Tag Archives: Inaugural Voyage

Crystal to Build Four New Cruise Ships in Six Years

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While onboard Crystal Serenity’s preview voyage, Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, announced that the brand is working with its advisors, lenders and export credit agents in order to sign a memorandum of agreement with two European shipbuilders for four new ships.

This will include two classic ships and two expedition vessels, the company said.

During the presentation, Levis stated:” We have ambitious growth plans for Crystal and are proud of what we have accomplished with the relaunch of Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in just under a year following the purchase of the brand. We are now thrilled to formally announce that we will be growing our fleet and continue to offer the most exceptional cruising experiences in the industry.”

In just a few short days on July 31, Crystal Serenity will set sail for its inaugural voyage departing from Marseille following an extensive refurbishment. The Crystal Serenity’s sister ship, the Crystal Symphony will depart from Athens on Sept. 1, for its inaugural sailing.

Port Canaveral Welcomes MSC Seaside for Inaugural Voyage

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Port Canaveral welcomed the MSC Seaside as its new homeported ship during a ceremony on Thursday.

The MSC vessel is set to sail three and four-night cruises to The Bahamas, and seven-night cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Belize.

“We are excited to welcome the MSC Seaside to Port Canaveral, yet another beautiful ship in the MSC Cruises lineup to call Port Canaveral home,” said Capt. John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral.

“We are proud of our relationship with MSC Cruises and delighted to be the homeport for this new vessel class. Our Port is setting the standard for excellence in the industry. We’re committed to delivering a world-class experience for all cruise guests.”

MSC Cruises’ ship arrived at Port Canaveral on April 27 when port officials including Kevin Markey, chairman of Canaveral Port Authority presented the MSC Seaside’s captain Michele Di Mauro with a commemorative plaque to mark the ship’s first visit.

“The arrival of the MSC Seaside is another great milestone for Port Canaveral and the Space Coast region, further solidifying our position as the top cruise port in the world,” said Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Kevin Markey. “We are committed to continuing our efforts to responsibly grow our Port to promote the economic growth and prosperity of our local community and the state of Florida.”

MSC Cruises started sailing year-round from Port Canaveral in 2021 first with the MSC Divina and then with the MSC Meraviglia as well.

We built MSC Seaside specifically for Caribbean cruising, with an incredible amount of outdoor space and a sweeping waterfront promenade that allows guests to truly connect with the sea during their time onboard,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, president of MSC Cruises USA.

“It’s a privilege for MSC Cruises to play a role in Port Canaveral’s growth with the deployment of yet another large and modern ship in our U.S. fleet. MSC Seaside’s beautiful amenities go hand in hand with our international heritage and the natural beauty and sustainability of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private destination in The Bahamas, to represent our unique vision for Caribbean cruising. We’re thrilled to share that experience with guests sailing from Port Canaveral.”

Ambassador Reveals New Dining Experiences Onboard Ambition

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Ambassador Cruise Line has unveiled a wide range of dining experiences for guests onboard the Ambition, set to depart on its inaugural voyage on May 12, 2023.

Bob McGowan, head of the guest experience at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “Onboard Ambition, there are dining venues for every mood – from traditional afternoon teas to gala dinners alongside the ship’s Captain – providing ample opportunity for guests to be surprised and delighted throughout their journey.

 “Carefully designed by our Executive Chef Team, the dining concepts and menus have been created with guest experience at the heart. Following a strong food and beverage customer satisfaction score of 92 per cent onboard Ambience we have ensured that we’ve taken on valuable guest feedback and learnings when conceptualizing the offerings on Ambition.

 “We can’t wait to welcome guests onboard to experience our superb dining offering, and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

On the Ambition, guests can dine at Buckingham Restaurant & Holyrood Restaurant, offering a la carte dining experiences. Buckingham Restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch buffet style, while Holyrood is open for dinner only. Both restaurants will serve popular dishes of British cuisine including Sunday roast and shepherd’s pie.

Among the new dining venues is Borough Market, a self-serve style eatery, featuring flavours from around the world so guests can choose between Italian pasta, Asian stir-fries and more. 

Another new restaurant onboard the Ambition, Lupino’s, will serve Mediterranean specialities. The place pays homage to Ambassador’s colleague Michelle Lupino who passed away in 2022.

Saffron is an Indian dining venue serving dishes such as Thali, curries, specialist bread, and desserts. There is also Chef’s Table, offering an exclusive dinner experience featuring multi-course a la carte dining with nine courses. Here, guests can also look forward to paired wines but reservations are needed.

For guests looking for a casual meal, there is the Alfresco Grill that serves burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and chips.