R for Re-Inspired

Oceania Cruises announced details of the OceaniaNEXT initiative on 13th August, described as an array of enhancements designed to improve facilities. The upgrade programme includes a $100 million refurbishment of the company’s four R-Class ships, the 30,277gt/1998 built Regatta and Insignia, the 30,277gt/1999 built Sirena and the 30,277gt/2000 built Nautica, which will result in 342 brand new designer suites and staterooms plus new décor in the restaurants, lounges and bars. The plans will be managed by Miami-based Studio DADO. The ships will receive stylish new interiors that showcase the best of residential design. Public spaces to be refitted include the Reception Hall and Upper Hall plus a new Grand Staircase framed by intricate railings and balustrades inset with crystal accents will welcome guests onboard. The Grand Dining Room upgrades include a new crystal chandelier whilst the staterooms and suites will also receive a stylish makeover.

Enchanting Newbuild

On 20th August Princess Cruises revealed that the fifth Royal-Class ship will be christened Enchanted Princess. The 144,216gt ship is scheduled to make her debut on 15th June 2020, sailing on a series of European voyages. The ship will follow her sisterships Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess and Sky Princess, the latter joining the fleet in October 2019. The Enchanted Princess will herself be followed by a 6th example of the class in 2021. The cruise line also has two new LNG powered ships on order to be delivered in late 2023 and spring 2025, bringing its new ship order to five ships in six years. The 3,660-passenger capacity Enchanted Princess will be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard.

Crystal Keel Laying

On 21st August the keel laying ceremony for Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises’ new Crystal Endeavor took place at MV Werften’s Stralsund shipyard. The 20,000gt Crystal Endeavor will be the largest, most spacious purpose-built polar class expedition yacht, accommodating just 200 guests and offering all the luxurious amenities for which the Operator is known. The vessel will feature generous public spaces, a full-service spa & salon, six restaurants including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma, expedition rooms and elegant suites. Crystal Endeavor’s accommodations will also offer a private butler service for every suite.

Sky’s the Limit

An innovative SkyDome on P&O Cruises’ newest ship, the 180,000gt Iona, will connect guests with the sea, sky and shoreline and be the place to go for relaxation, effortless dining and contemporary entertainment. Details of this first of its kind in the cruise industry, a two-deck SkyDome on decks 16 and 17, were released on 24th August. The area will include a glass dome roof which creates a temperate climate while providing guests with views as they cruise through the scenic Norwegian Fjords. By day, the SkyDome will offer a relaxed, poolside environment, with dining and drinking options including a grill, pizzeria and street food as well as premium ice cream. With the feel of an English park in summer, the area will feature a central pool and two whirlpools. Sun loungers, reclining chairs, greenery and artworks will all create a peaceful environment for enjoyment during the day. In the evenings the SkyDome will become an entertainment venue, showcasing spectacular aerialist performances and playing host to party nights under the stars. The swimming pool will transform into a stage for the night’s entertainment, while dramatic aerial acrobatics shows will make full use of the SkyDome’s height. After the show, the space will transform into a party night venue. The glass dome roof was designed by award-winning British engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan, renowned for their work on such innovative structures as Bulgari Glass House in Italy and Apple Park in California. The inviting living space underneath the dome was created by cruise ship specialists Partner Ship Design. The Iona is currently being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg and will be launched in May 2020.

Farewell Jewel

On 22nd August P&O Australia announced that it had sold the 70,285gt Pacific Jewel, with the buyer later being identified as new Chinese operation Zen Cruising. The ship will leave the fleet in early 2019 with operations from India planned for 2019. Zen Cruising is owned by the Essel Group, which describes itself as a conglomerate that can trace its history back over 90 years. This is the second vessel the company has sold in recent months, as the 55,877gt/1993 built Pacific Eden was also sold earlier in 2018 and will head to Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2019 as the Vasco da Gama. The Star Princess will join P&O Cruises Australia from Princess Cruises in late 2021 in addition to the Golden Princess that arrives in 2020. The Pacific Jewel entered service in 1990 as the Crown Princess after being built by Fincantieri. She also served as the A’Rosa Blu, AIDAblu and Ocean Village Two before moving to P&O Australia as the Pacific Jewel in 2009. The ship’s final P&O voyage will depart from Melbourne on 24th February 2019.

Normandy Port Expansion Plans

The French port of Le Havre is expecting a total of 140 cruise calls this year and 420,000 cruise passengers. Those numbers are an increase on last year and include 40 turnarounds, made up of 22 calls by the 95,128gt/2010 built MSC Magnifica, 12 from the 142,714gt/2013 built Royal Princess plus Costa Cruises and Rivages du Monde (the 16,144gt/1948 built Astoria). The port facilities can easily handle three large cruise ships at once but Terminal 12 will get an upgrade in time for the 2019 season. As a result of growth in the port’s cruise industry, Le Havre hopes to add three additional cruise terminals with the aim of welcoming up to four large ships at once and hosting two simultaneous turnarounds. A figure of 800,000 passengers annually by 2023 is said to be not unrealistic.

