Fred. Olsen’s Bolette Completes Refurbishment

Posted on 12 March, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette has recently completed a refurbishment at the A&P Falmouth shipyard in England.

According to the company, the drydock was supported by 500 members of the facility’s workforce, including 32 apprentices.

“We are really pleased to further support the Falmouth economy by working with the team at A&P to maintain and refurbish our ships, and in particular providing their apprentices with new experience and opportunity,” said Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

After entering drydock in late February, the Bolette spent two weeks at the A&P Falmouth shipyard to undergo a program of works that comprised underwater painting, servicing of lifeboats, maintenance of stabilizers and more.

Other technical interventions included the exchange of the ship’s bow thrusters, which were replaced with newly overhauled ones.

The 2000-built ship also underwent a full underwater hull cleaning before receiving fresh antifouling paint.

According to Fred. Olsen, the new coat of paint helps reduce friction in the water while keeping the hull clear of barnacles and other marine life.

The crew cabins onboard were also refurbished, the company added, and all of the vessel’s lifeboats and davits underwent a main overhaul and overload test.

The Bolette’s Azipod propellers were removed for maintenance as well, while a new autopilot system was installed at the ship’s bridge.

On the guests’ side, Bolette also saw improvements to its photo gallery, which received digital screens for selecting and ordering pictures, according to Fred. Olsen, the new format saves time and paper.

A small studio where passengers are able to take professional, portrait-style shots was also installed in the photo gallery area.

Following the work, the 62,735-ton vessel resumed service on March 9. Sailing from the port of Newcastle, the Bolette is now offering a series of five- to ten-night itineraries to the UK, Norway, Iceland, the Baltic, Western Europe and more.

Originally built for Holland America Line as the Amsterdam, the Bolette was acquired by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2020.

Celestyal Acquires Former Ryndam

Posted on 27 February, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

Celestyal has acquired the former Ryndam. The 1993-built vessel is currently laid up in Greece.

The ship most recently operated for P&O Australia and will now become the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey and will undergo an extensive, €20 million (approximately $21 million), refurbishment and technical maintenance overhaul before entering service.

“While the global events of the past few years have placed our growth plans on pause, the positive industry outlook along with strong bookings for the coming season, provides Celestyal with the opportunity to recommence the process of renewing our fleet with new vessels,” said Chris Theophilides, CEO. “In addition to her expansive open decks, numerous bar and dining options as well as spacious public areas and staterooms, the Celestyal Journey provides our guests with a significant increase in premium and balcony staterooms, which continue to be in high demand on all of our voyages. We look forward to welcoming her to the Celestyal fleet!’’

The Celestyal Journey will undergo its capital expenditure program in the wider Piraeus ship repair zone area.

Details regarding the onboard experience and itineraries will be forthcoming.

Fort Lauderdale: LGBTQIA+ Cruises Deliver Key Economic Impact

Posted on 21 January, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

Greater Fort Lauderdale is preparing to set a new record in February 2023 with four sold-out LGBTQIA+ cruises bringing in more than $8 million in economic impact, according to Visit Lauderdale, the destination marketing organization.

“With demand for travel to LGBTQIA+ friendly destinations at an all-time high, our reputation for welcoming ‘everyone under the sun’ has delivered a record-breaking booking of four consecutive LGBT+ cruises of this magnitude,” said Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s senior vice president of inclusion and accessibility.

The four sold-out cruises will bring in a total of 11,500 visitors to Fort Lauderdale, according to a statement.

In October 2022, Visit Lauderdale launched its new brand campaign titled “Everyone Under the Sun,” aimed at emphasizing Greater Fort Lauderdale’s welcoming atmosphere and its inclusive community. The ads feature locals of all ethnicities and disabilities and members of the area’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Gray worked with LGBTAIA+ cruise operators including Atlantis, VACAYA and Olivia for the past year promoting four sailings on Visit Lauderdale’s website.

The sold-out LGBTQIA+ cruises include:

Atlantis’ voyage on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (February 4-12, 2023);
VACAYA’s cruise package on Celebrity Reflections (February 12-19, 2023)
Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam two cruises (February 19-26, 2023 and February 23-March 5, 2023)

“Beyond our appreciation for the major economic boost to our economy, we want LGBT+ travellers to know they are truly welcome in our community,” concluded Gray.