Author: crewcenter.site

The “Abysso Calypso Party” organized by SMSMondial in partnership with Costa & Visit Malta, will take place in Valletta on Saturday, May 18. The event, which offers a preview of Costa’s exclusive “Sea Destinations,” will be held at the Saluting Battery in the Upper Barrakka Gardens that evening. . Attendees will be greeted with a set by Malta’s Versatile Brass Band, accompanied by a custom-made projection on the ramparts of Fort St. Angelo. On the same occasion, Costa Fascinosa’s cruises sailing from Malta in summer 2025 will be launched with special discounts and free onboard credit vouchers for bookings made…

Royal Caribbean released “Preparing for an Iconic Debut,” the final episode in its Making an Icon series. “Preparing for an Iconic Debut” depicts the scenes of the final days leading up to the January 2024 debut of the largest ship in the world. The final part of the series shows highlights such as the moment the Icon crossed under the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark, the installation of 33,550 real plants and the arrival of thousands of crew members in Spain.

AROYA Cruises and MBC STUDIOS by MBC GROUP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing took place during this year’s four-day Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai. The MOU, based on a shared vision for growth in the Middle East and beyond, marks the intent for future cooperation with the film and TV production company on cinematic production projects, the company said in a statement. Cruise Saudi’s CEO, Lars Clasen, said: “Partnerships and collaborations are a crucial part of the success of any cruise line, and we are delighted to have signed an MOU with MBC STUDIOS. We…

Two weeks ago I attended the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) 2023 Annual Conference and had the honor of participating on a panel, “State of the Maritime Industry,” with other maritime executives, to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting the global maritime sector. The panel covered important topics such as sustainability initiatives, port infrastructure developments, regulatory changes, and international trade dynamics. As I reflect on the conversations we engaged in at the conference, one of the major topics we considered during this panel was “are we ready for tomorrow?” which, to me, resonated more to the tune…

Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady made its maiden call to the French port of La Seyne-sur-Mer in the bay of Toulon on Monday, May 6. The Scarlet Lady’s first visit was commemorated with the traditional plaque exchange that took place onboard. The ship visited the port while sailing its seven-night Mediterranean voyage which departed from Barcelona, Spain on May 5. The Scarlet Lady operates week-long Mediterranean cruises sailing roundtrip from Barcelona. Destinations include Cannes, France; Marseille, France; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; and Marina di Carrara, Italy among others.

The Port of Osaka’s new passenger terminal at Tempozan Wharf officially opened on May 1. The opening ceremony was held on May 5, when Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium arrived at the port. The new Tempozan Passenger Terminal measures approximately 5,780㎡, which is twice as large compared to the old terminal, and will have the capacity to accommodate larger ships. The ship called at Osaka while sailing its 13-night Best of Japan voyage which departed from Yokohama on May 2. The Celebrity Millenium will also call in Hakodate, Aomori and Shimizu before returning to Yokohama on May 15.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) celebrated the start of what promises to be a record-breaking cruise season at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, with the arrival of the Norwegian Gem on May 3, according to a press release. After welcoming over 373,000 passengers and 149 cruise ships in 2023, Massport is expecting 169 cruise ships in 2024, up by 15 percent compared to the previous season. Between now and November, the Cruiseport will welcome 90 port of call visits, including 13 maiden calls, the port said. To mark the start of the season, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today joined elected officials and…

“The general strength of the Caribbean has been a factor,” said Marc Miller, director, deployment and itinerary planning, Royal Caribbean Group, pointing to more capacity in the region for both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. “For Royal Caribbean we have added more hardware year-round and we also have two Celebrity ships in the summer,” he said. For Royal, the new Icon debuted earlier this year in Miami. The Utopia follows from Port Canaveral this summer while the new Star of the Seas will also sail from Florida’s Port Canaveral when she arrives in 2025. “Perfect Day at…

After completing its winter 2023-24 program in Tampa, the Carnival Pride recently repositioned to the East Coast. The Carnival Cruise Line vessel is now offering a series of seven- to 14-night cruises departing from Norfolk. The itineraries were initially scheduled to depart from the Port of Baltimore, which remains closed following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. As part of its new year-round program, the Carnival Pride is set to offer seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean through late May. In addition to three days at sea, the itineraries feature visits to destinations in the region, such…

Elixir Boutique Cruises recently launched its 2024 summer season in the Aegean Sea. Operating the Elysium, the Athens-based company is now offering a series of week-long cruises to the Greek Islands. For the first sailing of the season, the 48-guest cruise ship offered Elixir’s new “UNESCO Heritage” itinerary. Sailing from Lavrion, a port near Athens, the cruise featured visits to five of the 19 UNESCO World Heritage sites found in Greece. Before returning to its homeport, the Elysium sailed to Ithea, Katakolon, Gytheion, Elafonissos, Nafplion and Hydra. UNESCO World Heritage sites on the itinerary included the ancient sanctuary of Delphi,…