Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

The Norwegian Epic recently completed 15 years of service after being delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on June 17, 2010.

The 150,000-ton vessel was built as a prototype vessel at the STX France Shipyard, currently known as the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in St. Nazaire, France.

After leaving its building dock, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a series of pre-inaugural cruises before setting sail from Southampton, England, for a seven-night crossing to New York City.

Continuing its maiden season celebrations, the vessel was christened by entertainer Reba McEntire on July 2, 2010.

After additional celebrations in New York City and Miami, the Epic officially embarked on its inaugural season on July 10, 2010.

Sailing from PortMiami, the ship offered a series of alternating seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Ports of call included Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Costa Maya, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; and Roatán, Honduras.

In 2011, the Norwegian Epic repositioned back to Europe for its first summer season in the Mediterranean, before returning to Miami ahead of the 2011-12 winter season.

Earlier this year, the 4,200-guest ship underwent a significant refit at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

As part of the project, the ship debuted new venues, including an expanded Vice Beach Club and a refreshed Kids’ Aqua Park.

Other changes include the addition of eight new staterooms, as well as the debut of a new hot tub and enhanced exterior decks.

After completing its renovation, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a summer season in the Mediterranean.

Sailing from Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city of Rome, the ship is offering nine- and ten-night cruises to destinations in Greece and Malta.

Ports of call being visited include Valletta, Heraklion, Santorini, Piraeus, Katakolon, Argostoli and Mykonos.

In November, the Norwegian Epic repositions to the Southern Caribbean for itineraries departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Celebrity Edge Floated Out

The Celebrity Edge has been floated out of her drydock at the STX France shipyard.

“This truly is an exciting moment for our brand,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “The float out process marks a milestone in the building of Celebrity Edge. With exterior construction complete, the amazing STX France team will now turn their attention to bringing all of the meticulously designed venues and transformational staterooms and suites to life.”

The 2,900-passenger ship debuts in November.

Celebrity adds second Edge maiden voyage

Celebrity adds second Edge maiden voyage

Celebrity Cruises is to take delivery of new ship Celebrity Edge almost a month earlier than originally planned.

The ship is expected to be completed ahead of schedule and enter service with four special short cruises.

The line is also scheduling two seven-night maiden voyages in the Caribbean rather than one as first planned as part of an expanded inaugural season.

Celebrity Edge will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, making its first sailing on November 21, 2018. This will be one of four new three-day preview sailings to the Bahamas which will also run on November 24, December 3 and December 6.

The first seven-night inaugural voyage departs to the western Caribbean on December 9, followed by a previously announced seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise leaving on December 16.

Celebrity Cruises’ president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “Thanks to the amazing work of the STX France shipyard team, the industry-changing Celebrity Edge is now scheduled to arrive much earlier than anticipated, which gave us the opportunity to offer not one, but two maiden voyages.

“Both of these maiden voyages, plus the taste of luxury preview sailings, will have all of the festivities one would expect from the launch of such a revolutionary new ship, and now even more guests will have the chance to experience these one-of-a-kind inaugural sailings.”

Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Meet MSC Cruises' Next Two New Ships

PHOTO: MSC Cruises celebrates the initial steel-cutting of the MSC Grandiosa. (photo courtesy of MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises is already anticipating the launch of its next new ship—the MSC Seaside—in December 2017, but another two just progressed further along.

The MSC Bellissima had its traditional coin ceremony, and MSC Grandiosa witnessed its first steel-cutting.

In fact, MSC has a total of four ships currently being built right now as part of its staggering $10 billion, ten-year investment endeavour. The other is the MSC Seaside’s sister-ship, the MSC Seaview. Both are under construction by Fincantieri in Italy.

Over at the STX France shipyard, the Meraviglia-class Bellissima and newly named Meraviglia Plus-class Grandiosa round out the quartet.

“Today we are celebrating a truly unique moment, as it is the first time that key shipbuilding milestones for two different ships are celebrated on the same day,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, in a press release. “This is a testimony of the strength and ambition of our investment plan.”

“The Meraviglia generation of ships is already setting a new standard for the cruise industry and is just one of the three brand new prototypes that we have designed to bring the cruise guest experience to the next level. MSC Grandiosa is named to signify magnificence and grandeur, a fitting name for this even richer, ultra-modern mega-ship.”

