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MJM Marine secures its largest ever contract

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2019 19 February 2019

Global marine outfitter, MJM Marine has been appointed as the main outfitting contractor by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to undertake a complete refurbishment of Norwegian Joy as the company repositions the ship to the West Coast of the United States.

In a multi-million dollar project, MJM Marine will play the lead role in the design, manufacture, installation and project management of the interior refit of the cruise liner.

Speaking three weeks before the contract commences, Gary Annett, CEO MJM Marine commented,

“Norwegian Joy is MJM Marine’s largest contract to date and will involve a team of 1400 people completing works in over 40 spaces throughout the ship.

Planning, design and manufacturing has been underway for many months in preparation for installation start date. We are exceptionally proud to be awarded this contract, which we see as a reflection of the strength of the partnership which we have built with NCL.

It is confirmation that MJM Marine is respected as a world leading global marine outfitter who can and will deliver on projects of this size and scale.”

Work will begin onboard Norwegian Joy on 11th March in China with completion on 21st April in Seattle.

“This is a truly global project which will take MJM Marine around the world in 42 days,” continued Mr Annett.

“The design, planning, manufacturing and logistics for the project started at our headquarters in Newry, Northern Ireland. Our team will join the ship in China and sail to Singapore where the drydock will take place before making its way to Japan. Works will continue at sea as the ship makes its way to Seattle in the Unites States, where we will hand over the new look vessel before our team returns to Northern Ireland.

The global footprint on this project is particularly unique but is an indication of the global nature of our business.”

Following the refit, Norwegian Joy will embark on a series of cruises to Alaska before repositioning to Los Angeles.

“Norwegian Joy will be very similar to sister ships Norwegian Bliss, which launched just last year, and Norwegian Encore, which will make her debut this November,” added Mr. Colin Gant, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Vice President of Vessel Refurbishment.

“It is a challenging and complex project which is large in scale and short in time, requiring meticulous planning and execution by a top tier outfitter to see it through. We are delighted to join forces with MJM Marine who has been a reliable partner of ours since 2015.

MJM Marine bring scale, experience, skill and ability to think outside the box to pull off a project of this magnitude. We are looking towards an exceptionally busy few weeks, at the end of which we will deliver a stunning ship of new build quality to our cruise guests.”

Hanseatic Inspiration launched in Romania

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2019 18 February 2019

Hanseatic Inspiration, the second of three 16,100 gross ton expedition cruise ships on order for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in Germany, has been launched at the Tulcea shipyard of the Vard group, the cruise line said in a statement.

The hull, which weighs 6,400 tonnes, will be towed for fitting out to the Langsten shipyard of the Vard group, a distance of some 4,000 miles. The tow will take between 24 and 28 days. The ship is due for delivery in October this year.

The 230 passenger capacity, manoeuvrable expedition ships feature cutting-edge technology and have the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC6).

“Their routes will take the ships from one extreme to the other – from cold polar waters to the warm regions of the Amazon. The construction, design and routes of the new ships focus on providing a true expedition experience, getting as close to nature as possible and incorporating state-of-the-art equipment to minimise the environmental impact,” Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said. The company is part of the TUI AG group, while Vard is owned by Fincantieri.

Virgin Voyages to include call at Bimini beach club in all Scarlet Lady cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2019 18 February 2019

Virgin Voyages, which is part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of companies, said that all voyages of the line’s first ship will feature The Beach Club at Bimini, a Virgin Voyages experience in Bimini, Bahamas.

A cornerstone of every voyage of Scarlet lady as the 110,000 gross ton ship would be called, will be The Beach Club at Bimini, where sailors – the line’s preferred name for passengers - can feel the sand in their toes in a stylish setting with white-sand and crystal clear waters and programming that will rival the best beach clubs in Ibiza and Saint-Tropez.

“Just a short transfer from the pier, and built in partnership with Resorts World Bimini, The Beach Club at Bimini is designed with Miami-based architects EOA, Inc., featuring natural materials and soft earth tones that organically blend into the seascape. The Beach Club at Bimini will overlook the ocean and cascade down to the sea with an expansive lagoon-style pool as the central anchor of the club,’ Virgin Voyages said in a statement.

The Beach Club will also have complimentary food that is thoughtfully sourced. “Its locally inspired menus will serve up island favourites such as conch and mango salad, banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, Bahamian rum cake and more. As Sailors start to explore the club they will be pleased to discover creative social spaces with hammock groves and six bars where Sailors can congregate in groups of friends,” Virgin Voyages said.

