Venice Cruise Ban Doesn't Apply To Small Ships & Other Cruise News

Venice Cruise Ban & Other News

By Anne Kalosh.

It’s a busy time in the small-ship sector as more cruise lines return to service, exciting new vessels are delivered and fresh destinations emerge.

Speaking of destinations, there’s a dramatic development in Venice.

Big Ships Banned from Venice Lagoon

All but the smallest ships will be barred from sailing through the San Marco basin, the San Marco canal and the Giudecca canal as Italy moves to protect Venice, whose lagoon was declared a national monument.

Starting Aug. 1, the Venice cruise ban applies to ships of greater than 25,000 gross tons with a hull length at waterline in excess of 180 meters/591 feet and air draft of more than 35 meters/115 feet.

Venice cruise ban doesn't apply to small ships

A cruise ship at the passenger terminal towers over Venice. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

All of the vessels in the QuirkyCruise coverage realm (generally, up to 300 passengers) are well under these dimensions.

For example, even the “stretched” Windstar Cruises ships comply, with Star Breeze now measuring 13,000 gross tons and 160 meters/525 feet in length.

Star Breeze isn't included in Venice Cruise ban

The newly stretched Star Breeze is still small enough to dock in downtown Venice. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

This month Italy’s Council of Ministers issued an urgent decree to “protect the environmental, artistic and cultural heritage of Venice,” a UNESCO World Heritage site, which had been at risk of being put into the list of endangered sites.

Italy acted with the Venice cruise ban following years of controversy over big ships and their alleged impact on the lagoon’s ecosystem and the city’s delicate historic buildings. There were also concerns about a Costa Concordia-type grounding, and some people simply didn’t like the aesthetics of ships towering above the roofs and bell towers.

There are plans to create temporary docking sites for the large vessels at nearby Marghera, an industrial zone where the Fincantieri shipyard is located. However, that is not considered a long-term solution.

Big ships are blocked from Venice Lagoon, which has been declared a national monument. * Photo: Vlado Zg_Pixabay

Cruise Restarts

Cruise ships are sailing again, from Tahiti to Norway, Iceland to France, but it’s a gradual restart with a lot of uncertainties — especially as some countries are acting to stem transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Ponant is All Over The Map

French line Ponant resumed operations in mid-June and has more than 50 departures scheduled this summer to Iceland, the Mediterranean and around France.

In the Mediterranean, Ponant’s sleek yachts are popping up from the Italian coast to the Greek Isles, with departures planned until November. A new 13-day “Iconic Treasures of the Adriatic” cruise will depart from Piraeus (the port for Athens) on Aug. 21 exploring the coasts of Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Italy.

Highlights include the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site; a maiden call at Primosten, a medieval fishing village that’s home to one of the world’s biggest Virgin Mary statues’ and the mountain island of Korčula and its medieval city, where Marco Polo was born.

Ponant has resumed sailing in multiple locations, including the Greek Isles. Here, Mykonos. * Photo: ©Julie Gourio/Ponant

Two Ponant vessels, Le Dumont-D’Urville and Le Champlain, will explore Iceland. An eight-day “Icelandic Mosaic” itinerary delves into the western coast and visits five ports, including Grimsey, the northernmost island, as well as Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Westman archipelago. This trip may be extended with a post-cruise excursion to The Golden Circle, the 190-mile driving loop from Reykjavik to the UNESCO World Heritage site Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and the Gullfoss, or Golden Waterfall.

Returning to its roots, Ponant is plying the French coast, with Le Bellot sailing round-trip from Saint-Malo on eight-day itineraries exploring the Breton coast. Highlights include the line’s namesake islands, Ponant Islands, and a stop at Houat, an island that’s home to fewer than 200 inhabitants.

A circumnavigation of Corsica stops at the seaside resort of Saint-Laurent as well as Roccapina Beach with its granite “lion,” a rocky outcrop of pink granite.

Windstar in French Polynesia

With the 148-passenger Wind Spirit now underway in French Polynesia, half of Windstar Cruises’ six-yacht fleet is back in service.

An air and hotel package from Los Angeles International Airport includes a round-trip Air Tahiti Nui flight, pre-cruise accommodations and a post-cruise day room, ground transfers in Tahiti, and a seven-, 10- or 11-night cruise. Now, with air and hotel packages booked during a promotional period ending July 30, passengers also receive a free beverage package (unlimited select spirits, wine, beer, cocktails and minibar items). If travelers don’t imbibe, they can opt for a shipboard credit instead.

