Category: The Cruise Examiner

by Kevin Griffin

This week we look at how the coronavirus is continuing to affect cruise shipping, and particularly one ship berthed at Yokohama. On a more upbeat note we look at Regent Seven Seas’ new 750-berth Splendor of the Seas. And take a quick glance at the first World Cruises to call in Antarctica, back in 1999-2000. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

This week we look at how the coronavirus is affecting cruise shipping and other passenger operations. On a more upbeat note we look at Emerald Yacht Cruises new 100-berth Emerald Azzurra. And take a quick glance at the Wonder of the Seas, which will be next year’s largest cruise ship in the world. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

This week we look at Viking’s first two expedition ships and the new itineraries that will be offered by the Viking Octantis starting in 2022. From Germany come reports that Royal Caribbean Cruises may take a half share in Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, in a similar manner to its 50% share it owns in TUI Cruises. And finally today, we look at the two lady names that have been chosen by CMV for its next two ships. Virgin will not be the only cruise line to have ladies in its fleet. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

The CLIA Annual State of the Industry message forecasts 32 million cruise passengers for 2020 and a fleet of 278 ocean ships. Other news includes a new Empress for the St Lawrence and the final unfortunate demise of One Ocean Expeditions. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

As Christmas draws upon us, we comment on a couple of cargo ship trades carrying passengers, on the old routes of the Australian National Line and to and from the Great Lakes, and remember the volcanic ash cloud of a decade ago, in April 2010. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

With almost forty new small ships and expedition vessels being built in shipyards that are new to building cruise ships, it is not surprising that there have been some serious delays and cost-over-runs. But why SeaDream cancelled the order or its 220-berth SeaDream Innovation is not fully known yet. And while the Scenic Eclipse was delivered a year late, Scenic Eclipse II is being built in a bankrupt shipyard. Elsewhere, two ships ordered in Spain by Havila Shipping have been so badly delayed that the owner is looking to charter two ships from elsewhere to fill in for the new ships on the Norwegian coast. And after a series of winter cruises announced for the Maud from Dover in 2021 comes news that the Fridtjof Nansen will offer a series of ex-UK cruises in 2020 as she’ll be delivered a month before intended. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

Cruise & Maritime Voyages last week announced the acquisition of two more ex-Carnival Group cruise ships to become fleet-mates of the three they already own – the Columbus, Magellan and Vasco da Gama. Elsewhere, it has now been announced that Scylla Cruises’ Bremen, to be renamed Seaventure, will be operated by Viva Cruises starting in May 2021. And Virgin will name its second new ship the Valiant Lady. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

In an interesting twist this week, Ponant has announced an order for two expedition cruise ships from its newly-acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises brand, with an option for a third. Elsewhere, a 159-berth Adriatic cruise ship that has been five years being built, may be about to enter service with a new brand called DIV Cruises. And we have a brief look at the 6- and 8-passenger helicopters that are now being added to the Scenic Eclipse and Crystal Endeavor and planned sister ships. Each ship will have two helicopters. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

The latest announcement, following the demise of Pullmantur’s Croisières de France brand in 2017, is the establishment of another French cruising company, to be called Croisières Maritimes et Voyages. And around the same time Sea Cloud Cruises will introduce their third ship, the Sea Cloud Spirit. Elsewhere, St Hilda Sea Adventures in Scotland has now added a third ship to bring its fleet to three small ships. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

Last week saw Hurtigruten’s new 530-berth Roald Amundsen christened in Antarctica, thus becoming the first ship to be named there. Also last week, Marella Cruises began accepting bookings on its new US-based program with the 1,8s0-berth Marella Discovery. And finally this week we report on the return of CMA CGM’s new Europe-Australia cargo-passenger service. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

This year marks the 30th Anniversary Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Ships. Meanwhile, after the withdrawal of the two Russian ships on which the company had built its success, Canada’s One Ocean Expeditions is going through a test for its survival. This week we also look at Saga’s third newbuilding, this time a river cruise ship. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the first appearance of the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Meanwhile, in the small ship trades, CroisiEurope has announced a different itinerary in the St Lawrence for its 124-berth La Belle des Océans than had been expected. And at the other end of he scale, we take a quick look at some of the giants planned for 2020. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

Since the introduction of the first of the big ships, with the Sovereign of the Seas in and the first 100,000-tonner with the Carnival Destiny in there has been a substantial evolution in ship design among smaller vessels. The Cruise Examiner first covered these trends on May 12, 2008, in an article entitled “The Middle Way – A Return to Medium-Size Ships?”   and a follow up three years later, “The Market for Middle Size Ships,” on May 30, 2011. However, these ships came in to the 30-50,000-ton range whereas the latest crop are mostly Polar Class 6 vessels in the 15-30,000-ton range. Le Commandant Charcot is an exception, a real Polar Class 2 icebreaker. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

This weekend saw The Cruise Examiner on board Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ newest expedition ship, the Hanseatic Inspiration, on a 2-night Shakedown cruise from Hamburg, where she was christened on Friday night, to Antwerp, the boarding point for today’s 15-day maiden voyage to Tenerife. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

Seattle-based Windstar Cruises today announced its 2021 Alaska program. Added in 2021 will be 7-night cruises between Vancouver and Juneau, as well as a call at the railway port of Skagway for the White Pass & Yukon Railway. Los Angeles-based Princess Cruises has revealed that its sixth “Royal Princess” class ship will be named Discovery Princess. And Costa Cruises is about to shed five of its older ships, while one already gone, now the Grand Classica, will begin 2-night cruises from West Palm Beach to Nassau this Saturday. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

Back in 1901, the then Hamburg America Line acquired the New York-based Atlas Line, one of the early cruising pioneers in the Caribbean. Now Mario Ferreira’s newly-formed North American cruise operation is adopting a similar name, as Atlas Ocean Voyages. Elsewhere, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first ship has been delayed at her Croatian shipyard. And Scenic’s new expedition yacht Scenic Eclipse, has just been christened in New York by Emma Thompson. (more…)

by Kevin Griffin

A travel industry giant closed today when Thomas Cook went into administration. While it never operated its own cruise ships, like recent days competitor Thomson Holidays, Thomas Cook nevertheless had a significant impact on the early days of cruising. From organising its first cruise to Norway’s North Cape in 1875, using the chartered Norwegian barque President Christie, to organising full World Cruises from 1925. In 1880, not long after its first North Cape cruise, Thomas Cook found itself promoting cruises from New York to Bermuda, the West Indies and Canada. Here we have a brief look at a corner of history. In the boom years of 1894 and 1895, New York featured highly in Thomas Cook’s priorities, with offices on Broadway, two on Fifth Avenue and another on Madison Avenue. Its new partner was the Quebec Steamship Company of 25 Broadway. (more…)