
CRUISE NEWS:
On this page, additional information will be given on
interesting news concerning cruises and cruise ships. The
intention is to renew this page on a regular base. The current
information consists of the following items. For expired news items please go to
page archive.
INDEX
*MSC
orders 2 Musica class.
*
Glorius return of ss.Rotterdam
*Pacific
Sun in bad weather again
*Queen
Elizabeth-2” the end is near
*Eurodam
first visit Rotterdam
*Prince
Albert II Silversea new expedition ship
*Central
Park on board
*
Club Cruise sold
Da Vinci (ex.Finnjet) and Astoria.
*Louis
Cruises Aquire NCL ships
*Joint
venture TUI Cruises and Royal Caribbean (Update)
*Queen
Beatrix to christen the Eurodam
*MSC
Poesia is the first MSC newbuilds to be christened abroad
*Celebrity
orders fith Solstice -class ship
*Pride
of Aloha from Hawaii
*Apollo
buys Regent and forms holding company
*
Queen Victoria the last one in
2007
*Expedition
cruise ship Explorer sunk
*
Eurodam naming
ceremony to be held in Rotterdam
*
Dutch Club Cruise aquired
New-Flamenco and Finnjet
*New
orders for Fincantieri from Cunard and Costa
*Silversea
buys expedition ship World Discoverer
*Second
ship for easyCruise.
*Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced a new French cruise brand.
*Apollo
invest $ 1 billion in NCL Corp. to take 50% stake.
*QE-2
Retirement
* Bankruptcy after bankruptcy
MSC orders 2
Musica class.
Naples aug.14 - 2008 Despite on the
economic situation the rapidly expanding Naples based cruise operator MSC
Cruises has signed a contract with Aker Yards for the fifth and sixth unit of
the 93,500 gross ton Musica class newbuildings.
The vessels will be built at Aker Yards, Saint-Nazaire and delivered in February
2011 and February 2012 respectively. The contract is still subject to financing,”
Aker Yards said in a statement. Each ship will have 2,550 lower berths.
MSC Poesia, third unit of the class, was introduced in April and MSC Magnifica,
the fourth ships, is due in 2010. The company also has two 133,500 gross ton
newbuildings on order at the same builder and MSC Fantasia, the first of them is
due to enter service in December this year and MSC Splendida in 2009.
INDEX
Glorius return of ss.Rotterdam:
Rotterdam aug.4-2008
Thousands of spectators
stood along the New Waterway when the ss. "Rotterdam" return home on
Aug.4 - 2008 almost 49 year after her birthday. At about 4 pm. she entered the
New Waterway. Towed by four Kotugs tugboats to her final destination at the 3e
Katendrechtse Hoofd at Maashaven where she was moored ...................
Please read more and watch many
images >>>>
INDEX
Pacific
Sun in bad weather again:
Auckland N-Z july 30 - 2008 42 passengers have
received medical attention after PACIFIC SUN was hit by severe weather, experienced 7 metre swells and 50
knot winds causing her to
roll sharply just before 8 pm
last night. Three passengers with broken bones were taken to a hospital
in Auckland. The ship was en
route from Vanuatu to Auckland following an eight day cruise in the South Pacific,
and is now holding its position about 540 kilometres north east of New
Zealand. Several elderly people among the 1,732 passengers and 671 crew
left the ship with arms bound in slings. The ship docked
august-1 in Auckland.
One year ago an equal accident in the same area took place.
Please read more about the
Pacific Sun: >>>
INDEX
|
“Queen
Elizabeth-2” the end is near!
Southamton June -2008 Almost one year ago it was
announced that the ship has been purchased by the
Dubai
investment company Istithmar for $100 million.
July 18 and 19
she has visit for the last time Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. In
Zeebrugge together with her successor “Queen Victoria”.
Her Final Voyage starts on nov.11. A 16 days
cruise brings her to the final destination Dubai.