Azamazing Ceremony

Having first arrived back in Southampton after her Harland & Wolff refit and transformation from P&O Cruises’ Adonia on 28th July, the 30,277gt/2000 built Azamara Pursuit (above) was the star of the show one month later on 28th August when she had her official naming ceremony at the Mayflower Cruise Terminal. The ship was open to both viewing by the Media and to embarking guests for a 2-night round trip to Cherbourg. The Azamara Pursuit resembled a new ship internally and has been suitably upscaled to reflect the Azamara product. Gone is the Casino and the P&O style Library but the public areas now echo those on her fleet mates plus an extra 6 staterooms were installed plus some existing cabins have been converted into suites. The naming ceremony was attended by Richard Fain (RCL CEO & Chairman), Azamara Club Cruises’ CEO Larry Pimentel plus the ship’s Master, Captain Carl Smith, and her Godmothers Lucy Huxley & Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio.

Name Revealed for Ponant Polar Ship

Ponant, the global leader in luxury expeditions celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018, and the only French-owned cruise line, revealed the name of its polar exploration vessel on 6th September as Le Commandant Charcot. A world first, this hybrid electric icebreaker, powered by LNG, has been named after Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, as an homage to the man known as “the gentleman of the poles”. This choice of name is significant as the new ship will be fitted with the latest technology for minimising environmental impact, as well as a scientific laboratory for conducting operational oceanography missions and research.

The new 9,976gt/2018 built and 184 passenger capacity expedition ship Le Laperouse made her maiden call to the River Thames in September, departing the Pool of London again on the morning of 6th September bound for ports including Lisbon on a travel company charter after being moored against HMS Belfast. UK Cruise Media were given the opportunity to look over this luxurious ship on 5th September.

NCL Trio Enhanced

On 13th August 2018 Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the completed refurbishments of three ships, namely the 145,655gt/2013 built Norwegian Breakaway, the 78,309gt/2001 built Norwegian Sun and the 91,740gt/2001 built Norwegian Star. The work is part of The Norwegian Edge®, the company’s programme designed to elevate the standard of excellence across its fleet. The refreshed ships now feature new designs and venues including Los Lobos Cantina, a Mexican restaurant, the adults-only enclave, Spice H2O; and Syd Norman’s Pour House – an American rock ‘n’ roll bar and lounge, which makes its debut aboard Norwegian Breakaway.

The Norwegian Breakaway (above) was refitted during a two-week dry dock in Brest, France and the Bliss Ultra Lounge was also upgraded plus new carpet was fitted in all 2,014 staterooms, suites, staircases, elevators and lobbies.

The Norwegian Sun (above) underwent a three-week bow-to-stern renovation in Victoria, BC. She now features refurbished staterooms and public spaces and offers three new venues in the form of Los Lobos Cantina (formerly Las Ramblas Bar and Restaurant), Bliss Ultra Lounge (formerly Dazzles) and Spinnaker Lounge (formerly the Observation Lounge). The work also encompassed dining outlets and public spaces including Cagney’s, La Cucina, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, the Mandara Spa, Stardust Lounge Theatre, Splash Academy and more.

The Norwegian Star (above) was drydocked for almost three weeks in Barcelona where she underwent extensive enhancements to staterooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars and lounges. The new venues Sky High Bar (formerly the Bier Garten), Bliss Ultra Lounge (formerly the Spinnaker Lounge) and Spice H2O were installed. All 1,174 staterooms and suites were outfitted with USB ports, enhanced with over 1,500 works of art and upgraded with new carpet, headboards and select furniture. Further work was carried out to the Atrium Café & Bar, Garden Café and the main dining rooms.

AIDA Newbuild Float Out

On the evening of 21st August Meyer Werft floated out the world’s first LNG-powered cruise ship from her covered construction dock in Papenburg. Now in the open air, the 183,200gt AIDAnova (above) will continue fitting out plus her mast and funnel will be fitted. The ship is scheduled to make the trip down the river Ems to Bremerhaven in late September for final preparations, engine tests and sea trials.

The AIDAnova is the first of three LNG-powered ships planned for the AIDA brand. The 337m long and 2,600 passenger cabin capacity ship is scheduled to join AIDA Cruises’ fleet in December on Canary Island itineraries. The Carnival Corporation currently has agreements in place with Meyer Werft and its Finish sister yard Meyer Turku to build nine LNG-powered cruise ships across four of the company’s nine global cruise brands with delivery dates between 2018 and 2023. AIDA Cruises, for the first time in its history, saw God Family christen the newest ship, the AIDAnova on 31st August. The Mirza family from Hanau in Hesse was selected from hundreds of applicants by a jury. So, Sonja (31) and Asad (33) Mirza, along with their children Sophia (2) and Adrian (3), christened the AIDAnova in front of 25,000 spectators at the event at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg.

The AIDA Open Air event was a spectacular christening show with a live concert by star DJ David Guetta plus Sonja and Asad celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on the day of the christening. At the end of September the AIDAnova will embark upon her River Ems conveyance to Eemshaven in the Netherlands for final fit-out and sea trials. AIDA will take delivery of the new ship from Meyer Werft on 15th November in Bremerhaven.