Msc Cruises Unveils Two-Storey Family Villa At Sea - Complete With Dedicated Kids’ Suite, Private Cinema, Secret Door And Exclusive Family Experiences

 The 230-square-metre+, two-storey villa features a private cinema, interactive gaming, climbing tower and secret door revealing new surprises every day

Also offers an expansive private terrace with a whirlpool, panoramic ocean views, plus dedicated kids' suite and 24-hour butler service

The Grand Hamptons Villa will debut on MSC World Atlantic in November 2027 when she starts sailing from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, USA

Geneva, Switzerland, - MSC Cruises today revealed its game-changing new accommodation concept - the brand-new Grand Hamptons Villa. Launching exclusively on upcoming new flagship, MSC World Atlantic, this first-of-its-kind accommodation concept is now available to book starting with the ship's launch in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, in November 2027.

Combining family-friendly experiences, generous living space, privacy and personalised service, the exclusive villa is ideal for larger and multigenerational families or two families traveling together.

Designed for up to eight guests, the Grand Hamptons Villa offers more than 230 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, with a dramatic double-height living room, a dedicated Entertainment Loft with a private cinema lounge, an ocean-view swinging chair, a private bar, an expansive oceanfront terrace with a whirlpool bath and deck games, and a primary suite with its own private terrace. Guests of the villa will also enjoy the MSC Yacht Club experience including 24-hour butler service and access to the exclusive areas of the MSC Yacht Club.

Created with extended families in mind, the villa also features a dedicated kids' suite offering custom bunk beds, individual TV screens for each bunk and a private bathroom, providing the kids' a private world of their own within the villa.

A single Grand Hamptons Villa will be available exclusively on MSC World Atlantic, sailing alternating 7-night and 14-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral to iconic destinations including Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises' private island in The Bahamas.

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: "As demand for family and multigenerational travel continues to grow, we are constantly looking for new ways to elevate our guest experience to create unique and memorable experiences. The Grand Hamptons Villa reflects our commitment to evolving our premium family vacation offering through innovative accommodations and experiences. As a family-owned company, we understand what makes a great family holiday and the importance of creating accommodations that enable families to make the most of their time together while enjoying the space and flexibility they need."

Inspired by the timeless elegance of the Hamptons, the Grand Hamptons Villa was designed in collaboration with Storyland Studios, a global destination and experience design firm. The exclusive villa is the only accommodation of its kind on board, with expansive living, entertainment and relaxation areas created for the whole family to enjoy.

Grand Living Area - The dramatic double-height living area features panoramic ocean views, a transformative ceiling and dedicated spaces for dining, relaxing and play. A private library offers a quiet retreat, while a climbing tower leads to an interactive ship-inspired play area with a secret door revealing daily surprises. An inviting dining area, private kitchenette and bar create the perfect setting for family gatherings.

Dedicated Entertainment Loft - The dedicated Entertainment Loft offers a range of entertainment and play experiences including a private cinema for family movie nights, a digital gaming table, and a LEGO® wall.

Private Outdoor Retreat - The villa's expansive private terrace features a whirlpool, comfortable lounge seating and classic deck games, creating the ultimate outdoor retreat overlooking the ocean.

Accommodation Designed for Up to Eight Guests - Accommodating up to eight guests, the villa includes a luxurious primary stateroom with a walk-in closet, vanity and private ocean-view balcony featuring an outdoor shower. The kids' suite has custom bunk beds, individual TV screens and a private bathroom. A double cabin and separate twin bedroom provide added flexibility and privacy for larger or multigenerational families.

Exclusive Benefits - Guests of the villa will enjoy access to the MSC Yacht Club experience including 24-hour butler and concierge service and access to the MSC Yacht Club's exclusive areas. Additional benefits include a dedicated cleaning team, the Premium Extra Drinks package, a Fun Pass, unlimited speciality dining and Wi-Fi.

