Disney Adventure Embarks on Sea Trials

Disney Adventure Embarks on Sea Trials

The new Disney Adventure sailed from Germany earlier this week to embark on its first set of sea trials.

Currently in the final stages of construction at the MV Werften shipyard, the vessel is now undergoing a series of assessments and trials in the Baltic and North Seas.

Over 1,400 workers are reportedly on board the ship, which is scheduled to be delivered to Disney Cruise Line in late September.

According to Ostsee Zeitung, the Disney Adventure will see testing of technology and systems while sailing to another German port, Bremerhaven.

The week-long trials are also said to include a technical visit to Rügen, an island on the Baltic coast of Germany.

The Disney Adventure is expected to undergo a second set of sea trials later this month.

The 208,000-ton ship is then set to embark on a delivery voyage to Asia ahead of its maiden cruise, which is scheduled to depart from Singapore on December 15, 2025.

As the largest cruise ship in the company’s fleet, the Adventure will be Disney’s first vessel dedicated to Southeast Asia.

Sailing from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore on a year-round basis, the 6,000-guest ship will offer three- and four-night cruises to nowhere.

The vessel’s schedule in the region was recently extended with the addition of extra departures through December 2026.

In addition to the Disney Adventure, Disney Cruise Line is also welcoming the Disney Destiny to its fleet this year.

The LNG-powered ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany for delivery in the fourth quarter.

As a sister to the Disney Wish and the Disney Treasure, the 2,500-guest vessel is set to welcome guests for its inaugural voyage in November 2025.

Sailing from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, the Destiny will spend its maiden season offering four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Disney Adventure to Remain in Singapore For 2026-27

Disney Adventure to Remain in Singapore For 2026-27

The Disney Adventure will continue to offer short cruises from Singapore as part of Disney Cruise Line’s recently announced 2026-27 deployment.

According to the company’s website, the 6,000-guest vessel will operate a series of three- and four-night cruises during this timeframe.

With no ports of call, the itineraries feature two and three days at sea, respectively, before returning to Singapore.

Nearly 30 new sailings are currently scheduled to take place between October 2026 and January 2027.

Currently under construction at MV Werften in Germany, the Disney Adventure is scheduled to enter service later this year.

As the largest ship ever built for Disney Cruise Line, the 208,000-ton vessel was designed to serve the Asian market.

After departing Germany, the ship is scheduled to deadhead to Singapore ahead of welcoming its first paying guests on December 15, 2025.

During the 2025-26 season, the Disney Adventure will sail from its homeport in Southeast Asia for a series of three- and four-night cruises to nowhere.

The itineraries feature only days at sea and will continue to be offered during the summer of 2026 as well.

Originally ordered as Dream Cruises’ Global Dream, the vessel was acquired by Disney Cruise Line after its operator ceased operations in 2022.

In addition to the Disney Adventure in Singapore, Disney’s 2026-27 season will include itineraries in the Caribbean and on the West Coast.

The deployment is highlighted by capacity increases in Texas and California, with the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic offering more cruises from San Diego.

In Galveston, the Disney Magic is set to offer an extended season that includes itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Three ships are scheduled to sail from Port Canaveral during the season: the Disney Treasure, the Disney Wish and the Disney Fantasy.

The Disney Destiny and the Disney Dream will offer cruises from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades.

July Update: Here’s What Happened to the Former Genting Cruise Lines’ Ships

July Update: Here’s What Happened to the Former Genting Cruise Lines’ Ships

Six months after Genting Cruise Line’s collapse, Cruise Industry News looks into the status of every oceangoing ship that was operated by the former cruise conglomerate.

Global Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 2022
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Location: Wismar, Germany
Status: Awaiting decision/buyer

After seeing its sister ship scrapped, the Global Dream is still waiting for a potential buyer.

With 75 per cent of its construction finished, the 208,000-ton vessel remains at the building dock of the former MV Werften in Wismar, Germany. Previously owned by Genting, the shipyard has changed hands recently and is now controlled by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

Crystal Endeavor
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 200 guests
Location: Gibraltar Anchorage
Status: Awaiting decision/buyer

After six months in limbo, the Crystal Endeavor continues to wait for a decision regarding its future.

The 2021-built expedition vessel is currently anchored off Gibraltar and has been recently associated with Silversea Cruises. So far, however, no official announcement has been made by any of the involved parties.

World Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 2017
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Location: Singapore Anchorage
Status: Awaiting decision/buyer

Another ship waiting for a decision regarding its future, the World Dream remains anchored off Singapore.

Previously operated by the Dream Cruises brand, the 2017-built vessel was arrested and brought under the management of V.Ships Leisure back in March.

Genting Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 2016
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Location: Southeast Asia
Status: Chartered to Resorts World Cruises

Now sailing for Resorts World Cruises, the Genting Dream is currently offering a series of short cruises in Southeast Asia.

Departing from Singapore, the operation includes visits to Malaysia and Indonesia, marking the launch of the new cruise operator – which chartered the 2016-built vessel in May.

Crystal Serenity
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 2003
Capacity: 980 guests
Location: Enroute to Trieste, Italy
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

After spending several months arrested in the Bahamas, the Crystal Serenity was auctioned in June and is now sailing to Italy.

Along with its sister ship Crystal Symphony, the 2003-built vessel was acquired by A&K Travel Group. The new owners, who also bought the Crystal Cruises brand and other assets, plan to relaunch the luxury company in 2023.

Crystal Symphony
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 1995
Capacity: 848 guests
Location: Enroute to Trieste, Italy
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

Previously arrested in the Bahamas, the Crystal Symphony is ailing in Italy following a judicial auction. 

Like its fleet mate Crystal Serenity, the 1995-built luxury ship was bought by the A&K Travel Group and is expected to resume service in 2023.

Explorer Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 1999
Capacity: 2,000 guests
Location: Port Klang, Malaysia
Status: Awaiting decision/buyer

The Explorer Dream is currently anchored off Port Klang, in Malaysia. Formerly operated by Dream Cruises, the 1999-built vessel continues to wait for a decision regarding its future.

After spending most of the pandemic offering domestic cruising in Taiwan, the former SuperStar Virgo arrived in Malaysia in March.

SuperStar Aquarius
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1993
Capacity: 1,529 guests
Location: Southeast Asia
Status: Expected to be scrapped 

After being re-flagged and renamed in May, the ex-SuperStar Aquarius is currently named Arius, under St. Kitts and Nevis flag.

Expected to be scrapped along with other former Star Cruises ships, the vessel left Southeast Asia in May for what was believed to be its final trip. Instead of sailing to a ship-breaking yard, however, the 1993-built vessel sailed to Sri Lanka, where, according to the local media, it will stay laid up for the next month.

SuperStar Gemini
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1992
Capacity: 1,472 guests
Location: Port Klang, Malaysia
Status: Expected to be scrapped

Like its sister ship, the former SuperStar Gemini arrived in Sri Lanka recently for a month-long layup.

Also expected to be scrapped, the 30-year-old cruise ship saw a change of name and registry as well, now called Gem under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Star Pisces
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1991
Capacity: 1,384 guests
Location: Southeast Asia
Status: To be scrapped

The Star Pisces is set to be dismantled in India. After leaving Southeast Asia in late May, the vessel arrived in Alang earlier this month and is expected to be beached soon.

Previously operated by the Star Cruises brand, the former cruise ferry used to offer one-night cruises departing from the port of Hong Kong.

The Taipan
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1989
Capacity: 64 guests
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Status: Sold to OM Ships

Previously Genting’s smallest ship, The Taipan was sold to OM Ships in May. The German religious organization's famous plans to transform the 1989-built vessel into a missionary ship and floating bookshop.

Before entering service for its new owners, the 32-cabin mega yacht is set to undergo a major transformation in a yet-to-be-named shipyard in Asia. 

SuperStar Libra
Previous Brand: Star Cruises/MV Werften
Year Built: 1988
Capacity: 1,494 guests
Location: Aliaga, Turkey
Status: Beached for scrapping 

The SuperStar Libra is now being dismantled in Turkey after being beached for scrapping at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard in May.

Previously operated by Star Cruises, the 1988-built cruise ship was serving as a gloating hotel at the MV Werften – a Genting-owned shipyard in Germany - since 2018.

Bankrupt Cruise Line’s Unfinished Ship Attracts Investor Interest

A general view of the cruise liner Global Dream, which is still under construction at the shipbuilding hall of the MV Werften shipyards which are insolvent, in Wismar, Germany January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Billionaire Lim Kok Thay is among several investors interested in purchasing the Global Dream mega luxury liner that was under construction at Genting Hong Kong Ltd.’s now-insolvent shipbuilder, MV Werften in Germany.

