Escape and Bliss will be new Norwegian ship names

Posted on 9 October, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Escape and Bliss will be new Norwegian ship names

By Tom Stieghorst

No longer will Norwegian Cruise Line have to refer to its Breakaway Plus ships.

In a Facebook vote, fans have named the ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Escape. The two 163,000-ton, 4,200-passenger ships are scheduled for delivery in 2015 and 2017. It isn’t clear which one will carry which name.

More than 100,000 votes from five countries were received in the contest, a response praised by Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan.

“It affirms that we have a very engaged and passionate community of Norwegians,” he said.

Anyone entering a name was entered in a drawing for a inaugural cruise on the first Breakaway Plus ship. Winners will be announced on the line’s Facebook page on Oct. 8.

Viking ocean liner to winter in Mediterranean

Posted on 2 October, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Viking ocean liner to winter in Mediterranean

By Tom Stieghorst

Viking Cruises said its first ocean-cruising ship, Viking Star, will stay in the Mediterranean for the winter season of 2015-16.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is constructing the ship, which is scheduled to enter service in May 2015. Viking had announced a limited number of maiden voyages, which are nearly sold out, according to the company.The winter cruises will be eight-day sailings between Barcelona and Rome, or 15-day roundtrip cruises from Barcelona.

P&O Cruises to name new ship Britannia

Posted on 24 September, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

P&O Cruises to name new ship Britannia

By Lee Hayhurst

P&O Cruises is to name its new ship Britannia.

The 141,000-ton ship, which is due to enter service in spring 2015, will boost the line’s capacity by 24% and carry 3,600 passengers.

Speaking at an event this morning in front of Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison and chief executive Arnold Donald, P&O Cruises and Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle said the naming of the ship reflected a “rediscovered pride in our country”.

He said: “Britannia is a most fitting name for the newest addition to P&O Cruises which, with its long and famous heritage, remains Britain’s favourite cruise line. Britannia will capture both the contemporary spirit of P&O Cruises and the spirit of Britain today.

“Today’s Britain is a place of increasing style and sophistication, optimism and excitement. Britannia will reflect that feeling and will mark a new era of growth and success for the cruise industry.”

He added: “Britannia will underpin P&O Cruises’ unique commitment to building ships specifically designed to anticipate the tastes of today’s Britain. It will be a modern classic, a ship for this and future generations offering authentic travel by sea in an enduringly contemporary setting.”

The ship will be the third connected with P&O Cruises to be named Britannia. The first entered service in 1835 for the General Steam Navigation Company; the second entered service in 1887 and was one of four ordered to mark the Golden Jubilee of both Queen Victoria and P&O itself.

The new Britannia is being designed by London-based Richmond International, and in response to feedback will feature more single cabins than any other ship.

P&O also claims it will be its greenest yet, and will be designed to deliver much greater levels of operational and environmental efficiency. A new hull form will reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.