Viking Cruises – Cruise Ship Profiles

Cruise Company Cancellations by Line – and planned resumption dates – Updated

It was announced yesterday that all CLIA ocean-going cruise lines will be voluntarily and temporarily suspending cruise ship operations from U.S. ports of call for 30 days as public health officials and the U.S. Government continue to address COVID-19.

A number of cruise lines had already announced the suspension of cruise operations prior to the announcement from CLIA and following the unprecedented announcement by Princess Cruises earlier this week.

What follows is a list of all cruise lines and links to their announcements and planned resumption dates (in alphabetical order).

I will try and keep the post upated as the situaion changes and more announcements are made.

List of all lines suspended cruise operations

AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises has cancelled all cruises until early April 2020

Amawaterways

AmaWaterways cancelled all river cruises in Europe and Asia until 25th April 2020 (including April 26, 2020 aboard AmaCerto)

Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways has cancelled all cruises until 30th April 2020.

Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara has cancelled all cruises in the United States are suspended for 30 days beginning midnight 13th March. Currently all international cruises will operate on their scheduled itineraries.

Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises has suspended all cruises until 1st May 2020

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV)

Cruise and Maritime Voyages has suspended all cruises until 24th April 2020

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises has suspended cruises in the United States for 30 days beginning midnight on 13th March. Currently all international cruises will operate their scheduled itineraries.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises has cancelled all cruises until 30th April 2020. (updated 5/3)

CroisiEurope All cruises postponed until 15th April (updated 16th march)

Cunard

Cunard cancelled all cruises until 11th April, with all three ships now due to return to the UK.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line from 14th March all cruises have been cancelled until end March 2020.

Dream Cruises

Dream Cruises announced a voluntary suspension of all cruises ex Singapore onboard Genting Dream from 23rd February, 2020 until 27th March, 2020.

Update 25/3

Explorer Dream Australian program of cruise itineraries cancelled between 8th October 2020 and 21st February 2021

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has cancelled all cruises through to the und of May 2020.

Emerald Waterways

Emerald Waterways has cancelled all cruises until 1st May 2020.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line announced a voluntary suspension of all cruises around the world for 30 days commencing 13th March 2020.

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten announces that all Norwegian coast operations are suspended until 18th April, and all international expedition sailings are cancelled through April 28th. (updated 18th March)

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has cancelled all cruises departing from Miami from 14th March through to 30th April 2020.

MSC Cruises confirms that all cruises operation will be suspended, all cruises that are currently sailing will do so through the end of their itineraries. (updated 18th March)

Marella Cruises

Marrella Cruises have cancelled all cruises until 28th March 2020.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled all cruises until 11th April 2020.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises have cancelled all cruises until 11th April 2020.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has cancelled all cruises until 11th April 2020.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean commencing 13th March all cruises in the United States have been suspended for 30 days. The line also has a number of restrictions for passengers who have certain passports or visited certain countries.

Update: 25/3

“Today, March 24^th,we have decided to extend our voluntary suspension until May 11^th, 2020. Our goal is to resume operations for most of our ships on May 12^th, 2020. Because of announced port closures, there are other itineraries we will be suspending.

• Ships sailing out of Singapore, and ships sailing through Canada have all been impacted differently due to port closures.

◦ Canadian ports will remain closed until July 1^st, 2020.

◦ The Port of Singapore will remain closed through May 2020.”

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gaugin has cancelled all cruises until 11th April 2020.

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises The line has cancelled all cruises until 11th April (updated 16th March)

Aurora is currently returning early from a Norwegian Fjords cruise, and due Southampton 16th March instead of instead of 23rd March. Staff onboard have been advised that she will not be sailing for 2-3 weeks so expecting a further announcement in due course.

Ventura passengers booked on the next cruise (N004) an 11 night cruise to Spain and Portugal have been advised that it has been cancelled and have been offered a future cruise credit of 125% on any cruises booked before 31st December 2021.

Phoenix Reisen

Phoenix Reisen has announced cancellations for 4 of it 5 is ocean going ships through to April/May 2020.

Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions has not advised of any cancellations as yet but has implemented extra precautions and health screening for passengers and crew.

