- French Paquet cruises purchases Ocean Cruise Lines.
Paquet now owns threeships,
Ocean Princess and Ocean Islander apart from their original vessel, the
classic Mermoz.
Ocean Islander
- Japan Cruise Line, the second Japanese
company in the Japanese domestic market starts operations with their Orient Venus.
- Fantasy enters service for Carnival
Cruise Lines. She is the first of a series of eight (!) vessels measuring
70.367GRT, the largest cruise-shipbuilding project to date.
- Celebrity Cruise starts operations. Owned by Chandris Cruises the company
aims at the de luxe market.
1991
- Seawind
Cruise Line starts operations. It owns a single vessel, that is known
by and marketed under
two names, Seawind Crown, but also under it' s original name of Vasco da Gama.
- NYK introduces Asuka, a ship
specifically designed for the Japanese cruising public.
1992
- Admiral Cruises ceases operations, it' s ships are
sold off.
- Chandris Celebrity Cruises forms a partnership with with OSG (Overseas
Shipholding Group) in order to obtain the necessary funds for expansion.
- Society Expeditions ceases operations, it's ships are sold off.
1993
- American Hawaii
Cruises goes bankrupt, and is subsequently purchased by Delta Queen Steamboats, a company that owns
two classic river boats, two stern wheelers to be exact and operates these on the
Mississippi river.
- American Family Cruises starts
operations. The company aims at families with children. Costa Cruises' Costa Riviera is refitted (one entire deck
is converted for the use of children) and starts
service as American Adventure. Eugenio C is planned to follow as a second ship.
- Festival Cruises founded,
today known in the USA as First European Cruises. Operations start with one ship,
The Azur.
- Sea Quest Cruises, which operates soft
expedition cruises with the Frontier Spirit ceases operations.
1994
- Delta Queen Steamboat Cy. changes it' s name to American
Classic Voyages.
- Cunard Line buys the name Royal Viking Line,
together with their largest vessel Royal Viking Sun. Royal Viking Queen is
not included in the deal.
- American Family Cruises (just started a
year before) closes down, because the level of bookings remained low.
- Fiesta Marina
(a Carnival subsidiary operating Fiesta Marina ex Carnivale for the South
American market) and
Cycladic Cruises (operating in the Greek isles region) both cease operations.
1995
- UK Tour operator Airtours starts
operating a new division called Sun Cruises. Two ships are acquired: Nordic
Prince from Royal
Caribbean Cruise Lines and Southward from Norwegian Cruise Lines.
- Regency Cruises collapse. It's ships are
arrested in port and later laid up and auctioned off.
- British P&O Cruises take delivery of
the Oriana, the first mega-cruise ship for the British market.
1996
-
Royal Cruise Line , part of the Kloster Group, closes down. It's ships are
shifted to parent company Norwegian Cruise
Line (Crown Odyssey and Royal Odyssey), or sold off: Star Odyssey becomes
Black Watch for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Queen Odyssey joins Seabourn
Cruise Line.
-
Baltic Line ceases operations. One of it's vessels, Baltica is sold to Arcalia
Shipping (Lisbon) and renamed Princess Danae.
Baltica when still sailing as Danae for
Carras Delian cruises
- Carnival
buys 30% intrest in British tour operator Airtours which owns a cruise division
called Sun Cruises catering for the UK-cruise market.
- Carnival Destiny enters
service, measuring 101.353 GRT she is the first passenger ship to
surpass the 100.000 GRT mark and becomes the world's largest cruise
ship.
- Kvaerner
buys Trafalgar House and becomes the new owner of Cunard Line (owners of the
illustrious Queen Elizabeth 2) in the process.
1997
- Carnival & Airtours both purchase
all shares of Costa Cruises.
- Cruise Holdings purchases Delphin, Premier and Seawind
Cruise Lines and continues operations under the name of Premier Cruises.
- Windstar purchases Club Med I
and adds the vessel to its fleet as Windsurf.
- Norwegian Cruise Line buys Crown Majesty
which was originally owned by bankrupt Majesty Cruise Line.
- Royal Caribbean Int. purchases Celebrity
Cruises, both
brands keep their own identity.
- Holland America Line sells Rotterdam to Premier
Cruises,
who rename her Rembrandt.
- HAPAG sells their famous Europa to Star Cruises, Star also acquires Sun Viking.
New names for both ships: Superstar Asia and Superstar Sagittarius respectively.
- P&O sells Canberra
after 37 years of service for srap.
- CTC cruises goes bankrupt. CTC was a British
firm which chartered Russian cruise ships and offered cruises at moderate
prices. However, cheap as they are, these ships cannot compete with the modern
tonnage introduced by competitor P&O Cruises for example.
1998
- Cunard Line is sold again, this time to
Carnival Cruise Lines, but remains a seperate brand in the Carnival family of cruise lines
(Costa, HAL, Windstar, Seabourn, Airtours).
- Work on the Norwegian Sky starts, she is the unfinished hull of the former
Costa Olympia ordered by Costa Cruises from Bremer Vulkan shipyard. Alas, during
construction the yard went bankrupt.
- Norwegian Capricorn Line a daughter company of NCL is founded. It will operate
the Norwegian Star ex Royal Viking Sea from Sydney, Australia
- NCL acquires Orient Cruise Line. This
company operates the classic Marco Polo on destination oriented (soft expedition)
cruises.
- German Meyer Werft delivers Superstar Leo, Star
Cruises first newbuilding, and the first super liner for the Asian market.
- Grand Princess owned by Princess
Cruises enters service and becomes the largest cruise ship in the world,
measuring 109.000 GRT.
- Airtours takes over rival British tour/ cruise operator
Direct Cruises.
Direct remains a seperate brand however.
- Paradise (Carnival Cruise Line) is introduced as the world' s
first non-smoking cruise ship. Passengers caught smoking are fined and asked to
leave the ship at the next port of call.
1999
- Voyager of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruises Int) is taken into service.
She is the largest cruise ship ever built: 137.000 GRT.
- Residensea is not selling as much appartments as was hoped for on their newbuilding The World. It will be the first ship with residents who permanently
live on board. As a result the planned vessel is scaled down from 85.000 GRT to
36.000 GRT.
- American Classic Voyages orders two 1900 pax. newbuildings at Ingalls
shipyards, the first large passenger ships ordered in the US since many years.
- Sun Vista of Far Eastern Sun Cruises burns and sinks in the Straits of
Malacca.
