Ovation of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean’s fleet following delivery ceremony

Richard Fain and Bernard Meyer
There is a new Royal Caribbean ship officially in the fleet, as of today.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of its 24th cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, in a ceremony held today in Bremerhaven, Germany.  Ovation of the Seas is the third Quantum-class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain took delivery of Ovation of the Seas from Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer at the official handover ceremony.

“Ovation of the Seas is magnificent,” said Richard. “Our thanks to the Meyer Werft team for their ongoing partnership in designing and building awe-inspiring ships with us.”

“It’s wonderful to welcome Ovation of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family of ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We have once again introduced yet another one of the most technologically advanced cruise ships and the very first that has been built for the China market – a market we continue to demonstrate our commitment to expanding. Quantum Class has redefined the status quo, and we are excited for our guests in China and Australia to enjoy their extraordinary vacations onboard this stunner.”

Ovation of the Seas will now sail to Southampton, U.K., where the ship will offer a series of short getaways before she sets sail on her 52-night “Global Odyssey” culminating in the arrival to her homeport in Tianjin, China.

She will begin her first homeport sailing season in China from Tianjin in June 2016. Ovation, together with Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, will make up the largest fleet of any cruise line sailing in China.

Meyer Werft: Construction & keel-laying of the Norwegian Joy

Photo: Meyer Werft

Norwegian Joy Keel Laying
 

Construction of the fourth vessel for Norwegian Cruise Line

The construction of the first phase of the latest fleet member Norwegian Cruise Line has begun. Shareholders and members of the board of the US shipping company and representatives of the MEYER WERFT attended the keel was laid on 5 April 2016th During the celebration of the block 45 of 168,800 gt vessel was lifted into the covered building dock II shipyard.

Photo: Meyer Werft

Photo: Meyer Werft

Andy Stuart, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, Harry Sommer, EPP Norwegian Cruise Line International and David Herera, President Norwegian Cruise Line China laid the traditional “lucky penny” under the block before the 680-ton component to the 800-ton crane on was placed the few days earlier docked machine room module.

Photo: Meyer Werft

Photo: from left – Lambert Kruse, Managing Meyer Werft, Harry Sommer, EPP Norwegian Cruise Line International, Andy Stuart, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, Bernard Meyer, managing director Meyer Werft, David Herera, President Norwegian Cruise Line China, Alex Xiang, Vice President of Sales, China

“We are excited today the keel laying of the Norwegian Joy with our partner of Meyer celebrate shipyard” , says Andy Stuart. “The beginning of the assembly process is an important milestone and we are aware of the good work of the yard, with the Norwegian Joy again for a classic to build the ship. “

Already in 12 months the ship will be ready and complete the sea trials in the North Sea. The Norwegian Joy is the fourth of six ships which MEYER WERFT will finish up in 2019 for Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Today we have the first placed of about 80 blocks in our dry dock” , said Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft.“It makes us very proud to continue to build the Norwegian Joy our good cooperation with our longstanding customer Norwegian Cruise Line. “

Once completed, the Norwegian Joy her first trip to China takes in the summer 2017th As a developed specifically for the Asian market ship will be used exclusively for Chinese travelers.

The 4,200 passengers bidding cruise ship has a length of 324 meters and a width of 41.4 meters. The new building will combine the advantages of Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape and offer guests on another deck many additional facilities and attractions.

Cruise ship construction and design

cruise ship construction and designCruise ship building process involves numerous complex research and testing procedures. The cruise ship design company (which work is also called naval architecture) analyses and provides solutions to meet the Marine and Shipbuilding Industry’s requirements, submitting the basic and detailed designs, ship equipment designs and production drawings to the shipbuilding company.

The design firm also provides engineers with analysis, simulations, diagnosis, manufacture, repair and other data by using the latest CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) technology. The ship cabins manufacturer is able to design and produce various types of ready-to-install ship cabins and bathrooms for virtually all passenger ships – big and small, luxury, ferries, Ro-Ros, research, etc.

The ship builder also hires a company to provide the so called “Lifecycle Services”, pertaining mostly to the industry’s rules and regulations. Some of these services are retrofitting and refurbishing, and keeping regular updates regarding new rules and requirements.

cruise ship building process

It’s a common modern practice big cruise ships to be built of pre-made huge sections. Entire multi-deck segments are built at another place, transported or slipway to the shipyard and lifted into place.

The sections often feature even pre-installed equipment, cables, pipes and other components – it saves a lot of shipbuilding time, and it surely saves lots of money. This technique was used for the first time in the construction of the Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 ship (2002-2004) by the French “Chantiers de l’Atlantique” company.

The ice-going cruise ships building is so expensive as to hull strength and engines power, that the best option is to buy an unfinished vessel or to refit an existing Ice-class ship (often an ex navy vessel), like the case of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator ship. Constructed as a naval support ship and strengthened for navigation in ice, the Navigator ship’s hull was purchased from the former USSR (now Russia), while its superstructure was finished later at the T. Mariotti shipyards in Genoa, Italy.

Cruise ship design

This is an amazingly detailed cruise ship design infographic showing what is what and where on a typical cruise passenger vessel. Note: Click on image to enlarge, backspace/back button to return to the article page.cruise ship design companies

Marine design solutions for cruise ships are truly amazing and unique, using the latest innovations, technologies and materials to ensure difference from other existing passenger ships.

Special on-board features, such as the Royal Caribbean ships’ rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, surf simulators, wave pools and the 9-deck high Zip-line are an irresistible temptation and a true allure for all the ship vacation fun fans.

As to the common features, all big passenger ships have a several decks high Atrium, at least 3 huge swimming pools, a Spa-Fitness complex, a grand casino, a library, duty-free shops, 2 huge capacity main restaurants, a grand theater, a disco, kids and teen areas, numerous bars and lounges, and all new big ships feature an open around-ship Promenade.

As to the biggest of all – the Allure and Oasis ships – each of them has 2,706 cabins – nothing short to a floating resort.