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Meyer Werft hands over Carnival Jubilee

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2023 05 December 2023

The Meyer Werft team has once again completed a cruise ship and today handed over the Carnival Jubilee to the customer in Bremerhaven on the scheduled date. The newbuilding is the first ship for the Carnival Cruise Line (Miami/USA) to be built in Papenburg.

In recent weeks, the Carnival Jubilee has proven its seaworthiness during extensive technical and nautical sea trials and successfully completed numerous tests. At the same time, work continued on board for completion. The ship is 345.4 metres long, 42 metres wide and can accommodate 5374 passengers (double occupancy). The Carnival Jubilee has a wide range of entertainment options and numerous restaurants. The highlight on the upper deck is the "Ultimate Playground" with a waterpark including large slides and the "BOLT" roller coaster.

"With a strong team effort and a lot of commitment from everyone involved in the MEYER Group and our partner companies, we have once again managed to deliver a particularly innovative cruise ship to Carnival Cruise Line. I would like to thank everyone involved in its completion for their work", says Managing Director Jan Meyer.

“Our first ship built in Papenburg for Carnival Cruise Line is stunning, and being on board to take delivery, I’m proud of all the work our team and our partners at Meyer Werft have done in collaboration to bring Carnival Jubilee to life. Now, we start sailing her home so we can deliver her to our guests just in time for the Christmas holiday,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Jubilee’s Excel-class sisters, Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, have been extremely well-received by guests sailing from Florida, and so we have high expectations for this ship as she begins to sail from Texas.”

"The project teams at the shipyard and the shipping company, the many suppliers and the classification society have once again done an outstanding job on the Carnival Jubilee despite the many challenges," says Jürgen Storz, the ship's project manager.

The ship will begin its maiden voyage from its home port of Galveston, Texas on 23 December.

Fincantieri and Viking celebrate the float-out of Viking Vela

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 December 2023 01 December 2023

Viking's newest ocean ship – the 998-guest Viking Vela – was floated out this week marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Scheduled to debut in December 2024, the Viking Vela will spend its inaugural season sailing voyages in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.

“Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world’s most elegant ocean vessels, and it is always a proud day when our newest ship meets water for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Our small, elegant ocean ships are ranked #1 by both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. We are different than other lines because of all that we do, but Viking also stands apart for all that we do not do. No children. No casinos. No nickel and diming. We look forward to welcoming the Viking Vela to our award-winning fleet next year and introducing even more curious travelers to the Viking way of exploration.”

The traditional float out ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out of the Viking Vela began at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time when the Viking team cut a cord that signaled water to flow into the ship’s building dock. Following a two-day process that will set the Viking Vela afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

Classified as a small ship, the Viking Vela has a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. It is slightly larger than Viking's previous ocean ships constructed in Fincantieri.

Viking returns to Antarctica for third season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 November 2023 30 November 2023

Viking is celebrating the start of its third expedition season in Antarctica, as the Viking Octantis and her identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris have arrived again in the region. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, before returning to North America’s Great Lakes for voyages throughout the spring, summer and early fall.

To meet strong demand for Antarctica voyages, Viking has also announced that the 2025-2026 season is now open for booking, including a new 87-day expedition, From the Arctic to Antarctica, sailing from Nuuk, Greenland to Ushuaia, Argentina. Departing in September 2025, this epic journey will allow guests to explore the natural beauty and historic waterways of the Canadian High Arctic before traveling down the east coast of North and South America, calling on ports in the Caribbean, Peru, and exploring the Chilean glaciers before continuing to Antarctica.

“As we welcome guests back for a third season in Antarctica, we are pleased to introduce even more opportunities for the curious traveler to experience this phenomenal region in Viking comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “By creating expeditions for The Thinking Person, our guests are able to explore some of the most pristine destinations on Earth in the most responsible way possible, while also participating in meaningful scientific discoveries. On my own trip to Antarctica, I witnessed firsthand the incredible scenery and wildlife this fascinating continent has to offer. In my view, everyone should experience Antarctica at least once in their life.”

Hagen recently sat down with award-winning British photographer Alastair Miller for an exclusive conversation about his journey to the “White Continent” on board the Viking Polaris. They also discuss the intriguing story about how Hagen’s lifelong passion for travel and interest in far-flung destinations began during his childhood, when he sent a letter to Ushuaia from his home in Norway.

Longitudinal World Cruises

The arrival of Viking’s expedition ships in Antarctica also marks the completion of two inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises – the 71-day Longitudinal World Cruise II, from Duluth to Ushuaia, and the 70-day Longitudinal World Cruise III, from Milwaukee to Ushuaia. These highly-rated Grand Journeys offer guests a variety of travel milestones in a single itinerary, sailing from the heart of North America through the engineering wonders like the Welland and Panama Canals, into the Chilean fjords and finally Antarctica. Following Viking’s upcoming third season in the Great Lakes, the Viking Polaris will sail the Longitudinal World Cruise IV from Milwaukee to Ushuaia in October 2024 and the Viking Octantis will embark on another sailing of the Longitudinal World Cruise II.

Norwegian Cruise Line christens Norwegian Viva in PortMiami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 November 2023 29 November 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, yesterday celebrated the christening of Norwegian Viva, the company’s newest vessel and the second ship in the Prima Class.

