Tag Archives: South America

Scenic Eclipse in Drydock for Azipod Replacement

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According to an update shared by Scenic Cruises, the Scenic Eclipse is currently in drydock in Galveston, Texas, for the installation of a new Azipod.

The new propulsion unit will replace one that is currently inoperable, the company explained in a social media post.

Scenic added that it’s working closely with its partner ABB Group to get the work completed in time for the vessel’s next cruise.

The replacement Azipod will be delivered to Texas via a specially chartered Antonov 124 aircraft, one of the world’s largest cargo planes, the company said.

Captain James Griffiths, Scenic Group’s general manager of ocean operations; Jason Flesher, director of discovery operations; and Darko Caput, director of marine & technical operations,, are on-site to ensure all work is completed and that the Scenic Eclipse is certified for full operations.

The 2019-built vessel is scheduled to resume guest service on Nov. 27, 2024, kicking off a winter schedule of expeditions to Antarctica and South America.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests on board to create memories to last a lifetime in the white continent,” Scenic said.

In September, the company cancelled three cruises onboard the Scenic Eclipse due to an issue with one of the vessel’s ABB Azipod propulsion units.

At the time, Scenic said that the problem was affecting the propulsion capacity of the 228-guest vessel, forcing it to navigate at lower speeds.

While the ship was still sailing safely, it was necessary to secure a dry dock to carry out important maintenance work onboard, the company added.

The affected cruises were scheduled to sail to the Caribbean and South America between Oct. 24, 2024, and Nov. 27, 2024.

Built by the Uljanik Shipyard in Croatia, the Scenic Eclipse originally entered service for Scenic Cruises in mid-2019.

The 16,500-ton vessel was later followed by a sister ship, the Scenic Eclipse II, which debuted in April 2023.

Brazil’s Santos Port Authority to Offer Reduced Fees for Cruise Ships

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Santos Port Authority (SPA) is offering reduced operational fees for cruise ships visiting the Port of Santos in Brazil, according to a press release.

As part of a new set of regulations introduced in October, discounted fees will be provided to cruise lines based on the volume of passengers travelling to the port onboard their ships.

The reduction in fees ranges from 10 to 60 per cent, with the maximum benefit offered to operators bringing more than 680,000 passengers.

SPA also provides discounts for various types of vessels that achieve a certain rating on a local index of sustainability and efficiency.

“This is another way to encourage operators who adopt best practices,” said SPA President Anderson Pomini.

The new regulation for discounted fees will be in effect for 12 months and may be extended based on the port authority’s evaluation of its effectiveness.

Operators will provisionally receive the discounts based on their own estimates, the Santos Port Authority explained.

Numbers will later be adjusted at the end of the cruise season based on actual data from SPA’s data system.

The regulation requires operators to inform SPA in advance about their estimated number of passengers and specific schedules.

As the largest homeport in Brazil, Santos is set to seeten cruise ships during the 2024-25 season.

In addition to welcoming transit calls, the port will serve as a base for three ships from MSC Cruises, including the MSC Grandiosa, the MSC Seaview and the MSC Splendida.

A fourth ship from the company, the MSC Armonia, is also scheduled to sail from Santos between February and March.

Costa Cruises is also offering cruises departing from the port onboard two ships: the Costa Diadema and the Costa Pacifica.

Brands visiting the port for transit calls include Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal and Villa Vie Residences.

Star Kicks Off Norwegian’s 2023-24 Season in South America and Antarctica

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The Norwegian Star recently arrived in South America to kick off Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2023-24 in the region.

Extending through April, the local program features different itineraries to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, Chile, and Antarctica.

After concluding its summer program in Northern Europe, the 2,200-guest vessel arrived in Brazil in early December.

Before concluding its repositioning cruise in Rio de Janeiro, the Star visited several destinations in the country, including Recife, Maceió, Salvador and Búzios.

Continuing its way to the Southern tip of the continent, the ship also offered a ten-night cruise to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in mid-December.

The one-way cruise sailed from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires and featured visits to Búzios, Ilha Grande, Ilhabela, Santos, Balneário Camboriú, Punta del Este and Montevideo.

Once in Buenos Aires, the Norwegian Star kicked off the first sailing of a regular series of cruises to Argentina, Antarctica, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.

The 16-night cruise features visits to several destinations in the region, such as Puerto Madryn, Punta Arenas, Port Stanley and Punta del Este.

Before returning to Buenos Aires, the Norwegian Star is also scheduled to spend a few days cruising around Elephant Island and other parts of Antarctica.

After additional itineraries in the region, the 2001-built vessel is scheduled to return to Europe in mid-April, via a transatlantic crossing that starts in Rio de Janeiro and ends in Lisbon, Portugal.

In addition to the Star, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2023-24 program in South America also includes the Norwegian Sun.

Between January and early March, the vessel is scheduled to offer a series of cruises to the Andes, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego that include visits to destinations in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and the Falkland Islands.