European cruise ships sail again
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is resuming sailing with its new ship Borealis which will depart on her maiden voyage from Liverpool, UK, while MSC Cruises commenced its summer season with the departure of MSC Seaview from Germany
It is the first time that the 1,360-guest ship Borealis will set sail with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and it marks the launch of the line’s ‘Welcome Back’ programme of UK summer sailings.
Borealis brings a number of new venues and facilities to the fleet. While the ship will sail at 50 per cent capacity initially, Borealis will always carry less than 1,400 guests, allowing her and her crew to offer a small ship experience.
Peter Deer, Managing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Today is a truly momentous day for us, as not only are we setting sail again after 16 months, but we are doing so with the first of two wonderful new ships.
“Our crew on board have been working incredibly hard to get Borealis ready to sail, and our guests can enjoy many brand new venues including The Crow’s Nest and the Piano Bar, and those familiar Fred. Olsen touches, such as the Morning Light Pub, and our famous ‘doodle’ carpet, designed to be bright and cheerful.”
MSC Cruises commences Northern European summer season
Elsewhere, MSC Cruises commenced the Northern Europe summer season, when MSC Seaview departed from the German port of Kiel for the first of her seven-night cruises in the Baltic Sea MSC Seaview is the seventh MSC Cruises’ ship to resume sailings with guests on board with a further three preparing to start future voyages, which will see half of the company’s fleet back at sea by the end of summer.
MSC Seaview will homeport in Kiel until the beginning of October and the ship will welcome German and international guests for a trip to Visby on Gotland, near the Swedish capital city of Stockholm and Estonia’s capital Tallinn, before returning to her North German base.
Over in the US, Carnival Corporation has received US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s acceptance of its port agreements for a number of key homeports.