Several serious interested parties are in talks to buy the unfinished ship, said Christoph Morgen, the German court-appointed provisional insolvency administrator for the shipbuilder. Morgen is optimistic a deal could come together, but thinks it won’t likely happen before next month because the case is complex, he said at a briefing at the shuttered shipyard in Wismar on Monday.

MV Werften’s provisional insolvency in early January proved to be a turning point for Genting Hong Kong, which became the world’s biggest cruise operator to seek court assistance to safeguard its assets during the pandemic when it filed a windup petition days later. Genting reported a record loss of $1.7 billion in May as the pandemic ravaged the cruising industry.

Lim, who has resigned as Genting Hong Kong’s chairman and chief executive officer, contacted Morgen to express interest in purchasing the ship at the beginning of the provisional insolvency process, Morgen said. The insolvency administrator said he hopes to find “a better solution for the ship” than Lim. 

“My impression is that he would only like to buy it if nobody else would be interested in order to get it cheap and possible to finish the ship somewhere else,” said Morgen, who added he hasn’t heard from Lim since. “I hope that we won’t depend on this, because we now have strong interest from many other possible investors.”

The 342-meter liner, which Genting dubbed the Global Dream and which is set to be the world’s biggest vessel by passenger capacity, was heralded as ushering in a new era of mega-ships tapping into Asia’s growing cruising market. The ship was about 72% complete when the German government and Genting couldn’t agree in December on plans to finance $620 million to help finish it and keep the shipyard in business, according to a letter Lim wrote to creditors.

A spokeswoman for Genting, which Lim heads as CEO, declined to comment. Representatives for Genting Hong Kong didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Lim still holds about 75% of shares in Genting Hong Kong and heads other Genting businesses, although there are no cross-shareholdings.

Both Lim and German government officials blamed the other for MV Werften’s bankruptcy. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said his government did everything in its power to save MV Werften, saying the state had offered a loan of 600 million euros ($670 million) on the condition that Genting provides an additional 60 million euros plus guarantees for the federal funds. Genting turned that down, Habeck said.

In his letter to creditors explaining Genting’s slide into provisional insolvency, Lim accused the current German government of not honouring the previous government’s agreement to provide the capital that didn’t require a personal guarantee.

Henning Groskreutz, a union leader from the local IG Metall chapter, said that the shipyard will still need between 500 million euros and 600 million euros to finish the ship. “We will need this money in order to be able to convince the workers to stay here,” Groskreutz said. Many workers have already left and have started at other employers because there’s high demand for such skills.

Habeck said the government would be willing to subsidize the final construction of the Global Dream with a “new reliable investor.”

“If there’s a reliable finance plan, we could make the same offer like over Christmas,” Habeck said, adding that Genting didn’t want to contribute financially to complete the ship. “We don’t want to throw money out of the window.”

Genting’s Crystal Cruises brand shut its U.S. office and terminated employees last week. The closing of Crystal Cruises’ operation in Miami came after two of its ships were seized in the Bahamas after a fuel supplier sought the action for $4.6 million in unpaid fuel bills.

Dream Cruises Holding Ltd., an indirect non-wholly owned unit of Genting Hong Kong that has also filed a winding-up petition, will continue to operate its fleet in the region, the company said.

Genting Files to Wind Up Company, Cash Running Out

Genting Hong Kong has filed to wind up its company as it warned investors cash would run out by the end of January, as the company said it had exhausted all efforts for fundraising.

Genting said it had  “exhausted all reasonable efforts to negotiate with the relevant counterparties under its financing arrangements." in a filing on Wednesday.

Genting did stress that certain operations would continue, including Dream Cruises, as it aims to "preserve and protect the core assets and maintain the value of the Group; however, it is anticipated that the majority of the Group’s existing operations will cease to operate."

Earlier this month, Genting-owned MV Werften filed for insolvency in Germany.

Genting's winding-up petition and appointment of provisional liquidators will be heard by the Supreme Court of Bermuda on Jan. 20.

MV Werften Insolvency Administrator Seeks Back Pay for Workers, Completion of Global Dream Cruise Ship

A general view of the cruise liner Global Dream, which is still under construction at the shipbuilding hall of the MV Werften shipyards which are insolvent, in Wismar, Germany January 13, 2022.

