26 JULY 2010
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Hebridean Princess
The Majestic Line’s Glenn Massan
Queen Elizabeth and family are at sea as AERBT is published, aboard Hebridean Princess the subject of our ship review below.
It is a private cruise, and the operator Hebridean is not allowed to comment, but the Royal family is following statistics which, according to the Passenger Shipping Association, indicate that two thirds of cruising is repeat business. For her 80th birthday Her Majesty chose Hebridean Princess around the Scottish islands and for the birthdays of Princess Anne (60) and Prince Andrew (50) four years later the Family is back again. Clearly Britannia is sorely missed.
It must be pointed out that seagoing holidays are very much in the Windsor blood. Victoria and Albert was the Royal Yacht of 100 years ago, and whilst certainly no holiday the Queen’s father served his time in the Royal Navy participating in the Battle of Jutland. Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Commander Philip Mountbatten RN, who had wartime seaborne service and her honeymoon was taken in Britain’s last battleship HMS Vanguard.
This month’s CRUISE NEWS also includes a story of another even smaller ‘cruise’ ship The Majestic Line’s Glenn Massan. Room here for only 12 passengers, and the cost is somewhat less too.
OUR TEN STORY NEWS ROUNDUP
(followed by A SHIP REVIEW: Hebridean Princess)
AmaWaterways has expanded its fleet of custom-designed vessels with the launch of the 162-passenger MS AmaBella, bringing the size of the fleet up to 12 vessels, with the construction of the new AmaLotus on the Mekong and AmaKatarina on Russia's waterways currently underway.
The newly-built AmaBella’s features include staterooms averaging 214sq ft (larger than those on many ocean-going ships) and exclusive double balconies, continuing the line’s tradition of innovative luxury on Europe’s great waterways.
AmaBella’s exclusive features include an intimate chef’s table restaurant that seats just 24 and has its own private chef; a library with fireplace; and a swimming pool. The vessel also features AmaWaterways newly-upgraded ‘Infotainment’ system, offering complimentary high-speed internet access, complimentary first-run Hollywood movies, classic films and computing options for those maintaining email contact or even blogging during their holiday. The entire vessel, as with all the AmaWaterways vessels on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel, has complimentary wi-fi. www.amawaterways.com
Dover is busy promoting its latest arrival Holland America Line and no-fly cruises. The UK’s busiest port may be in the far South East but it is motorway virtually all the way and it now has the advantage of high-speed Javelin train to St Pancras which takes just 1hr 9mins. Kings Cross for the east coast lines is literally across the road and Euston less than five minutes in a taxi.
Holland America is basing two of its ships at Dover, MS Eurodam one of its latest ‘Signature Class’ vessels and MS Ryndam on its first ever visit to the UK. Nine round trips are planned between May and August which include visits to the Baltic, Scandinavia and the Norwegian Fjords. http://www.portofdover.co.uk
Engine emission regulations are now affecting cruise ships. New rules approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will force cruise lines to dramatically cut the level of sulphur in their fuel when they are within 200 miles of shore. The low-sulphur zones, known as Emission Control Areas, came into force in the Baltic and North Sea this month. By 2012 they will be introduced in North America, where the impact on cruising is expected to be greatest.
It has been estimated that using low-sulphur fuels could cost some vessels an extra £10,000 a day. Cruise ships travelling along the east and west coasts of the United States would normally be within the controlled zones for the duration of their sailings. One way to cut costs would be to use fuel from separate tanks when in different areas, but it would be very difficult to monitor.
The general consensus is that, just like aircraft tax, clients will just have to grin and bear it, and that it will not effect the growth and popularity of cruising. www.imo.org
MSC Fantastica is the name of MSC’s latest superliner due to join the fleet in June 2012. The Italians do like flamboyant ships name and it is an improvement on Favolosa which was the original selection for this vessel. At any rate a deal has now been concluded for construction of the new ship to commence at STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire (France).
Measuring just over one thousand foot long and with a 125ft beam (too wide for the Panama Canal) Fantastica will have a total of 1751 cabins of which 1,250 will have balconies. She should come in at 135,000 tons. www.msccruises.co.uk
Oceania Cruises is not going to charge for bottled water and soft drinks in 2011. If one as a passenger actually tots up the amount of non-alcoholic drink taken it probably does not add up to much but it is a good psychological selling point,
not likely to bring in any new clients but is seen to be adding value. The company continues with its policy of not charging any extra for the specialty restaurants.
Next year’s brochure is now out and introduces the brand new 65,000 ton Marina which debuts in Barcelona next January. Also new for summer 2011 is Alaska, Canada and New England. www.Oceaniacruises.co.uk
The Majestic Line is nothing to do with another cruise operator based in Scotland and featured in this week’s AERBT. And the money involved is vastly less than the £200,000 reputed cost of HM’s charter. Majestic Line will hire you a small cruise ship for just £10,000 for a week’s cruise in late August.
A major benefit of hiring your own ship is that the itinerary and route can be arranged to cater for individual groups. Should you fancy a leisurely sail around the Argyll coast, a route can be tailor-made to fit in the attractions you want to see and visit. Or perhaps a trip around the rugged islands of North West Scotland may appeal or even a trip through the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness.
