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Costa Atlantica becomes first ship of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 January 2020 14 January 2020

Costa Atlantica has become the first vessel of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, a joint venture between China State Shipibuilding Corporation (CSSC) and Carnival corporation & plc.

In November last year, Carnival said, the 85,861-ton, 2,210passenger capacity Costa Atlantica, would be transferred to the new Chinese cruise line by the end of 2019. Costa Atlantica's sister ship, the 2,114 passenger Costa Mediterranea, would be transferred at a date still to be announced.

CSSC is also building two 133,500 gross ton vessels for the new line. The two new cruise ships will be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), a leading Chinese-owned shipyard in Shanghai, with the first ship expected to be delivered in 2023.

The agreement also gives CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited the option to order four additional China-built cruise ships to serve growing demand from Chinese consumers.

The formation of the new line and the building of the two plus option two ships were first announced in 2015, when the Chinese president Xi Jinping paid a state visit to London.

One Ocean Expeditions enters administration

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 January 2020 14 January 2020

One Ocean Expeditions, the Canadian one-ship expedition cruise operator, has entered administration following long running financial problems that started with tonnage chartered in from Russian principals, reports say.

RSCG Resolute, the company’s only vessel that used to be known as Hapag-Lloyds’s Hanseatic before, had been arrested for debt in Argentina since the autumn.

The company used to charter in Russian icebreaking tonnage as well, but last summer both Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey were seized by the Russian government and returned to Kalingrad on the Russia’s Baltic coast, the Daily Telegraph in London reported at the time.

Genting Hong Kong in $1.2 billion two ship sale and leaseback deals

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2020 13 January 2020

Genting Hong Kong, the Hong Kong listed parent company of Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruise and Star Cruises, said it had sold two ships and bareboat chartered them back in deals worth more than $1.2 billion.

The 2017 built Genting Dream of 150,695 gross tons has been sold for $900 million and taken back on a 12 year bareboat charter.

Crystal Endeavor that is under construction at MV Werften in Germany was sold for $388 million and bareboat chartered back. The 19,500 gross ton ship is scheduled for delivery later this year.

Variety Cruises to offer French Polynesia itinerary in 2020-21

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2020 13 January 2020

Variety Cruises, which operates a fleet of 12 vessels of up to 71 passenger capacity, will offer a series of cruises in French Polynesia in the winter of 2020-21, the company’s latest cruise programme shows.

The sail yacht Panorama II that has 25 cabins will offer seven night cruises from Papeete that includes calls at Bora Bora, Huahine, Taha’a, Raiatea and Moorea.

All these are overnight calls apart from the one in Raiatea. The first cruise of the season will start on 10 December 2020 and the final one on 26 March 2021.

Finnlines orders two ropax vessels for its Finland-Sweden service

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 January 2020 11 January 2020

After the order of three hybrid storo ultra large green vessels at Jinling Shipyard back in 2018, Finnlines has announced that it has recently signed an order for two ropax vessels from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), previously known as AVIC Weihai. Today, both shipyards are part of China Merchants Group.

Called the Superstar ropax vessels, they are expected to be delivered by 2023. They will be larger than the existing Star class vessels and will be Finnlines’ flagships both in terms of size and technology. With a length of about 230 metres, their loading capacity will be for 5,100 lane metres for rolling freight and around 1,100 passengers.

The vessels will have the highest Finnish / Swedish ice class and will be built with the top technical and environmental views in mind, while being pioneers in honouring green values.

The renewed concept combines the best of both cargo and passenger vessels. The Superstar ro-pax vessel is designed to have many types of seating and public areas, plenty of outdoor areas to admire the Archipelago scenery and adequate premises to serve different kinds of groups. Heart of the vessel will be the shopping area to enhance onboard travel experience.

The Superstar vessel is also designed with the focus on fast and efficient cargo handling to guarantee Finnlines’ customers a short turnaround time.

The next generation Superstar ro-pax vessels will bring significant improvement in Finnlines fleet’s passenger comfort and will provide a brand-new customer experience. The customer experience will be taken to a new level through digital services – from check-in to onboard services and feedback collection.

“We want to provide a high-quality service to our customers respecting all aspects of the environmental matters. This investment aims at energy efficiency and emission reduction, but at the same time, it is an investment for the highest passenger comfort. We want to lead the development of high-quality ro-ro and ro-pax services in the Baltic Sea region. Our ongoing EUR 500 million newbuilding programme will ensure that we continue to provide premium services to our customers”, says Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of Finnlines.