Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

6 0 SHIP OF THE YEAR AWARDS Celebrity Flora Hanseatic inspiration Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Flora was built by Shipyard De Hoop and entered service in June 2019, offering passengers nature-focused trips to the Galápagos Islands. Designed by New York-based hospitality design firm BG Studio International’s president Francesca Bucci and her team, the ship’s interiors are heavily inspired by the untouched islands and feature locally sourced Ecuadorian furnishings and floor- to-ceiling suite windows to help passengers connect with their surroundings. One of the highlights created by Bucci is the canopy in the upper deck restaurant, which was designed to look like waves washing onto a beach. Celebrity Flora’s exterior was also imagined with the destination in mind, combining the traditional façade of a cruise ship and yacht with the rugged appearance of a research vessel, in a nod to Galápagos Islands’ role in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. With the expedition cruise market booming, it was only fitting that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises upped the ante of its offering with Hanseatic inspiration. The construction of the 139-metre-long 16,000gt vessel, which took place at Norwegian yard Vard, involved approximately 950 local and international shipbuilders to ensure her delivery in October 2019. The expedition vessel features seven passenger decks with 120 cabins. The ship also offers a wellness deck with an outdoor pool, a fitness area with ocean views and an expansive spa offering sustainable treatments. Hanseatic inspiration is also flying the flag for technical sustainability. She features a specially designed hull to improve hydrodynamics and fuel consumption, and catalytic converters that reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. SHORTLISTED SHIPS: Cruise CelebrityFlora CRUISE SHORTLISTED Hanseatic inspiration CRUISE SHORTLISTED ScenicEclipse CRUISE SHORTLISTED SpiritofDiscovery CRUISE SHORTLISTED CelebrityFlora CRUISE SHORTLISTED Hanseatic inspiration CRUISE SHORTLISTED ScenicEclipse CRUISE SHORTLISTED SpiritofDiscovery CRUISE SHORTLISTED