National Geographic Endurance – SkySea Golden Era To Go To Marella – UK Christening For MSC Bellissima

The Cruise Examiner for 26th March 2018

Lindblad Expeditions’ Polar 5 vessel National Geographic Endurance will carry 126 passengers

Last week, at the keel-laying of Lindblad Expeditions’ new 12,300-ton 126-berth expedition ship, it was announced that she would be named National Geographic Endurance, after Shackleton’s vessel. She could prove to be the first of three such Polar 5 sister ships, higher-rated than any expedition ship other than Ponant’s planned Polar 2 icebreaker. Elsewhere, Royal Caribbean has decided to close its SkySea joint ventuire with China’s CTrip and their SkySea Golden Era will be transferred to TUI’s UK affiliate Marella Cruises as Marella Explorer 2. Finally, MSC has announced that it will christen its 4,500-berth MSC Bellissima in Southampton on March 2, 2019.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                            (See previous columns)

Advertisements

More Ships For Fewer Than 1,000 Passengers – UK Cruise Market Misses Two Million – CMV Acquires Pacific Eden

The Cruise Examiner for 19th March 2018

The Pacific Eden (ex-Statendam) will carry 1,150 passengers, including 100 passengers in single cabins

While recent news indicates that Viking Cruises’ ocean fleet may eventually number sixteen 930-berth ships, there is the possibility of four 700-berth ships being built for MSC Cruises, and four more 600-berth vessels for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. These would be in addition to the pair of 999-berth ships being built by Meyer Werft for Saga. The latest statistics for the UK cruise market revealed paltry growth last year, at 0.5%, for a total of 1,959,000 Brits taking a cruise. Germany surpassed two million cruisers in 2016. Finally, Cruise & Maritime Voyages has announced yet another acquisition, whose name will be announced tomorrow.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                        (See previous columns)

Viking Orders Six Ocean Ships – Ponant Orders Two More Explorers – Star Order To Go To Dream Cruises

The Cruise Examiner for 12th March 2018

The 930-berth Viking Sky at Montreal, one of what will eventually be a class of sixteen ships.

Eight more cruise ships were ordered last week, bringing the total now on order to 100 according to Seatrade Cruise News. Viking Cruises ordered six 930-berth ocean-going cruise ships from Fincantieri for delivery between 2024 and 2027. In addition, Ponant ordered two more of its 184-berth “Explorer” class expedition ships for delivery in 2020. And Genting Hong Kong meanwhile announced the move of its first “Global” class cruise ship order from Star Cruises to its more upmarket Dream Cruises brand.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                           (See previous columns)

AIDA Orders Third LNG Ship – Riviera To Add Two River Cruisers And Titan One – This Week’s Voyage: Norwegian Bliss Transatlantic

The Cruise Examiner for 5th March 2018

The 4,004-berth Norwegian Bliss, seen here completing at Meyer Werft, Papenburg, enters service next month

Carnival Corporation last week ordered a third mega-cruise ship from Meyer Werft in Germany. One of nine LNG-powered ships, she will join the AIDA fleet in 2023. Elsewhere, UK-based river cruise lines Riviera and Titan will be adding another three ships in 2018-19. And for this week’s voyage we have a look at Norwegian Bliss’s maiden Transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York in April.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                     (See previous columns)