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VASCO DA GAMA

Table of Contents

VASCO DA GAMA - nicko cruises' second ocean-going ship

The vasco da gama - the proven cruise ship, description of our cabin, waterfront restaurant - deck 7, club bistro - deck 11 aft, mediterranean restaurant - deck 8 aft, fusion restaurant - deck 8 aft, the grill - deck 8, alfresco grill - deck 11, ocean bar - deck 8, captain's club & the mix bar - deck 8, blue room - deck 8, oasis bar - deck 10, lido bar and the cappuccino's - deck 11, dome & nightclub - deck 12, sports offers, spa - deck 11, entertainment, children on board, cruises under covid 19 conditions, vasco da gama and the environment, vasco da gama - data and facts, current position vasco da gama, conclusion and evaluation of the ship.

“Small ships. Great experiences. ”This is the motto of the Stuttgart-based company nicko cruises 26 river boats on three continents. In 2019, the shipping company added ocean voyages to its program. The cruise ships WORLD VOYAGER and VASCO DA GAMA have been driving for the company since 2021.

Named after a Portuguese navigator and explorer of the world, VASCO DA GAMA has 609 cabins and suites. In theory, the ship can hold a maximum of 1.490 passengers. In practice, however, there shouldn't be more than 1.000 guests on board. The company specifies this value as a target value based on previous market research. The difference to the maximum capacity is explained by the shipping company's pricing policy. Because of the generously calculated 15 percent surcharge for solo travelers, the ship is particularly interesting for this clientele.

VASCO DA GAMA - at the Ostseekai in Kiel

In 1993 the ship went under the name "Statendam" for the Holland America Line (Carnival group) in service. In autumn 2015 it moved to P&O Australia within the Carnival Group and was renamed “Pacific Eden”. In spring 2019, the then British cruise operator CMV took over Pacific Eden, named it VASCO DA GAMA and prepared it for use by the German subsidiary brand TransOcean Kreuzfahrten. As a result of the corona pandemic, the niche provider CMV was forced to file for bankruptcy. The Portuguese company group Mystic Invest acquired the ship at a bargain price for its German branch nicko cruises.

VASCO DA GAMA in Rønne / Bornholm

VASCO DA GAMA - on Langelinie quay in Copenhagen  

VASCO DA GAMA in everyday cruising

It takes a trip with VASCO DA GAMA to experience its strengths. At first glance, the aging cruise ship does not fit into the world of modern, floating amusement parks. The VASCO DA GAMA, meanwhile, offers cruise experiences just as ship travelers enjoyed long ago. Lots of space, an atrium extending over three decks, elegantly designed public areas, spacious and tastefully decorated bars, lounges and restaurants and lavish teak decks are available to guests.

At full capacity, 550 friendly and professional hosts take care of the guests. The atmosphere on board the ship is familiar. The VASCO DA GAMA concept was developed primarily for the German-speaking market. The language on board is German and English.

The VASCO DA GAMA offers its guests indoor, outdoor and balcony cabins as well as a number of suites. The catalog names 16 cabin categories. It is due to the age of the ship that the quota of cabins and suites with balconies is no more than 25 percent. Three quarters of the cabins are either inside or ocean view cabins. Apart from that, all cabins and suites are comfortably furnished and offer the comfort you are used to from modern cruise ships.

The 124 inside cabins, there are three categories, require the lowest prices. The size of these cabins varies between 16 to 17 square meters. The 336 outside cabins are slightly larger at 16 to 18 square meters. Individual cabins have obstruction of view or portholes instead of windows. The balcony cabins on the 9th and 10th deck are each 21 square meters. The size of the suites is between 45 square meters (category 15 - suite with balcony) and 102 square meters (category 16 - penthouse suite).

During our Baltic Sea cruise, which we completed in August 2021, we lived in balcony cabin # 10074 on the top cabin deck. It offers contemporary comfort on an area of ​​21 square meters. Warm wood tones and the blue-ground carpeting dominate the room. The beds are high and comfortable. Cabinets and drawers offer enough storage space. The TV set, which is set up to receive various German television programs, is similar in size to the WORLD VOYAGER televisions, whose considerable size initially surprised us.

VASCO DA GAMA - balcony cabin 10074

VASCO DA GAMA - balcony cabin 10074 

The narrow sanitary area does not visually withstand the living space. It reveals the true age of the ship. The cabin lacks a shower, instead there is a small whirlpool bath with a high, uncomfortable entry. A problem that the predominantly older passengers should not particularly appreciate.

