Latest news with #Norway
Le Figaro
38 minutes ago
- Le Figaro
Set sail from home port: discover the world on MSC Cruises from Southampton
Seasoned travellers know that a journey's first moments set the tone for everything that follows. That is why embarking on one of MSC's cruises feels instantly different. You swap airport queues for a breezy drive or train ride, step aboard within minutes, and ease into Italian-inspired elegance long before the ship clears the Solent. From that smooth departure, an entire atlas unfurls, Norway's mirror-still fjords, Lisbon's sun-soaked hills, Lanzarote's volcanic moonscapes, woven together in one seamless holiday. Why Southampton matters Southampton is Britain's busiest cruise hub, purpose-built for seamless boarding and disembarkation. Terminals stand a short hop from the city's rail station, luggage vanishes at the curb and reappears outside your cabin. Better still, MSC schedules departures all year, so whether you crave winter auroras or midsummer tapas, there is always a voyage poised to leave with cruises from Southampton. Treat that convenience as the first perk of your cruise, not the last, because once you cross the gangway, the scenery only improves. Northern Europe: light, legends and Fjords Few routes showcase ship travel's magic like the Northern Europe itineraries. One morning you might wake to Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie gleaming like a shard of ice; two days later, you dock in Flåm, a hamlet dwarfed by vertical cliffs and ribbon waterfalls. MSC's seven-night programmes link such contrasts with striking ease. Highlights include: Rotterdam-Amsterdam, Netherlands – Cycle canal front paths, linger in the Rijksmuseum, and sip a locally roasted espresso in Jordaan before re-boarding for gourmet dinner at sea. – Cycle canal front paths, linger in the Rijksmuseum, and sip a locally roasted espresso in Jordaan before re-boarding for gourmet dinner at sea. Olden, Norway – Take a tender across glassy Nordfjord, then ride an open-air trolley to the emerald tongue of Briksdal Glacier. – Take a tender across glassy Nordfjord, then ride an open-air trolley to the emerald tongue of Briksdal Glacier. Ålesund, Norway – Art Nouveau façades meet Atlantic viewpoints; kayakers glide past pastel warehouses while eagles wheel overhead. Travellers with less time can sample the flavour on mini-cruises—two, three or five nights that slip into Le Havre for a fast train to Paris or into Zeebrugge for medieval Bruges. Short on days, rich in stories. Canary Islands and Madeira: perpetual spring at sea Sail southwest and the weather softens, colours brighten, voices lighten. Funchal welcomes with jacaranda-lined boulevards; cable cars climb to Monte's gardens perfumed by orchids and jasmine. On Tenerife, lunar trails wind around Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, while down in Las Palmas, the earthy joy of tapas meets sun-warmed sand along Las Canteras beach. MSC pairs these ports with languid sea days ideal for sun-lounging, poolside cinema or an indulgent afternoon thalassotherapy session. Fourteen nights slip by like a single golden afternoon. Western mediterranean and Iberia : culture in quick succession If variety sparks your wanderlust, the extended Western Med voyages deliver. Picture breakfast with La Coruña's Roman lighthouse on the horizon, a late-morning wander through Lisbon's Alfama alleyways, tapas counters in Bilbao by lunch, and open-air opera under Barcelona's stars after dusk. You see more capitals, taste more regional cuisines, and hear more languages in one fortnight than most travellers manage in a year—without ever packing a suitcase twice. Life aboard : elegance in motion MSC ships marry clean Italian design with clever engineering. Grand atriums feel airy thanks to sweeping staircases inset with sparkling Swarovski crystal; infinity-edge pools blur sea and sky; panoramic lifts reveal the horizon at every deck. Yet comfort is personal, too: Staterooms & Suites – Choose from sea-view balconies for morning coffee with gulls, or Yacht Club suites where a dedicated butler unlocks private lounges and secluded sun decks. – Choose from sea-view balconies for morning coffee with gulls, or Yacht Club suites where a dedicated butler unlocks private lounges and secluded sun decks. Dining – Rotisserie lamb scented with rosemary one evening, handmade gnocchi the next, and pan-Asian tasting menus when you crave something unexpected. Fresh ingredients, open kitchens, never a dress-code dilemma. – Rotisserie lamb scented with rosemary one evening, handmade gnocchi the next, and pan-Asian tasting menus when you crave something unexpected. Fresh ingredients, open kitchens, never a dress-code dilemma. Family Fun – Lego-themed playrooms, VR-equipped arcades, aqua parks and teen hangouts make 'Are we there yet?' a phrase of the past. – Lego-themed playrooms, VR-equipped arcades, aqua parks and teen hangouts make 'Are we there yet?' a phrase of the past. Evenings – Original production shows light up the theatre, while quieter souls sip aged Scotch in an art-lined lounge. I often split the night: first the jazz trio, then a moonlit stroll on the promenade deck. Balance is everything at sea. Shore experiences : local eyes, lasting memories Every destination hides layers unseen by casual visitors. That is why MSC partners with guides who call each port home. Join a marine biologist to spot puffins near Akureyri, cycle Dutch polders outside Amsterdam, or learn the art of Madeira wine blending in a centuries-old lodge. Booking excursions through the cruise line keeps logistics simple and ensures your euros support vetted local experts. Responsible voyaging Travel should enrich both guest and planet. MSC's newest vessels feature LNG propulsion, shore-to-ship power hookups, and advanced water-treatment technology that exceeds international standards. You feel the difference in quieter sail-aways and cleaner wake trails—proof that elegance and environmental care can share the same deck. Exceptional value, never « cheap » From time to time MSC releases limited-time cruise deals, adding onboard credit, drinks packages or reduced deposits. These offers create genuine value without diluting the premium experience, and they disappear as quickly as cabins fill. I recommend subscribing to the line's newsletter to catch them early; the best staterooms, after all, are finite. Your next chapter starts at the dock A cruise should feel like opening a well-written novel: effortless immersion, vibrant settings, characters who surprise you, and pages that practically turn themselves. That is precisely what MSC delivers from Southampton. One voyage might leave you hushed beneath Iceland's summer midnight sun; another, laughing over tapas under Barcelona's gothic spires. Yet the common thread is always the ship—a moving sanctuary of style, warmth and possibility. I have travelled by rail through the Alps, driven coast-to-coast across North America, even trekked on foot in Patagonia. Each mode has its charm, but only a cruise knits together so many destinations with so little friction. Step aboard, settle into that first flute of Prosecco, and feel the shoreline slip astern. Discovery is calling. Let Southampton be your gateway, and let MSC Cruises carry you to the next horizon—with elegance, emotion and a welcome as open as the sea itself.
Skift
2 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Norway Fjord Cruise Operator Says Delay to Emission Rules Is a ‘Scandal'
Norway's new fjord rules show how tourism and regulation can collide, and maybe even collaborate, to drive environmental change. Norway's new emissions rules for cruise ships have received a mixed reaction from operators already sailing with cleaner technology: They say the government may be letting bigger polluters off the hook. The country's long planned zero-emissions mandate for ships entering its iconic fjords begins in 2026. But it now only applies to vessels under 10,000 tons. Larger ships won't have to comply until 2032. 'This postponement from the government is a scandal. The authorities gave us industry players many years to develop solutions, and we delivered,' said Lasse Vangstein, chief communications and sustainability officer at Havila Voyages. 'We do not agree that this is as difficult as many players in the industry make it out to be. We understand that it may be challenging for the very large cruise ships, but there are alternative solutions that don't have to come at the expense of tourist inflow or value creation in the World Heritage areas,' Vangstein added. Skift contacted the operators of ships that are over 10,000 tons that run cruises in Norway. None responded but the international cruise industry as a whole, under the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), has pledged to reduce emissions to almost zero by 2050. Loophole Fears Others warn the 2032 delay creates a loophole: Large ships can anchor outside the protected fjords and ferry passengers in by land or smaller boat, potentially undermining the policy's climate goals. 