Displaying items by tag: Brand New Cruiseship

30th May 2019

Cruise Quartet Call to Dublin Port Among them Brand New High-End Expedition Cruiseship

A quartet of cruiseships called to Dublin Port last week among them a brand new ship operating at the higher-end of the market for German based clientele, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 15,560 gross tonnage newbuild named Hanseatic Nature had sailed from Douglas, Isle of Man.

Prior to this first call to Dublin Port on Thurday last week, a separate maiden commercial voyage of the 230 maximum cruise capacity newbuild took place earlier this month from Hamburg on 5th May. This following a naming ceremony the previous day held at the Cruise Center Altona.

Preceeding both naming ceremony and maiden cruise, Hanseatic Nature took a delivery voyage directly from the builder's yard of VARD Group A/S in Norway to make a debut at the German port on 3rd May.

Owners Hapag-Lloyd Cruises introduced Hanseatic Nature as the first of a trio of 'Expedition' class cruiseships to be followed by Hanseatic Inspiration in October and Hanseatic Spirit due in 2021.

According to the operator, classification from the Berlitz Cruise Guide is not currently available as this will be given once all the ships are completed. The operator however did add that they believe the comfort standard is similar to that their of Europa and Europa 2. Both of these cruiseships received the distinction of 5-stars-plus in the Berlitz Cruise Guide 2019.

The new luxury cruiseship has 7 passenger decks where facilities include a choice of three restaurants, bars and lounges and a pair of extendible glass balconies. This feature floats over the ocean with perfect views for example when watching whales and dolphins.

There is also a marine dock used for a variety of warmwater sports, from kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP-ing) in addition to snorkelling equipment.

Cabins and suites total 120. They all come equipped - for example with binoculars, Nordic Walking poles, air-conditioning, coffee machine and mini bar (free of charge).

Hapag-Lloyd claim the class offer more open deck space than on any other expedition ship to enable guests to see the sights and wonders of the world. This could be in the polar regions where those on board can hear the ice crack as you stand on the bow noting the cruiseship has an Ice classification PC6 – the highest ice class for passenger ships.

On cruises to the Antarctic expeditions and cruises around Spitsbergen, capacity is reduced to 199 guests who can avail of the 17 Zodiacs to make shore-based expedition excursions. Or an expedition cruise could be in the extreme opposite environment when navigating through dense mangrove forests of the Amazon as they pass by at arm’s length.

Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Spirit will conduct cruises as a German-speaking ship. As for the third sister, Hanseatic Inspiration however will be an international ship, with all cruises using both English and German.

So what about the other three cruiseships that called to Dublin Port?... Afloat below reveals the following visitors:

Cruise & Maritime Voyages / Transocean Astor had docked in Alexandra Basin having sailed overnight from Belfast Harbour.

Silverseas Cruises Silver Cloud also occupied a berth in Alexandra Basin but along Ocean Pier. This ultra-luxury visitor having sailed from Killybegs in Co. Donegal.

As for the third caller to the Irish capital port, this belonged to Grand Circle Line's Corinthian from Fishguard, Wales. Unlike the rest of the quartet, Corinthian sailed upriver to the Liffey quays, given its small size permitting a transit of the Tom Clarke (East-Link) bridge and a berth at Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

Returning to Hanseatic Nature which currently continues on the same cruise from Hamburg and which so far has included UK south coast ports among them off Cowes, Isle of Wight.

Today the newbuild called at the Dutch port of Oueschild on the island of Texal located off Den Helder on the mainland. The cruise will culminate with a return passage along the Elbe estuary before guests disembark in Hamburg this Saturday.

Published in Dublin Port

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Calls to Waterford Estuary to Feature Brand New Ultra-Luxury Silverseas Flagship

#NewFlagship - Half of all cruiseship calls to visit Waterford Estuary are due in the first of a three-month season in which Afloat has identified to include a brand new cruiseship, writes Jehan Ashmore.

According to the cruiseship line-up for 2017, Afloat has noted that eight out of a total of 16 cruiseships are to visit the south-east region in the opening month of June. The leaves the balance of four cruiseships to call in August and equally the same number for the concluding month of September.

The Port of Waterford has terminals dotted on the estuary where 1,000 years ago Viking longboats headed upriver to firmly establish a trading port. This established Ireland's oldest city. In more recent centuries the city became world famous for its crystal making traditions. A popular tourist attraction as well as to the manor estate gardens on the environs of the city.

Brand New Cruiseship Call

As referred above Afloat has identified the call of a brand new cruiseship which is to be the Silver Muse, the flagship of Monaco based Silverseas Cruises. The 40,700 gross tonnage newbuild accommodates 596 guests in ultra-luxurious facilities. The newcomer is an exciting evolution of their Silver Spirit.

Afloat will have more to report on Silver Muse which will make a pre-inaugural voyage in home seas next month on a round trip voyage from Monte-Carlo of Mediterranean gems. Among them calls to quintessential destinations such as Barcelona, Palma and Portofino.

As for the first to caller to Waterford in early June is Artania. Pheonix Reissen, the German operators of the ship which would be more familiar to most as the original Royal Princess completed in 1984 for US based Princess Cruises. The 44,500 tonnes Artania with a 1,100 passenger capacity has been allocated an anchorage call off Dunmore East.

The predominant fishing harbour at the entrance to the estuary is where a further seven cruise callers will too be making an anchorage call.

Ultra luxury small-cruiseship Hebridean Sky of Noble Caledonia, is to call twice. Firstly calling in June at Belview, the main cargo (mostly lo-lo containers) terminal for the Port of Waterford.

On the second call in August, the diminutive sized ship is expected to head upriver to the city quays. The 4,200 tonnes ship is to berth along Frank Cassin Wharf, the former Bell Lines lo-lo terminal.

Published in Cruise Liners

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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