fincantieri – Cruise Ship Profiles

Princess Cruises celebrates float out of Sun Princess – at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy.

Princess Cruises celebrated a momentous construction milestone with the float out of the cruise line’s bespoke, next-generation ship – Sun Princess – at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

*Sun Princess (Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)*

Following the Italian shipyard’s tradition, the float out is marked by a special ceremony where a “Madrina” is named to offer blessings and best wishes for the vessel, celebrating the flow of water into the ship’s building dock. Princess Cruises Hotel General Manager Simona Stumberger was selected to serve in this special role as an ambassador for Princess, because she epitomises professionalism and always delivers service with a smile.

A native of Slovenia, where Stumberger studied hospitality management, she began her career at sea in the bar department and further diversified her hotel experience by working in guest services, and hand in hand with the hotel and food and beverage divisions. Stumberger has been with Princess Cruises for nearly five years.

*Hotel General Manager Simona Stumberger honoured as Madrina of Sun Princess* *(Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)*

“Simona is the ideal candidate to serve as Madrina of our newest ship, Sun Princess, because she embodies all the best qualities that our company has to offer – an unwavering commitment to service, hospitality and friendliness,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Sun Princess will usher in an exciting new era for our company and the industry, and we can’t think of a better person to serve in this important role.”

The float out completes the first comprehensive phase of construction for Sun Princess which now transitions to focus on building the ship’s interiors.

*Sun Princess (Photo courtesy of Fincantieri)*

Princess also announced that it has appointed Gennaro Arma as captain, leading Sun Princess shipbuilding operations, readiness and delivery, and overseeing the ship’s final stages of construction, working closely with brand’s naval architects, engineers and shipbuilding experts, as well as the shipyard management team.

The 175,500-tonne, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer an array of exciting new dining, entertainment and activity offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. The ship will be highlighted by amazing, never-before-seen spaces such as The Dome, a transformational entertainment venue inspired by the terraces of Santorini, the next-level, brand-iconic Piazza, and three-story Horizons dining room that are sure to have everyone talking.

In addition, Sun Princess has been designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Sun Princess’ sustainability features include:

Fuel and Energy Management

Although a duel-fuel ship Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) will be the primary fuel and Sun Princess will be the first ship in the Princess fleet to be powered by LNG. This cleaner burning fuel will significantly reduce air emissions and marine gas-oil to minimise the cruise line’s environmental footprint. The LNG tanks measure tanks are 25 meters long and nine meters high and have a capacity of 4,000m³ sufficient for almost 9 days of sailing at service speed. The secondary fuel is marine gas-oil, so no heavy or intermediate fuel oil will be carried on board.

LNG Fuel tank *(Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)*

· Two shore power connections, also known as “cold ironing,” on both the port and starboard side of the vessel to enable the ship to turn off the engines and connect to local electric power to run all onboard services during day-long calls in various ports. Sun Princess is outfitted with custom-built electrical connection cabinets that automatically connect the ship’s electrical network to the local electrical network ashore, reducing air emissions in the ports that support shore power.

· Another first for Princess to supply sustainable power and better maneuverability to save fuel, Sun Princess will be outfitted with two Azipod propulsions for forward and backward movements and the four largest Controllable Pitch Propellers, known as bow thrusters, on the market for sideways navigation.

Waste Management

· All Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) installed for waste. MAGS is the world’s most compact, efficient and environmentally safe technology to convert a variety of combustible materials into thermal energy – energy that can be used in other systems onboard.

· Food waste management designed with distributed and centralized bio-digesters and dehydrators as a clean alternative to recycle food waste and reduce the use of landfills.

As well as the above environmental features Sun Princess will also feature a waste-heat recovery optimization, an air lubrication system to reduce hull friction and high-efficiency LED lighting.

When Sun Princess debuts next February, she’ll spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before repositioning to Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) in the fall.

Sun Princess is the lead ship in Princess Cruises new Sphere-Class and will be followed by a yet unnamed sister ship in 2025.

Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean and Europe are currently on sale. More ship information and images can be found at princess.com/sunprincess.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 0344 338 8663 or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

SUN RINCESS FACTFILE

Shipyard: Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy)

Year of launch: 2024

Vessel Class: Princess Cruises Sphere Class

Building Costs: EUR 950 Billion / USD 1 Billion

Length: 345 m

Beam: 47 m

Gross Tonnage: 17550 gt

Crew: 1550

Decks: 20

Decks with cabins: 10

Passenger Capacity: 4320 passengers/lower berths (max capacity is 5189)

Thankyou for taking the time to read my latest post, I would love to hear if you are booked or planning to book Princess Cruises exciting new ship.

Ship is happening – Virgin Voyages takes delivery of Scarlet Lady

VIRGIN VOYAGES CELEBRATES DELIVERY OF SCARLET LADY, WITH LOVE

Virgin Voyages Welcomes Scarlet Lady, the Inaugural Ship in Her Fleet as Carbon-Neutral from the First Day of Commercial Operation

IMG-SHIP-Scarlet-Lady-Front-Left-Side-Wave-1600x700 — Scarlet Lady at Sea Image: Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages, the new lifestyle and travel brand delivering irresistible vacations in cruising, announced today that the Scarlet Lady has officially reached completion. Nearly three years in the making, Virgin Voyages formally welcomes its first ‘Lady Ship,’ Scarlet Lady, in its fleet of four to the open waters, departing the shipyard in Genoa, Italy. In just 46 days, Sailors will embark on the Maiden Voyage, departing from her home port in Miami.

On the heels of this celebratory occasion, Virgin Voyages welcomes Scarlet Lady with an industry-leading approach that takes immediate action to address climate change. Not only has the brand designed its fleet of ships to the latest energy-efficiency standards with state-of-the art equipment, Virgin Voyages is offsetting its direct climate change emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets. This commitment makes the brand the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operation. The projects that will be supported by Scarlet Lady will meet high-quality, internationally-recognized verification standards, including The Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.