After arrival, she will be refurbished and
berthed permanently at the
Palm
Jumeirah from 2009 as a luxury floating hotel,
retail, museum and entertainment destination. The refurbishments
will see the restoration of the Queen Elizabeth -2 original
1969 interior. Before her final voyage a serie of
Mediterranean,
British Island and Canada/New England
cruises are planned. On oct.10 starts her final
Transatlantic Crossing.
The QE-2 is a
remarkable ship ...... Please
read more . >>>
INDEX
Eurodam first visit Rotterdam:
Rotterdam june 29 – 2008 Sunday early morning on june 29 the
“Eurodam” visit for the first time her homeport Rotterdam.
With one more passenger deck than
Holland America's Vista-class ships, the 11-deck Eurodam will be
Holland America's largest ship.
The
“Eurodam” has visit first Southampton, England, on June 27. In
Rotterdam to begin a series of introductory events for past
guests, travel sellers, media and local officials. Three days of
festivities including a naming ceremony with Her Majesty Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands officially dedicating the ship on
July 1. July 2 the ship set sail to Hamburg and Copenhagen. From
Copenhagen their cruiseseason will be started.
Please read more: >>>
INDEX
Prince Albert II Silversea new expedition ship:
Monte Carlo June 3-2008 In Monte
Carlo's harbor on july 3 the expedition ship “Prince Albert II”
officially joined the Silversea fleet during a naming ceremony
in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. The “Prince
Albert II” is the former “World Discoverer” bought september
25-2007 by Silversea. Fresh from a multimillion dollar
renovation at Fincantieri Shipyard – Venice, the Prince Albert
II boasts the largest average size accommodations of any
expedition ship.
The ship will maintain the line's
reputation for intimate yet spacious ships.
An unmatched selection of 20 premium
suites has been created especially for the discriminating
traveler with 350 to 675 square feet of luxurious living space,
double private French balconies or large private verandas, and
additional elite amenities including butler service. All 66
ocean-view accommodations are tastefully appointed and have
private marble bathrooms with bathtubs. The Prince Albert II
welcomes her first guests on June 12 as she sets sail from
London on an Inaugural Season of voyages of 10 to 22 days
focusing on polar adventures. Sailing first to the Arctic Circle,
Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland for the summer, the ship will
then reposition to South America and Antarctica for autumn and
winter voyages
Please read more: >>>>
INDEX
Central Park on board:
Miami/Helsinki june-2008 With the
astounding array of choices and amenities being introduced on
Royal Caribbean International's next generation of cruise ships,
vacationers will be hard-pressed to find another experience as
spectacular as what they will enjoy on “Oasis of the Seas” and
“Allure of the Seas”. Such as a Central Park on board.
Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the
ship opens to the sky, features lush, tropical grounds spanning
the length of a football field. With its serene pathways,
seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees, Central Park will
evolve from a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere during the day to
a gathering space for alfresco dining and entertainment in the
evening, where guests will enjoy concerts and street
performances. Several bars will be scattered
throughout the Park, including the Canopy Bar, located at one of
two impressive glass-domed canopies, and the unique Rising Tide
bar—the first moving bar at sea.
The
inaugural voyage of the“Oasis of the Seas” planned for 12th
December 2009. “Allure of the Seas” will follow one year
later. More innovative attractions on board will announced soon.
INDEX
Club Cruise sold Da Vinci (ex.Finnjet) and Astoria
:
INDEX
Louis Cruises aquire NCL ships:
Miami/Cyprus, April
22 – 2008 -
Louis plc has entered into an
agreement with Star Cruises for the purchase of two of its
cruise ships, namely the Norwegian Dream and the
Norwegian Majesty for a total amount of US $ 380 million
(Euro 240 million). The purchase price for the first one is US
$218 million (Euro 138 million) and US $162 million (Euro 102
million) for the second one. As per the terms of the agreement,
the two cruise ships will be chartered back to Star Cruises
until November 2008 for the Norwegian Dream and December 2009
for the Norwegian Majesty. The funding has been undertaken by
DVB Bank, the global specialist transportation finance bank. The
purchase of these two cruise ships constitutes the most
important renewal and upgrading of the Louis Cruise Lines fleet
in its twenty-two year old history and at the same time it
further enhances the company’s leading position in the Eastern
Mediterranean cruise market.
