The Marella Explorer Class – Norwegian Bliss Becomes Largest Cruise Ship To Transit Panama – This Week’s Voyage: m.v. Sirena

THE CRUISE EXAMINER AT CYBERCRUISES.COMBY KEVIN GRIFFIN

The Cruise Examiner for 14th May 2018

The 1,924-berth Marella Explorer was built as Celebrity’s Galaxy and later became TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1

As the first of two sister ships delivers this week to TUI UK’s Marella Cruises, we have a look at the original Celebrity Cruises trio of Century, Galaxy and Mercury. Elsewhere, the Norwegian Bliss has today set a record for largest cruise ship to transit the Panama Canal. And Oceania’s Sirena offers an interesting Calfornia itinerary for December 2019

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World Dream Christened In Hong Kong – Celebrity Orders 100-berth Galapagos Newbuilding – Celestyal Aegean Itineraries

The Cruise Examiner for 20th November 2017

Celebrity Cruises’ planned 100-berth Galapagos cruiser Celebrity Flora is being built in the Netherlands

Last week, Dream Cruises christened its new 3,352-berth World Dream at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong. Also last week, Celebrity Cruises announced that it would be introducing a newly-built 100-berth cruise ship, the Celebrity Flora, to the Ecuadorean-flag Galapagos Islands fleet in 2019, and that a sister ship was planned to follow. Meanwhile, Athens-based Celestyal Cruises has confirmed that the Thomson Majesty will be joining the Louis-owned Celestyal Cruises fleet as Celestyal Majesty.

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Celebrity Edge Will Work From Europe In 2019 – Other Cruise News: The B Debuts For U By Uniworld – Crystal Cruises’ Getaway Cruises

The Cruise Examiner for 23rd October 2017

U By Uniworld’s 361-foot 120-berth Millenial cruiser The B, in her all-black livery, has equivalent décor and artwork on board

Last week, it was announced that the Celebrity Edge, the first of four new 2,900-berth “Edge” class ships, will be based in Europe in 2019. In addition, the existing Celebrity fleet of nine will be refurbished between 2019 and 2023 as the four new ships are delivered. Elsewhere, the world’s first cruise ship designed for Millenials, U by Uniworld’s The B (above), is to enter service on the Seine next spring, to be followed by a second ship, The A, on the Rhine. Finally, Crystal Cruises has added to its selection of short cruises with five 6- to 8-day cruises for 2018 in addition to the seven short cruises that are being sold this year.

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Seabourn And Windstar Finally Return To Alaska – Celebrity Cruises Changes UK Ship – Trouble At Falmouth?

The Cruise Examiner for 10th July 2017

Seabourn is reviving the port of Alert Bay, where Canadian Pacific’s Princess Charlotte is seen. She later became Swan Hellenic’s Mediterranean

Seabourn’s first Alaska departure in fifteen years left Vancouver last month when the Seabourn Sojourn sailed north to Seward and went on during her return voyage to add calls at Prince Rupert, Klemtu and Alert Bay in northern British Columbia that will make her itineraries unique. And next year, Windstar Cruises will return to Alaska after an absence of twenty years. In their case they will use the Star Legend, which sailed for many years as Seabourn Legend. In the UK, Celebrity Cruises will be changing from the Celebrity Eclipse to the Celebrity Silhouette in 2018. And trouble seems to be brewing in Falmouth, Jamaica, the six-year-old mega-ship port that was opened by Royal Caribbean in 2011, after complaints from passengers about surly welcomes to Jamaica.

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MSC Orders Two “World” Class Cruise Ships – Ups & Downs In World Cruise Markets – Southampton Sets Cruise Ship Record

The Cruise Examiner for 12th June 2017

MSC Meraviglia arriving at Le Havre for her recent naming by Sophia Loren

Last week came confirmation from MSC Cruises that it had ordered two new “World” class cruise ships, among the largest in the world, with an option for two more, from STX France. Seeing that there will soon be 120 cruise ships in the world measuring over 100,000 gross tons,This news is not shocking, but the order will bring the number of ships over 200,000 tons to eight, including five operated by Royal Caribbean International and one by Star Cruises. While vessels grow in size, we also have a look at rising (and in some cases falling) markets in the cruise industry. And finally we note that Southampton last week received a record fifteen cruise ships in three days.

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Fincantieri Takes 66.66% Of STX France – Carnival Maritime Opens Third Centre – European Cruise Market To Grow 60% In A Decade

The Cruise Examiner for 22nd May 2017

Fincantieri has acquired a two-thirds shareholding in the famous STX France shipyard at St Nazaire

Last Friday it was announced that Fincantieri was acquiring a 66.66% shareholding in STX France, a company that will no doubt soon be renamed. The balance of the shares are held by the French State. At the same time, following the opening of Fleet Operations Centres in Hamburg and Seattle, Carnival Maritime has started hiring for a third such centre in Miami to manage the twenty-five ships of original group member Carnival Cruise Line. Meanwhile, Cruise Industry News Annual predicts 60% growth in the European cruise market over the next decade.

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Bravo: Cruise of the Performing Arts On Board Celebrity Silhouette, 7 Days Southampton, Bilbao, Vigo, Cherbourg – May 19, 2018

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