In this week’s cruise wrap, one cruise line is making strides toward cutting emissions, while another has been on the receiving end of a prestigious French award. Ooh la la!

AIDA Cruises: 94 per cent of ships to run on LNG by 2023

In its latest sustainability report, AIDA Cruises has revealed its progress towards emission-neutral cruising. As early as 2023, 94 per cent of all AIDA guests will be sailing on ships that can be fully operated with low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) or, in port, with green shore power.

After 10 years of research and development, AIDA Cruises achieved a technological quantum leap with the commissioning of AIDAnova (pictured above) on December 12, 2018, putting the world’s first cruise ship that is fully operated by low-emission LNG into service.

By 2023, two more of these innovative ships will take to the oceans. The company is also retrofitting the ships in the existing fleet on an ongoing basis with state-of-the-art green technology.

The use of LNG, shore power from renewable energy sources, the use of modern exhaust gas cleaning systems, the reduction or complete elimination of plastic and disposable products, and the avoidance of food waste on board are key issues that AIDA Cruises is tackling.

The Carnival Corporation – which owns AIDA Cruises – has commissioned eleven LNG-powered ships for four of its cruise brands, which will be put into service by 2025. Like AIDAnova, all of these ships will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg (Germany) and Turku (Finland).

Scenic receives National Order of Merit Medal

The Scenic Group has received the National Order of Merit Medal during a special Bastille Day industry luncheon celebration in Sydney recently.

This prestigious Medal was presented by Patrick Benhamou, regional manager Atout France, and was awarded to Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours in recognition of its long-term commitment in driving tourism to France.

P&O Cruises’ guests help save lives with ‘P&O Pacific Partnership’

A tiny bracelet is helping to save the lives of thousands of newborn babies in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and P&O Cruises’ guests are playing a part through the power of their one-dollar contributions to the ‘P&O Pacific Partnership’.

PNG has one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates with 6,000 babies dying each year before the age of four weeks, in many cases due to hypothermia caused by a sudden fall in body temperature.

This ‘Bebi Kol Kilok’ bracelet – or ‘Baby Cold Clock’ – fitted on a baby’s wrist flashes a warning to parents if the infant’s temperature drops. The warning prompts the parents to use ‘Kangaroo Care’ – close skin-to-skin contact to warm their baby giving the infant a chance to survive and thrive.

The P&O Pacific Partnership is supporting UNICEF to introduce the bracelets in PNG including in Alotau where P&O ships have been visiting since 2013 as P&O led the resurgence of cruising to PNG from Australia.

Windstar announces sailings for Australia and New Zealand in 2020 and 2021

Windstar Cruises is pointing its compass to Australia and New Zealand for the 2020/2021 winter/spring season. The series of sailings will take place on what will be the newly renovated Star Breeze, an elegant, all-suite ship with balcony and ocean views, carrying just 312 guests.

Windstar’s team of travel experts scouted and hand-picked the perfect ports for first-ever immersive itineraries to Australia and New Zealand.

The Australia and New Zealand cruises will be the second region where Windstar launches their award-winning Signature Expeditions.

The program delivers intimate, expedition-style adventures and active enrichment, with kayaks and Zodiacs launched right from the ship in remote bays and hidden harbours. The rugged coastlines of the region will provide the perfect back-drop for the adventurous Signature Expeditions, which are currently available on Windstar’s Alaska itineraries.

Quasar Expeditions named Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line

For the second year in a row, Quasar Expeditions has been named the number one small-ship ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards.

Based on an extensive readers’ survey where individual cruise ships were rated on their cabins, services, itineraries, activities, facilities and value, the results were announced on 10 July, with the awards ceremony to be held in New York City on 16 July.

Luxury Caribbean voyages with SeaDream Yacht Club open for bookings

SeaDream Yacht Club is opening the books on the entire 2021 Caribbean season. Following an extraordinary season in the Mediterranean, SeaDream will return to the Caribbean in November 2021 with 12 unforgettable voyages.

