Celebrity Cruise Lines News

Caribbean ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reported a busy 2016 for retrofit, refurbishments and repairs to vessels from the leading cruise lines. GBSL said it performed work on 20 cruise vessels during 2016, with scope of works included significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment, accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of onboard attraction facilities. The trend continues: for 2017, GBSL has confirmed 23 cruise vessels scheduled for refit, refurbishment or revitalization from its customer base.

Repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) is in store for a busy year, with 20 cruise vessels booked for repair, maintenance and overhaul work in 2016. The scope of projects includes propulsion and technical systems overhaul, accommodations and public space upgrades and the addition of attraction facilities onboard. These vessels are typically booked at least two years in advance to allow for planning and communication between the yard and clients. The first cruise ship to enter GBSL’s dry-dock in 2016 is Holland America Line operated Maasdam…

An American woman Kate McCue is on her maiden voyage at the helm of the Celebrity Summit. She's leading the 14-day cruise with more than 2,100 passengers and a crew of about 950. Kate McCue, 37, took the helm of her maiden voyage on the Celebrity Summit ship on Sunday as the 91,000 ton cruise vessel set sail to New England and Canada. Captaining cruise ships still remains a profession dominated by men. According to a report from CBS, Kate McCue said: "Everyone has a stereotypical idea of a captain and I'm missing some pounds. I don't have entirely gray hair. McCue's dream to command her own vessel began at the age of 12 when she took her first family cruise to the Bahamas.

On Tuesday, November 20, a major announcement shocked the cruise and financial industries when Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Peter Ratcliffe, CEO of P&O Princess held a press conference in London to report that their two respective lines would join forces to form the world's largest cruise line, in a deal worth more than $6 billion. MR/EN had the opportunity to dial in to the conference, which occurred the morning of the merger at London's Lincoln Centre, to provide a first-hand account of this monumental transaction. In an era filled with terrorism, turmoil, economic frustration, massive layoffs and steep cutbacks…

Offshore-Inland Marine & Oilfield Services completed a repair job for Celebrity Cruise Lines in November 2003. Celebrity’s Millennium required replacement of a 20-ton main propulsion transformer during a planned port visit at Port Everglades, Fla. Offshore Inland responded in spite of the strict time frame requirement to cut a large access opening in the vessel’s side, remove the existing transformer, install a new Celebrity provided transformer and close the access opening all in less than 17 hours. Offshore-Inland developed a plan and sent its team of highly skilled workers to both ride the vessel to Port Everglades and to meet the vessel in Port Everglades to effect the work.

On Tuesday, November 20, a major announcement shocked the cruise and financial industries when Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Peter Ratcliffe, CEO of P&O Princess held a press conference in London to report that their two respective lines would join forces to form the world's largest cruise line, in a deal worth more than $6 billion. MR/EN had the opportunity to dial in to the conference, which occurred the morning of the merger at London's Lincoln Centre, to provide a first-hand account of this monumental transaction. In an era filled with terrorism, turmoil, economic frustration, massive layoffs and steep cutbacks…

A U.S. Senate sub-committee offered positive feedback regarding a high-speed access control and accountability system developed by Security Identification Systems Corporation (SISCO). security. The Senator's remark was a reference to SISCO's A-PASS (Automated Personnel Assisted Security Screening), which is the latest, most sophisticated electronic access control system ever designed exclusively for the cruise industry. line passengers, guests and employees as they enter and exit a ship. "The A-PASS system promotes speed of passenger loading while giving the passengers a heightened sense of safety and security," said Zagami. The Senate Committee also heard expert testimony from the Interim Director of Port Everglades…

Seven cruise companies have been cited for pumping excessive amounts of smokestack emissions into the air of Alaska's capital city, state officials said. Observers hired by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) found that 11 ships violated state smoke-opacity standards when they were docked in port in Juneau between mid-July and mid-August, officials said. Companies accused of the smokestack violations, which allegedly blotted out the coastal scenery, were Princess Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, World Explorer, Crystal Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines. The agency plans to send its information onto the state Attorney General's office for a legal response…

Celebrity Cruise Lines experienced its own "Night At The Oscars" by literally rolling out the red carpet this past June for its inaugural christening ceremony of its new "Millennium" while docked in Southampton, U.K. MR/EN was invited to Southampton to spend a few days onboard this technologically driven vessel before it departed for Amsterdam to begin its maiden voyage - a 14-day journey around Russia and the Baltics. Incorporating old-world style and classic ambiance with its Olympic Restaurant, which houses the original paneling from the R.M.S. Olympic — and delving into new technology by implementing a premiere gas turbine system in its engine room — Celebrity's newest vessel truly exemplifies a "bridge between two centuries…

Kaparis met recently with MR/EN to discuss what he considers are the most important safety issues in cruise shipping today. By Regina P. Among the sketches of general arrangement drawings, and IMO and technical specifications, Celebrity's Demetrios Kaparis sums up his vision for a safe cruise ship fleet. Kaparis has expressed that mandatory safety training for all officers and crew with firefighting and medical responsibilities must be also be reinforced. He feels that these individuals must be certified in these areas according to IMO recommendations and flag administrations and he will strive to ensure that special training rooms and facilities will be available onboard all Celebrity newbuilds - steadfast in his quest for eternal vigilance.