The
Group also proceeded with the acquisition of the proprietorship
of cruise ships Thomson Destiny and Thomson Spirit,
which are held by the Company within the framework of the bear/boat/hire
purchase agreement against the sum of €80.0 million. The ships
are chartered with TUI until 2011. The owner of the Thomson
Destiny was the Norwegian Fulmar Group. The Thomson
Spirit was owned by Windsurf a Carnival/HAL daughter.
INDEX
|
Joint Venture TUI Cruises and Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd.
|
|
Miami /Hannover, April 22 - 2008
-- Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and TUI AG today
announced that they have successfully closed on their
joint venture to form TUI Cruises, a cruise line
specifically designed to serve the German cruise market.
The companies announced their intentions to form TUI
Cruises on December 10, 2007. On March 10, 2008, they
received permission to move forward from European
antitrust regulators. Each company holds a 50 percent
interest in the joint venture.Further details regarding
the brand's first ship and the TUI Cruises product will
be revealed at an April 29 press event in Hamburg. The
first ship will be a second hand Royal Caribbean or
Celebrity cruiseship and start cruising in may 2009.
April 29 2008 -
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Galaxy will become the
first ship of TUI Cruises, a new cruise brand
established through a joint venture between Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
According to TUI
Cruises, EUR 50 million will be spent during a two-month
drydocking in March thru May, 2009.
Lower-bed capacity
is to increase to 1,960. In her new incarnation "Celebrity
Galaxy" will have 327 inside cabins (+18), 223 oceanview
cabins (-202) and 430 balcony cabins (+210). The spa
area will be completly rebuilt and greatly expanded from
870 m² to 1,750 m².
New name is not announced yet.
INDEX
|
Queen
Beatrix to christen the Eurodam:
Miami/Rotterdam, March 11-2008
-Holland America Line will continue its traditional ties to the
Netherlands when Queen Beatrix names the new Eurodam on July 1
in Rotterdam. The news was announced by HAL president and ceo
Stein Kruse today at Seatrade Miami. The naming ceremony will
take place at Rotterdam’s Wilhelminakade, steps from HAL’s
historic headquarters and its current European head office.The
naming ceremony on July 1 will include festivities along
Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam's cruise ship terminal area, in front
of the former headquarters of Holland America Line, which is now
Hotel New York. The company was founded in1873 at Rotterdam.

INDEX
MSC Poesia the first MSC newbuilds to be christened abroad:
Genua Febr./March - 2008
-MSC Poesia is the first of our newbuilds to be christened
abroad,’ stated Pierfrancesco Vago, ceo of MSC Cruises. ‘Dover
was chosen as a venue for her christening to highlight the
importance of the UK market for the cruising industry,’ he
stated.
MSC Cruises has announced Their Royal Highnesses Prince and
Princess Michael of Kent will attend the launch of the new ship
MSC Poesia in Dover on April 5. Prince Michael is Her Majesty
The Queen's first cousin.In addition to godmother Sophia Loren
other celebrities performing live on board at the ship’s naming
event are Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli, singer/songwriter
KT Tunstall and young jazz supremo, Peter Grant,accompanied by
the Ronnie Scott Orchestra.