Gastronomy - restaurants, bars and lounges

A proverb says, "Eating and drinking keep body and soul together". Good food and appropriate drinks create the best conditions for well-being and a healthy life. On board the VASCO DA GAMA, five restaurants and six bars and lounges are competing for the guests' favor.

Dining options

Diverse and varied meals are offered to guests at all times of the day. The Waterfront Restaurant and the Club Bistro buffet restaurant are always well frequented. The careful and customer-oriented service makes the guests happy at all times.

The main restaurant on board the VASCO DA GAMA is the waterfront restaurant located aft. Its capacity is approximately 340 seats. The remaining restaurants with service are much smaller. On the occasion of the Sars-COV-19 pandemic, like in the other restaurants, around half of the seats will be occupied. The stylish waterfront restaurant is open for all main meals. The guests are given different menu suggestions for lunch and dinner every day. The dishes did not repeat themselves over the course of our twelve day trip. The guests choose from five-course menu suggestions, "normal" and vegan dishes. The menu also includes tried and tested "classics". The dishes are nicely decorated and extremely tasty. The range of wines to accompany the dishes is varied. The on-board kitchens are managed by a German chef.

The spacious Club Bistro buffet restaurant is located in the aft area of ​​the ship on both sides of the ship. In order to prevent infections, self-service is suspended. Service staff place the selected dishes on plates and bowls. The offer is very varied. On warmer, dry days, guests use the uncovered outdoor area of ​​the restaurant behind the Club Bistro. 

The name is program. The "Mediterranean", adorned with large-format photos of the Italian film actress Sophia Loren, offers its visitors ambitious Mediterranean cuisine.

VASCO DA GAMA - Waterfront Mediterranean

VASCO DA GAMA - Waterfront Mediterranean 

The "Fusion", equipped with Far Eastern stylistic elements, makes use of elements from European and Asian cuisine. We tested the restaurant and were satisfied.

VASCO DA GAMA - Fusion restaurant

The only surcharge restaurant on board the ship is The Grill. The elegantly furnished restaurant with around 100 seats focuses on grilled specialties (fish and meat).

VASCO DA GAMA - The Grill

VASCO DA GAMA - The Grill 

Not a restaurant in the strict sense of the word, and yet loved by some guests. From late in the evening until two in the morning, the grill station in the area of ​​the indoor pool serves salads, pizza, currywurst, doner kebab, cheese burger or french fries.

VASCO DA GAMA - Alfresco grill

Bars and lounges 

The deck plan shows six locations and a café bar under the heading Bars & Lounges. In addition to the tasteful furnishings, the price / performance ratio for all types of drinks is particularly noteworthy. The price level differs pleasantly from the prices on US cruise ships. Incidentally, coffee and water are available from machines around the clock.

VASCO DA GAMA - Club Bistro - water and coffee station

Our preferred bar is near the theater.

VASCO DA GAMA - Ocean Bar

VASCO DA GAMA - Ocean Bar 

The Captain's Club and the MIX Bar are located amidships on the eighth deck. The MIX Bar is also known as the Sports Bar.

The spacious, dim Blue Room adjoins the MIX Bar. The bar is one of the venues for musical entertainment, which is why it is always well attended in the evening.

VASCO DA GAMA - Blue Room

On the open deck of the outdoor pool, the small, inconspicuous Oasis Bar provides sun-hungry guests with refreshing drinks.

In the area of ​​the indoor pool are the Lido Bar and the Cappuccino's Café Bar.

VASCO DA GAMA - Pool deck - Lido Bar

VASCO DA GAMA - pool deck - cappuccinos 

The favorite place of the night owls, the supercooled night club, is in the front part of the ship.

VASCO DA GAMA - The Dome

VASCO DA GAMA - The Dome 

Sport and wellness

The three upper decks offer sporty guests a wide range of options. The open pool is located aft on deck 10. A covered pool, two whirlpools and the associated sunbathing areas were set up amidships on deck 11. The protective roof of this area must be opened. The large fitness studio equipped with modern equipment is also located on the eleventh deck. There are spaces for ball games and a short jogging track on deck 12 in the stern area. On the 6th deck, the boat and promenade deck, the 400 meter long teak path around the entire ship is ideal for long walks. The wide deck is also used as a sunbathing area.

