Holland America Line is celebrating its 150th anniversary with its own brand of beer, and Hurtigruten is launching two new routes to celebrate the 130th anniversary of mail routes. Cruise guests can also look forward to free shore programs, early booking discounts, a Christmas spirit and what is probably the world’s largest and craziest megaliner.
Oceania Cruises: Complimentary Shore Programs
Oceania Cruises is offering complimentary pre- and post-ship shore programs on a variety of 2023 cruises. The Free Land Program is valid for bookings made by January 8 for 15 voyages to Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. It includes day and multi-day tours of up to three nights that offer exclusive access to cultural treasures and natural wonders, hotel transfers, luggage transport and accommodation in premium hotels.
For example, the Ancient Incas & Pristine Paracas program is available as an overland excursion on Insignia’s Pacific Panorama Cruise starting January 15 on a 24-day voyage from San Francisco to Santiago, Chile. Stops on the two-day tour include the ruins of the 15th-century coastal community of Tambo Colorado, the Ballestas Islands, and Paracas National Reserve in Peru. (www.oceaniacruises.com)
Holland America Line: 150th Anniversary Extras
To mark its 150th anniversary, Holland America Line will be serving the limited HAL Pils beer in all bars and lounges throughout the fleet starting in January. Six-packs of beer, made in partnership with Seattle-based Pike Brewing, are also available in onboard shops.
Through November 15, guests booking 2023 and 2024 cruises will receive up to $150 onboard credit, a complimentary shore excursion on Alaska’s landmarked narrow-gauge White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad, and a half-price discount Down payment.
The 150th Anniversary Offer is combinable with Holland America Line’s Have It All Premium Package, which includes shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage package and Wi-Fi. (hollandamerica.com)
Aida Cruises: discounts for early booking
Passengers who book their trip on board an Aida ship up to three months before the start of the trip in the premium tariff receive an early bird discount of up to 600 euros or an early bird plus discount of up to 900 euros per person on the travel price.
In 2024, the “Aidasol” is scheduled to go on a world tour: 41 ports, 17 countries and four continents are on the program
Source: pa/dpa/AIDA Cruises/Felix Gänsicke
Anyone who missed the 117-day world trip of the “Aidamar”, which started in Hamburg at the end of October, can follow it from the perspective of world travel reporter Sarah on the Aida blog or start one year later: From October 23, 2024 to November 17, 2024 February 2025, the “Aidasol” is heading for 41 ports, 17 countries and four continents, including two equatorial crossings. (aida.de; blog: aida.de/kreuzfahrt/zielen/weltreise/weltreiseblog.40806.html)
Hurtigruten: Excursions on mail boat routes
To mark the 130th anniversary of its mail routes, Hurtigruten has launched two new voyages that are combined with an excursion program for the first time. As a complement to the traditional “Coastal Express” along 34 municipalities along the Norwegian coast, the new routes “Svalbard Express” and “North Cape Express” with the refurbished “MS Trollfjord” offer half-day and full-day port calls.
In total, guests can choose from 63 excursions, including picnic and culinary excursions for the first time. The Svalbard Express route will be used for the first time on June 3rd and the “North Cape Express” route on September 26th. Examples of onboard experiences on both new routes include cooking classes and demonstrations in the Food Center, wine, beer, champagne and whiskey tastings, tasting menus in the à la carte restaurant, afternoon tea and a take-away service.
The Hurtigruten mail ship “MS Trollfjord” will be renovated in the first half of 2023 and will then sail the Svalbard and North Cape lines
Source: pa/dpa/Hurtigruten Norway/—
The new route “Svalbard Express” includes Lofoten, Vesterålen and the North Cape and heads north to Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen, the northernmost inhabited city in the world. The journey lasts 14 days, but it can be shortened to seven days from or to Svalbard.
The one-way package includes two nights’ hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen, a wilderness evening at Camp Barentz and a trip on the hybrid-electric catamaran “MS Bard”. The 13-day North Cape Express route takes guests to Oslo, the southernmost and northernmost points of the country. It includes new ports in southern Norway and a trip through the Hardangerfjord. (hurtigruten.com)
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: To the Antarctic for the anniversary
On November 8, Thilo Natke heralded Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Antarctic season with the “Hanseatic Nature”, which will be followed in December by the identical sister ships, “Hanesatic Inspiration” and “Hanseatic Spirit”. In February, the “Nature” captain is celebrating his 30th anniversary on the bridge of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition ships and his 100th Antarctic expedition.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ “Hanseatic Nature” will be joined by two sister ships this winter in the Antarctic
Quelle: pa/dpa/Hapag-Lloyd Cruises/—
Anyone who would like to experience the ice world of the penguins with the experienced captain has the opportunity to do so on the 24-day trip “100 Years of Expedition: Anniversary Trip with Captain Thilo Natke” from February 3rd to 27th. It runs from Ushuaia to Puerto Montt. (hl-cruises.de)
TUI Cruises: Christmas on the cruise ship
On board the festively decorated Mein-Schiff fleet, passengers can look forward to advent calendars, a family rally, a Christmas cinema and handicrafts during the Christmas season. The little guests can listen to Christmas stories, and at the Christmas market on the pool deck, stalls invite you to feast and stroll.
There are also pastries and winter ice cream flavors from Bruno Gelato. One of the X-mas trips is the seven-day cruise “Dubai with Sir Bani Yasl” with the “Mein Schiff 6” from/to Dubai from December 19th to 26th. (meinschiff.com)
Royal Caribbean: The craziest ship in the world
In January 2024, the “Icon of the Seas”, with a length of 365 meters and space for 8400 people, is the largest and most unusual cruise ship in the world. The behemoth is split into eight neighborhoods, including five new ones, like Thrill Island, where guests will test their limits at the largest water park at sea, the tallest drop slide at sea, or the first family rafting slides at sea.
In between, Chill Island promises relaxation in four pools for every mood. Surfside is designed for young families and with The Hideaway, the first floating infinity pool at sea, including a multi-level sun terrace with whirlpools, seating and a bar, invites you to chill out in a beach club atmosphere.
On the roof of the “Icon” the Aqua Dome awaits the guests – during the day a quiet oasis with a waterfall, and at night a vibrant place with restaurants, bars and big shows in the AquaTheater. Icon of the Seas will sail the western and eastern Caribbean from Miami throughout 2024. Each itinerary includes a stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas. (royalcaribbean.com)