“It’s wonderful to welcome Scarlet Lady today,” says Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “I’m so proud that as we start this exciting journey, we also bring to life Virgin Voyages’ commitment to preserving the ocean and the first of many steps towards a net zero carbon future.”

The brand has recognized that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, Virgin Voyages’ long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future. This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. And, Virgin Voyages is committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions.

“The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it. The single-biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO and President of Virgin Voyages. “We are committed to pioneering new technologies onboard and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero-carbon fuels.”

Virgin Voyages is one of first cruise lines to use Climeon, a technology that utilizes heat generated from the ship’s engines to generate electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel. While the industry continues to improve on the journey for readily available and commercially viable solutions, purchasing high-quality carbon offsets allows us to take immediate action, while also supporting a long-term strategy that secures a net-zero future for the cruise industry.

Scarlet Lady Bow — Image: Virgin Voyages

Her ladyship sailed from the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa late in the afternoon today and is now enroute to Dover where she is due to arrive next Friday. She will spend 3 days in Dover, before heading to Liverpool for the final part of her UK showcase. During the events Virgin Voyages aims to showcase whats onboard their first ship to over 1000 agents or first mates! According to Shane Riley, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson could make an appearance at the pre-inaugural events.

Virgin Voyages have invited me to visit her ladyship in Dover next weekend, I cant wait to step onboard and get a dose of vitamin sea and find out just what the epic sea change is all about. I intend to share everything on my social media channels during the visit so be sure to follow me on twitter and instagram.

ABOUT VIRGIN VOYAGES
Virgin Voyages is a global lifestyle brand committed to creating the world’s most irresistible holiday. With operations in the US, UK, and Europe, Virgin Voyages currently has four ships on order with master shipbuilder Fincantieri.

With its inaugural season scheduled for 2020, Virgin Voyages’ first ship the Scarlet Lady was designed to reflect a yacht’s sleek luxury. Featuring spaces designed by some of the top names in contemporary design, the Scarlet Lady will be Adult-by-Design, a sanctuary at sea for the 18+ traveller.

A dose of ‘Vitamin Sea’ will be naturally intertwined across the entire ship, with well-being activated through a mix of high-energy moments coupled with relaxation and rejuvenation. The Scarlet Lady will also feature alluring entertainment and 20+ world-class intimate eateries on board. Putting a twist on luxury, which the company refers to as Rebellious Luxe, Virgin Voyages will offer incredible value for its Sailors with all restaurants, group fitness classes, soft drinks, and many more Virgin surprises included within the voyage fare.

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MSC CRUISES AND FINCANTIERI UNVEIL FURTHER DETAILS OF MSC SEASHORE AT COIN CEREMONY

New ship to feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology, including a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system

– Further enhanced ship design and intelligently distributed deck space adds new dimensions for guest experience at sea, from accommodations to dining and entertainment including the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet

seashore-schiffsansicht.8uhyzp71 A traditional maritime coin ceremony today took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, when the keel was laid for MSC Seashore. At the milestone event, MSC Cruises revealed details of the significantly transformed overall design and new features of the ship.

MSC Seashore will be the Company’s longest ship – 339 metres – when she enters service in June 2021, the first of two enriched “Seaside Evo” Class ships with the latest available environmental technology, extended public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet.

with a length of 339m MSC Seashore will be MSC largest ship Image: MSC Cruises

Long-standing employees Marianna Cicala, Ground Services Planning Manager, MSC Cruises and Silvia Bozzetto, Production Planning & Control Commissioning of the Monfalcone shipyard, performed today’s ritual as godmothers when they placed two coins under the new ship’s keel as the historical maritime sign of blessing and good fortune.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “Today’s ceremony marks another key milestone in the construction of one of our most innovative all-around ships yet. Most importantly, MSC Seashore – which will feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology currently available – represents another proof of our long-standing commitment to preserve the environment in our ongoing journey to minimise and continuously reduce the impact of our operations.”

MSC Seashore will be fitted, amongst other, with a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. SCR’s helps reduce nitrogen oxide by 90 per cent through advanced active emissions control technology. Nitrogen oxide from the engine operations is conducted through a catalyst and converts them into nitrogen and water, both harmless compounds. With AWT’s, wastewater undergoes a comprehensive purification process through a very fine filtration process that transforms it to near tap-water quality. The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world. The new build will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects cruise ships while at berth to a port’s local power grid to reduce further the ship’s emissions.

These new features add to other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore and across the Company’s fleet to minimise and continuously reduce environmental impact, including: cutting-edge hybrid Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems (EGCS) that removes 98 per cent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, commented: “The beginning of drydock works of MSC Seashore, the largest ship so far built in Italy, is for us a source of great satisfaction: she is the symbol of “Evo”, a successful project for our Group, innovating the already futuristic “Seaside” concept, that created two units highly welcomed by the market. It is a real challenge in terms of structural and managerial aspects, which powers the impressive workload for the shipyard and the local area. We therefore are very pleased for such a celebration which seals the fruitful partnership with MSC Cruises and we are confident that there will be other similar moments in the future”.

MSC Seashore is based on the ground-breaking “Seaside Class” prototype with a range of breathtaking design features enabling guests to connect with the ocean such as the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, stunning panoramic aft lifts and stylish glass catwalks. More than 40 per cent of the ship has been redesigned and enhanced, making MSC Seashore a significant evolution and improvement of sister ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.

msc-seashore-infinity-pool8179912526205240294..jpg — Image: MSC Cruises

Some of the new enhancements are visible to the naked eye and include the 16-metres extended length of the ship, 200 additional cabins, a larger MSC Yacht Club and an additional double-deck aft lounge. The internal architecture has been completely redesigned with two central meeting points positioned at the middle and forward part of the ship, as well as specific measures to further enhance passenger flows. Overall the ship has 10,000 square metres of additional deck space for an even greater and more spacious onboard experience.