Recognised for its award-winning service and a one-to-one guest to crew ratio, SeaDream sails to several Caribbean ports. With a small ship size, the yachts can access some of the more intimate, less-traveled ports and offer a Caribbean experience unlike anything else.

Carnival celebrates Wine Spectator Award of Excellence win

The wine lists from all of Carnival Cruise Line’s fine dining restaurants, including its Australian ships, have been recognised with the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine.

Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards recognise restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

Join the celebration: Uniworld unveils incredible offer

In celebration of being acknowledged as the best River Cruise Line at Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the second year in a row  – Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is inviting all Australian travellers and cruisers alike to experience the very best of European river cruising  with an incredible promotion to Europe for 2020.

For a limited time only, and with a choice of 22 European voyages available, the river cruise line is offering Australians the chance to tailor their deal with a choice of three amazing offers:

1. Fly free in economy including air taxes and save $1,000 per person.
2. Fly business class from $2,999 per person, including air taxes.
3. Save $2,000 per person for cruises 10 days or less, and save $2,500 per person for cruises 11 days or more, when arranging one’s own flights.

*This offer is available on all stateroom categories and is also combinable with an early payment discount of up to 10 per cent for bookings paid in full within three days.

New adventures on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas to make a summer splash in Europe

Holidaymakers can soon take in Europe’s historic destinations from a bold, new perspective on board the amplified Allure of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean International has revealed the signature feats and innovative experiences coming to the renowned Oasis Class ship as part of a 58-day, $235 million transformation.

Guests will be able to conquer a continent’s worth of adventures and come back for more with Allure’s upcoming line-up of new features, including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, completely redesigned Adventure Ocean and teen spaces, the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and Quantum Class original Music Hall.

Reimagined as the ultimate summer holiday in Europe, Allure will open its season of seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from homeport Barcelona, Spain on 10 May 2020.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announces 2022 world cruise: a 120-night Asia-Pacific circumnavigation

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has opened reservations for its newest ‘Navigate the World – Elements of the Pacific’ voyage, distinct from previous world cruises.

Enabling luxury travellers to appreciate the natural elements that formed some of the world’s most inspiring regions, the “Elements of the Pacific”-themed world cruise embarks in January 2022 on a 120-night, roundtrip journey from San Francisco, California, circumnavigating the inspiring Pacific Rim aboard the award-winning, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Mariner.

It sails to 17 countries and 59 distinct ports of call with 18 overnight stays, while providing access to 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and nearly 300 free shore excursions.

Elements of the Pacific is Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ first world cruise to Asia-Pacific since 2009 and reflects luxury travellers’ increasing interest in experiencing Asian-Pacific destinations.

Discover more of South East Asia with Scenic in 2020/2021

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours is inviting guests to discover the magic of South East Asia with the launch of its 2020/2021 South East Asia brochure.

The new brochure features a program of cruising through the exotic wonders South East Asia, with a highlight being the popular combination tours of the Mekong and Yangtze Rivers, the Mekong and Irrawaddy Rivers, and new for 2020/21, a combined tour of Vietnam and Japan.

Designed to encapsulate the essence of South East Asia, Scenic’s small boutique vessels that cruise the Mekong and Irrawaddy rivers represent a stylish connection between tradition and innovation, catering for just 68 and 44 guests respectively.

With an almost 1:1 staff to guest ratio, Scenic Spirit and Scenic Aura offer a uniquely intimate cruise experience and feature world-class facilities.

A journey through Europe with Scenic on Getaway

Nicky Buckley will cruise Europe’s waterways on the Nine Network’s Getaway with Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, discovering the tastes and delights of some of Europe’s most stunning cities.

The 15 Day Romantic Rhine and Moselle river cruise starts at $7,695* per person with Scenic’s unprecedented offer for guests that book early, to secure free flights to Europe all year, on all cruises of 11 days or longer, in all suites in uncompromising all-inclusive luxury.

Buckley’s European journey commences in Amsterdam where she boards Scenic Jasper and cruises through five countries from the Netherlands to Switzerland along the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

Tune into the Nine Network’s Getaway and follow Buckley’s journeys with two-half hour episodes on Saturday 20 and 27 July 2019.