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.
Explora Journeys, the luxury cruise brand of MSC Group, has agreed a deal with shipbuilding group Fincantieri for the construction of two new hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships.
Explora V and VI will feature liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines designed to tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use the low-carbon fuel.
Hydrogen fuel will power a six-megawatt fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and allow the vessels to run on zero emissions in port, with the engines turned off.
The two new builds, which will take the lines fleet from four to six vessels, are set to come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Explora Journeys has also confirmed that previously announced vessels Explora III and IV will be powered by LNG. The two ships will be enlarged by 19 metres to enable the installation of the system.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, said the move marks a “significant step forward” in the line’s 2050 net-zero emissions target.
“Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilising today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available,” he added.
“This transition to zero-emissions operations for the maritime industry is the biggest challenge that we will ever face, and this will only be achieved by everyone playing their part – by investing in research and development and through significant investment both by companies but also governments.”
The two additional ships covered under the memorandum of understanding (MOA) with Fincantieri will bring Explora Journeys’ investment in its fleet to €3.5 billion.
This includes an additional €120 million each for fitting Explora III and IV with LNG engines, a change that required a temporary halt of work due to the significant redesign of the ships, which will now be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Silversea Cruises has debuted its third new cruise ship in nine months, after christening Silver Dawn in Lisbon, Portugal on 31 March.
The vessel, which is the third in the Muse class and the 10th ship to join the fleet, was inaugurated during a traditional christening ceremony followed by a gala dinner. Both were attended by executives from Silversea Cruises, parent company Royal Caribbean Group, shipbuilder Fincantieri, local dignitaries and other invited guests.
During the ceremony, guests watched a bagpipe performance, a theatrical re-telling of the story of Silversea’s Muse-class ships, a blessing from a religious leader, speeches from dignitaries, and singers reciting the national anthems of the USA, Italy and Portugal. Finally, godmother Nilou Motamed, an Emmy-nominated television personality and former editor-in-chief of several culinary publications cut a ribbon to trigger a champagne bottle to smash on the ship’s hull to close the ceremony.
“Celebrating the naming of Silver Dawn in Lisbon marked an incredibly proud moment for all involved,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO at Royal Caribbean Group. “I thank and congratulate Roberto Martinoli [president and CEO of Silversea] and our entire team, including Captain Failla and the crew, as well as everyone at Fincantieri, our shipbuilding partner. Silver Dawn is a jewel in the Silversea fleet and speaks to Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to delivering the best vacation experiences in a responsible way.”
Silver Dawn can accommodate 596 guests in 298 ocean-view suites, 96 per cent of which have a private veranda. The vessel is the first to debut Silversea’s new Otium wellness programme, which is inspired by the cruise line’s Italian heritage and ancient Roman culture, where ‘otium’ denoted a period of time dedicated exclusively to leisure. It will provide guests with customised, multi-dimensional wellness offerings across the ship, including curated spa treatments, gourmet snacks, champagne, signature cocktails, bespoke in-suite experiences and more.
In addition, guests sailing on Silver Dawn will benefit from the next iteration of Silversea’s immersive S.A.L.T. culinary programme, which launched in 2021 on the other Muse-class ships.
“An evolution of our unique take on luxury, Silver Dawn is the third Silversea ship to be named in the last nine months,” said Martinoli. “As well as S.A.L.T., our immersive culinary programme, Silver Dawn enriches guests’ travels with Otium, our indulgent new wellness programme, which is inspired by the ancient Roman lifestyle. She really is magnificent. I extend my gratitude to Jason Liberty and all involved at Royal Caribbean Group, as well as to the team at Silversea, Fincantieri, and Captain Failla and his crew—our most valuable asset. Moreover, I proudly welcome Nilou Motamed as the godmother of Silver Dawn.”
Speaking about her role as godmother, Motamed said: “It’s a great honour to have been selected as the godmother of Silver Dawn and to have been on board for her naming ceremony in Lisbon. Growing up in multiple countries [Iran, France and the USA] has helped me recognise that one of our deepest common bonds, wherever we go, is food. Like many of Silversea’s guests, I always pair my cultural explorations with culinary ones. That’s why I’ve loved seeing the world through Silversea’s S.A.L.T. programme. I’ve dedicated my career to celebrating authentic, local cuisines and cultures. For me, nothing is more rewarding than connecting with people over a shared meal.”
Silver Dawn embarked on her maiden voyage on 1 April, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona, Spain. The vessel will sail Mediterranean itineraries until November 2022 and then cross the Atlantic Ocean, via the Canary Islands, to begin a season of voyages in the Caribbean and Central America.
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