Tag Archives: cruises

January Update: Here Are the Latest Five Cruise Ship Moves

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Cruise Industry News looks at some of the key ship transactions and moves that took place in recent weeks.

Pacific Explorer
Company: P&O Cruises Australia
Capacity: 1,998 guests
Tonnage: 77,000
Year built: 1997
Move: Sold to Resorts World Cruises
Date: December 2024

Currently in service for P&O Cruises Australia, the Pacific Explorer was sold to Resorts World Cruises in December.

Set to be renamed Star Scorpio, the 1997-built ship will launch service for its new operator in March, offering a series of cruises in Southeast Asia.

Maud
Company: HX Expeditions
Capacity: 500 guests
Tonnage: 16,151
Year built: 2003
Move: Transferred to Hurtigruten’s coastal service
Date: November 2024

The Maud was transferred back to Hurtigruten’s coastal service in November after three years offering expedition cruises for HX.

Before resuming its regular schedule on the Norwegian coast, the 2003-built ship regained its original name, the Midnatsol.

Renaissance
Company: CFC – Compagnie Française de Croisières
Capacity: 1,258 guests
Tonnage: 55,451
Year built: 1993
Move: To be jointly operated by CFC, Ambassador and Corendon in 2025-26
Date: January 2025

Now part of the Ambassador Group, CFC’s Renaissance is set to spend the upcoming winter season in the Caribbean as part of a joint operation with Ambassador Cruise Line and Corendon.

Starting in October, the ship will offer itineraries departing from Barbados, Martinique and Curaçao as part of a fly-cruise operation aimed at guests from the UK, France and the Netherlands.

Celebrity Xpedition
Company: Celebrity Cruises
Capacity: 100 guests
Tonnage: 2,842
Year built: 2001
Move: Handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Date: January 2025

The Xpedition was delivered to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions in January 2025, after completing a final sailing for Celebrity Cruises.

The 2001-built ship is now set to undergo a refurbishment before joining the fleet of its new operator as the National Geographic Gemini in March.

Celebrity Xploration
Company: Celebrity Cruises
Capacity: 16 guests
Tonnage: 317
Year built: 2007
Move: Handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Date: January 2025

The Xploration was also handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions in January, after wrapping up its sailing career with Celebrity Cruises.

Currently in Ecuador, the catamaran, which will be renamed the National Geographic Delfina, is scheduled to undergo a refit ahead of its debut for Lindblad next February.

MSC to Deploy World-Class Ship to Port Canaveral

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MSC announced plans to deploy its fourth world-class ship to Port Canaveral for the Winter 2027-28 season, offering year-round seven-night Caribbean cruises.

According to a press release, the yet-to-be-named ship will join MSC World America as the second World Class vessel operating in North America.

Additionally, the MSC Grandiosa will begin its year-round Caribbean program from the port in winter 2026-27, following its inaugural season in winter 2025-26.

The MSC Seashore will continue operating year-round three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries.

Lynn Torrent, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, of MSC Cruises USA, said:  “Our commitment to Port Canaveral is stronger than ever, thanks to the incredible support from our partners there and the growing demand from our guests who love the port’s convenient location. Having ships dedicated to offering both short and 7-night cruises year-round will ensure we have the right options available no matter when someone wants to sail. We’re especially excited to bring a world-class ship to Port Canaveral, continuing our long-standing pledge to deploy our most modern and innovative ships in the Caribbean market.”

Capt. John Murray, CEO, of Port Canaveral, said: “We are excited to have MSC Cruises expand their presence at Port Canaveral with the arrival of MSC Grandiosa and the deployment of their fourth World Class ship to homeport with us. The addition of these exceptional ships to our homeported fleet will add even more sailing options from Central Florida and reaffirm the cruise industry’s confidence in our ability to consistently deliver a world-class guest experience.”

MSC World America Completes Second Set of Sea Trials

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The MSC World America recently returned to St. Nazaire, France, after completing a second set of sea trials.

Set to be delivered to MSC Cruises in late March, the vessel is currently in the final stages of construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.

After embarking on its first sea trials in December, the World America sailed from St. Nazaire on Jan. 18, 2025, for a new series of tests.

During the trials, various systems and aspects of the ship’s operations are tested, including its manoeuvrability, speed and safety equipment.

As the second ship in the company’s World Class series, the MSC World America is scheduled to enter service for MSC Cruises in April.

After being delivered by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, the LNG-powered vessel will cross the Atlantic with no guests onboard.

Following a series of pre-inaugural events in Florida, the 5,400-guest ship is set to welcome its first paying guests on April 12, 2025.

Sailing from Miami, the MSC World America will offer a series of seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas during its maiden season.

The year-round deployment includes visits to destinations in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras and more.