Whole boat charters now account for about 25% of the Majestic Line’s business and are generally booked by groups wanting something absolutely unique and exclusive. There is a crew of 4, including a chef on board to ensure everyone’s needs are catered for. www.themajesticline.co.uk
The SS United States, still the holder of the westbound transatlantic speed record in three days and ten hours, could be saved. Launched in 1952 as the American competition to the Cunard Queens on the North Atlantic (and built to Navy standards as a potential troopship following the success of the Cunarders during World War II) for the last 14 years the essentially aluminium ship has languished in a Philadelphia dock whilst its various owners, the latest being Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), dithered as to its future. NCL had plans to use the ship in Hawaiian waters but they never materialised. NCL also owned for a period its erstwhile competitor, the SS France (later Norway).
NCL have now sold the ship to a group called the SS United States Conservancy, backed by philanthropist H. F. Gerry Lenfest, who will contribute up to US$5.8m to fund the purchase and associated costs. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Lenfest will be covering the US$60,000 a month docking fees for the next 20 months, while the conservancy develops a restoration plan – which may be to transform the vessel into a waterfront hotel or multi-use development, according to the Journal. www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org
Turkey is being highlighted by Celebrity Cruises who are basing the newly refurbished 2,034-guest Celebrity Constellation at Istanbul for a short season in September and October 2011. Experience has shown that this is a particularly temperate time of the year weather-wise, by UK standards late summer rather than autumn. www.rccl.com
There are three new 12-night roundtrips out of Istanbul including stops at Bodrum and Marmaris (Turkey) and Chania (Souda) new ports of call for Celebrity Cruises. The itineraries include an overnight stay onboard at Istanbul, a splendid historical city that sits astride the Bosphorus, and calls at Ephesus (Kusadasi), Bodrum and Marmaris (Turkey), Rhodes (Santorini), Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos and Chania (Souda) and Crete (Greece), before returning to Istanbul. Celebrity Constellation was refurbished in May 2010 to feature highlights of the new Solstice-class ships including the Tuscan Grille steakhouse; the creperie, Bistro on Five; a new ice-topped Martini Bar; Café al Bacio and Gelateria plus the Cellarmasters wine bar. www.rccl.com
Windstar Cruises has introduced what it calls a gourmet sandwich bar in the Yacht Club on Wind Surf. Guests can dine on an assortment of delicious specialty sandwiches, fresh fruit and cookies onboard or they can take them on shore in a Windstar insulated cooler bag for enjoyment in port. You know exactly what you are getting for lunch and it is easy to make for that secluded beach. Eight signature sandwiches are available and we list here just a few examples, all of them with a European flavour. The Italian Sandwich made with salami, mortadella, provolone cheese and pesto; The Greek Sandwich composed of feta cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onions and olives; The French Baguette with brie cheese, sweet onion confit, walnuts, tomatoes and lettuce.
The other big advantage is of course that you know the bread very freshly baked. We dare not comment on what sometimes is offered on shore. www.windstarcruises.co.uk
Winter in England means summer in Australia where the cruise market has really taken off, not only for Aussies but also Europeans and even Americans who find the trip relatively easy in modern long haul aircraft.. Princess has released details of its largest ever back end of the year Australasia programme with three locally based vessels in Sydney (Sea Princess), Melbourne (Dawn Princess) and Brisbane (Sun Princess).
Spanning a total of 48 voyages the new programme will include more New Zealand cruises than all of the other visiting cruise lines rolled into one, with a total of 27 departures on offer. The South Pacific will see a great deal of Princess Cruises and the ships will venture as far north as Japan, to Singapore and Hawaii to the east. www.princesscruises.com
SHIP REVIEW: Hebridean Princess
(In the Footsteps of the Royal Yacht)
Hebridean Princess at sea
Maybe someone at the Palace read the piece but in any event Her Majesty The Queen chartered the vessel for her 80th birthday family cruise.
She was following a tradition of the Royal Family who, in the not too distant past, used the Royal Yacht Britannia every summer for a quiet private cruise often to the Western Isles and the North of Scotland.
Clearly it was a success and as you read this piece many of the Royal family will be at sea celebrating this time around Princess Ann’s 60th and Prince Andrew’s 50th birthdays. This review is an update.
If your requirements are an 80,000 ton luxury liner at discounted prices and 2,000 other passengers Hebridean Princess is not for you. However if what you want is something totally unique, restful but invigorating, and the height of old fashioned luxury and service she might just fit your requirements. A sort of travelling stately home or large country house with discerning company, many of advanced years but with the mind and vigour of youth. Hebridean is now part of the All Leisure Holidays Ltd which includes Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic.
Tobermory
Hebridean cruises follow a simple pattern that has evolved since the former Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry first put to sea as the world’s smallest luxury liner back in 1989. It is a very relaxed break but you have to enter into the spirit of it. Truely country house with everyone soon on first name terms. You will normally find quite a few widows and other elderly singles (all of whom sit at the captain’s table and appear to have a terrific time), bird watchers, walkers, those interested in history, and also the less mobile who prefer to stay on the ship whilst others get off. Half the guests have been before, often many times before. Some are a lot younger but all seem to mix in well together.
A typical mid range cabin
The Tiree lounge
St Kilda from the Skye deck
Smokers lounge
The Columba dining room
Malcolm Ginsberg
For the future AERBT would welcome ship reviews which will be published with full acknowledgement. These must be written in the style and layout of the June review Diamond Princess. Please send to info@aerbt.co.uk
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum