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Cruise Ship Trends News

28 Mar 2023

Survitec Snags Cruise Contract for Nitrogen IG System

Image courtesy Survitec

Maritime Protection, a brand of Survitec, won an order for a set of nitrogen systems for installation on an LNG-powered cruise ship. The scope of supply is for two nitrogen generators, feed-air compressors, valves, and control cabinets. Scheduled for delivery in 2025, the 51,950-gt newbuild is the first cruise ship for this Japanese owner to be built in Europe. There is an option for a second vessel. About ten LNG-fuelled cruise ships are currently in operation, with a further 25 set to join the global fleet over the next five years.Engines operating on LNG…

02 Jan 2023

Management Shuffle at SunStone Ships

Ulrik Hegelund. Image courtesy SunStone Ships

Sunstone Ships reports that its president Ulrik Hegelund, 52, has, for family reasons, decided to move back to Denmark. As of January 1, 2023, Hegelund will take the position as CFO of SunStone Maritime with overall responsibility for the group’s accounting, budgeting, cash flow, reporting, legal, and IT matters.As of January 1, Christian Lund, 40, will take over the position as President of SunStone Ships Inc., Miami. Lund has been working within the Sunstone group companies in Miami for the past 14 years.

26 Oct 2022

Sylvia Earle & Ocean Odyssey: Sunstone Takes Expedition Cruise Ship Pair from China

SunStone Maritime Group A/S took delivery of two Infinity class ships -- Sylvia Earle (pictured) and Ocean Odyssey -- from the CMHI Shipyard in Haimen, China. Photo courtesy Sunstone

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.

31 Oct 2022

TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 6 Connects to Shore Power in Kiel

(Photo: TUI Cruises)

TUI Cruises said a second vessel in its cruise ship fleet has successfully tested the use of shore power in port.Earlier this week, the German cruise ship operator's Mein Schiff 6 received shore power for the first time in SEEHAFEN KIEL Cruise GmbH & Co. KG (Port of Kiel), making it the second TUI Cruises ship behind Mein Schiff 4 to have made a shore power connection.Technicians and engineers carried out various tests of the shore power system before connecting the plugs of the Kiel shore power system to the sockets of Mein Schiff 6.

25 Jul 2022

American Cruise Lines Adds California Service

(Photo: American Cruise Lines)

American Cruise Lines announced it will begin offering California cruises starting in 2023.The U.S. river and small ship coastal cruise line will offer a new eight-day round tris from San Francisco exploring the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River and the San Joaquin River, with stops in San Francisco, Napa, Vallejo, Stockton and Sacramento.“American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small ship cruises across the country. Exploring this…

23 Jun 2022

Fincantieri Floats Out Viking Saturn Cruise Ship

Credit: Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has floated out the Viking Saturn, the latest cruise ship Fincantieri is building for the shipowner Viking, at the shipyard in Ancona, Italy.Present at the ceremony were Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri. The godmother of the ceremony was Elena Del Mastro, the shipyard employee.The Viking Saturn will be placed in the small cruise ship segment.

23 Jun 2022

Carnival Bringing Two Costa Ships to U.S. to Offer Guests Italian Design Experience

Costa Firenze - Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is teaming up with Italy's cruise line Costa Cruises, its sister company, to create a new concept for Carnival’s North American guests when Costa Venezia cruise ship joins the Carnival fleet sailing from New York in the spring of 2023. Costa Venezia will be followed by Costa Firenze arriving in the spring of 2024 to sail from Long Beach.Under the concept called "COSTA by CARNIVAL" Carnival will operate the ships, which…

22 Jun 2022

First Steel Cut for TUI Cruises' LNG-powered Cruise Ship

Credit: Fincantieri

The first steel cutting ceremony was held for the first of two LNG-powered ships for the cruise ship operator TUI Cruises.Shipbuilder Fincantieri said Wednesday that the construction start-up ceremony had taken place in the presence of Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI, and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ship Division of Fincantieri, in San Giorgio di Nogaro (Udine) at Centro Servizi Navali, a company specialized in logistics and production of sheet metal for the Fincantieri yards located in northeastern Italy.

