Aidanova Progress

The second engine room module for the AIDAnova (above), manufactured by the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, Warnemünde, was towed to the Meyer Werft facility in Papenburg on 2nd December. The 120m long and 42m wide so-called Floating Engine Room Unit (FERU), a four-deck-high component, and one of two such units, contains the three LNG tanks for the AIDAnova, two of which are just under 35m in length, have a diameter of 8m and a volume capacity of 1,550m³ each. A third, smaller tank, has a diameter of 5m, is 28m long and has a volume capacity of approx. 520m³. The engines to be installed will be four Caterpillar dual-fuel engines. In mid-December the stern section of the 183,900gt AIDAnova was floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany to make way for the FERU. The large aft section of the newbuild represents two blocks together and is 120m long with a 24m beam and spans 19 decks. By the end of February 2018, the second section of the ship, which includes the FERU, will also be completed. Once complete in December 2018 the ship will be the largest passenger capacity vessel in the world, carrying a total of 6,600 guests in 2,626 cabins. The ship was ordered by Carnival Corporation and will be the first fully powered LNG cruise ship, bringing new innovations to the industry. The maiden voyage will depart Hamburg, Germany, on 2nd December 2018 bound for the Canary Islands. In total there are six of these vessels on order for different cruise brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Aida Cruises. The second identical ship for Aida Cruises will arrive in Spring 2021. The AIDAnova’s keel was laid on 4th September 2017. In other news, AIDA Cruises made its debut as a brand in Sydney on 19th December with the AIDAcara becoming the first in the fleet to dock in Australia. The ship was on a 116-day world cruise visiting 41 ports in 23 countries and departed Sydney again on 21st December bound for the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns.

Cruising Panorama

Carnival Cruise Line’s new 133,500gt Vista Class ship is to be named Carnival Panorama when she makes her debut in November 2019. The ship is the third in the company’s highly successful Vista-class series, which are all named to reflect the connection between the vessels and the sea, and are highlighted by stunning indoor/outdoor spaces that create a truly unique seagoing experience. The 133,596gt and 3,954 passenger capacity Carnival Vista (above) was the first in the class in 2016, followed by the Carnival Horizon that enters service on 2nd April. The ‘Panorama will offer facilities such as the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Library Bar, and Bonsai Sushi, along with open-air attractions like the ground-breaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction SkyRide, a Water-Works aqua park, and the SportSquare recreation area. Also featured will be a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and a Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbour Lounge, Cloud 9 Spa and Ocean Plaza. After the Carnival Panorama, two new 180,000gt ships are scheduled to enter service in 2020 and 2022 (near sisters of the AIDAnova).

On 14th December came the news that the 70,538gt/1994 built Carnival Fascination (above) will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar dry docking 4th-17th February in Freeport, Bahamas, that will add a variety of popular food and beverage innovations to the ship. Once completed, the ship resumed her year-round schedule of seven-day southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico on 18th February. Prior to the refit, the Carnival Fascination had been on charter to FEMA to house hurricane relief workers in St. Croix. The new amenities on board include Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Cantina, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Cherry on Top, Alchemy Bar and Bonsai Sushi Express. Carnival Cruise Line was the big winner in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards at the beginning of January, taking top honours in the Best Ocean Cruise Line and Best Cruise Line for Families categories while the 133,596gt/2016 built Carnival Vista was named Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment. The awards were based on nominations from a team of cruise industry experts and the winners were determined by an online vote of USA Today readers.

The 4-night cruise on 7th December to be operated by the 101,509gt/1999 built Carnival Triumph was cancelled as the ship was delayed returning from the Western Caribbean to New Orleans by engine problems. The ship missed one full round trip to permit repairs to be made.

Changes In Paradise

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line announced on 13th December that the 47,263gt/1987 built Grand Celebration (above) would emerge on 23rd December with several new passenger area enhancements including a new adults-only area, a revitalised casino and specialty coffee and juice bar.The freshly refitted ship recommenced her scheduled two-night sailings from her homeport in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The company also announced that its new vessel, due to arrive in April 2018, will be named Grand Classica and will also sail two-night cruises to Grand Bahama Island. At the time of writing, the ship was still known as Costa Cruises’ 53,015gt/1991 built Costa neoClassica (above). The cruise company has signed a three-year agreement with the Bahamas to bring both of its ships to Grand Bahama Island for two-night cruises. The Grand Celebration broke free from her moorings during strong winds in Freeport, Bahamas on 3rd January and was blown into an adjacent quayside. The ship was later manoeuvred back to her berth without damage.

Costa Upgrades

In addition to regular maintenance activities scheduled, during the dry docking of the Costa Magica and Costa Pacifica in Marseille important upgrades were undertaken in the restaurants and wellness areas plus new digital signage were also introduced. During the dry docking at Forme 10 dock of Chantier Naval de Marseille in the port of Marseille Fos, The 102,784gt/2004 built Costa Magica completed her refit on 25th November having been subjected to a major refurbishment of the restaurants and wellness areas. The Vicenza Club Restaurant and Bellagio Buffet Restaurant had their layouts revised whilst upgrades in the galleys will allow guests accommodated in the suites cabins and Costa Club Diamond Pearl members to fully enjoy the Club Restaurant, while Buffet Bellagio Restaurant has been improved with a more efficient space allocation.

The 114,425gt/2009 built Costa Pacifica (above) was then dry docked 26th November-7th December, and received new digital information displays in the form of new high-resolution monitors and interactive screens featuring different functions to help guests’ orientation on the ship, inform them about the different events and activities planned on board, advertise promotions on products and services available etc. The refit also included the addition of two of the most appreciated new Costa features: Pizzeria Pummi d’Oro on the Costa Pacifica and Gelateria Amarillo (on both ships). Upon completion of the upgrades, both the Costa Magica and Costa Pacifica sailed to the Caribbean for their scheduled winter cruises.

Meanwhile, the Costa Atlantica (above) will be deployed to Shenzhen, China, from 28th January and shall remain in the region for the remainder of 2018. The ship will offer a variety of itineraries, with six-day cruises to Japan, six-day cruises to Vietnam and six-day cruises to the Philippines.

On 6th January the 92,970gt/2009 built Costa Luminosa set sail from Venice on her 106-day World Cruise travelling across 3 oceans and visiting 41 destinations before returning to Venice on 22nd April.

New Brand For Cmv

Cruise & Maritime Voyages announced in December that it will deploy the 46,052gt/1985 built Magellan (above) to the Mexican Riviera for the winter 2019 cruise season, launching a new brand for the Mexican domestic market, Cruceros Marítimos Vacacionales. The ship will begin operations on a week-long cruise programme from 3rd February 2019 to the end of March 2019, being based in both Acapulco and Manzanillo.

CMV’s 63,786gt/1989 built Columbus departed Tilbury on 5th January for her first world cruise as a CMV ship. The Grand Round the World cruise has a duration of 121 nights and, whilst the original Christopher Columbus set off in search of the new world back in 1492, this world cruise goes a lot further and includes four continents, three oceans and 40 ports of call including Tahiti, Auckland, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, and Panama and Suez transits. The voyage marks the 20th Anniversary of the ship’s inaugural world cruise as P&O Cruises’ Arcadia.