Sun Vista sailing as Meridian for former
owners Celebrity Cruises
- Norwegian Dream (NCL) collides with container carrier Ever Decent in the
English Channel and severely damages her bow.
- Plans are being developed for the largest cruise ship ever, the Queen Mary
2 by Cunard and Carnival.
2000
- Cunard Line signs letter of intent for building the world' s largest cruise
ship ever, the Queen Mary 2 at Chantiers de L' Atlantique.
- Stefan, ex
Stefan Batory, ex Maasdam, is scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey. Together with sister Rijndam, she was one of the first passenger liners in the '50s to have a substantial number of tourist class cabins.
- Society Explorer's small cruise
vessel World Discoverer runs aground at the Solomon Islands. She has to be
abandoned and shortly thereafter she is ravaged by local inhabitants.
- One of
the oldest cruise ships afloat, the Britanis of 1932 begins her last journey to Indian
breakers under the name of Belofin-1. She doesn' t make it however, and sinks
near Cape Town while under tow.
- British tour operator Airtours sells 50% ownership in Costa
Cruises to Carnival for a reported $525 mio.
- Cape Canaveral Cruise Line takes
Dolphin IV out of service because of corroded tanks, she is one of the last
former Israeli passenger liners.
- Premier Cruises' ships are all arrested for
debt in various ports. Premier ceases trading.
- En route from New York to
Southampton, Oriana (P&O Cruises) is hit by a gigantic 40 ft wave smashing
several windows.
- Plans arise to
let Norway of NCL and Superstar Leo of NCL'
s parent company Star Cruises switch places. Norway will depart to the Far
East while Superstar Leo will sail in Hawaiian waters. Nothing happens however.
- Costa Classica, en route to British ship yard Cammel Laird for stretching is
ordered to turn around while being of the coast of La Coruna, Spain. Costa
states that the British yard does not have all preparations in order to finish
the job on time (in 17 weeks).
- Seabreeze, one of the former Premier ships is
sold to New York Merchant Bank DLJ, however en route from Boston to Charleston she
suddenly develops a list and sinks 200 miles of the coast of Verginia.
-
Commodore Cruise Line closes it's doors. Expectations are that the company will
be back in operation early in 2001, but this never comes to pass.....
Commodore Cruises' classic
Enchanted Isle
2001
- Italian Mediterranean Shipping Cruises orders two new ships from Chantiers de 'Atlantique for delivery in
2003-2004. These ships will be MSC' s first newbuildings.
- A near sister to Sea Cloud of 1931, the sail cruiser Sea Cloud II is delivered
a year late because of problems during fitting out of her interiors.
- Royal Olympia announces plans to reactivate two classics, The Stella Solaris
and the Apollon. However, neither of them actually returns to active service.
- Star Cruises plans to shift one of it's vessels, the Superstar Aries (ex Europa) to subsidiary Orient Lines. She will be renamed Ocean Voyager and will
make destination oriented, soft expedition cruises. Nothing happens however.
- Fred Olsen acquires the 1993 built Crown Dynasty of bankrupt Commodore Cruises
(parent company of Crown Cruise Line which operated her). She is renamed Breamar.
-Princess Cruises announces that her best known vessel,
Pacific Princess, star of the TV-series
The love Boat will leave the fleet in 2002.
- Seven Seas Mariner, the world's first all-suite all balcony cruise ship is
christened in the port of Los Angeles. She is owned by Radisson Seven Seas
Cruises.
- After finding 35 deficiencies, the UK Coast Guard detain the Ocean Glory, ex Provence, ex Enrico Costa in the port of Dover. She will never sail again, and
ends up at the breakers some months later....
- P&O Cruises announces a new brand, A Rosa Cruises, which will aim at younger
passengers.
A Rosa Blue, A Rosa Cruises
- In the autumn of 2001, both Renaissance Cruises (which owns eight brand new
vessels) and American Classic Voyages cease operations. Both are victims of
the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11 which causes a
downturn in bookings.
2002
- Several new ships are expected to be taken into service this year: Carnival Pride,
Carnival Legend, Carnival Conquest, European Stars, Finnmarken, Trollfjord, Star
Princess, Brilliance of the Seas.
- Carnival Cruises reports over 28.000 bookings on one day, January 14th, a
record.
- Construction on the largest cruise ship ever, the Queen Mary
2 starts at Chantiers de L'Atlantique.
- Canyon Ranch signs letter of intent: Kvaerner Masa will build two vessels for
delivery in 2004-2005.
- A new cruise line called Imperium Cruises is formed. The company plans to
lease two former Renaissance vessels, R six and R seven for service in the Indian
Ocean, sailing from Dubai to east Africa and Egypt.
- The World, the first cruise ship offering 110 appartments for permanent living
on board, is christened in Trondheim, Norway.
- Empress Cruise Line ceases operations. It' s only vessel, the
The Empress
will be auctioned off.
- Sun Bay II is returned to her builder, Cassens Werft in Emden, Germany,
because booking are very low for her inaugural season. Operator Columbus Seereisen tries to find other employment for this brand new vessel.
- NCL buys the hull of the unfinished American Classic Voyages newbuilding from Northrop's Ingalls
ship yard and the fittings of the second newbuilding.
- A ship yard fire damages the Diamond Princess, a newbuilding for Princess
Cruises. The yard, Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries states that 70 % of the vessel is
damaged.
- P&O Princess announces a new brand, Ocean Village. The new company aims at a
young, active clientele and will operate the former Arcadia as Ocean Village.
- Oceania Cruises is formed, a new cruise line in the de luxe segment. Two
former Renaissance vessels will sail for the new company.
2003
- On January 8th., Princess Cruises announces it will be taken over by Carnival
Cruises, instead of merging with Royal Caribbean Int as planned in 2002.
It's shareholders agree with Carnivals last bid. The new company will be the
largest of it' s kind in the cruise industry, owning more than 60 ships with
almost a 100.000 berths and another 18 ships on order. Carnival now owns the
following companies: HAL, Windstar, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa, Princess, P&O UK,
P&O Australia, Ocean Village, Swan Hellenic, Aida, A Rosa.
- HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles expresses his support in relation to
plans to acquire the classic Windsor Castle which has been in lay up for years in
the Greek bay of Elevsis and use her as a floating restaurant, hotel or museum
in an English port. She is in a remarkable good condition and virtually
unaltered from her Union Castle days.
