Shipping Forecast

ON WATER

A Night to Remember

U-Boat Worx presents an underwater entertainment platform for hosting memorable get-togethers.

Imagine dining side by side with a stingray, or partying the night away with a porpoise? That’s exactly what U-Boat Worx is proposing with its Under Water Entertainment Platform – or UWEP for short – an autonomous submersible kitted out with a bar, galley and 150m2 of flexible event space.

Billed as a new class of submarine, the 35m vessel can host up to 120 guests in a fully pressurised environment, cruising 200m below the surface at a rate of three knots. It features 14 circular windows that connect guests directly to the underwater world around them, and exterior lighting to subtly illuminate passing sealife. The interiors are intentionally flexible with a number of configurations available, ranging from a restaurant offering deep-sea dining to a subaquatic casino. And, given that the submarine runs solely on battery power and can operate non-stop for 24 hours, it could even host an all-night rave.

“The UWEP will shake up both the submarine and hospitality industry and lead the way in bespoke underwater events,” says Bert Houtman, founder and CEO of U-Boat Worx. “We will not only present a stellar experience for the most discerning clientele, but also a business opportunity that will benefit entrepreneurs and contribute to our understanding of the oceans.”

Taking It Slow

Belmond reimagines slow travel with the latest addition to its Les Bateaux Belmond collection.

With weary city dwellers eager to escape the breakneckspeed of modern life, slow travel is gathering pace. As such, Belmond is strengthening its portfolio with a new barge that will gently amble along the waterways of France’s Champagne region from May 2023.

The luxury vessel – christened Coquelicot – will set a new standard for slow sailing in the region, thanks to the interiors of Humbert & Poyet, who have been tasked with creating an intimate sanctuary on the water.

On board are three double cabins, each with marble en suite bathrooms, and an indoor lounge featuring a champagne bar. The star of the show however is the top deck with two al fresco lounges, an open kitchen and a shaded dining area – ideal for taking in the views.

In crafting the interiors, Humbert & Poyet sought to capture the essence of Champagne, looking to the region’s character to inform the colour and material palette. Local fabrics in earthy tones will honour the province’s agricultural heritage, while fluted walls and a selection of artwork pay homage to the land’s glorious present. Coquelicot’s namesake, the red poppy, can be found in subtle references throughout, from the hand-cut red marble side tables to the tone-on-tone handpainted petals that line the hallway, while the lounge’s skylight is a celebration of Champagne’s water mapping legacy.

The guest experience is further elevated by a partnership with Maison Ruinart, offering an immersion into the world’s oldest champagne house, founded in Reims in 1729. Coquelicot passengers will be treated to a five-course private tasting lunch by Maison Ruinart’s Chef-in-Residence Valérie Radou, who will work alongside a Head Chef for a four-hands cooking experience. A true lesson in French art de vivre, the menu will include five seasonal dishes inspired by regional cuisine, paired with prestigious cuvées such as Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Dom Ruinart Rosé.

As part of the collaboration, guests will also enjoy unrivalled access to Taissy vineyard, where they will learn about Maison Ruinart’s pioneering viti-forestry project and partake in a technical tasting led by a Maison Ambassador. To ensure each passenger has a truly personalised voyage, a Guest Experience Executive will curate a bespoke itinerary, selecting activities from the likes of an art-focused tour of Champagne to epicurean visits to Europe’s secret wine producers.

Privacy and flexibility are key to the nextgeneration cruise experience, as Partner Ship Design explain.

In April this year Aida Cruises christened the latest addition to its fleet, equipped with new features designed to elevate the cruise experience. Like every new venture from the operator, Aida Cosma is not just another ship, it represents new thinking, a new approach and the way in which the brand intends to develop into the future. It’s the latest milestone of journey that never stops. For Aida Cruises, the journey began with Aida Cara and since those early days, Partner Ship Design has worked closely with the group to develop its vision for the look and feel of the brand.

Based on the Helios-Class platform, Aida Cosma ranks among the largest ships of the world cruise fleet; it was therefore vital to devise a floorplan that was flexible, offering spaces for both privacy and socialising. The general arrangement layout of the Helios Class, or XL-Class as Carnival Corporation call it, was developed by Partner Ship Design in collaboration with Carnival, and served as a platform for other ships within the group portfolio, including Mardi Gras and Celebration, Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, and P&O´s Iona and Arvia.

Aida however wanted to distinguish its product, and so implemented the general arrangement layout before differentiating through design and amenities. Standing in the tradition of the Aida philosophy, Cosma features the Theatrium, a multi-functional space at the heart of the ship, marrying the theatre and the atrium and connecting day and evening activities both horizontally and vertically. It’s a marketplace of possibilities and the epitome of a timeless and multifunctional space. The concept was first presented in 2007, and has since been developed and enhanced for every new ship.

The successful elements from previous vessels have also been enhanced across the interiors, with the scheme showcasing contemporary modern design and emotional atmospheres, combining the privacy of a living room with exciting and high-energy experiences. Partner Ship Design also sought to be daring and try something new. The innovative food and beverage concepts for example reach new heights thanks to the addition of the Beach House Restaurant, which is inspired

by the heritage of Baltic seaside diners and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a bright yet cosy atmosphere. Another new eatery, Ristorante Mamma Mia Restaurant, offers Italian-style joie de vivre hospitality, while Fuego – the signature buffet restaurant – has been expanded for a more spacious and relaxed dining experience.

For relaxation and entertainment, more open deck space is provided by the ocean pool deck located at the stern of the ship. It features an infinity pool and an entertainment stage with large LED screen and tiered spectator seating. In addition to the wide range of activities on existing ships, Aida Cosma caters to families and children through a ninja experience and a threedeck indoor climbing net with dry-slide. The new boulder wall and hanging bridge round out the comprehensive offerings.

In all, Partner Ship Design has contributed to the continuation of the Aida Cruises journey, creating harmonious and exciting interiors for all passenger and crew areas.

The Making of Aida Cosma

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