A court-appointed insolvency administrator for German shipbuilder MV Werften is working on getting all 2,000 employees paid their December wages asap and will seek to continue construction on the Global Dream cruise ship, the law firm for the administrator said Wednesday.

Dr Christoph Morgen, from the Hamburg-based law firm Brinkmann & Partner, was appointed as the preliminary insolvency administrator by the Schwerin District Court on Wednesday. His appointment comes after the shipbuilder, owned by Genting Hong Kong, filed for insolvency on Monday after negotiations over financing between Genting HK and German state and federal authorities failed to materialize.

The Hong Kong-based cruise and resort holding company has since warned of more defaults may be coming, causing shares of the company to plunge by over 50%.

According to the law firm, Dr Morgen’s first order of business will be getting MV Werften’s employees, some 1,900 of them, past wages owed.

“The MV Werften Group did not pay the December salaries. It is now all the more urgent for the employees that they are quickly paid for their work,” Morgen said in a press release, which was published in German and translated using Google. “You need your money fast. My team and I have already initiated the pre-financing of the insolvency money. The implementation will take a few more days.”

MV Werften’s insolvency has also left the fate of its biggest project, the construction of the Global One/Dream cruise ship, hanging in the balance. The ship, which is being built for Genting HK subsidiary Dream Cruises, is reported to be about 75% completed and delivery had been planned for later this year from MV Werften’s Wismar shipyard. Continuing construction on the ship will be another priority for the administrator.

“I would like to finish building the cruise ship ‘Global One’ with the employees of MV Werften and the suppliers in Wismar,” said Morgen. “For this purpose, I will immediately start talks with all those involved in order to work out the requirements for the completion of the ship. In addition, from my point of view, it is important to jointly explore solution ideas for MV Werften and thus also for the many suppliers from the maritime industry, which is so important for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,” he said, referring to the German state where the Wismar shipyard is located.

MV Werften was formed in 2016 with Genting Hong Kong’s acquisition of Nordic Yards’ three shipyards in Wismar, Rostock-Warnemunde and Stralsund, Germany. Since then, MV Werften has completed a number of projects for Genting HK subsidiaries, but its businesses have been hit hard from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the cruise and resort tourism industries.

In addition to MV Werften, Genting HK’s subsidiaries include Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruises, Star Cruises and Resorts World Manila, a major resort in Manila, Philippines.

Maurer Rides begins assembling Global Dream's roller-coaster

Test construction at MV Werften German shipyard.

Maurer Rides has started shoreside assembly of Space Cruiser, its Spike-Coaster model for Dream Cruises' new ship, Global Dream.

Space Cruiser will be the highlight of the ship's Dream Park at the Pier theme park at sea.

Test site near MV Werften

The animations and graphics are now becoming reality as one of the most exciting cruise ship attractions are being set up on land for testing purposes in the immediate vicinity of MV Werften, where Global Dream is under construction.

'Among other things, the test setup will be used to test the installation methodology specially designed for ship assembly,' said Marco Hartwig, project manager, Maurer Rides. 'Furthermore, the conductor rail and gear rack along the roller-coaster track, which is necessary for the generation and transmission in the electric motor, can be installed on land in advance. This saves valuable time during the ship assembly.'

Maurer Rides will collect all the 93 support base points coordinates after the roller-coaster has been completed and forward them to the shipyard for preparation and positioning for the deck foundations. 'With the help of this elaborate procedure, we can ensure that the support base points on the deck of the ship are in the correct positions later,' Hartwig explained.

After the installation, three Spike vehicles will be put into operation step by step and the system control will be thoroughly tested. Before the roller-coaster leaves the test site in Güstrow, Germany, the system will be dismantled and transported to the shipyard for final assembly.

Up to 60 km/h (37 mph)

Space Cruiser is touted as the world's longest offshore roller-coaster.

The ride starts with an acceleration section followed by two closely spaced inclined 90-degree curves. Maurer Rides said the following two 'camelbacks' provide a spectacular and breathtaking launch above the railing and the heads of the passengers, with a maximum speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph.) A 360-degree downward and upward helix form the end of the 303-meter/994-foot-long track before the vehicles reach the starting station again.