As the world's two major cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean International, wage a continual battle to increase market share and draw additional passengers, the real war is waged in the board rooms of these and all other major cruise companies to increase revenue per passenger and decrease discounting. A record number of new ships and a sluggish North American economy prompting fare cutting, and cruise lines are fighting to maintain buoyant bottom lines. A recent report from Lazard Frères helps to shed some light on the economic strength of the cruise majors. While Lazard Frères is revising its fourth quarter EPS estimate for Carnival Corp.

Celebrity Cruise Lines' Millennium arrived at Newport News Shipbuilding on Tuesday for a 10-day period of work. The 91,000-ton vessel, which measures 965 x 106 ft. (294.1 x 32.3 m), will undergo repairs to its under-performing electric motor that operates one of the ship's two propulsion units and maintenance to various ship systems. Known as the premiere ship in the cruise industry to house smokeless gas turbine propulsion, Millennium, which is the first of the four-part Millennium Class of ships, made its debut in June 2000.

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and the Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI), announced that MITAGS/PMI have been contracted to provide ship modeling for three major pilot groups. The Pilots’ Association for the Bay and River Delaware has contracted MITAGS/PMI to develop a hydrodynamic model of the “Stena Vision Class” Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC), including a simulated visual database for the entrance of the Delaware River to Sun Oil Dock near the Philadelphia Shipyards. The model and database are an integrated part of a comprehensive training program that has been created for all new Delaware Pilots for each class of vessel. The course will also cover advanced control systems, such as Azipod and Kamewa.

Celebrity Cruise Lines has completed its first ever drydocking with Detyens Shipyards, Inc (DSI). ZENITH docked at the Charleston, South Carolina facility from October 24, 2005 thru November 3, 2005. The scope of work included: regular drydocking maintenance along with sea valve renewals, blade seals and polishing, anchor chains, bow and stern thruster seals, overhauling of the bow thruster, the dismantling and overhauling of the stabilizers, the application of the silicon base AF coatings, the demolition and installation of a new hot well and a new shaft and bushings for the port rudder fin.

Holding on to its 128-year -dam tradition, Holland America unveiled two new additions to its fleet — ms Zuiderdam and ms Oosterdam — at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention. Measuring 951 ft. (289.8 m) each, the duo, which will mark the beginning of the five-ship Vista Class Series, will be constructed at Fincantieri for delivery in September 2002 (Zuiderdam), and July 2003 (Oosterdam). Representative of the South and East "Vista" points on the compass, the vessels embody technologically-advanced designs that will secure Holland America as a pioneer in the future of cruise ship design. At 85,000 tons each, the first two ships of Holland America Line's (HAL) Vista Class series…

Winners of the Lloyd’s List-SMM 2002 Awards for innovation in shipbuilding and marine technology were announced in the Hamburg Congress Centre last night (September 24) at a gala ceremony which brought day one of the world’s biggest maritime fair to a glittering conclusion. Several hundred leading industry figures gathered for the final stage of an initiative launched in March by Lloyd’s List and SMM organisers Hamburg Messe to recognise the technical advances which enable maritime commerce and defence. With 13 awards in three merchant and naval categories, the inaugural scheme attracted a massive wave of nominations for ships and support systems reflecting the cutting edge of ingenuity in improving performance, reducing costs and protecting the environment.

A stagnant economy, threat of overcapacity and canceled cruises due to repairs and late deliveries have conspired to slow the hyper-growth cruise industry has enjoyed for the past decade. Even last year's new Millennium, which burst onto the cruise scene with its new gas turbine propulsion, had its share of troubles. Despite unparalleled reassurance by Celebrity that Millennium's propulsion problem was remedied, Infinity, its sistership, which was delivered this past Spring, recently experienced new problems with faulty bearings in its propulsion system — forcing the line to cancel two weeks of sailings. In addition, Celebrity's Galaxy dealt with a damaged propeller, causing lost money and cruises on that vessel.

Celebrity Cruise Lines' vessel Zenith arrived at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) on October 18 for its bi-annual drydocking. Owned and operated by Miami, Fla.-based Celebrity, Zenith is in drydock at NNS for hull painting, survey and repairs as necessary for the propulsion system, sea valves, thrusters, stabilizers and hull anodes. Measuring 682 x 95 ft. (207 x 28.9 m), the 47,255-ton ship has been in service since 1992 - never docking anywhere but NNS since that time. Zenith's basic routes include Alaska, the Trans-canal, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Europe.

A lawsuit filed on Friday is claiming that Royal Caribbean Cruises and subsidiary Celebrity Cruise Lines overcharged passengers at least $150 million in fraudulent taxes. "We are outraged by the actions of the attorneys filing this suit," said Lynn Martenstein, vice president, Corporate Communications. "We actually pay more in government taxes and fees than we charge our guests," she explained, citing a preliminary analysis of guest charges and payments made to government. Using actual figures paid by two of the plaintiffs as examples, the RCCL said they were charged $26 and $40, respectively, for government taxes and fees. The company, in turn, paid approximately $45 and $58, respectively, to cover such taxes and fees.