Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling the first and second sailings of the new Norwegian Viva.
Citing construction delays, the company said the 3,215-guest ship won’t be ready in time for the cruises, which were set to depart on June 15 and June 24, 2023.
In a statement sent to booked guests, Norwegian informed that the cancellations were a result of “global supply chain constraints impacting industries worldwide and the related downstream construction delays at the shipyard.”
According to the company, impacted passengers will receive a full refund to the original form of payment, with no further actions required on their part.
“We are committed to always putting our guests first. This includes providing information regarding any changes to voyages with as much notice as possible,” Norwegian added.
Opening up the ship’s inaugural summer in the Mediterranean, the cancelled cruises included visits to several countries in Europe.
A one-way, nine-night voyage, the inaugural sailing was set to depart Portugal, calling in various destinations in Spain and France before arriving in Italy.
An open-jaw itinerary as well, the second cruise was set to sail between two Italian ports: Civitavecchia and Trieste.
The nine-night voyage also featured visits to other ports in the country, in addition to popular destinations in Croatia, Greece, Malta and Slovenia.
The Norwegian Viva is being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. Second, in a series of six ships known as the Prima Class, the vessel will be a sister of the new Norwegian Prima.
Set to debut this year, the 142,000-ton vessel is also entering service later than initially planned due to supply chain issues. Norwegian informed guests booked on the ship’s inaugural voyage that their cruise was no longer going ahead.
Also being built in Marghera, the Prima was set to depart on August 17, 2022. Ahead of a christening ceremony in Reykjavik, the vessel was offering an eight-night cruise from the Netherlands to Iceland.
Portugal’s Navalrocha Shipyard said that it is continuing its “robust performance” through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with a “steady pipeline of work through to 2024.”
According to a press release, the first six months of 2021 have involved a series of stand-out drydock projects – involving general cargo vessels, tugs, passenger ferries, bunker tankers, Ro-Ro Pax vessels, LPG carriers and cruise vessels.
Navalrocha Commercial Director Sergio Rodrigues said order volumes are even outweighing comparative levels at the mid-year point over the last three years, with close to 50 tenders now completed. The yard also expects to break the 100-tender barrier before year-end, marking its busiest spell since 2017.
“Throughout the last 18 months, our team and wider supply chain have demonstrated immense commitment and dedication, remaining steadfast in their service,” said Rodrigues. “As a result, we have been able to deliver a consistently robust response, rewarding the trust continually placed in us by our loyal client base. The outlook for the remainder of 2021 is looking very promising with several high-profile bookings already placed for summer and autumn involving bunker vessels, tugs, cement carriers and naval hydrographic survey vessels to name a few.”
Rodrigues noted that Navalrocha is also seeing a “resurgence in cruise sector work with a string of projects placed over the next 24 months.”
Navalrocha said that it opened its account in 2021 with a four-day project involving the Ponta do Sol general cargo vessel, owned by Transinsular, involving work to propeller blades and refitting seals.
The short job was followed by the completion of an extensive project involving the Ulisses tug vessel, owned by Reboport. This vessel underwent a major conversion involving the removal and reintegration of two Wartsila main engines with further work to auxiliary engines, amongst a broad package of repairs.
In February, the yard welcomed Atlantic Ferries passenger vessel Roaz Corvineiro for a 25-day reclassification project involving extensive blasting, painting and mechanical work. Later in the month, two MM Marine vessels arrived for separate 14-day drydocking as part of continued BWTS installations across the company fleet. Both the Halki and Anafi bunker tankers were fitted with new Ballast Water Treatment Systems, before undergoing blasting, painting, steel, mechanical and piping work.
By the spring, Transinsular booked the recently converted Dona Tututa Ro-ro passenger ferry for a 38-day project involving complete blasting and painting, steel renewal and extensive repairs to the stern-ramp. Later in April, the Santos LPG Carrier, managed by Singapore-based Executive Ship Management, entered for a reclassification, involving blasting and painting, propeller shaft removal and inspection, along with repairs to valves, pumps and mechanical equipment. This marked a company first for Navalrocha with all repair work coordinated with a remote superintendent via video conference calls.