'Dream Cruises is extremely excited to be working with Maurer Rides to create this spectacular new attraction at sea onboard Global Dream. We are thrilled with the progress of the construction of the roller-coaster and are excited to unveil this ride to our guests when our ship launches,' said Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises.

Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.  Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.

Crystal Cruises’ new adventure ship emerges from shipyard

Crystal Cruises’ new adventure ship emerges from shipyard

 

The latest Crystal Cruises’ adventure ship Crystal Endeavor has been rolled out of a German shipyard eight months before it is due to enter service.

The 200-passenger polar class expedition vessel touched water for the first time at the MV Werften yard in Stralsund.

The all-suite ship is due to set off on its first cruise from Tokyo on August 10, 2020.

Crystal Endeavor will feature helicopter pads and a submarine capable of carrying seven passengers 980ft under water.

Other facilities include chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma & Sushi Bar; a spa and fitness centre; mud rooms and a helicopter lounge.

Itineraries available until early 2023 range from the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia to Africa, Europe and Indonesia.

Crystal Cruises’ president and chief executive Tom Wolber said: “Each milestone marked in the journey to introducing Crystal Endeavor to the world becomes more thrilling, as we know that the most adventurous luxury travellers are eagerly awaiting the unforgettable experiences that lie ahead, just as we are.

Revealed: Global Dream Hull Art

Genting Cruise Lines as unveiled Global Dream’s hull artwork, “A Dream Through Time and Space."

Shanghai native and London-based Illustrator Shan Jiang were commissioned to create the latest chapter of the Dream Cruises hull art romance for the new 5,000-guest 208,000-ton ship.

Having worked with a variety of notable companies and publications, Shan’s work is strongly influenced by his home city of Shanghai; its skyscrapers and bungalows, contemporary concepts and traditional superstitions and flourishing subcultures, the company said.

The hull art continues the epic journey of the mermaid and the astronaut as they seek to satisfy their boundless curiosity and explore an infinite universe driven by the desire for the extraordinary, the company said, in a statement.

"Embodying the independent and fearless spirit of a new generation of traveller, the two worlds of the mermaid and astronaut blend together, resulting in a new way to explore the seven seas– one that combines age-old maritime tradition with space-age technology," Dream Cruises announced, in a statement.

The dream also confirmed the new ship would visit Singapore in early 2021 on her repositioning cruise from MV Werften.

“Singapore has been an important homeport for Genting Cruise Lines over the last 26 years and we are pleased to announce that Global Dream will celebrate her inaugural arrival in Singapore in Q2 2021 during her relocation cruise from Germany to Asia,” said Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines. “We greatly appreciate and look forward to the continued support from the Singapore Tourism Board and our partners from Singapore and across the region.

“Having just celebrated our 25th Anniversary in Singapore last year, we are excited to return with the unveiling of Global Dream’s hull artwork at this year’s ITB Asia in Singapore. As arguably the most identifiable feature of a cruise ship, the hull artwork is another important milestone in the development of any cruise ship and will set the personality of the ship when she launches,” added Zhu. “The new hull artwork provides a fresh take on our beloved mermaid and astronaut characters and captures the adventurous spirit and sense of modernity that will be the hallmarks of Global Dream’s essence.”

Sale and Leaseback Deal for Genting Dream

Genting Hong Kong has announced that it has entered into a sale and leaseback agreement for the 2016-built Genting Dream.

The company has sold the ship for $900 million or 80 per cent of the closing market value (whatever is lower), in a deal involving three Chinese banks. The ship was recently appraised at $1,180,000,000 according to a filing from Genting.

The agreement also includes a bareboat charter agreement to lease the ship back to Genting for 12 years.

Genting said in a filing that the agreement would provide working capital at reasonable terms that will help it finance its cruise expansion and newbuild program at MV Werften. 

The company will purchase the ship back once the 12-year charter period has ended.

Of note, Genting said the net profit attributable to the Genting Dream in 2017 was $23,010,000 and in 2018, $19,367,000

Earlier this year, Genting also sold a 35 per cent stake in Dream Cruises.

Genting Hong Kong Sells Stake in Dream Cruises

Genting Hong Kong announced that it has reached a deal to sell a 35 per cent stake in Dream Cruises to Canada’s TPG Darting, which is owned by TPG Capital Asia and Growth Funds.

