Piano Land to Debut from Xiamen This Fall

The P&O Oriana will become the Piano Land this fall and debut in her new China Travel Services and COSCO role from the port of Xiamen.

China Travel Group and COSCO have come together to form Well Star Travel Cruise, a joint venture that will operate and market the 1995-built ship.

P&O UK announced last June that the vessel would be leaving its fleet in August 2019, not naming a buyer. It was later revealed the 1,822-guest ship was heading for a new life in China.

The ship will conclude its P&O program with an 18-day sailing roundtrip from Southampton to Norway and Svalbard; ending on August 9. The first cruise from Xiamen could happen as soon as mid-October.

The transfer of the Oriana to a new Chinese brand marks the second phase of home-grown brands in China. Following the demise of SkySea, only two local one-ship brands remain in Bohai Ferry and Diamond Cruise, which each operate a single 838-guest vessel.

The Piano Land will thus be the largest local vessel in the market.

Later this year, China State Shipbuilding Corporation will take delivery of the Costa Atlantica for its joint venture domestic brand aligned with Carnival Corporation.

Carnival's Mardi Gras to sail four cruises before Port Canaveral arrival

The Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship when it enters service, will sail four cruises before its Port Canaveral deployment in October 2020.

The Mardi Gras' maiden voyage will be a nine-day cruise from Copenhagen to Southampton, England, departing Aug. 31 and calling at Kiel, Germany; Gothenburg, Sweden; Oslo, Norway; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Zeebrugge, Belgium; and Le Havre, France.

A 14-day transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York is scheduled to depart Sept. 9.

The following cruise will be a six-day roundtrip from New York to Portland, Maine, and Saint John, New Brunswick, departing Sept. 24.

There will be a 15-day Carnival Journeys voyage departing New York on Sept. 30 and making various stops in the eastern and southern Caribbean before arriving at Port Canaveral on Oct. 15.

The Mardi Gras will accommodate 5,200-plus passengers and feature six design zones and the first roller coaster at sea. The ship will sail seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral.

Navigator of the Seas undergoes US$115M refit

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas' refurbishment includes installing the world’s longest waterslide at sea

Royal Caribbean International has revealed plans to install the world's longest waterslide at sea on its ship Navigator of the Seas. 

The ship will relaunch on 24 February after a US$115M refit.

The waterslide – called The Blaster – will propel a two-person raft through more than 244 m of hills, drops and straightaways including a section that extends over the side of the ship.

"Each Royal Caribbean ship brings a new adventure uniquely designed to deliver on our guests' preferences from A to Z," said Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Michael Bayley. Every detail matters and we've mapped out an unmatched combination of innovative features and experiences for this top-to-bottom transformation of Navigator of the Seas."

Navigator of the Seas' multi-million dollar makeover also includes:

• To Dry For, the first standalone blow-dry bar at sea.
• Planet Z glow in the dark laser tag.
• The Observatorium, Royal Caribbean's escape room.
• The Lime and Coconut two-level signature cocktail bar.
• New restaurants, bars and coffee shop.

Navigator of the Seas will be the first in the Royal Caribbean fleet to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, the debut destination in the cruise line's recently announced private island collection, opening in May 2019.

Royal Caribbean: New Experiences at Sea and on Land

Introducing the Symphony of the Seas in the North American market in November, Royal Caribbean International President Michael Bayley said that the features on the new ship will be introduced on the 2009-built Oasis, the first ship in the class, when she goes into a two-month drydock in Europe this year, and then on the sister ship, the 2010-built Allure, next year. “Through our Royal Amplified program the Oasis and the Allure will re-enter service with literally all the services and features we have on the Symphony,” Bayley said in a press conference aboard the Symphony.

With the continued growth of the industry, Bayley said it is important to attract more first-time cruise passengers. However, as they often start by taking a short cruise they are not experiencing the best that the industry has to offer.

“We have been using our old ships to convince people to start cruising,” he explained. “We are now changing that strategy by upgrading our short-cruise ships. As a result, we have seen a strong increase in demand.”

In May, Royal Caribbean expects to introduce its Perfect Day concept on CoCoCay. Redoing its private out-island in the Bahamas, passengers will find a state-of-the-art water park in addition to beaches and a variety of water sports offerings.

“Perfect Day has been designed after feedback from our guests,” Bayley said. “We asked them what would be their perfect day. The sweet spot is multi-generational travel – there will be something to do for all ages, whether they want ‘thrill or chill.’”

The United States generates about 55 per cent of Royal Caribbean’s total business, according to Bayley, who added that Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific are also huge markets for the brand.

As for ship deployment, he said that is based on the business viability of each market.

But despite the Symphony being the world’s largest ship at 228,081 tons and literally a destination by herself, while also receiving a top net promoter score, Bayley said that one of the biggest drivers selling cruises are destinations. “People want to go somewhere and explore,” he added.

“But as we plan our future with bigger ships and new onboard features and services, destinations must also plan their future, and sometimes they can do better. We are open to partnering with destinations to help them in their development. Today, we are looking at some 50 port projects around the world.”

The Symphony’s arrival in the Port of Miami coincided with the introduction of Royal Caribbean’s new Terminal A. Resembling the shape of a ship, the sleek terminal will homeport the Symphony and the Allure.

Up to now, Miami has handled about 750,000 passengers a year for Royal Caribbean. With the new terminal, the cruise line hopes to boost that number to 2 million passengers a year.

This year Royal Caribbean will also be introducing the new Spectrum of the Seas in China, while the Ovation redeploys to Alaska.

At press time, Royal Caribbean had five more ships on order, including the Spectrum of the Seas, slated to enter service this spring; another Quantum-class ship in 2020; another Oasis-class vessel for 2021 delivery; and the first of the new Icon class of LNG-fueled vessels in 2022, with a sister ship following in 2024.

Princess to Activate Three Additional MedallionClass Ships

Princess to Activate Three Additional MedallionClass Ships

Princess Cruises announced today the expansion of its Princess MedallionClass to three additional ships – Royal Princess, Crown Princess and Sky Princess – joining the Caribbean Princess and the Regal Princess starting February 17, 2019.

The OceanMedallion is a wearable device that elevates the guest experience by delivering an enhanced level of personalization and innovative services resulting in high guest satisfaction scores, according to the cruise line. 

The Princess MedallionClass experience coming to Crown Princess in July and Sky Princess in October.

The addition of Royal Princess will also be the first time a Princess MedallionClass ship will be sailing in Alaska.

“Guests are finding their vacations enhanced with Princess MedallionClass on Caribbean Princess as a new and memorable experience, and we’re ready to offer these experiences and personalized services to even more of our guests, including everyone who sails with us in the Caribbean in the fall and winter,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “Starting in April, we will continue the expansion to a total of five Princess MedallionClass ships expected this year, as we continue on our path to fleet-wide activation. And we look forward to bringing the experience to new groups for the first time, such as those sailing to visit exciting destinations in Alaska and Mexico.”

Meyer Turku Delivers New Mein Schiff 2

TUI Cruises has taken delivery of the new Mein Schiff 2.

“For us, it has been a thrill working with TUI Cruises on the design and construction of this ship. The passengers will surely notice and hopefully like the differences to the previous ships. We have redesigned many of the areas of the ship, e.g. the Schau Bar and the restaurant area in front of the aft diamond structure," said Meyer Turku CEO Jan Meyer.

With the Mein Schiff 2 Meyer Turku and TUI Cruises have continued taking into account the feedback from the passengers of TUI Cruise’s previous ships and further improved and refreshed the design of the ship, according to a statement. 

This time the ship sailed to Kiel for the delivery ceremonies, due to ice conditions in the Turku archipelago. 