The spa areas were arranged at the level of the fitness center on both sides of the ship.

VASCO DA GAMA - Jade Spa

The ambitious entertainment program on board the VASCO DA GAMA is mainly divided into daily show programs, live music in the bars, lectures and presentations of the travel destinations. These on-board activities are supplemented by breathing and yoga exercises, games, quizzes and much more. Noisy on-board entertainment, on the other hand, is dispensed with.

The show program takes place in Hollywood's Show Lounge on the seventh and eighth decks. On our trip, two chanteuses, two singers, four dancers and two acrobats contributed to the evening entertainment. The quality of the shows is comparable to that of German and international competitors. The show-makers have the ambition to let all actors on board appear at an event as often as possible. Compliment!

Many words could be said about the conversation on board the ship. What excited us are the library (closed due to the corona pandemic) and the adjoining reading room, The Study. The noble and stylishly furnished room is a place of silence. It is suitable for meditating, for observing the landscape or for reading.

VASCO DA GAMA - The Study

The show kitchen “The Auditorium” reminds us of that MS Rotterdam (HAL). It is used as a show kitchen on selected trips. Usually it serves as a meeting place before excursions and disembarkation.

VASCO DA GAMA - The Auditorium

Mention should also be made of the Shopping Galleria, which offers a wide range.

VASCO DA GAMA - Store

VASCO DA GAMA - Store 

The two leading German competitors in the cruises sector target the entire family. The VASCO DA GAMA is not necessarily a family ship. However, it is heading for attractive destinations, and it is big enough that it is also interesting for families. The spacious children's area was created aft on the twelfth deck for children traveling with them. We hear from the caregivers that the facility's capacity is designed for up to 100 children of different ages. On our trip, there were two small children and five children on board who used the children's club. Their parents spoke enthusiastically about the care.

VASCO DA GAMA - children's area

VASCO DA GAMA - children's area 

The cabin and restaurant service offered on board the VASCO DA GAMA is committed and, given the fact that the ship did not complete its maiden voyage until mid-July 2021, it is already very well established.

The VASCO DA GAMA is currently in use in northern European waters. Depending on the destination, organized and “free” shore excursions are permitted. The hygiene measures practiced are based on the official requirements of the destination ports. In addition, additional security measures apply on board the VASCO DA GAMA. These include, among other things, the mask requirement in the public areas, the service in the restaurants and time-consuming, hour-long disinfection of the ship before accepting new guests.

Environmentalists have great reservations about cruise ships. The ship owner tries to keep the “footprint” of the cruise ship small. Sustainability is based on three pillars.

• The ship does not run on heavy fuel oil, but on low-sulfur MGO (Marine Gas Oil). MGO has significantly less fine dust and soot than heavy fuel oil.
• The emissions are "washed" by means of an SCR catalytic converter, i. H. the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas are reduced by up to 95 percent through the use of urea. The view of the chimney shows no dark exhaust plume.
• A biological "Martin membrane filter system" is used to purify the ship's wastewater. Suspended solids are reduced to "zero" using membrane technology. Disinfectants are no longer required for wastewater treatment.

VASCO DA GAMA - black soot clouds are a thing of the past

Cruise Turtle tested VASCO DA GAMA in August 2021 on a 12-day trip to the Baltic Sea. Departure port: Kiel ; Destination port Bremerhaven . The destinations were on the route list Copenhagen , Rønne / Bornholm, Stockholm , Tallinn / Estonia, Visby / Gotland (canceled due to strong winds) and Gothenburg . The trip was supported by nicko cruises. Our thanks go to the shipping company. With regard to our journalistic independence, we refer to the chapter "We are independent".

The VASCO DA GAMA has been in use for 28 years. The medium-sized ocean-going ship stands out pleasantly from the usual tourist mass business. The shipping company's target groups are primarily couples in their prime and senior citizens. But families are also welcome, as the kids' club proves.

VASCO DA GAMA - beer festival

Although it has only been in use for a short time, the VASCO DA GAMA presents itself as a sparkling clean cruise ship. The bars, lounges, restaurants and shops are lavishly decorated. The restaurants offer varied and tasty food. The bar menu caters for high demands at acceptable prices. The service is well established. The entertainment on offer is amusing and entertaining, and there is something for every taste. In short: the ship has a lot of charm. We especially recommend it to friends of classic cruises.

