The wonder of the Seas Arrives in Barcelona for Summer Season

Posted on 4 May, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas has arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to kick off a summer full of European cruises.

The fifth ship in the cruise line’s Oasis Class line-up sets course for the Mediterranean on seven-night cruises from Barcelona and Rome beginning Sunday.

Calls include Florence, Naples and Capri, Italy; Provence, France; and Malaga, Spain.

The Wonder’s Western Mediterranean sailings will continue through October, rounding out a summer splash in Europe with eight action-packed ships, including Odyssey of the Seas – also marking its first season in Europe.

In November, the Wonder will return to the U.S. to sail from its new year-round home in Port Canaveral, Florida, to explore the Caribbean and The Bahamas, including the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

MSC Bellissima Sails into Saudi Arabia

Posted on 13 July, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

This MSC Bellissima at the weekend sailed into Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to prepare for her maiden summer season of 21 voyages in the Red Sea.

The ship becomes the largest cruise ship to have ever operated in the Red Sea, and will offer three- and four-night sailings between the end of July and late October from her summer base in Jeddah to Safaga, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan.

The summer sailings will add to MSC Cruises’ previously announced winter 2021/2022 Red Sea voyages from Jeddah that start in November.

The MSC Bellissima will be the eighth MSC Cruises’ ship to resume sailings with passengers on board with a further three vessels preparing to start future voyages, which will see half of the company’s fleet back at sea by the end of summer.

Five MSC Cruises’ ships are currently sailing in the Mediterranean – MSC Grandiosa MSC Seaside, MSC Orchestra, MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica, MSC Virtuosa is operating around the UK and MSC Seaview is cruising in the Baltic Sea.

The MSC Meraviglia from 2 August will resume Caribbean cruises from Miami and will be joined in the region from 18 September when MSC Divina restarts sailing from Port Canaveral near Orlando in Florida.

The MSC Seashore will come into service in August with voyages in the West Mediterranean before the company’s newest flagship transfers in November to Miami for a season in the Caribbean.

AIDAperla Set to Open Western Med Season in July

Posted on 21 May, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

On July 10, AIDA Cruises will open its cruise season with the AIDAperla in the Western Mediterranean.

Two different seven-day round trips from/to Palma de Mallorca (Spain) will be offered, which can also be combined into a 14-day cruise. Deployment runs through October 30, according to a press release. Bookings are set to open on June 4.

Port calls include Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena and Barcelona on one itinerary, while the second voyage heads to Alicante, Ibiza, Valencia and Barcelona.

“We are very happy to offer our guests cruises from Palma de Mallorca again. We have been closely connected with the island for 25 years. AIDA is one of the most important cruise companies when it comes to sustainable local added value, even beyond the high tourist season. I would like to thank all our partners. Without their support this development would not have been possible,” said Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises.

“The Government of the Balearic Islands welcomes the restart of safe cruises in its ports. We are very satisfied with the results of the talks between the Balearic Islands and the Costa Group over the past few weeks so that we can start safely. We warmly welcome AIDA and its guests,” added Rosana Morillo, Directora General de Turismo Illes Balears Conselleria de Model Econòmic, Turisme I Treball.