17 Jun 2022

Costa Toscana: Costa Cruises Christens New LNG-powered Flagship in Barcelona

Costa Toscana in Barcelona - Credit: Bartolomej Tomić

Italian cruise line Costa Cruises on Thursday held a christening ceremony for its new flagship, the Costa Toscana, in the port of Barcelona, Spain.The LNG-powered, Italian-flagged ship sailed away from Civitavecchia, Italy on Monday, making a stop in Naples on Thursday, before arriving in Barcelona on Thursday for the christening ceremony. The 337-meter ship is one of the largest ocean liners and can accommodate 6,554 passengers. Chanel, a Cuban-Spanish singer, dancer, and actress…

15 Jun 2022

Global Ports Gets Takeover Approach from Shipping Firm MSC

(Photo: Global Ports Holding)

Global Ports Holding PLC, the world's largest cruise port operator, said on Wednesday it had received an approach about a potential cash offer from Swiss-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.Shares of the London-listed company closed up 19% at 109 pence and marked their best day in two years after Global Ports confirmed a Bloomberg report that MSC was considering taking a controlling stake in Global Ports.Global Ports, owned by Turkish businessman Mehmet Kutman, said the talks were ongoing and the deadline for the container group to make a firm offer or walk away is July 13.Global Ports, w

15 Jun 2022

Batteries, Fuel Cells, Solar, Wind Power and More: Cruise Operator Costa Group Sets Up Decarbonization Department

Credit: Costa Group

The European cruise company, Costa Group, with its Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises brands, which is part of Carnival Corporation, has created a dedicated decarbonization department within its Carnival Maritime unit based in Hamburg, Germany.The new department will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategy for achieving the decarbonization ambitions of the Costa and AIDA fleets by 2050. The effort will have a strong focus on research and development, energy management…

01 Jun 2022

HAV Group's Hydrogen Energy System for Cruise Vessels Gets Preliminary DNV Approval

Credit; HAV Group

Norwegian technology provider HAV Group ASA has received preliminary approval from DNV for its hydrogen-based energy system for cruise ships.The system uses liquefied hydrogen storage and fuel cells and was created as part of the FreeCO2ast project, which is currently developing a high-capacity hydrogen energy system that can be retrofitted onboard two coastal cruise vessels owned by the Norwegian operator Havila  Kystruten.The preliminary approval through DNV means that HAV Group…

31 May 2022

Fincantieri Floats Out EXPLORA I Luxury Cruise Ship

Credit: Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Monday announce the float out of EXPLORA I, the first of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys. The float out took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.The vessel construction began in June 2021, and the ship is expected to enter service at the end of May 2023. At the same time, the construction of EXPLORA II, the second ship of the new brand, is proceeding with delivery expected in summer 2024.The float-out ceremony was attended…

18 May 2022

Lindblad Expeditions Deploys Marine Learning Systems Training Solution

© Igor Kardasov / Adobe Stock

Expedition cruising company Lindblad Expeditions will deploy Marine Learning Systems’ online training platform, MarineLMS, fleetwide, following a successful pilot period. According to Marine Learning Systems, online training at sea has always been a challenge for operators due to the unique and challenging maritime operating and training context, especially in the remote locations where Lindblad Expeditions often operates. The Vancouver, B.C. based company has developed its training…

12 May 2022

Fincantieri Delivers Viking Mars Cruise Ship to Viking

Viking Mars - Credit: Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the ocean cruise ship Viking Mars to the shipowner Viking. The ship was delivered on Thursday at the shipyard in Ancona.The 227 meters long Viking Mars will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. Like its sister ships, the Viking Mars is about 47,800 tons, 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers."Viking Mars”, the eighth of this class, has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios and London-based SMC Design…

06 May 2022

Royal Caribbean Flags Slow Summer Demand in Europe as Ukraine Crisis Weighs

Credit: Phuong

Royal Caribbean Group on Thursday flagged slow summer demand for European cruises due to the Ukraine crisis, after a dull first quarter as it reeled under a resurgence in COVID infections in some parts of the world.Shares of the cruise operator fell about 5% to $73.87 after Royal Caribbean Group said higher fuel and food costs, spurred by inflationary and supply chain-related challenges, are expected to weigh on 2022 earnings.The company said while bookings for Europe sailings improved throughout the first quarter, they slowed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in late February.

