New ships are in the news this week. Viking christened two new 82-passenger Nile River ships in Luxor, Egypt. Edward Herbert served as Viking Hathor's ceremonial godfather. His great-great-grandfather, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, was Howard Carter’s benefactor and co-explorer. That partnership ultimately resulted in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb near Luxor more than a century ago. Separately, Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, served as ceremonial godfather for Viking Sobek.
Post-christening, a private VIP dinner event for travel industry, government and media guests was hosted at the nearby Temple of Karnak. Guests listened to live harp music and enjoyed an elegant dinner amid the dramatically lighted ancient columns and monuments. Sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor attended and also sailed aboard Viking Sobek, so look for an upcoming article with our firsthand insight about that new Nile vessel.
American Cruise Lines (ACL) signed contracts with Chesapeake Shipbuilding for four more new small ships for the U.S. cruise market. That brings the line’s total orderbook with Chesapeake to 10 ships over the next three years. The first of those, American Legend, will start service on November 25. Separately, AmaWaterways has named Jenn Lee, president of Vacation Planners, as godmother of AmaSintra, according to Seatrade Cruise News. That ship will become the line’s newest Douro River vessel when christened on April 17, 2025.
Crystal Cruises has exercised its option for a third 690-passenger ship with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with delivery tentatively set for 2032. The company had previously ordered two of the same all-suite ships and provided for this option within its memorandum of agreement with Fincantieri in June 2024. Every suite will have a private veranda, and the vessels will also have solo-occupancy suites.
More Cruise News
Holland America Line has rerouted Volendam’s 2026 Grand World Voyage to avoid the Red Sea. The changes impact the voyage’s last 54 days. Now, guests will alternatively explore eastern and southeastern Asia, Central America (including a Panama Canal transit), and destinations in the U.S.
HX, formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, has launched a new loyalty program for guests. It has two tiers—one for those about to sail, another for those who have sailed more than three nights. Also, MSC Cruises has enhanced its loyalty program and introduced a new tier.
On the luxury cruise front, Luxury Travel Advisor reports that Seabourn has unveiled new expedition cruises for 2026-2027 and that Celestia, a handcrafted 148-foot phinisi yacht that offers journeys through Indonesia, will offer three themed itineraries starting January 1, 2025.
Designed to immerse travel advisors in the world of river cruising, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is launching its virtual “River Cruise Week” on November 18-22, 2024. During live educational sessions and interactive Q&A sessions with river cruise experts, seven participating river lines will provide advisors—watching from the comfort of their homes or offices—with insight about itineraries, river vessels and key selling points.
Operational Update
Royal Caribbean International’s 3,300-passenger Explorer of the Seas was sailing from Barcelona, Spain, to Miami, FL, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean last week when it was unexpectedly hit with an unexpected, near-hurricane-force wind. That resulted in a massive wave that hit the ship—resulting in significant tilting. Items such as plates and cutlery in the dining room were sent flying and several crew members and passengers were injured. According to USA Today, the ship returned to Las Palmas, Spain for a medical disembarkation of one injured guest. The ship is now continuing its voyage to Miami.
A third Regal Princess voyage from Galveston, TX—one slated for November 10, 2024—was canceled by Princess Cruises, says Cruise Industry News. The line will provide a full refund to guests as well as a 50-percent future cruise credit. Two previous voyages were cancelled as Princess addressed an issue with one of the ship’s power generators. But soon after those repairs were successfully completed, and “as the ship was preparing for the next sailing, a second generator experienced a technical failure,” the line said in a statement. Repairs are under way.
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