Windstar is sailing from Tahiti. Here, passengers join Polynesian dancers. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

Windstar typically serves Tahiti year-round with the motorized sailing yacht Wind Spirit. However, the line’s recently extended and updated Star Breeze, with capacity for 312 passengers, will play a limited engagement there from Sept. 19 to March.

The line is returning to operations in a phased manner, with its six vessels debuting on various dates through November, while requiring passengers be fully vaccinated agains COVID-19, among a host of health and safety precautions including testing, social distancing, masks and high-tech air filtration.

Wind Star is already sailing in Greece and Star Breeze in the Caribbean. Wind Surf is scheduled to begin Mediterranean cruises Aug. 8, Star Legend in Northern Europe on Sept. 4 and Star Pride in the Caribbean Nov. 3.

Wind Star is sailing in Greece. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

SeaDream Yacht Club in Greece & Norway

SeaDream Yacht Club began sailing in Greece in late June with one yacht while the other is offering a mini-season reprise of its Norway voyages that were the first oceangoing cruises to operate in 2020 following the global pandemic shutdown.

Four Norway trips for SeaDream including a pair of 10-day sailings between Oslo and Tromsø are running.

SeaDream is offering a mini-season of cruises in Norway. * Photo: SeaDream Yacht Club

An unusual repositioning voyage, from Oslo to Civitavecchia (Rome), follows. It’s also available in two legs: Oslo-Bordeaux, eight days, and Bordeaux-Civitavecchia, 10 days.

This odyssey features a transit through Denmark’s Little Belt strait and Germany’s Kiel Canal, gives a taste of France in Bordeaux and calls at Vigo, Cádiz and Ibiza in Spain.

European River Cruises

Scenic’s all-inclusive luxury cruises are resuming on the Rhine and Danube rivers, Portugal’s Douro and France’s Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne in Bordeaux. Douro sailings begin July 30, followed by Bordeaux cruises on Aug. 29, the Rhine Aug. 30 and the Danube Sept. 27.

Plus, Christmas market cruises are on in November and December.

Scenic requires full vaccination for COVID-19.

Scenic cruising resuming on Europe rivers

Scenic’s all-inclusive luxury cruises are resuming across a number of itineraries, including France. Here, Avignon. * Photo: Scenic

A special offer for U.S. travelers gives savings of up to $2,400 per couple on 2021 departures for bookings made by Aug. 31. And solo travelers don’t have to pay a single supplement.

U.S. travelers also can take advantage of the company’s flexible booking policy, which allows changes or cancellations up to 60 days before departure. A Risk-Free Platinum Protection Plan, $295, provides a full refund if customers are unable to travel due to health reasons or their plans are impacted by COVID-19, up to 31 days prior to departure.

Emerald Cruises

Scenic sister brand Emerald Cruises also mandates COVID-19 vaccination.

Emerald will be sailing again on the Douro (from Porto) July 31, the Rhine (from Basel, Switzerland) on Aug. 19 and the Danube (from Nuremberg, Germany) on Aug. 30.

In total, the line expects to operate at least 38 European river departures between July and December.

Travelers who book for this 2021 season by Aug. 31, can save up to $2,000 per couple, and get reduced, refundable deposits. Plus, single supplements are waived. New 2021 bookings on these newly announced sailings are fully refundable should Emerald Cruises need to suspend sailing.

Emerald Cruises is resuming European river voyages. * Photo: Emerald Cruises

Poseidon to The North Pole

Poseidon Expeditions has just resumed its signature North Pole icebreaker cruises aboard the nuclear-powered 50 Years of Victory. Due to ongoing travel restrictions, the two July-August treks are carrying almost exclusively Russian nationals.

“While our Sea Spirit and the ships of most Arctic expedition ship operators have been forced by the coronavirus epidemic to sit out the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons, we are gratified to operate two of the originally scheduled departures for 50 Years of Victory this summer,” Poseidon President Nikolay Saveliev said.

“This was not without its challenges, as we had to work closely with Russian authorities and Atomflot (owner and operator of Russia’s icebreaker fleet) to secure all of the usual permits as well as agreed protocols to prevent and control any potential occurrence of COVID-19 on board the 128-passenger ship,” he added.

