In Brief: Cruise ship in D.C., Viking boosts Picasso, and more…

Cruise News – Apr. 27, 2018

• For the first time since the 1950s, a cruise ship was docked at The Wharf on D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront last Sunday. American Cruise Lines’ American Constitution called at the port during her inaugural cruise, a 10-night Chesapeake Bay sailing that was also the line’s first American Revolution Cruise. For the remainder of 2018, American Constitution will stay on the East Coast, offering a series of summer and fall sailings from Boston and New York City.
• Viking Cruises has renewed its sponsorship of National Geographic’s fully scripted anthology series, Genius, which in season two explores the life and work of influential Spanish artist and pioneer of the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso. Genius: Picasso, starring Antonio Banderas as the world-renowned artist, takes the audience to iconic locations from Picasso’s life in Europe, including Paris, Budapest, Barcelona, and Málaga, Spain, birthplace of both Picasso and Antonio Banderas. Each of these featured locations is also a destination on Viking’s river and ocean cruise itineraries. In Málaga, guests can choose a dedicated shore excursion that visits Museo Picasso and provides history about the city of his birth while on other popular Viking itineraries in Europe, guests may opt to visit the museums that house the three largest collections of Picasso’s work – Musée Picasso in Paris; Museu Picasso in Barcelona; and Museum Ludwig in Cologne.
• Silversea has unveiled a collection of Signature Land Programmes in nine breathtaking destinations around the world. Beginning in September 2018, these optional land-based experiences will allow guests exclusive access to extraordinary experiences, premium accommodations, gourmet cuisine and private group transportation. Signature Land Programmes will complement select voyages and currently include experiences in Bolivia, Nepal, Chilean Wine Country, Beijing, Myanmar and Vietnam.
• Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary-and-destination-focused cruise line, unveiled its new 2019-2020 Tropics and Exotics Collection which features itineraries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, South America, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. The voyages range in length from seven to 31 days and there are myriad opportunities for intrepid explorers to craft extended journeys of up to 67 days. Of the 76 itineraries announced, 56 are entirely new. Highlights include Marina’s return to South America (including seven voyages that focus on the charms of Brazilian coastal villages, the fjords of Chile and the allure of the Amazon); a series of wine-country cruises aboard Sirena; six Panama Canal voyages aboard Regatta, Insignia, and Sirena and six dedicated Cuba voyages.
• Beginning this July, Hurtigruten will ban all unnecessary single-use plastic from its ships: Everything from plastic straws to stirrers, plastic glasses, coffee lids, and plastic bags will be removed from all Hurtigruten ships with the goal being to become the world’s first completely plastic-free cruise company.
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, celebrated the groundbreaking of the new and dedicated Norwegian Cruise Line terminal at PortMiami. At nearly 166,500 square feet, the Norwegian terminal will accommodate ships of up to 5,000 passengers and will feature state-of-the-art technology to support faster and more efficient embarkation and disembarkation, as well as expedited security screening and luggage check-in. A dedicated lounge and service area will welcome guests, and a new parking garage and valet parking area with direct access to the terminal will streamline the entire arrival and departure process. The terminal is scheduled to be complete by fall 2019.

— Judi Cuervo

^{Photos: American Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings}