Carnival Corp ‘still excited’ about Iona despite launch delay

Carnival Corp ‘still excited’ about Iona despite launch delay

Carnival Corporation is “still excited” about new P&O Cruises ship Iona, despite its launch being delayed by the coronavirus crisis. The cruise giant also confirmed it was engaged in conversations with shipyards about potential delays and cancellations.

Chief executive Arnold Donald said: “This virus has been devastating for the travel and tourism industry. Most of the newbuild timelines will be delayed. Most of the yards are closed or don’t have workers.

“Beyond that, we are working with the yards to look at schedules and decide should any of the ships be cancelled or pushed out further.”

Commenting on Iona, which was due to enter service in May but has been delayed due to the lockdown, Donald said: “We need to make sure the ship gets finished. But we are still excited about her and the level of bookings that she had.

“Iona will be finished and at some point, when the world is ready, she will be sailing. We don’t know exactly when, but over time we will have a great cruise industry again. We are going to have to build it back.”

Norwegian Bliss- first steel cutting at Meyer Werft

Norwegian Bliss- first steel cutting at Meyer Werft

Meyer Werft’s Bernard Meyer joins Norwegian’s Andy Stuart and Christer Karlsson

PAPENBURG, Germany — Construction of Norwegian Bliss began here with the push of a large red button, sending automated plasma steel cutters into action on the first plates for the ship, due for completion in 2017.

Among the first items cut was a 2-foot outline of the ship, inscribed Norwegian Bliss. Executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and the Mayer Werft shipyard signed the commemorative plate, mounted on an easel outside the cutting room.

“To be cutting the steel for our next new ship is very exciting,” said Norwegian President Andy Stuart. “Norwegian has gone through a lot of changes over the last year and this will be the first ship delivered for the new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.”

Meyer Werft managing director Bernard Meyer noted that Bliss will be the 10th ship built for Norwegian at Meyer Werft, which has become one of the most advanced cruise ship construction operations in Europe.

He said the yard expects to deliver the new ship, designated 694 at the yard, in the spring of 2017. “It will be a surprise for the market again,” Meyer predicted.

Norwegian’s latest ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape, is scheduled to begin its conveyance from Papenburg down the Ems River to the North Sea on Friday. Plans call for the Escape to enter service in Miami in early November.