6 Cruise Lines: New Ships & Itineraries

Carnival Cruise Line will be adding two additional ships to its fleet by 2023. The line will be taking the delivery position of an Excel-class ship that had been assigned to sister line AIDA Cruises that will arrive in late 2023, and will also be taking ownership of Costa Magica from another of its European sister lines—this ship will be going through a dry dock, renaming, and Carnival-branded conversion, and will be joining the fleet by mid-2022.

These two ships are in addition to Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first Excel-class ship, which starts sailing from Port Canaveral on July 31, and sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which will be delivered and be sailing from Miami in late 2022.

Starting January 2022, Hurtigruten Expeditions will expand to the Galapagos Islands.

“We are extremely excited to expand our South America offering to one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet. We have seen a clear trend of travelers seeking out truly unique and meaningful travel experiences, with a sharp increase in demand for the type of small ships/big experiences we offer. The pandemic has dramatically pushed this development forward. There is huge pent-up demand for traveling right now, and we are responding with this breathtaking new destination,” said Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam in a press statement.

To offer guests one-of-a-kind experiences, Hurtigruten Expeditions has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Ecuador-based Metropolitan Touring.

“Our unmatched experience in the Galapagos has enabled us to design and perfect the ideal way to explore the archipelago. Our itineraries are based on the concept of seeing as many of the ‘Big 15’ species as possible, with exclusive island and site visits. There really is no better way to see the islands,” said de Lara.

Guests will explore the Galapagos aboard the upgraded 90-guest MS Santa Cruz II. Starting Jan. 5, 2022, Hurtigruten Expeditions will offer 9-day journeys, as well as pre- and post packages before and after the 6-night cruise. Guests can also add a 4-day pre-program to Machu Picchu in Peru before going on the Galapagos adventure.

Cruise highlights include exploring the Giant Tortoise breeding center, getting close to sea lions and land iguanas, bird watching, kayaking, and snorkeling, as well as daily lectures to better understand the islands, their history, and animal population both above and below the sea.

For more information, visit global.hurtigruten.com/destinations/galapagos-islands/beyond-imagination.

With vaccinated guests on board, Windstar Cruises is back to sailing as of June 19 when it sailed from Athens. The 148-maximum guest sailing took off on a 7-day roundtrip journey to the Greek Isles.

Windstar is planning for the yacht to sail this itinerary on near-weekly dates through October. The cruise line is returning to operations in a phased process with its fleet of six yachts debuting on various dates through November.

For more information, visit windstarcruises.com.  

Two new Venetian Society Reunion sailings are scheduled for 2022 aboard Siversea Cruises. These sailings offer members of Silversea’s loyalty program a chance to reunite at sea, plus save 5 percent on the cruise fare. Venetian Society members will enjoy an array of benefits, one-of-a-kind events, and experiences ashore.

Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, Silversea’s president’s ambassador to the Venetian Society, will host both sailings, one of which will be aboard new ship Silver Dawn.

The two Venetian Society Reunion voyages in 2022 will take place on Nov. 2-9, 2022 sailing Barcelona to Lisbon aboard Silver Dawn. And will also sail Hong Kong to Singapore from Nov. 10 -14, 2022 aboard Silver Shadow.

For more information, visit silversea.com/best-luxury-cruise-deals/venetian-society.

During a traditional coin ceremony earlier this week for MSC Cruises’ second Seaside EVO class ship the keel was laid in Italy and the name was revealed—MSC Seascape. The new ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2022.

The Seaside EVO ships are enhanced and extended with a variety of new features, spaces and experiences for guests, offers 139,930 sq. ft. of outdoor space, and will be able to accommodate 5,877 guests. The ship will also feature 2,270 staterooms with 12 different types of cabins, and suites with balconies including aft suites. There will also be 11 dining venues, 19 bars and lounges, and six pools including an aft infinity pool.

For more information, msccruisesusa.com.

Earlier this week, AmaWaterways announced a new partnership with Ancestry. The new collaboration gives guests the opportunity to discover details to their specific family history.

The Ancestry Experience package allows travelers to personalize their river cruise experience through a pre-cruise private consultation and family history research, onboard presentations, and curated excursions accompanied by an expert genealogist throughout the cruise.

“Maintaining or creating cherished family connections is more important than ever, and this partnership with the industry-leading team at Ancestry^® provides the perfect setting to bring our guests’ treasured family stories to life,” says Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, in a press statement.

The first sailing in the series, Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience, will depart on July 30, 2022, on board the 156-guest AmaStella. Guests will embark in Amsterdam for a 7-night journey along the Rhine River visiting Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland while tracing their roots and following along in their ancestors’ footsteps.

The experience begins as soon as guests reserve their sailing. When each guest signs up, they’ll be matched with an expert from Ancestry Pro Genealogists’ who will conduct a 1-hour welcome call to discuss aspects of their family that are of particular interest. From there the genealogist will conduct a 5-hour consultation and research phase delving into the family background and identifying places of interest that the guest may visit or pass by during the cruise.

Once on board, the expert genealogist will offer presentations to show guests what their ancestors’ life was like and highlight the types of records available for them to learn more. As guests travel through the various regions where their ancestors’ lived, the genealogist will explain the history behind those areas. In addition, each guest will receive a private, onboard consultation with the genealogist who will review their own family tree. Travelers can also add on an Ancestral Home Visit accompanied by an expert genealogist.

Reservations for this sailing are now open, with prices starting at $5,300. A 4-night post-river cruise land package is also available in Switzerland, including two nights in Zurich and two nights in Lucerne with daily breakfast, city tours, and the services of AmaWaterways’ Cruise Manager.

Travel Advisors are invited to join an exclusive Ancestry Heritage River Cruise FAM on Aug. 12, 2021 on board AmaMora traveling the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam. Travel advisors will also learn how new trends in genetic genealogy can help generate new travel business leads.

For more information, visit amawaterways.com/ancestry and for the FAM information, visit trip.amawaterways.com/agent-login.

For more cruise news, click here. And don’t miss, “Cruise Lines are Heading Back to the Waters.”