“The commissioning of our new Mein Schiff 2 marks the successful end of our first expansion phase. Our sixth newbuild by Meyer Turku not only impresses with its design, but its inner values are also equally convincing: With the use of modern technologies we are setting standards for environmental protection," added TUI Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier.

“The essence of our business is to listen to the feedback from the passengers and then use our own expertise in design and engineering to make the next ship even better, safer and more passenger-friendly," Meyer added.

With an extensive ramp-up program including investments of over 200 million euros, continuous recruitments and training for employees, Meyer Turku will double its production in the coming five years.

MSC Cruises reveals details of the private island

MSC Cruises reveals details of private island

Gallery: First pictures of MSC Cruises’ private island Ocean Cay revealed

MSC Cruises’ new private island in the Caribbean will give guests a “ticket to paradise”, according to chief executive Gianni Onorato.

Ocean Cay, 20 miles off the coast of the Bahamas and 65 miles from Miami, will boast eight “pristine” beaches, seven reserved for different guests, such as families, Yacht Club or Aurea Spa passengers, and one for the crew.

There will also be a sunset beach, lagoon beach and main beach where all water sports and activities will take place. Water sports will include snorkelling to a shallow sunken shipwreck through to scuba diving.

Lectures on the coral life around the island and what MSC has done to clean up and preserve it will be offered, something Onorato felt would be popular with younger guests and children.

Every Caribbean itinerary from Miami, whether sailing to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, will call at Ocean Cay. Onorato said: “Because it’s so close to Miami, we can stay there until 1am so people can experience it at night and still be back in Miami for 6am the following morning.”

Guests will be able to watch movies under the stars with their feet in the sand.

Food will include a family buffet and a food cart going around the island, but the ship’s restaurants will remain open all day as many guests are expected to go back on board to eat. The furthest point of the island is a 17-minute walk from the ship and “completely flat”, Onorato said.

Deckchairs and some activities will be included in the cruise price, but cabanas, cocktails, island Wi-Fi, and certain sports like scuba diving will be extra. All will be bookable through package upgrades via the MSC app.



Onorato also revealed there would be a second private island, for groups of 30-40 people, that could be booked out exclusively for the day. He said this would be a perfect upsell for travel agents. Costs for this and other extras would be added to the website at the end of the month.

The island will have three shops; one selling Bahamian goods manned by locals, one selling Ocean Cay-branded merchandise and the other selling MSC items.

Onorato said it was his “dream” to open an island in the Mediterranean but explained that the only location it would be possible to have an island open year-round, off the North African coast, was currently out of bounds.

“We will have to wait, but it is my dream to open a private island in the Mediterranean at some point,” he said.

Galveston Enters Into 10 Year Agreement With Disney Cruise Line

The Port of Galveston announced today that it has finalized a new agreement with Disney Cruise Line extending preferential berthing agreement rights at the Port for an additional 10 years with an option to renew for two additional five year periods effective November 1, 2018, according to a statement. 

The new agreement outlines plans for a shared cruise terminal that will accommodate a ship equal to or larger than the Disney Magic and Wonder class of vessel.

Additionally, it is projected that over the first five years of the potential 20-year agreement, Disney will nearly double its sailings, the port said. 

“September 22, 2012, marked the first time ever that a Disney Cruise Line ship set sail from the State of Texas with the maiden voyage of Disney Wonder. The Port has been seasonal homeport to both Disney Wonder and Disney Magic ever since. We are thrilled to be able to continue to give Texas and the southwest region of the United States the opportunity to experience Disney cruise vacations from their own backyard,” said Port of Galveston CEO/Port Director, Rodger Rees. “We are proud to be one of the few selected homeports for Disney Cruise Line.”

“Our guests have loved visiting Galveston and setting sail from this historic port to the western Caribbean, Key West and the Bahamas,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Signature Experiences and Disney Cruise Line. “As we plan to expand our fleet and introduce new experiences and entertainment aboard our ships, we couldn’t be more excited to extend our commitment with the Port of Galveston.”