Quick Facts:

More than 230 square metres - the villa's combined indoor and outdoor living space

Two stories - creating a true private residence-at-sea experience

Up to eight guests - ideal for larger and multigenerational families, or two families traveling together

Entertainment Loft featuring a private cinema

Dedicated dining area, private kitchenette and bar

Expansive oceanfront terrace - featuring a whirlpool, lounge seating and deck games

24-hour butler and concierge service and access to the exclusive areas of the MSC Yacht Club

7-night and 14-night sailings - alternating Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral

November 2027 - when MSC World Atlantic begins sailing from Florida

Viking Names Seven New River Ships, Honoring Valued Travel Advisor Partners

Simultaneous Naming Ceremony Across Four Countries Celebrates Viking’s Continued Fleet Expansion

Los Angeles – Viking® (www.viking.com) (NYSE: VIK) today announced the naming of its seven newest river ships during a simultaneous ceremony in Amsterdam that virtually connected locations across Europe and Egypt. The celebration honored seven distinguished travel advisors and industry leaders who served as godparents, recognizing their longstanding relationships with Viking and contributions to the company’s success.

Of the seven new river ships, the Viking Haki, the Viking Halogi, the Viking Sjofn and the Viking Rota will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Viking Ptah operates on the Nile River, where the Viking Sekhmet will also begin sailing in 2027. The Viking Fjolvar explores the Seine River.

“Throughout history, rivers have inspired exploration, connecting people, cultures and civilizations. For nearly 30 years, Viking has carried forward that spirit of discovery, introducing curious travelers to the world’s most remarkable destinations,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. “As we name our seven newest river ships, we are especially proud to honor travel advisor partners who have been an integral part of our journey. It is a privilege to recognize seven of these exceptional partners as godparents in gratitude for their meaningful contributions to Viking’s success.”

Viking Naming Ceremony

For thousands of years, maritime tradition has called for new ships to be ceremonially named by a godmother. Viking has adapted this custom and extended the tradition to include godfathers, appointing individuals who have made an impact either in the world or in the life of Viking. During the ceremony, each godparent offered good wishes for the safety of their ship’s guests and crew.
The seven travel advisors and industry leaders honored as godparents represent some of Viking’s most valued relationships across the global travel advisor community:

Shelby Steudle, President, Pavlus Travel – Godmother of the Viking Fjolvar. During Pavlus Travel’s more than 20-year partnership with Viking, Shelby has been a valued advocate for Viking and has helped drive the company’s continued growth.

Michael Londregan, Senior Vice President, Global Markets, Virtuoso – Godfather of the Viking Ptah. Michael has been a valued partner to Viking, helping strengthen the company’s presence through the Virtuoso network in Australia and New Zealand.

Ealeen Wong, Senior Director of Strategy, Partnerships & Sales for Expedia Group’s Global Cruise Business – Godmother of the Viking Rota. Ealeen has played an important role in expanding Viking’s relationship with Expedia Cruises across the U.S. and Canada.

Michael Consoli, Owner, Cruise Planners – Godfather of the Viking Sekhmet. A longtime champion of Viking since 2010, Michael is the company’s top-producing global travel advisor.

Carol Porter, Co-Owner, The Roaming Boomers – Godmother of the Viking Haki. Carol and her husband are Viking advocates and have become the company’s top-producing travel advisors within the Virtuoso network.

Carol Shaddix, Owner, Imagine Going There Travel – Godmother of the Viking Halogi. A dedicated advocate for Viking, Carol has grown Imagine Going There to become the company’s second-highest-producing travel advisor globally.

Danielle “Dani” Galloway, Global Managing Director, Luxury and Independent, Flight Centre Travel Group – Godmother of the Viking Sjofn. Dani helped establish Viking as the #1 cruise line within Flight Centre’s Travel Associates brand.

The ceremony, hosted in Amsterdam alongside the Viking Rota and the Viking Haki, was connected virtually to the five other new ships across three additional countries. The Viking Fjolvar was in Les Andelys, France; the Viking Halogi and the Viking Sjofn were in Rostock, Germany; and the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet were in Luxor, Egypt.

