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Tag Archives: new build

Construction begins on Seven Seas Explorer®: The Most Luxurious Ship in the World™

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July 15, 2014 by 

Construction began this morning for Seven Seas Explorer at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The crisp pop of a cork being freed from a Krug Grande Cuvée magnum initiated a laser, which cut the ceremonial first piece of steel for the new ship.  Incorporating a bottle of the world’s finest champagne to start the building process is symbolic of the high level of sophistication and design being developed for Seven Seas Explorer, which is scheduled to debut in summer 2016.

The ceremonial first piece of steel cut this morning will serve as the foundation for an opulent, one-of-a-kind suite unlike any other at sea. The owner’s suite resplendent with exquisite stonework and luscious fabrics will serve as a hallmark for the superior level of elegance found throughout the ship.

During the ceremony, Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, and Gabriele Cocco, senior executive vice president of merchant ships for Fincantieri, began a countdown that culminated with Maison Krug Italy’s master sommelier, Michela Cimatoribus, releasing the cork from a magnum of Krug Grande Cuvée.  As the cork soared and the champagne flowed, confetti cascaded down and the laser cut the first piece of steel for the 750-passenger ship.

 

“We’re one step closer to fulfilling our dream of building the most luxurious ship in the world and giving our guests another exciting option to explore inspired global destinations with our special brand of all-inclusive luxury,” noted Kamlani.  “Seven Seas Explorer will surpass the current standard in luxury cruising, offering a new level of grandeur throughout the ship from its lavish suites to its elegant public spaces and gourmet restaurants.”

When she debuts in the summer 2016, Seven Seas Explorer will establish a new benchmark for style and service. At 54,000 gross-registered tons and carrying only 750-guests, Seven Seas Explorer will boast the highest space ratios and staff-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry, as well as an opulent one-of-a-kind suite unlike any other at sea.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will begin taking reservations for her maiden voyage and inaugural season in early 2015.  Will you be among the first to sail aboard ‘The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built™?

Royal Caribbean orders fourth Oasis-class ship

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By Tom Stieghorst
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said it will move forward with a fourth in its Oasis-class of ships, the largest in the world at 5,400 passengers and 225,000 gross tons.

RCCL Chairman Richard Fain made the announcement at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire while there for the keel laying ceremony of the third Oasis-class ship, which is to be delivered in 2016.

The first two ships in the class, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, have been in high demand since they debuted in 2009 and 2010, respectively. They both sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades.

The fourth Oasis-class ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2018. RCCL hasn’t announced where either ship will be sailing after delivery.

Each of the ships costs more than $1 billion to build, but RCCL didn’t disclose an exact price for the newly ordered vessel.

Regal Princess coming along nicely

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Regal Princess, the newest ship to be developed by Princess Cruises, is well on track to make its debut next month.

According to reports, the new vessel has successfully completed five days of sea trials this week. The trials involve a number of special manoeuvres being carried out at sea in order to test the ship’s propulsion systems ahead of its launch.

The tests are also used to ensure that steering and navigation equipment is all up to standard and at the ready. Following its successful completion of the exercises, the ship returned to the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, where it will receive finishing touches to its exterior and interior.

The 3,600 passenger sister vessel to Royal Princess will be officially launched by the cruise line in May.

Among its most noteworthy features are an opulent new atrium with a truly regal colour scheme (lots of gold), designer ice creams at the Gelato bar and Princess’s largest theatre yet at see. It is also equipped with numerous pools and spas, as well as The Sanctuary, its signature relaxation haven just for adults.

FINCANTIERI: “REGAL PRINCESS” LAUNCHED IN MONFALCONE – The largest ship ever built by the Italian group
“Regal Princess”, the new flagship of the Princess Cruises fleet owned by the Carnival Group, the world’s largest cruise ship operator, was launched today at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard.
Delivery is scheduled for spring 2014, while its sister ship, “Royal Princess”, launched last august, will be delivered in the first half of this year.

Attending the ceremony for Princess Cruises were Rai Caluori, Executive Vice President Fleet Operations, and Stuart Hawkins, Vice President Newbuilding.
Representing Fincantieri were, among others, Enrico Buschi, Chief Operative Officer, and Carlo De Marco, Shipyard Manager.
Godmother of the ceremony was Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of Cruise Critic, the most influential cruise industry website and cruise passenger online community.

The construction of “Regal Princess” consolidates Fincantieri’s primacy in building the largest passenger ships in Italian shipbuilding history. In fact, at 141,000 gross tons, 330 metres long and 38 metres wide, the new ship is the largest ship ever built by Fincantieri.
It has 1,780 cabins, of which 1,438 with balconies (81% of the total), and is able to accommodate 3,600 passengers, with total capacity for over 5,600 people including crew.

As an innovative prototypes for a new ground-breaking class of ship, “Regal” and “Royal Princess” stands out for their new “future-proof design”, not only in terms of layout and state-of-the-art performance, but also because they comply with the most recent regulations in shipping. These ships are the best proof that innovation and care of a customer like the Carnival Group, the market leader, are essential levers for tackling a crisis like that at present.

Among the keystones of this trend are the rational use of space, with the aim of avoiding any wasted tonnage that would otherwise increase operating costs, and energy saving to reduce emissions into the atmosphere and water. The ships will be able to adapt to every possible type of cruise, operating from Alaska to Australia, even in environmentally protected areas where navigation is restricted.

Fincantieri has built 63 cruise ships since 1990, including 13 only for Princess Cruises. Another 11 ships are being built or about to be built in the Group’s yards.