Fincantieri to build a new ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Fincantieri is building a new cruise ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Fincantieri and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have signed a contract to construct an ultra-luxury cruise ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises to be delivered in 2023. The value of the agreement is approximately €474M.

The new vessel will be a sister ship to Seven Seas Explorer, delivered in 2016, and to Seven Seas Splendor, due for delivery in 2020.

Fincantieri said that at 54,000 tonnes, the unit will be able to accommodate up to 750 guests on board and that it will be the brand’s sixth all-suite vessel in Regent’s fleet. Like her sister ships, the new vessel will be built using the latest environmental protection technologies. The interiors will be particularly sophisticated, with every attention paid to passenger comfort.

“We are excited to build on the spectacular success of Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor as we embark on bringing to life a new vessel that will set even higher benchmarks for elegance, luxury and style”, said Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings president and chief executive, Frank Del Rio. “This new ship further strengthens our company’s robust yet measured growth profile with vessels now on order for all three of our award-winning brands, enabling us to expand our presence globally, further diversify our product offerings and continue to drive shareholder returns”.

Fincantieri chief executive Giuseppe Bono said “This agreement is the perfect seal of the work our Group has carried out over the years and the role we have gained on the market. We are able to enter and maintain a reference market presence in every niche, including the most unique and competitive as the ultra-luxury one, in which Regent Seven Seas Cruises operates. Quality is the shipowner’s hallmark and it entrusted Fincantieri once again.”

He said Fincantieri has 10 ships on order for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in its orderbook, five of which have been secured in the last five months, for all three brands in its portfolio.

Norovirus outbreak on Oasis of the Seas

Norovirus outbreak on Oasis of the Seas

More than 270 passengers have reportedly fallen ill with Norovirus on Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas.

Passengers were kept on board for hours after it docked at Falmouth port in Jamaica on Wednesday (January 9).

The ship was on a seven-night cruise through the Caribbean, but passengers have been told they will have their cruise fares refunded in full following the outbreak.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Travel Weekly: “Oasis of the Seas will return to Port Canaveral [in Florida] a day early after an episode of gastrointestinal illness.

“A total of 277 guests and crew members have been affected since the ship departed on January 6 — about 3.3 per cent of the people aboard the ship.

“All of the ship’s guests will receive full refunds of their cruise fare paid.

“We think the right thing to do is to get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health. Returning on Saturday also gives us more time to completely clean and sanitize the ship before her next sailing.

“Our guests sail with us to have great holidays, and we are sorry this cruise fell short.”

Passenger Alan Thomas tweeted: “Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We’re docked at Falmouth Jamaica. Level 3 Norovirus outbreak. 100+ passengers and a crew member sick. Cancelled shore excursion. Waiting to see if Jamaican authorities let us off the ship.#refund #lostvacation #disappointed #royalcarribean.”

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We’re docked at Falmouth Jamaica. Level 3 Norovirus outbreak. 100+ passengers and a crew member sick. Cancelled shore excursion. Waiting to see if Jamaican authorities let us off the ship. #refund #lostvacation #disappointed #royalcarribean

— Alan Thomas (@alan_thomas13)

AD Associates Signs on for Crystal Diamond Class Newbuilds

AD Associates has announced their involvement with Crystal Cruises' new Diamond-class ships.

The Crystal Diamond represents the first ocean-going, newbuild vessel for Crystal Cruises since 2003 and is scheduled to join the luxury fleet in 2022.

The luxury ships will measure approximately 67,000 gross tons and accommodate around 800 guests, with luxury design elements and exceptional amenities in line with Crystal Cruises’ fleet.

A long-standing relationship with Crystal Cruises’ stretching across both newbuilds and refurbishments, positioned London based AD perfectly to lead the initial planning, feasibility studies and concept design, the company said, while also working closely with Crystal Cruises, Genting Hong Kong and MV Werften. 

Chris Finch, CEO at AD, said: “As always, we are committed to ensuring we provide unparalleled service to our clients and we are honoured to have been selected to design again for Crystal Cruises."

