Small-Ship Cruise News
By Anne Kalosh
Here’s a roundup of some recent happenings in small-ship cruising.
First, a Pair of Expeditions Ships is Named
Two notable expedition ships, National Geographic Resolution and SH Minerva, were officially named in festivities at opposite ends of the globe — one in Antarctica and one in Finland.
Both were built to a high Polar Class 5 standard, enabling year-round operation in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions.
National Geographic Resolution
In Antarctica, Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Resolution nudged into fast ice, and passengers stepped “ashore” to cheer Capt. Heidi Norling, Lindblad’s first woman captain, as she christened the vessel.
Lindblad Expeditions’ first woman captain, Heidi Norling, was the godmother. She’s applauded by Capt. Martin Graser and crew. * Photo: Lindblad Expeditions
Standing on an upper deck, Norling flung a bottle of Champagne tied to a rope over the side, where it smashed on the hull.
Following remarks from Capt, Martin Graser, everyone celebrated with Champagne on ice while Adélie and gentoo penguins watched close by.
National Geographic Resolution Christening in Antarctica. Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins for Lindblad Expeditions
It was the second ship naming in Antarctica following Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen in 2019.
But Lindblad claimed the first naming of a ship in fast ice on the White Continent.
The 126-passenger National Geographic Resolution is Lindblad’s second polar new build and the company’s second vessel to enter service in 2021 following sister National Geographic Endurance, also in Antarctica for the season.
National Geographic Resolution alongside sister National Geographic Endurance at Ushuaia, Argentina. * Photo: Sven Lindblad
SH Minerva debuts in Finland
And far away in Finland, SH Minerva, the first 152-passenger new build for the revived Swan Hellenic brand, was named during a small private ceremony at Helsinki Shipyard.
SH Minerva is the first ship for the newly revived Swan Hellenic brand. * Photo: Swan Hellenic
Johanna Mäkelä, Finland’s first professor of food culture and wife of Helsinki City Mayor Juhana Vartiainen, served as the godmother.
The festivities followed global supply chain disruptions and recent spiking COVID-19 cases in Finland, which led Swan Hellenic to delay the start of SH Minerva’s inaugural season by canceling its first two cruises.
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito congratulated the shipyard for their “impeccable work in difficult circumstances and the tight safety measures which have kept SH Minerva a safe environment at all times.”
He called the vessel’s completion after only 26 months from the signing of the contract a “remarkable achievement.”
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito congratulated Helsinki Shipyard for their “impeccable work in difficult circumstance. * Photo: Swan Hellenic
Antarctica Cruising Resumes
Though things were still iffy just a couple months ago, both Chile and Argentina have opened their borders to international travel, enabling a 2021/22 Antarctica season.
Things have just just gotten under way, and it’s remarkable how many of the Antarctica-bound expedition vessels are brand new.
They include Crystal’s first dedicated expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor, sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, and Lindblad Expeditions’ new sister vessels National Geographic Resolution and National Geographic Endurance (as well as stalwart National Geographic Explorer), all but one cruise departing from Ushuaia.
Crystal Endeavor captains Niklas Peterstam, left, and Thomas Larsen, on the bridge at Ushuaia. * Photo: Crystal Expedition Cruises
Further new vessels in Antarctica include Quark Expeditions’ first-owned new build, Ultramarine; Ponant’s hybrid, LNG-powered Le Commandant Charcot; and Atlas Ocean Voyages’ first ship, the new World Navigator.
The 200-pax World Navigator. * Photo: Atlas Ocean Voyages
Plus, there are many returning ships, including those of Hurtigruten, Poseidon Expeditions’ Sea Spirit and Oceanwide Expeditions’ Plancius and Hondius.
Silversea is back with Silver Explorer from Puerto Williams, Chile, and Silver Cloud from Punta Arenas, Chile. (But not Silver Wind, as planned. It’s undergoing conversion into an ice-class ship and will now debut in May in Europe.)
Silversea’s Conrad Combrink, left, with Patricio Fernández Alarcón, the mayor of Puerto Williams, Chile, one of Silversea’s Antarctica homeports this season. * Photo: Silversea
Aurora Expeditions plans to restart Antarctica service on Greg Mortimer in January from Punta Arenas.
RELATED: QuirkyCruise Contributor Peter Knego reviews the brand-new World Navigator on its maiden voyage.
All-Inclusive Pricing New At Windstar
Windstar Cruises became the latest line to provide an all-inclusive pricing option.
This bundles unlimited wine, beer and cocktails, Wi-Fi and gratuities into Windstar’s fares.
The à la carte pricing option remains.
“We want our guests to have the choice based on their preference, what they need on board and their general vacation philosophy,” Windstar President Chris Prelog said.
“We want our guests to have the choice based on their preference,” Windstar President Chris Prelog said of the two pricing options. * Photo: Windstar Cruises
Sea Cloud Cancels Caribbean Season
In other small ship cruise news, Sea Cloud Cruises canceled this winter’s Caribbean program for two of its vessels — Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II — for the second year in a row, citing pandemic concerns.
Sea Cloud Cruises is skipping the Caribbean for the second year running. * Photo: Sea Cloud Cruises
“The rising incidence figures and increasing vaccination breakthroughs worldwide are a serious risk to the Caribbean countries,” a company statement said. “This has increasingly led to a more restrictive approach to cruise guests, also in the context of slow vaccination coverage locally in the islands. Access to reliable, necessary health care cannot be guaranteed for guests and crew in case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases on board our vessels in the Caribbean.”
Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II will not be redeployed but are sitting out the season.
Inaugurated in September, the new Sea Cloud Spirit continues its winter season in the Canary Islands.
RELATED: Peter Knego shares his wonderful video tribute to the Sea Cloud.
Adventures By Disney Expands to The Arctic
Adventures by Disney is expanding its expedition offering to the Arctic in 2023, with nine-night Svalbard voyages from Oslo, Norway, in partnership with Ponant.
Two departures are planned, June 19 and July 10, 2023.
The trips, on Ponant’s 264-passenger Le Boréal, are bookended with overnights at the Grand Hotel Oslo. Travelers fly to Longyearbyen to embark the ship and fly back to Oslo after the cruise.
Ponant’s Le Boréal will operate Adventures by Disney’s first Arctic expedition cruises. * Photo: Ponant
Naturalists and Disney-trained Adventure Guides will accompany these sailings designed for the whole family.
Activities will include Zodiac, glacier and hiking adventures, whale-watching and visits to small settlements like Smeerenburg and Ny-Ålesund. Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde will lead sketching sessions on one of the cruises.
Fares for adults start at $11,999 and for children (age 8 minimum), at $10,799 and include the Oslo-Longyearbyen flights.
Also in 2023, Adventures by Disney travelers will have more opportunities to explore Antarctica and the Galápagos with added sailings to both destinations.
First Look at Uniworld’s Sphinx
Another exciting piece of small ship cruise news, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ newest vessel, the 84-passenger Sphinx, is now plying the Nile River.
Uniworld’s Sphinx began sailing the Nile in late September. * Photo: Uniworld
The boutique vessel was richly decorated by Egyptian artisans using local fabrics and hand-carved furnishings, and the menus feature traditional dishes.
All staterooms and suites have French balconies.
The Sphinx offers beautifully appointed river-view accommodations, all with French balconies. * Photo: Uniworld
Sphinx offers two gourmet dining venues, including an an alfresco experience on the upper deck, a swimming pool, massage room and 42 suites.
Meals include Egyptian options like beef liver, veal “fatteh” (with crispy pita crumbs), sweet corn soup, mulukhiya (a leafy green stew) and hawawshi (dough stuffed with seasoned ground beef). Egyptian wines such as Omar Khayyam and Shahrazade are available, too.
The Sphinx menus feature Egyptian specialties. * Photo: Uniworld
“Over the past few years, our team poured their heart into sourcing the design aspects, spending weeks at a time searching the souks and baazars to connect with local artisans and family-owned furniture businesses to collaborate and bring the true spirit of Egypt to life on board,” Uniworld CEO and President Ellen Bettridge said. “Everything from the artwork to the ceilings to the ship’s bow was thought out and sourced by the local community.”
Uniworld’s Sphinx is dripping with Egyptian artwork, fabrics and hand-carved furnishings. * Photo: Uniworld
For example, the ceilings were hand-carved from locally sourced blonde wood, the banquettes were handcrafted and upholstered in fabric from a local company, and the top deck has tented sun shade drapes inspired by ancient Egyptian barges.
The top deck furniture has tented drapes to shade from the sun, a style reminiscent of ancient Egyptian barges. * Photo: Uniworld
Sphinx operates the “Splendors of Egypt & The Nile itinerary,” a 12-day adventure round-trip Cairo. Travelers get to explore the Temple of Karnak, pay homage to the country’s first woman ruler at the Temple of Hatshepsut and see Egyptian Museum treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Inclusive rates start at $4,799 per person.
Marriott Bonvoy Members Can Earn/Redeem Ritz-Carlton Yacht Points
Marriott Bonvoy members may now earn and redeem points for voyages with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection whose first yacht, Evrima, is set to debut in May 2022 in the Mediterranean.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima is pictured in late October as work on the yacht continues in Spain. * Photo: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection joins 30 hotel brands with 7,900 properties across 138 countries and territories in the Marriott Bonvoy program, in addition to 44,000 vacation rentals from Homes and Villas by Marriott International.
With The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Marriott Bonvoy members earn five points per $1 spend on the cruise fare only, as well as on the hotel package rate for participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels booked through The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Members may redeem an initial 180,000 points toward $1,000 savings on the cruise fare, and increments of 90,000 points may be redeemed toward a $500 savings thereafter. Full redemption may be available.
Further, members will receive one elite night credit per night toward achieving Elite status.
The cruise fare and hotel package rate will be applied toward the annual qualifying spend for Ambassador Elite status.
Farewell, Pandaw
And, ending on a sad note: Pandaw, the pioneering river-cruise company that fielded 17 traditionally styled vessels across Asia, became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pandaw operated a fleet of 17 traditionally styled riverboats. * Photo: Pandaw
With its destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and India closed, and considering the political situation in Myanmar, Pandaw said they lacked the financial liquidity to continue.
“This is a very sad moment for me, my family, our crews and clients,” Pandaw founder Paul Strachan said. “It marks the end of an era for all of us after 25 years of real adventure. We are truly sorry to disappoint our regular passengers who were so looking forward to making a trip after the lifting of travel restrictions. We are also heartbroken for our 300-plus crew members and shoreside personnel who have stood by Pandaw and were hoping to get going again next year.”
RELATED: Ted & Heidi share their tributes to Pandaw.
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HEIDI SARNA