The Bellissima is the second of the Meraviglia-class following its recently launched sister-ship and namesake MSC Meraviglia. Increasing some in size will be the Grandiosa as the first Meraviglia Plus-class ship.

Vago explained, “Additionally, with MSC Grandiosa we also continue to innovate in the product. Just as MSC Cruises ‘democratized’ the luxury cruise experience when we were the first cruise brand to introduce a ship-in-ship luxury concept, the MSC Yacht Club, we are now doing the same for art and culture with the very first fine art museum at sea. Similarly, MSC Grandiosa will be the third of only four MSC Cruises ships to feature Cirque du Soleil at Sea, hosted in the uniquely complex, custom-built Carousel Lounge.”

Vago also pointed out that the ships will be environmentally-friendly thanks to technologies including hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems, SCR-Catalysts, state-of-the-art waste management and recycling, emission-reducing energy and heat recovery systems and advanced wastewater treatment.

"Today as we celebrate a cutting of the first steel and then a keel laying in the same day, we are living an unprecedented experience that marks the beginning of a new era, both for our client and for our yard,” said Laurent Castaing, general manager of STX France, in the release.

“For MSC Cruises, it is the realization of an extraordinary investment plan, which will elevate the Company to become one of the three largest players in the global cruise industry; for us, it is the illustration of our very healthy order book, which leads us to deliver two ships a year until 2022. We are partners in the same virtuous circle, where boldness and the performance of each is a benefit to the other."

The MSC Bellissima—which celebrated its coin ceremony with the placement of two commemorative coins as a blessing and for good luck—will first set sail during March 2019. The MSC Grandiosa will then follow shortly behind in November 2019.

The latter Meraviglia Plus-class ship will build upon the original Meraviglia and Bellissima at 181,000 GRT; 1,086 feet in length and a capacity of 6,334 guests. Featured onboard will be the aforementioned fine art museum with classic and contemporary pieces, as well as the exclusive partnership with Cirque du Soleil.

The Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa and a second to-be-named Meraviglia Plus-class ship will each showcase two unique Cirque du Soleil shows onboard.

Besides the Meraviglia-class, Meraviglia Plus-class and Seaside-class, MSC has the new World-class scheduled as well. Altogether, the line will almost double its fleet capacity in only three and a half years between June 2017 and November 2020 as six out of 11 new ships come online.

For now, the MSC Bellissima is already available to book its first Mediterranean summer season, and MSC Grandiosa reservations will be announced soon.

The Seaside will be introduced in the North American market from its very beginning, and the Meraviglia will also join regionally by 2019. By then, both will be locally positioned year-round.

For more information, visit www.msccruises.com.

MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia-Plus ship to be named MSC Grandiosa

MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia-Plus ship to be named MSC Grandiosa

MSC Cruises has announced that its first Meraviglia-Plus class ship will be named MSC Grandiosa when it enters service in November 2019.

The announcement was made by MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, as the line celebrated the steel-cutting ceremony for the ship as well as the traditional coin ceremony for MSC Bellissima, which is due to join the fleet in March 2019.

In addition to the two ships now under construction at the STX France shipyard, MSC also has two ships being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, as part of a 10-year investment plan which will see €9 billion invested in 11 new ships.

Vago said: “Today we are celebrating a truly unique moment, as it is the first time that key shipbuilding milestones for two different ships are celebrated on the same day. This is a testimony of the strength and ambition of our investment plan.”

He added: “The Meraviglia generation of ships is already setting a new standard for the cruise industry and is just one of the three brand new prototypes that we have designed to bring the cruise guest experience to the next level.

“MSC Grandiosa is named to signify magnificence and grandeur, a fitting name for this even richer, ultra-modern mega-ship.”

In addition to the first fine art museum at sea, MSC Grandiosa will be one of four MSC ships to feature Cirque du Soleil at Sea in the custom-built Carousel Lounge, Vago said.

The Meraviglia-Plus ships are an evolution of the Meraviglia class (pictured), which includes MSC Meraviglia – in service since June of this year – and MSC Bellissima.

The Plus class will be 331 metres in length, compared to the Meraviglia class at 315 metres, and will have a maximum capacity of 6,334 guests.

