Rotterdam Passing Milestones

Holland America's new Rotterdam has marked a couple of important events in its construction at Fincantieri's Marghera yard. The first was the flooding of the dry dock last week which was held in conjunction with the coin ceremony where two ceremonial coins were welded to the ship's hull on an outside deck. This week, the ship was towed to the finishing dock where interior construction will continue, and where Rotterdam VII will remain until it goes on sea trials early next year. 

Photos courtesy of Holland America Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Trying Out Mardi Gras

Carnival's new Mardi Gras left Meyer Turku this morning for 10 days of sea trials. 

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

New Atrium Concept to Debut on Carnival's Mardi Gras

Grand Central will be a multi-purpose atrium aboard Carnival's new Mardi Gras. Below are three renderings of the completed venue. The last image is a photo of the nearly-completed room as it looks today under construction. Mardi Gras will debut at Port Canaveral in February 2021.

The complete story appeared in the September 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos/renderings courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Sailing During the Pandemic

What's it going to be like to cruise during/after the COVID-19 pandemic? That a question on the minds of most cruisers. The first major ship back in operation, MSC Grandiosa, has been sailing in the Mediterranean for over a month now and is about to complete its fifth cruise. 

Currently, passengers are limited to Europeans, but you can get an idea of what the experience is like from the new video below that MSC has produced showing their health and safety protocols both before boarding and during the cruise itself.

The complete story appeared in the September 18 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

 

Spirit of Adventure Completes Ems Passage

The 58,200-ton Spirit of Adventure that Meyer Werft built for Saga Cruises left the yard last Sunday (August 30) for sea trails, and successfully completed its transit down the shallow Ems River to Eemshaven to prepare for sea trials in the North Sea. 

Meyer Werft did not publicize the operation to limit crowds and thus limit chances of COVID-19 transmission. 

The yard did produce a video that gives us a quick look at the 24-hour transit.