Viking Executive Chairman Torstein Hagen welcomed guests to the celebration, which featured performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.

Viking’s Award-Winning Fleet

The naming of Viking’s newest river ships follows several recent accolades for the company. Most recently, Viking was voted #1 for Rivers and Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the sixth consecutive year in the publication’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure—no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors from both publications. Viking was named to TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, recognizing companies making an extraordinary impact around the world, while the Viking Vesta® was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Hot List. Additional recognition includes seven #1 rankings in the USA TODAY 10BEST 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards and top honors from Southern Living for Viking’s river and ocean voyages in the publication’s 2026 cruise rankings. Viking’s ocean ships also continue to receive “Recommended” ratings from Forbes Travel Guide.

 

VIKING MIRA - Viking Cruises

Photos: KPB

• Capacity: 998 passengers and 470 crew members.

• Dimensions: Length of 240 meters (784 feet) and width (beam) of 33 meters (101 feet).

• Accommodations: 499 cabins in total, all with private balconies (from 288-foot Veranda cabins to the 1,448-square-foot Owner's Suite).

• Dining and Leisure: Includes Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, The Chef's Table, World Café, The Nordic Spa, main pool, infinity pool with glass back, and Aquavit Terrace.

 

The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 gets under way in bumpy upwind conditions

The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic got

underway today from a virtual start line some 150 nautical

miles offshore from New York, where the six international

IMOCA crews gathered after a speed-restricted overnight

transit past a local marine mammal protection area.

Paddy Condy / Embrace the Challenge

Light winds during the night had meant slower progress than expected for the fleet – which left New York Harbor after a ceremonial start and parade of sail yesterday morning local time – with the race start push to 1000 EDT / 1400 UTC / 1600 CEST.
At start time the fleet powered off the virtual line under cloudy skies, heading into a bumpy 0.8-metre sea and a solid 17-18 knots of north-easterly wind that saw the 60-foot yachts scoot south-eastward
at between 15 and 18 knots of boat speed. 

Team Malizia led across the line, with the full fleet following close behind - all had started
racing within 30-seconds of the gun.

Ahead of the six competing teams – United by the Ocean (FRA) led by Paul Meilhat (FRA) and Mariana Lobato (POR), Team Malizia (GER) skippered by German Boris Herrmann, Team Francesca
Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing (USA) skippered by Italian-American Francesca Clapcich, Embrace the Challenge (SUI) skippered by Swiss sailor Oliver Heer, DMG MORI Sailing Team (JPN)
skippered by Japan’s Kojiro Shiraishi, and MSIG Europe (NZL) skippered by New Zealand’s Conrad Colman – is a high-speed 3,000- nautical-mile transatlantic passage to Lorient, France, the spiritual
home of high-performance ocean racing. 

“The next few hours (after the start) will be very important while the fleet is still close together,” said Sara Stone from on board United by the Ocena.

 “The small gains now could make a big difference over the next days.”
As the six crews – each made up of two men and two women (plus an onboard reporter) – settle into their individual watch patterns, the sailors’ focus is likely to be on how best to hook into an east-moving
low pressure system that is setting up to the north of the fleet and could take the yachts at high speed almost all the way across the Atlantic.
“We have just been trying to go fast since the start,” said Francesca Clapcich from on board 11th Hour Racing. “Malizia seems to be setting a different pace from anyone else, and maybe that’s the
performance of the new boat. 

We are going to keep pushing, try to stay close, not lose contact and just go as fast as we can.”

This first day of racing also meant the first of the Daily OnBoard Live Shows (1700 CEST each race day) and the new Super Sprint series, a 20-minute race within a race that was won on Wednesday by Boris

Herrmann and his crew, with the skipper hand-steering his new Team Malizia boat to victory.

The Super Sprint measures each boat’s distance in any direction over the same 20-minute period and is a separate ranking of the teams based on this series of speed tests. 

After the first session Team Malizia sits ahead of DMG Mori and Embrace the Challenge.