'As the current regulation only applies to ships entering the heritage fjords directly, there is growing concern around vessels anchoring outside the protected zone and transporting guests overland without being subject to the same emission standards,' trade group Cruise Norway told Skift. The new law will apply to five fjords: Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Sunnylvsfjord, and Tafjord, all designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ships must also use shore power where available, rather than running fossil-fueled engines while docked. Norwegian officials say it's about protecting the iconic, fragile fjord landscape, and making cruise tourism more sustainable in the long term. 'This is an important breakthrough for our World Heritage fjords,' said Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. 'The zero-emission requirement will contribute to technological development and lower emissions, while also ensuring that the spectacular World Heritage fjords remain attractive tourist destinations.' Cruise Lines Invest in Greener Fleets Cruise operator Hurtigruten says it is developing what it says will be the world's first zero-emissions ship, powered by large sails with solar panels. Credit: Hurtigruten. Some cruise companies already sailing in Norway say they've made early moves to upgrade their fleets. Hurtigruten, a local cruise operator, told Skift that the 2026 rules won't apply to it immediately because their ships exceed the 10,000-tonne threshold. But it has still invested heavily in battery-hybrid technology. 'Of our fleet, four ships have been upgraded to battery-hybrid-powered ships: MS Richard With, MS Kong Harald, MS Nordlys, and MS Finnmarken. This is part of Hurtigruten's €100 million fleet upgrade investment announced in 2021,' a spokesperson said. Those hybrid ships reduce emissions by up to 25%, but the company acknowledges this won't be enough for the 2032 target. Hurtigruten says it is now working on what it calls 'the world's first zero-emission ship,' which it expects to launch by 2030. 'We are committed to delivering a ship that surpasses all others, in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability, within just a few years,' said CEO Hedda Felin in a previous statement. The vessel will be powered by a combination of wind, battery, and solar, with aerodynamic sails covered in solar panels, and capable of using power from the midnight sun during Norway's 24-hour daylight summers. Havila Voyages has invested in plug-in hybrid vessels powered by 86-ton battery packs, enabling up to four hours of silent, zero-emission sailing. It plans to transition to biogas by 2028 and hydrogen propulsion by around 2030. The Stakes for Norwegian Tourism The fjords where the new rules apply generate roughly $22 million annually for the local economy, according to Business Norway. Geirangerfjord, for example, sees around 800,000 visitors per year, half of them arriving by cruise ship. In 2023, Norway had around 54.9 million cruise passengers in total, with demand particularly strong from U.S. travelers. The rules could reshape that traffic over time, especially if larger cruise ships choose to bypass fjord zones or reduce the number of calls. The Norwegian government told Skift that the rules for large vessels were delayed because the technology for lower-emission solutions for smaller vessels is more advanced. 'The technology for zero-emission solutions is more commercially mature for smaller vessels, and it has been necessary to implement different phase-in timelines,' state secretary Astrid Hoem said. 'It is positive that some operators have already made efforts to decarbonize, and we expect that more will prepare to comply with the regulation coming into force.' Infrastructure Gaps Pose a Challenge Implementing the new requirements means building out charging and shore-power infrastructure in remote coastal areas, something the government is working on. Cruise Norway said there are also problems with access to on shore power. 'Flåm has received NOK 100 million in government funding for shore power infrastructure, while Geiranger – where the main challenge is access to grid capacity – has not yet received comparable support. This highlights the need for tailored solutions and increased national facilitation, particularly for destinations with complex infrastructure constraints,' the Cruise Norway spokesperson said. But others in the maritime sector say clarity in the regulations and rules, which have been in talks since 2018, is what was needed. 'The process of developing zero-emission requirements has been long and demanding,' said Alf Tore Sørheim, Director General at the Norwegian Maritime Authority, in a statement. 'Now that new provisions have been adopted, it is important to highlight that they provide the clarity the industry has long awaited.' Skift's in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift's editorial team.