-
P&O Australia's Pacific Sky is hastily taken out of service as cracks caused
by corrosion are found in her hull. After necessary repairs are made, she resumes
service.
- The outbreak of SARS (lung illness Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Asia
affects cruise ships schedules as many vessels are redirected at once. Star
Cruises, the largest cruise line in the Far East switches two of it' s vessels to
Australian waters.
- In a surprise move, NCL buys two laid up
veterans, the famous United States (in lay up since 1969!) and the Independence.
- On April 28th., Regal Cruises goes bankrupt, after
an unsuccessful attempt to sell the company. Regal Empress is laid up.
- Dutch shipyard Rotterdamse Droogdok Mij., builders of the Rembrandt, ex
Rotterdam in 1959, purchases the vessel which had been in lay up since the
collapse of her former owners Premier Cruises in 2000. She will be restored and
probably find use as a hotel ship in the port of Rotterdam.
- NCL announces a new brand, NCL America. It' s ships will be US flagged and
crewed. It will start operations in 2004 with the brand new Pride of America and
the Pride of Aloha (currently Norwegian Sky) in Hawaiian waters.
- Imperial Majesty Cruise Line acquires the Regal Empress. She will replace the Oceanbreeze, which is shortly thereafter sold for scrap.
- NCL's Norway suffers a serious boiler explosion. After it becomes clear
that the boiler has to be replaced she is towed to Europe, to German Lloyd Werft.
Repairs have not been carried out yet, so it remains uncertain if she will ever
return to service......
- Both RCI and Carnival announce plans for building the largest passenger ship
ever. RCL plans (and later orders) an ' ultra Voyager ' vessel measuring 160.000 GRT, derived from the Voyager class. Carnival plans an even bigger ship of
180.000 GRT for it' s subsidiary Princess Cruises for delivery in 2006-2007.
- Carnival announces that the A Rosa brand will merge with the Aida brand; the
latter will continue to exist, A Rosa will be phased out.
AIDAcara, former Aida, Aida Cruises'
first ship
- Star Cruises order two large vessels (93000GRT) from
German Meyer Werft, enlarged
versions of NCL's Norwegian Dawn and Star.
2004
- On January 8th, Queen Elizabeth II christens the
world's largest passenger liner, the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton during a formal
naming ceremony.
Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
- At Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, NCL's
newbuilding Pride of America which is almost finished at the time, sinks at her
fitting out pier during a storm. The ship's lowest four decks, including her
machinery spaces are flooded, and her delivery date has to be postponed by a
year.
- Greek - Italian owned Festival Cruises gets
into serious financial difficulties and all of it's ships are
seized and laid-up. Although at first the company is certain normal operations
will be resumed, later this year Festival closes it's doors forgood....
- EasyCruise is founded. Immediately, the
Neptune 2 (former Renaissance 2) is acquired and rebuilding of the vessel starts
in Singapore. To start operations in 2005, EasyCruise will operate budget
cruises. On a fixed week-long itinerary, passengers stay for at least 2 and
maximum 14 nights. Food and cabin service will not be included in the cruise
price.
- Princess Cruises takes delivery of three
vessels which are her largest ever; Diamond Princess, Caribbean Princess and
Sapphire Princess, measuring 112.000 and 116.000GRT)
Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises
- Louis Cruises (Cyprus) purchases three
ships from the financially troubled My Travel Group, Sun Cruises.
- Kvaerner Masa Yards reaches an
agreement regarding the construction of a 200m/ 42500GRT vessel for
Ocean Club Cruises. Construction of the Four Seasons, a residential ship
just like The World is expected to start in the first half of 2005.
- MSC Cruises purchases two vessels of
now defunct Festival Cruises: European Vision and European Stars. These
ships are sister ships to ms Lirica and Opera, two newbuildings
delivered as recently as 2003 and 2004 by French ship yard Chantiers
l'Atlantique.
- NCL will pass several of their older
ships on to parent company Star Cruises which will operate these vessels
in Asian waters. NCL has several ships on order for delievery in
the next two/ three years.
n
Norwegian Sea, to be shifted to Star cruises in the near future
- RCCL orders a second Ultra-Voyager
ship from Kvaerner Masa Yards. Carrying 3600 passengers and measuring
160.000GRT, these ships will surpass Queen Mary 2, currently the world's
largest passenger ship in size.
--F
2005
- Cruise ship schedules are affected by
the Tsunami
in the Far East: Star Cruises amends
the itineraries of two of its vessels, Superstar Virgo and Superstar
Gemini as calls at Phuket, Thailand are cancelled. Star Clippers'
Star Flyer, based for several cruises in Thailand is relocated to
Singapore. Ocean Princess and Andaman Princess have assisted in rescue
operations immediately after the disaster took place,and are both
laid up.
Andaman Princess
- New cruise company easyCruise
also cancels ist inaugural cruises out of Singapore because of the Tsunami, the
tidal wave that caused havoc in December 2004. After her refit is be
completed, easyCruise I starts sailing in the Mediterranean spring 2005.
- A Greek court declares
Royal Olympia Cruises bankrupt. The company's three vessels are auctioned
off. The company had been struggling to survive for about a year after her two
most important ships, two recent newbuildings and one of her older ships had
already been sold off.
- Sad news
reached us: NCL's ss Norway (ex France, 1962) has reportedly been sold
to the breakers, problably in India. After an explosion of one of her
boilers, she has been in lay up in Bremerhaven at Lloyd Werft for the
last two years. Repairs to let her return to active service proved
uneconomical. Plans to use her as a hotel ship in France or the
Netherlands fall through. However, there are persistent rumours that she
might be used as a hotel ship in the port of Singapore....
- The former Holland America Line flag ship Rotterdam
of 1959 passes to new owners after her former Dutch owners run into
financial difficulties. An investment firm has teamed up with a housing
company and a Dutch university.There are plans to have her fulfill a new
role as museum, hotel and college.
Rotterdam V
- For the tenth time in a row, readers of the
prestigious travel magazine Travel + Leisure vote Crystal Cruises
to offer the best cruise product in the segment of luxury cruising
onboard large vessels.
- A new company starts operations:
Indian Ocean Cruises. Their first vessel is the small, classic
Madagascar (built 1960 as the day cruiser Bremerhaven, she also sailed
as Stella Maris II and Viking Bordeaux). Madagascar will sail on short
cruises in south east African waters.
