Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said it will expand its fleet by chartering a new luxury ship to be named Europa 2. The newbuild, which has been acquired by a third party, is being built by the French STX shipyard in St. Nazaire and will enter service in 2013. The charter agreement for the Europa 2 is for 12 years.
Royal Caribbean International is launching a series of experiential beverage programs through a partnership with renowned French winemaker Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). The program debuted in December aboard the new Allure of the Seas and will be deployed fleet-wide by the end of the first quarter 2011. The hour-long Lafite Wine Experience features a tasting of four wines from the winemaker’s Reserve Speciale series and is available for $29 per person.
Silversea Cruises has announced that 10 voyages this year will feature the Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs interactive cooking school. Through this partnership, Silversea will offer the only Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs cooking school at sea. The program offers guests a culinary curriculum and events hosted by Silversea culinary trainer Chef David Bilsland. The curriculum for each of these cruises is designed to celebrate the cultural flavor of the ship’s itinerary.
Vacationers booked aboard Royal Caribbean Cruises voyages diverted to Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, Jamaica, following the delayed opening of the new cruise port at Falmouth are eligible for special savings off JamaicaForaDay cruise passes through the company’s “Daycation”offer. Guests booked on ships diverted to Montego Bay are eligible for a group discount on the Sunset Beach Resort Cruise Pass, while guests booked on ships diverted to Ocho Rios can receive a group discount on the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort Cruise Pass.
With so many back-to-back cruises -- whether in the Caribbean, along the Mexican Riviera or what has become more standard in Europe -- it’s good to see when cruise lines offer a one-of-a-kind option.
Almaco was awarded a multi-million euro contract to modernize accommodation and food handling areas onboard Mein Schiff 2, the ship that TUI Cruises is adding to its fleet in the spring 2011. TUI Cruises is a joint venture cruise line comprised of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.