Norwegian Gem to Traverse Panama Canal for the First Time

Last week, Norwegian Gem embarked on her first Panama Canal cruise, calling to 10 new ports and debuting on the West Coast when she concludes her itinerary in Los Angeles.

On Jan. 10, Norwegian Gem will be the 10th ship of the modern Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to cross the Panama Canal, visiting 10 new port cities during that sailing.

Among the new ports Norwegian Gem is sailing this season is Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Willemstad, Curacao; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Los Angeles; Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Corinto, Nicaragua.

“We are very excited to showcase another one of our incredible ships on the West Coast, offering guests there a chance to experience our fleet and enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with cruising Norwegian,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Gem is the final ship of the Jewel Class. She welcomes over 2,300 guests each sailing and features one of the largest suites in the fleet, the Garden Villas.

These suites are over 4,000 square feet and sleep up to eight guests. They include three spacious bedrooms, a living room and a private garden with a hot tub. The ship is also home to a kid’s aqua park, a climbing wall, an expansive casino, over 15 dining options and 14 bars and lounges.

Special Report: MSC outlines ambitions for the new fleet

Special Report: MSC outlines ambitions for the new fleet

The line’s bosses gave the most detail yet about the project at a Travel Weekly executive lunch. Harry Kemble reports

MSC Cruises’ chief executive is yet to decide whether to name his new fleet of luxury vessels after its current premium offering, The Yacht Club and asked UK agents for their views.

The line confirmed industry rumours in October that it would be entering the luxury sector by announcing plans to launch four ships from 2023.

Speaking at a Travel Weekly executive lunch for 25 top agents from the UK and Ireland, Gianni Onorato said: “The new ships will have a different brand name to the rest of the fleet. That name is yet to be decided, however.”

Asked if the new luxury ships would be called The Yacht Club, he replied: “I don’t know yet. Maybe. What do you all think?”

Iglu senior vice-president for global supply Simone Clark said she thought he should keep The Yacht Club name for the fleet of newer, smaller, more upmarket vessels since it was established and recognised among the trade and customers.

But Onorato confirmed there would be differences in the new fleet, compared with the luxury area that exists on seven MSC ships.

“We want to position it so it will be like The Yacht Club,” he said. “But the luxury ships will be really different vessels.”

He said the key difference is the luxury ships would sail to different destinations and offer multiple durations, with more flexibility.

“Our customers are saying they do not want seven-night cruises – they want something more. That is why we are investing in luxury,” he added.

Onorato said there would also be a major difference in the food and entertainment found on the new luxury ships, compared with that currently offered on the mainstream ones.

“There will be extra food options, as well as different – and more – entertainment available. It will be a different experience, more luxurious. Cuisine will feature ‘cultured cooking’.”

Onorato also hinted that pricing on the luxury ships would not match that found in MSC Yacht Club. “The pricing today for MSC Yacht Club is really not very much money,” he said.

Families would be welcome on board, and Onorato hopes to transfer MSC Yacht Club passengers to the luxury ships.

Private island

MSC Cruises revealed that guests would be able to spend evenings at its new private island, as well as staying overnight. The line will open Ocean Cay (pictured) in the Caribbean next year. [This Travel Weekly executive lunch took place in November 2018]

Onorato said it would offer “cinema under the stars”. “Our guests will be able to watch movies on the beach with the sand between their toes,” he said.

He also revealed that couples who want to have “a special night” will be able to sleep in private beach accommodation elsewhere on the island.

Onorato, who visited Ocean Cay last month to see trees being planted, confirmed that travel agents would be able to sell a one-night stay on Ocean Cay to customers. “The island will be unique and an extension of the ship,” he added.

Onorato explained that his island was being transformed from a former sand extraction site into a marine reserve and private destination, where more than 100 environmentally friendly structures, such as bars, restaurants and housing, are being built. He said he hoped Ocean Cay would be “an example” to other cruise lines who owned private islands, due to its sustainable credentials.