Ocean Odyssey
- The hull of the world's largest cruise ship,
RCCL's Freedom of the Seas is floated out at Aker Finyards(Finland). Her maiden voyage is planned for April 2006.
-
The cruise industry contributes 32.4 billion
dollars to the North American economy in 2005, an increase of 8%
compared to 2004. This is the result of passenger on shore spending,
maintenance on ships, payments for port services, shoreside staffing and
the purchase of goods necessary for ship operations.
2006
- Alstom,
owner of shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique has sells a 75% stake in this
yard to the Norwegian company Aker Yards.
- Royal Caribbean orders the
largest cruise ship ever at AkerYards, Finland. She will measure an
incredible 220.000 GRT and will accommodate 5.400 passengers! This ship
will be almost 70.000 GRT larger than the Freedom of the Seas, which is
currently being built at the same yard with delivery this summer. When
Freedom enters service she will be the world's largest cruise ship,
surpassing the Queen Mary 2 in tonnage.
- A fire breakes
out on board Star Princess (Princess Cruises) which quickly
engulfes 100 staterooms. One death is reported. The Star
Princess proceeds to Grand Cayman on her own power and offloads
passengers there. An investigation is initiated.
- Freedom of the
Seas, the worlds largest cruise ship is delivered by Aker ship yard to
owners Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines today.
- Queen Mary 2
starts on her first world cruise on January 10th, 2007. She departs together with fleetmate Queen Elizabeth
2 from Fort Lauderdale. It is Queen Elizabeth's 25th world cruise.
-
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 80th birthday aboard the small Scottish cruise ship Hebridean Princess. The
Queen has chartered the ship for a cruise around the Western Scottish
Isles. The Queen's original yacht, the Britannia was donated to the port
of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland for use as a museum because the ship had
become too old (44 years old) and thus costly to keep her in service as
the Royal Yacht.
Hebridean Princess
- The starboard
engine of Louis Cruise Lines’ Calypso catches fire whilst on a trip from
Tilbury to Guernsey. The ship rapidly fills with smoke and passengers
are ordered to get their life jackets and report to their muster
stations. However, the crew gets the fire under control quickly. The
vessel proceeds under tow to Southampton for repairs. Calypso had
been chartered by Dutch cruise agency Cruise Travel to celebrate their
20th year in the cruise industry.
- Aker Yards from Finland merges with French Alstom
Marine owner of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Both yards are renowned
builders of cruise ships.
- NCL announces
it will be the first cruise line to enable passengers to use their cell phone
on board all of their ships while at sea. In 2002, NCL was the first cruise line
to offer passengers wireless internet access.
-
Sad news, Blue Lady, ex Norway, ex France, beaches
at Alang for scrapping. Until the final end, rumours surrounded the
ship, for example that she might be used as a floating hotel in Dubai.
Soon, one of the most famous passenger ships of all times will silently
disappear into history. Beaching the ship has been postponed several
times, as she has asbestos on board. Finally, the Indian Government
granted permission to have her scrapped at Alang after she had been at
anchor in heavy seas off the Indian coast for several weeks.
Norway
-
Carnival Cruise Lines introduces a new feature.
Passengers can view a video in their cabins on which Carnival's famous
architect Joe Farcus tours the vessel they are sailing on and explains
the central interior-theme of the vessel and the idea behind the
decoration of the main public spaces on board.
- RCCL buys Spanish
tour operator Pullmantur. Pullmantur currently operates five vessels.
Probably vessels will be shifted between both companies. This is the
first European brand RCCL now owns.
-
The famous former Bergen Line cruise ship Scandinavia ex Stella Polaris
is lost south east of Japan while under tow to China. Plans were to refit
here there and subsequently operate her as a hotel/ restaurant in the Swedish
capital of Stockholm. Stella Polaris had been operated as such for the last
three decades in Japan. Recently she had been acquired by Petro Fast from Sweden.
-
German operator Holiday Kreuzfahrten surprisingly goes bankrupt. Both
vessels chartered by the company, the Mona Lisa and Lili Marleen will finish
their Baltic cruises and will be returned to their respective owners.
Mona Lisa
-
German tour oprator TUI and Carnival sign a letter of intent to
operate two cruise brands targeted at the German market. One of the brands will
be Carnival's subsidiary Aida Cruises, known for their informal club style
cruises, while the other will be a newly formed brand.
2007
- The prestigious magazine Conde Nast Traveller awards the three
Seabourn vessels the highest ranking of all cruise ships in the
categories food and service. Since this survey amongst its readers was
initiated in 1994, the Seabourn vessels received award after award.
- Carnival
joins forces with the Spanish travel company Orizonia Corp. owner of
Iberojet which operates two cruise ships, Grand Voyager and Grand
Mistral. This deal will give Carnival a stronger foothold in Europe, and
Iberojet a chance for fast growth.
- Carnival
sells one of its subsidiaries, Windstar Cruises to Ambassador Int.
for 100 million dollar. Ambassador is the owner of Majestic Cruise Lines
which operates several classic paddle-wheelers like American Queen,
Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen etc.
Wind Surf
- Swan Hellenic
Cruises, owned by P&O stops operations after their only
ship Minerva II is withdrawn, but will probably continue as a
brand after all. The company name and rights are been acquired by
former P&O chairman Lord Sterling.
- One of the vessels of
Cypriot-bases Louis Cruise Lines, the Sea Diamond (former Birka
Princess) strikes rocks near the Greek island of Santorini.
Passengers are evacuated and in the early morning hours the Sea
Diamond sinks and now lies a 100 metres below the surface. It seems that
two passengers are not accounted for after the vessel had been
abandoned, a father and his daughter from France.
- German shipyard Blohm and Voss
lengthens Fred Olsen Cruise Lines newest vessel Balmoral (former
Norwegian Crown of NCL and due to enter service for Fred Olsen in
January 2008) with a 30 meter midsection. This
increases the ships capacity by one third.
- Problems for NCL. Due
to heavy competition in Hawaiian waters leading to downward pricing, NCL
announces it will withdraw the Pride of Hawaii and shift her to European
waters in early 2008. The company has experienced massive losses in 2006
and 2007. The ship will be renamed Norwegian Jade.
- First Choice Cruises acquires
Quark Expeditions and its fleet of 6 vessels which make expedition
cruises. First Choice wants to expand in the expedition cruises market.
- Carnival reveals plans to
upgrade cabins and public spaces on board all eight Fantasy vessels
between now and 2009. They will also be renamed, as their current names
will be preceded by "Carnival".
Fantasy
-
Interesting news. Cunard Line announces the sudden and unexpected sale
of the famous Queen Elizabeth 2 to Dubai interests for a reported 100
million dollars. She will be used as a luxury floating hotel and
entertainment centre, berthed at the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in
the form of a palm tree. She will be delivered late 2008.
- Royal Caribbean Cruises
forms a new cruise line which will aim at the deluxe market: Azamara
Cruises. The line will use two former Renaissance R-class ships as
Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey
- For the first time,
Carnival Cruise Lines will operate voyages to South America with 14- to
18-day departures featuring extended visits to several destinations in
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru aboard the new
113,300-ton Carnival Splendor beginning in January 2009.
- Holland America Line launches As You
Wish dining, an innovative program that allows guests to choose from the
best of both worlds -- either traditional pre-set seating and dining
times, or a completely flexible dining schedule. One level of the
two-tiered restaurant will offer flexible open dining service from
5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and the other will host two seatings, an early and
main seating.
- Ocean Majesty
and Thomson Spirit collide in the Geiranger Fjord in Norway. One of
Ocean Majesty’s lifeboats is damaged as well as Thomson Spirits bow.
- After NCL
reported massive losses mostly from its US division (Hawaii) the company
will receive a financial injection of $1 billion from Apollo Management,
a firm which recently also invested in Oceania Cruises.
- P&O
Cruises newbuilding Ventura is to be UK's largest floating art galley.
40 British artists will produce almost 7,000 pieces of modern art worth
over 1 million pounds. The collection on board will showcase work from
all disciplines including sculpture, photography, digital print, mural,
painting, glasswork, lenticular and mosaic.The art will be displayed all
around the public areas of the new ship but the three stairwells will be
a highlight of the collection, each led by a single artist.
Ventura
- A new
European cruise line is launched by Royal Caribbean Cruises. The new
line, to be called CDF Croisieres de France will cater to the French
market. Sailings will start in May 2008 using the former Europa,
Superstar Aries, Holiday Dream under her new name Blue de France.
- Finally
the Norway can be scrapped. This has been ruled by the high court of
India although environmentalists still claimed asbestos and other
dangerous substances are present on the vessel.
-
The
Explorer, operated by GAP Adventure Cruises sinks of the Argentinean Coast
in Antarctican waters after striking a submerged iceberg. The vessel
suffers a hole of about 10 cm in the hull and pumps can’t
cope. Passengers are transferred to Nordnorge (Hurtigruten cruise ship)
and Lindblad Expedition’s Geographic Endeavour. The Explorer, built in
1969 and former Lindblad Explorer, Society Explorer is known for being
the first cruise ship to navigate the North West passage in 1984.
Explorer
- As the transaction
between Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Apollo Management,
nears completion and the infusion of $1 billion comes into the company,
NCL announces its Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide initiative featuring
significant enhancements in its onboard product. The enhancements include
a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the
stateroom experience across the ship; new wide ranging onboard
activities for guests of all ages; additional service and
amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and a re-launch of a
tiered Latitudes past guest recognition program.
2008
-
Although british cruise-operator Travelscope had gone into
administration, passengers who had booked the world cruise on
the Van Gogh could set set sail Friday, reports the Press
Association. The Gloucester-based Travelscope, a tour operator
that also operates the ocean-going Van Gogh and river ships, had
gone into administration shortly before Christmas. All other
trips planned by the company, some 45,000 on number, were
canceled.
- Private
equity group Apollo Management agreed to invest heavily and
become a major shareholder in Norwegian Cruise Line. NCL has
announced the closing of a $1 billion cash equity investment.Apollo has now
become a 50 percent owner of NCL. Star Cruises, NCL's previous
sole shareholder, owns the other 50 percent. NCL needed cash to
implement Freestyle 2.0 on their ships and for the new F#
prototype ship.
- Cunard Trio
Sails Together for First -- and Last -- Time Three cruise
ships from the same company sailing out of the same port at the
same time is usually not such a big deal. But when the ships are
the three Queens of Cunard, and they're departing from New York
... well, that makes big headlines.
- Between
and
yesterday, Queen Mary 2, the new Queen Victoria and Queen
Elizabeth 2 lined up in New York
for their first ever rendezvous (and last; Queen Elizabeth 2 is
being retired at the end of this year). It was a big event, even
in a metropolis like New York.
In Battery Park, thousands of spectators arrived to witness the
historical lineup, which ended with fireworks as the Queens
passed under the VerrazanoNarrowsBridge
-- Queen Mary 2 heading to Barbados
on her 10-night Caribbean
cruise, and Queen Victoria
and Queen Elizabeth 2 to Ft.Lauderdale
on their World Cruises.
Queen Mary 2
- While this is
the first World Cruise for the Queen Victoria, it will be the
last for the Queen Elizabeth. Fortunately, the ship still has
scheduled calls in New York
prior to its retirement.
- Celebrity’s new vessel Celebrity
Solstice innovation is grass: a 1/2-acre lawn for sports and
relaxation. "The Lawn Club," on the top-most deck, aft, will
feature real growing grass and a full-time gardener to keep in
good condition. It will be the central element of the ship's
outdoor experience.
- Marco Polo will
depart Orient Lines fleet and being a one-ship operator and
given the fact that NCL, Orient’s parent company will not
replace the ship means that Orient Lines, created in 1991 as a
destination-oriented company, will no longer exist.
- Carnival Cruise
Lines' "Evolutions of Fun" initiative, a $250 million renovation
and upgrade program of its eight Fantasy-class ships goes ahead
on schedule with pase 2 being implemented. Next vessel to be
refitted the 70,000-ton, 2,052-passenger Carnival Fantasy which
will enter dry dock this fall. A new aqua park, an adults-only
area and a redesigned main pool are the main features of this
program. Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration were the
first two ships to receive these improvements, Carnival Paradise,
Carnival Sensation, Carnival Elation, Carnival Ecstasy and
Carnival Fascination will be renovated by the end of 2009. Phase
one of the initiative, already complete, featured updated
staterooms with flat-screen TV's, a renovated 12,000-square-foot
Spa Carnival facility, refreshed dining rooms, a New York-style
deli, an atrium lobby bar, a new conference facility, a
patisserie, and new photo and art galleries. - Stelios
Haji-Ioannou has put his first vessel for his low budget
company easyCruise, easyCruiseOne up for Sale
and has cancelled his new-build order (for up to seven ships!)
at a Greek yard. The line will now launch in April easyCruise
Life, their second ship which easyCruise bought in September
2007. easyCruise Life
will be operated om 7-night cruises around in Greek and Turkish
waters.
easyCruise
One - Celebrity
orders fifth Solstice-class ship for delivery in 2012 and now
has five Solstice-class vessels on order to be launched between
2008 and 2011.
