Tag Archives: LNG

13 Cruise Ships Were Ordered During the Pandemic

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While secondhand sales dominated the cruise industry headlines over the past few months, the shipbuilding business has also been busy during the pandemic.

In addition to the vessels that were already set to be built in 2020, a total of 13 extra ships were also ordered in March 2020.

Here’s the complete list:

SH Diana
Cruise Line: Swen Hellenic
Order Date: October 2020
Shipyard: Helsinki Shipyard (Finland)
Capacity: 192 guests
Tonnage: 12,500
Expected Delivery: Q1 2023

Swan Hellenic was among the first cruise lines to order a cruise ship after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October 2020, the new cruise line signed a contract with the Helsinki Shipyard for the construction of a new 192-guest expedition vessel. Slightly larger than its sister ships SH Minerva and SH Vega, the SH Diana is set to enter service in 2023.

Asuka Newbuild
Cruise Line: Asuka Cruises
Order Date: March 2021
Shipyard: Meyer Werft (Germany)
Capacity: 744 guests
Tonnage: 51,950
Expected Delivery: 2025

After being partially sold to an investment company before the pandemic, Asuka Cruises revealed plans to add a new build to its fleet.

Set to debut in 2025, the new LNG-powered ship was announced in March 2021 and will have the capacity for 744 guests in double occupancy.

MV Narrative
Cruise Line: Storylines
Order Date: March 2021
Shipyard: Brodosplit (Croatia)
Capacity: 1,250 guests
Tonnage: 62,000
Expected Delivery: Q4 2024 

In March 2021, Storylines confirmed an order for a 62,000-ton residential ship. To be built in Croatia by the Brodosplit shipyard, the MV Narrative is set to enter service in late 2024.

According to its operator, the LNG-powered ship will feature private residences, in addition to features that include a microbrewery, a hydroponic garden and an art studio.

Njord
Cruise Line: Ocean Residences
Order Date: July 2021
Shipyard: Meyer Werft (Germany)
Capacity: 600 guests
Tonnage: 84,800
Expected Delivery: 2025

As part of its plans to operate a private residential vessel, Ocean Residences signed a ship construction contract with Meyer Werft in July 2021.

With a 2025 target delivery, the Njord is set to be built at the German shipyard and will feature a total of 117 individual residences.

Emerald Sakara
Cruise Line: Emerald (Scenic Group)
Order Date: September 2021
Shipyard: Halong (Vietnam)
Capacity: 100 guests
Tonnage: 10,000
Expected Delivery: Q1 2023

Emerald Cruises ordered a second cruise ship for its fleet in September 2021. The new Emerald Sakara is set to be delivered in 2023 and will have the capacity of 100 guests.

A sister to the 2021-built Emerald Azzurra, the super yacht is being built by the Halong shipyard in Vietnam.

Unnamed Expedition Ship 
Cruise Line: TBD
Order Date: January 2022
Shipyard: Brodosplit (Croatia)
Capacity: 152 guests
Tonnage: TBD
Expected Delivery: 2025

The Brodosplit shipyard announced an order for the construction of a new polar expedition ship in January 2022. Brodosplit and DIV Group have since filed for reorganization in Croatia.

The 152-guest vessel is set to enter service in 2025 and did not have its buyer revealed at the time of the order.

American Eagle and American Glory 
Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines
Order Date: January 2022
Shipyard: Chesapeake (United States)
Capacity: 109 guests each
Tonnage: 3,000 each
Expected Delivery: 2023

In January 2022, American Cruise Lines revealed plans to build a new series of U.S.-flagged coastal cruise ships.

Named Project Blue, the class will include a total of 12 vessels – of which the first two are already in construction at the Chesapeake shipyard.

Ilma and Luminara
Cruise Line: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Order Date: March 2022
Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France)
Capacity: 456 guests each
Tonnage: 37,000 each
Expected Delivery: 2024 and 2025

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ordered two additional cruise ships in March 2022, the Ilma and the Luminara. Following the Evrima, which is set to enter service soon, the vessels will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.

Designed as mega yachts, the 37,000-ton ships are set to be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Explora V and Explora IV
Cruise Line: Explora Journeys
Order Date: July 2022
Shipyard: Fincantieri (Italy)
Capacity: 922 guests each
Tonnage: 70,000 each
Expected Delivery: 2027 and 2028 

Explora Journeys added two ships to its orderbook in July 2022. The new vessels will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard, using the same platform as the 2023-built Explora I.

Increasing the fleet of the MSC Cruises’ luxury brand to six ships, the 922-guest vessels will be powered by LNG and hydrogen.

Unnamed Ultra-Luxury Ship
Cruise Line: “International Customer” 
Order Date: July 2022
Shipyard: Fincantieri (Italy)
Capacity: TBD
Tonnage: TBD
Expected Delivery: “End of 2025”

In July 2022, Fincantieri announced it was awarded with a construction contract for a new ultra-luxury vessel.

According to the Italian shipyard, the new build will be delivered to an “international customer” by the end of 2025.