Fincantieri to buy stake in STX France shipyard

STX France shipyard

An agreement has been reached for the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to acquire 48% of the French shipyard in St. Nazaire that is one of a handful of yards that builds large cruise ships.

The French yard is majority-owned by Korean conglomerate STX with the French government a minority 33% partner. The French government would continue to hold its one-third stake, plus veto power over decision-making, the French daily Ouest France reported.

A navy shipbuilder in France, DCNS, would get a 12% stake and a nonprofit called Fondation CRTrieste would be a 7% partner, the paper said.

The agreement, according to Ouest France, includes "commitments, particularly regarding the sustainability of the site and its activities, as well as investment and the maintenance and development of employment."

Fincantieri emerged as the only bidder for the STX stake in the French yard, which has been for sale for several years due to financial pressures at STX.

STX France built the Harmony of the Seas for Royal Caribbean International and has contracts for a fourth Oasis-class ship, plus two Edge-class ships for Celebrity Cruises, due in 2018 and 2020.

With the deal, Fincantieri and Germany's Meyer Werft will be the two major suppliers of big ships to the cruise industry, following Meyer's acquisition of yards in Finland and Fincantieri's investment in the STX France facility.

STX Offshore seeks to sell STX France

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co aims to sell STX France, say media reports

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co aims to sell STX France as part of a restructuring plan, according to media reports.

The South Korean company, which filed for receivership in May, reportedly told a bankruptcy court in South Korea that it has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to help it sell its subsidiary STX France, and also said it plans to cut its staff in Korea by a third by the end of September this year.

STX’s creditors will decide in October whether to accept the restructuring plan, say media reports.

Previous sale attempts of STX France fell through in 2014 and 2015.

STX France was acquired by STX Offshore and Shipbuilding in 2009. The shipbuilder has a very healthy orderbook, with cruise ships on it including MSC Cruises’ two next generation Vista-class cruise ships and Celebrity Cruises’ Project Edge newbuilds. 

It also built the world’s largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, which was delivered earlier this year, and a memorandum of understanding has been signed for a fifth Oasis-class ship.

Royal confirms plans for fifth Oasis-class ship

Royal confirms plans for fifth Oasis-class ship

Royal Caribbean Cruises has confirmed plans to build a fifth Oasis-class ship and two more ships for Celebrity Cruises.

The parent company of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises has signed a memorandum of understanding with French shipyard STX France for a fifth Oasis ship, to be delivered in Spring 2021. It comes just days following the launch of the third Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas (pictured). The fourth in class will launch in 2018.

An order has also been placed for two additional Edge-class ships for sister brand Celebrity Cruises, being delivered in autumn 2021 and 2022.

The line already has two Edge vessels on order, the first coming in 2018 and the second in 2020. Each will carry 2,900 passengers.

Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman and chief executive, Richard Fain, said: “The response to the arrival of Harmony of the Seas is staggering, eliciting excitement from eager cruisers from markets on both sides of the Atlantic.

“And Edge-class is one of the most highly anticipated new projects, following the high bar of Modern Luxury design set by its predecessors.”

Royal Caribbean International boss, Michael Bayley, added that the positive response to Harmony was proof that “this class of ship will continue to drive exceptional performance for the brand”.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and chief executive of Celebrity, said: “Although our first Edge-class vessel is still over two years away from delivery, there has been a tremendous amount of interest around the new standard of style Edge-class will introduce.”

Final contracts for the ships are set to be complete this financial quarter.

Magic mirrors on new MSC Cruises smartships show passengers how clothes will look on them in 3D

Magic mirrors on new MSC Cruises smartships show passengers how clothes will look on them in 3D

Water wonder: CGI of MSC Meraviglia - 'marvel' in English - which comes into service in June 2017

Three next-generation vessels get an array of hi-tech innovations including an indoor promenade with an LED roof - two newest ships also get first art museums at sea.

It's the question women having been asking for years when they try on clothes – 'does my bum look big in this?'

But when passengers on four new next-generation super-smart ships are in the on-board outfitters, technology will come to the rescue – with 3D magic mirrors that show whether that dress really is flattering or not.