Poseidon Expeditions’ signature North Pole cruises operate on the nuclear-powered 50 Years of Victory. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Three 2020 programs were postponed, with travelers transferred to 2021 or 2022. Poseidon said this did not diminish demand for a unique trip. The company has hosted more than 4,600 polar adventurers to the top of the world since beginning this itinerary in 2001.

Reservations are now open to all international travelers with the commencement of 50 Years of Victory’s 2022 season, with three planned departures: July 10-22, July 21-Aug.1 and Aug.1-13. Rates start at $30,395 per person with an early booking discount (valid through Oct. 31, 2021). Included are a pre-cruise hotel night in Murmansk, transfers, excursions, helicopter rides, parka and more.

New Expedition Ships

Crystal Endeavor has just embarked on its maiden voyage, a 10-night circumnavigation of Iceland, round-trip Reykjavik.

The 20,200-gross-ton vessel is super-spacious, carrying just 200 passengers in all veranda, butler-serviced suites.

Crystal Endeavor deluxe suite. * Photo: ©Roger Pimenta

Built to Polar Class 6 standard, Crystal Endeavor also has a marina housing 18 Zodiacs, 14 sea kayaks, snorkel gear and a six-guest submersible. Two helicopters are available for operations in select regions. Exploration equipment includes a remotely operated vehicle to view the sea at a 300-meter/almost 1,000-foot depth and a Gimble long-range, mast-mounted camera that can zoom in (90x) to view wildlife and scenery over a mile away.

The camera shoots 4K video that is streamed on the HD TVs throughout the ship in public areas and suites, on the 65-inch screen in Palm Court, the 86-inch screen in the Expedition Lounge and on the Cove’s video wall, with a massive 218-inch center screen and two 145-inch side screens. Camera operator control locations in the Palm Court and the Expedition Lounge enable interaction between the operator and travelers, who can point out sights they’d like to see up close.

Crystal Endeavor’s Expedition Lounge has an 86-inch screen for viewing live, high-definition images from the mast-mounted Gimble camera. * Photo: ©Roger Pimenta

Excursions are included at every port, including sea kayaking in the Westfjords at Patreksfjörður, an Arctic Circle walkabout on Grimsey Island and Zodiac cruising amid mountain landscapes in Djúpivogur.

Hiking is one of the many ways to explore Iceland on a Crystal Endeavor cruise. * Photo: Crystal Expedition Cruises

Expedition leaders and guides for Crystal Endeavor’s series of five Iceland trips include a marine biologist, ornithologist, geologist/glaciologist, historian, two professional photographers, polar expedition specialists and an artist-in-residence.

Vantage Travel’s Ocean Explorer

China’s Merchants Heavy Industry delivered Ocean Explorer, the latest Infinity-class vessel, to SunStone Ships. It is chartered to Boston-based Vantage Travel for year-round, worldwide expedition cruises.

The Infinity ships marry European design, including Ulstein Design & Solutions’ patented X-BOW hull form, with Chinese shipbulding efficiency.

Ocean Explorer sports the distinctive Ulstein X-BOW. * Photo: SunStone Ships

“We are very pleased with the quality and high building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European shipyards,” SunStone CEO Niels-Erik Lund said.

Ocean Explorer is set to embark its first passengers in late August in Poole, England.

The Infinity-class vessels have capacity for up to 200 passengers. The vessels are Ice Class 1A/Polar Class 6 and have dynamic positioning and zero-speed stabilizers. Facilities include a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, boutique, gym and spa.

2019’s Greg Mortimer, which sails for Australia’s Aurora Expeditions, was the first in the series.

Due next, both in 2021, are Ocean Victory, on charter to Albatros Expeditions for Antarctica and Victory Cruise Lines for Alaska, and Sylvia Earle, which will join Greg Mortimer at Aurora Expeditions.

Hanseatic Spirit for Over-18 German-Speakers

Hanseatic Spirit, the third ship in a new 230-passenger luxury expedition series for Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, has arrived.

At 15,650 gross tons and 138 meters/453 feet in length, the vessel follows sisters Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Nature, both delivered in 2019. All are built to Polar Class 6 standard.

A spine-tingling glass balcony above the sea that’s ideal for wildlife-watching on Hanseatic Spirit. * Photo: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Features include glass balconies high above the sea that are ideal for wildlife-watching and electric Zodiacs that allow for quiet exploration. Among Hanseatic Spirit’s three gourmet restaurants is the French specialty venue L’esprit.