Those looking for a home base for the day can enjoy the many beach loungers, or opt for a more private place to cuddle up, with beach-side and poolside cabanas available for rent. The Beach Club at Bimini will also feature active areas for watersports and beach play.

Sailors staying in RockStar Suites will have their exclusive slice of paradise at The Beach Club at Bimini, with a dedicated bar, complimentary food service, an outdoor terrace lounge, sun loungers and beach cabanas.

Sailors looking to explore the island of Bimini will have ample opportunities to do so in this off-the-beaten path tropical destination. The island is a beach-lovers paradise with welcoming and warm residents.

It was a known favourite of author Ernest Hemingway, who described it as “like the end of the world.” This intimate seven-mile island offers extraordinary sea experiences such as boating, snorkelling, and even wreck diving, with the SS Sapona just a few miles off the coast of the southern part of the island.

Cunard to operate record 2020-2021 season in Down Under

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2019 15 February 2019

Cunard has announced that its Queen Elizabeth will return to Australia for an unparalleled 118 days over the 2020-21 summer, headlining the luxury cruise line’s biggest ever Australian season.

The season will also feature visits from Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 and sister ship Queen Victoria during their world voyages, with the royal trio spending a record 49 days in Australian ports between them.

Queen Elizabeth’s four-month season will begin in November 2020 and will include more than 60 itinerary options as she sails from her homeports of Melbourne and Sydney.

Voyages will range from two-night sojourns between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide to longer journeys around Australia and New Zealand.

New offerings include 12 and 13-night cruises between Sydney and Auckland calling at a range of stunning ports along the New Zealand coastline, as well as calls to Tasmania and Victoria. The cruises can also be combined to create a destination-rich 25-night journey featuring an impressive nine New Zealand ports.

Other highlights include a Royal Rendezvous with Queen Victoria in Sydney on March 1, 2021 – marking the first time the two ships have met in Australia – as well as a special overnight call in Auckland on December 31, 2020, enabling Cunard guests to be among the first in the world to celebrate the New Year.

Cunard President Simon Palethorpe said the cruise line’s decision to boost its Australian presence even further reflected the continuing growth in popularity of Cunard cruises among Australian travellers.

"Our new 2020-21 season is not only our biggest, it will be the third consecutive summer deployment Down Under for Queen Elizabeth, which is winning a strong following among local cruisers who enjoy her stylish features and her voyage offerings," Palethorpe said.

"Basing Queen Elizabeth in Australia for a record 118 days enables us to create a range of new itinerary options, such as our longer New Zealand journeys, which we think will appeal to both existing and new Cunard guests and boost the popularity of Queen Elizabeth even further."

The new program will also feature overnight calls in Hobart, Wellington and Auckland as well as Queen Elizabeth’s maiden call to Lyttelton and Cunard’s inaugural call to New Plymouth in New Zealand.

At 90,900 tonnes, the 2081-guest Queen Elizabeth is the second largest ship ever to sail in Cunard’s fleet. Launched in 2010, she is also the youngest in the cruise line’s current trio of Queens with features including more than 10 restaurants and cafes; a Games Deck featuring paddle tennis, croquet and bowls; a two-storey library; a ballroom; and the three-deck Royal Court Theatre, seating 800 guests and offering private boxes.

Full details of the 2021 World Voyage season and Queen Elizabeth’s 2020-21 Australian program will be released on March 5, 2019 with the program scheduled to go on sale on March 12, 2019.

Keel laying of second of three Muse-class ships takes place in Ancona

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2019 15 February 2019

The keel laying ceremony of Silver Moon, the second of three new ultra-luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Silversea Cruises took place yesterday at the Ancona yard. The vessel will enter the ship owner’s fleet in 2020.

Silver Moon will be a sister ship of Silver Muse, which took the sea in 2017, and of Silver Dawn due to delivery in 2021. At 40,700 gross tons and with a capacity to accommodate 596 passengers on board, she will maintain the small-ship intimacy and spacious all-suite accommodations which are hallmarks of the Silversea experience.

The new build will be the 10th ship in Silversea's fleet. Once operating, she will significantly raise the bar in the ultra-luxury segment with a wealth of enhancements to the on board experience, while satisfying the uncompromising requirements for comfort, service, and quality of the world's most discerning travelers.

Among the voluntary notations of the ship, the “Green star 3 Design” stands out. It is assigned to units that are designed, built and equipped in order to prevent air and water pollution. Furthermore, the “COMF-NOISE A PAX” and “COMF-NOISE B CREW” are assigned on the basis of the noise levels measured on the ship.