MSC Cruises has just commissioned two more ships for its upcoming Vista class – to be constructed at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, Brittany, and designated “Meraviglia-Plus” - which, like the initial two ships in the Vista project, will feature industry-leading innovations on board, thanks mainly to a tie-up with South Korean technology titans Samsung.

Gianni Onorato, MSC's chief executive, said the hi-tech marvels will include interactive digital mirrors in the on-board clothes shops which will show customers (including men of course!) a 3D view of how attire will look when they wear it.

Cool pool: CGI of the sun deck on MSC Meraviglia

Other smart innovations also include in-cabin interactive flat screen HDTVs that link to guests' devices, 300 digital interactive signs in public areas, Near Field Contact geolocation of children, and hi-tech medical centres that can send scans to hospitals on shore for analysis.

But if all that technology gets too much, there's a device-free digital detox room with no wi-fi or mobile signal.

In addition to modern human ingenuity, the two new Plus ships will also feature mankind's artistic creativity with cruising's first ever fine art museums at sea.

Mr Onorato said the museums would comprise classic and contemporary masterpieces from around the world - loaned from public institutions and private collections – and it should see works from leading establishments in Italy, France and the USA put on display as the ships cruise the oceans.

He added MSC had been approached by museums to try putting art and museum pieces on show at sea. ''Let's see how it works,'' he said, “we need a little courage to do something like this.'

Show stopper: CGI view of the main theatre on MSC Meravigliva

Entertainment on board the Vista ships will be showcased by exclusive performances from Cirque du Soleil staged in purpose-built dining and entertainment venues.

The two new 1,092ft Plus ships will have some of the largest passenger capacity in the world at up to 6,300 – just a hundred or so less than Royal Caribbean's upcoming Harmony of the Seas – but with a more modest gross tonnage of 177,100 against Harmony's 227,000. They will debut in 2019 and 2020, two years ahead of the original construction schedule when they were yet-to-be-confirmed options.

The announcement of two more ships on the order books was made by MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago at the Brittany STX yard where the line's first two Vista class smartships, Meraviglia and Seaside, are being built.

He said: “The two Meraviglia-Plus vessels will be even larger and longer as well as richer in features and amenities, thus confirming MSC Cruises as the industry’s boldest innovator when it comes to ship design and experiences we create for our guests.”

The 167,600 ton, up to 5,714 passenger Meraviglia - lead ship of MSC's Vista vessels - will come into service in June next year, followed by sister ship Seaside in December, and was undergoing the traditional, centuries-old coin ceremony where shipyard workers place a coin deep in the ship's 1,039ft hull for good luck.

Steak and ships: CGI of the steakhouse restaurant on MSC Meravigliva

Besides magic mirrors in clothes shops, her revolutionary technology will see the creation of an 317ft long indoor promenade at the heart of the ship with an arched 5,400 sq ft LED roof which can project blue skies, migrating birds, starry skies or images of destinations (there will a 366ft long version on the two bigger Plus ships).

Seating around 600 but with ample room for more passengers to stroll around, the indoor prom will have shops, cafes such as a venue from US celebrity pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury with his signature chocolate fountains, restaurants and an English pub, karaoke bar and 24hr TV studio.

Other facilities on board will see the installation of a full size bowling alley and Formula One racing car simulators.

Outside there's a sleek, contemporary look for the pool areas and an array of slides in a water park.

Mocked up cabins were on view at STX too and they exuded the cool chic of a modern boutique hotel.

Chic sleep: mock-up of a cabin on MSC Meravigliva at the French shipyard

Sister ship Seaside will have many of the same on-board offerings but will not feature the indoor promenade. Instead she will get a more traditional outdoor wrapround walkway much lower down than on most other modern ships so passengers are nearer the water to get the feeling of being on a quayside at sea, with shops, bars and restaurants lining the area.

She will home port in Miami year round to discover the Unesco world heritage sites of Cuba and other Caribbean hotspots. Mr Onorato said she will be "the ship that follows the sun".

Meraviglia will be christened at Le Havre on June 1, 2017 and spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean, home porting in Marseille.