MSC Seashore will offer more suites thanks to the addition of 28 more terraced suites, two suites with private whirlpools and the MSC Yacht Club – the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship’ premium concept available on MSC Cruises ships – will see two new cabin categories: 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner’s Suites with whirlpools.

msc-seashore-main-pool5091987456034933620..jpg — Image: MSC Cruises

The ship will feature new cabin designs such as cluster cabins for families that link two or three adjoining cabins and can accommodate between six and 10 people, plus bigger and more spacious cabins for guests with a disability – 75 in total – will be available.

Two brand new restaurants will be introduced, including one exclusively for Aurea guests. There will be a new location for the five specialty restaurants to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s breathtaking boardwalk to give guests a greater sea view as they dine al fresco.

Main restaurants (dining rooms) offer traditional Italian cuisine and wines. Dining rooms are open for Breakfast (7-9:30 am), Lunch (12-noon – 2 pm_ and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings (7 pm and 9:30 pm) with a 7-course dinner menu that also includes vegan and vegetarian meals.
Lido Buffet Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
Teppanyaki Restaurant
Fusion Restaurant
Steakhouse
Sushi Bar
VIP Restaurant

msc-seashore-aft-lounge8001378234617339277..jpg — Double-decker show lounge Image: MSC Cruises

MSC Seashore will have a new double-decker show lounge at the aft part of the ship, a bigger casino and 20 distinct specialty bars. The ship will feature a new design of her aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive waterpark will provide thrills and spills for guests of all ages. Clubs for young children and teenagers have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.

The ship will provide all her guests with latest customer-centric technology, including ZOE – the world’s first-virtual personal cruise assistant and an MSC Cruises exclusive in every cabin – and MSC for Me.

MSC for Me App

ZOE Cruise Assistant

MSC SEASHORE FACTFILE

IMO No.: 9843792

Launch: 2021

Shipyard: Fincantieri (Montalcone, Italy)

Building Cost: EUR 900 million

Hull No.: 6283

Class: Seaside-Evo Class

Sister Ships:

Length: 339 m

Width: 41 m

Gross tonnage: 169,380 GT

Passengers: 5,632

Staterooms & Cabins: 2270

Decks: 9

Cabin Decks: 6

Crew: 1,648

Cruising speed: 22 knots

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VIKING ANNOUNCES NEW OCEAN OFFERINGS & MEDITERRANEAN ITINERARIES FOR 2021, PLUS THE LAUNCH OF VIKING VENUS

London, 18 September 2019: Viking announces its seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus, will join its award-winning fleet in early 2021, further solidifying the company’s standing as the largest small-ship ocean cruise line. The newest 930-guest sister ship will spend her maiden season sailing popular itineraries in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, including British Isles Explorer, In Search of the Northern Lights, Viking Homelands and Into the Midnight Sun.

created by dji camera — Viking Cruises 2019 built Viking Jupiter see entering Portsmouth on her maiden call in May © Andrew McAlpine

“The spirit of exploration is at the heart of everything we do. We have always drawn inspiration from the original Viking explorers, who were the first to use the stars and constellations for long-distance navigation. Many elements onboard our ships honour those Viking explorers, and we are proud to host our guests on itineraries that sail some of those historic trading routes,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “I am pleased to announce that Viking Venus will join our fleet in 2021, allowing us the ability to introduce even more travellers to the Viking way of exploration.”

“Viking offers cruises that allow our guests to explore the world, experience destinations and learn about new cultures, all from the comfort of our small, beautifully designed, Scandinavian-inspired ships. Viking Venus will be identical to our six existing ocean ships, allowing our guests to enjoy a familiar ‘home away from home’ experience wherever they choose to cruise with us. Demand from the UK market for our ocean cruises is very high so we would advise travellers to book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment – especially if they would like to sail on Viking Venus in her maiden season,” said Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK.

Viking will also expand its offerings in the Mediterranean with five new itineraries that include stops in Istanbul, marking the company’s return to the iconic city. The new 8-day Ancient Mediterranean Treasures will sail between Athens and Istanbul, with overnight stays in both cities. Guests looking for an extended experience in the region can choose a longer versions of the itinerary, including the 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures, which sails between Venice and Istanbul; the 15-day Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities, which sails between Rome and Istanbul; the 22-day Iconic Mediterranean Treasures, which sails between Barcelona and Istanbul; or the 29-day Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores, which also sails between Barcelona and Istanbul and includes stops in Montenegro and Croatia.

Beginning in April 2021 and sailing on Viking’s award-winning 930-guest all-veranda Viking Sky, guests embarking on the new Ancient Mediterranean Treasures itinerary or its longer combination cruise options will witness the origin of civilisation while cruising the fabled Aegean Sea. Highlights of the new itinerary include:

· Istanbul, Turkey: Guests begin their journey with an overnight stay in Istanbul, allowing more time to explore the iconic city. Guests can visit a wealth of religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” one of the city’s most recognisable sites, watch the mesmerising whirling dervishes perform at a local venue, or participate in a centuries-old tradition at a hammam, a Turkish bath. Plus, Viking’s Privileged Access offers guests the chance to tour the legendary Hagia Sofia free of crowds.

· Troy (Çanakkale), Turkey: Guests can explore the nearby well-preserved ruins of Troy, most remembered as the setting of the Trojan War, described by Homer in the Iliad, or visit the nearby Battlefields of Gallipoli, the tranquil memorial site of one of World War I’s longest and deadliest battles.

· Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Turkey: One of the best-preserved cities of antiquity in the world, Ephesus is rich in history and ancient relics. While in port, guests can visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, walk through the Byzantine Basilica of St. John, or visit the modest home where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary lived out her final days.

· Rhodes, Greece: While on the island of Rhodes, guests can explore within the city walls of Old Town, Europe’s largest active medieval town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, learn about island culture through a visit to a traditional village home, or head to one of the island’s scenic mountaintops for sweeping views of the island and the Turkish coast.

· Heraklion, Greece: Located on the island of Crete, Heraklion boasts millennia-old history and was once the strongest fortified city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Guests can take in archaeological splendours whose history is interwoven with the legends of Greek mythology, including the Palace of Knossos and the village of Arolithos, or explore the ruins of the Minoans, Europe’s oldest recorded civilisation.

