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Delayed deliveries slow down cruise fleet capacity growth - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2022 15 November 2022

Delayed deliveries of newbuildings will be the main factor that will slow down the growth of the global cruise fleet compared to the predictions made before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been reported.

The total capacity of the world’s cruise ship fleet is now estimated to reach 713,683 berths, which is 8% less than the pre-pandemic forecast of 777,859, Shippax Info in Sweden said, citing the Swiss investment bank UBS.

In 2024, the capacity of the cruise ship fleet should increase to 762,738 berths, which is 5% lower than the 806,656 berths forecast before the pandemic hit.

UBS was cited as forecasting that Carnival group’s fleet would only grow by 2.2% in capacity terms in 2019-23 compared to an earlier forecast of a 5.7% growth. The world’s largest cruise shipping group has sold some 20 ships since the start of the pandemic, which is also a factor in the lower capacity growth, it should be noted.

Royal Caribbean Group’s capacity would increase by 3.4% in the same period against an expected growth of 4.9% forecast before the pandemic. The company has also sold a number of older ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, the third largest listed cruised shipping company in the world, is forecast to see a 3.6% capacity growth pin 2019-23, compared to a forecast of a 4.6% increase that was made before the pandemic. It is the only one of the listed three major companies that has not sold any ships since the pandemic broke out.

Photo: Queen Anne of Cunard is one of the several vessels that is now scheduled to be delivered later than originally agreed - in this case by four months, in May 2024.

Borealis completes two week dry docking at Cammell Laird

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2022 15 November 2022

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said Borealis has completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment programme at Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, becoming the first cruise liner to undergo work at the site for over 25 years.

Borealis arrived on 28 October, for a 14-day refurbishment, including steel repairs, an overhaul of the shafts and propellers as well a new application of underwater paint, supported by more than 150 members of Cammell Laird’s workforce.

The ship sailed out of Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead site at lunchtime on Saturday 12 November, ready to welcome guests back on board for a cruise in search of the Northern Lights, which left the city on Sunday.

Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said in a statement: “I would like to thank the people of Liverpool, Birkenhead and Cammell Laird for looking after our ship Borealis during her time in dry dock. We’ve been sailing from Liverpool for almost 20 years and we’re so proud to have this fantastic city as Borealis’ homeport. We cherish the relationship we have with the people in the area, whether that be our guests, our friends at Cruise Liverpool or the men and women of Cammell Laird who have worked hard to get Borealis refurbished in time for her upcoming sailings.”

Carnival Cruise Line announces significant expansion in Norfolk

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2022 15 November 2022

Carnival Cruise Line yesterday announced it will more than double the cruises it offers from Norfolk, Virginia, in 2023, and extend sailings to a consecutive six-month period from May through October. The announcement is a first step toward a proposed year-round cruise program from Norfolk starting in 2025, as Carnival and City of Norfolk leaders discuss necessary terminal and port improvements to support an expansion of operations.

With plans to welcome about 100,000 guests next year, Carnival’s increase in operations will bring the highest volume of cruise guests in the history of Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center. The new 2023 offerings go on sale today and will include four- to 10-day voyages aboard Carnival Magic. Available itineraries include Eastern Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Canada and New England.

“We have been working closely with Norfolk city officials on this expansion since our successful restart earlier this year and it’s great to now share our plans with our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We look forward to building on our 20-year commitment to this community and continuing the momentum toward further expansion in the future, while increasing our positive economic impact in Norfolk.”

Carnival has been sailing from Norfolk since 2002 and Carnival Magic, which began sailing seasonally for the first time in May, became the largest ship to embark guests from the port, following enhancements to Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center. Carnival Magic accommodates up to 4,724 guests and offers bow-to-stern fun including a wide variety of stateroom accommodations, a multitude of dining options, Carnival’s signature entertainment, the Cloud 9 spa, water slides and the Serenity, adult-only retreat.

“For twenty years, Norfolk has valued its partnership with Carnival Cruise Line. Yesterday’s announcement is a significant milestone for our cruise program and our community,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. “For a full six months next year, guests from across the Mid-Atlantic will have the chance to board a Carnival ship from Norfolk and beginning in 2025, our collective goal is for Carnival to set sail from Nauticus year-round”

Carnival’s plan to deploy Carnival Magic for a longer stay in Norfolk is part of a larger expansion of the cruise line’s mid-Atlantic guest operations. In June of 2023, Carnival will begin offering year-round service from New York when the 5,260-passenger Costa Venezia joins the fleet as Carnival Venezia. This will allow Carnival Magic which has been splitting its spring/summer season between New York and Norfolk, to remain in Norfolk for half the year.

Global cruise business to meet in Madrid next week

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 November 2022 11 November 2022

On 15 and 16 November, the most important international professionals in the cruise industry will be meeting in Madrid for the twelfth edition of the International Cruise Summit, the prestigious congress that brings together the sector every year at the Hotel Meliá Castilla.

The cruise industry faces the future with optimism, enjoying very promising levels of bookings that could catapult it to record figures in 2023, but at the same time it is forced to overcome the difficulties of the current international situation, with high inflation rates in basic products and high fuel prices.

Indeed, 28 of the new ships that will be inaugurated in the coming years will use Liquefied Natural Gas, (LNG), as a cleaner transition fuel while other forms of emission-neutral energy generation can be developed that are viable in marine environments. This fuel, LNG, has doubled in price in just one year.

This is just one example of the difficulties that the industry is encountering in advancing its goal of decarbonisation, which also involves ports having electrical outlets to supply ships with green energy when they are docked so that they can turn off their engines. Only a few ports in the world have this system, which requires large investments, although there are quite a few projects underway. Will they arrive soon enough?

The cruise industry is way ahead of the curve, at the cutting edge of maritime transport, and is already developing several hydrogen-powered ship projects. One such project, the Northern Xplorer, aims to build the world's first zero-emission cruise ship, at the WestSea shipyard in Portugal. The company's CEO will present this project at the congress.

Top executives, international cruise line executives, port authorities, travel agents and companies and experts from the sector will be present at one of the most important cruise congresses in the world. The event will feature speakers from the top management of cruise lines such as Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Crociere; Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises; Mehmet Kutman, President and CEO of Global Ports Holding; Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys; Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic; Moran Mano, Vice President and Executive Manager of Mano Maritime; and Eithne Williamson, Vice President of Princess Cruises UK & Europe, among others.

Over the two days, a number of panel discussions and presentations will debate the recovery of the cruise industry and destinations, the challenges of re-recruiting all the workers the sector needs and how to regain pre-pandemic levels of sales and prices. Topics such as maritime insurance, digital innovation and river cruises, which are booming, will also be discussed.

MSC Cruises receives record 400,000 bookings in October

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 November 2022 10 November 2022

MSC Cruises said that October 2022 was the company’s best ever month for bookings with them as they received a record 400,000 bookings throughout the month. The company said in a statement they have also noticed a strong uptick in advance bookings especially for the winter 2022/23 and summer 2023 seasons.

Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises MD UK & Ireland commented: “The Naming Ceremony of MSC World Europa has been a brilliant event celebrated with our UK & Ireland trade partners. MSC World Europa is our most innovative, environmentally advanced and exciting ship to date.”

“We’re already seeing a surge in bookings on board MSC World Europa and it is proving to be the most popular ship for UK guests following MSC Virtuosa which is based in Southampton year-round," he continued.

“Winter cruises in the Middle East have always been a success with our UK guests and in recent years we have expanded our offering in this popular region. We have developed new itineraries that include Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as, of course, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and we have also increased the number of ports of embarkation.”