Gizmodo
4 hours ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
The Arctic Got So Warm in February, Svalbard's Ground Was ‘Like Soft Ice Cream'
The Arctic island of Svalbard is so reliably frigid that humanity bet its future on the place. Since 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault—set deep in frozen soil known as permafrost—has accepted nearly 1.4 million samples of more than 6,000 species of critical crops. But the island is warming six to seven times faster than the rest of the planet, making even winters freakishly hot, at least by Arctic standards. Indeed, in 2017, an access tunnel to the vault flooded as permafrost melted, though the seeds weren't impacted. This February, a team of scientists was working on Svalbard when irony took hold. Drilling into the soil, they gathered samples of bacteria that proliferate when the ground thaws. These microbes munch on organic matter and burp methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas and significant driver of global warming. Those emissions are potentially fueling a feedback loop in the Arctic: As more soil thaws, more methane is released, leading to more thawing and more methane, and on and on. Scientists can now dig with silverware in the Svalbard winter because the Arctic has descended into a crisis of reflectivity. Until recently, the far north had a healthy amount of sea ice, which bounced much of the sun's energy back into space, keeping the region cool. But as the planet has warmed, that ice has been disappearing, exposing darker water, which absorbs sunlight and raises temperatures. This is yet another Arctic feedback loop, in which more warming melts more sea ice, leading to more local warming, and on and on. Making matters worse, as temperatures rise in the far north, more moisture enters the atmosphere. For one, warmer seawater evaporates more readily, adding water vapor to the air. And two, a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. This leads to the formation of more low-level clouds, which trap heat like blankets—especially in the dark Arctic winter—amplifying the warming. That, combined with the loss of sea ice, is why the Arctic is warming up to four times as fast as the rest of the planet, with Svalbard warming even faster than that. During the winter, Svalbard's soils have historically frozen solid, and scientists assumed this made microbial activity grind to a halt. Reindeer could push through the snow to graze on vegetation. But February's heat and rain melted the snow, forming vast pools of water that froze once temperatures dropped again. That created a layer of ice that reindeer couldn't break through. 'What we encountered was just so powerful, to be in the middle of this event,' said James Bradley, a geomicrobiologist at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography and Queen Mary University of London and co-lead author of the paper. 'It really almost all melted over large, large, large areas of the ground. That ground remained frozen, so the water didn't have too many places to drain away to, so what we also saw was huge pooling of liquid water over the tundra.' This new climate regime could be profoundly altering the soil microbiome. Scientists assumed that methane-producing bacteria, known as methanogens, stopped proliferating when Svalbard's soils froze in the winter, just like food in your freezer keeps for months because it's in a hostile environment for microbes. But with warm spells like this, thawing could awaken methanogens, which could still produce that greenhouse gas even if it then rains and a layer of ice forms at the surface. In addition, that solid cap on the soil will stop the exchange of atmospheric gases into the ground, creating anaerobic, or oxygen-poor, conditions that methanogens love. 'In some areas, deeper layers might never freeze completely, which means the methanogens and microbes at depth remain active,' Giovannelli said. 'There's no real winter period.' Vegetation, too, is changing up there, a phenomenon known as Arctic greening. As temperatures rise, trees and shrubs are creeping north to conquer new territory. The good news is that those plants capture carbon as they grow, mitigating global warming to a certain extent. But the bad news is that dark-colored vegetation absorbs more of the sun's energy and raises temperatures, just like the exposed ocean does. And shrubs trap a layer of snow against the landscape, preventing the chill of winter from penetrating the soil and keeping it frozen. The speed of transformation in the Arctic is shocking, even for stoic scientists. And as nations keep spewing greenhouse gases, the feedback loops of the far north are threatening to load the atmosphere with still more methane. 'We call this the new Arctic—this is not something that is a one-off,' Giovannelli said. 'And on the other side, we've probably been a bit too cautious with our warnings regarding the climate. It's not something for the next generation. It's something for our generation.' This article originally appeared in Grist at Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO nation rebukes West over bias on Ukraine and Gaza conflicts
