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#CruiseLiners - Galway’s first cruise call of 2018 is the Silver Muse currently anchored off Mutton Island, as Galway Bay FM reports.

The flagship of Silversea Cruises made her maiden Irish port of call off Dunmore East last September, just months after her launch in Monte Carlo.

Despite its more than 40,000 gross tonnage, the “ultra-luxury” Silver Muse accommodates a total of under 600 ‘guests’ and almost as many crew.

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#cruiseliners - A brand new flagship Silver Muse made her maiden 'Irish' port of call off Dunmore East, Co. Waterford today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Silver Muse introduced into service this summer, had sailed overnight from Falmouth in the UK and anchored offshore of Dunmore East having embarked a pilot.

The maiden call is a coup for the Port of Waterford in a season that is drawing to a close. Only one more cruiseship is scheduled next week, when Nautica of Oceania Cruises calls but berthing to Belview Port.

Guests on board the 212m newbuild built in Italy, Fincantieri's yard in Genoa, are visiting the local attractions in a region that has also in recent times been marketed as Ireland's Ancient East.

As previously reported on Afloat, Silver Muse was christened at a lavish ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where owners Silversea Cruises have their headquarters.

The 40,700 gross tonnage ultra luxury cruiseship is the latest in Silverseas 9-strong fleet which operates at the high-end of the market. The newbuild is an evolution of their Silver Spirit class which elevates the luxury brand to new levels.

Accommodating just 596, the personalised service is to such a high level that there are nearly one crew member for every guest as they are referred as not passengers.

Among the facilities is an exclusive Zàgara Beauty Spa, casino, gym, a 327-seat theatre, eight dining venues and a swimming pool. In addition to offering guests the highest number of large suites in the Silversea fleet, and with the greatest number of connecting suites.

Tommorow it will be the turn of Cork Harbour to welcome the newcomer when Silver Muse is to berth not at Cobh but at the nearby Ringaskiddy deepwater berth. One of the reasons been is due to the call of the considerably larger Regal Princess, operated by Princess Cruises and accommodating around 3,500 passengers.

In season 2018, an example of an Irish based cruise sailing direct from Dubin takes place on 13 May, to Barcelona. The 13 day cruise is availavle with fares from €6,500 (per guest).

Published in Cruise Liners

#MonacoCeremony - Prince Albert II of Monaco attended Silversea Cruises christening ceremony of their new flagship Silver Muse in the principality, before a pre-inaugural cruise to Greece begins next week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported, Afloat had identified Silver Muse is to make an Irish debut later this season with a call to Waterford (Dunmore East) in September. The 40,700 tonnes cruiseship with just 596 passengers are accommodated in ultra luxurious facilities and pampered by a crew total of 411. The newest cruiseship of the 9-strong Silversea fleet is also to be make a first call to Cork.

The Italian built cruiseship from Fincantieri's yard in Genoa, will operate at the top end of the market. Among the facilities is an exclusive Zàgara Beauty Spa, casino, gym, a 327-seat theatre, eight dining venues and a swimming pool. In addition to offering guests the highest number of large suites in the Silversea fleet, and with the greatest number of connecting suites.

At the red-carpet christening ceremony held last Wednesday at the outer pier of Port Hercule, the glamorous harbour of Monte Carlo saw Silver Muse officially named by Constanza Lefebvre. The daughter of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, was watched by dignitaries and invited guests during the traditional ship’s blessing and champagne bottle-breaking at the bow.

The newcomer is an exciting evolution of their Silver Spirit class and the location of Monaco was chosen for the ceremony as Silversea has its headquarters in Monte Carlo. At the quayside were performances by the Sinfonietta Orchestra of Rome and renowned violinist Charlie Siem.

Silver Muse is to depart from Villefranche neighbouring Nice next Wednesday (3 May) on a ‘Venetian Society Inaugural Cruise’.

Afloat has consulted that the 13-day cruise of Mediterranean gems among them Portofino, Amalfi, Santorini, Kusadasi in Turkay and end in Piraeus, the port for Athens. Fares for society members only are from €8,250 per person based in a Classic Veranda Suite on Deck 5/6.

Published in Cruise Liners

#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

The 2024 Vendée Globe Race

A record-sized fleet of 44 skippers are aiming for the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe: the 24,296 nautical miles solo non-stop round-the-world race from Les Sables d’Olonne in France, on Sunday, November 10 2024 and will be expected back in mid-January 2025.

Vendée Globe Race FAQs

Six women (Alexia Barrier, Clarisse Cremer, Isabelle Joschke, Sam Davies, Miranda Merron, Pip Hare).

Nine nations (France, Germany, Japan, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and Great Britain)

After much speculation following Galway man Enda O’Coineen’s 2016 race debut for Ireland, there were as many as four campaigns proposed at one point, but unfortunately, none have reached the start line.

The Vendée Globe is a sailing race round the world, solo, non-stop and without assistance. It takes place every four years and it is regarded as the Everest of sailing. The event followed in the wake of the Golden Globe which had initiated the first circumnavigation of this type via the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) in 1968.

The record to beat is Armel Le Cléac’h 74 days 3h 35 minutes 46s set in 2017. Some pundits are saying the boats could beat a sub-60 day time.

The number of theoretical miles to cover is 24,296 miles (45,000 km).

The IMOCA 60 ("Open 60"), is a development class monohull sailing yacht run by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). The class pinnacle events are single or two-person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe.

Zero past winners are competing but two podiums 2017: Alex Thomson second, Jérémie Beyou third. It is also the fifth participation for Jean Le Cam and Alex Thomson, fourth for Arnaud Boissières and Jérémie Beyou.

The youngest on this ninth edition of the race is Alan Roura, 27 years old.

The oldest on this ninth edition is Jean Le Cam, 61 years old.

Over half the fleet are debutantes, totalling 18 first-timers.

The start procedure begins 8 minutes before the gun fires with the warning signal. At 4 minutes before, for the preparatory signal, the skipper must be alone on board, follow the countdown and take the line at the start signal at 13:02hrs local time. If an IMOCA crosses the line too early, it incurs a penalty of 5 hours which they will have to complete on the course before the latitude 38 ° 40 N (just north of Lisbon latitude). For safety reasons, there is no opportunity to turn back and recross the line. A competitor who has not crossed the starting line 60 minutes after the signal will be considered as not starting. They will have to wait until a time indicated by the race committee to start again. No departure will be given after November 18, 2020, at 1:02 p.m when the line closes.

The first boat could be home in sixty days. Expect the leaders from January 7th 2021 but to beat the 2017 race record they need to finish by January 19 2021.

Today, building a brand new IMOCA generally costs between 4.2 and €4.7million, without the sails but second-hand boats that are in short supply can be got for around €1m.

©Afloat 2020

Vendee Globe 2024 Key Figures

  • 10th edition
  • Six women (vs six in 2020)
  • 16 international skippers (vs 12 in 2020)
  • 11 nationalities represented: France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Japan, China, USA, New Zealand (vs 9 in 2020)
  • 18 rookies (vs 20 in 2020)
  • 30 causes supported
  • 14 new IMOCAs (vs 9 in 2020)
  • Two 'handisport' skippers

At A Glance - Vendee Globe 2024

The 10th edition will leave from Les Sables d’Olonne on November 10, 2024

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