· Athens, Greece: The journey concludes with an overnight stay in Athens, known as “the birthplace of democracy,” where guests can witness iconic sites such as the Hellenic Parliament, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the mighty Parthenon atop the Acropolis. Viking also offers guests Privileged Access to the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation’s exhibit on British naval icon Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson and the chance to tour a reconstructed ancient Athenian warship, the Olympias, once the dominant warship on the Mediterranean Sea from the 7^th to 4^th centuries BC.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of several recent accolades for Viking. Just this month Viking was named Best River Cruise Line at the Food and Travel Reader Awards and Best Overall Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Line at the British Cruise Awards, as well as being highly commended for its culinary offering. Earlier in 2019, Viking went straight to the top of the table in a Which? ocean cruise consumer satisfaction survey – the only brand to score five stars for its on-board facilities. Viking is a Which? Recommended Provider for both its river and ocean cruises. In 2018 Viking was awarded Best Boutique Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Operator at The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards and, for the 10th consecutive year, rated Best River Cruise Line at the 2018 British Travel Awards, one of the largest and most influential polls of consumer opinion in the UK.

Have you cruised with Viking or are you booked?, I have only visited a couple of their ships which are just amazing onboard.

I love the Scandinavian design and feel of the onboard, below are a few of my favorite spaces.

For more information or to make a booking go to http://www.vikingcruises.co.uk or call 0800 298 97 00.

VIKING VENUS Factfile

Launch: 2021

Shipyard: Fincantieri (Ancona, Italy)

Building Cost: EUR 340 million USD 400 million

Hull No.: 6283

Class: Viking Ocean

Sister Ships: Viking Star, Sea, Sky, Sun, Orion, Jupiter

Length: 227 m

Width: 28 m

Gross tonnage: 47,842 GT

Passengers: 930

Staterooms & suits: 464

Decks: 9

Cabin Decks: 6

Crew: 465

Cruising speed: 20 knots

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Princess Cruises celebrates construction milestone for Enchanted Princess

Princess Cruises has celebrated a significant construction milestone with the float out of the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess from its building dock at Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

enchanted-princess-float-out-cropped_orig — Enchanted Princess in Fincantieri shipyard Image: Princess Cruises

A ceremony marked the occasion when the ship officially met the sea for the first time.

The float out of a ship is Italian shipyard custom and celebrated by a ‘Madrina’ blessing the vessel and wishing it a safe onward journey, as well as signalling the flow of water into the ship’s building dock.

Serving as the Madrina was Doris Ho, president and CEO of the Magsaysay group based in the Philippines – one of the largest human resource companies in the Asia Pacific region. Ms. Ho has been head of a long-standing partnership with Princess Cruises to recruit, train and develop crew members who work onboard the line’s fleet of ships.

The ship will officially launch in Southampton in June 2020.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises’ vice president UK and Europe, said: “We’re delighted to see another significant stage of Enchanted Princess’ construction successfully completed. The countdown to her launch in Southampton next year continues and we’re eagerly anticipating the final development of this stunning ship over the next few months.”

The 143,700-tonne Enchanted Princess will include the signature features of sister ships Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess and Sky Princess, as well as offering new innovations that represent an evolution of the current ships’ designs, including:

· Two ‘Sky Suites’, which have the largest balconies at sea and will be centrally located on the top decks. Measuring 1,012 square feet (starboard side Sky Suite) and 947 square feet (port side Sky Suite) the balconies will provide a private vantage of the top deck Movies Under the Stars cinema screen, offer 270-degree panorama views and sleep up to five guests. They will feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a dining area with skylight as well as a host of exclusive amenities

· First-of-its-kind digitally enhanced ‘Phantom Bridge’ experience, combining digital and physical elements for the ultimate escape room at sea

· New entertainment such as the jazz lounge ‘Take Five’, a redesigned Vista Lounge, an enhanced Princess Theatre and the recently announced production show ‘Rock Opera’

· More than 25 dining venues and bars including the World Fresh Marketplace and speciality restaurants Bistro Sur La Mer (French bistro), Crown Grill Steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

· A redesigned Sanctuary area, the spa-inspired top deck retreat reserved for adults. The Sanctuary will feature an enhanced, contemporary design including twice as many private cabanas as its sister ships, as well as new lounge furniture and the option for guests to indulge in a spa treatment

· The Enclave at the Lotus Spa, which will include the largest thermal suite at sea, including hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, Turkish bath and dry, steam and aromatherapy chambers.

· Princess MedallionClass experience, featuring the complimentary OceanMedallion wearable device, which is the same size as a 10p piece, delivers an entirely new level of service and creates a holiday that is more simple, effortless and personalised with:
–   Expedited arrival – Guests who arrive at the terminal with travel documents (i.e. passports) uploaded to their profile enjoy a streamlined and expedited check-in process that gets their holiday started even sooner
–   Touchless stateroom entry – No need to touch, swipe or insert cards or devices into the door handle to unlock the stateroom. As a guest approaches their stateroom the door automatically unlocks
–   On-demand services – Using smart devices, guests have the ability to order drinks, food and retail items such as suntan lotion and have them delivered directly anywhere onboard, including to their stateroom
–   Interactive game play – Available on portals throughout the ship, PlayOcean allows guests to take part in digital scavenger hunts, interactive games and create their own avatars, as well as turning their smart device into a game controller for interactive gaming on the Movies Under The Stars top-deck screen
–   Family and friends locator – Accessible on portals throughout the ships and via guests’ smart devices, OceanCompass leverages the OceanMedallion to easily locate and chat with friends and family onboard. OceanCompass guides guests throughout their journey, providing directional information so they can seamlessly navigate to their next point of interest
–   Interactive voyage timeline – Available on ship portals and via smart devices, JourneyView is an interactive timeline that lets guests scroll through all of the events available on board during their voyage and bookmark activities they’re interested in to their own personalised itinerary. Voyage itineraries are available as many as 60 days in advance, allowing guests to start planning before they leave home

Princess Cruises is offering a 7-day Mediterranean and Aegean voyage on Enchanted Princess, departing September 12, 2020. Sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Athens and calling at Naples, Kotor, Corfu, Chania and Mykonos. Prices from £1,009 per person.

