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Stena Line’s four new vessels planned for Belfast routes

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2017 18 February 2017

Last year Stena announced a newbuild contract of four RoPax vessels with a planned delivery schedule during 2019 and 2020. The contract also contains an option for another four vessels to be ordered. The four vessels are being built at the AVIC Shipyard in China and the plan is to locate the vessels on the Irish Sea, specifically on Stena Line’s routes to and from its expanding Belfast hub.

“The routes to and from Belfast are strategically very important to Stena Line and during the last number of years we have made significant investments in ports and vessels to improve and develop our capacity offering a frequent high quality service for our customers to and from Belfast. Looking ahead, we intend to continue our ambitious development plan for our business in the region and the new vessels are a part of this strategic plan. During the last few years we have seen a steady growth in freight and passenger volumes and we believe this will continue. Last year was a record year for us when we for the first time carried over 500,000 freight units through Belfast Port. These new vessels will be the largest ferries ever to operate between Belfast and Great Britain," said Stena Line’s CEO Niclas Mårtensson.

Joe O’Neil, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour commented: “We are delighted that Stena Line is planning for Belfast as the location for its next generation of RoPax vessels in what is a significant investment in and enhancement of Northern Ireland’s premier freight and tourism gateway. Belfast Harbour has worked in close partnership with Stena Line over the last two decades to help it expand its Belfast routes into a flourishing hub and this very welcome investment news comes on the back of a record year for Stena Line’s freight business in Belfast Harbour. We look forward to welcoming the new vessels and the associated benefits they will bring to Belfast Harbour and the economy of Northern Ireland.”

The new vessels are being constructed in line with Stena Line’s strategic focus on sustainability.

“The new RoPax vessels will be among the most fuel efficient in the world with approximately 25% lower CO2 emissions per cargo unit than current RoPax tonnage. Our aim is to lead the development of sustainability within the shipping industry and set a new industry standard when it comes to operational performance, emissions and cost competiveness. The vessels will run on traditional fuel, but are designed to the class notation “gas ready” and are also prepared for scrubbers as well as catalytic converters, giving us flexibility for the future," says Niclas Mårtensson.

Keel laying for Viking Spirit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2017 18 February 2017

The keel laying ceremony for Viking Spirit, the fifth of six cruise ships Viking Ocean Cruises has ordered from Fincantieri, took place on February 16 at the shipyard in Ancona.

The first building block of the ship, about 11 meters long, 28.8 wide and weighing about 280 tons, is part of the central section of Viking Spirit, due to delivery in 2018.

Viking Spirit, as its sister ships, will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. In fact, with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 473 cabins with accommodation for 946 passengers, with a total capacity of over 1,400 people, including the crew.

The Viking Ocean Cruises units are all built according to the latest navigation regulations and equipped with the most modern safety systems, including the “Safe return to port”. Furthermore, they feature the most advanced technologies for energy saving and for meeting the strictest environmental regulations with energy-efficient engines and an exhaust gas cleaning system.
The first of the series, Viking Star, has been built at the shipyard in Marghera and delivered in March 2015.

Viking Sea and Viking Sky, took the sea from the shipyard in Ancona respectively in March 2016 and January 2017. Viking Sun, launched in December 2016 in the same shipyard, will enter into service in autumn 2017, while Viking Spirit, whose dry dock works started on February 16, and the sixth and last unit of the series, will instead be delivered respectively in 2018 and 2019.

Fincantieri has built 76 cruise ships from 1990 to today, while other 31 are currently being designed or built in the Group’s yards.

Palma de Mallorca to host AIDAperla christening

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 February 2017 16 February 2017

AIDAperla, the twelfth member of the AIDA fleet, will be christened on Friday, June 30, 2017, in Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The Christening Cruise will last from June 24 until July 1, 2017, leading from Palma de Mallorca to three Mediterranean metropolises: Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno) and Barcelona. Tickets are available now. This unique voyage is available for booking from today (February 15, 2017) on, 10.00 am.

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, comments on the christening of the newest member of the fleet: "Those who know AIDA also know about our unique christening ceremonies. The skyline of Palma's old town will be the breathtaking backdrop for a spectacular show of music and light, transforming the night skies above AIDAperla into a glistening flood of color on the evening of her christening."