River Cruises (except Nile):

As things are changing rapidly the line has announced it will make further announcements Monday, March 16th, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. regarding all river trips up to and including April 14th, 2020.

River trips to China, Vietnam and Cambodia have been cancelled.

Ponant

Ponant has not advised of any cancellations as yet but has implemented extra precautions and a ban on any guest or crew member one who falls into following categories:

1. Who passed through China (including Macao and Hong Kong), South Korea, Iran and Italy (even a transit airport) 30 days prior to embarkation.
2. Presenting with a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) at the time of embarkation and who passed through Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan (even a transit airport) in the last 30 days.
3. Who arrives with a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) and who is considered a risk by the company’s medical team. The risk will be assessed in line with our protocol for reviewing the information provided in the compulsory health questionnaire, associated symptoms, recently frequented geographic areas, etc.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has suspended all cruise operations for all 18 ships in the fleet until 10th May 2020.

Saga Cruises

Saga Cruises has cancelled all ocean cruises until 1st May 2020.

Scenic River Cruises

Scenic River Cruises has suspended all cruise operations until 30th April 2020.

Silversea

Silversea has amended itineraries due to the closure of Italian ports. and also has restrictions on guests who have traveled from, visited or transited through airports in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Iran, South Korea and specific areas of Italy (the affected cities within Lombardy and Veneto region) within 15 days of their voyage embarkation, regardless of nationality, will not be allowed to board any of its vessels. Guests who are denied boarding will be issued a full cash refund.

Star Cruises (Hong Kong)

Star Cruises has implemented a number of precautionary measures and extra health screening for guests.

TUI (Mein Schiff)

TUI Mein Schiff brand has amended itineraries as a result of Spanish ports being closed.

Uniworld

Uniworld has cancelled all cruises until 23rd April 2020.

Viking Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises all ocean and river cruises have been cancelled until 1st May 2020.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has announced it is postponing the inaugural Showcase Tour which will now begin on 15th July 2020, with the Maiden Voyage taking place on 7th August 2020.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises has announced that all cruises have been cancelled until 11th April 2020.

This is an unprecedented time for the whole cruise and travel industry and its a situation that is constantly evolving. I will update this post as things change with the lines.

Thank you for taking the time to red my latest post.

Continue reading Cruise Company Cancellations by Line – and planned resumption dates – Updated

VIKING ANNOUNCES NEW OCEAN OFFERINGS & MEDITERRANEAN ITINERARIES FOR 2021, PLUS THE LAUNCH OF VIKING VENUS

London, 18 September 2019: Viking announces its seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus, will join its award-winning fleet in early 2021, further solidifying the company’s standing as the largest small-ship ocean cruise line. The newest 930-guest sister ship will spend her maiden season sailing popular itineraries in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, including British Isles Explorer, In Search of the Northern Lights, Viking Homelands and Into the Midnight Sun.

created by dji camera — Viking Cruises 2019 built Viking Jupiter see entering Portsmouth on her maiden call in May © Andrew McAlpine

“The spirit of exploration is at the heart of everything we do. We have always drawn inspiration from the original Viking explorers, who were the first to use the stars and constellations for long-distance navigation. Many elements onboard our ships honour those Viking explorers, and we are proud to host our guests on itineraries that sail some of those historic trading routes,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “I am pleased to announce that Viking Venus will join our fleet in 2021, allowing us the ability to introduce even more travellers to the Viking way of exploration.”

“Viking offers cruises that allow our guests to explore the world, experience destinations and learn about new cultures, all from the comfort of our small, beautifully designed, Scandinavian-inspired ships. Viking Venus will be identical to our six existing ocean ships, allowing our guests to enjoy a familiar ‘home away from home’ experience wherever they choose to cruise with us. Demand from the UK market for our ocean cruises is very high so we would advise travellers to book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment – especially if they would like to sail on Viking Venus in her maiden season,” said Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK.

