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| Paul Gauguin Cruises’ newly christened Tere Moana, seen here going through Greece’s Corinth Canal, will operate seven-night European voyages |
As the global cruise industry fleet grows, it gets harder and harder for agents to keep track of who’s on first. The Cruise Lines International Association fleet had 212 ships worldwide in 2011, but that will rise to 239 in 2015. As the first quarter of 2013 comes to a close, here’s a brief look at a sample of many new and refurbished ships across the industry.
Freshly Updated for Guests: In 2012, several popular ships were updated. Among them were Celebrity Millennium, which was “Solsticized” with such features as AquaClass staterooms, the signature restaurant Blu, and verandahs which were added to the Celebrity Suites. Azamara Quest also had a complete renovation with all public spaces being upgraded; it also has a new look with a blue hull.
In November 2012, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Cloud received new suite decor, and dining and other public space updates. Many European river vessels—too many to list—have been renovated.
One closer-to-home boat—American Queen, operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company on the Mississippi River—has also been updated with the addition of the Front Porch Café, new plantation shutters for staterooms and suites, and a new marble-and-granite entryway to the dining room and wine wall.
Fleet Expansion: Windstar Cruises also just completed an $18-million fleet refurbishment for all its yachts, the most extensive in its history. What’s most interesting, though, is that Windstar is growing sizably and in a different way (non-sail) as Seabourn Cruise Line has announced the sale of its three small identical ships, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit—to Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Windstar’s owner.
Seabourn says there will be no disruption in service or changes in operations on any currently published voyages. Seabourn Pride will be transferred after its published schedule ends in April, 2014. Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend will be transferred to Windstar in April 2015 and May 2015, respectively.
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| American Queen’s newly renovated suites with verandah afford expansive views of the Mississippi. |
A Royal Makeover: Royal Caribbean is deep into a major “Royal Advantage” fleet revitalization program. Existing ships are getting makeovers with new onboard amenities, stateroom upgrades and restaurants. By fall, all but one of the line’s Vision-class and Radiance-class ships will have undergone revitalization.
In 2012, the line invested a total of $131 million to upgrade Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. Thus far this year, the line has completed the Legend of the Seas’ $50-million, monthlong renovation at a dry dock in Singapore.
New Players for 2013: Representing a $2.3-billion capital investment, 11 new ships for CLIA member lines will launch in 2013—10 are new, one reintroduced. They represent 12,125 new beds. New oceangoing vessels include: MSC Preziosa, which will have Vertigo, the longest single rider waterslide on the sea; Norwegian Breakaway, home to the first complete Aqua Park at sea with five multi-story slides; and Royal Princess, offering a Sea Walk extending 28 feet beyond the starboard side of the ship.
Another oceangoing ship, Pearl Mist, remains on the “order book” but it is a project that’s been on the back burner for a specific launch schedule for some time. One reintroduced ship for 2013 is the Silver Galapagos, being renovated and launching as Silversea’s second expedition ship. Also, another luxury vessel, Hapag-Lloyd’s new Europa 2, launches this spring.
Many other new ships will launch on the world’s rivers including these by CLIA member lines: AmaPrima and AmaVida for AmaWaterways; Artistry II and Expression for Avalon Waterways; and Queen Isabel and River Orchid for Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.
In addition, non-CLIA member Viking River Cruises will launch an incredible 10 more new Viking Longships this year and Scenic Cruises will introduce the Scenic Jewel. New Yantgze River vessels will include Uniworld’s Century Paragon and Century Legend.
Here Comes the Sun: Carnival Destiny is undergoing a $155-million bow-to-stern remodeling. It will emerge this spring from a major shipyard renovation as the Carnival Sunshine. Expect the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainment updates plus 182 new cabins, new dining choices and a large racing-themed water park.
New Fleet Addition: In late December, Paul Gauguin Cruises christened a new addition to the fleet, Tere Moana, in a dockside ceremony in Marigot, St. Martin. From April through November, the ship, which has 45 oceanview cabins, will operate seven-night European voyages.
More Options in Alaska and Hawaii: Building on growth last season, Alaskan Dream Cruises will introduce a new vessel, Baranof Dream, which will operate an enticing new 11-day itinerary that’s an expanded version of the eight-day “Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Island Adventure.”
Separately, Un-Cruise Adventures is the new company name of the combined operation that was formerly American Safari Cruises and InnerSea Discoveries. This year, the line’s 88-guest Safari Legacy begins operating in Alaska and then sails on the Columbia and Snake rivers in fall and spring; it debuts Heritage Adventures with a focus on living history. In November 2013, the line’s Wilderness Explorer will begin sailing Active Adventures between Oahu and Hawaii Island.
Back to the Fold: After a two-year charter, Insignia returns to Oceania Cruises in May 2014. It will offer Mediterranean voyages as well as three voyages that call on such cities as Bilbao, Lisbon and Bordeaux along the Atlantic coasts of Spain, Portugal and France. The season also features visits to the Dalmatian Coast, including an “Adriatic Medley” sailing, with stops in Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia.
Under Construction for 2014: In 2014, CLIA member lines will add another 13 new ships with another 16,702 beds. Among those will be the new Quantum of the Seas, first in a new class of ship for Royal Caribbean. River cruising is hot too as nine new ships from CLIA-member lines will launch; those include two for AmaWaterways, one for American Cruise Lines, three for Avalon Waterways, two for Tauck, and one for Uniworld. Viking River Cruises and Scenic Cruises will also launch new vessels.
Ships Across the Globe: Globalization of the industry continues. Ports such as Dubai, Shanghai and Sydney have been among those used as home ports for “sourcing” foreign guests. This year Princess Cruises will begin the largest deployment ever by a global cruise line in the Japanese market; it will bring Sun Princess to Japan for a spring-to-summer season of cruising next month. Nine cruises on seven different itineraries will operate through July 2014 from both Yokohama and Kobe.