Western nations that condemn Russia's military operation against Ukraine often hold back on criticizing Israel's Gaza offensive, which has produced a major humanitarian crisis, Norway's foreign minister has told the Financial Times. In an interview on Tuesday, Espen Barth Eide stated that Western countries are undermining their credibility by treating the two conflicts in a completely different manner and engaging in cherry-picking. 'By very correctly criticizing Russia… but until recently being very quiet on Gaza — that tells other parts of the world that we are not really seeing these as absolute norms but more like a menu that we can pick arguments from,' he said. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'worse than hell on earth' and stressed that many nations suspect the West of double standards. 'We would be well advised to try to understand, not agree, what they think, and what many out there think is an inconsistent application of international law,' he added. Following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, the Jewish state unleashed a military campaign in Gaza. The hostilities have led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a humanitarian crisis, and unprecedented destruction. While Western nations have sounded the alarm about the situation in Gaza, it wasn't until May 2025 that the UK, French, and Canadian governments issued a statement condemning Israel's military operations. In addition, France, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, recently moved to officially recognize the State of Palestine, with the UK also warning of impending recognition unless Israel ceases hostilities. The US, a key Israel ally, has been a notable holdout on condemning West Jerusalem, denouncing the wave of recognitions as a boon for Hamas and a setback for peace. In June, the US also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution urging a 'permanent ceasefire in Gaza,' arguing that the document does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave the enclave. Western nations have largely avoided imposing sanctions on Israel, in contrast to the unprecedented sanctions they hit Russia with in 2022.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Alex Warren Rockets Into The Top 10 With An Unusual Strategy
Alex Warren expands You'll Be Alright, Kid into a full-length, sending the set into the top 10 on ... More four Billboard charts, including the Billboard 200. TONSBERG, NORWAY - JULY 10: Alex Warren performs on stage during Slottsfjell festival at Slottsfjellet on July 10, 2025 in Tonsberg, Norway. (Photo by Anne-Marie Forker/Redferns) Alex Warren employed an interesting strategy when it came to releasing his debut album. Instead of dropping a brand new, full-length effort completely separate from his You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One) EP, he chose to expand upon that shorter project. In doing so, he rockets up several Billboard rankings and earns his first placements within the top 10 across multiple charts at once. The full-length You'll Be Alright, Kid has now spent months on the most important albums roster in America, and it's bigger than ever. You'll Be Alright, Kid's Big Singles The 21-track album includes all 10 songs from You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One) as well as additional cuts like "Eternity," "Bloodline" with Jelly Roll, "On My Mind" with Rosé, and of course, "Ordinary." The incredible popularity of that track — which leads the Hot 100 again this week — is largely responsible for the success of You'll Be Alright, Kid, which pushes Warren into the highest reaches of the biggest charts in the American music industry. Alex Warren Bolts Into the Top 10 Warren shoots from No. 19 to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 as You'll Be Alright, Kid changes from an EP to a proper album. The project also enters the top tier of the Top Streaming Albums list for the first time, jumping from No. 15 to No. 5. Alex Warren's Album Debuts Inside the Top 10 As You'll Be Alright, Kid rockets up those Billboard tallies, it also debuts inside the top 10 on two more rosters. Warren's first full-length arrives at No. 5 on the Vinyl Albums list and No. 7 on the Top Album Sales chart. Months on the Charts Already You'll Be Alright, Kid is brand new to both the general sales tally and the vinyl chart, but it has lived for months on the other two rankings, where it now bolts into the loftiest tier. Warren's project has spent 18 weeks on the Top Streaming Albums list and 35 on the Billboard 200. Billboard groups the two efforts into one for charting purposes. The original EP, You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One), peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, just shy of the top 10, before being re-released and expanded.