Booking options VASCO DA GAMA

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Nicko Cruises To Keep Vasco Da Gama Close to Home in 2021

• February 10, 2021

The new Vasco Da Gama for Nicko Cruises will spend her inaugural cruise season for the German brand sailing from German ports.

The company announced its deployment this week, with the ship sailing cruises between May and September from Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Kiel.

“With the departures to and from Germany, we enable our guests to travel to and from comfortably and safely,” said Guido Laukamp, ​​managing director, Nicko Cruises, which is under the Mystic Cruises umbrella.

“We are responding to the needs and wishes of our customers in these current times.”

Among the highlights is a 15-day cruise to the North Cape in July. There are also sailings from Germany to the Baltic throughout the season. 

One unique sailing in September sees the ship sail from Bremerhaven to England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. On this 15-day trip, the ship calls on the British Isles, Scottish Highlands, the Irish cities of Cork and Dublin and in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Previously sailing for Cruise & Maritime Voyages and its Transocean brand, Mystic Cruises acquired the Vasco Da Gama at auction in October 2020. 

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CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko

Former names: vasco da gama (cmv), pacific eden (p&o), ms statendam.

Cruise line Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises)

• Valletta (Malta)
• Bremerhaven (Bremen, Germany)

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko current position

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 38.47448 N / -8.79456 W) cruising en route to PT SET. The AIS position was reported 13 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko current cruise is 6 days, one-way from Lisbon to Valletta . Prices start from USD 1242 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 05 May, 2024 and ends on 11 May, 2024 .

Specifications of CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko Itineraries

Cmv vasco da gama-nicko review, review of cmv vasco da gama-nicko.

The 1993-built Vasco da Gama cruise ship was launched as "MS Statendam" (for Holland America Line ) and before CMV UK (Cruise and Maritime Voyages) was operated (as "Pacific Eden") by P&O Australia in the period 2015-2019. The sisterships are MS Ryndam (now Celestyal Journey) and Pacific Explorer (ex Dawn Princess) .

For CMV, the vessel (IMO 8919245) was Bahamas- flagged (MMSI number 234890000) and registered in Nassau . For Nicko Cruises ( fleet ), Vasco da Gama was reflagged to Portugal/Madeira (MMSI 255806445) and registered in Funchal Madeira .

Currently, the ship is owned by Mystic Invest (via the subsidiary Mystic Cruises ) and operated by Nicko Cruises ( fleet ) via Schiffsreisen GmbH.

History - construction and ownership

On March 7, 2018, the UK-based CMV announced the purchase of MS Pacific Eden from P&O Australia. The ship (renamed "Vasco da Gama") was operated by CMV via the subsidiary Transocean Tours (maiden voyage on April 23, 2019). The official christening ceremony was held in Port Bremerhaven Germany .

The vessel was CMV's largest. The name "MS Vasco da Gama" was announced on March 21, 2018. Among the proposed ship names were Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco da Gama, Pytheas, Henry Hudson. The short drydock refurbishment in Singapore (April 2019) included mainly livery change and rebranding. Then the boat was repositioned through Suez Canal for an Inaugural season in Northern Europe (May-October).

With its newest ship CMV targeted mainly the German and Australasian markets. During summer 2019 (May through October), the boat was operated by "TransOcean Kreuzfahrten" (CMV's German brand) and homeported in Bremerhaven and Kiel . During winter 2020 (December through March) the boat was operated by CMV and deployed in Australia (homeported in Fremantle-Perth and Adelaide ).

On July 20, 2020, the CMV's parent company SQTL (South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd) was placed into administration / filed for bankruptcy . The UK-based company traded as "Cruise and Maritime Voyages" (trademarked brand). In June, SQTL-CMV entered into emergency talks with potential investors and lenders. Unfortunately, the company's efforts to secure funding and stay afloat during the Coronavirus crisis failed.

All CMV ships were placed on the secondhand market and open for sale. In October was planned the vessels to be auctioned via the London UK-based company CW Kellock & Co Ltd (Ship Auctioneers, Brokers and Valuers). Biddings (deadline in brackets) opened for Vasco Da Gama (Oct 8), Columbus (Oct 12), Astor (Oct 15), Magellan (Oct 19) and Marco Polo (Oct 22).

