Amplified for Your Sailing Pleasure

Navigator of the Seas returned to service today after a two-month $115 million “amplification” in dry dock. During that time, the top deck was almost completely revamped and updated features were added throughout the ship.

Through next month it is sailing five- and nine-night cruises (the nine-night is an outstanding combination of Labadee, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire), but then incredibly, it will shift to three- and four-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas to coincide with the opening of Perfect Day at Coco Cay.

The complete story appeared in the March 1 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

MSC Bellissima Arrives at Southampton

MSC Bellissima arrived at Southampton this morning (March 1, 2019) in anticipation of its naming tomorrow by Sophia Loren.

While this aerial video isn't thrilling (except for new-ship enthusiasts), it does give a great opportunity to see the ship in detail from all angles. MSC Bellissima is the first of MSC's three Meraviglia-Plus class ship.




But before it arrived, it had to leave. Below is some video of its nighttime departure from the shipyard at Saint-Nazaire Wednesday evening.



Videos courtesy of MSC Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Ready for China

Fincantieri delivered Costa Venezia today at their yard in Monfalcone, and within six hours it was on its way to Trieste for Costa's celebration of its new ship will be held. After a brief preview cruise, the 135,500-ton ship will be headed to Asia, never to be seen in the west again - or at least not for the foreseeable future. Even though Costa was Carnival's original pioneer brand for China and has been sailing there for more than a decade, this is the first ship the brand had built specifically for the Chinese market.

After a quick five-night preview cruise, the West will have one more chance to see the ship during a 52-day positioning cruise from Trieste to Asia sailing on March 8.

The complete story appeared in the February 28 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Video courtesy of Costa Crociere. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

One Degree of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Passengers will be dancing in the aisles when Norwegian Joy makes its North American debut in Alaska in May.

Norwegian Cruise Line says they have chosen the musical “Footloose” to be the headlining entertainment production on the ship this summer.

Details appeared in the February 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Chantiers Delivers MSC Bellissima

Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivered MSC Bellissima to MSC Cruises today at their Saint-Nazaire yard, and tonight it's making its way toward Southampton where it will arrive early Friday morning in anticipation of its gala naming ceremony on Saturday.

Have you ever wondered what actually happens when a ship is delivered? It's probably not what you think. Prior to that moment when the half-billion-dollar piece of equipment officially changes ownership, the ship was completed by the builder, the cruise line has checked it over in detail and agrees it was completed to their satisfaction and they have provided payment to the yard.  Then comes the moment of the actual transfer, and thanks to MSC, they gave us a look behind the scenes today at the moment when all that was agreed to and ownership of MSC Bellissima was transferred. (Video is below.)

The complete story appeared in the February 27 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of MSC Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 27, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• A delay in Norwegian Gem's turnaround
• A delay in a murder trial for an Alaskan cruise passenger
• A deal for leapsters down under
• Royal Caribbean's take on Spectrum of the Seas' float out.

Details appeared in the February 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Video courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Teaming up to Design a Liner

Cunard has chosen the design team that will design the interior of its fleet's fourth ship which will be delivered in 2022.

That's a huge responsibility considering the attention to detail Cunard demands and the many connections to its past liners that are always present in Cunard vessels. There is a lot to connect this one to because it will be the 249th vessel to sail under the Cunard flag.

The complete story appeared in the February 26 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of Cunard Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Topping Off

Meyer Turku "topped off" Costa's new flagship, Costa Smeralda, this week when it installed the funnel aboard the 180,000 ship. The ship is the first for the world market to be powered by Liquified National Gas (LNG) both at sea and in port. Costa Smeralda will enter service on October 20, 2019.

Photos courtesy of Costa Crociere. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Another Perspective on Spectrum of the Seas' Float Out

Meyer Werft provided their perspective on the float out of Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas on February 25, 2019.



Video courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Droning On

There's a fascinating new element to the ice show in Studio B aboard the "amplified" Navigator of the Seas: Drones. Yes, 60 lighted ones, similar (but smaller) to the things that fly around and give airports trouble. These fly in formation in the relatively limited confines of over the ice rink, which makes what they do all the more amazing. Take a look at a VIDEO from a dress rehearsal last week.  (When the link opens, you have to click on the black video box.) The show on debuts on Navigator next week, but Navigator is just the beginning.

Details appeared in the February 26 issue of Cruise News Daily.

A Look under the Ship

Last week Meyer Werft attached the propellers to Spectrum of the Seas' Azipods. The five-day process was completed on February 20 in anticipation of this week's float out.

The two propellers each weigh 29 tons, which includes five blades weighing 3 tons each.

This story appeared in the February 25 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Meyer Werft Floats Out Spectrum of the Seas

Meyer Werft floated Spectrum of Seas out of their covered building dock tonight (this afternoon US time) and parked it at the outfitting pier to get it ready to leave the yard in mid-March.

It also has set of a game of Musical Berths with a piece of Norwegian Encore.

The complete story appeared in the February 25 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.