03 May 2022

Cruise Line Azamara Adds New Vessel to Its Fleet

Credit: Azamara

Cruise line Azamara has officially added Azamara Onward vessel to its now four-ship fleet on Tuesday, following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful."We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests," said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.

02 May 2022

'Exceptional times lasted longer than expected," Meyer Turku CEO Says as Loss Widens

File image: Meyer Turku

Finland-based cruise shipbuilder Meyer Turku saw its full-year 2021 net loss widen, despite a somewhat higher turnover compared to 2020. Still, the company said it was a "satisfactory result in the midst of a protracted pandemic."The company's turnover was EUR 1.08 billion. It is somewhat higher than in the previous year, but the result for the financial year was a loss of EUR 17.0 million, Meyer Turku said.Tim Meyer, CEO said: “Exceptional times lasted longer than expected. The global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as labor and material mobility, affected our operations as well.

02 May 2022

Havila Voyages Cancels 'Havila Cappela' Roundtrip Citing Insurance Issues

Havila Capella - Credit: Havila Voyages

Norwegian cruise shipping company Havila Voyages has canceled an upcoming roundtrip in Norway with the Havila Capella cruise ship, citing unresolved issues with the ship's insurance coverage."There is still an unresolved situation related to Havila Capella's insurance coverage. The company has therefore been forced to cancel the roundtrip scheduled to start from Bergen on 4th May for the sake of the passengers traveling into Norway before entering the ship," the company said,…

27 Apr 2022

Pair of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Vessels to Sport Azipod Propulsion

Image courtesy Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection/ABB

ABB inked a deal with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to supply the electric propulsion systems and remote support for the luxury cruise operator’s two forthcoming mega-yachts. The ships are the second and third in a series that began with Ritz-Carlton Evrima, to start operations later this year, also featuring ABB technologies on board.With a capacity of 456 passengers, the two yachts will be larger than the 298-passenger Evrima while maintaining the exclusivity and personalized service that differentiate Ritz-Carlton.

26 Apr 2022

Marine Design: Ulstein Takes Aim at Zero Emission Cruise Ops with Ulstein Thor

ULSTEIN THOR and ULSTEIN SIF with an autonomous surface vehicle underway. Image courtesy Ulstein

Ulstein today unveiled a vessel concept that it claims is capable of making the vision of zero emission cruise operations a reality. Dubbed Ulstein Thor, the 149m 3R (Replenishment, Research and Rescue) design will feature a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) to generate vast amounts of clean, safe electricity. This enables the vessel to operate as a mobile power/charging station for a new breed of battery driven cruise ships.Ulstein believes Thor may be the missing piece of the zero emissions puzzle for a broad range of maritime and ocean industry applications.

12 Apr 2022

Seafarers’ House to Honor Carnival's Arnold W. Donald

Arnold W. Donald (Photo: Carnival Corporation)

Arnold W. Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & PLC, has been selected as the recipient of Seafarers’ House International Golden Compass Award for 2022. The award is given each year to those who have achieved distinction in the maritime world, those whose vocation or avocation has been the sea, or those who have ministered to or otherwise assisted seafarers.Donald grew up in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans with 27 foster brothers and sister. His parents’ generosity made a significant impact on his life.

11 Apr 2022

Harland & Wolff Wins Contracts for Dry Docking of Two Cruise Vessels

P&O Cruises Aurora / Photo By MacdonaldAndy - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://bit.ly/3E2kroB

Harland & Wolff Group has been awarded a dry dock contract for two cruise ships from P&O Cruises and Cunard respectively that will occupy the Belfast drydock for 33 days in total. The companies have selected Harland & Wolff's 81-acre Belfast shipyard to undertake drydocking works on two of its ships - Aurora and Queen Victoria. The works due to be undertaken on both ships are standard drydocking operations.The first ship to dock under this agreement will be Cunard's Queen Victoria which entered service in December 2007.