Enchanted Madrina.jpg — Rai Caluori EVP guest experience and product development, Doris Ho and Tony Roberts Image Princess Cruises

About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year on 170 itineraries to more than 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England and World Cruises. Itineraries range in length from three to 111 days.

In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass cruises enabled by the Ocean Medallion – the cruises industry’s most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to a hassle-free, personalised cruise, giving guests more opportunity to enjoy their time onboard. Ocean Medallion will be activated on five ships by the end of 2019. An activation plan will continue across the global fleet in 2020 and beyond.

Three new Royal-class ships are currently on order with the next new ship, Sky Princess, under construction scheduled for delivery in October 2019. Princess recently announced that two new (LNG) ships which will be the largest ships in the Princess fleet, accommodating approximately 4,300 guests with expected delivery in 2023 and 2025. Princess now has five ships arriving over the next six years between 2019 & 2025. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

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Sky Princess completes sea trials

Princess Cruises has accomplished another major milestone in preparation for the launch of its newest ship, Sky Princess, by completing the vessel’s sea trials.

Sky Princess 2.jpg — Image: Princess Cruises

The 3,660-guest cruise ship set out to sea from a construction dock at Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy and was put through its paces with a series of manoeuvres to test the propulsion, steering and navigational equipment.

After a successful six days of trials, Sky Princess is now back in the shipyard where she will undergo further exterior and interior finishing in preparation for her 7-day Mediterranean and Adriatic maiden voyage on October 20, 2019.

The ship will sail a short season in the Mediterranean before heading to the Caribbean.

Sky Princess will be an evolution of sister ships Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess. Her enhancements will also feature on Enchanted Princess, which launches in Southampton in June 2020. They include:

· New entertainment such as the jazz lounge ‘Take Five’, a redesigned Vista Lounge, an enhanced Princess Theatre and the recently announced production show ‘Rock Opera’

· More than 25 dining venues and bars including the World Fresh Marketplace and speciality restaurants Bistro Sur La Mer (French bistro), Crown Grill Steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

· Princess MedallionClass experience, featuring the complimentary OceanMedallion wearable device, which is the same size as a 10p piece, delivers an entirely new level of service and creates a holiday that is more simple, effortless and personalised with:
–   Expedited arrival – Guests who arrive at the terminal with travel documents (i.e. passports) uploaded to their profile enjoy a streamlined and expedited check-in process that gets their holiday started even sooner
–   Touchless stateroom entry – No need to touch, swipe or insert cards or devices into the door handle to unlock the stateroom. As a guest approaches their stateroom the door automatically unlocks
–   On-demand services – Using smart devices, guests have the ability to order drinks, food and retail items such as suntan lotion and have them delivered directly anywhere onboard, including to their stateroom
–   Interactive game play – Available on portals throughout the ship, PlayOcean allows guests to take part in digital scavenger hunts, interactive games and create their own avatars, as well as turning their smart device into a game controller for interactive gaming on the Movies Under The Stars top-deck screen
–   Family and friends locator – Accessible on portals throughout the ships and via guests’ smart devices, OceanCompass leverages the OceanMedallion to easily locate and chat with friends and family onboard. OceanCompass guides guests throughout their journey, providing directional information so they can seamlessly navigate to their next point of interest
–   Interactive voyage timeline – Available on ship portals and via guests’ smart devices, JourneyView is an interactive timeline that lets guests scroll through all of the events available on board during their voyage and bookmark activities they’re interested in to their own personalised itinerary. Voyage itineraries are available as many as 60 days in advance, allowing guests to start planning before they leave home

Sky Princess 1 — Image: Princess Cruises

The Princess Cruises fleet will continue to expand with the launch of Enchanted Princess and three additional ships arriving in 2021, 2023 and 2025.

Princess Cruises is offering a 7-day Eastern Caribbean voyage on Sky Princess, departing February 22, 2020. Sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ports of call are Princess Cays (Bahamas), St Thomas and St Maarten. Special offer currently available with prices from £999 per person for a mini-suite.

Thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog post

Countdown to Enchanted Princess

Enchanted Princess.jpg

Princess Cruises begins one-year countdown to Enchanted Princess

Princess Cruises has commenced the one-year countdown to the launch of the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess in Southampton on June 30, 2020.

Construction of the 143,700-ton ship is currently under way in the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where it will take a total of three million construction hours to build. On completion, the vessel will sail from Southampton for an inaugural season in the Mediterranean before heading to the Caribbean in autumn 2020.

Its maiden voyage will be a 10-night sailing to Rome, calling at Bilbao, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Toulon/Provence (La Seyne) and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), departing on July 1, 2020.

Enchanted Princess is the sister ship to Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess and Sky Princess, which joins the fleet in October 2019. Royal Princess was the most recent vessel from the line’s fleet to be named in Southampton, in 2013, by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge.

Enchanted Princess will be an evolution of her sister ships with enhancements, which are also set to feature on Sky Princess, including:

OceanMedallion-faq2-480x315 — Image: Princess Cruises

· On-demand services – Food, beverage, retail order and hospitality services delivered to your location: Using smart devices, guests have the ability to order drinks, food and retail items like suntan lotion and have them delivered directly anywhere onboard, including to their stateroom.

· Family and friends locator – Finding travel companions and directional ship information: Accessible on portals throughout the ships and via guests’ smart devices, OceanCompass leverages the OceanMedallion to easily locate and chat with friends and family onboard. OceanCompass guides guests throughout their journey, providing directional information so they can seamlessly navigate to their next point of interest.