- Pearl
Seas Cruises, the recently formed line in the luxury cruise
market, has experienced serious construction delays with its
first ship. The vessel is now set to debut spring 2008 (built
at Halifax Shipyard Ltd)ed.
-Thomson Cruises
announces that its Thomson Emerald (built 1958, rebuilt in
1991) will be leaving the fleet at the end of October. Thomson
has been chartering the vessel, owned by Louis Cruise Lines,
since 1993 The ageing vessel is not up to standards anymore..
- Royal Caribbean
takes delivery at Aker Yards, turku,
Finland,
of the
Independence
of the Seas, third vessel in the Freedom-class series. She
measures 160,000 tons, carries 3,630 pax.
- Private Cabanas
Introduced on Eurodam On its first Signature-Class ship,
Eurodam, HAL will introduce so called private cabanas, tented
cabanas for private use on the Observation and Lido Decks. All
of them will be furnished with woven chaises, ottomans and
upholstered settees, and are stocked with bathrobes, plush
towels, handheld fans, Evian spray misters and iPods already
loaded with a variety of music.
-
Swan Hellenic, returns on the cruising scene. Operating one
vessel 12,500-ton, 350-passenger Minerva.
In 2006 the line
was to be sold by parent company, Carnival UK;
and its existing ship, Minerva II, was transferred to Princess
Cruises. But, in April 2007, Lord Sterling (former P&O Cruises
chairman) bought the Swan Hellenic name and its former
passenger lists". What he actually got was the name, its list of
passengers and other back-of-the-house stuff; he then needed to
go out and find a ship. Interesting detail: the Minerva now to
be introduced was actually also Swan Hellenic's popular former
Minerva; so the ship is returning to her former name and owners.
- easyCruise's
newvessel, easCruise Life, has now departed on its maiden voyage
(may 2008), a month late as she was delayed by greek labour
strikes.
- HAL's
"Grande Dame", the Rotterdam V of 1959 has returned home at
last.Rotterdam V, its one-time flagship, pulled into Rotterdam
for good; there, after years of planning and renovating the ship
in Spain, Poland and Germany, the ship will be permanently
docked and serve as a floating hotel.
ss Rotterdam V 1959
- MSC has signed
a contract with Aker Yards to build two more ships which will
belong to the Musica class; they measure 89,600 tons and carry
2,550 passengers.
- easyCruise has
decided to include Half-board meal packages and daily
housekeeping as part of the published fares starting immediately.
Up till now, the line, operating as a budget cruise line
excluded all shipboard services from it fares, but because of
this move, the line is getting closer to becoming a standard
traditional cruis line..
- TUI Travel, parent company of
Thomson, now owns 100 percent of Island Cruises; this will
result in Island Star leaving the fleet. She is acquired by
Spanish Pullmantur, meaning all 2009, 20110 cruises will be
cancelled.
- As a result of SOLAS
2010 safety rules, Fred Olsen will retire its classic Retire
Black Prince of 1966. Costs of upgrading the little ship, still
very popular among British passengers are too high.
- When QE2 enters
Dubai'sport
of
Mina Rashid
her active career as the wordls most publicized liner/ cruise
ship will have ended. Plans are to strip the vessel, partially
rebuild her and in three years after a grand reopening, operate
her as a floating luxury hotel berthed at Palm Jumeirah, a
manmade island shaped like a palm tree.
- Norwegian
Cruise Line and STX Europe, which have been in dispute over
plans for the newly developed F3 series of ships, have resolved
their disagreements, resulting in NCL will now build just one
ship, rather than the pair originally planned. This is scheduled
to debut in May 2010. The disagreement began when NCL objected
to the higher costs STX France calculated to make additional
design changes NCL included in the F3 project at a later stage
of development.
2009
- QE2, taken
over from Cunard by Dubai government-owned firm
Nakheel, is in danger of being sent to the scrap yard after all.
Since delivery in November 2008, QE2 has been waiting for
conversion to hotel, museum and convention centre. Spectacular
plans have been shelved because of the economic crisis also
hitting Dubai and as a result of this declining
numbers of tourists visiting Dubai.
-
Costa Cruises is the first shipping line which sells cruises
through the website of an airline. In this case, Ryanair
features a page on its UK-website through which passengers can
book for Costa cruise packages. Ryanair flights can be combined
with Costa cruises in this way.
-
Construction on both new Disney vessels to be introduced in 2011
and 2012 has begun. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will measure
128.000GRT and carry 2500 pax. They are being built at Meyer
Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Current Disney
liners have the highest occupancy ratio in cruising because of
the many children per cabin (ratio: 150%!). This means that
although officially the new ships (which feature two extra
decks) will carry 2500 pax, their actual occupancy will be
around 3500.
- British
Hebridean International Cruises will end sailing in
international waters and sell one of her vessels, Hebridean
Spirit. The line states it will focus on operating her remaining
vessel, Hebridean Princess in domestic Scottish waters. Reason
for this downsizing of operations is the company has received
less bookings than expected because of the economic recession
and suffers from a weak pound against euro and dollar. This
means operating a vessel in international waters will no longer
be viable.
Hebridean Spirit
-
A group of
world leaders from eight countries France, the United States,
the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada
among them U.S. President Barack Obama will be staying on board
MSC Cruises 135.000GRT MSC Fantasia during thus year’s G8
Summitin Sardinia.
- Starting
March, a new cruise line will start operating ms Celebration on
short cruises to the Bahama’s from Port Everglades. This former
rebuilt Color Line ferry will be used and will replace the ss
Regal Empress of now defunct Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. Regal
Empress has recently been scrapped as she did not comply to the
new SOLAS 2010 requirements due to her age.
- All
Leisure Group (owners of Swan Hellenic Cruises andVoyages of
Discovery) has acquired Hebridean Island Cruises. Hebridean went
into administration earlier this year and had to dispose of one
of her two vessels, Hebridean Spirit. The line will now focus
on her domestic trade in the Scottish isles.