The Ocean Race Atlantic
 

Six-strong IMOCA fleet bids farewell to New York heading for offshore start to inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic

The six international IMOCA crews competing in the inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic left New York
Harbor today after a midday ceremonial start in front of the Statue of Liberty.

The Ocean Race Atlantic - Speed Runs Day

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race

Earlier on Tuesday morning, at the Brooklyn Bridge Marina where the fleet has been based for the past five days, the four-person gender balanced crews and their on board reporters paraded down to their boats, before docking out one-by-one, each waved off by their shore crews and cheering fans.

The fleet of 60-foot foil-assisted high-performance racing yachts will now transit through a series of marine mammal exclusion zones off New York City at low speed on their way to the official start area located around 150 nautical miles offshore.

Here the crews will switch to race mode when the transatlantic sprint to Lorient, France is scheduled to officially get under way at 0600 Eastern Time (1200 CEST) on Wednesday, September 2 – although expected light conditions on the way to the start area may

necessitate a short postponement.

With many of the crews racing in the transatlantic race also intending to take on the around-the-world edition of The Ocean Race starting in January 2027, the 3,000-nautical-mile passage through the North Atlantic will give the teams a valuable opportunity to test their open-
ocean performance relative to their rivals.

The Ocean Race Atlantic Departure Show

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

As well as proven boats like Paul Meilhat and Mariana Lobato’s United by the Ocean (which as Biotherm won The Ocean Race Europe 2025), Francesca Clapcich’s 11th Hour Racing (the boat which raced around the world as Team Malizia in The Ocean Race around- the-world edition in 2022-23), and Oliver Heer’s Embrace the Challenge (which as TeamWork – Team Snef was sailed to eighth place in the 2024-25 Vendée Globe by Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux),
the fleet also features two brand-new boats in Boris Herrmann’s
Malizia 4 and Kojiro Shiraishi’s DMG MORI GLOBAL. Meanwhile, MSIG Europe is an older-generation non-foiling design that – as MS Amlin – skipper Conrad Colman raced to 21st place in the 2024-25 Vendée Globe.
Despite having to deal with light conditions and potential thunderstorms on the way to the offshore start area, the forecast weather for the race itself suggests the crews could be in for a fast ride across the Atlantic. 

Just how fast depends largely on how well the sailors deal with a fast-moving low pressure system which looks set to travel eastwards with the fleet, bringing strong winds and fast-running conditions. 

Pre-race routing suggests that the leaders could take between six and nine days to reach the finish line off Lorient.
Team Malizia’s Cole Brauer (USA) believed the first day might be the toughest part of the race, weatherwise.
“We are going to be dealing with the Gulf Stream, light winds – it’s predicted to be pretty flukey and up and down – then deciding on whether you take the north route or the south route,” she said. “But, once we get going, we have five days of bombing all the way down to
France.” Those who take best advantage of this strong weather system could have a chance of breaking the race’s 24-hour distance record of 641.13 nautical miles (1,187.39 km), set by Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia crew on Leg 5 of The Ocean Race 2023 from Newport, Rhode
Island, to Aarhus, Denmark.

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

 “We are ready. The technical team did an incredible job to get us ready to be on the start line,” said Francesca Clapcich, skipper of the 11th Hour Racing boat. “Now we are looking forward to being back out there and the conditions are looking pretty awesome for getting to the other side of the pond pretty quickly. We are expecting a pretty fast race. Some pretty fast angles, reaching, so it could be record-breaking conditions for the race. Right now it’s looking like six or seven days to get to Lorient. I hope the guys in the tech team can beat us to the other side.”

Malizia 4 (GER) skipper Boris Herrmann said he was excited to finally get the chance to see how the team’s new boat performs in its first competitive outing.

“Finally, we are getting to the action that we came for,” he said. “We can’t wait to start sailing and discover this new boat in conditions we have seen it sailing in before – and against competitors we have never seen before on the water.”

