This week the cruise industry was looking ahead to 2016 with the announcement of new ships and new destinations.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will be headed to India in January 2016 aboard its newest ship, the all-suite Ganges Voyager II. The new itinerary, “India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges,” will be a 13-day voyage that includes seven nights onboard the Ganges Voyager II and five nights onshore at three Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
During the itinerary guests will visit New Delhi, the Taj Mahal (once at sunset and once at sunrise), Jaipur’s sprawling City Palace, Mother Theresa’s tomb and former home in Kolkata, a Verdic temple in Mayapur, and five UNESCO sites.
In winter 2016 and spring 2017, Holland America Line's newest ship, the Koningsdam, will homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The ship will sail a series of Caribbean voyages and one cruise to the Bahamas from November 2016 through March 2017. Koningsdam’s Caribbean itineraries will be available for booking in late spring. All voyages will be roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
Princess Cruises has announced its lineup of 2016 Japan itineraries with a focus on UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cultural festivals.
The new itineraries, from Tokyo and Kobe, will circumnavigate the country and include two new ports of call on the island of Kyushu, along with visits to Korea, Taiwan and Russia. In addition, new Land and Sea Vacation packages will take travelers into Kyoto and Tokyo. The line's Japan itineraries will be offered onboard the Diamond Princess.
Star Clippers will be adding new ports for its 2016 season in the Mediterranean.
Itineraries range from three to 18 nights and call at ports such as Istanbul, some of the smallest Greek Islands and the Adriatic and the Balearics. New ports for Star Clippers include Notteri in Sardinia, known for its beautiful beaches; Trapani, Porto Empedolce and Messina in Sicily; Lerici on the Tuscan coast; the historic Italian city of Trieste; Bastia in Corsica; Rabac on the Istrian peninsula and the island of Cres in Croatia; and Roquetas de Mar in Spain.
Blount Small Ship Adventures, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016, will offer 10 itineraries for the season.
The sailings, to run January to October, will visit Caribbean, Canadian and domestic destinations.
Finally, legendary oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau will host four sailings aboard Paul Gaugin Cruises’ ms Paul Gaugin in 2016.
During the voyages, Cousteau will accompany guests on several dives and give a lecture series that includes videos of his ocean adventures.
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