INDEX
Celebrity Cruises orders fifth Solstice-Class Ship:
Papenburg, February 15- 2008 -
The US cruise operator Celebrity Cruises (Miami), a subsidiary
of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, has ordered a fifth big cruise
liner from Meyer Werft in Papenburg. The previous contracts for
four ships of the Solstice class are now followed by a
pre-contract for the construction of a fifth cruise
ship.Delivery of the fifth ship is scheduled for the autumn of
2012. The first ship of this class, the Celebrity Solstice, will
be delivered in the autumn this year. The other ships will
follow at one-year intervals each. |
|
INDEX
Pride of Aloha
withdraw
from Hawaii:
Miami/Honolulu, Feb 12 - 2008
Lots of people in Hawaii as well as passengers booked on NCL America cruises
this summer were surprised to hear that Pride of Aloha will be leaving the
NCLA fleet as early as May, leaving Pride of America to be the only US-flagged
ship sailing within Hawaii, and its 7-day itinerary will also be modified in
May.Commenting on Pride of Aloha’s withdrawal from Hawaii service – leaving NCL
America a one-ship operation for the near future, president and ceo Colin Veitch
again blamed foreign-flag competition for driving down pricing. The first ship
leaving NCLA fleet was the Pride of Hawaii now sailing for NCL under the name of
Norwegian Jade. Pride of Aloha will go to Star Cruises for cruises in the Far
East.
INDEX
Apollo
buys Regent and forms holding company:
Minneapolis
-dec 11-2007
Private equity investor Apollo Management L.P. is increasing its
involvement in the cruise market. It has agreed to acquire the Regent Seven Seas
Cruises operations of Carlson Companies, Inc. The acquisition is expected to be
completed in the first quarter of 2008
subject to normal
conditions for a transaction of this type, including regulatory approval The
cruise operations will continue as a key part of the global Regent brand. Regent
Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will be placed under the ownership of
Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc. (PCH), a corporation controlled by Apollo
which will manage certain cruise portfolio assets of Apollo. NCL Corporation
will remain a separate holding outside of PCH. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will
remain a wholly independent brand under the guidance of Mark Conroy, president
of Regent Seven Seas Cruises,and will continue to operate from its Fort
Lauderdale, Florida headquarters, and Oceania Cruises will remain in its Miami
headquarters, headed by Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. Both Binder
and Conroy will report directly to Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige
Cruise Holdings. The transaction is part of a unified strategy undertaken by
Apollo and Carlson to expand their respective core cruise and hotel operations,
and become the world's pre-eminent operators of luxury hotels, resorts
andcruises. Carlson will retain ownership of the master Regent brand, along with
the worldwide operations of Regent Hotels & Resorts
INDEX
Queen Victoria the last one in
2007:
Southampton - dec. 11-2007
Queen Victoria the last cruiseship deliverd in 2007.
This ship will be more or less similar to HAL's line of Vista-class
vessels, but with Cunard's own twists in the design and slightly larger. 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 90,049 and
increasing the capacity to 2014, but the ship will still be able to transit the
Panama Canal. Cunard takes delivery of the Queen Victoria on Nov.24.
The ceremony, take place on board the new vessel at
the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard. Queen Victoria is due to leave the shipyard
on 30 November, and sail to Southampton. Cunard’s new ocean liner, will
be named by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of His
Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, during a spectacular ceremony to be held in
Southampton on Monday 10 December. The Maiden Voyage starts on Tuesday 11
December. For more technical info and images please go to:
http://www.nedcruise.info/queen_victoria.htm
INDEX
Expedition
cruise ship Explorer sunk:
Punta Arenas nov.23-2007
The dramatic story of ice-classed
expedition cruise ship EXPLORER sinking off Argentina's
coast in the Antarctic Ocean after striking an underwater object likely an
iceberg. All 154 passengers and crew have been safely evacuated to 11,386 gt
NORDNORGE by life rafts. The Nordnorge was also involved with the
rescue, earlier this year, of the stranding of sistership Nordkapp in the same
area. The 2,393 gt expedition ship remains at a 30 degree list to starboard in
Bransfield Strait off King George Island. She sunk in about 15 hours time.
The weather condition was pretty good for that area because it can change very
rapid.