The German skipper also said he and his crew appreciated the chance to start the race offshore ‘away from the influence of the land’. “It’s great that we get a chance to get into our zone on the way to the start so that when we get there we are already super-focused, although we will miss having the shore crew alongside us to give us a little smile and a wave from the rib.”

Like Herrmann, Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN), skipper of DMG MORI GLOBAL, said he was very excited to discover the potential of his new boat. “It’s the first race for our new boat and we are hoping to be able to test a lot of its characteristics during the Atlantic crossing,” he said.

Paul Meilhat, skipper of United by the Ocean (FRA), said he and his team had enjoyed their week in New York in the build-up to the race. “But, now it is time to focus on the race,” Meilhat said. “I think we are really lucky, because maybe we will have really nice weather to cross the Atlantic very fast. We have a new crew but we did the delivery trip together and that is good because the newcomers can learn about the boat, but also for the team spirit.”

Oliver Heer, skipper of Embrace the Challenge (SUI), said it was a special opportunity to potentially race all the way across the North Atlantic on the back of one weather system. “Normally you get caught in a patch of light winds in between two systems, but this time it looks like we can get across with just one. That will make it rapid and I just can’t wait to see all these boats going at 100 per cent.”

Heer commented on how different full-crewed racing was to racing the boat alone as he has mostly done previously. “It’s got its upsides as well as its complexities,” he said. “Sailing as a team, performing in such a small space with five of us on the boat is quite a challenge. But we have assembled an amazing crew. Of the four sailors, I am the only one who has not competed in an edition of The Ocean Race and I just cannot wait to share the highs and lows of this race with the people around me.”

Conrad Colman (NZL), skipper of MSIG Europe said he and his crew recognised that their non-foiling boat would probably not be able to ride the transatlantic storm all the way to Lorient.

“We have a very different boat and so we will be the first to fall off the front,” he said. “That will make life more difficult for us, but we are still talking about some spectacular conditions that we cannot wait to get our teeth into. We may not set the overall speed record for the class, but we are chasing the overall speed record for the boat. We can’t wait to get out there and get the boat whipped up to full speed. It’s going to be fun.”

QUEEN ANNE - CUNARD LINE

KPB Publishing
 

Top sailors ready to take on Atlantic challenge

The Ocean Race Atlantic fleet will depart New York City on Tuesday afternoon with the top offshore sailors in the world lining up for the new challenge.

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic will see six teams of two men and two women, plus an onboard reporter, racing from New York to Lorient, France.

The fleet will depart the Brooklyn Bridge Marina starting at 1100 local time on Tuesday, 1st September ahead of a ceremonial start in New York Harbor at 1200 EDT / 1600 UTC / 1800 CEST. The departure show will be broadcast live on theoceanrace.com and select international broadcasters.

NEW START TIME

The 3000 nautical mile race to Lorient will start at 0600 local time (1000 UTC / 1200 CEST) on Wednesday 2nd September from a virtual start line 145 miles offshore, in order to reduce the risk of encounters with marine mammals and megafauna that frequent the coastal areas.

The forecast for the first hours of racing on Wednesday morning is encouraging, with 12-15 knot northeasterlies expected to fill in following lighter wind conditions on the route from New York Harbor to the offshore start area. There will be a short YouTube show for the race start on The Ocean Race website and YouTube Channel on Wednesday 2nd September.

NEW BOATS, FAST RACING

On Monday, the six skippers spoke to the international media ahead of Tuesday’s departure from New York, and all said they were looking forward to getting on the race course.

“Since we started this project two years ago we have put so much energy into it, and now it's time to see how the boat is sailing and what we can achieve,” said Kojiro Shiraishi, a long-time IMOCA skipper taking on his first event in The Ocean Race, and competing in a brand new boat for DMG MORI. “There are many things we don't know yet about the new boat. So this race is a very big challenge for us to test her and test ourselves. We will do our best to race well and learn what we can and grow as a team.”