The company said the deal would strengthen its balance sheet as well as its ability to continue to expand its fleet in the cruise industry. 

According to the 2019 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, Dream Cruises has 8,800 berths in service with a market capacity of 528,000 guests.

“The Disposal would also reduce the Group’s financial burden in meeting future funding requirements in relation to Dream Cruises’ business,” the company said. “It is intended that the sale proceeds for the Disposal will be used as general working capital and capital expenditure for the Group in relation to the construction of (the Global-class ships) and/or to fund new investments of the Group should suitable opportunities arise.”

According to a Genting statement, the transaction was valued at $488,645,875. Genting also noted that Dream has a current three-ship fleet, the Genting Dream, World Dream and Explorer Dream. In addition, is a contract to build a Global-class ship at MV Werften.

“It also expects to enter into the Global II Shipbuilding Contract in relation to the construction of Global II with MV Werften,” the company said, in a prepared statement.

The agreement also noted options third and fourth Global-class ships.

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."

Deltamarin and Elomatic design second Global Class ship

Deltamarin and Elomatic design second Global Class ship

Dream Cruises' two Global Class ships will be the biggest cruise vessels to be built in Germany to date (Image: MV Werften)

Dream Cruises' two Global Class ships will be the biggest cruise vessels to be built in Germany to date (Image: MV Werften)
Finland-based construction and engineering companies Deltamarin and Elomatic to provide engineering, design and site services for Dream Cruises’ second Global Class ship.

Both companies were contracted by MV Werften, the Germany-based shipyard owned by Dream Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong. The contract was signed following their successful collaboration on the first Global Class ship, which is currently under construction at MV Werften.

“We are very happy that MV Werften continues to trust in our expertise and ability to design world-class cruise ships and we look forward to designing the second vessel in this remarkable Global class series,” said Patrik Rautaheimo, Elomatic CEO.

Set to be 342 metres long and more than 46 metres wide, the 204,000gt newbuild has been designed specifically for the Asian market. Onboard features will include a cineplex, Asian and Western spas, shopping facilities, Asian and international dining experiences, fast-food restaurants and a theme park that includes a rollercoaster with virtual reality. There will also be 2,500 cabins that can accommodate up to 5,000 passengers based on a twin-sharing basis, or up to 9,500 during peak holiday periods.

“We are very proud to continue the strategic partnership with MV Werften,” said Janne Uotila, CEO of Deltamarin. “We look forward to further developing the cooperation with the yard, providing it with excellent services and helping it execute Genting’s extensive newbuilding programme.”

Dream Cruises to Get 2020 Newbuild, Sail Globally

Dream Cruises to Get 2020 Newbuild, Sail Globally

Big news came from Genting Hong Kong on Thursday morning, which announced that Dream Cruises will get the first Global-class newbuild previously allocated to Star Cruises.

The 5,000-guest, 204,000-ton ship will join the Dream Cruises fleet starting in 2020. Genting Hong Kong has a sister ship set for a 2021 delivery as well, which could also be poised to join Dream Cruises. 

“After designing the Global Class ships for the last three years and investing over 210 million euros to make MV Werften the-state-of-the-art cruise shipbuilding yard in the last two years, we are very pleased to finally start construction on the first Global cruise ship today,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman and CEO of Genting. “These ships are not only the largest cruise ships to be built in Germany; they are also the most technologically advanced with artificial intelligence. The Global Class ships will follow the embrace of Asians of artificial intelligence in their daily lives, with facial and voice recognition for most services onboard and robots to perform mundane tasks, allowing the crew to focus on service delivery.”

The ships will be built at MV Werften, which started production on Thursday with the official steel cutting ceremony.

The ship will sail from China during the summer season and will move to Australia or the U.S. during the winter season. 

Cruise ship global capacity set to soar

Norwegian Bliss Concept Drawing.

The current unprecedented cruise orderbook represents another 250,000 berths the global cruise fleet in the 10 years from 2015 to 2025 – increasing capacity by a huge 40 per cent. 

Seatrade Cruise’s new whitepaper The Future of Cruise Ships added that these figures were set to leap further – as with further orders inevitably being placed for deliveries within the second half of that 10-year span, fleet capacity would probably grow at least 50 per cent and push the global passenger total up from 24 million last year to 30 million by 2022, towards 35 million by 2026 and then 40 million by 2030.