The
1969-built Explorer owned by Canadian Gap Shipping, a subsidiary of Gap
Adventures and fly the Liberian flag.
Antarctica is an unforgiving maritime environment but there is risk to cruising
her waters.Lloyd’s
List has discovered that the vessel had five deficiencies at its last
inspection, including missing search and rescue plans and lifeboat maintenance
problems. Watertight doors were described as 'not as required' and the fire
safety measures also attracted criticism.

INDEX
Eurodam naming
ceremony to be held in Rotterdam:
Seattle/Rotterdam nov.5-2007
Holland - America Line will hold the official naming ceremony for the Eurodam on
July 1, 2008, in Rotterdam the city where the 135-year-old Dutch company was
founded. The naming will be held near the company’s original headquarters, now
the Hotel New York. A number of events and activities are being planned. The
name of the ship's godmother is not mentioned yet. The ship arrives June 29 for
four days of celebration and departs July 2 on a three-day prelude cruise to
Copenhagen - Denmark. To reach Rotterdam the Eurodam will sail from Venice,
Italy, to Southampton, England. Events will be held in both cities to showcase
the ship. Fincantieri shipyard and Holland America Line will celebrate the
ship’s completion in Venice.

INDEX
Dutch Club Cruise aquired
New-Flamenco and Finnjet:
Veenendaal nov. 3 - 2007 Dutch Club Cruise
has purchased
the New-Flamenco.
The fast expanding Dutch company acquired its fifth ship. The New-Flamenco, the
former Flamenco
of deduct Festival Cruises is currently on charter, sailing for Spanish
Globelia/Travelplan. The owner of the ship was Fulton Shipping Inc.- Panama an
affiliated Ravenscroft Shipmanagement company. The New-Flamenco built in
1972 as Spirit of London meet 17.042 tons. Passenger capacity based on two is
798 persons.The
price was not disclosed. Change of ownership will be effected on nov. 6. The New-Flamenco
will not be renamed.
The
ship will be deployed from january 1 -2008 for the first 6-9 month's as hotelship
in New-Caledonia. After this period
end 2008 the ship will on charter to Japanese Peaceboat organisation for approx. 5 years.
3 Weeks after
the company's acquisition of New-Flamenco
Dutch-based Club Cruise has acquired FINNJET. This fast ferry powered by
gas-turbines of in total 55.000 kW
and a max. speed of 32 knots was owned by Silja Line a Sea Container company.
Ferry operations in the Baltic mainly between Finland and Germany was ended
sept. 2005. After that time she stint as an accommodation ship at New Orleans
after Hurricane Katrina until june 2006. Until the purchase by Club Cruise she
has been laid up in the Bahamas. To save fuel consumption 2 diesel electric
powerplants of in total 11.400 kW have been added in 1981. Its reduced the
speed to 18.5 knots mostly used in winterperiod sailings. No details have
emerged as to what it intends to do with the ship, however to use the
Finnjet as
a cruise ship an important refurbishment in accommodation as well in powerplants
is necessary.
Club Cruise owns the van
Gogh-Albatros-Astoria-Jules Verne ( in 2008 renamed in
Alexander von Humboldt)
- New-Flamenco and the Finnjet. All ships are chartered out.
INDEX
New orders for
Fincantieri:
Italy October 10 and 18 - 2007
First order came from Cunard. Cunard has signed an order with
Fincantieri to build a new 2,092–passenger ocean liner, at an all-in cost of
approximately €500m. The 92,000gt vessel, to be called Queen Elizabeth, will be
the second largest Cunarder ever built and is scheduled to enter service in the
autumn of 2010. The Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new
Cunarder 'Queen Elizabeth', after our first vessel of that name." The new ship
follows a long line of famous Cunard liners stretching back to the company's
inception as the first operator of a timetabled transatlantic service 167 years
ago.