He added that the island’s food offering would be limited because the ships are going to be so close and will have all the services on board for guests to go back and enjoy.

Agent pledge

Antonio Paradiso, the line’s UK & Ireland managing director, issued a bold promise to agents as he revealed that MSC Cruises was entering the final phase of a three-year plan to boost its profile in the UK.

After consolidating its place in the UK market, Paradiso said phase two had been to make “huge investments” to strengthen the UK sales team.

Steve Williams, director of sales, and Rebecca Kelly, regional head of sales in Ireland, were both named as two examples of this investment.

Paradiso said further improving MSC Masters, the line’s online training platform, which launched in August, was phase three.

“We are not going to stop until we have visited the last agent on this island,” he said.

World-class ships

MSC Cruises’ four new 200,000-ton ‘World-class’ vessels will be a combination of both Seaside class and Meraviglia class, according to Onorato.

The chief executive said: “MSC Meraviglia was a change more inside than outside, whereas MSC Seaside was more about the outside. Then we have World-class ships, which will combine the innovation we have seen with Seaside class outside and the internal innovation of Meraviglia class.”

The four new World-class ships are scheduled for delivery in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

To put the size into perspective, Royal Caribbean International’s four Oasis-class ships are all in excess of 220,000 tons, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ship, Bliss, weighs just over 168,000 tons.

Top-level service

MSC Cruises has 17 vessels on order between now and 2027, and the constantly expanding fleet means crew members must be recruited rapidly. More than 50,000 new personnel have been trained and brought onto the ships to serve passengers.

Onorato identified onboard service as a key area he wants to continue improving.

“We have made big investments across the world and set up recruitment offices,” he said. “At the offices, we have recreated the ship with a mock-up cabin and restaurant.

“At the end of this process, we will have the best ships on the market.”

He also pledged to get crew members introducing themselves to passengers before they have even boarded the ship.

“Today, the customers, or the travel agents in some cases, will receive a message from the cabin [crew],” he said.

“This means that when the customers board the ship they can begin their holiday. It is something that will improve the customer experience, and make [travel agents’] jobs easier.”

Viking Passengers Rate Kirkwall Top Destination in Northern Europe

Viking Ocean Cruises passengers have rated Kirkwall as their top Northern Europe and Scandinavian cruise destination.

The rating was based on guest feedback following analysis of 2018 itineraries, according to a statement the Orkney Islands Council.

Kirkwall has been rated top destination from a total portfolio of 46 Northern Europe and Scandinavian destinations from Viking. 

"Viking Ocean Cruises are one of our most regular cruise lines calling into Kirkwall and their outstanding vessels are a corner stone of our local cruise industry," said Michael Morrison, the Council's Business Development Manager for Marine Services. "For their guests to rate us so highly is indeed an accolade that all of us who deliver the marine tourism product in Orkney can be truly proud of. To receive a higher level of customer satisfaction that destinations such as Copenhagen and St. Petersburg  is indeed a tremendous achievement  Kirkwall is the UK’s cruise destination capital and this endorsement from Viking Cruises will motivate Team Orkney to continue to deliver the high quality of destination experience that Orkney is so very good at."

The 2019 Orkney season has 170 port calls planned compared to 140 booked for 2018. Bookings for 2020 are encouraging as well, with over 100 calls already scheduled. 

This year will see growth in smaller vessels calling, with 71 calls scheduled from ships with under 500 guests. 

Carnival AirShip Starts California Tour

Carnival's AirShip has made its debut in Southern California, starting a month-long tour of the state, according to a statement.

The promotion is part of Carnival's West Coast push, which will see the Carnival Panorama debut out of Long Beach in December 2019.

The 120-foot-long AirShip will fly over and visit culture and entertainment locations across the state throughout January including The Rose Parade: A Showcase of Floats on Jan. 2 as well as sporting events; local schools; Carnival’s homeports in Long Beach on Jan. 5, San Diego on Jan. 13 and San Francisco on Jan. 25; travel agent viewing parties; and select Sky Zone trampoline park locations, Carnival Panorama’s newest all-ages attraction, starting with the Anaheim location on Jan 11.

