International Cruise News For The Time Period of October 12 to October 19,2020.

Below are the mini-cruise news stories on ships sailing from Ports beyond New York. Stories below include new ship construction progress, ship sales, Itinerary changes, coronavirus updates, port of call news and more.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Plans Return to Service

October 17, 2020 - Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Plans Return to Service in December. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line operates 2 Day cruises to Grand Bahamas Island from West Palm Beach Florida. The Cruise Line is expected to sail it's first cruise on-board the Grand Classica. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is planning on using their larger ship - the Grand Classica, since the ship provides more deck space, larger facilities and allows for better social distancing. The Grand Classica will be sailing at 60% capacity.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is also planning to resume cruises to Nassau on board the Grand Celebration in early 2021.

AIDA Cruises First Sailing

October 17,2020 - AIDAblu departed from Civitavecchia for her first cruise following the pandemic.

The seven-day itinerary will visit exclusively Italian ports, calling at Naples, Palermo, Catania, La Spezia and with an overnight in Civitavecchia/Rome. Cruises are planned through the end of November

Hurtigruten Cancel Winter 2020 - 2021 Antarctica Program

October 16, 2020 - Norwegian exploration cruise operator, Hurtigruten Cancel Winter 2020 - 2021 Antarctica Program. The cancellations are based on the closure of ports, challenges of operating in the region and flight cancellations required to transport passengers to the ship.

Hurtigrigruten is hoping to return to the region in November 2021.

Milestone Achieved In The Construction Of the American Melody.

October 16, 2020 - The American Melody, the fourth new ship in American Cruise Lines’ modern riverboat series is on schedule for delivery to the Mississippi River next year.

American Melody is nearing completion and was recently moved from a hull fabrication building to the launch ways earlier this week at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, where it will be joined to the aft section and launched into the Wicomico River.

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish To Enter Service Summer 2022

October 15, 2020 - Disney Cruise Line has announced the Disney Wish will debut later than expected, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and confirming the ship will enter service in summer 2022 due to pandemic-related delays. The 144.000 ton Disney Wish will be slightly larger than the current Disney fleet. The 1,250 stateroom ship will be fueled by liquefied natural gas and is currently under construction at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany.

Delivery of the ship was originally planned for early 2022 but has been pushed our approximately 6 months.

P&O Australia Has Announced the Sale of the Pacific Aria

October 13, 2020 - P&O Australia has announced the sale of the Pacific Aria. The Pacific Aria (ex Ryndam - Holland America) was supposed to be sold to Cruise and Maritime Voyages but when they went into administration the ship was left in limbo. Having sailed from Australia to Cyprus, the ship was been sitting idle awaiting her future. It has been rumored that the Pacific Aria has been sold to Seajets who has purchased 2 other ex Holland America Statendam Class vessels - the Maasdam and Veendam. Seajet has NOT announced future plans for the ships - Will they operate the ships? Charter them? or wait until the demand increases and sell them at a profit.

Mystic Cruise Line Has Purchased The Vasco de Gamma

October 13, 2020 - It has been confirmed that Mystic Cruises has purchased Cruise and Maritime Voyages 1,258 passenger, Vasco Da Gama. The Vasco de Gamma was one of the more desirable ships of the CMV fleet due to her young age, pristine condition and loyal following. Mystic Cruise Lines has not released the purchase price for the ship ot their initial plans for the ship. Some sources believe the ship may be used for their partner brand Nicko Cruises.

The Vasco de Gamma was originally built as the Statendam for Holland America Line in 1993. The Statendam sailed for Holland America until 2015 when she was sold to the P&O Australia fleet and renamed the Pacific Eden. Sold to CMV in 2019, she was renamed the Vasco de Gama, she was utilized by Germany's Transocean Tour catering the German speaking passengers. Due to COVID CMV went into administration in the summer of 2020 and ceased operations. The company owned fleet is being sold at auction. The Vasco de Gamma was originally built as the Statendam for Holland America Line in 1993. The Statendam sailed for Holland America until 2015 when she was sold to the P&O Australia fleet. Sold to CMV in 2019 and renamed the Vasco de Gama. She was utilized by Germany's Transocean Tour catering the German speaking passengers. Due to COVID CMV went into administration in the summer of 2020 and ceased operations. The company owned fleet is being sold at auction.

New Celebrity Apex Makes Her Way To The Bahamas

October 13, 2020 -Celebrity Cruises new Celebrity Apex has arrived in North America following her transatlantic voyage from Europe to the US. The Celebrity Apex was just delivered earlier this year and has also been sitting idle in Europe waiting for cruising to resume. Since her planned European season (which never happened) is now over, the ship has repositioned to Florida for her winter season of cruising. After competing her transatlantic passage without passengers, the Celebrity Apex sat idle with her sister ships, including the Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Summit. The Celebrity Apex was greeted and saluted by her sister ships with a display of shooting water from fire fighting equipment and ship horns.

The Celebrity Apex is expected to sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean for the winter and early spring 2021.

Carnival Cancels Cruises For November

Carnival Cruise Line announced it is canceling the remaining cruises for the six total ships operating from PortMiami and Port Canaveral for November 2020.

P&O Cruises Takes Delivery Of The New Iona

On October 12, 2020 P&O Cruises took delivery of their newest ship IONA from Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg Germany. The 5,200 passenger ship is LNG-Fuel powered and weighs in at 185,000 ton. The Iona will be the largest ship to especially built for the UK Market. Other features include 17 passenger decks, eight specialty restaurants, 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools (including an infinity) and 16 whirlpools.

Expected to sail her maiden season from Northern Europe departing from Southampton and sailing to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands.

Japan's Mitsui OSK Passenger Line Hoping to Resume Service in November 2020

On October 12, 2020 - One ship, Japanese cruise ship operator, Mitsui OSK Passenger Line, is hoping to start cruising again in November, 2020. After conducting a handful of test cruises, the cruise line is hoping to sail a series of cruises focusing on Japanese ports. The itineraries are expected to be 1, 2 and 3 nights in duration, visiting Japanese Coastal Ports. There are 37 cruises planned between the November 2020 start to August 2021. The cruise line's ship, Nippon Maru, will have all of the preventative protocols in place including screening procedures and reduced capacity to prevent the spread / introduction of the COVID virus. The Nippon Maru is expected to sail at 50-60% capacity.

Victory Cruise Line To Offer Winter 2021 Mexican Program

Victory Cruise Lines has announced it's first Yucatán’s Mayan Cruise Tour, starting Novermber thru December 2021. The 11-day Mexican Program will depart from Cancun and visit Provide guests with excursions around the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, the exuberant Campeche, and teach guests about “the secrets of past civilizations.”

The first sailing is expected November 15, 2021 on-board Victory Cruise Line's small ship, United States registered, Victory II.

Victory Cruise Lines' is expected to resume operation in April, 2020.

   

 

Copyright NYCRUISINFO.com (c) 2020