· New entertainment such as jazz lounge Take Five, a redesigned Vista Lounge and an enhanced Princess Theatre

· More than 25 dining venues and bars including the World Fresh Marketplace and speciality restaurants La Mer (French bistro), Crown Grill Steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises vice president UK & Europe, said: “With just one year to go until the launch of Enchanted Princess in Southampton this is an exciting time for Princess Cruises as we prepare to add another ship to our fleet. Enchanted Princess will showcase our continued commitment to offering premium services and features for our guests, as well as maintaining the signature Princess experience that our guests have come to know and love.”

Enchanted Princess interesting facts:

·   With a length of 1083 feet, Enchanted Princess is longer than the height of The Shard, the tallest UK building
·   At 217 feet tall, Enchanted Princess is around the height of 15 double-decker buses stacked on top of one another
·   There will be 2,500 miles of electrical cabling in Enchanted Princess, equivalent to the distance between London and Cairo
·   100,000 gallons of paint will be used in the construction of Enchanted Princess, more than 10 times the amount required annually to paint the Golden Gate Bridge
·   Enchanted Princess will feature 200 tons of marble, 30 times the amount used in Michelangelo’s statue of David
·   Enchanted Princess’ anchor is 14 tons, twice the weight of an elephant
·   Enchanted Princess will have a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph) and 15,000KW of transverse (sideways) thruster power. Princess Cruises’ original Love Boat, Pacific Princess, had a forward propulsion power of about 13,500KW, meaning Enchanted Princess can go faster sideways than the original Pacific Princess could travel forward

About Princess Cruises
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year on 170 itineraries to more than 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England and World Cruises. Itineraries range in length from three to 111 days.

Princess Cruises continues its multi-year, “Come Back New Promise” – a £330 million-pound product innovation and cruise ship renovation campaign that will continue to enhance the line’s onboard guest experience. These product innovations include partnerships with award-winning Chef Curtis Stone; shows created in partnership with Broadway-legend Stephen Schwartz; immersive activities for the whole family from Discovery and Animal Planet from exclusive shore excursions to onboard activities; the ultimate sleep at sea with the award-winning Princess Luxury Bed and more.

The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog

Stray the course with Virgin Voyages Part 1

On the day of Virgin Voyages Scarlet Night in London this is the first in a series of posts looking at what we know so far about the company who plan to change the way we cruise.

Things are changing in the cruise industry, the old clichés are being removed and cruising has never been so popular, in the UK alone 2018 saw a record 2 million British and Irish holidaymakers taking a cruise a number that the industry wasn’t expecting to reach until 2020.

Speaking just last week at what was a surprise visit to the CLIA Cruise conference in Portsmouth Sir Richard Branson revealed that he has wanted to set up a cruise line since the age of 27. Ever since he announced this new venture back in March 2014 the entire cruise and travel industry has been waiting to see just what he had in store.

Sir Richard Branson and CEO Tom McAlpin chatting to Lucy Huxley © Virgin Voyages

“Epic Sea Change for all”

As Virgin Atlantic previously vowed to change the way we fly, so Virgin Voyages has vowed to change the way we cruise, and from the very outset have looked to distance themselves from traditional cruise lines. According to the company this is an “Epic Sea Change” Throughout 2018, rather than revealing everything at once anyone following the story has been treated to regular updates, which the company has provocatively called a “shipTease” thus continuing the Virgin Groups cheeky marketing!

Ditch the jargon the buffet and formal wear!

One thing you are sure to notice when looking at Virgin Voyages website or through the marketing material is the lack of the usual cruise jargon, which has been ditched! And this starts with the word “cruise” itself, which you will only see crossed through on the website! Virgin Voyages make it quite clear that you are not on a cruise but a voyage, and if you are sailing with them you are not a passenger you are a Sailor!

However its not just the jargon thats gone as things are different when your a sailor. Firstly the ships crew will be paid a salary and won’t have to depend on tips for income, according the the company “they’ve taken care (of taking care) of your servers, so tipping is on us”! A cruising basic the buffet restaurant has been ditched, together with supplements and other add-ons that are found on so many cruise lines. Instead sailors will be able to enjoy free food at over 20 eateries on board, what about a formal wear night? they’ve ditched that too! onboard sailors will enjoy free Wifi and free basic beverages including soda, still and sparkling water, teas and Virgin’s own special blend of Intelligentsi coffee.

Theses aren’t cruise ships they’re Ladyships!

Float Out.JPG — Scarlet Lady floating out from the shipyard © Virgin voyages

Virgin Voyages has a total of four identical ships or “Ladyships” as it likes to call them on order with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The order for the first three ships was announced in June 2015, with the fourth ship announced in October 2018 and with an estimated cost of $710 million each. The Italian shipbuilder is renowned for the construction of some of the world’s most beautiful cruise ships and by the time Scarlet Lady is delivered in April 2020 the shipbuilder will have built 77 cruise ships for many of the worlds top cruise lines.

Main propulsion is provided by the Swedish company ABB, and consists of its latest Azipod XO Propulsion system. This system is installed on most of the worlds latest passenger vessels. These are (electric drive motors with off-hull submerged azimuth thrusters / 360-degree rotating propellers).The two separate units provide the best manoeuvrability (allowing in-port navigation without tug assistance) with minimal vibration/noise. By placing the propulsion unites outside the hull, the Azipod system frees up space for lower-deck staterooms.

ABB Azipod installed on *MSC Bellissima* © Andrew McAlpine

Main power onboard is installed by Finnish marine technology firm Wärtsilä, with Scarlet Lady being powered by two 8-cylinder plus two 12-cylinder “Wärtsilä 46F” marine diesel engines. A hybrid scrubber system also supplied by the Finnish company is installed in order to meet with new IMO emission regulation. The system operates in whats called a closed or open loop and uses seawater to remove SOx (Sulphur Oxides) from the vessel’s exhaust, this system also significantly reduces NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions. Wärtsilä also supplied the navigation and automation control systems which are from is latest NACOS Platinum series.

