Cruise News Daily Headlines for March 21, 2014

* Costa Expands Slow Cruise with Classica
Costa will expand their “slow cruising” program to include a third ship, Costa Classica. The 51,000-ton ship will join the program after an extensive refit this fall, when it will be renamed Costa neoClassica.

* Pulling the plug
Several lines have finally decided to pull the plug in the Black Sea. No, that doesn’t mean Black Sea drained; it means they are they have decided Ukranian (or former Ukranian) ports aren’t the place to take tourists right now. Other lines are still mulling over the situation.

* Something Not Often Seen Dry

One of the propulsion pods from Allure of the Seas as it was being replaced during dry dock last
month at Grand Bahama Shipyard.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for March 20, 2014

* MSC Orders Two; Maybe Two More
MSC Cruises signed a letter of intent today with STX Europe to build two 167,600-ton ships, with an option for two more. The ships will be a new design and the largest ever built for a European owner.
   The as-yet-unnamed ships will be built at the STX yard in Saint-Nazaire (France) for delivery in 2017 and 2019.  More

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about cutting up in Papenburg ... and the thrill of adventure.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

The first steel cut by Meyer Werft for Norwegian Escape. Note the fancy commemorative cut.

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

MSC Cruises Contracts with STX Europe for Two New Ships

MSC Cruises has signed a letter of intent for STX Europe to build two 167,600-ton vessels for delivery in 2017 and 2019. The ships will carry 4,500 passengers in double occupancy, up to a total capacity of 5,700 passengers, along with 1,536 crew members.

The contract will also include options for two additional ships to be built later. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015 at the STX yard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Complete details will be in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

Prototype ship of up to four STX Europe will build for MSC Cruises

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for March 19, 2014

* Royal Caribbean Sets “Big” Caribbean Program
Royal Caribbean International has opened the books on three ships operating their seven-day product from Florida to the Caribbean for the 2015/2016 winter season, and it appears that customers will have a choice of sizes of vessel: big and bigger.

* He’s Coming! He’s Coming!
If you are a friend of a celebrity (or superstar), he may have been to your house occasionally, but if you ask him to your birthday party, you’re never sure if he will be able to accept your invitation or not. On the occasions he does, you’re really excited.
   Cunard has much the same relationship with the Royal Family. For that reason, Cunard was very pleased today to announce that The Duke of Edinburgh will join them aboard Queen Mary 2 to celebrate the ship’s tenth anniversary.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for March 18, 2014

* Azamara Sticks with Steiner
Steiner Leisure, the operator of spas on 155 cruise ships, has announced they have extended their agreement with Azamara Club Cruises through December 2017.
   This news gives some interesting indication about an earlier Steiner news story.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about a Guinness record with some perspective ... pound for pound it's money well spent ... and the site for ship enthusiasts with a "special interest."

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.