CRUISE NEWS

News from the oceans

ALL IN FLOW - Vive la France, viva Italia!

Nomen est omen: With the VIVA Boutique product line, Viva Cruises will be sending two floating boutique hotels with luxurious furnishings and personalized service onto the water from next year. Both ships offer space for around 100 guests and have spacious suites with up to 30m2 of living space. Three restaurants - from fine dining to typical local cuisine - and a comprehensive all-inclusive concept with exquisite wines, gourmet menus, breakfast in the suite and free laundry service are set to redefine river cruising. The VIVA BEYOND, which will sail from Paris along the Seine towards Normandy from May 2026, will be followed in May 2027 by the VIVA UNIQUE with its home port of Venice. From there, she will sail in the lagoon and on the Po and make stopovers in Bologna and Cremona, among other places. New and innovative: special "experiences" in the form of curated excursions or a visit to a Michelin-starred restaurant, which are also included in the cruise price.

www.vivacruises.com

Amazing Grace

Long known in the USA as the ultimate in luxury cruising, Crystal Cruises is still considered more of an insider tip for an audience that loves cruising with a cosmopolitan flair. This is set to change with the first new build in 25 years. Under the aegis of the Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group, the Crystal Grace , a new ship that will complement the fleet currently consisting of the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony, is being built by May 2028. What we are already looking forward to: exciting routings, stylish ambience, excellent cuisine (the Nobu and Beefbar restaurants are already represented on board both ships with floating branches) and legendary Crystal service with a personal service ratio of almost 1:1 between guests and crew. For those who can hardly wait: Bookings start in spring 2026.

www.crystalcruises.com

From the Arctic to the Antarctic

World premiere at Seabourn : From August 17 to November 19, 2027, the "Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition" on board the Seabourn Venture, which was specially designed for expedition travel and will enter service in 2021, will cover more than 20,500 nautical miles from the far north to the far south. The 94-day voyage includes a total of 14 countries - and highlights such as Greenland, the Northwest Passage, South Georgia and the rarely visited Ellesmere Island. Between the poles, guests also have the opportunity to get to know tropical destinations in the Caribbean or along the entire east coast of South America - a fascinating contrast between ice and equator! A team of 23 experts, consisting of scientists, nature guides and historians, will report on the local ecology and culture along the way. Events such as the legendary Polar Plunge or Caviar on the Ice parties ensure luxury & lifestyle à la Seabourn.

www.seabourn.com

Icon at sea

With the Scenic Ikon , the Australian Scenic Group is adding another Discovery yacht to its ultra-luxury fleet from April 2028. At 205 m in length, the Scenic Ikon combines visionary design with the latest technology and maximum comfort. Accommodation is provided in 135 suites measuring up to 250 m2 spread over five decks. The maximum 270 guests on board can also look forward to 15 different gourmet venues or a 1,700 m2 spa. Thanks to Polar Code 6 certification, an ice-strengthened hull and state-of-the-art equipment - two Airbus helicopters (!) and a Triton submarine (!!) - the new flagship is ready for action even in the most remote regions. The maiden voyage from Venice (departure on April 4, 2028) is already fully booked - but 110 further landings in 21 countries are also on the program for the premiere season until March 2029 - including Egypt, Senegal, Cape Verde, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean fjords.

www.scenic.eu