Second from Costa Crociere. Costa Crociere, the
leading cruise line in Italy and Europe, has announced an order for two new
114,200-ton ships to be delivered in 2011 and 2012. Costa Crociere S.p.a,
signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of
the two new vessels at an all-in cost of approximately €1 billion (€510 million
per ship). The two new ships will be built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard
and will be sister ships to the Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Pacifica,
the latter of which is currently being built at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente
shipyard. The new ships will each be able to accommodate 3,780 passengers in
total (including all upper berths) or 3,012 guests based on double occupancy.
Both Cunard and Costa are units of Carnival Corporation & plc
INDEX
Silversea buys expedition ship World Discoverer:
Monaco September 25 - 2007
Silversea Cruises' parent company, Silversea Cruises Group Ltd., announced today
that it has purchased the expedition ship World Discoverer. The
company took delivery of the vessel in Singapore on September 17. The ship will
undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before it begins service in spring
2008.
Acquisition Opens Door
to Antarctic Explorations We believe that exploration cruises can combine
extremely well with an utterly exclusive product. With the addition of World
Discoverer, our current fleet increases to five ships and to six in 2009,
offering a more-expansive cruise schedule that encompasses all seven continents.The
6,072-ton vessel also boasts a strengthened hull with the highest Lloyd's
Register ice-class notation (1A),
appropriate for navigating waters, without an escort, in some of the world's
most remote regions, including Antarctica.
New name and more details
concerning the refurbishment will given shortly.
INDEX
Second ship for easyCruise:
Cyprus Sept.11 - 2007 easyCruise
has acquired a second ship, to be named easyCruise Life, which
will join the fleet with a new seven-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey
starting next spring.
The 1981-built ship, formerly The Jasmine, was sold by Mano Maritime last August
and is currently sailing as Farah, operated by
International
Maritime Investments out of Jordan
easyCruise is due to take delivery in October before undertaking a refurbishment
programme. easyCruise Life will have capacity of around 500 lower
berths compared to easyCruiseOne’s 232. From April 2008, easyCruise Life
will sail to six Greek islands, from Syros and Samos to Kalymnos, Kos,
Paros and Mykonos for a 24-hour stay. easyCruise will visit Turkey for the first
time with a full day and night in Bodrum. Customers can choose where to join the
cruise – in Athens on Saturday or in Bodrum on Monday. The newbuilding programme
for up to four new ships is still on the agenda although ‘not far on’ from when
originally announced in 2005.
INDEX
Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced a new French cruise brand.
Miami, Sept. 12 -
2007 Continuing
its expansion in Europe, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced a new French
cruise brand.CDF Croisieres de France, committed to the French
market. The new brand will begin sailing its first ship, Bleu de France,
in May, 2008, after the ship has completed extensive renovations and undergone a
cultural transformation wholly adapting the brand experience to French
tastes.The onboard experience of Bleu de France's guests will be
totally French, from cuisine to entertainment to decor. French will be the
language used on the ship as well.The Bleu de France will be the
former Holiday Dream of Pullmantur.
The ship will sail a Mediterranean itinerary, departing from Marseille, France,
starting in Spring, 2008. It will shift to a Caribbean routing,
sailing out of La Romana, Dominican Republic, beginning in Winter, 2008-2009.
INDEX
APOLLO INVEST $ 1 Bn. IN NCL Corp. TO TAKE 50% STAKE:
Miami, August 17 -
2007 NCL
Corporation Ltd. (NCLC) parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and NCL
America, announced today that private equity group, Apollo Management, has
agreed to make a $1 billion cash equity investment
in the
recapitalised
NCLC.
Star Cruises is retaining all its existing stock in NCL and will be a 50% owner
of the recapitalized company. The company is not being sold.
The
investment, in the form of common stock alongside NCL’s existing sole
shareholder, Star Cruises, is designed to strengthen NCL’s balance sheet and its
continued growth, NCL said in a statement.
