By Fran Golden (Bloomberg) -- On a recent four-night cruise to the Bahamas on the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory, a lively crowd was downing neon drinks at an equally fluorescent bar in the ship’s multi-story atrium. The casino was packed and smoky. This was old-school cruising, and everyone was loving it. Most ships have an official lifespan of 30 years, the amount of … [Read more...]
Ritz-Carlton is Trying to Fix Everything You Hate About Cruise Ships
By Sara Clemence (Bloomberg) -- Visits to secluded islands. Long, leisurely port calls. A crew that intuits whether you’re in the mood for a private tour of a nearby estate or a day of sunning on the deck. It sounds much more like yachting than cruising—which is precisely the point. When Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International Inc.'s flagship luxury brand, unveiled … [Read more...]
Photos: World’s Biggest Cruise Ship Makes Worldwide Debut in Spain
The world's biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's new Symphony of the Seas, made her worldwide debut on Tuesday at the port of Malaga in Spain. At 362-meters (1,188 feet) and 228,081 gross tonnes, Symphony of the Seas overtakes her sister ship, Harmony of the Seas, as the world's largest cruise ship by a little over 1,000 tonnes (Harmony of the Seas comes in at 226,963 … [Read more...]
STX France Delivers World’s Largest Cruise Ship to Royal Caribbean
The world’s largest cruise ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean International on Friday by STX France at their Saint-Nazaire, France. Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s fourth Oasis-class vessel, is 228,081 gross registered tons and measures 362 meters long by 66 meters wide and 70 meters high. The vessel has capacity for 6,800 passengers and 2,000 crew in … [Read more...]
Images: Shipbuilders Lengthen Luxury Cruise Ship by 15-Meters
The first-of-its-kind lengthening of a luxury cruise ship is underway at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy. Over the last several days, shipbuilders have worked at cutting the ultra-luxury Sliver Spirit in half and inserting 15-meter prefabricated section into the central part of the ship. They are now working on reconnecting the vessel. Delivered by … [Read more...]