This Week in Cruise: New in Expedition, River Cruises

It’s been a busy week for expedition and river cruises.

This week Celebrity Cruises’ Galapagos-based Celebrity Xpedition wrapped a seven-day drydock in Panama that upgraded the vessel to bring it more in line with the upcoming Celebrity Flora. Enhancements to the 100-guest mega-yacht, which returned to service September 23, include redecorated staterooms, lounges and restaurants, as well as improved onboard Wi-Fi.

Also this week Scenic released new details on its first Discovery Yacht, the Scenic Eclipse, which is set to launch in January. This week Scenic released a first look at the ship’s onboard submarine, the Scenic Neptune U Boat Worx Cruise Submarine 7. Capable of diving to depths of up to 984 feet, the submarine has been custom-built for marine sightseeing. Strategically placed components and the use of an ultra-clear acrylic hull will provide guests with unobstructed views of the surrounding underwater landscape and wildlife. The submarine is also designed to meet international noise standards, and to provide maximum headroom and legroom while keeping its overall weight and size to a minimum. There is also internal climate control and a surround sound music system.

Finally, this week AmaWaterways released new details on the eco-friendly features for its newest river cruise ship, the AmaMagna, in honor of World Rivers Day on September 29. According to the river cruise line, the AmaMagna operates on a 10-engine system that allows it to use less fuel and produce less noise. Even though the ship is twice the width of traditional cruise ships, AmaWaterways said, this engine configuration can reduce fuel consumption by 20 to 25 percent, depending on river conditions.

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