Displaying items by tag: HapagLloyd Cruises

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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Bremen Visits Galway

#GALWAY CRUISE CALL– Following last month's first cruise call this season of Silver Explorer to Galway Docks, the city of the tribes welcomed the Bremen yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Unlike the Silver Explorer, operated by Silverseas Cruises, which transited through the narrow entrance into Dun Aengus Dock, the Bremen (1990/6,752grt) made an anchorage call offshore. The latter vessel which is operated by Hapag-Lloyd, has a four-star ranking according to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising 2012.

The small expedition ship takes her 164-guests who in comparison are served by a large crew numbering 100. The vessel visits some of the most beautiful and remote regions in the world which has included visiting both the poles at the Artic and Antarctica.

On this particular cruise, she had called to Kilronan, Inishmore on the Aran Islands and is currently underway heading for Tory Island.

The presence of the Silver Explorer, previously Prince Albert II, made for an interesting experience as Galwegians witnessed the vessel navigate skillfully through the tight confines of Dun Aengus dock system.

A further six cruise calls are scheduled, the next been Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) Marco Polo, the classic cruiseship with her liner heritage is to make the port of call in July.

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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