Hanseatic Spirit is marketed as an adults-only (18 and older) ship for German-speakers.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator

New North American “luxe adventure” line Atlas Ocean Voyages — an offshoot of Portugal’s Mystic Cruises — is about to introduce World Navigator in Greece Aug. 4. The ship is going to be sailing Greek Isles and Egypt cruises during its inaugural season, as earlier reported here.

Atlas has just shared details about World Navigator’s dining options that feature regionally inspired gourmet fare.

Main restaurant Porto will serve regionally themed dishes nightly, drawing inspiration from destinations such as Greece, Peru, Spain, Italy, Japan and Mexico, while a special “Alma” menu highlights traditional Portuguese specialties.

Available on alternate evenings, the Alma menu has dishes like bacalhau a bras, shredded Portuguese-salted cod with onions, thinly sliced fried potatoes olives and scrambled eggs, from Lisbon; alheira de Mirandela, traditional Portuguese sausage, wilted green radish tops and potatoes, from Mirandela; and the regional dessert torta de Azeitão, egg custard rolled in egg dough, from Setúbal.

World Navigator’s main restaurant is Porto, featuring themed menus nightly, drawing inspiration from destinations, and with a special Alma menu of traditional Portuguese specialties. * Photo: Atlas Ocean Voyages

The intimate 7Aft Grill features “jospering,” a grilling method that’s considered an epic preparation technique in gourmet charcoal gastronomy. Josper-grilled specialties will include black angus filet mignon, New York strip steak, lamb saddle, Dover sole, grilled shrimp and lobster.

Meanwhile, the Dome, World Navigator’s 270-degree, forward-facing observation lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, will offer a light, late lunch for those desiring casual fare after a morning of exploring ashore. Think sandwiches, savory spreads, cheeses and daily vegetarian selections plus cookies, cakes and hot and cold teas and infusions.

Light, late lunch with a view will be available in World Navigator’s The Dome observation lounge. * Rendering: Atlas Ocean Voyages

Paula’s Pantry offers grab-and-go fare with an eco-friendly sensibility such as specialty coffees made with small batch-roasted, organic and Fairtrade-certified CaffèMilano beans, Kusmi teas and fresh juice-based detox offerings; sandwiches, salads, soups and cupcakes. For packaging, single-use plastics are replaced by bamboo straws and cutlery and biodegradable plates and cups.

Atlas has also announced that solo suites, with no single supplement, will be available for booking on World Navigator voyages starting March 22, 2022.

New Douro River Vessels

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises debuted its new Douro vessel São Gabriel at christening festivities in Porto, Portugal. Uniworld President and CEO Ellen Bettridge joined godmother Joke De Bruyn, the line’s director of hotel operations and a veteran employee.

São Gabriel was named at festivities in Porto. Uniworld President and CEO Ellen Bettridge (in white suit) with the godmother, Joke De Bruyn. * Photo: Uniworld

São Gabriel’s top deck consists of all lavishly appointed suites, enhanced with butler service, giving passengers the option to dine at any time they like. Spanish and Portuguese culture and locally sourced cuisine are featured.

A plush suite on Uniworld’s new São Gabriel. * Photo: Uniworld

São Gabriel sports a wine cellar, fitting for a vessel that plies the Douro Valley, known for its wines. * Photo: Uniworld

São Gabriel’s restaurant will feature locally sourced cuisine. * Photo: Uniworld

Before Portugal, Uniworld resumed sailing in Italy, with itineraries in France and Central Europe now resuming.

Azulejos, the distinctive Portuguese ceramic tiles, decorate a bathroom on the new São Gabriel. * Photo: Uniworld

Tauck’s First Douro Program

Tour operator Tauck will be plying the Douro for the first time and also has a new boat, Andorinha, which is going to be named at festivities in the Portuguese village of Barca de Alva in early August.

The scenic Douro Valley is one of this year’s top river cruise destinations. * Photo: Tauck

Company President Jennifer Tombaugh and Chief Culture Officer Sharyn Cannon — each with more than 20 years’ tenure — will share the honors as co-godmothers.

Andorinha accommodates just 84 passengers, versus up to 112 on other lines’ Douro vessels of about the same size. One especially notable feature is a pop-up restaurant that rises from the stern of the Sun (top) Deck on hydraulic lifts. Arthur’s, named for Tauck Chairman Arthur Tauck Jr., the restaurant can be lowered for added clearance when passing under low bridges.

