Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 7, 2016

CND subscribers also read about:

• Royal Caribbean International beginning to offer multi-day shore excursions.
• Carnival Foundation awarding 15 South Florida high school students four-year college scholarships. The program mentors them before they reach high school and all the way through high school. Over the past 14 yeas, Carnival has provided more than $2.3 million to purchase scholarships for 105 students. 
• Fincantieri delivered Koningsdam to Holland America Line last week, and the Italian builder provides a unique perspective on the ship in the video below.

Details appeared in the April 7 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

MSC Signs LOI for up to Four Additional Ships with STX France

This may sound like a news item that is being repeated, but it is a brand-new story. MSC Cruises has ordered yet another new class of ship from STX France.

This means MSC now has on order three (yes, three) new classes of ships, which if all the options are exercised, will total eleven futuristic new ships to be delivered by 2026. It probably also makes MSC the only line to ever have three classes of ships on order at the same time, none of which have even entered service.

The letter of intent signed today provides for two firm orders and two options for ships which will be known as the World Class.

The complete story appeared in the April 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 6, 2016

CND subscribers also read about:

• Crystal's 100,000-ton newbuild that was supposed to be delivered in the fall of 2018 is being delayed until 2019. Crystal will still take delivery of their 25,000-ton expedition ship in 2018. 
• Fincantieri laid the keel for the fourth ship in the Viking Ocean series at their Ancona yard today. It will be called Viking Sun and be delivered in 2017. 
• Carnival Victory achieved a perfect score on its latest US public heath inspection. 
• When Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas takes to the ocean, it will have the ultimate waterslide at sea - The Ultimate Abyss. The only waterslide that drops you almost ten stories. You’ve heard about it, and it has been on the drawing boards for some time. Now you can meet the people who are creating it and see what all the buzz is about in the video from Royal Caribbean below.

Details appeared in the April 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

A Little Bit of China - Under the Ship

Meyer Werft laid the keel today at their Papenburg (Germany) facility for Norwegian Joy, the ship Norwegian Cruise Line is dedicating to being based year round in China for the local market.

The 750-ton block, designated block 45, was brought into the dry dock in Meyer’s covered building dock several days ago. It is one of about 80 blocks (pre-built pieces) that will make up the ship. This one is part of the engine room. Today, an 800-ton crane lifted it into place in the dry dock.

The complete story appeared in the April 5 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and Meyer Werft gather in front of the massive block 45.

Specially-minted coin on which Norwegian Joy's keel was set

NCLH China executives at the coin blessing in China

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft and Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 5, 2016

CND subscribers also read about:

• Fincantieri laying the keel Tuesday for the second Carnival Vista-class ship at their Marghera yard. The unnamed ship will be delivered in the spring of 2018. 
• Meyer Werft plans to deliver Ovation of the Seas early (this Friday) after a propeller change.
• Big Brother Big Sister opened a new facility in Miami yesterday thanks to a $5 million donation from Carnival Corp. 

Details were in the April 5 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The first block of Carnival Vista 2 is put in place at Fincantieri's Marghera yard.

 Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.