The whitepaper places the orderbook (as of July 2017) at 75 firm ocean-going ship orders and a handful of options with a combined price-tag approaching US$47.6 billion.

It points out that the orderbook is still dominated by the big three in Europe: Fincantieri, Meyer Werft and STX France.

Cruise ship capacity will keep soaring – while the luxury cruise sector’s growth has been boosted

Fincantieri (including Vard) is building 29 of the 75 due for delivery by 2025; Meyer Werft in Germany and Finland is contracted for 17; STX France for 12; and the new grouping owned by Genting Hong Kong, MV Werften, for six. The final 11 are being built by smaller shipyards.

A growing trend singled out by the whitepaper is the luxury/expedition market sector. It said that there have been some signs of increased interest in building and operating ships of a smaller size offering a luxury product on more adventurous itineraries. “This is because these can command much higher prices than either standard luxury cruises or the traditionally more basic expedition vessels,” it said.

Indeed, Seatrade Cruise’s whitepaper shows that there are 30 luxury cruise ships on the global orderbook. Their increase can be traced from none being delivered in 2014, to two last year and this year – rising sharply to six in 2019.

MV Werften Orders ABB Kit for Genting Quintet

MV Werften Orders ABB Kit for Genting Quintet

German shipbuilder MV Werften has selected ABB propulsion, automation and marine software for five new cruise vessels being built for Genting Hong Kong brands Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises.

The Swiss-based propulsion and automation systems provider will supply the complete power, propulsion and automation package for the five new buildings.

The three Crystal Cruises’ luxury “Endeavor Class” mega-yachts will feature a Polar Class 6 and enable cruising in the Arctic; then follow the route of migrating whales along the coast of the Americas and Europe to Antarctica during winter.

The Star Cruises “Global Class” vessels will be two of the largest on the market with 204,000 tons registered tonnage each. These vessels are specially designed for the Asian cruise market.

The five vessels will all feature a complete ABB propulsion system, electric power plant, automation and marine software system.

The three Crystal ships will be powered by two Azipod D units each to enable the ships to navigate polar conditions, whilst the two new Star Cruises “Global Class” ships will each be installed with three Azipod XO thrusters.

All the vessels will also feature ABB´s automation with Intelligent Maneuvering Interface and OCTOPUS marine software for optimised energy management.

Delivery of the five vessels is scheduled from 2019 onward.

Cruise Lines Ordering Larger and Larger Ships

Cruise Lines Ordering Larger and Larger Ships

Oasis sisters cruising the Caribbean

The cruise industry has embarked on a new building program unlike anything seen before. The IHS Markit database lists 62 vessels on order. However, if the 10 ships Genting Hong Kong group said it plans to build at MV Werften in Germany and other options are included, that figure moves closer to 80, a record high for the industry.

In the mass cruise ship market, which accounts for most of the existing fleet and new orders, owners are mainly ordering ships of 180,000 to 200,000 gt.

Recent examples are Royal Caribbean International’s two Icon-class 5,000-passenger capacity vessels the company said on 11 October it would build at Meyer Turku in Finland. They will have about the same capacity and probably a similar gross tonnage as the two 5,400-passenger, 180,000 gt vessels the US-UK cruise company Carnival Corporation & plc has ordered for the Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line. At the same time, it also ordered another similar unit at Meyer Werft in Papenburg for P&O Cruises in the UK.

About five years ago, the average size in the mass cruise ship market was in the 140,000 to 160,000 gt bracket, while the first 100,000 gt cruise liner – Carnival Triumph – was only built in 1996. Economies of scale drive this development: large vessels are hugely efficient, and large fleets of such ships transcend that efficiency from ship to company level.

IHS Markit data shows that by mid-November, 25 cruise liners totaling 2.18 million gt had been ordered this year, with an average size of 87,200 gt. In the full year 2015, 12 ships totaling 1.3 million gt were ordered, which gave an average size of about 108,000 gt. The fall in average size is explained by several expedition cruise ships ordered this year as these are much smaller than the mass market and premium market units.

From the perspective of the shipbuilders, contractors, and suppliers working in this sector, the present situation and continued bullish outlook mean unprecedented opportunities. However, the ever-expanding commitment of capital for mainly very large vessels means that in the case of a severe downturn in the cruise industry, the negative effects would almost certainly be felt throughout the value chain. A sharp downturn in the global economy, geopolitical events, and terrorism could all potentially trigger such headwinds.

