Category: The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Every once in a while a hotel opens somewhere that might appeal to travellers by sea. This week we examine Oslo’s The Amerikalinja, once the headquarters of the Norwegian America Line. Elsewhere, christenening ceremonies have been scheduled for the new Chinese-based Costa Venezia for Trieste in early March. And next month sees the introduction by Pampa Cruises of Argentina of its 510-berth Arrecife, which has just been acquired from owners in Cyprus.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

The cutting of steel for Carnival Cruise Line’s new 183,900-ton Carnival XL saw the commencement of work on Carnival’s largest ship yet, to be based in Port Canaveral. Meanwhile, plans were announced in Miami for a new Virgin Voyages cruise terminal, to open in 2021. And in Missouri, an announcement has been made that the 176-berth Denny of Dumbarton-built paddlewheeler Delta Queen had received a Congressional exemption certificate that would allow her once more to cruise the Mississippi.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week, Sea Cloud Cruises announced that the long-delayed Sea Cloud Hussar would join the fleet as the Sea Cloud Spirit in 2020. Down Under, Heritage Expeditions has announced that it will be taking over the 110-berth Kapitan Khlebnikov, the Russian icebreaker that has mainly served Quark Expeditions in the past. And under its present Chinese ownership Athens’ port of Piraeus looks to be on the verge of a major expansion that will see it able to handle the largest cruise ships afloat.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week, the Memphis-based American Queen Steamboat Company announced that it was taking over Miami-based Victory Cruise Lines and its 202-berth Victory I and Victory II. Seattle-based Windstar Cruises meanwhile announced that it woud be stretching its three former 212-berth Seabourn ships to accommodate 312 passengeres each. And after losing its Hamburg-Süd cargo-passenger connections last year, New Zealand will now be served every 35 days by the CMA CGM Amber, with connections to Europe and North America via Chinese ports.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Two weeks ago, in Portugal, Mystic Cruises’ new World Explorer was floated out, and orders were annunced for two more sisterships. Elsewhere, P&O Cruises’ Oriana was sold to Chinese owners, a transaction that was actually completed with charter back to P&I this June. And with Virgin Voyages going to four new “Lady Ships” we have a look at five earlier “Lady Ships”, that sailed the same Caribbean waters.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week, Norwegian Cruise Line let it be known that one of its six new 3,300-berth “Leonardo” class ships, to be delivered between 2022 and 2027, would be based at Southampton. Elsewhere, Virgin Voyages has confirmed a fourth order for a 2,750-berth “Lady” class ship. And Hurtigruten has signed for a third of its 530-berth “Amundsen” class ships.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week, Princess Cruises announced that it would be sending five ships to Europe in 2020, of which three will be based in the UK. Meanwhile, feedback from Cruise Critic passengers has put three Canadian ports in the top five in the US and Canada, as Quebec City has been joined by Halifax and Vancouver. And we look at how to travel Round the World in 83 days in a cargo ship.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week came news from MSC Cruises that it was going ahead with plans to build four 64,000-ton ultra-luxury ships to accommodate up to 1,000 passengers each. We also have a look at how recent ultra-luxury deliveries and orders are affecting that market, especially in terms of space per passenger. And finally Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has launched the first of three new 298-berth ships it is building in Spain.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week, with the backing of new majority owners Royal Caribbean Cruises, Silversea announced orders for three new ships, two of a new “Evolution” class for its worldwide fleet and one ship for local use in the Galapagos Islands. This week we also have two cruise-related stories coming to you from the realms of rail and airline activity.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

This year, the Port of Seattle will handle 1,092,345 passengers, compared to 6,615 in 1999, a remarkable turnaround in two decades from no cruise business at all. This week we look at what Seattle does. Elsewhere, Fred. Olsen’s full fleet of four ships assembled in Cadiz last week to celebrate 170 years of passenger service. And it has been announced that the 2,900-berth Celebrity Apex will be christened in April 2020 in her new home port of Southampton.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week CLIA UK and Ireland released its River Cruise Report, with a new record of 210,400 UK travellers having taken a river cruise in 2017. We have a look at the variety of cruises now available in Cuba. And in Spain, the fate of the Sea Cloud Hussar seems more uncertain than ever.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week saw the 702-berth Azamara Pursuit christened at Southampton as the third member of the Azamara Club Cruises fleet. Meanwhile, Down Under it has been announced that the 1,708-berth Pacific Jewel would be going to new owners in India next year. And we have a quick look at Cagliari Cruise Port in Sardinia.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

Last week saw three pieces of news from Germany, first with the keel-laying ceremony for the 200-berth Crystal Endeavor at Stralsund, and second with a reveal of the rendering of the new downsized 65,000-ton (as oposed to 100,000-ton) Crystal Diamond class ships. Elsewhere in Germany, the LNG-powered AIDANova was floated out at Meyer Werft in Papenburg.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

This week features a trio of “newbies” to expedition and adventure cruising. First up, with plans (but not yet orders) for newvbuidlings, is Arctic Cruise Line of Greenland, with a pair of 200-berth vessels that seem similar in apprearance to some of those being built now by Vard in Norway. Second is Churchill Cruises of Winnipeg, who have an agreement with Albatros Travel of Denmark that will see them offer a cruise in each direction between Greenland and Churchill in September 2019. And third is this e’ start-up of Solomon Islands Discovery Cruises out of Honiara.

Posted in: News / The Cruise Examiner