• (October 8) The 27-year-old CMV Vasco Da Gama was sold to Mystic Invest Holding (Portugal) for USD 10,187 million.
• (October 12) The 31-year-old CMV Columbus was sold to Seajets Ferries Greece for USD 5,321 million.
• (October 15) The 33-year-old CMV Astor was sold to an undisclosed buyer (sales price USD 1,71 million) who intends to resell it for scrap metal.
• (October 19) The 35-year-old CMV Magellan was sold to Seajets Ferries Greece for USD 3,431 million.
• (October 22) The 55-year-old CMV Marco Polo was sold to an undisclosed buyer/private investors (sales price USD 2,77 million) who first offered the vessel for charter (cruiser or hotel ship) but in December sold it for scrap metal to Alang Shipbreaking India .

On November 21, 2020, CMV Vasco da Gama left London-Tilbury en route to Lisbon Portugal , where arrived and docked on November 25. In December-January, the ship remained docked at Port Setubal (Trem Naval docks).

In mid-January 2021, Vasco da Gama's new shipowner announced that the vessel will remain operational (used for passenger shipping under Mystic's brand "Nicko Cruises") to serve predominantly the British and German source markets.

Nicko's Vasco da Gama cruises were open for booking in January 2021.

Decks and Cabins

Vasco da Gama staterooms (a total of 630) are well-appointed, spacious and in 21 cabin categories - graded according to deck position and size. Cabin sizes range from 175 ft2 (16 m2) for a Standard Inside up to 1095 ft2 (102 m2) for a Royal Penthouse Suite. Staterooms' average size is 200 ft2 (19 m2).

The cruise ship has 120x Balcony Cabins (categories Superior and Premium) as well as 29x Deluxe Balcony Suites (including 1x Royal Penthouse). The majority of twin-bedded staterooms convert to double-bed cabins. A limited number of cabins (category 10) are with interconnecting doors and are suitable for families and groups, providing sleeping capacity for up to 7 people.

All passenger staterooms are air-conditioned and equipped with smart HDTV, radio, direct-dial phone, electronic safe box (in the closet), en-suite bathrooms.

The boat has 13 decks , of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Vasco da Gama has three MDRs/Main Dining Rooms - Waterfront Fusion/Eurasia, Waterfront Mediterranean, and Waterfront Restaurant. Onboard dining is flexible (without fixed sittings) allowing passengers to dine where and when they want. All meals are included in the cruise fare - breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, 5-course dinner, even late-night snacks.

The ship also has two specialty restaurants (at a fee per person) - Chef's Table, and The Grill. Another option is the casual Club Bistro (complimentary Lido Buffet restaurant).

Main courses range from seafood, rack of lamb, escalope of veal, beef medallions, chicken chasseur, Asian stir-fries, Italian pasta, traditional roasts - all available for guests to savor. Vegetarian meals are available to tantalize taste buds, featured on every menu together with health-conscious dishes. Light salads to refresh are offered before you finish meals - fresh fruits, international cheese platter, delicious desserts. Red and white wines are served with the meals at extra cost. In all bars is offered draught beer.

The Wine Bar (Cellar Door) is a boutique winery with a large selection of wines. Cellar Door offers daily wine tastings and classes, and premium wines available for purchasing and pre-ordering for dinner.

Follows the complete list of Vasco da Gama restaurants and food bars.

• MDRs (Waterfront Eurasia, Waterfront Mediterranean, and Waterfront Restaurant). The Waterfront Restaurant is the main dining room which operates with open-seating and a la carte menus (Your Choice Dining) for breakfast and lunch and offers a 4-course dinner menu. Part of the Waterfront Restaurant is the Wine Room. It serves the CMV's "Chef's Table" dinner package.
• Club Bistro (buffet).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The 3-deck Atrium is the ship's focal point houseing the Reception Desk, Shore Excursions Office, Cruise management Office, Shopping Galleria (duty-free shops and boutiques), Photo Gallery. Elsewhere onboard, guests will find a Casino/Sports Lounge, Auditorium/Cinema, Card Room, two Conference Rooms, Library, Neptune's Lounge (former Life Photo Studio), Gelato's (ice cream bar), Cappuccino's (specialty coffee shop).

At Hollywood's (2-tiered show lounge) guests may enjoy "big show" entertainment from the resident singers and dancers or one of the special guest acts.