In conjunction with the AirShip’s California tour, consumers have a chance to win a free cruise as well as additional prizes each week throughout the month of January, Carnival announced. 

For anyone who takes a picture of the AirShip and posts it on social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun, Carnival will make a $2 donation to it is longtime charity partner St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital up to a maximum donation of $20,000.

This past summer, the AirShip made its inaugural journey in the southeast U.S. to celebrate the arrival of new ships in multiple homeports.

“The Carnival AirShip was so well received when she debuted earlier this year, and we’re delighted to bring her back to the West Coast to kick-start our year-long celebration of Carnival Panorama. It’s officially go-time!” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival is the number one cruise line from Southern California. Our AirShip is a great way to let everyone know about the many exciting choices for guests to Choose Fun from the West Coast.”

The Carnival Panorama will debut with a special three-day cruise from Long Beach on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by the launch of year-round, seven-day Mexican Riviera sailings on Dec. 14, 2019. 

Cruise Industry Trends for 2019

A record year of newbuilds, new cruise brands, expedition ships and capacity growth will dominate cruise headlines in 2019, while drydocks grow in scale.

Also impressive will be technology gains, with guests benefiting from the latest connectivity and apps that integrate into the cruise experience while cruise lines continue an arms race to save fuel and reduce their environmental footprint. Among challenge areas are new shipbuilders and emerging markets.

New Ships

Twenty-four new ships will debut in 2019, making it the biggest year ever for new ship introductions.

The Mein Schiff 2 from TUI Cruises will be the first of the 24 new ships delivered, according to projections from the 2019 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

The biggest vessel to enter service this year will be the Costa Smeralda with capacity for 5,224 passengers.

MSC's Grandiosa, a Meraviglia-plus class ship, is also large and will debut in November with capacity for just under 5,000 guests.

The smallest ship debuting? The 100-guest Magellan Explorer from Antarctica21.

MSC is one of four cruise lines with big ship introduction plans in 2019, with the Grandiosa debuting as well as the Bellissima.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will also take delivery of two expedition newbuilds, the Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration.

French luxury line Ponant will get a pair of 180-guest Explorer-class ships, and Costa will take delivery of two megaships.

The Costa Venezia debuts in March from Fincantieri and moves to China for year-round service, while the Smeralda will debut later in the year and sail in Europe.

New Brands

Brands are coming into the cruise industry with newbuild projects and secondhand ships.

Jalesh Cruises will start service in April from Mumbai, offering a short-cruise product for the Indian source market.

In China, CTS (China Travel Service) is expected to start service in the third quarter, which will help boost capacity in the region, which is considerably lower, according to the 2019 China Market Report by Cruise Industry News.

Heading into the future, both The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Virgin Voyages are bringing their new brands and bold new concepts and their brands into the industry with newbuild projects.

Capacity Growth

New ships on order and set to be delivered in 2019 represent an additional 42,488 berths into the industry, obliterating 2018’s record introduction of approximately 34,000 new berths.

According to the  2019 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, the 42,488 berths represent 7.5 percent additional berths across the industry.

The companies with the biggest plans to fill cabins this year are both European brands. MSC will add 9,388 berths between the Bellissima and Grandiosa, while Costa will add 9,120 berths with the Costa Venezia and Smeralda.

Drydocks Grow in Scale

Refurbishment projects across the industry are only growing in scale, according to the 2019 Drydocking and Refurbishment Report by Cruise Industry News.

The biggest project this year, and the biggest drydock ever to take place, will see the Carnival Triumph converted into the Carnival Sunrise over a two-month work period in Cadiz with a budget of $200 million. The ship will debut in Norfolk, Virginia in late April with additional capacity, and a number of new entertainment and food and beverage features.

Elsewhere, Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas will be reimagined with a budget of $115 million  and then reintroduced into the hot short cruise market in May 2019.