Two Huge Cruise Ships Ordered By MSC Cruises

Original Story at http://www.cruisehive.com/

Thanks to Cruisehive.com

MSC Cruises has announced the order of two huge cruise ships with STX France. The announcement was made at the cruise lines coin ceremony for MSC Meraviglia which is under construction at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

The two new ships to be built will be slightly larger than MSC Meraviglia and will be known as Meraviglia-Plus class at 177,100 gross tons. Both ships will carry 4,888 passengers at double occupancy and 2,444 staterooms. The first ship will be delivered to MSC Cruises in November 2019 and the second in April 2020. The Meraviglia Plus will be among the largest cruise ships in the world and will help expand the cruise lines expansion in North America, Europe and Asia.

The MSC Meraviglia which is currently under construction is the first of four ships now ordered with STX France. The European based cruise line also has three Seaside class vessels ordered with italian ship builder Fincantieri. We can expect further announcements on the Meraviglia Plus class in the coming months including deployment and onboard features.

MSC Meraviglia will be 167,600 gross tons and will be completed in June 2017. The ship will carry 4,500 passengers along with 1,540 crew members.

New photos of Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

photos by Jad Estuaire.

Royal Caribbean has released the latest construction photos of Harmony of the Seas from the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Even though the huge 227,000 gross ton vessel looks complete on the outside there is still lots to do inside. 

All the interior spaces are being put together so that guests first walk onboard this May they will feel the WOW factor. Crew members are starting to set up their departments and get the ship ready for sailing.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will be the line's third Oasis class cruise ship and she is launching in Spring 2016, but already, people are getting really excited about this new ship.

The world’s largest cruise ship just hit the water in France

Harmony of the Seas

It’s 50 meters longer than the Eiffel Tower.

Royal Caribbean’s “Harmony of the Seas” — the world’s largest cruise ship — entered the water in France on Friday. It’s expected to take its maiden voyage in 2016.

The ship has been under construction since 2013, according to an Agence France-Presse report on Yahoo  YHOO -0.98% . The ship will carry 6,360 passengers along with 2,100 staff. It weighs 227,000 tons and measures 1,187 feet — that’s 50 meters longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower.

The second biggest cruise ships are also owned by Royal Caribbean  RCL 0.23%  and are named “Allure of the Seas” and “Oasis of the Seas.” Both weigh 225,000 tones.

Construction on the new Royal Caribbean ship has required over 2,5000 people.

The boat is expected to set sail in mid-February on test runs. The first voyage could take place in May and will be from the United Kingdom to Spain, according to AFP.

Celebrity Cruises orders pair of 2,900-passenger ships

Celebrity Cruises said it has ordered two 2,900-passenger ships from the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire.

The ships are scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2018 and early 2020.

Celebrity’s most recent ship, the 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection, was delivered in the fall of 2012.The line recently agreed to send its oldest ship, Celebrity Century, to a new joint venture in China.

Celebrity's parent, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said the ships are being built under the Project Edge name. RCCL said they will deliver small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities.

"STX France designs and builds some of the most innovative and stylish cruise ships in the world, and Project Edge offers them the opportunity to again set a new standard for modern iconic architecture,” said Michael Bayley, presdient and CEO of Celebrity.

Contract costs for the ship were not disclosed. With the addition of the two new orders, RCCL said company-wide capacity is scheduled to increase by 2.4% this year, 5.5% next year, 6.7% in 2016, 3.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2018.

The 117,000-gross-ton ships will be part of a new class of vessels for Celebrity. the line currently operates five Solstice-class vessels, including Celebrity Reflection, and four Millennium-class vessels.

Celebrity competes in the premium segment with Holland America Line, which has a 2,650-passenger ship called Koningsdam under construction for delivery in February 2016.

Royal Caribbean orders fourth Oasis-class ship

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said it will move forward with a fourth in its Oasis-class of ships, the largest in the world at 5,400 passengers and 225,000 gross tons.

RCCL Chairman Richard Fain made the announcement at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire while there for the keel laying ceremony of the third Oasis-class ship, which is to be delivered in 2016.

The first two ships in the class, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, have been in high demand since they debuted in 2009 and 2010, respectively. They both sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades.

The fourth Oasis-class ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2018. RCCL hasn't announced where either ship will be sailing after delivery.

Each of the ships costs more than $1 billion to build, but RCCL didn't disclose an exact price for the newly ordered vessel.