The pop-up restaurant Arthur’s aboard Andorinha offers indoor and outdoor seating. * Photo: Tauck

The new Andorinha will operate two itineraries in 2021: a 12-day journey that bookends a seven-night Douro cruise with two-night hotel stays in Lisbon and Madrid, and an eight-day cruise-only program. An eight-day Tauck Bridges cruise designed for families will debut in 2022.

Besides the Douro, Tauck is reopening river cruises on the Rhone and Seine in France and plans to restart on the Rhine, Main and Danube in early fall as border openings permit. Elsewhere, the tour operator is running select departures of its Iceland and Aegean small-ship ocean cruises and Galápagos Islands trips.

Tauck is resuming all its cruise programs. Here, Durnstein, Austria, on the Danube. * Photo: Tauck

New Itineraries

Scenic Group’s luxury yacht Scenic Eclipse will cruise the Red Sea from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, until early December, operating both on charter, with customized itineraries, and on set routes.

Select sailings from October to December will be open to international travelers to experience the Saudi heritage, hospitality and stunning landscapes, with cruises that highlight nature, culture, historic cities and ancient monuments.

Equipped with an on-board submarine, two helicopters for flightseeing, a fleet of Zodiacs and up to a 20-person specialist discovery team, Scenic Eclipse is ready to explore.

The Scenic Eclipse submarine will get lots of use on new Red Sea cruises from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. * Photo: Scenic

“Saudi Arabia will be one of the hottest tourist destinations in coming years and we’re very glad guests will get to experience it in six-star comfort on board Scenic Eclipse,” Scenic Group Founder and Chairman Glen Moroney said.

Among the scheduled destinations is Yanbu, the diving capital of Saudi Arabia. Yanbu features the Iona wreck, a well-preserved British merchant steamer that sank in 1915. It can explored by diving, snorkeling or submarine.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, Scenic Eclipse will have the possibility of visiting Aqaba, Jordan, and Port Ghalib Marina, a short distance from Luxor in Egypt.

Hurtigruten Expands into The Galápagos

Hurtigruten Expeditions, known for its polar operations, is expanding into the Galápagos through a long-term partnership with Ecuador’s Metropolitan Touring, which pioneered expedition cruises in the archipelago almost 70 years ago.

Travelers will explore on board the soon-to-be fully upgraded 90-passenger Santa Cruz II. Nine-day adventures that pair a six-day cruise with pre- and post-cruise packages are planned to start in January 2022. A four-day pre-cruise program to Machu Picchu in Peru is available as an add-on.

Santa Cruz II in the Galapagos for Hurtigruten

Santa Cruz II will be fully upgraded before beginning Galápagos cruises for Hurtigruten Expeditions. * Photo: Hurtigruten Expeditions

Cruise highlights include exploring a giant tortoise breeding center, getting close to sea lions and land iguanas, bird-watching, kayaking and snorkeling.

All Hurtigruten Galápagos cruises will be carbon neutral. Passengers will contribute directly to the protection of biodiverse forests in northwestern Ecuador, where the Chocó Adino de Pichincha was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018.

AmaWaterways & Ancestry

AmaWaterways partnered with Ancestry, giving travelers the opportunity to discover details about their family history during a river cruise. The Ancestry Experience package allows personalization through pre-cruise, private consultation and family history research, on-board presentations and curated excursions accompanied by an expert genealogist.

The first cruise, “Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience,” will depart July 30, 2022, aboard the 156-passenger AmaStella. Travelers will embark in Amsterdam for a seven-night Rhine cruise to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Each traveler will be matched with an expert from AncestryProGenealogists, Ancestry’s professional research division, who’ll conduct a one-hour welcome call to discuss aspects of their family that are of particular interest. From there, the genealogist will conduct a five-hour consultation and research phase delving into family background and identifying places of interest that the traveler may visit or pass by during their cruise.

A new partnership between AmaWaterways and Ancestry will highlight family history. * Photo: AmaWaterways

On board, a genealogist will offer presentations to provide insight into what life was like for guests’ ancestors and highlight the types of records that are available for them to learn more.

Each traveler will also receive a private consultation with the genealogist to review their own family tree. And they’ll have the opportunity to take an Ancestry-specific group excursion with the genealogist. In certain cases, travelers can delve deeper with the optional addition of an ancestral home visit accompanied by a genealogist.

Fares for the July 30, 2022 “Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience” start at $5,399, plus airfare and port charges. A four-night, post-river cruise land package is also available in Switzerland, including two nights in Zurich and two nights in Lucerne.