Meet The New Cruise Brands Entering Service in 2023

Meet The New Cruise Brands Entering Service in 2023

In another big year for start-up brands, at least five new cruise lines are set to launch service in 2023. With new builds and also secondhand vessels, the companies are set to offer different products, including luxury cruises, expedition voyages and more.

Explora Journeys
First ship: Explora I
Built: 2023
Capacity: 922 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 17, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After years of anticipation, Explora Journeys is making its debut in July. Marking MSC’s entry into the luxury market, the new brand is set to offer what it calls the “ocean state of mind.”

Adora Cruises
First ship: Unnamed Vista-Class Newbuild
Built: 2023
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Inaugural Cruise: TBA
Maiden Voyage Region: East Asia

Result of a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora Cruises is the newest homegrown Chinese cruise brand.

Set to launch service later in the year, the startup cruise line has two new builds under construction in China and also acquired two former Costa Cruises vessels. Combining an international vision with local tastes, Adora plans to create the ideal cruise experience for Chinese guests, with year-round cruises departing from multiple homeports throughout China.

CFC
First ship: Renaissance
Built: 1993
Capacity: 1,258 guests
Inaugural Cruise: May 14, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Northern Europe

After acquiring Holland America’s former Maasdam in 2022, CFC aims to fill a gap in the French market by developing a customized premium product.

With all guest-facing staff fluent in French, the new cruise line intends to offer “a quality product” that focuses on the country’s identity and needs. Sailing from two different homeports in France, the Renaissance will debut in May, with a program of longer roundtrip cruises that visit destinations in Northern Europe, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Exploris
First ship: Exploris One

Built: 1989
Capacity: 132 guests
Inaugural Cruise: December 23, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Antarctica

With Philippe Videau, one of Ponant’s founders, serving as the company’s president, Exploris aims to operate a fleet of small expedition vessels for the French market.

Acquired from Silversea Cruises, the brand’s first vessel is set to enter service in December, offering exploration French-speaking exploration cruises in South America and Antarctica. Renamed Exploris One, the former Silver Explorer is set to sail in the Amazon, the Atlantic Islands, Western Europe and the Arctic during its inaugural season, including 30 departures and 26 unique itineraries.

Crystal Cruises
First ships: Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity
Built: 1995 and 2003
Capacity: 606 and 740 guests
Inaugural Cruise: July 31, 2023
Maiden Voyage Region: Mediterranean

After being acquired by the A&K Travel Group in 2022, the Crystal Cruises brand name is returning later this year under new management. The new luxury operator plans to launch service in July by using two of Crystal’s former oceangoing vessels, the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.

Former Maasdam Potentially Sold to French Start-Up Cruise Line for $30 Million

Former Maasdam Potentially Sold to French Start-Up Cruise Line for $30 Million

The former Maasdam from Holland America Line has been sold, according to Masters Shipping, who confirmed it acted as the broker on the sale of the ship to a company known as CFC in an email sent to Cruise Industry News.

The ship has most recently been known as the Aegean Myth and has reportedly been sold to a French start-up cruise line for $30 million, according to a report from Crew Center.

Now heading to Piraeus, the vessel has been renamed the Renaissance. 

Originally launching as the Maasdam, the Fincantieri-built ship debuted in 1993 and sailed until the pandemic.

Carnival Corporation then sold the ship to Seajets, which is under the control of Greek businessman Marios Iliopoulos, who has assembled a fleet of laid-up cruise ships.

CFC, according to Crew Center, is new French start up Compagnie Francaise De Croisieres. No further details were available at press time.

MSC LIrica refeb. program

MSC Cruises announced a multi-million euro programme that will involve
all four of its Lirica class ships over the next two years.

The almost €200 million”renaissance programme” has been commissioned from FINCANTIERI in Italy, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding companies, and will be complete by 2015. The “renaissance” of MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera will add exciting new entertainment options, technological advancements, extended shops and up to nearly 200 new cabins per ship.

The ships will boast a completely new spray park, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons. The impressive onboard boutiques will be enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands, such as Dior, Lancôme and Dolce & Gabbana.

Schedule and key figures

The MSC Lirica renaissance programme will follow the dry dock schedule below:
• MSC Armonia* (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014
• MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015
• MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015
• MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015

*We will follow up with an individual letter to those who booked a cruise on MSC Armonia between 31 August and 17 November 2014.

The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “renaissance programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).

Best Regards,

MSC Cruises