Viking will also expand its offerings in the Mediterranean with five new itineraries that include stops in Istanbul, marking the company’s return to the iconic city. The new 8-day Ancient Mediterranean Treasures will sail between Athens and Istanbul, with overnight stays in both cities. Guests looking for an extended experience in the region can choose a longer versions of the itinerary, including the 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures, which sails between Venice and Istanbul; the 15-day Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities, which sails between Rome and Istanbul; the 22-day Iconic Mediterranean Treasures, which sails between Barcelona and Istanbul; or the 29-day Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores, which also sails between Barcelona and Istanbul and includes stops in Montenegro and Croatia.

Beginning in April 2021 and sailing on Viking’s award-winning 930-guest all-veranda Viking Sky, guests embarking on the new Ancient Mediterranean Treasures itinerary or its longer combination cruise options will witness the origin of civilisation while cruising the fabled Aegean Sea. Highlights of the new itinerary include:

· Istanbul, Turkey: Guests begin their journey with an overnight stay in Istanbul, allowing more time to explore the iconic city. Guests can visit a wealth of religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” one of the city’s most recognisable sites, watch the mesmerising whirling dervishes perform at a local venue, or participate in a centuries-old tradition at a hammam, a Turkish bath. Plus, Viking’s Privileged Access offers guests the chance to tour the legendary Hagia Sofia free of crowds.

· Troy (Çanakkale), Turkey: Guests can explore the nearby well-preserved ruins of Troy, most remembered as the setting of the Trojan War, described by Homer in the Iliad, or visit the nearby Battlefields of Gallipoli, the tranquil memorial site of one of World War I’s longest and deadliest battles.

· Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Turkey: One of the best-preserved cities of antiquity in the world, Ephesus is rich in history and ancient relics. While in port, guests can visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, walk through the Byzantine Basilica of St. John, or visit the modest home where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary lived out her final days.

· Rhodes, Greece: While on the island of Rhodes, guests can explore within the city walls of Old Town, Europe’s largest active medieval town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, learn about island culture through a visit to a traditional village home, or head to one of the island’s scenic mountaintops for sweeping views of the island and the Turkish coast.

· Heraklion, Greece: Located on the island of Crete, Heraklion boasts millennia-old history and was once the strongest fortified city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Guests can take in archaeological splendours whose history is interwoven with the legends of Greek mythology, including the Palace of Knossos and the village of Arolithos, or explore the ruins of the Minoans, Europe’s oldest recorded civilisation.

· Athens, Greece: The journey concludes with an overnight stay in Athens, known as “the birthplace of democracy,” where guests can witness iconic sites such as the Hellenic Parliament, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the mighty Parthenon atop the Acropolis. Viking also offers guests Privileged Access to the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation’s exhibit on British naval icon Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson and the chance to tour a reconstructed ancient Athenian warship, the Olympias, once the dominant warship on the Mediterranean Sea from the 7^th to 4^th centuries BC.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of several recent accolades for Viking. Just this month Viking was named Best River Cruise Line at the Food and Travel Reader Awards and Best Overall Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Line at the British Cruise Awards, as well as being highly commended for its culinary offering. Earlier in 2019, Viking went straight to the top of the table in a Which? ocean cruise consumer satisfaction survey – the only brand to score five stars for its on-board facilities. Viking is a Which? Recommended Provider for both its river and ocean cruises. In 2018 Viking was awarded Best Boutique Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Operator at The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards and, for the 10th consecutive year, rated Best River Cruise Line at the 2018 British Travel Awards, one of the largest and most influential polls of consumer opinion in the UK.

Have you cruised with Viking or are you booked?, I have only visited a couple of their ships which are just amazing onboard.

I love the Scandinavian design and feel of the onboard, below are a few of my favorite spaces.

For more information or to make a booking go to http://www.vikingcruises.co.uk or call 0800 298 97 00.

VIKING VENUS Factfile

Launch: 2021

Shipyard: Fincantieri (Ancona, Italy)

Building Cost: EUR 340 million USD 400 million

Hull No.: 6283

Class: Viking Ocean

Sister Ships: Viking Star, Sea, Sky, Sun, Orion, Jupiter

Length: 227 m

Width: 28 m

Gross tonnage: 47,842 GT

Passengers: 930

Staterooms & suits: 464

Decks: 9

Cabin Decks: 6

Crew: 465

Cruising speed: 20 knots

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