Royal Caribbean’s New Order.
This past month Royal Caribbean signed a letter of intent with the Meyer-Werft Shipyards in Papenburg, Germany for an entirely new ship to be launched in 2013 with the possibility for more orders. Dubbed Project Sunshine, the ship will be around 158,000grt- which far out weighs the 120,000-130,000grt tons that I had predicted in an earlier article (SEE HERE)- and will feature some Oasis Class amenities…though RCI has not said which.Rumors had been going on for weeks that RCI was working on something new. There was even speculation that it would be with the Meyer-Werft shipyard. These rumors were confirmed a few weeks back when Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO confirmed at an earnings call, that RCI was working on something new, but offered no real detail into the ship. Now, we know where the ship will be built, its size, that it will have amenities fr
om Oasis and we can even guess at some of its dimensions (based on the fact that ships built at Meyer-Werft have several things limiting there size, such as the fact that they are built indoors and then have to sail down river to reach the ocean).The ships size puts it somewhere between the Voyager Class ships and the larger super-voyager Freedom Class, in terms of size. Some have already speculated that this means that essentially, this ship will be basically a modified Freedom Class ship. I disagree with that, however. The Freedom Class ships where built and partially designed in Finland, this ship will be produced by another yard. On top of that RCI has stated that she will have Oasis touches. If any of these touches are the bigger amenities, they will require an entirely new design to accommodate them. Also, I think considering RCI’s new build history, that they won’t disappoint. Fact is, we will just have to wait and see.
Australia’s Continued Growth
Australia’s cruise industry got another huge boost this week with Celebrity’s announcement that they will be basing the practically brand new, Celebrity Solstice (being launched in November 2008 she’s not even 3 years old yet) in Sydney for the 2012-2013 cruise season. This news comes just weeks after Carnival announced that they will be sending their own Carnival Spirit down under. This really is a big step for Australia as a cruise market.The Celebrity Solstice is without a doubt, one of the most stylish and sophisticated ships currently in service. The first of the much praised, Solstice class, she is around 122,000grt and features many amenities such as the first grass covered deck at sea, a glass blowing museum and show, and some of the best interior (if not the best) design of any ship afloat. The onboard atmosphere is laid back and casual, but at the
same time stylish and sophisticated and a little on the formal side, but very decidedly not stuffy………very Celebrity Cruise-esque. You Australians are really getting a great ship!The Solstice will operate on 13 and 12 night voyages, starting in December 2012. She will also run a circumnavigation of Australia. (Photo at right - "Celebrity Solstice" by flickr member jens.steinbeisser )
Also in the news for Australia, Holland America has also announced this week that they too, will be basing one of their ships, the Oosterdam, out of Sydney for the 2012-2013 season. Fewer details have been released on her deployment, but according to Cruise Critic she will be sailing 10 to 25 day cruises.
Oosterdam, launched in 2003, is the second ship in the Vista Class. And while not quite as stylish as Celebrity Solstice, she is still a perfectly nice ship. The only sad thing about this deployment is that it represents a further loss for the California cruise market, as this ship, up until now, spends winter spring and fall sailing out of San Diego to the Mexican Riviera (In fact I spent several hours in October looking at the ship in San Diego).
Texan Princess
The Port of Galveston, TX, has been growing steadily as a prominent cruise port for several years now, with several cruise lines sending some of their bigger and nicer ships there. Ships like Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest, and even Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Magic, will call the port home (when she's launched later this year, and after a few month sailing the Mediterranean for the Europe cruise season). Further, RCI’s Mariner of the Seas, which recently left Los Angeles, will be replacing the Voyager of the Seas, in Galveston, later in November of this year. Several smaller, less prominent ships, like Carnival Ecstasy, have also been based in the port.
This past week, Princess Cruises announced that their ship, the Crown Princess, will be based in Galveston, starting in December 2012. The ship is currently scheduled to be there until April of 2013.
Crown Princess, launched in 2006, is one of Princess’ largest ships, and number 7 in the Grand Class series of ships. In my opinion, this ship and Princess Cruises in general, are between the premium segment and the mass market segment of cruising. This makes the ship a step up for Galveston, because up until now, the port has been served by mostly RCI and Carnival, both of which are mass market. The ship isn’t the most stylish…in fact, Princess ships are often described as bland, however, this bland-ness gives Princess something of an advantage as it will offend no one, but at the same time, it offers a great cruise experience. Princess has a very solid and very consistent product. Texas is getting a nice and pleasant ship. (photo at right - "Crown Princess" by flickr member JohnFinn )
P.S. Don’t judge the ship by it exterior…she’s not really ugly but she’s no beauty queen either….she’s interesting and actually, in my own way, I kind of like her looks.
The Port of Galveston, TX, has been growing steadily as a prominent cruise port for several years now, with several cruise lines sending some of their bigger and nicer ships there. Ships like Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest, and even Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Magic, will call the port home (when she's launched later this year, and after a few month sailing the Mediterranean for the Europe cruise season). Further, RCI’s Mariner of the Seas, which recently left Los Angeles, will be replacing the Voyager of the Seas, in Galveston, later in November of this year. Several smaller, less prominent ships, like Carnival Ecstasy, have also been based in the port.
