The Celebrity Ascent has successfully completed its sea trials, according to a statement from the company.
The ship’s captains, brothers Demetrios and Tasos Kafetzis oversaw the tests conducted in the Bay of Biscay near the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, where the Celebrity Ascent has been under construction.
Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, the Celebrity Ascent is offering a four-night Western Caribbean preview voyage on November 22, 2023, followed by a three-night Bahamas preview getaway on November 26, 2023.
A seven-night Eastern Caribbean maiden voyage will depart the South Florida port on December 3, 2023, kicking off the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season, featuring seven-night itineraries rotating between popular Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations such as the Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman; and San Juan, Tortola and St. Kitts, respectively.
Then, the Celebrity Ascent will head to the Mediterranean for a 2024 summer season of sailings, including a nine-night Italian Riviera and France itinerary; and the 12-night Best of Greece and Italy itinerary.
The Norwegian Viva is readying to enter revenue service for Norwegian Cruise Line.
During its first year in service, the newbuild is set to offer a series of cruises in the Mediterranean, in addition to a trans-Atlantic crossing to North America and different itineraries in the Caribbean.
Cruise Industry News highlights some of the itineraries of the ship’s inaugural season.
Maiden Cruise Date: August 10, 2023 Length: Nine nights Homeports: Trieste (Italy) to Lisbon (Portugal) Complete Itinerary: Split (Croatia); Salerno, Civitavecchia and Livorno (Italy); Cannes (France); and Ibiza (Spain)
After leaving the building-dock in Italy, the Norwegian Viva is set to offer a maiden cruise that sails between the Eastern and the Western Mediterranean.
The one-way itinerary departs from Trieste and visits several destinations in Italy, France and Spain before arriving in Lisbon. In addition to the Portuguese capital city, the nine-night cruise is highlighted by visits to Salerno, on Italy’s Southern Coast, and to Cannes, in the French Riviera.
Greek Islands and Italy Date: September 13, 2023 Length: Ten nights Homeports: Piraeus (Greece) to Civitavecchia (Italy) Complete Itinerary: Istanbul (Turkey); Santorini, Mykonos and Katakolon (Greece); Catania, Naples and Livorno (Italy); and Villefranche (France)
Viva’s program in the Mediterranean also includes several cruises to the Greek Islands and Italy. This ten-night itinerary sets sail in mid-September and features visits to some of the most popular destinations in the region, including Mykonos, Santorini, Naples and Istanbul.
Sailing one way between Piraeus and Civitavecchia, the cruise also pays visits to less usual ports of call, including Catania and Villefranche.
Adriatic and Sicily Date: October 10, 2023 Length: Nine nights Homeports: Civitavecchia to Trieste (Italy) Complete Itinerary: Naples, Palermo and Messina (Italy); Valletta (Malta); Corfu (Greece); Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar (Croatia)
In October, the Norwegian Viva sails to the Aegean, the Adriatic and Ionian seas with this nine-night cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean.
After departing from Civitavecchia, the port for the Italian capital city Rome, the vessel is scheduled to visit Naples, Palermo and Messina, in Italy; as well as Valletta, in Malta; Corfu, in Greece; and Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar, in Croatia.
First Transatlantic Crossing Date: November 16, 2023 Length: 11 nights Homeports: Lisbon (Portugal) to Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Ponta Delgada (Azores); St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands); and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)
After completing its maiden season in Europe, the Norwegian Viva offers an 11-night repositioning cruise to North America.
Sailing between Lisbon and Miami, the transatlantic crossing features visits to three ports in Portugal, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic: Ponta Delgada, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata. The cruise also includes a total of eight full days at sea.
Southern Caribbean Date: December 15, 2023 Length: Seven nights Homeport: San Juan (Puerto Rico) Complete Itinerary: Tortola (British Virgin Islands); St. John’s (Antigua); Castries (St. Lucia); Bridgetown (Barbados); Philipsburg (St. Maarten); and St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)
After a few itineraries departing from Miami, the Norwegian Viva is set to arrive at its winter homeport in December. Sailing from Puerto Rico during the entire 2023-24 season, the vessel is scheduled to offer a series of seven- to nine-night cruises to the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.
The first cruise from San Juan, for instance, sails for seven-night and features visits to Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados. St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
Cunard has revealed that its “iconic red and black funnel” has been installed on Queen Anne.
The work has been labelled a “significant construction milestone”, as the ship prepares for its maiden voyage in May 2024.
The red and black funnels have been on the line’s ships for more than 150 years and were designed by Robert Napier, the shipyard owner who built some of Cunard’s earliest ships.
Queen Anne will be the 249th vessel to sail under the Cunard flag and will operate alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.
When it sets sail it will be the first time since 1999 that the operator will have four Queen ships at sea.
Cunard funnel an ‘iconic symbol of heritage’
Cunard senior vice-president Angus Struthers said: “We are thrilled to mark this important milestone in the construction of Queen Anne.
“The installation of the funnel is a significant step in the building process and brings the ship one step closer to joining our fleet.
“For Cunard, the distinctive red and black funnel is an iconic symbol of our heritage and will be one of Queen Anne’s most recognisable features.”
Queen Anne’s inaugural British Islands cruise from Southampton is due to depart on 24 May 2024.
Wetravel2u's Weblog 