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SunStone Maritime Group A/S took delivery of two Infinity class ships -- Sylvia Earle and Ocean Odyssey -- from the CMHI Shipyard in Haimen, China. The pair are the fourth and the fifth of the Infinity class delivered from China Merchant Heavy Industries, and both will be on long-term, year-round charter: the SYLVIA EARLE with Aurora Expeditions, and the OCEAN ODYSSEY with Vantage Deluxe World Travel.The Infinity series of ships represents a collaboration between European design and technology and Chinese shipbuilding.Infinity class ships measure 104 x 18m with a 5.1m draft.

Chinese shipbuilder China Merchant Heavy Industries has laid the keel for expedition cruise ship company SunStone Ships' sixth Infinity Class newbuild, Ocean Albatros. A keel laying ceremony was held January 20 at the CMHI yard in Haimen, China.Scheduled to be delivered in March 2023, the vessel will be on year-round charter to the Danish travel company Albatros Expeditions, who is also the charterer of SunStone’s Ocean Victory and Ocean Atlantic.SunStone’s Chairman, Niels-Erik Lund…

Expedition cruise ship owner SunStone Ships announced its fourth Infinity Class vessel, Sylvia Earle, has completed sea trials.The newbuild, designed by Ulstein and built by China Merchants Heavy Industry, underwent five days of intense testing of the vessel’s systems while underway in the south China Sea. More than 150 people were onboard during the trials, including represntatives from the shipyard, class society Bureau Veritas, CMI managers crew and SunStone Marine Advisors.Sylvia Earle will operate on charter to Aurora Expeditions.Infinity Class vessels are 104 meters long…

Expedition cruise ships operator SunStone Ships announced it has taken delivery of its second INFINITY Class vessel, Ocean Explorer, from China Merchants Heavy Industry's yard in Haimen.The newbuild will soon make its way to Manilla to pick up crew, followed by a short stop in Malta to get the remaining hotel crew and supplies before commencing cruises from Poole in the U.K. in late August. The vessel will make year-round expedition cruises worldwide for Vantage Travel.Small enough…

SunStone Ships oversaw the steel cutting of Ocean Explorer, the fourth Infinity-class vessel in the class, at China Merchants Heavy Industry yard in Haimen.With a goal of marrying European design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency, the Infinity class delivers cutting-edge design, innovations like X-bow technology, and significant operating efficiencies, said a press release form the largest tonnage provider in the expedition market.SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, said: “We are very pleased with the quality and building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European Shipyards.

China Merchants Heavy Industry has delivered an expedition cruise vessel to SunStone Ships, the first of its next-genn INFINITY-class vessel and perhaps more significantly China's firm entrance into the cruise ship building sector.The arrangement to bring this ship from drawing board to delivery slip is the culmination of marrying European cruise design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency. The vessel will be chartered out to Aurora Expeditions.https://www.marinelink.com/news/cruise-ship-construction-china-rising-438788The vessel has departed China Merchants Heavy Industry…

Florida-based designer and developer of next-generation expedition ships  SunStone Ships has signed an agreement for the construction of its seventh Infinity-class ship in Hong Kong, China.The seventh vessel now ordered has a long-term charter agreement in place, this vessel will be delivered in September 2021."We have been moving along steadily with ordering and building the Infinity Class Vessel, continuing with the European designed, Chinese built concept," said a statement from the company.Infinity Class new-builds underway include the GREG MORTIMER, scheduled to be delivered August 2019, the OCEAN VICTORY in October 2020, the OCEAN EXPLORER in January 2021…

Miami-based SunStone Ships has signed a contract with China Merchants Heavy Industry (Shenzhen) Company Limited (CMHI) for the construction of vessel number six in the INFINITY series, all designed by Ulstein.Niels-Erik Lund, CEO and president of SunStone expects that the remaining four options will be signed by the end of 2019.In 2017, SunStone and CMHI entered into an agreement on the construction of potentially ten vessels in the INFINITY series based on Ulstein’s designs.The INFINITY vessels are based on the CX103 design featuring the X-BOW by Ulstein Design & Solutions. This IP protected bow was originally developed for excellent seakeeping in rough conditions…

Miami-based SunStone Ships signed to build a sixth Infinity-class expedition vessel in China, continuing the European designed, Chinese built concept.The passengership operator said in a press release that it already has a long-term charter agreement in place. Delivery is set for September 2021.SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We have worked diligently in obtaining the long term charters and shipbuilding orders for the Infinity Class vessels and we continue to move forward with the contracts and building at a very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level”.Infinity Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters.

Miami-based  SunStone Ships has declared option number two at CMHI shipyard after signing a long-term charter contract with Victory Cruise Line for the vessel, with a total of three newbuilds now under construction at the Chinese yard.A press release from the manager of passenger ships across the globe said that it  originally placed one firm contract and nine options on Ulstein deliveries of expedition cruise vessel designs and equipment packages back in 2017.All ten vessels are part of SunStone Ships’ series of vessels in the ‘INFINITY-class’. With the declaration of the next option, the CMHI (China Merchants Heavy Industry) yard in China will be constructing three expedition cruise vessels based on the Ulstein design.

SunStone Ships, Inc. announced it has finalized an agreement with shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings Co. Ltd. to build a third Infinity class expedition cruise vessel, to be named Ocean Victory. The newbuild is scheduled to be delivered in March 2021.SunStone’s President & CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We are pleased with the rapid adoption of the Infinity-class vessels. It seems our European design and technology, combined with lower overall operating costs ticks…

Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam pressed the button to officially kick off the construction of hybrid expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen – “the greenest cruise ship the world has ever seen,” according to the ship owner. The new ship is the first of a new generation that will change expedition travel forever, Skjeldam said during the ceremony at Kleven Yards on the western coast of Norway. When launched in 2018, MS Roald Amundsen will be the world’s first expedition cruise ship powered by hybrid battery technology.

MSC Cruises recently added a new state-of-the-art liner, the MSC Preziosa, helping the Italian company, truly a family business, attain the status of third largest cruise line in the world. MSC Preziosa is a Fantasia class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. It entered service in March 2013 as an enhanced version of its sister ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and is identical to MSC Divina, which was launched in 2012. Built at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, MSC Preziosa is the new flagship of MSC Cruises. The new ship gained immediate recognition famous courtesy of its christening by actress Sophia Loren, and was significant as it signified that MSC Cruises is now the third largest cruise line in the world.

Silversea Cruises' Silver Cloud is currently sailing on her first voyage following a successful three-week dry dock in Palermo, Italy, where extensive renovations were made to nearly every area of the ultra-luxury ship. Silver Cloud's interior decoration has been completely renovated, including all the suites, public spaces and dining venues, in order to introduce a fresh and contemporary classic atmosphere. Silversea made a significant financial investment in this refurbishment to ensure its guests experience a renewed sense of luxury and comfort when sailing aboard Silver Cloud.

On November 16, 2011, the luxury cruise liner "MS Oriana" of P&O CRUISES was floated into Dock 11 of Blohm + Voss Repair. Four weeks are required to complete the overhaul and renovation work. On December 17, 2011, the "MS Oriana“ is scheduled to leave Hamburg. The extensive renovation covers various areas. Among other things, the "MS Oriana“ will be provided with a so-called „duck tail“ to improve the stabilization of the hull at sea and, thus, the comfort of the passengers. This conversion measure allows a higher number of cabins and…