-
The
former Celebrity Galaxy, retired in March, has been launched in
Hamburg. Germany-based TUI Cruises will target Mein Schiff (German
for "My Ship) to German-speaking passengers. 50 million euro’s
have been spent to completely modernize her resulting in some
spectacular public spaces like the Himmel and Meer Lounge
featuring pod chairs with cushions dangling from the ceiling.
A number of balconies even feature hammocks.
- German
operator Peter Deilmann Cruises will shut down its river cruise
division beginning in 2010. The cruise line cites financial
concerns as the reason. Through 2009, river cruises will be
operated as normal and then Deilmann will sell of her fleet of
eight river cruisers. The ocean-going cruise ship, Deutschland,
will not be affected and will continue to offer luxury
cruises. Deilmann is yet another victim of the current economic
depression.
- Saga Holidays, the Britain-based two-ship
line that aims at the over 50 market, has purchased a
replacement for Saga Rose, the classic cruise ship which will
retire in December 2009. The company acquired the 18,600GRT,
446-passenger Astoria
at an auction yesterday in
Gibraltar. After a thorough
14 million pound refurbishment, the ship will begin sailing in
March 2010 as Saga Pearl II. (the refurbishment will include
the addition of new balcony cabins; upgrades to the show lounge,
spa and two swimming pools; and the creation of a library and a
new Veranda Restaurant).
Astoria
- A new British cruise line is formed: Cruise &
Maritime Voyages, offering sailings on two intimate classic
vessels, the 22.000GRT Marco Polo and the 17.000GRT Ocean
Countess The line will aim at the same market as competitors
Voyages of Discovery and Saga Cruises, both also British lines
that cater for more mature travellers and emphasize on
destination oriented cruises.
- Cruise line
Paul Gaugain Cruises has been up for sale for some time and has
now been sold to Pacific Beachcomber, a firm which owns luxury
resorts. Owner Regent Seven Seas Cruises had just
shifted operations of Paul Gauguin to the newly formed cruise
line, Paul Gaugiuin Cruises starting from 2010 as
Regent’s charter of the vessel ends 2009. Beachcombers interests
are in the region of Tahiti, French Polynesia, so
Paul Gaguin will most likely stay in the area.
-
German cruise
operator Transocean Tours, which charters Marco Polo and Astor,
filed for insolvency in September. The company, which resides
in Bremen will start restructuring within weeks. Cruises for the
remainder of 2009 on both ships will be unaffected. It seems
that one of the reasons for the company’s financial difficulties
is the cancellation of Astor’s 2008/ 2009 world cruise resulting in high insurance payouts
which had to be made.
-
Up till now, Celebrity Cruises was one of the few cruise lines
not to offer their passengers flexible dining options like NCL’s
Freestyle Dining which was the first alternative dining program
introduced in the business. Later all other large cruise lines
followed, and now Celebrity introduces Celebrity Select offering
passengers flexible dinner times and a new feature here is that
passengers can pre book on a daily basis when and where they
will dine, and with whom.
- Former
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises passengers have formed a new cruise
line to fill the void left in this niche market of casual sail
cruises when Windjammer when bankrupt in 2008. The line will
start operating the small 12-passenger Diamant from
Grenada to six islands: Carriacou,
Union Island,
Bequia, Tobago Cays, Mayreau and Palm
Island.
- Only a year after leaving the
Cunard
fleet for a new life as a luxury hotel in Dubai,
the QE2 may have to be sold. The ship was bought for $100
million in 2007 by Nakheel, a specialist property subsidiary of
state-run Dubai World, and has been berthed in Dubai
since arriving there in November 2008. Now, Nakheel which has
run into financial trouble will have to restructure (it has a
debt of $ 60 billion) which could result in QE2 being sold off.
Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai, Palm Island her
planned berth
-
Oceania which
will launch the 66,000-ton, 1,258 passenger Marina, its first
new-build, January 2010 unveiled drawings for its most
expensive suites. The three Owner's Suites on Marina are more
than twice the size of their counterparts on her fleetmates
Regatta, Insignia and
Nautica.
These 2,500-square-foot suites are the first staterooms to go
from beam to beam, all across the ship offering views both from
port- and starboard.
-
Silversea's
36,000-ton, 540-passenger new-build, Silver Spirit, has been
handed over to the company by the Fincantieri shipyard in
Ancona,
Italy.
The inaugural sailing, from Barcelona
to Lisbon
will be on December 23.
2010
-
An extensive fleet modernisation plan has been launched by
Celebrity Cruises which celebrates its 20th
anniversary. Their Solstice-class vessels have proven so
popular, that when overhauling their Millennium class vessels
this will be done with Celebrity Solstice’s facilities in mind.
Solstice introduced the industry's first real lawn on the top
deck of a cruise ship as well as an ice-walled bar among other
never seen facilities.
-
Paul Gauguin, the luxury cruise ship operated in the South
Pacific for the last decade, has now been officially handed over
to her new owners, Pacific Beachcomber. Itineraries will remain
the same as will the ship itself apart from the replacement of the old
spa by an algotherm Spa (which can also been found in the Inter
Continental resorts Beachcomber also owns).
Paul Gauguin at Tahiti
- Silversea’s new ship
Silver Spirit has been christened and has been officially taken
into service during a short and simple ceremony in Port
Everglades. Just before the christening, the ship was
inspected by the Centre of Disease Control and earned a score
of 96 out of 100.
- Plans to dock the QE2, the former famous
Cunard cruise liner now owned by Dubai developer Nakheel at Cape
Town, South Africa during this summer’s FIFA World Cup have
fallen through. Nakheel wanted to dock the ship for 18 months in
Cape town, much longer than the World Cup, but port officials
state they need the berth for handling regular cargo vessels.
Nakheel is short of funds to execute their original plans to vastly
rebuild the QE2 and operate her in Dubai and currently tries to
find ways to have the ship generate alternative sources of
income .
- Easycruise ends operations by cancelling
sailings for the remainder of the 20210 season and offering
passengers refunds. The line started in 2005 as a low budget
cruise line in the Caribbean, meals and housekeeping were not
included in the fare. Later Easycruise altered this and became
more of a standard cruise line. A larger vessel replaced the
original Easycruise One, but Easycruise did not succeed in
finding an solid foothold in the cruise industry.
