Carnival Cruises will expand capacity on its four and five day short cruise program from New Orleans by 34 percent when the 101,509gt/1999 built Carnival Triumph replaces the 70,390gt/1998 built Carnival Elation on this schedule next in spring 2016. The Carnival Triumph will relocate from Galveston ready for 4th April 2016.

Peter Deilmann Reederei GmbH filed for insolvency on 20th February under growing pressure from creditors. The 22,496gt/1998 built Deutschland will now be sold at auction having laid at anchor off Gibraltar awaiting a buyer. Whether or not she will remain operational is yet to be seen.

Thomson (TUI) Cruises announced on 2nd March that it had entered into an agreement to purchase the 69,472gt/1996 built Splendour of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International. The ship will complete all scheduled cruises with her final sailing for RCI commencing on 4th April 2016. The 1,830 guest capacity Splendour of the Seas was built by Chantier’s de L’Atlantique, now STX France, in St. Nazaire, France.

Virgin Cruises is said to be close to placing the order for its two new ships with Meyer Werft and Fincantieri being the favourites for the order. Financial backing for the Miami based outfit has been secured from private equity firm Bain Capital.

Cunard Line Director Angus Struthers and Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson hoisted a specially-commissioned 175 Flag above the Cunard Building at the Pier Head in Liverpool on 20th February. Cunard celebrates the 175th anniversary of the departure from Liverpool of its first ship in 2015 and the Cunard Building, its former Headquarters from 1916 to 1967, will play a key role in the celebrations planned to mark this milestone anniversary.