Alternative power is provided by 4-stroke engines powering the 4 electricity generators, each equipped with TPL-C turbocharges (by ABB).

Scarlet Lady set to debut in April 2020, and will be followed by the other Ladyships in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The Scarlet Lady name may sound familiar, as it pays homage to sister brand Virgin Atlantic with the name appearing on one of the earliest airliner’s to fly for the company. With a length of 278 m and at 110,000GT, Scarlet Lady will have room for 2,750 sailors together with 1,150 crew, and once delivered she will certainly stand out. Her ultra-modern design is more akin to a concept ship of the future, gone is the sweeping bow seen on so many cruise ships, instead she has a modern vertical “axe bow” shape, a design that is becoming increasingly popular and has most recently been seen on Celebrity Edge. Also gone is the popular white hull, seen on so many of the world’s cruise ships. Instead, Scarlet Lady features a two-tone light over dark grey colour scheme (no official name for it as yet!), while the the lower part of her stern is Virgin’s signature red with the Virgin logo emblazoned across it.

Her distinctive modern hull livery is broken up slightly near the bow which is adorned on both sides with the “Scarlet Lady” logo. The company approached award winning designer Toby Tinsley to design the logo. which is said to represent the ship’s ‘feminine spirits’ and reflects the brand’s mermaid image. Toby Tinsley had previously worked with Virgin Group in 2007 to design the Virgin Galactic logo.

Sustainable at Sea

One thing that excites me about Virgin Voyages is their commitment to the environment and I love the fact Sir Richard Branson has stated that “Success needn’t compromise sustainability” which is surely more important now than ever. From the very start Sir Richard and Virgin Voyages President and CEO, Tom McAlpin announced that the company is committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea. One of the biggest initiatives includes is being single-use plastic free and banning the use of all single-use plastics both on shore and on board the ships. The ban includes items such as plastic straws, tea & coffee cups, stirrers, bottled water and other beverage bottles, condiment packets, food packaging and shopping bags. Instead, the company will emphasise the use of recyclable and reusable materials with bottled water replaced by complimentary filtered still and sparkling water available in the bars and restaurants, together with specially designed Natura filtered water stations throughout the ship. Food and all other onboard items will be sourced from sustainable suppliers. All materials and products onboard are to be sourced with sustainability in mind. Skin care products and most importantly sun screen will be reef safe.

Virgin Voyages is has collaborated with two Scandinavian companies to reduce Scarlet Lady’s environmental footprint; the first is with Sweden’s Climeon, a world-renowned clean energy innovator. Virgin Voyages will be the first major cruise line to install Climeon Ocean system on board its ladyships.

Here’s the technical bit..

The system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by converting waste heat generated by the ships engine into clean electricity. One Climeon unit can produce enough energy to power 250 normal households and each Virgin Voyages ship will have six units, giving it the potential to power about 1,500 households. This will provide not only power for the cabins and suites but also the on board restaurants, casino and other venues.

Simplified cycle of the Climeon heat power module *© Climeon*

The second is with Scanship a Norwegian company specializing in waste management and wastewater purification. Scanship uses game-changing technology called microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) to convert organic waste into clean energy.

All these initiatives give Scarlet Lady smaller carbon footprint which is estimated will eliminate 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide waste per year.

Want some Scarlet Lady facts and figures ?

IMO: 9804801

Shipyard: Fincantieri Sestri Ponente, Italy

Cost: US $710 million

Registered: Nassau, Bahamas

Steel Cutting: March 2017

Keel Laid: October 2017

Float Out: February 2019

Launch: April 2020

Length: 277 m

Beam: 38 m

Design Draught: 8.05 m

Service Speed: 20 knots

Sailor Cabins: 1,408

Max Capacity: 2,750

Crew: 1,150

Crew cabins: 813

Decks: 17

Cabin Decks: 9

Bookings on Scarlet Lady opened on 5th February this year (for customers with pre-sale deposits) and on 14th February (for the general public)

When she launches in April next year Scarlet Lady will head to her home port of Miami, however before she heads across the Atlantic she will, as revealed by Tom McAlpin at last weeks CLIA conference in Portsmouth, visit at least one port in the UK. I don’t know about you but my fingers are already crossed Southampton is one of those ports.

In my next post I will be looking at what Scarlet Lady will have to offer on board, and her itinerary.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and would love to here your comments

You can check out Virgin Voyages here

https://www.virginvoyages.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyLGoqbOq4gIVorztCh38rQcZEAAYASAAEgJ0NvD_BwE

Costa Cruises names newbuild for China Costa Firenze arriving October 2020

Cruises on the new ship, currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, will be available for booking starting from tomorrow. Before being positioned in Asia to serve the Chinese market, Costa Firenze will spend a whole month in the Mediterranean, offering 5 cruises from Trieste and Savona. These will be followed, on November 2, 2020, by a fantastic 51-day voyage from Savona to Hong Kong.

Genoa, May 6, 2019 – Costa Firenze is the new Costa Cruises ship due to come into service in October 2020. Currently being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Italy), Costa Firenze is a 135,500 gross tons ship with capacity for over 5,200 guests; she is the sister ship of Costa Venezia, which was launched in Trieste on March 1 this year.
Costa Firenze and Costa Venezia are the Italian company’s first ships specifically designed for the Chinese market. Before being positioned in Asia, Costa Firenze will spend a whole month in the Mediterranean, in October 2020, thus allowing all of Costa’s customers in Europe and around the world to be the first to experience a truly unique vacation on board the new ship. Cruises will be available for booking starting from tomorrow: there will be five 5-to-7-day cruises and one 51-day positioning cruise to China.
“Given the success of the inaugural cruises of Costa Venezia, we have decided to keep Costa Firenze in the Mediterranean for a whole month before its positioning in Asia” – says Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises – “Costa Firenze is part of an expansion plan for the Costa Group that includes a total of 7 new ships being delivered by 2023, for a total investment of over 6 billion euros. The next ship to come into service, in October 2019, will be Costa Smeralda, a real tribute to Italy’s finest and our excellence”.
Costa Firenze’s first cruise will sail from Trieste to Savona, departing on October 1, 2020, calling at Bari, Barcelona and Marseilles.

