Southampton Gets Independence

Royal Caribbean International today announced plans to deploy Independence of the Seas - the third in its new Freedom class of ships - in Southampton, United Kingdom, when she debuts in May 2008. Sharing the title of the largest, most innovative cruise ship in the world with sister ships, Freedom of the Seas and the soon-to-be-launched Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe.

“This significant step is part of the company’s strategy of international business development and expansion into emerging and high-growth cruise markets,” said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, at a press conference in London today. “We have already seen tremendous growth of the cruise industry in Europe. This year, 21 percent of the capacity of our three brands combined - Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Pullmantur - will be in this region. Bringing this new generation of megaships to the Southampton, the home of UK cruising, will further develop our global operations and reinforce cruising as an enticing Holiday option for travellers in this region.” For more information on Independence of the Seas click link.

Currently under construction in Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, Independence of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean International in May 2008 and will feature the line’s signature innovations including the FlowRider® surf simulator, the H2O Zone water park, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall and a boxing ring. The 3,634-guest cruise ship will sail the 2008 summer season from Southampton, United Kingdom. “Our decision to base the newest and most exciting ship in Southampton will offer our guests an easy, convenient and affordable way to see several legendary European landmarks and exciting destinations without having to repeatedly unpack their suitcases,” said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International “The amenities available onboard Independence of the Seas will give a fresh face to cruising in Europe and the Mediterranean providing guests with a variety of options to create their own unique adventure.”

Following a series of preview sailings in Oslo, Norway ; Hamburg, Germany and Southampton; UK. Independenceof the Seas will embark on her maiden voyage in mid-May 2008, alternating 14-night ‘Mediterranean Treasures’ and ‘Italian Mediterranean’ itineraries. Ports of call for the ‘Mediterranean Treasures’ itinerary include Gibraltar, UK; Barcelona, Spain; Nice, France; Florence/Pisa, Italy; Sardinia, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; and Malaga and Vigo, Spain. Guests on the ‘Italian Mediterranean’ cruises will experience the destinations of Gibraltar; Cannes/Monte Carlo, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Sardinia in Italy; Seville and Vigo, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal. Guests can also enjoy two four-night getaways from Southampton to Cork, Ireland and St. Peter Port in the Channel Islands. Three 11-night Canary Islands itineraries, also roundtrip from Southampton, will round out the fall season, calling in Madeira, Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria; Lanzarote, Canary Islands; and Vigo, Spain. Independence of the Seas then heads to the Americas for a series of Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Bookings for the European itineraries will be open for sale on March 14 2007. Susan Hooper, senior vice president international, managing director – EMEA, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line said “This exciting announcement further reinforces Royal Caribbean International’s ongoing commitment to the changing face of cruising in Europe”.

Independence of the Seas will join a long list of Royal Caribbean ships in Europe. In the summer of 2007, six ships - the highest number ever for the cruise line - will sail European itineraries stopping in 63 ports of call in Europe alone. Navigator of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas will sail from Southampton and Harwich, England, respectively. In Spain, Voyager of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will be Barcelona-based. Legend of the Seas will homeport in Rome and Splendour of the Seas will sail from Venice, Italy.

Carnival Receives Freedom

Carnival Freedom, the 110,000-ton, 2,974-passenger new build has been handed over to Carnival in time for her inauguration on Sunday, in Venice, Italy.

She is due to complete a series of 12 night Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises before repositioning to the Caribbean for the winter.

Disney Cruises Plan Two New Builds

Disney is no longer just a company offering theme parks and a few films. They are determined to become a big player in the cruise industry. Already having two ships, Disney Cruise Line recently submitted plans to more than double in size with an order for two new 1,250-cabin ships. The new builds  due to enter service in 2011 and 2012 and at 122,000 tons, will be larger than the line’s current ships, Disney Wonder and Magic (each 83,000 tons).

Holland America Sell Windstar

Carnival Corporation have announced that Holland America the owners of Windstar Cruises have sold the boutique line to Ambassadors International for $100 million.

Windstar will join Ambassadors’ Majestic America Line. MAL operates noted U.S. river and coastal cruise vessels such as Delta Queen Steamboat, Queen of the West, Empress of the North, and American Queen, among others.

This follows on from Carnival Corp. announcing last year that the Swan Hellenic line was to close, another boutique style cruise line. Carnival seem to be moving to a big is beautiful style of cruise lines.

Majestic America Line are based in Seattle and was created by Ambassadors in 2006 after they acquired two lines: American West Steamboat and the vessels of Delta Queen.

Windstar Cruises’ has three ships, allwith distinctive masts and include the 312-passenger Wind Surf, and the 148-passenger Wind Star and Wind Spirit.

Carnival Fantasy Back After Scrape

Carnival Fantasy is due back in  service after being hit by a barge in the Caribbean, leaving a 30 foot grove in her Bow. The repairs have been completed and she is now ready for deployment once again.

Is Southampton Getting it’s Independance?

Royal Caribbean International’s CEO Richard Fain is due in London on February 26 to make a “major news announcement” about a “major increase in European deployment and new-build ships”. There has been speculation for some time as to what is going to happen to “Independence of the Seas”, the third of the Freedom class ships, currently under construction at the Aker ship yard in Finland and due to enter service in May 2008.

Royal Caribbean, last year, signed a £10 million, seven-year deal with the Port of Southampton to enlarge the port’s City Cruise Terminal. Associated British Ports (owners of Southampton’s Cruise Terminal) said at the time the agreement to expand the terminal was “so it can accommodate the new generation of large cruise ships.” With “Navigator of the Seas” imminent arrival, one could imagine, this was why the agreement was signed. However it now seems that the expansion could be to enable a larger ship than “Navigator” to use the Terminal. With the Freedom class being the current largest cruise ships, then it may be right to speculate that Richard Fain’s announcement will be that “Independence of the Seas” will cruise out of Southampton after its inauguration next spring.

If this does happen, then Royal Caribbean International could have 6 ships in Europe, assuming that “Navigator of the Seas” stays in Europe. The others being Voyager, Brilliance, Legend and Splendour of the Seas.

For reference, Freedom class ships weigh 160,000 gross tonnes and can carry 3,600 passengers compared to the Voyager 138,000 gross tonne ships (3,114 passengers). However this monster class ship will soon be surpassed as Royal, are due to unveil a 220,000 gross tonne ship, currently known as “The Genesis Project” in the fall of 2008.

Carnival Dream Up Magic Names!

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the names of the two 130,000-ton, 3,652-passenger new-builds: Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic.

Due to be launched in October of 2009 and June of 2011 respectively these two ships will be the largest Carnival ships built after the arrival later this year of Carnival Freedom and next year the slightly larger (112,000 ton) Carnival Splendor.

Mona Lisa Becomes a Scholar

Royal Caribbean have leased the Mona Lisa a 27,670 ton, 730 passenger ship and renamed her The Scholar Ship. Royal Caribbean are using the Scholar Ship to offer University education afloat.

The Scholar Ship first entered service in 1966 as the Kungsholm before being purchased by P&O in 1978.  While in the hands of P&O she cruised for Princess as the Sea Princess before being renamed Victoria, a name she kept until 2002. P&O sold Victoria to Leonardo Shipping who chartered her to Holiday Kreuzfahrten, a German cruise line and again her name was changed, this time to Mona Lisa. Holiday Kreuzfahrten went into bankruptcy during 2006, enabling Royal Caribbean to lease her as the Scholar Ship.