First Meyer built cruise ship reported arrived for scrapping

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 06 July 2022 06 July 2022

The first cruise ship built by Meyer Werft in Germany has arrived for scrapping in Turkey after being laid up for about two years, media reports say.

The 54,760 gross ton Marella Dream was taken out of service by the UK based Marella Cruises at the start of the pandemic. It has remained in lay up in Greece until its recent arrival at Aliaga.

The ship started life as Homeric of the now defunct Home Lines in 1986 - it was the last of the only three newbuildings the Switzerland based company had commissioned. The first one of these was the Italian built oceanic of 1965 that was the first ship to feature a magrodome, a sliding glass roof over the pool area.

Holland America Line acquired Homeric in 1989 and lengthened the vessel by 40 metres to 244 metres, which increased its gross tonnage to 54,760 from 42,092. The ship also sailed for Costa Crociere before joining Thomson Cruises in 2010 that was renamed Marella Cruises seven years later.

Like many ships of this era, Marella Dream did not have any balcony cabins as built and only a few suites added in the lengthening work featured them.

Meyer Werft had built a series of 4,000 to 5,000 gross register ton - as the measurement was then called - ferries  to various operators in the early to mid-1970s. These small but well designed vessels, many of which were operated by Viking Line between Finland and Sweden, had laid the foundation for the yard's passenger ship building business.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas reaches first major milestone

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 02 July 2022 02 July 2022

It is full steam ahead on Royal Caribbean International’s upcoming ship, Utopia of the Seas, as construction reaches the first major milestone. On July 1, a keel-laying ceremony for the first LNG-powered ship of the industry-defining Oasis class took place at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The event celebrated the official start of Utopia’s physical construction ahead of the ship’s bold introduction in spring 2024.

“The keel laying for Utopia of the Seas represents the first milestone of an incredible ship and the next step toward a bolder, thrilling future for Royal Caribbean and vacations,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Utopia’s debut in 2024, on the heels of Icon of the Seas setting sail in fall 2023, will build on a new, exciting chapter that is set to redefine family vacations and getaways for all ages in ways we’ll soon reveal.”

At the ceremony, the working teams constructing Utopia watched as newly minted coins were placed on the ship’s first 948-ton steel block. The longstanding maritime tradition calls for coins, representing Royal Caribbean and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, to bring luck during the construction process and while the ship is at sea.

“Today, we are celebrating with Royal Caribbean International an important tradition and milestone for Utopia of the Seas” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “The construction of Utopia is an exciting opportunity for the Chantiers de l’Atlantique teams that are aiming to make this cruise ship one of the most environmentally friendly ships in the world equipped with new generation dual-fuel engines.”

As the second Royal Caribbean ship that will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Utopia will also advance Royal Caribbean’s decades-long commitment to the environment. The ship’s LNG technology will join a lineup of the cruise line’s already-established environmentally friendly initiatives on its ships. From shore power connection to waste heat recovery systems, the applications have been developed and continually enhanced as part of Royal Caribbean’s dedication to innovation and making strides toward a clean-energy future.

Windstar Cruises celebrates new Miami office

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 01 July 2022 01 July 2022

Windstar Cruises celebrated its new headquarters office in Doral, Miami with a party on June 29. The line moved its office across the country from Seattle, WA, where it had been previously headquartered.

The small ship cruise line marked its official relocation to Miami at its new office at 8400 NW 36th St. (Suite 520) with a grand opening ceremony followed by an open house. Local businesses, partners, vendors, media, and government officials were in attendance.

“We are all so excited to open our new headquarters of Windstar Cruises here in Miami, the center of the universe in cruising,” said Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog. “This new location allows us to collaborate closely with our vendors, partners, travel agents, and fleet. The location here in Doral is perfect for Windstar.”

Prelog said a Miami office is beneficial for building industry relationships and attracting new talent. It also enables operations employees in Miami to be closer to the line’s ships and crew as they pass through Florida and shorten flight times to the ships in Europe and the Caribbean.

Guests enjoyed food, drinks, entertainment, and the much-anticipated unveiling of the office mural created by Fountainhead Arts-commissioned artist TYPOE. Windstar has partnered with Fountainhead Arts, a Miami-based arts organization dedicated to elevating and supporting artists, to commission local artists to paint murals on each of the three Star Plus Class yachts, in addition to the office mural. Guests at the party also had the chance to meet James Beard Foundation Chef Jennifer Hill Booker, who recently sailed with Windstar on a culinary cruise as the guest chef. Windstar is the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation and has a series of culinary sailings and other special dishes + programming on board.

Seatrade Cruise Med announces 2022 programming

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 01 July 2022 01 July 2022

Seatrade Cruise Med, the only gathering of its kind for the global cruise industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, returns to the Trade Fairs and Congress Center of Málaga, 14-15 September 2022. In partnership with MedCruise, and hosted by the Port of Málaga, Málaga City Council, Costa del Sol and Andalucía, the conference and exhibition will feature influential discussions with headlining notable leaders from the Mediterranean’s preeminent cruise lines.

“After a four-year hiatus, we’re delighted to host our international community in the beautiful city of Málaga, at the heart of the second largest cruise destination in the world,” says Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director for Seatrade Cruise. “Our tailored programming with +18 sessions specifically curated for the Mediterranean will guide the future of cruising. As we reassess the industry’s overall impact and direction, the cruise community continues to collaborate to deliver enriching, comfortable and above all, safe, cruising.”

Leading the way through innovative programming

The Seatrade Cruise Med programme will feature expert speakers addressing the Mediterranean’s most relevant issues and trends through a line-up of engaging panels and conversations. Inspired by this year’s conference theme, “Steering Change Together,” the dynamic dialogue will explore the latest developments across sustainability, shoreside experiences, ports & destinations, technology, expedition cruising, luxury cruising and beyond.

Confirmed sessions and moderators for 2022 include:

* State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry Keynote
* Alternative Fuels: Alternative Options, and The Changing Geography of Med: Adapting and Improvising
* Beyond the Poles: Expedition Workshop
* Human vs Machine – The Impact of Technology on Shoreside Experiences
* Are you Fit for 55? – Moving Towards a Carbon-Free Future
Free-to-attend sessions on the Showcase Deck of the exhibition floor also explore topics including up-and-coming destinations, health & safety, IT developments and additional interviews with cruise executives.

CLIA Ports & Destinations Dialogue (Tuesday 13 September)

Hosted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), this invitation-only event is designed to create meaningful discourse on the port and destination’s role in the growth of the Mediterranean cruise industry. The gathering will include roundtable discussions, presentations and concurrent sessions, alongside opportunities to network with industry leaders and influencers. Separate registration is required.

Seatrade Cruise Awards (Wednesday 14 September)

Seatrade Cruise Awards, the global cruise industry’s most distinguished award programme, will host its 2022 awards ceremony during the two-day event, recognising the industry’s top talent and innovators. Entries for the 2022 Seatrade Cruise Awards are now open for submission.