On October 8, 2020, the ship will leave Savona for a short cruise to Marseilles, Barcelona and Savona. On October 12, 19 and 26, Costa Firenze will depart from Savona for three 1-week cruises including Naples (replaced by Civitavecchia for the October 19 cruise), Messina (replaced by Palermo for the October 19 cruise), Valencia, Barcelona and Marseilles. The final cruise available will be the positioning cruise to China: a fantastic 51-day itinerary starting from Savona on November 2, 2020 and ending in Hong Kong on December 22, 2020. The journey will be a discovery of a host of different cultures, landscapes and flavours. From the Mediterranean, the ship will sail to Dubai, through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, calling at Naples, Messina, Greece, Israel, Jordan and Oman. From Dubai to Abu Dhabi, futuristic cities built in the desert, the ship will continue to India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia. The final part of the cruise will be devoted to the Far East: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and finally China. The itinerary can also be subdivided into three separate legs, Savona-Dubai (19 days), Dubai-Singapore (20 days) and Singapore-Hong Kong (14 days), which can also be combined with each other.

Like its sister ship Costa Venezia, Costa Firenze will offer a series of innovations designed specifically for the Chinese market, where the Italian company was the first to operate in 2006 and is currently the leader, allowing guests to discover Italian culture and lifestyle.

“Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze are the proof of Costa Cruises’ long-term commitment to China market” –
stated Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Group Asia – “Costa Cruises is also dedicated to bringing the Italian
Aesthetic lifestyle to Chinese guests while delivering Italian culture and experience to them. Together with
Costa Venezia, the arrival of Costa Firenze will help boost the development of Chinese cruise industry.”
The ship is inspired by the city of Florence, representing centuries of Italian culture and history. During the
Costa Firenze cruises, guests together with their families and friends will have a chance to immerse
themselves fully in Italian beauty and aesthetic, which will take shape in various aspects of life on board:
from interior design to dining, from entertainment to hospitality.

The Costa Group is the leading cruise company in Europe and China, headquartered in Genoa (Italy). The 28 ships of the
brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia together have a total capacity of more than 85,000 berths. The fleet
will be further strengthened by 5 new vessels by 2023. The company has a global workforce of 30,000 employees working
onboard and in its 20 offices in 14 countries.

Ship Data

Name: Costa Firenza

Namesake: City of Florence

Owner: Carnival Corporation PLC

Operator: Costa Cruises

Shipyard: Fincantieri Marghera

Class: Vista Class

Cost: $676 million (reported)

Length; 321.56m

Decks: 14 (Passenger)

Passenger Capacity: 5,200

Speed: 18 knots

Gross Tonnage: 135,500

As always thank you for taking the time to read my blog

MSC Cruises confirms luxury ship order with Fincantieri

The four new vessels will be delivered by Fincantieri between 2023 and 2026
Geneva, Switzerland, and Trieste, Italy, 14 March 2019 – MSC and Fincantieri announced today the signing of the final contracts for the construction of four luxury cruise ships.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC’s Cruises Division, said: “With this now firm order, MSC is entering a new segment that bears significant potential globally. While we already serve the premium market with the MSC Yacht Club featured on MSC Cruises’ fleet, our new true luxury brand will deliver to this separate and fast-growing segment with super-yacht vessels and an experience to match that. Additionally, we are proud to partner again with Fincantieri for the development and construction of yet again another highly-innovative and exclusive class of ships.”

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Today’s announcement confirms our Group’s ability and strength to convert the soft backlog into backlog. We are proud to have achieved this important goal in less than five months from the preliminary agreement. Fincantieri’s reputation in a complex market such as the cruise one is at an all-time high. Our leadership in the luxury segment, among the most active ones, grows even stronger with these four ships, alongside our relationship with MSC and its growth plans”.

All four vessels will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 GT and will feature the latest maritime and environmental technologies available. Each equipped with 481 guest suites, they will also showcase a highly-innovative design and introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation.

This announcement follows the initial signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two parties in October 2018. The contracts, subject to shipowner financing, have a total value exceeding EUR 2 billion.

As per the terms of the agreement, the first of the four ships will be delivered by Spring 2023. The remaining three will come into service one per year over the following three years through 2026.

MSC is the cruises division of MSC Group, the world’s second largest transportation and logistics business. Under this umbrella will operate the new brand will operate under this umbrella as well as MSC’s contemporary brand MSC Cruises, the leading cruise brand across Europe, South America, the Gulf as well as southern Africa. Fincantieri is heir to the great tradition of Italian shipbuilding and one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world.

Since starting to work with Fincantieri, in 2014, MSC has also ordered four ships for its contemporary MSC Cruises brand, for a value of EUR 3.2 billion. The first two of these vessels, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, are already in service. The next two vessels will be delivered in 2021 and 2022, with MSC Seashore already under construction at Fincantieri’s yard in Monfalcone.

MSC current order book

Year Ship Name Yard Delivery

2019 MSC Grandiosa Chantiers de Chantiers l’Atlantique November

2020: MSC Virtuosa Chantiers de Chantiers l’Atlantique September

2021: MSC Seashore Fincantieri (monfalcone) spring

2022: World Class 1 Chantiers de Chantiers l’Atlantique TBA

2023: Luxury 1 Fincantieri spring

2023: Meraviglia 5 Chantiers de Chantiers l’Atlantique TBA

2023: Seaside EVO 2 Fincantieri (monfalcone) TBA

2024: Luxury 2 Fincantieri spring

2025: Luxury 3 Fincantieri spring

2026: Luxury 4 Fincantieri spring

MSC Luxury Class ships

Number of ships: 4

Tonnage: 64,000

Length: TBA

Passengers: 1,000 (TBA)

Guest Suites: 481

Shipbuilder : Fincantieri (yard TBA)

Delivery: 2023-2026