“It is very exciting for us to be racing a new boat that we are working up,” said Boris Herrmann, the skipper of Team Malizia, who will also be racing a new boat for the first time. “It will be a great question mark, and we don't know how we will perform against these competitors and especially DMG with their new boat. So that should be super exciting to see.”

“I'm excited to be against these sailors and teams and particularly the two new boats because we don’t know if they are fast, or really fast, or really, really fast!!” said Paul Meilhat of United by the Ocean, and the winner skipper and boat from last summer’s The Ocean Race Europe. “I think it will be a big challenge and a fun race with all these fast boats.”

“From when we start until we finish we want to push the boat,” said Francesca Clapcich, the skipper of 11th Hour Racing. “When the conditions are good it’s awesome to be able to push the boat really hard and be able to do it with a crew that is really well prepared… It’s incredible actually. We're pretty happy because it seems that our boat has a lot of reliability. So we feel that we can definitely push it all the time. I don't have so many gears - I'm happy to just go, you know, one gear. Full ahead! And in the end we will see at the finish line.”

“We have a very different boat (older, non-foiling) and the least experienced team. And that puts a lot more responsibility on me because I have a lot fewer opportunities to sort of check in with an experienced sailor and ask for a second opinion,” noted Conrad Colman, the skipper of MSIG Europe. "That comes with its own responsibilities, but also comes with its own opportunities and joy frankly, because it's really exciting to come and have new sailors on board and to see the sparkle in their eye when they see the boat surf down the wave for the first time and feel the acceleration… It's incredibly special. And, my hope is that we are building something for the future to participate in the race around the world in January. So I'm excited by the passion that my team has, and we're looking forward to sharing that with everybody as we go.”

“We’ve had a great time here in the US and New York. I love it,” confirmed Oliver Heer, the skipper of Embrace the Challenge. “But it’s time to go sailing and with a rather sporty forecast we can't wait to get out there!”

The forecast is for a quick opening to the transatlantic passage and the 24-hour record (641 nautical miles) might be within reach during the first days of the race. 

© Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic

THANK YOU NEW YORK

The Ocean Race Atlantic has been set up at Brooklyn Bridge Marina since Wednesday evening and with the support of Impact Partner 11th Hour Racing, the sailors and event have engaged the community with numerous sailing and ocean health activities including an ‘At the Helm’ event focussed on Sport and Leadership with top leaders from sport and industry.

There has been Try Sailing with Brooklyn Bridge Sail, as well as a collaboration with the Women's Sports Foundation on an event for young women focused on marine weather, ocean science and sailing, as well as pop-up displays and activities from the American Littoral Society and Gotham Whale and model boat racing with Rocking the Boat at Sail Central Park.

HOW TO FOLLOW AND ENGAGE WITH THE OCEAN RACE ATLANTIC

The Ocean Race Atlantic will have unprecedented access for fans. The official race tracker, with Predict Wind, will feature live boat data as well as live video streams from the boats.

The departure show from New York is scheduled to start at 1200 EDT / 1600 UTC / 1800 CEST on Tuesday 1st September.and will be streaming on theoceanrace.com, YouTube, and via international broadcasters, including DAZN, which will feature all of the programming from The Ocean Race Atlantic on its international platforms.

Once racing starts, the 30-minute OnBoard Live daily show will feature live connections to the fleet every day at 1100 EDT / 1500 UTC / 1700 CEST. This daily programme begins on 2nd September and will also be streaming on theoceanrace.com, YouTube, and via international broadcasters, including DAZN.

The Official Game, with Virtual Regatta, is available here and gives an opportunity for armchair sailors to test their tactical wits against the best in the world. Tom Gauthier, Deputy General Manager, Virtual Regatta describes the challenge: "Every one of us has watched a leg of The Ocean Race in the past and thought we would have gone the other way. Now, you can prove it! The same course as the fleet, the same weather files, the same tactical calls to make, but from a phone and for free. We leave New York with the race fleet. After that it is up to you. The Atlantic ocean, your own weather routing and one question - north or south? - as you try to beat the IMOCA fleet to Lorient."