New boutique, luxury and expedition ships to launch in 2018

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New boutique, luxury and expedition ships to launch in 2018

By Sally Macmillan
Australian river cruise line Scenic is launching Scenic Eclipse, which features a spa sanctuary pool, in the Mediterranean in August.

Australian river cruise line Scenic is launching Scenic Eclipse, which features a spa sanctuary pool, in the Mediterranean in August.

Last week we looked at the megaships that are launching this year; now let's check out some of the new boutique, luxury, mid-size and expedition ships that are set to join the world's fleets in 2018.

In May, ultra-luxury line Seabourn launches its fifth ship, the all-suite, 600-passenger Seabourn Ovation. It is a sister to Seabourn Encore, which arrives in Sydney on January 21 – it will be sailing to New Zealand and back before heading off to Asia and Europe in February. Seabourn Ovation will start its cruising career in the Mediterranean, then sails north to cruise Scandinavia and the Baltic until the beginning of October.

Viking's fifth ocean ship, Viking Orion, will be christened by former NASA astronaut Dr Anna Fisher in July. Viking Orion will cruise the Med until August, when it goes to Asia and thence Australia, where it will be based from November 2018 until March 2019. Like its sister ships, Viking Orion will carry a maximum of 930 passengers; Viking Sun arrives in Sydney in February on the line's first world cruise, which was fully booked some time ago – so if you're keen to sail on Viking Orion locally, get in quick!

Celebrity Cruises' newest ship Celebrity Edge  is ahead of schedule at the shipyard.

Celebrity Cruises' newest ship Celebrity Edge is ahead of schedule at the shipyard.

Star Clippers' new flagship, the 300-passenger, five-masted square rigger Flying Clipper, is due to join the current fleet of three tall ships this year. It's being built in Croatia and as yet there's no confirmed date of its first cruise. Watch this space …

On the expedition front, Ponant is building four luxury Ponant Explorers over the next two years and the super-stylish 184-passenger Le Laperouse and Le Champlain will launch in June and September 2018 respectively. Lindblad Expeditions' 100-passenger National Geographic Venture is due in June and will sail Alaskan itineraries until September, when it moves to the San Juan Islands and British Columbia in north-west America.

Norwegian company Hurtigruten's hybrid-powered, 530-passenger MS Roald Amundsen is due to enter service in October, cruising in South America and then Antarctica. Quark Expeditions is adding the 176-passenger World Explorer to its fleet at the end of the year; it is also a hybrid-powered vessel and will be in Antarctica for the 2018-19 season. Could there be traffic jams in the White Continent?

Australian river cruise line Scenic is launching Scenic Eclipse, its first ocean-going "discovery yacht", in the Mediterranean in August. The 228-passenger ship's maiden voyage has been sold out for months; there is a massive demand to experience this type of soft-adventure cruising, which comes with gourmet dining, butler service and onboard helicopters and mini-submarines.

THE PORT Bergen, Norway

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WHO GOES THERE Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Fred.Olsen, Holland America Line, Saga Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O UK, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Viking, Windstar.

WHY WE LOVE IT Bergen is surrounded by mountains and fjords and has a remarkable maritime history. The port is lined with colourful, 300-year-old wooden buildings (the wharf, Bryggen), which now house shops, bars, restaurants and galleries. A quick ride up the Floibanen Funicular from the city centre takes you to the top of Mt Floyen, where you can take in panoramic views of Bergen and its stunning surrounds.

TAKE A TOUR OR GO IT ALONE? Ships dock within a short walk of the historic Bryggen area and nearby residential quarters where white-painted wooden houses flank narrow cobbled streets. The must-see attractions are also around Bryggen. A worthwhile tour is one that combines the 12th-century Fantoft Stave Church and the Edvard Grieg Museum in Troldhaugen – lunchtime concerts are held there during summer. Thrill-seekers can head to Norway's fastest zip-line at Mt Ulriken, about three kilometres out of town and accessible by cable car.

MUST SEE The outdoor fish market, Fisketorget and Hanseatic Museum at Bryggen; 12th-century St Mary's Church, Bergen's oldest building; the four KODE art museums, to see works by Edvard Munch and many other Norwegian and international artists.

MUST EAT Bergen is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and renowned for its seafood; venues labelled "En smak av kysten'' (Taste of the Coast) are officially recommended for fish and seafood. Bryggeloftet & Stuene is an atmospheric restaurant on Bryggen established in 1901 where you can sample traditional Norwegian dishes such as fiskesuppe (fish soup with fish dumplings, prawns and vegetables) and reindeer fillet.

NEED TO KNOW The currency used in Norway is the Norwegian krone. You can use a credit card for most things but bring some krone in cash just in case.

ESSENTIALS visitbergen.com

CRUISE FACT

On a typical seven-day Carnival Cruise Line cruise, 4218 kilograms of recyclables are collected and processed. Recyclables include crushed glass, aluminium cans, plastic bottles and scrap metal.

NEWS

Extra Edge

Celebrity Cruises' newest ship is ahead of schedule at the shipyard and Celebrity is now offering an extra maiden voyage and new preview cruises. The three-night preview cruises will sail round-trip to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, departing on November 21, November 24, December 3 and December 6. The maiden voyages are a seven-night western Caribbean cruise departing Fort Lauderdale on December 9 and a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise departing December 16; they can be combined for a 14-night itinerary. Celebrity Edge is the line's first new build since 2012's Celebrity Reflection and is the first to feature the "Magic Carpet" a platform cantilevered off the side of the ship that will function as a roving restaurant, bar and boarding platform. See celebritycruises.com.au

Cherry blossom fever

Every year in late March and early April, Japan is gripped by cherry-blossom fever.

Locals and visitors gather in parks and gardens for hanami parties and it is peak season for tourism across the islands of Japan. Botanica World Discoveries is chartering the boutique ship MS Caledonian Sky for two cruises departing on March 29 and April 7, 2018, and there are still a few cabins available. Well-known gardening expert Simon Rickard, former head gardener of the Digger's Club and one of Botanica's most experienced guides, will lead a host of garden-themed shore excursions in some of Japan and South Korea's best gardens. There will be visits to teahouses, temples and sacred sites, and cultural tours in cities and villages are included on both itineraries. See botanica.travel

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