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MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrate construction milestones

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 22 June 2022 22 June 2022

The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated two important milestones over the weekend for MSC Cruises’ first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, both under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France.

MSC World Europa successfully completed its first set of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests included measuring the performance of the ship’s engines, along with assessing its maneuverability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. MSC World Europa will be the first LNG vessel to join the cruise line’s fleet in November 2022 and is set to become the largest LNG-powered cruise ship in the world.

Meanwhile, MSC Euribia was floated out and moved to a wet dock for work to continue on the ship before she joins MSC Cruises’ fleet in June 2023.

MSC has invested more than $3.14 billion in three LNG-powered cruise ships. The construction of the third ship – ‘World Class II’ – will begin at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard early next year.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “We made an important pledge last year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, leading the cruise industry on the path to decarbonization. MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will play a fundamental role in this journey.

“LNG is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale that reduces emissions significantly and offers compatibility with future alternative fuel solutions. We are actively investing in research and development regarding LNG, including a pilot LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell onboard MSC World Europa. If bio or synthetic LNG was available at scale today, both our newbuilds could operate with net zero emissions from the very first day.”

MSC World Europa – next-generation cruise experience

MSC World Europa is the first in the trailblazing MSC World Class – a brand new class of ships that will introduce a completely new cruising platform and accommodate up to 6,762 passengers.

MSC World Europa will incorporate future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, redefining the cruise experience with a variety of new concepts and creative areas unlike anything at sea today. The ground-breaking design features a Y-shaped aft that leads to the impressive 341-foot long, open-air Europa Promenade with breathtaking ocean views. Brand new balcony cabins overlook the stunning space, which features a striking architectural centerpiece in the form of The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck-high dry slide set to be the longest at sea.

MSC World Europa will debut in the Arabian Sea for winter 2022/23. MSC Cruises is deploying more capacity in the Middle East than ever, aiming to strengthen its position as the region’s market leader for vacations at sea. The ship will offer 7-night voyages between December 2022 and April 2023 from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Doha in Qatar before returning to Dubai.

In March 2023, the ship will head to the Mediterranean Sea and sail 7-night cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina; Valletta in Malta; Barcelona in Spain; and Marseille in France.

MSC Euribia – symbol of MSC Cruises’ respect for the oceans

MSC Euribia will become one of the most environmentally advanced ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet and is named after the ancient goddess Eurybia, who harnessed the winds, weather and constellations to master the seas. The ship will have a noticeably different look than others in MSC Cruises’ fleet thanks to exclusive artwork that transforms her hull into a giant, floating canvas to communicate the importance of sustainability and the Company’s commitment to the sea.

Starting in June 2023, MSC Euribia will spend her inaugural season in Northern Europe sailing from the German port of Kiel. Her 7-night itineraries to the Norwegian fjords include calls at Copenhagen, Denmark; Hellesylt, Norway for the Geirangerfjord; Alesund and Flam, also in Norway; and other destinations.
For details on MSC Euribia’s itineraries, click here.

MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia – environmentally advanced

Both MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will be powered by LNG fuel, which eliminates emissions like sulphur oxides and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 percent. LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation, as it reduces CO2 emissions by 25 percent and is paving the way for the uptake of sustainable non-fossil fuels like green hydrogen.

The two vessels will both feature selective catalytic reduction systems, shore-to-ship power connectivity, advanced wastewater treatment systems to comply with the Baltic standard – the strictest global standard for wastewater disposal to sea, underwater radiated noise management systems to reduce potential noise and vibration impact on marine mammals, and a wide range of energy efficient equipment and systems to optimize engine use.

Port Canaveral welcomes Disney Wish to its new homeport

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 20 June 2022 20 June 2022

Port Canaveral today welcomed home Disney Cruise Line’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. The long-awaited addition to the Port Canaveral based Disney fleet arrived before dawn this morning escorted by a flotilla of Port-based tugboats and the Port Canaveral Fire Rescue Fireboat 2 providing the traditional water cannon salute.

“We have anticipated this homecoming of the Disney Wish for some time and know that our entire Port community is excited to have her sailing from our Port,” said Port CEO Capt. John Murray. “We are proud of the longstanding partnership we have with Disney Cruise Line, and the arrival of the Disney Wish adds to the growing number of impressive cruise ships providing high quality guest experiences from our Port.”

The Disney Wish is powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and will be homeported at Port Canaveral – the only cruise port in North America to support LNG fueling of vessels.

The Disney Wish will offer 3- and 4-night itineraries to The Bahamas with stops at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Her inaugural sailing from the Port’s Cruise Terminal 8 will be July 14th.

The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet through 2025, and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, it is slightly larger than the Disney Fantasy, which is also homeported at Port Canaveral.

Disney Wish was constructed at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

Holland America's Rotterdam officially named

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 30 May 2022 30 May 2022

Holland America Line’s flagship Rotterdam received the royal treatment in a ceremony rich with Dutch heritage May 30, 2022, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands served as godmother and officially named the ship in front of invited dignitaries and guests.

Upon arrival, Princess Margriet was welcomed at the gangway with a traditional floral bouquet presented by seven-year-old Nora van Dijk, daughter of Nathalie van Dijk, who has been with Holland America Line for 15 years, most recently as a business development representative in sales in the Rotterdam office. During the daytime naming celebration, Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Holland America Group President Jan Swartz, Rotterdam Captain Werner Timmers, Lord Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb and Mariner Ambassadors David and Gisela Gere joined Princess Margriet to officially welcome Rotterdam to the fleet.

“Our heritage is rooted here in the Netherlands, and we are deeply honored to have Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet as godmother of her fifth Holland America Line ship,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “When Rotterdam was delivered in 2021 we postponed its naming ceremony so we could hold it in Rotterdam, because there’s no better place to name a ship than in the city it was named after. After a challenging couple of years, we are excited to celebrate this memorable moment in our company’s history.”

Following the ceremony, a gala luncheon was held onboard for invited guests. The festivities continued into the evening with a gala dinner and the opportunity for guests to pour champagne over the ship’s bell. The blessing of the ship’s bell is a Holland America Line tradition when welcoming a new ship to the fleet.

Rotterdam’s naming ceremony also was attended by Stein Kruse, senior advisor to the chairman and CEO, Carnival Corporation; Keith Taylor executive vice president, fleet operations Holland America Group; Randy Weisenburger, board member, Carnival Corporation; Nico Bleichrodt, vice president, international sales, Holland America Line and Seabourn; Jaap Smit, commissioner to the King; and Boudewijn Siemons, COO, Port Of Rotterdam and Chairman of the Cruise Policy Board. Antorcha was unable to attend the ceremony.

The Geres were selected as Mariner Ambassadors for Rotterdam to honor Holland America Line’s appreciation of its loyal guests who are long-time cruisers. Since first sailing in 1988 aboard Rotterdam V, the Geres have sailed nearly 2,500 days on Holland America Line, including several cruises on Rotterdam VI.

A history of royal namings

Holland America Line’s connection to The House of Orange goes back nearly a century to Prince Hendrik launching Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet who named Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam II (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).

Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. Then-Queen Beatrix served as Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Then-Princess Beatrix named Statendam IV in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1960. Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937.