The Costa Concordia has been in Genoa for over 10 months and by 10th May she was ready to leave the Prà Voltri breakwater having been stripped of 5,700 tonnes of internal equipment and furniture. The movement of the hulk some 10 miles to the final resting place in the Molo Ex Superbacino area of the port on 12th May to permit complete dismantling was expected to last around 20-24 hours. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 24,344gt/1993 built and 929-guest ship Braemar will be based in Southampton for a six-month cruise season, from May to November in 2016, for the first time. Due to the Braemar’s smaller size and draught, the ship will offer a series of River Cruises to destinations including Seville and Rouen, where the ship can cruise right into the heart of destinations and along stunning rivers and waterways. The Boudicca commenced her cruise season from Rosyth on 1st June with six cruises offered in total. On 7th May it was announced that the Balmoral will be based at Newcastle for the first time ever from May to August 2016. Fred. Olsen has over 100 years of heritage in running passenger services from the Port of Tyne, and has been operating regular cruise calls from Newcastle since 2006.

The Louis Group has officially denied reports that it had bought out Cuba Cruises. Instead, the Louis Group’s Celestyal Cruises brand is to market the sales of both Cuba Cruises and its own Adriatic and Aegean itineraries. The 2015-16 season has also been extended to include three additional 7-day round Cuba cruises.

Princess Cruises’ will base its next ship in China year round. The 3,600 passenger Royal Class ship will be delivered by Fincantieri in mid-2017. Based in Shanghai, she will be the first year-round international luxury vessel designed and built specifically for Chinese guests. Princess Cruises began homeport cruising in China in 2014, with a successful inaugural season of Shanghaibased cruises aboard the Sapphire Princess, which returns for a second China season on 4th June until October 2015.

Semester at Sea has lost the Explorer to Celestyal Cruises as previously announced. The 24,318gt/2001 built ship made her last call at Southampton as the Explorer in late April, sailing again under her new name of Celestyal Odyssey on 2nd May (above) bound for Piraeus. The 22,496gt/1998 built Deutschland is now reported to be the next ship for Semester at Sea.

Thomson Cruises will be renaming the 69,472gt/1996 built Splendour of the Seas (above) to Thomson Discovery when the RCI ship joins their fleet next year. The Thomson Discovery will be home-ported in Palma, Majorca in 2016 along with the Thomson Majesty while the Thomson Spirit will be home-ported in Malaga, Spain. The Thomson Celebration will continue to be home-ported in Dubrovnik for summer 2016 with the Thomson Dream being based in Corfu. The Thomson Discovery will replace the 40,171gt/1982 built Island Escape, currently operated by Thomson Cruises’ sister company Island Cruises.

Viking Ocean Cruises’ 47,842gt new build Viking Sky has reportedly been delayed until early 2017 with the fourth ship possibly deferred until late 2017. Meanwhile the first of the quartet, the Viking Star (above), visited the River Thames for the first time on 12th May.