Millennial line scraps age limit

Millennial line scraps age limit

U by Uniworld, the line that boasted it was for millennials only, hasโ€ฆwellโ€ฆperformed a bit of a U turn. Launching next month, Uniworld is set to abandon its original age limits of 21 to 45, and opening all of its sailings to all adult cruisers. U by Uniworld is an offshoot of the luxury line … Read more

Scenic fights multi-million dollar compensation bill as judge rules passengers should get what they pay for

Scenic faces compensation bill as judge rules passengers should get what they pay for

Teacher David Moore has won a landmark case against one of Australiaโ€™s leading cruise companies over his treatment when heavy rain in France and Germany sparked flooding and stopped ship movements. Yesterday, Scenic, one of Australia’s biggest river cruise lines with 15 vessels in its fleet, signalled it would appeal. A statement to Cruise Passenger said: “Scenic … Read more

Luxurious Crystal Bach christened and on its inaugural sailings

Luxurious Crystal Bach christened and on its inaugural sailings

Crystal River Cruises has launched its latest ship, theย Crystal Bach.

Christened by the famous soprano vocalist, Anna-Maria Kaufmann who is the Godmother of the ship, theย Crystal Bachย embarked on her maiden voyage from Amsterdam last week.

Crystal River Cruises has also just released new photos of the interior of this spectacular ship.

โ€œIt is an honor to have one of Germanyโ€™s most gifted and cherished talents christenย Crystalย Bachย as she officially embarks on the Rhine as part of the award-winningย Crystalย fleet,โ€ saysย Crystalย CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez. โ€œNaturally, Anna-Mariaโ€™s remarkable career in classical music and passion for her chosen homeland are apropos for this stunning ship, but beyond that, her grace and internationally recognisable charm are representative of the elegance found aboard aย Crystalย river voyage.โ€

Crystalย Bachย is the first of fourย Crystalย โ€œRhine Classโ€ river ships to debut on the rivers of Europe, joiningย Crystalย Mozart as part of theย Crystalย River Cruises fleet recently named โ€œWorldโ€™s Best River Cruise Lineโ€ byย Travel + Leisure.

Sailing 10- and 14-day voyages predominantly along the Rhine River, she will call in medieval towns and modern hubs in Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.

Crystalโ€™s โ€œRhine Classโ€ river ships are the river cruising industryโ€™s first and only all-balcony, all-suite vessels in Europe.

All four river ships will offerย Crystalโ€™s acclaimed butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, Panoramic Balcony-Windows, walk-in closets and dual vanity in the bathrooms in most categories, ETRO robes and slippers, wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs, and Nespresso machines.

Additional features includeย Crystalโ€™s farm-to-table, Michelin-inspired cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafรฉs and the exclusive optional Vintage Room; and the Palm Court.

MSC Cruises floats out its latest ship, the MSC Seaview

MSC Cruises floats out its latest ship, the MSC Seaview

MSC Cruises has celebrated the float out of the MSC Seaview, its newest ship.

MSCย Seaviewย is the second ofย MSCย Cruisesโ€™ Seaside generation of cruise ships, based on a highly-innovative prototype designed to bring guests closer to the sea than ever before.ย  Designed for warmer climates, she is the ultimate sun and sea cruise experience.ย MSCย Seaviewย is set to come into service in June 2018, just six months afterMSCย Seasideย will first come into service with her Grand Voyage from Trieste, Italy to Miami, USA in December 2017.

MSCย Seaviewย will sail her inaugural 2018 summer season in the Mediterranean, offering holidaymakers the chance to experience the jewels of this region like never before on a cruise ship. Guests will discover seven different lively ports from four countries, all without unpacking a suitcase – Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille.

Following this inaugural season, the ship willย follow the sunย to Brazil and the Southern hemisphere for the winter 2018-2019 season, with an itinerary that includes Santos, Ilha Grande, Buzios, Porto Belo and Camboriu.

Pierfrancesco Vago,ย MSCย Cruisesโ€™ย Executive Chairman said, โ€œAtย MSCย Cruises, we are truly leading the way with our ship designs, as each new class of ships that we bring into service is rooted in meeting the needs of holidaymakers of different ages, demographics and holiday desires. With MSCย Seaview, in particular, our vision has been inspired by our passion for the sea and we are appealing to guests who are seeking the classic elements of a holiday โ€“ sun and sea – taken to the next level withย a one-of-a-kindย fully immersive and interactive seaside experience even whilst cruising at sea.โ€

Mrย Vago concluded: โ€œWe are already the market leading cruise brand in the Mediterranean and Europe and the deployment ofย MSCย Seaview in this key region will help us further push boundaries by bringing one of the most innovative cruise ships to an area that we are deeply committed to and is a cornerstone of our business.โ€

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated:ย โ€œMSCย Seaview is a challenge that Fincantieri is proud to carry out successfully, as demonstrated by the milestone reached today. She is a spectacular ship, the second of a new generation that is testing all of our best technical and managerial skills, considering that the float out takes place less than nine months away from that of the prototype that launched this class of ships,ย MSCย Seaside. These two beautiful ships require a real endeavour and our Group will deliver them to meet the high expectations of the ship owner in terms of reliability and product quality.โ€

European cities move to ban cruise ships

European cities move to ban cruise ships

The debate about tourism and preservation has caused friction in many historical European cities, with local residents concerned that huge influxes of tourists will destroy their city. Most recently, activist groups in Venice in Italy, Dubrovnik in Croatia as well as Barcelona in Spain are looking to cull the number of tourists, with some singling … Read more

10 must-visit European castles

Eurpean Castles

From Dracula to Downton Abbey, the castles of Europeย have inspired many fictional tales, and they have plentyย of their own fascinating stories to tell, too. One of the best ways to see them is on a cruise. Thereโ€™s nothing like visiting a medievalย castle to fire the imagination. Fromย their ramparts, many an arrow wouldย have travelled to its … Read more

Airlines avoid Ukraine airspace

malaysian airlines

  Airlines moved swiftly to reassure passengers, including cruisers heading to Europe for their next holiday, that they have adjusted their routes to avoid flying over eastern Ukraine. The changes come after a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane was apparently shot down by a missile while it was flying over a hostile region of Ukraine yesterday. … Read more