FLEETS GETTING NEW ADDITIONS
A cruise-ship growth spurt is on the horizon
Cruising is about to experience a major growth spurt, with 35 ships scheduled to launch during the next five years. Considering they usually announce the construction of new ships three years away, that mould has been broken with announcements slated in four and five years’ time, respectively.
While many will be constructed as sister ships, a number of these will be completely new builds.
Also in the works: more “greening” of ships. Some new ships are outfitted with solar panels, fuel scrubbers and new hull surfaces that cut fuel usage; just about all refuse will be recyclable; and to reduce pollution, many ports including Vancouver are offering shore power so the engines can be shut down while docked.
As for new ships, picking a winner among those offering a first new-build will be difficult. Holland America, which is overdue for a new ship, will launch its Pinnacle Class with the Koningsdam in April, along with several more on the way. New will be restaurants, a culinary arts center where passengers can participate in cooking lessons, and a series of solo and family cabins. I’m anxious to board her on April 27. The class of ship is fitting: the Pinnacle Restaurant on Holland America ships is among the finest at sea.
I’m joining the 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista on May 14 — and the word “first” is being used liberally. It will have the first Imax theatre at sea, the first open-air SkyRide around the top of the ship, an on-board brewery, a dedicated family-only zone with a private lounge, and a new class of cabins. Havana Cabanas come equipped with outdoor patios and loungers facing the Havana Bar and pool, an exclusive to those cabins. The larger family cabins will accommodate five passengers.
In July, Regent Seven Seas will introduce the Explorer, the fleet’s largest ship. It will carry 738 passengers. Regent is claiming its 1,500-square-foot suite will be the finest on any cruise ship. There will be 369 suites (the smallest being 300 square feet), a nine-deck atrium, a two-storey theatre and six open-seating gourmet restaurants — amazing for a ship that size.
Luxury will be in full swing with the launch of the 604-passenger Seabourn Encore, an all-suite ship — 302 suites with private balconies.
All-new designs slated to arrive in 2017 include:
The 596-passenger Silver Muse, Silversea’s largest ship
MSC Meraviglia, the secondlargest vessel after Royal Caribbean’s Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas
MSC Seaside, the first of the Seaside class of ships, and permanently based in Miami
In 2018, Celebrity will launch new-design ships from under the working name Project Edge. Crystal Cruises, spending billions on new ships and planes, will launch its first new ship in 12 years and claim the highest space ratio at sea.