Lindblad launches new ship as expedition booms

Lindblad expeditions

In another sign of the strength of the expedition cruising market, US-company Lindblad has announced the building of a new polar ship. The state-of-the-art vessel will be delivered in 2021, adding four new ships to its fleet in five years. The line, which concentrates on authentic experiences and is focused on the environment and wildlife, … Read more

Celebrity Solstice gets the Edge treatment in multi-million makeover

Celebrity Solstice gets the Edge treatment in multi-million makeover

Celebrity Cruises has revealed that Aussie based Celebrity Solstice will be receiving a multimillion dollar makeover by 2021 which will be in line with its latest ship, the revolutionary Celebrity Edge.

The line will be spending more than $670 million on refurbishing its fleet to be aligned with the upcoming Celebrity Edge.

The Edge, which will be launched later this year with a magic carpet, three-story indoor space called the Eden, will set the benchmark for the rest of the Celebrity’s ships.

“We launched The Celebrity Revolution to do one thing – transform the way our guests experience the world. It began with the introduction of the industry changing Celebrity Edge, and continued with the stunning Celebrity Flora,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Our dedication to improving the way guests experience the world knows no bounds. We are taking our entire award-winning fleet to the edge and giving people the holiday they truly deserve.”

The Suite Life

Celebrity will transform Celebrity MillenniumCelebrity ConstellationCelebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit and add the stunning Reflection Suite and Signature Suites (found today on Celebrity Reflection) to Celebrity SolsticeCelebrity EclipseCelebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Silhouette.

The ships have a subtle, coordinated fusion of East meets West, with clean lines, neutral tones, and a warm, inviting opulence.

“This was a new and exciting challenge to recreate something stylish and luxurious yet totally different from the accommodations that I have designed for Celebrity Edge,” said designer Kelly Hoppen.

“I wanted to invoke a feeling of timeless luxury that welcomed guests into their own haven. Your bedroom is where you sleep and where you wake, two of the most important times of day, especially when you are on holiday. It was important to create space, harmony and luxury within a home away from home setting and I think we achieved this balance perfectly.”

With Celebrity Edge, the brand introduced an exclusive new sanctuary for all Suite Class guests called The Retreat, and now Celebrity is bringing its most luxurious experiences fleet-wide. Every ship will offer The Retreat Sundeck and The Retreat Lounge, both designed by Ms Hoppen. The Retreat Sundeck, she has created a chic, open-air hideaway with the feel of a high-end resort, where guests can unwind on plush loungers, sip cocktails, and savour refreshing treats.

Accommodation

The Celebrity MillenniumCelebrity ConstellationCelebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit, plus the staterooms and many of the suites

onboard Celebrity SolsticeCelebrity EclipseCelebrity EquinoxCelebrity Silhouette and

Celebrity Reflection into a statement about modern luxury.

“Every detail of our staterooms has been elevated, every comfort refined,” said Brian Abel, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Celebrity Cruises. “By the end of The Celebrity Revolution, the entire fleet will have the same quality, design essence and consistency of modern luxury, bringing our fleet to the edge.”

All staterooms will feature a fresh, chic design, rivaling the world’s best boutique hotels. They will also be fitted with Celebrity’s eXhale bedding featuring exclusive luxurious cashmere mattresses, RFID locks, pervasive Xcelerate and Bluetooth capabilities.

Culinary

Guest-favourite restaurant Qsine will be added across the fleet and completely renovated, now offering the brand’s virtual Le Petit Chef experience, created by the world-famous artists of Skullmapping and presented by TableMation exclusively for Celebrity.

Oceanview Café will be redesigned with an open, airy, marketplace-inspired design offering guests a plethora of international delicacies, while the main restaurants will undergo a redesign, with new textures and new finishes added throughout. 

Innovation

More innovation is on the horizon with The Celebrity Revolution, including:

Expansion of the new SEA Thermal Suite – first introduced on Celebrity Edge – to offer an array of therapeutic spa experiences at sea.

Exclusive new shopping experiences featuring sought-after brands and designers, such as Shinola, John Hardy, and Hublot.

Elevated bars and lounges, including the newly reimagined Passport Bar and an expansion of Celebrity’s popular Gastrobar concept, serving more than 40 craft beers, creative cocktails, and gourmet comfort food.

More exciting upgrades to public venues all throughout each ship, including The Hideaway, Team Earth, The Library, and more.

Cunard’s exciting 2019 Australian season

Cunard Queen Elizabeth

The arrival of Queen Elizabeth heralds in a new era for Cunard in Australia – the luxury cruise line’s homeporting of the iconic ship means big things for cruisers Down Under. Queen Elizabeth will be spending a total of 54 days in Australia during her first ever season, homeported in Melbourne and Sydney in 2019. She’ll … Read more

Sun Princess emerges from drydock with new features

Sun Princess, Princess Cruises

The Sun Princess has emerged from a glorious 14-day refurbishment with some exciting new features. She’ll be starting a short season sailing from Perth completing three roundtrip itineraries including a maiden eight-night Coral Coast voyage which will see the liner return to Exmouth for the first time since 2009. During her Western Australian deployment, Sun Princess will … Read more

The à la carte cruise for $159 a day

Teeming River Cruises

It is not often you can go on a European river cruise priced at under $200 per person per day. Teeming River Cruises has changed all that. Husband-and-wife owners Jeff and Gina Paglialonga offer a 15-day European river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest for $159 per person per day or $2395 in November. The itinerary … Read more

Iconic world voyage from New York to Australia

Queen Mary 2

The iconic luxury cruise line, Cunard has revealed another special world cruise – from New York to Australia and back. The special voyage, which departs on January 3, 2020, is a 113-night voyage aboard the Queen Mary 2. Starting with a transatlantic sailing to Southampton, the Queen Mary 2 will call at destinations like Lisbon … Read more

First pictures inside Ponant’s underwater lounge

Scenic underwater lounge/bar

In true French style, luxury line Ponant christened Le Laperouse, the first explorers series ship equipped with the much-anticipated underwater Blue Eye Lounge, which will cruise in Australian waters next year. Held at Iceland’s port of Hafnarfjordur, Le Laperouse was christened by godmother Mrs Francois Pinault in a Breton-inspired ceremony which resonated with the sound … Read more

Cruiseco warns: book Christmas packages before it’s too late

Cruises Christmas 2018

It’s only five months away, yet 30 percent of Australians have not planned or booked their Christmas holiday, according to a survey by Cruiseco. The survey also found 25% of Australians think the festive season is a good time to cruise so families and friends can get together. So the leading cruise travel agency set … Read more

Norwegian Cruise Line unveils delivery date for Leonardo-class ships

Norwegian Cruise Line unveils delivery date for Leonardo-class ships

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced it would be launching its fifth and sixth Leonardo Class ships by 2026 and 2027. “These orders extend our disciplined and measured newbuild program and strong growth trajectory well into the future and will further drive long-term returns for our shareholders,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer … Read more