill’s Tampa Route To Cuba – Oceania And Viking Sail To Havana From Miami – Small Ship Cruises To Cuba

The Cruise Examiner for 16th January 2017

Havana’s Sierra Maestra cruise terminal in the Old Town has three berths, at 562, 602 and 625 feet in length

Cruises from the US to Cuba have been making the news over the past year, with the final result that permission was granted last month for seven US-based cruise lines to make calls on Cuba in 2017. While this is a big difference from the days when a ship that called in Cuba was not allowed to re-enter the United States for six months, there remains an air of uncertainty to the whole subject. So far, the majority of cruises have only been approved until May. And with a change of US administration this week, it is too early to know where this will go. So today we briefly survey the product that has been approved for sale so far.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                      (See previous columns)

New January Offer On Rock The Boat From Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, September 2-9, 2017: Free Drinks + £100 Early Bird Reduction

CONTACT US For further information  The Cruise People Ltd, 88 York Street London W1H 1QT, Telephone +44 (0)20 7723 2450, UK Freephone: 0800 526 313 E-Mail: PassageEnquiry@aol.com

Seabourn Encore Named In Singapore – Other Cruise News: “No Leisure Group” – Star Cruises From Taiwan

The Cruise Examiner for 9th January 2017

The Hebridean Princess is now owned by the newly-formed Hebridean Island Cruises Ltd (incorporated October 19, 2016)

Saturday saw the naming in Singapore of the 604-berth Seabourn Encore, latest addition to the world’s fleet of ultra-luxury cruise ships. As promised last week, we bring you an update on the liquidation of Britain’s All Leisure Group, including the acquisition of the 50-berth Hebridean Princess by a newly-incorporated company called Hebridean Island Cruises Ltd. And finally, Star Cruises has announced a new series of 5-night cruises from Kaohsiung, Hong Kong and Manila for the 1,870-berth SuperStar Virgo.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                           (See previous columns)

All Leisure Cancels Voyager And Minerva Cruises – TUI Group Cruise Business Up – UK Minor Cruise Ports On The Rise

The Cruise Examiner for 2nd January 2017

Swan Hellenic’s Minerva was one of two All Leisure ships to have cruises cancelled this week

Today we have surprise news from All Leisure Group, who have just cancelled cruises scheduled to leave this week on Swan Hellenic’s Minerva from Marseille and on Voyages of Discovery’s Voyager from Port Kelang. Speculation has the two ships going to other operators and rumours so far have centred on Phoenix Reisen or Saga Cruises for the Minerva (both of which companies have operated this ship before) and an Asian operator or Celestyal Cruises for the Voyager. Meanwhile, TUI’s cruise business continues to thrive and we have a look at the latest cruise port news from Holyhead and Poole, two smaller cruise ports in the UK.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                    (See previous columns)