"To christen Norwegian Viva in Miami is incredibly special to many of us at NCL, not only because Miami is our hometown, but also because we can share this moment with our local family and friends," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Launching a ship is no solo endeavor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team, our partners and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests."

Following Norwegian Viva’s debut this past August and its inaugural summer season of European voyages, today, over 1,500 guests joined the christening ceremony held in the Company’s LEED Gold Certified terminal at PortMiami. The Prima Class is committed to breaking new ground in ship design and amenities, reflecting Norwegian Cruise Line’s unwavering dedication to putting the guest and onboard experience at the forefront.

"As a company, it has been a milestone year with the debut of next-generation ships across all three of our best-in-class cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises," said Harry Sommer, president & chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "The addition of Norwegian Viva further elevates our world-class fleet, providing our valued guests with another incredible way to vacation, discover new experiences and create unforgettable memories. Since she launched in August, Norwegian Viva’s initial guest satisfaction scores have outshined any newbuild in the history of the NCL fleet, a testament to not only how stunning this ship is, but also the exceptional level of service and attention provided by our amazing crew on board."

Luis Fonsi, Norwegian Viva’s godfather and GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, musician, and producer, officially named and christened the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship’s hull which signifies good fortune and safe travels for all who sail aboard. As a native Puerto Rican, who is also based in Miami, Fonsi embodies the vibrant energy guests can enjoy aboard Norwegian Viva with warm-weather itineraries spanning from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.

The celebration continues through the evening with an unparalleled and next-level entertainment lineup headlined by Fonsi performing his award-winning and global chart-topping hit "Despacito," among his other beloved Latin hits like "No Me Doy Por Vencido" and "Échame La Culpa." Other talented performers with authentic Miami and Latin roots are taking the stage, including "Saturday Night Live" cast member and Miami-native, Marcello Hernandez; the Queen of Latin Pop, Paulina Rubio; and recently announced GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, Pedro Capó.

"It is so exciting to celebrate the magnificent Norwegian Viva in true Latin-style in Miami and alongside fellow A-list Latino entertainers," said Luis Fonsi, award-winning global artist. "We are giving her a proper despedida before she makes her debut in my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico."

Norwegian Viva’s christening festivities also included the unveiling and dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall, a newly added installation at the NCL Terminal that pays homage to the company’s founder, Knut Kloster, and colorfully shares details on NCL’s 57-year history of innovation in the cruise industry.

At 965 feet long with the capacity for 3,099 guests, Norwegian Viva has unique, thrilling activities including the three-story Viva Speedway; elevated offerings such as Indulge Food Hall, an open-air food market featuring 11 unique eateries; and an awe-inspiring art collection with stand-out pieces including British digital artist Dominic Harris’ 52-foot-wide interactive work of art named "Every Wing has a Silver Lining" installed at the Metropolitan Bar.

Following the inaugural sailing and select voyages from Miami, the ship will reposition to San Juan, Puerto Rico and be the newest ship to homeport in the destination when she arrives on Dec. 15, 2023. Through March 2024, Norwegian Viva will offer port-intensive seven-day Caribbean voyages, where guests will wake up each day in a new tropical island paradise with calls to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with no days at sea. In April 2024, Norwegian Viva will return to sail Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries that offer an unmatched opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of Europe. In addition, NCL’s year-round ‘Free at Sea’ offer provides travelers with more value with vacation-enhancing benefits, including unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursion credits, complimentary Wi-Fi, discounted rates for the third and fourth guests and free roundtrip airfare for the second guest.

Mein Schiff Relax launched in Monfalcone

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2023 28 November 2023

The launch of Mein Schiff Relax, the first of two InTUItion class new concept cruise ships dual-fuel powered (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG and Marine Gas Oil - MGO) that Fincantieri is building for TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, took place at the Monfalcone shipyard. The godmother of the ship was Elena Sperti, an employee of the shipyard.

With approximately 160,000 gross tons, these units will constitute the backbone of TUI Cruises’ future fleet. The order is based on a prototype project developed by Fincantieri that enhances the consolidated characteristics of modernity and sustainability of TUI Cruises, a company with one of the most advanced fleets from an ecological point of view. With an innovative product configuration, energy efficiency is at the center of the project, with the dual objective of containing operating consumption and minimizing environmental impact, in line with all the most recent regulations on the matter. In fact, the ships will be able to use LNG, the cleanest marine fuel currently available at large scale. The vessels will be future-proof thanks to their ability to also burn low-emission fuels such as bio- or e-LNG: an important step towards climate-neutral cruising.

The units will also be equipped with catalytic converters (compliant with the Euro 6 standard) and with a generative turbine that uses the residual heat of the diesel generators and an electrical shore-power connection from the ground. All this guarantees almost emission-free operation while in port (about 40% of operating time). Finally, the ships will be equipped with an even more efficient innovative waste treatment system capable of transforming organic substances into charcoal through a thermal process.

TUI Cruises is a joint venture between the TUI Group, number one in the world in the tourism sector, and the cruise group Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company was founded in April 2008, based in Hamburg. Since May 2009 it has been offering cruises for the German-speaking market.