The Dome, with its panoramic seascapes, is a relaxing venue to watch the sea or chat with fellow passengers. In the evenings, The Dome turns into a disco nightclub.

The Blue Room is the perfect venue to enjoy live musical entertainment.

In December 2022, Nicko Cruises officially inaugurated Neptune’s Lounge (deck 10 midship) replacing the old Life Photo Studio. The bar lounge is an indoor venue (positioned in the area between the Balcony Suites) and is exclusive, allowing access to Suite passengers only. The new venue has a large TV and offers a wide range of complimentary beverages (soft drinks, fresh juices, wine by the glass, brand teas and coffees), light snacks and gourmet delicacies (all at no cost for the Suite occupants) like fresh-baked croissants, sandwiches, desserts, fruits. Newspapers and magazines are also provided.

Vasco da Gama features extensive sundeck areas along with starboard and portside Promenades (wraparound). There are two swimming pools (Oasis Pool for adults/Deck 10, and Main Pool/Deck 11), with the Main Pool covered by a retractable glass roof. The spacious sundeck on Deck 11 features a large swimming pool, 1 Jacuzzi/whirlpool, 2 hot tubs, Giant Chessboard, tennis tables, sunbathing areas fitted with padded chaise lounges, deckchairs, daybeds. This is also the place for the open-air deck parties held in the evenings.

Two sports courts (Tennis and Basketball) are also available. The well-appointed Wellness Center includes modern Gym and Spa facilities, Barger Shop, Hair and Beauty Salon, Aerobics Studio (for classes), Day Spa (massage rooms), Thermal Suites (saunas, aromatic steam rooms, Jacuzzi, heated benches, changing rooms, warm air room, monsoon rain showers).

Onboard entertainment program is based on live shows (at the Theater), guest speakers and entertainers (magicians, stand-up comedians, musicians), arts-craft specialists, trivia games. A photographic expert assists passengers in improving their photo-video skills. Evening entertainment consists of stylish grand-scale productions, cabarets, classical concerts, guest acts. During sea days, the ship's entertainment team arranges activities like morning quizzes or afternoon dance classes.

Children under 16 years old travel for free when are accommodated in additional beds (upper bunk/Pullman bed of sofabed) and accompanied by two full-paying adults. A 50% discount is offered for children (under 16) traveling with one full-paying adult.

Single supplement (for a two-bed cabin booked with single occupancy/categories 15 and 16) is 15%.

Nicko Itineraries

For Mystic Invest, the 2020-acquired cruise ship is operated by the Holding's German subsidiary and travel brand Nicko Cruises.

Nicko's Vasco Da Gama inaugural cruise season 2021-2022 (September 2021 through October 2022) included a total of 32 departure dates and 17 different itineraries. Signature destinations included Northern Europe/Baltic, Mediterranean, Western Europe/Atlantic Coast, Canary Islands (Spain), Madeira and Azores Islands (Portugal), North Africa (Morocco), Cape Verde Islands.

Vasco da Gama's first Around the World Voyage for Nicko was a roundtrip from Lisbon . The 181-day global itinerary (October 10, 2023, through April 8, 2024) visited destinations in Africa (Morocco, Cape Verde, St Helena UK, Namibia, South Africa), the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka), East Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Philippines), the South Pacific Ocean (Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Cook Islands NZ, French Polynesia), as well as ports in Central America/Caribbean. You can see the itinerary in the ship's Wiki section .

CMV Itineraries

CMV Vasco da Gama cruise itinerary program started with the "inaugural cruise" from Singapore to Amsterdam Holland (April 23, 2019). The 46-day repositioning (via Suez Canal ) visited ports in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal. The repositioning cruise was also offered as a 45-day itinerary to Tilbury-London UK .

From Amsterdam and London, the new CMV ship offered a World Cruise (through Panama Canal ) to ports in the Caribbean, Mexico, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. On October 9, 2019, from London-Tilbury started the 53-day southbound repositioning cruise to Sydney NSW (arriving December 1). In Australia, the liner was homeported in Adelaide, Fremantle, Sydney, and also in Auckland NZ. From Singapore was offered the 14-day "Treasures of Southeast Asia" itinerary (to Borneo, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam) that was combinable into B2B (26-day "Tropical Escape" itinerary) out of Fremantle.

The 71-day World Cruise from Fremantle to London-Tilbury departed on February 12, 2020. In Europe, CMV Vasco da Gama was operated by shipowner's German brand "Transocean Kreuzfahrten" and homeported in Kiel and Bremerhaven .