Also, in April, the Garça Branca passenger ferry from Atlantic Ferries underwent a 20-day drydocking for reclassification, painting and mechanical work, before the yard welcomed its first cruise sector job of the year with the arrival of SeaDream II operated by SeaDream Yacht Club for a 35-day project. Widescale refurbishment included blasting, painting, steel renewal and piping work alongside overhauls to luxury passenger accommodation and public areas. Rounding off the period, in late May the yard completed a 12-day pontoon inspection, painting and repair contract for Confeitaria Nacional River Cruise’s Lisboa Vista Do Tejo.
“Navalrocha offers its customers a number of unique benefits,” said Rodrigues. “Firstly, our strategic location in the sheltered Tagus Bay provides ideal ship repair and conversion conditions such as blasting and painting, with more than 300 days of sunshine every year. Crew members also benefit from the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city of Lisbon on the doorstep.”
According to him, the shipyard offers “faster and more cost-effective solutions to ship operators looking to avoid the congested Strait of Gibraltar or Mediterranean.”
“Furthermore, the scale of our operation places us at an operational advantage with three easy-to-manage drydocks. This ensures every project receives ‘priority treatment’ from a 70-strong workforce and cluster of world-class sub-contractors located on-site,” Rodrigues noted.
Costa Toscana has been designed to be a travelling ‘smart city’ (Image: Costa Cruises)
Costa Toscana is the third of five LNG-powered newbuilds ordered by Costa Group for its subsidiary lines. Two other vessels, Costa Smeralda and AIDAnova have already entered service. They are part of an expansion plan that includes seven new ships to be delivered to Costa Group by 2023, for a total investment of more than €6Bn (US$7.27Bn).
Costa saidthe vessel has been designed to be a travelling ’smart city.’ The use of LNG is expected to eliminate sulphur dioxide emissions and reduce particulate matter into the atmosphere by over 90% while also lowering nitrogen oxide up to 85% and CO2 emissions by up to 20%.
Desalinisation plants on board will process seawater directly to meet the vessel’s daily water supply requirements, and energy consumption will be reduced to a minimum via an intelligent energy efficiency system. In addition, 100% separate collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminium will be carried out onboard, as part of an integrated approach aimed at supporting circular economy projects.
The vessel’s design was curated by hospitality designer Adam D Tihany who worked with Milanese architects Dordoni Architetti, New York-based Jeffrey Beers International and cruise ship specialist Partner Ship Design in designing different areas of the ship. Costa Toscana features Italian-made furnishings, lighting, fabrics and accessories.
At the heart of the new flagship is the Colosseo – a three-deck-high, midship-located show lounge featuring large LED screens mounted on its walls and dome. The vessel features 2,600 cabins for its occupants and the Sea Terrace cabins offer a verandah with a view of the ocean.
Costa Cruises chief commercial officer and president of Costa Group Asia, Mario Zanetti said “Despite the current challenging scenario, Costa Group is confirming its investment in fleet expansion. We are confident in the recovery of our industry, and we are excited about the arrival of new ships like Costa Toscana, which embodies the elements we want to focus on for the future.”
Meyer Turku chief executive Tim Meyer said “The float-out is always a very special occasion for us shipbuilders, as the ship is finally set to its natural environment. As this is also the start of the final stage of shipbuilding, all the exciting colours, venues and features will start taking their final form. In the coming months it will be finalised at the pier and then tested and commissioned in Q3 for delivery. “
Once interior fittings have been completed, Costa Toscana will make its maiden voyage in Brazil in the 2021-22 cruise season departing Santos on 26 December 2021, with a week-long itinerary visiting Salvador and Ilhéus, before returning to Santos on 2 January 2022.
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