This past week, Princess Cruises announced that their ship, the Crown Princess, will be based in Galveston, starting in December 2012. The ship is currently scheduled to be there until April of 2013.
Crown Princess, launched in 2006, is one of Princess’ largest ships, and number 7 in the Grand Class series of ships. In my opinion, this ship and Princess Cruises in general, are between the premium segment and the mass market segment of cruising. This makes the ship a step up for Galveston, because up until now, the port has been served by mostly RCI and Carnival, both of which are mass market. The ship isn’t the most stylish…in fact, Princess ships are often described as bland, however, this bland-ness gives Princess something of an advantage as it will offend no one, but at the same time, it offers a great cruise experience. Princess has a very solid and very consistent product. Texas is getting a nice and pleasant ship. (photo at right - "Crown Princess" by flickr member JohnFinn )
P.S. Don’t judge the ship by it exterior…she’s not really ugly but she’s no beauty queen either….she’s interesting and actually, in my own way, I kind of like her looks.
Oceania in Los Angeles
A couple of weeks ago, Oceania’s new ship, Marina, made her inaugural call in Los Angeles…of course I was there. (Check out our photo album! Look for the link on the “photos” page above).
While there is not much to say about my experience with the ship (I just looked at her and took a lot of pictures), there is still a lot to say about this ship. Launched just over one month ago in Miami, FL, the ship is the first new ship to be built by the relatively young Oceania Cruises. Her design is based on Oceania’s three smaller ships - Insignia, Regatta, and Nautica, (all of which are from the “R” Class of ships) – but still, the ship is distinctive in her own way. Her interiors are slightly more modern than her fleet mates, and somewhat flashier (in a good way). Foodies will be happy on this ship, as she is full of some great and exclusive food offerings, including famed Chef Jacques Pepin’s first restaurant at sea or on land.
Already, this ship is getting rave reviews.
A couple of weeks ago, Oceania’s new ship, Marina, made her inaugural call in Los Angeles…of course I was there. (Check out our photo album! Look for the link on the “photos” page above).
While there is not much to say about my experience with the ship (I just looked at her and took a lot of pictures), there is still a lot to say about this ship. Launched just over one month ago in Miami, FL, the ship is the first new ship to be built by the relatively young Oceania Cruises. Her design is based on Oceania’s three smaller ships - Insignia, Regatta, and Nautica, (all of which are from the “R” Class of ships) – but still, the ship is distinctive in her own way. Her interiors are slightly more modern than her fleet mates, and somewhat flashier (in a good way). Foodies will be happy on this ship, as she is full of some great and exclusive food offerings, including famed Chef Jacques Pepin’s first restaurant at sea or on land.
Already, this ship is getting rave reviews.
Cunard’s Australia Royal Rendezvous
In the last couple of weeks, the Queen Mary and Queen Victoria Royal Rendezvous wasn’t the only one, no, the whole Cunard fleet had their time in the spotlight. In Sydney, the glorious Queen Mary 2, and the new Queen Elizabeth, sailed in tandem into port for a call in Sydney. Thousands of shipgeeks and non-shipgeeks alike lined the shores of Sydney Harbor to watch this great event.
In the last couple of weeks, the Queen Mary and Queen Victoria Royal Rendezvous wasn’t the only one, no, the whole Cunard fleet had their time in the spotlight. In Sydney, the glorious Queen Mary 2, and the new Queen Elizabeth, sailed in tandem into port for a call in Sydney. Thousands of shipgeeks and non-shipgeeks alike lined the shores of Sydney Harbor to watch this great event.
This event has historical implications, as Sydney was home to a rendezvous between the two original Cunard Queens, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, during their heroic war time service in WWII. There was even a WWII veteran there, who apparently saved the Queen Mary from a U-Boat during her troop transporting days.
Cunard is probably the only shipping line in the world that can generate so much interest in its ships (even among non-shipgeeks) wherever it sails to. I was struck by just how many non-shipgeeks were on the Queen Mary, this past Thursday, to see her rendezvous with Queen Victoria.
Both QM2 and Queen Elizabeth are currently on their World Cruises.
Blog News
You might have noticed some recent changes made to our page. If not let me direct your attention to them… If you look to the top of our page, you will see a new menu bar with “Home, Cruise Lines, Ships, Photos, Other Sites, The Shipgeek and Contact Us”.
These changes are in response to the continued growth of our blog and in an effort to offer more things on here. While these pages are still being worked on, you can still use them to find a cruise line, see what ships we think are worthy of note, check out hundreds of cool pictures, look at other great cruise and ship related websites, read about me and my own shipgeek journey, and finally, you can contact us through email for any questions, comments or just to say hi!
It’s pretty amazing to see just how fast the blog is growing! I want to thank all of you readers for your continued support and readership! GASP!!! That word has ship in it!!! :D
(Above photo - "CELEBRITY SOLSTICE" by flickr member steamboatsorg)
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