Note: For more inaugural cruise itinerary details and the canceled 2020-2021 CMV Vasco da Gama program see at the ship's Wiki section .

CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko - user reviews and comments

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CMV Vasco da Gama-Nicko Wiki

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 5881) has volume 55877 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 7637 tons, max draught 7,7 m. The powerplant is based on Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S, ZA40S) with combined output 34,56 MW (46345 hp). The registered shipowner is MYSTIC OCEAN SA, while the registered manager is V SHIPS LEISURE SAM.

The Fincantieri Monfalcone -built cruise ship started its carrier under the name "MS Statendam". It was operated by Holland America Line (1993 to 2015), when was drydock refurbished and transferred to P&O Australia's fleet as "Pacific Eden" (homeported in Sydney NSW). Another newcomer for P&O was Pacific Explorer (former Dawn Princess) - joined the fleet in early 2017. By design, the vessel is identical with MS Ryndam (Celestyal Journey) and also to the Holland America Line ships Veendam (Aegean Majesty) and Maasdam (CFC Renaissance) .

Fun fact is, that this vessel has two namesakes - the CroisiEurope -owned riverboat ms Vasco de Gama and the CMA-CGM -owned boxship Vasco De Gama. The 2015-launched container vessel is 175,000 GT tons and can carry up to 18,000 TEUs (containers).

Pacific Eden's last cruise for P&O Australia was the 18-day repositioning itinerary from Adelaide to Singapore

Nicko World Cruise 2023-2024

Next table shows Vasco da Gama's first Around the World Voyage for Nicko (181-day itinerary roundtrip from Portugal).

The voyage was also available for booking in smaller segments:

• (2023 Oct 10) 24 days from Lisbon to Cape Town ($4320 pp)
• (2023 Nov 3) 15 days from Cape Town to Port Louis ($3370)
• (2023 Nov 18) 14 days Port Louis to Male ($2990)
• (2023 Dec 2) 18 days from Male to Singapore ($4040)
• (2023 Dec 20) 17 days from Singapore to Manila ($3910)
• (2023 Dec 20) 110 days from Singapore to Lisbon ($26630)
• (2024 Jan 6) 22 days from Manila to Sydney NSW ($4700)
• (2024 Jan 28) 20 days from Sydney to Auckland NZ ($4600)
• (2024 Feb 17) 22 days from Auckland to Puerto Vallarta ($4920)
• (2024 Mar 10) 13 days from Puerto Vallarta to Willemstad Curacao ($2920)
• (2024 Mar 23) 16 days from Willemstad to Lisbon ($2865)

The full voyage was priced from EUR 40515 pp (USD 42580 per person) with double occupancy.

Pacific Eden 2017 refurbishment review

During the ship's 12-day drydock refurbishment (July 22 - August 9, in Singapore) were conducted general maintenance works, as well as renovations to the Conference Rooms (deck 7), Theater (Marquee Show Lounge on 2 levels, decks 7-8), The Dome Bar (deck 12), Kids Zone (deck 12), Photo Gallery (deck 7), Spa and Gym facilities (deck 11). All crew cabin bathrooms were also renovated.

• The 2-story Marquee Lounge was re-decorated and its color scheme was changed (to the new black-white-emerald green). Also, custom-made wallpaper and artworks were added.
• The Dome Lounge was updated with a new nautical theme (dark navy blue and white hues), drapes were changed and soft lighting was installed.
• Mini-Suites and some veranda cabins received new carpets and balcony furniture.
• The ship's cinema, wellness complex (spa and gym) and kids and teen clubs (HQ and HQ+) were also renovated.

Most public areas were updated with new carpeting (a total of 11,000 m2 / 118,400 ft2 of new carpets). The ship also received the new P&O Australia trademarked hull livery (Southern Cross-themed).

The "Statendam to Eden" cruise ship transformation was done by the Swedish company "Tillberg Design" during a scheduled drydock refurbishment in Sydney NSW . Unique features of the new ship are the 3 dining rooms with different cuisine choices (Italian, Asian and the traditional for P&O Australia "Waterfront Restaurant"), boutique winery with premium Australian wines, indoor cinema, cookery school, new Salt Grill Bar (for Luke Mangan cocktails), large indoor-outdoor seating buffet restaurant, large main pool area (covered with sliding roof) and the new P&OEdge facility (active sports activities program).