Those unable to join the event in Palma de Mallorca or on board AIDAperla are nevertheless encouraged to save the date of June 30, 2017: the christening ceremony will be streamed live on the internet and various social media channels. The company will soon announce more details about the christening.

From July 1, 2017, the cruise ship – which is 300 meters long and 37.6 meters wide – will be sailing the western Mediterranean. The capital of the Germans' favorite island, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona are the ports of departure and arrival for the seven-day cruises to e.g. Rome (Civitavecchia), Corsica and Florence (Livorno).

AIDAperla will be visiting Germany for the first time in March 2018. The Hanseatic City of Hamburg will be the home port of multiple 7-night round trips to the most beautiful metropolises in Western Europe, such as London (Southampton), Paris (Le Havre), Brussels (Zeebrugge) and Rotterdam.

Havana to be featured on select Carnival Paradise cruises from Tampa beginning in June 2017

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2017 15 February 2017

Following the history-making launch of cruises from the U.S. to Cuba on Carnival Corporation’s Fathom brand last year, the company’s namesake and largest cruise brand – Carnival Cruise Line – has now received approval to sail to Cuba. The Cuban capital of Havana will be added to select Carnival Paradise voyages from Tampa beginning in June 2017.

The overnight visits to Havana will be featured on 12 four- and five-day cruises aboard Carnival Paradise departing from the Port of Tampa starting June 29, 2017, providing vacationers with a rare and exciting opportunity to explore this fascinating and previously off-limits destination.

Four-day cruises will depart June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7 and 21, and October 5 and 19, 2017 as well as May 3, 2018 and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana. Five-day voyages will depart August 14 and 28, September 25 and October 9, 2017, and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana as well as a stop in either Cozumel or Key West.

Carnival Paradise guests will be able to choose from a range of exciting shore excursion experiences that showcase Cuba’s vibrant culture and majestic beauty, along with the island’s warm and friendly people and centuries-old architectural landmarks.

“Cuba is an island jewel unique from anywhere else in the Caribbean and we are thrilled to have this rare opportunity to take our guests to this fascinating destination,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The opportunity to visit Havana, combined with the fun, relaxed ambiance and wide variety of amenities and features offered on Carnival Paradise, will make for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation experience,” she added.

The visits to Havana comply with regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury that permit travel operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Work on TUI Cruises’ currently final newbuildings reaches milestones

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 February 2017 13 February 2017

TUI Cruises, the German premium market cruise shipping company, and the Meyer Turku shipyard that is building the final two units of a series of six newbuildings for the Hamburg based company, say the project has reached milestones.

“Today the construction of these ships is entering a next stage: The keel laying of New Mein Schiff 1 and the start of production of New Mein Schiff 2 were celebrated by invited guests, Meyer Turku employees, the CEO of TUI Cruises Wybcke Meier and the CEO of Meyer Turku Jan Meyer. At the same time Mein Schiff 6 is being completed for delivery at the outfitting key,” the Finnish shipyard said in a statement

New Mein Schiff 1 and New Mein Schiff 2 will be longer with 315 meters compared to the 295 meters of the previous ships. This lengthening allowed for a substantial redesign giving the ships several new features and interesting spaces for guests to enjoy. Both ships will be 111 500 gross tons and accommodate 2894 passengers.

“With the New Mein Schiff 1 and New Mein Schiff 2 the ratio of space per passenger will stay the same as the previous ships at a generous 40 square meters”, said Wybcke Meier, CEO from TUI Cruises.

“When the new Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 go into service, we will be operating one of the most modern fleets in the world. Both ships are characterized by innovative and environmentally-friendly construction methods, as well as state-of-the-art technology standards,” Meier adds.

Both important milestones in ship building were executed with traditional ceremonies: CEO Wybcke Meier started the steel production of New Mein Schiff 2 by starting Meyer Turku’s plasma cutter. In the following keel laying ceremony, the traditional lucky coins were placed on top of the keel block. After the float out of the ship the coins will be gathered and then eventually placed into to the ship for good luck.

Meyer Turku will deliver New Mein Schiff 1 in spring 2018 and New Mein Schiff 2 in 2019. The current Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 are transfers from Celebrity Cruises, which is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL) that owns 50% of the shares in TUI Cruises. They will enter service with Thomson Cruises, a TUI group unit in the UK, when the newbuildings enter service.