- For the first time a cruise ship has been named at an Arabian
port: at a spectacular event during which Arabian horseman
performed and parachutists with Costa logo’s on their parachutes landed, Costa Deliziosa was named by godmother Tala
Dionisi, wife of the
Italian ambassador to the Arab Emirates. Because of Muslim
faith, a bottle of juice instead of champagne was used and
the ceremony was referred to as a naming, not a christening.
Oceania first newbuilding Marina (it currently operates Regatta,
Insignia and Nautica, all three ex-Renaissance ships) will be
floated out of its construction dock during a special event at the
Fincantieri shipyard in Genova. Although far from finished,
travel agents and press are invited to tour the ship for a
first impression.
- Three crew members have died and four other people have been
injured after Costa Europa collided with a pier during bad
weather in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh this morning.
An unexpected gust of wind threw the ship against the pier.
Costa Europa hits a pier in
Sharm el Sheik, Egypt
-A growth to 1.65 mio British cruise
passengers in 2020 is envisaged because of ships offering more
facilities are being introduced as well as cruises to more
varied destinations are offered. This spectacular number of
cruise passengers does cause shipping lines problems as they will have
to increase capacity in time. British passengers mostly sail on
ships of one of the brands of Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess, Cunard etc
-
West Africa is becoming more important as a cruise destination.
Crystal Cruises and Princess offer cruises in the region. Star
Clippers and Seabourn Cruises also did until recently but
because of increased risks of piracy off the coast of Somalia,
these line have cancelled their sailings in the area for now.
Several ports are building cruise terminals to be able to
accommodate cruise passengers in the near future.
- Carnival Ecstasy (70,367 GRT, 2052 pax)
suddenly developed a heavy list when it needed to avoid a large
buoy which was adrift and had not been detected by the ships
radar, resulting in 60 passengers suffering minor injuries.
-
Cruise travelers suffer from cancelled flights in all of Europe
because of several volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Cruise ships,
Celebrity Eclipse, Thomson Dream and Island Escape offered
assistance and repatriated
stranded tourists back to the UK.
- Even on Royal Caribbean 225.000 GRT Oasis of the Seas, which
is a stunning success because of its sheer size and impressive
facilities, some of the ships facilities are used less than
expected. An example of this is the Coney Island Boardwalk
featuring a carousel and shops offering ice cream, candy etc.
As these services come with a fee, passengers divert to the
other (free) amenities this ship has to offer. So on sister ship
Allure of the Seas, these lesser performing areas will be
replaced by alternative facilities.
- A spectacular feature of Cunard's new Queen
Elizabeth, currently under construction, will be a two and a
half deck art panel in the Grand Lobby, the area where
passengers will board the ship, depicting the first ship to
carry the name Queen Elizabeth, created by artist David Linley,
a nephew of the Queen.
Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth
- Mr Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s CEO stated at a
press conference onboard the lines new $1.1 billion Norwegian
Epic that he line will not order a second F3-class sister ship
to the Epic. Newbuildings, when ordered will be of an entirely
new class.
- The SS United States has been saved from
the scrapyard. Philadelphia philanthropist Mr Gerry Lenfest has
donated $5.8 million, enabling the SS United States Conservancy
to acquire the ship for $ 3 million from current owners NCL. Mr
Lenfest will pay for docking fees for 20 months during which the
Conservancy will develop a business plan to convert the ship to a
floating hotel/ museum.
- Passengers on the Clipper Adventurer
(operated by Canadian Adventure Canada) saw their cruise end
earlier than expected when their ship hit an uncharted rock en
route from Epworth to Kugluktuk. When the ship couldn’t be freed
on the next high tide, an icebreaker offered help and transported
its passengers to Kugluktuk from where they were flown home.
- In September, Dick West, CEO of Cruise
West announced the closure of the company after 64 years. The
company had suffered badly from the economic crises and could
not survive financially any longer.
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has
christened Cunard´s new cruiser Queen Elizabeth (92.400 GRT).
When the bottle smashed into her hull, the ship was covered by
red, white and blue streamers.
- Costa Classica, stationed in Shanghai,
China has collided with a cargo ship in the port of Shanghai
when returning from a cruise, suffering a 20 meter gash above the
waterline. Although summoned to their lifeboat stations,
passengers have not been in any danger.
Costa Classica
- Although kept quiet by the line at first,
NCL has ordered two 143.500 GRT ships from Meyer Werft,
Germany. They will not be sisters to Norwegian Epic, but will be
ships of a new generation derived from NCL’s popular Norwegian
Jewel, Jade, Pearl and Gem.
- Regent Seven Seas wants to emphasize the
ultra luxury character of its product by including pre-cruise
stays to all of its sailings, starting next season, this in
addition to shore excursions, beverages and tips which are
already included in the fares of most sailings.
- The success of Oasis of the Seas’ extensive
facilities is overwhelming and Royal Caribbean will include
several of them in older ships when they are refitted. Starting with mid
size Radiance of the Seas (90.000GRT) which will receive a Samba Grill
Brazilian Steakhouse and Rita's Cantina (Mexican food),
Giovanni's Table, serving Italian dishes and the Park Cafe deli,
which will not be in situated in an actual park by the way and the Chef's
Table, an exclusive dinner restaurant.
Oasis of the Seas Central
Park
- Splendor of the Seas (Carnival Cruises) has
been stricken by an engine-room fire and the ship was adrift
for four days before being towed into port. On board power was
lost, toilets did not work. Food had to be improvised as the
kitchen was also crippled.
- Saga Holidays, the line for passengers over
50 years of age has acquired a new vessel, the Blue the France. She will be
refitted and will enter service in 2012
- Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity
Reflection, Celebrity’s two new vessels for 2011 an 2012 will
offer more amenities than their three sister ships already in
service. Onboard Reflection 42 suites will be added for which
the pool will be raised one deck, more seats in the theatre and
the Ocean View Café and cabana’s will be added which can be
rented for half a day or a full day. Due to time limitations the
size of Silhouette could not be increased, but it will feature
17 additional cabins.
www.CRUISESHIPODYSSEY.com
Andaman Princess
Rotterdam V
Ocean Odyssey
Wind Surf
Fantasy
Ventura
Explorer
Queen Mary 2
easyCruise
One
ss Rotterdam V 1959
Hebridean Spirit
Paul Gauguin at Tahiti
Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth
Oasis of the Seas Central
Park