The boom is changing the landscape of operators, as MSC Cruises and Genting Hong Kong plan to add proportionally more capacity than their larger competitors, such as Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

It has also changed the landscape of the cruise shipbuilding sector. While three key groups continue to dominate the scene, new entrants have emerged. Fincantieri in Italy, the Meyer group with yards in Germany and Finland, together with STX France remain by far the largest builders, both in terms of vessel numbers and their gross tonnage.

However, as slots at these yards have become increasingly difficult to obtain, the Genting Hong Kong group that owns Crystal Cruises in the US plus two Asia-focused lines, Dream Cruise and Star Cruises, acquired three shipyards in Germany that it renamed MV Werften. Genting’s aim is to build vessels for all three brands at its own yards.

This new departure involves both opportunities and risks. As slots are hard to obtain at the leading builders, Genting will be able to agree deliveries of newbuildings with a shorter lead time and at the intervals its brands require.

On the flip side, the complexity of managing such projects and the fact that the arrangement brings both ship operating and building risks under a single roof cannot be ignored. Maintaining a high rate of capacity utilization through design, steel work, and fitting out, plus the management of the projects so that deliveries take place on time and on budget are all elements Genting will have to ensure.

On 23 September, Carnival Corporation & plc said it had signed an agreement to build up to four 133,500 gt cruise liners at China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in China for the local market.

The vessels will be based on the Carnival Vista class, a platform shared by the Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Crociere, and P&O Cruises Australia brands of the Carnival group, at Fincantieri, which has set up a joint venture with Carnival and CSSC to develop cruise shipbuilding in China.

This means that CSSC is taking a cautious approach in its entry to cruise shipbuilding. As both Fincantieri and the Carnival group have past experience of the Carnival Vista class, they are well-versed with the design and can pass on experience to CSSC. A series of four vessels means that CSSC has scope for a learning curve.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which won an order for two 124,500 gt ships from AIDA Cruises, a German unit of Carnival group, has decided to pull out of cruise shipbuilding after major delays and deep losses from the two ships. These were prototypes and Mitsubishi did not team up with an experienced cruise shipbuilder to work on the project. Two vessels are unlikely to produce a learning curve, although AIDA might have ordered more units of the same type had the first two vessels been built on time and budget.

Operators of expedition cruises have started to place orders for new tonnage after the IMO in 2016 approved its Polar Code, which sets technical and crew training requirements for cruise ships that trade in high latitudes, north and south, from the start of 2017. So far, these new buildings have been in the 10,000 to 25,000 gt size range: they are much smaller than the contemporary market units now on order, but nevertheless larger than most expedition cruise ships currently in service. Most of them will also be fitted out to much higher standards than the majority of the existing tonnage in this category.

These smaller vessels do not fit in the production schedule of builders of large cruise liners, which means that yards in Norway that mainly built offshore services tonnage have found a welcome new market. MV Werften and Uljanik and Brodosplit in Croatia have also won expedition cruise ship orders.

MV Werften to build Crystal Cruises' polar-class ships

The smaller size of these vessels means that both the technical and financial risks linked to them are much smaller than those of very large vessels. As the expedition cruise market is not as developed as the mainstream one, many shipbuilders have produced their own portfolios of concept designs that they can offer their prospective customers. Whereas in mainstream cruise shipbuilding, it is mainly the owners who produce concept designs.

For the same reason, ferry owners have started to look at shipyards other than major cruise shipbuilders to carry out their newbuilding projects. A sharp fall in the price of oil since late 2014 negated a feared steep rise in bunker costs following the introduction of the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) in northern Europe at the start of 2015. Ferry companies’ results have been better than were anticipated in 2014, and this has led them to begin renewing their often ageing fleets.

Cruise shipbuilding differs markedly from dry bulk carriers, tankers, and container vessels, which are often of a standard design. Cruise liners, however, are of bespoke design to the owner and all aspects of a build are crucial in successful execution of a project. The threshold for a shipyard to enter the sector is therefore very high. Instead of the rapid roll-out of a standard design project, the focus in cruise shipbuilding is on managing complex flows and sequences of events. Failure is likely to result in deep losses that can run into nine-digit figures in dollar terms, as in the case of Mitsubishi.