Tag Archives: Holland

Damen Replaces Engine on Regal Princess

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Damen Replaces Engine on Regal Princess

Regal Princess in the historic port of Liverpool, photo credit Spacejunkie2 Flickr Account.

The Regal Princess had an engine block replacement during its recent stay at Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

According to an update shared by the facility, the project was part of a repair operation that took place in late April.

“The Regal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship that has four diesel generators. The main reason it came into our drydock is that it had an engine failure and needed it replaced,” said Alexander Stijlaart, project manager at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam.

“We facilitated this engine exchange together with our sister company, Damen Harbour & Voyage,” he added.

“They did all the preparation work before the ship came into drydock. They already went onboard a couple of weeks prior.”

One of three Princess ships that underwent drydocks earlier this year, the Regal Princess arrived at the Damen shipyard on April 25, 2025.

After undergoing the repairs, the 2014-built ship welcomed guests back on May 9, kicking off a summer program in Northern Europe.

“When the ship came into drydock, we had to execute the scope, which meant we had to pump water out of the dock, cut the shell plate out, cut the internal bulkhead out, then put the skidding tracks in, jack the engine up and out,” Stijlaart explained.

The shipyard then reversed the process to install the new engines before painting the hull, he continued.

According to Damen, the engine replacement is a rare event that only happens once or twice in a decade.

“We had to make sure that everything that was obstructing the path of the engine was cleared, so we removed all piping, pumps and walkways,” added Remco Trouerbach, project manager at Damen Shiprepair Harbour & Voyage.

“The unique part of the work that we did onboard before and after the drydock is that the vessel was still in operation and therefore passengers were onboard enjoying their lovely cruises around the world.”

Trouerbach also highlighted the collaboration with Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, noting that the companies have an “easy cooperation.”

“We are basically colleagues with each other; therefore, issues you’re facing during the project can be easily worked out.”

Lindblad’s National Geographic Orion to cruise Europe

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The National Geographic Orion.

Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Orion vessel will spend the spring, summer and fall on a series of one-week cruises in Europe.

Itineraries include exploring Portugal, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, the Baltic republics and Scandinavia.

“A ship like National Geographic Orion depends heavily on past guests, and a vast majority of her past guests have been to the Kimberley and the South Pacific,” said Sven Lindblad, founder and president of Lindblad Expeditions. “We are committed to providing them the most compelling opportunities available on the Orion and have listened to their feedback for new destinations.”

Lindblad said the 22 voyages on the 102-guest ship will be led by a team with a a diverse scope of expertise about history, political science, art, viniculture and music of the destinations, and will include active options like hiking, biking and kayaking.

Viking to build two more ships for 2012

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Viking to build two more ships for 2012

By Kenneth Kiesnoski
PASSAU, Germany — Viking River Cruises, responding to market demand, said it will launch two additional vessels in 2012.The Embla and the Aegir will be part of the new Viking Longship class, bringing the total of such ships to debut next year to six.

The new vessels will be introduced in July and August 2012, joining the previously announced Freya, Idun, Njord and Odin, all to enter service in March.

“Ever since we announced the introduction of the Viking Longships earlier this year, the response has been overwhelming,” CEO Torstein Hagen said in a statement. “To accommodate demand, we have decided to accelerate the newbuild schedule.”

The two new ships are part of Viking’s $250 million fleet-redevelopment program, which includes refurbishment of existing vessels as well as the introduction of 10 Longships by 2014.

The Longships will measure 443 feet long and feature 95 staterooms, including two 445-square-foot Explorer suites; seven 275-square-foot Veranda suites; and 39 Veranda staterooms measuring 205 square feet.

The vessels will also have Viking’s new Aquavit Terrace, an indoor-outdoor lounge space; al fresco dining on the ship’s upper decks; and green features such as energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and organic herb gardens.