Celebrity Century to leave fleet in 2015

Posted on 19 February, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Celebrity Cruises said its oldest ship, the 1,814-passenger Celebrity Century, will leave the fleet in April 2015.

The exit of Century, built in 1995, would leave Celebrity with five Solstice-class and four Millennium-class ships, along with its 98-passenger Xpedition ship. It has no new ships on order.

Celebrity has not said what it plans to do with Celebrity Century, although a page on the CDF Croisieres de France website last year said it would be the new operator of Century. Like Celebrity Cruises, CDF is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

A special 14-night president’s cruise in Asia has been scheduled in March 2015 to commemorate Century’s time with Celebrity.

Independence of the Seas to sail Caribbean cruises

Posted on 18 February, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean International said the Independence of the Seas will spend its first summer in the Caribbean in 2015, returning from deployment in Europe.

The ship will sail alternating seven-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean recently announced that its largest ship, Allure of the Seas, which had been sailing from Fort Lauderdale year round, would be sent to Europe for the summer in 2015.

Oasis of the Seas will continue from Fort Lauderdale, and Freedom of the Seas from Port Canaveral next summer.

Grandeur of the Seas will continue sailing to Bermuda and the Bahamas in the summer of 2015 from Baltimore, and alternate Bermuda with Canada/New England itineraries in the fall.

Brilliance of the Seas will do Canada/New England fall itineraries from Boston, while Serenade of the Seas will sail back and forth between the New York area and Quebec City on 10- to 14-day foliage sailings.

Royal Caribbean a partner in Malaysia project

Posted on 13 February, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean International is one of the companies signing a memorandum of understanding to co-develop a destination called Melaka Gateway said to cost $12 billion over 10 years.

The project will be built on three islands in Malaysia covering 609 acres. It will include a cruise terminal, a 1,000-slip marina and a ferry terminal as well as luxury hotel and condominium components.

The lead developer is KAJ Development. The prime minister of Malaysia officiated at the unveiling last week of a master plan for the project, which is expected to boost tourism to Malaysia by 2.5 million visitors over 12 years.