CMV Vasco da Gama inaugural itineraries 2019

MS Vasco da Gama officially joined CMV-Cruise And Maritime Voyages on April 5, 2019, as the fleet's 6th vessel. Following the acquisition, the vessel's registry/flagstate was changed from Netherlands (MMSI 244078000 of P&O Pacific Eden) to Bahamas (MMSI 311000891 of CMV Vasco da Gama).

Next are listed the inaugural voyages for CMV.

46-day repositioning cruise from Asia to Europe (Singapore to Amsterdam). Fly-cruise deals were offered with cruise fare-inclusive flights from UK (London or Manchester) on April 22, 2019. CMV promo deals "buy one get one free" were initially priced from GBP 3500 pp (full fare GBP 7000) for 2 passengers sharing an inside cabin.

54-day repositioning cruise from Europe to Australia (Amsterdam to Sydney)

As itinerary segments were offered 50-day Amsterdam to Auckland (Oct 8), 53-days London to Sydney (Oct 9) and 49-day London to Auckland (Oct 9).

CMV Vasco da Gama cruise itineraries 2020-2021 (Australia/CANCELED)

For 2020-2021, CMV scheduled a total of 24 voyages for the ship Vasco da Gama. Following the COVID-related suspension of voyages (since March 2020), the boat's itinerary program was planned to start on October 9, with the 56-day relocation voyage from England to Australia.

While deployed in Australia-New Zealand, CMV Vasco da Gama had scheduled roundtrips from homeports Adelaide (South Australia) and Fremantle. The ex-Australia itineraries (all canceled) included 2-day "Weekend Escape" (Adelaide to Port Lincoln ) and 7-day "Southern Explorer" Adelaide to Melbourne and Sydney NSW.

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• Northern countries Cruise - from Kiel

Northern countries Cruise - from Kiel - 104173

16 days vasco da gama ( mystic cruises ).

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Evaluations

Standard included services

The travel price is valid per person and includes:.

• Cruise from Kiel (Germany) / to Kiel (Germany)
• All harbour charges and taxes
• Participation in board events and use of most of the ship facilities

Catering on board

• All meals (in some speciality restaurants surcharges are possible)
• Coffee/cake or midnight snack depending on the daily schedule

Service during the trip

• German-speaking tour guide
• Luggage transport at embarkation and disembarkation

Other services

• Audio system for excursions

e-hoi additionally offers you:

• Personal contact
• Independent advice from Swiss experts
• 5 days per week availability

Not included are:

Personal expenses on board, additional services, such as, e.g. hairdressers, massages, etc., tips on board, shore excursions, coach tours, walking tours, travel insurance.

Package: Cruise

For this package the following General terms and conditions apply

Conditions of travel:

The indicated cruise prices are special rates that can be subject to special terms of payment and cancellation according to the Terms and Conditions of the organizer.

The advertised cruises, prices, itineraries, etc. are not binding and all information is subject to change by the tour operators.

Deck plan - Vasco da Gama

• About 16 sqm
• 1 double bed or 2 single beds, partially 3rd and 4th bed
• Bathroom with shower, WC
• seating area, partially sofa bed
• Flatscreen TV
• Adjustable air-conditioning

• Bathroom with shower or bath tub, WC
• seating area

• About 17 sqm

• connecting doors
• Badezimmer mit Duschwanne, WC

• About 18 sqm
• 1 double bed (separable)

Customer evaluations - Vasco da Gama

214 evaluations, details on the overall evaluation, recommendation rate, all evaluations, dates & prices.

Top cruising area

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The award-winning nicko cruises experience

For more than 30 years, the nicko brand has been synonymous with unforgettable river travel experiences, offering top service and a personal touch at the best value for money, and all on a full programme of award-winning European River Cruises. Now, we also offer this same unrivalled experience aboard our ocean vessel – Vasco da Gama – giving you the opportunity to explore even more wonderful destinations around the world.

As a specialist in small-ship cruising, we not only draw on our own experience, but also on an international network of partners, in order to implement the nicko cruises philosophy. This allows us to deliver a river or ocean cruise experience unlike any other. English is spoken on all our ships and as you travel in the company of like-minded people, the experiences of the places you visit will combine with relaxing moments of onboard wellbeing.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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