Top Headlines

SunStone contracts Infinity ship number six, sees further four contracted by end May

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 April 2019 15 April 2019

SunStone Ships, the Miami based cruise ship tonnage provider, said it has signed an agreement to build the sixth Infinity class expedition cruise ship at China Merchants Heavy Industries; yard in Haimen in China.

“The sixth vessel now ordered already has a long-term charter agreement in place, and this vessel will be delivered September 2021. In addition to the six vessels already ordered, SunStone is in negotiations for four additional vessels where it is expected that Infinity Vessel No. 7 will be signed within May and the remaining three options will be signed within 2019,’ SunStone said in a statement.

The vessels are designed by Ulstein in Norway and feature their X-Bow design that enhances seakeeping wqualities. The latest contract came five months after Sunstone had contracted ships number four and five.

The ships are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115. The Vessels are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 and are being built with Safe Return to Port,Dynamic Positioning and Zero Speed Stabilizers. and facilities such as a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, boutique, gym and spa.

UK cruise market just exceeded 2.0 million passengers in 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 April 2019 15 April 2019

The number of ocean cruises taken by UK and Irish passengers increased by two percent to 2,009,000 in 2018 and thus exceeded the two million mark for the first time, figures released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) show.

The market had recorded 1.96 million passengers in 2017 and 1.95 million in the previous year. The UK and Ireland market became the second one after Germany to reach 2.0 million passengers. In 2010, senior Carnival UK officials forecast that the 2.0 million mark would be reached by 2020, which eventually did happen two years earlier.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “2018 was an impressive year for the UK and Ireland cruise industry. Surpassing the two million mark is a significant milestone, as it illustrates how cruise has become a major player within the UK and Irish travel sector.”

“As only the second European market to reach over two million cruises and the fourth globally, this figure demonstrates the continued strength of cruising as a mainstream holiday choice in the UK and Ireland and is a testament to the industry’s resilience to economic and political changes, ” he said a statement.

European cruise market growth accelerated to 3.3% to 7.17 million passengers in 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 April 2019 15 April 2019

The European ocean cruise passenger market grew by 3.3% to 7.17 million in 2018, marking an acceleration of expansion from 2.0% in 2017 on the previous year,. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) figures show.

Strong growth was seen in cruise passengers travelling to the Eastern Mediterranean, up 8.5% to 746,000 passengers, which illustrates a beginning of a return to confidence in the region. Other areas seeing significant growth, from a smaller base, include the Canary Islands, up 9.6% and the Baltics, up 9.0%

The central and western Mediterranean region remains the number one destination for European cruise passengers, and saw growth up by 1.2%, equivalent to 2.27 million passengers. Northern Europe was up 4.8% in 2018, to 1.43 million passengers, CLIA said in a statement.

RCCL orders fifth Edge class ship for Celebrity Cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 11 April 2019 11 April 2019

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, said it has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique to order a fifth Edge-class ship for delivery in the fall of 2024.

"Edge class made an immediate hit with Celebrity Cruises guests and is a state-of-the-art example of technical excellence and elegant design," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, RCCL. "We can't wait to build the next one."

"Celebrity Edge has delighted our guests and affirmed Celebrity Cruises as the leading modern luxury brand. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has been a brilliant partner and we look forward to creating another amazing vessel with them," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

"We are really proud and happy to have built such an outstanding relationship with our customer, based on mutual trust and driven by the spirit of innovation," said Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l'Atlantique. "After the four Millennium-class ships at the beginning of 2000's and the four Edge-class ships, this is the ninth ship ordered by Celebrity Cruises at our shipyard and it will be the 24th vessel built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and operated by RCCL. This is a real testimony of the exceptional level of cooperation we reached together."

Celebrity Edge was delivered in 2018. Three other Edge-class ships were ordered earlier and are scheduled for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This new order is contingent upon financing.

RCCL is a global cruise vacation company that controls and operates four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We are also a 50% joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49% shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur Cruceros. Together these brands operate a combined total of 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 31, 2019. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on all seven continents.

Global cruise market grew 5.3% to 28.2 million passengers 2018 – CLIA

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 April 2019 10 April 2019

The number of cruise passengers worldwide rose by 5.3% to 28.2 million last year, slightly less than the 5.9% increase in the previous year, figures published by CLIA show.

The organisation is forecasting that the pace of growth would accelerate slightly, to 6.0% this year and that a total of 30 million passengers would cruise in 2019.