Tag Archives: Norwegian Fjords

Mystic’s World Explorer Completes Five Years in Service

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Introduced as Mystic Cruises’ first-ever ocean-going cruise ship, the World Explorer recently completed five years in operation.

Built by the West Sea Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, the 200-guest vessel was commissioned during a special ceremony on April 6, 2019.

The event, which took place at the ship’s building dock, was hosted by Mystic Cruises’ CEO Mário Ferreira and included former French First Lady Carla Bruni serving as the Explorer’s godmother.

Responsible for commanding the ship during its inaugural season, Captains Alex Zakalashnnyuk from Russia, Filipe Sousa from Portugal, and Terje Willassen from Norway were also present.

While the christening ceremony took place in April, the World Explorer only entered service a few months later, in early August.

Initially operated by Mystic’s German brand Nicko Cruises, the vessel spent its inaugural season sailing in Northern Europe.

The program included both expedition and traditional cruising, with itineraries visiting Iceland, Greenland, the Norwegian Fjords, and the Baltic Sea.

Chartered to Quark Expeditions for the 2019-20 season in Antarctica, the vessel also offered a repositioning cruise to Brazil before arriving at the Frozen Continent in late October.

Since resuming service after the pandemic, the World Explorer has been sailing under charter for Belgium-based Rivages du Monde during summers.

In 2024, the ship’s season includes a series of itineraries in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Upon completing the chartered program, the 9,300-ton ship is set to return to Antarctica for another season under Quark Expeditions’ flag.

After being acquired by the company in April, the World Explorer is set to be operated by Windstar Cruises starting in late 2026.

Renamed Star Explorer, the vessel is expected to undergo a major refurbishment before joining the fleet of the upscale cruise operator for itineraries across the world.

In line with other Windstar Cruises vessels, the Explorer is set to offer a new marina, in addition to a sun deck in its bow and a new range of dining venues.

AIDAnova Celebrates Five Years in Service

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The AIDAnova is completing its fifth year in service this month. After being delivered by the Meyer Werft shipyard, the LNG-powered vessel joined AIDA Cruises fleet on December 12, 2018.

As the first in a series of LNG-powered cruise ships built by Carnival Corporation, the AIDAnova introduced a new generation of vessels for AIDA.

Now sharing the title of largest ship in the fleet of the German operator along with its sister ship AIDAcosma, the 5,200-guest vessel spent its inaugural season in the Canary Islands.

Soon after being delivered, the AIDAnova welcomed guests for its inaugural cruise in St. Curz de Tenerife on Dec. 19, 2018.

On that day, the vessel departed on a seven-night cruise that sailed across the Spanish archipelago and also included a visit to Funchal, in Portugal’s Madeira Island.

In late April 2019, the AIDAnova repositioned to Southern Europe for a summer season in the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, in Spain, the ship’s regular seven-night itinerary featured three additional ports in Italy and France: Civitavecchia for Rome, La Spezia for Florence, and Marseille.

Currently sailing from Hamburg, in Germany, the AIDAnova is offering a series of cruises to Northern and Western Europe during the 2023-24 winter.

Different itineraries will be offered through late April, including seven-night voyages to Norway and Denmark, and week-long cruises to Germany, England, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

The cruises can be combined to create a single 14-night cruise that visits Western Europe, the North Sea and Scandinavia.

The AIDAnova remains in the region during the 2024 summer, offering different itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and more departing from the German port of Kiel.

Next Viking Cruises Newbuild to Carry Name Viking Vela

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Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the next Viking Cruises ocean vessel will be named Viking Vela.

According to the company’s website, the ship is set to debut in 2024 and will be slightly larger than its predecessors.

Eleventh in a series of vessels that was started with the Viking Star in 2015, the Viking Vela will be ten meters longer, as well as two meters wider than its sister ships.

With the extra space, the new build will also carry more passengers: 998 versus 930.

The Viking Cruises website has already published the deployment of the ship as well.

After entering service in 2024, the Viking Vela is scheduled to spend its inaugural season in Northern Europe, offering itineraries to Scandinavia, the British Isles, Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords and more.

According to Viking, the new Vela will offer all-balcony accommodations and is ideally sized to reach destinations where the larger ships cannot dock. The company’s website also highlights the vessel’s “understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design.”

In addition to a large fleet of identical mid-sized luxury ships, the cruise line also operates two purpose-built expedition ships, the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris.

Another ocean vessel, the Zhao Shang Yi Dun, is also in service for the company in Asia. Part of a joint venture with China Merchants, the ship was formerly named Viking Sun and is now serving the Chinese domestic market.

Continuing its fleet expansion, Viking Cruises is set to take delivery of five additional oceangoing vessels through 2027.