Today's news follows the Star's suspension of its
share trading in HongKong and Singaporeon Monday, pending the release of
price-sensitive information.
Following the
transaction, expected to be closed in 4Q07, Apollo will have three members on
the NCL board, and Star Cruises will have two, giving Apollo effective control (although
Star will retain "certain consent rights with respect to expenditures,
acquisitions and divestitures, indebtedness, etc."). Proceeds will be used to
pay down debt and increase liquidity for NCL's newbuilding programme. Also,
Apollo and Star will enter into a sub-agreement related to NCL's US-flag Hawaii
operations, providing for "deferred consideration to be paid to Star by NCL in
the future". That agreement is designed to support NCL-America business in
the near term and permit NCL America time to realise the benefits of various
measures to raise yields and lower turnover.
Apollo and Star also agreed to allow time to see if
recently implemented actions can turn around the struggling U.S.-flag operations.
Meanwhile, Star will continue to underwrite NCL America’s losses, up to $50m,
after which the losses will be split by Star and NCL. Should the operation be
discontinued, plans include the transfer of one ship to Star and one ship to
NCL’s international fleet.
Apollo acquired last February an unspecified controlling in interest in Oceania
Cruises that valued the company at $850 million.
There will be no change in NCL’s management or day to
day operations, according to Steve Martinez, partner of Apollo Management. The
company has no immediate plans to increase its stake in NCL nor to combine it
with Oceania Cruises, in which Apollo invested $850m earlier this year, he added.
INDEX
QE-2 RETIREMENT:
London
June 18- 2007-
Cunard has set the date for the end of an era. Queen Elizabeth 2 will retire in
November 2008, but unlike so many other classic ships, it will certainly live on
because Cunard has sold it to
Istithmar,the
investment arm of Dubai World,who
will restore it and pour the funds into it which are necessary to maintain it.The
QE2 will be delivered to Dubai World in November 2008, where she will cease her
role as an ocean-going passenger vessel and be refurbished and adapted for her
new home as a first class tourism destination. From 2009,the vessel will be
berthed at a specially-constructed pier at The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s
largest man-made island,to create a luxury floating hotel, retail and
entertainment destination.The ship, which was delivered in 1969.Is
the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history, and was their
longestserving flagship. She
has undertaken 25
world cruises, has
crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and has carried more than 2.5 million
passengers. The cost of the deal is said to be worth US $ 100 million.
For shipdetails and images please visit:
http://www.nedcruise.info/queen%20elizabeth%202.htm
INDEX
BANKRUPTCY AFTER BANKRUPTCY:
Due to the tremendous new-building programs and of course the
Sept. 11 tragedy many cruise lines went for chapter 11 protection or bankruptcy.
The most of them will never survive in future. Here are the facts
who are following?
List is based on situation Sept. 2000 until this moment. Dates are the first
date, that financial trouble came into publication. Some of the bankruptcs are
described in detail on the page News or Archive.
PREMIER CRUISE LINE - USA:
Sept.19-2000
COMMODORE CRUISE LINE - USA: Dec.30-2000
RENAISSANCE CRUISES - USA :
Sept. 25 - 2001
AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES - USA: October
19 - 2001
REGAL CRUISES Inc. -USA: April 28
- 2003
SUN BAY - CRUISES -GERMANY:
Sept. - 2003
OCEAN CLUB CRUISES
- MARSHALL ISLANDS: Jan. 10 - 2004
FIRST EUROPEAN/FESTIVAL CRUISES-
GREECE/FRANCE; March 8-2004
SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS
- GERMANY: June 26 - 2004
ATW CRUISES -SAFEZONE - AUSTRALIA:
Dec. - 2004
ROYAL OLYMPIA CRUISES - GREECE:
Januari 2005
HOLIDAY
KREUZFAHRTEN - GERMANY Sept. -
2006
WINDJAMMER BAREBOAT CRUISES
Oct. 2007
INDEX
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