Beginning spring 2014, Norwegian Getaway will officially make Miami, Fla., its home port. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise brand to sail from Miami. Now under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Getaway will be 144,000 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in spring 2014. Norwegian will announce the ship’s inaugural itineraries and on-sale dates later this year. Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will begin sailing from its year-round home port of New York City in May 2013.
Crystal Cruises is increasing its excursions to explore Europe’s Jewish heritage this year. A predecessor to the line’s new Christian heritage tours, the program gives Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony travelers a chance to learn firsthand about Jewish culture and history. The outings visit neighborhoods, museums, monuments, synagogues, and other sites in or near Palamos, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamburg, Rome, Odessa, St. Petersburg and Israel.
MSC Divina successfully completed its initial sea trials Tuesday, April 17, 2012, returning to the Louis Joubert dock after three days on the open seas off the coast of Brittany, France. The ship performed to the full satisfaction of the MSC Cruises team. The trials involved approximately 360 people and over 60 separate tests, covering everything from speed and manageability to sound levels and vibration.
Compagnie du Ponant is repeating its Boston-Montreal route this fall, offering guests 11-day itineraries boasting 11 ports of call, nine of which are in Canada. The mega-yacht Le Boréal sails from Boston to Montreal on Sept. 14, with the reverse itinerary departing Montreal Sept. 24. Fares currently range from $4,648 to $13,060 per person, double. These fares represent a 20 percent savings from brochure rates thanks to the Ponant Bonus program; the further in advance a cruise is booked, the greater the savings.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises christened the newest addition to its fleet, the Columbus 2, off Mallorca. After a short conversion was completed in Barcelona this month, the Columbus 2 will sail its first cruise from Mallorca to Malta this week. Originally known as Oceania Cruises' Insignia, Oceania chartered the ship to Hapag-Lloyd for a two-year period between now and spring 2014. Among the conversion efforts was the addition of a kids and teens area (as Insignia had no children's facilities), so the line can attract families onboard.