Expedition Boom

The newbuild boom in the expedition market that saw the first of a large number of new ships launching in 2018 shows no signs of slowing down for 2019.

Expedition newbuilds are all over the orderbook this year, with 12 expedition ships set to launch into service.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has the single biggest year, with 460 berths coming online with the Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration.

Ponant will mark its second year in a row in which it takes delivery of two ships as well, with the new Le Bougainville being joined by Le Dumont-d'Urville.

The most notable delivery will happen in China, as SunStone will welcome the first of up to 10 expedition newbuilds. The Greg Mortimer will debut in August on a long-term charter contract to Aurora Expeditions.

China Questions

China was set to become the world’s largest cruise market, and may still get there, but 2019 will be about the so-called readjustment period in the region.

Too much supply brought on too fast, a challenged distribution model (chartering), a short-in booking window and lack of product differentiation put a stop to runaway growth in China.

A readjustment period is now the term, and will give Chinese officials time to work on policies and port development; it will also give way to another new Chinese cruise brand coming late this year.

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) will buy two cruise ships ahead of building a series new ships.

The company will take delivery of the Costa Atlantica in late 2019, followed by the Costa Mediterranea a year later.

Shipyard Problems

Delayed deliveries, strikes, ownership changes and other major questions revolve around a new set of shipyards that have aggressively entered the cruise business in recent years.

Facing a collapse in the offshore business, shipyards turned to small, expedition and niche cruise lines to gain business back.

Those yards have been met with a host of challenges ranging from ownership changes to yard strikes as they have found out that building a cruise ship is a highly complex task – mainly attributed to the customized hotel aspect of the project.

Technology

While Princess Cruises continues to roll out its OceanMedallion platform, the cruise lines are working hard to upgrade connectivity and provide new apps and digital experiences for passengers.

Royal Caribbean Cruises is utilizing facial recognition to get passengers onboard the ship within 10 minutes of arriving at the terminal; while on the new Celebrity Edge, guests can use an app to turn on and off stateroom lights and even unlock the door.

At MSC Cruises, a personal assistant, Zoe, will debut in every stateroom aboard the Bellissima when the ship is delivered in February.

Passenger-facing apps and connectivity solutions will continue to be hot topics, but behind-the-scenes, a technical arms race will continue to save fuel while lowering environmental impact when it comes to air and water emissions.

Carnival Cruise Line Brings Style to Rose Parade

Carnival Cruise Line kicked off 2019 with its first-ever float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., ahead of the arrival of the new Long Beach-based Carnival Panorama later this year,

Modelled after the new 133,500-ton Vista-class ship, the float cruised down the five-mile parade route this morning delighting the crowd of 700,000 who gathered along with the float riders to a Carnival nine-piece band playing “Uptown Funk” and “I’ve Got a Feeling” as well as the estimated 80 million television viewers.

Aptly named “Come Sail Away,” the 55-foot-long ship-shaped float featured floral-inspired reproductions of signature Carnival features like the iconic red and blue funnel, a water park and fun-filled Lido Deck party, and the line’s newest attraction -- the first-ever trampoline park at sea, in partnership with Sky Zone with jumpers on a working trampoline built into the front portion of the float.

The float also included a replica of the Carnival AirShip flying overhead, just like the blimp that will embark on a month-long tour of California to promote Carnival’s continued expansion in Long Beach, as well as new cruise options from San Diego and San Francisco.

Designed by Carnival’s in-house creative team and Fiesta Parade Floats, construction of the maritime marvel began in mid-November and encompassed 10 designers collectively working hundreds of hours right up until parade time. 

Dozens of volunteers, including Carnival travel agent partners, joined the designers to decorate the float.

“We’re the number one cruise line from the West Coast and what better way to celebrate this distinction and the arrival of Carnival Panorama than by our first-ever Rose Parade which truly captures the essence of what Choosing Fun on a Carnival cruise is all about,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.