MSC Cruises Builds Momentum with All Ships Back in Service

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MSC Virtuosa docked in Rotterdam, Photo credit Spacejunkie2 – Flickr

When the MSC Musica started sailing in early June, the entire MSC Cruises fleet was back in service. For the summer that means 11 ships in the Mediterranean, five ships in Northern Europe, two ships in the Caribbean and one ship in the Middle East, according to Gianni Onorato, president of MSC Cruises.

“We have all 19 ships operating and are looking forward to two more new ships coming in October and November, the Seascape and the World Europa,” he said.

The 205,700-ton, 5,400-passenger MSC World Europa will be the largest and also the greenest and most efficient ship in the fleet, with a dual-fuel powerplant able to operate on LNG, while also testing a fuel cell onboard for auxiliary power. The intention is to explore a potential hybrid propulsion solution for future implementation. The new ship will also be able to plug into shore power wherever that is available.

“The market is driven by capacity and demand,” Onorato continued. “But obviously the last two years have been different and difficult as we were not able to operate as we normally do. And then as we started to ramp up, there was omicron, then the war, and then the high inflation rate. But over the last couple of months, we have seen demand picking up as people have a strong need to go on cruises again. People want to go on holidays, and we are seeing strong booking trends.”

In terms of the other challenges the industry is facing, Onorato said: “As we started sailing again before anyone else, and because we spent less time in the layup, we were able to ensure continuity of employment, and we maintained our recruitment and training centres. The turnover rate may be a little higher than normal, but manageable.

“As for the supply chain, we share some of the same issues as others in the cruise industry but have an advantage as we are also in the logistics business.

“We have also maintained our organizations in China and Japan, and we are ready to resume service, which most likely will happen next year,” he added.

Operating in many markets, Onorato said that among the selling points differentiating MSC Cruises are its beautiful ships, which, he added, reflect the soul of the family-owned company and its commitment to quality and innovations, and most of all, its maritime heritage.

“The passion we put into building our ships is also a way of expressing how much we care about the sea. We are more and more a company that is focused on sustainability and a sustainable future,” he explained.

“Another feature that sets us apart, is that as a family-owned company we offer a different atmosphere onboard, a different ambience for our customers and crew alike.

“We are also the only true international company. As our Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago likes to say, we are local and global, or glocal.

“Wherever our ships are sailing, we also adapt our product to local tastes and preferences,” Onorato added. “I think we are the only company operating ships in Brazil for Brazilians, in Argentina for Argentinians and in South Africa for South Africans.

“Our ships in the Middle East also have a high ratio of local customers onboard, and in Northern Europe, most of our customers are from countries in that region. And in the Mediterranean, our main markets are Italy, France and Spain.

“Our cruises are always open to anyone. In the United States, for example, a large share of passengers is from outside the U.S. So, we offer a different experience; more sophisticated, more discovery, all in all a different experience than the other brands in that market.”

In the United States, MSC sails from Miami and Port Canaveral and will also have the Meraviglia year-round out of New York in April.

Meanwhile, the city will serve as the backdrop for the naming of the MSC Seascape in December. (She then sails to Miami where she will be deployed for a winter season in the Caribbean.)

And, there is more to come, Onorato promised.

Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Summer 2022

Carnival’s Mardi Gras Completes One Year in Service

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The new Mardi Gras from Carnival Cruise Line has just completed its first year in service. As the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s XL-Class, the vessel welcomed its first guests on July 31, 2021.

On that day, it departed Port Canaveral on an inaugural cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

The seven-night voyage included visits to San Juan, Amber Cove and Nassau and three full days at sea.

Continuing its debut season, the 5,200-guest ship offered other cruises in the region over the last year, also visiting the Western Caribbean and other destinations such as Cozumel, Roatán, Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay and more.

As the first LNG-powered cruise ship to be homeport in the United States, the Mardi Gras is considered one of the most eco-friendly vessels sailing from the country.

With several new features, the 183,900-ton ship is also the largest and one of the most innovative vessels ever built for Carnival.

Among its attractions are BOLT, the industry’s first roller coaster, and a selection of new dining venues, including Emeril’s Bistro 1396, Shaq’s Big Chicken, Chibang! and Street Eats.

The Mardi Gras is set to be joined by the second XL-Class vessel later this year when the new Carnival Celebration enters service.

Currently, under construction in Finland, the vessel is set to debut in November, kicking off a program of Caribbean cruises departing from PortMiami.  

Marking the arrival of the XL-Class to Texas, the Carnival Jubilee will be the third ship in the series. Based in Galveston, the ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2023.

In addition to the XL-Class vessels, the Carnival Cruise Line fleet is also receiving three extra ships over the next few years.

Presently sailing for Costa, the Carnival Luminosa will debut for the brand this November, with a series of cruises in Australia.

In 2023 and 2024, respectively, Carnival is also receiving the Costa Venezia and the Costa Firenze.

The Vista-Class ships will operate under the Costa by Carnival label, which combines Costa’s Italian hardware with Carnival’s service, entertainment and cuisine.