Royal Caribbean Sell Island Cruises

Royal Caribbean has announced plans to sell its 50% stake in Island Cruises. They are to sell their share of the company to British tour operator; TUI Travel Plc.

The sale of Royal Caribbean’s stake would mean that TUI would become the full owner of Island Cruises.

With Island Star being owned by Royal Caribbean, travellers may become affected; as the ship is to depart the fleet when TUI takes over. Island Star is to join Pullmantur Cruises; a cruise line based in Spain which is also owned by Royal Caribbean. The cruise ship is expected to leave the Island Cruises fleet in April 2009.

Once the sale of Royal Caribbean’s share in Island Cruises is sold, Island Cruises will cease to exist as it will become integrated with Thomson Cruises; also owned by TUI.

Lets hope this is not the end for Cheap Cruises from the UK!

Carnival Ship Sold to Royal Caribbean

Carnival have sold Pacific Star, one of their P&O Cruises Australia fleet, to Royal Caribbean for an undisclosed fee. She will be pressed into action by Pullmantur, the Spanish cruise line purchased by Royal Caribbean in 2006.

Pacific Star will be renamed for the fourth time in her history following the sale. She was built in 1982 and christened Carnival Tropicale before being moved to Costa Cruises and renamed Costa Tropicale.

Currently cruising in the southern hemisphere, she has a capacity to carry 1,350 passengers and weighs 35,000 tons. The date for the transfer has not yet been announced.

Seven New Ships due in 2007

Estimated Inaugural: February, 2007
Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship Name: Carnival Freedom
Size: GRT: 110,000
Capacity: 2974 (double occupancy)
Builder: Fincantieri - Sestri, Italy

This is an additional Conquest class vessel ordered as part of a four-ship deal with Fincantieri, two of which ended up going to the Carnival brand. As a Conquest-class, it will not fit through the Panama Canal. Given that there is an almost two-year lag between this ship and the previous one of this class delivered (Carnival Liberty), there will likely be some progressions in the design.

Estimated Inaugural: April, 2007
Cruise Line: MSC
Ship Name: MSC Orchestra
Size: GRT: 89,600
Capacity: 2,550 lower berths - 3,000 total & 1,000 crew
Builder: Aker France - St. Nazaire, France

This will be the second of the Musica class.

Estimated Inaugural: May 19, 2007
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Ship Name: Liberty of the Seas
Size: GRT: 160,000
Capacity: 3600 lower berths
Builder: Aker Finnyards - Finland

This will be the second of the “Ultra Voyager-class” When it is delivered the class will still have bragging rights to being the largest passenger ships in the world.

Estimated Inaugural: Spring, 2007
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
Ship Name: Emerald Princess
Size: GRT: 116,000
Capacity: 3100
Builder: Fincantieri - Monfalcone, Italy

This is an additional Caribbean-class vessel ordered as part of the four-ship order with Fincantieri, the only one in the order designated for Princess. It will be the third in the series. It has not necessarily been designated for the Caribbean as the previous two were, but it will likely have a long life in whichever ocean it starts since it will not fit through the Panama Canal.

Estimated Inaugural: May, 2007
Cruise Line: Costa
Ship Name: Costa Serena
Size: GRT: 112,000
Capacity: 3000 (double occupancy), total capacity 3,780
Builder: Fincantieri - Sestri, Italy

This will be the second of Costa’s Concordia class. Deployment is thought to be year round in the Mediterranean.

Estimated Inaugural: October, 2007
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship Name: Norwegian Gem
Size: GRT: 92,000
Capacity: 2,384 lower berths
Builder: Meyer Werft (Papenburg Germany yard)

This will be the third in the Norwegian Jewel series with 540 staterooms and suites with private balconies.

Estimated Inaugural: December 11, 2007
Cruise Line: Cunard
Ship Name: Queen Victoria
Size: GRT: 90,000
Capacity: 2000
Builder: Fincantieri - Marghera, Italy

This ship will be similar to HAL’s line of Vista-class vessels, but with Cunard’s own twists in the design and slightly larger. It will be built to Panamax standards, so it can be used in both the Atlantic and Pacific. 86% of the cabins will be outside, 71% of those with private verandahs. In September 2004 the design was enlarged as part of an order of four other ships from Fincantieri. It was originally slated for 88,000 tons and a capacity of 1968. Eleven meters were added to the length raising the tonnage to 90,000 and increasing the capacity to 2000, but the ship will still be able to transit the Panama Canal.

Initial Deployment: The first two voyages will be round trips from Southampton. Cunard says it will be used for a mix of cruises, ocean crossings and world cruises.