Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

1 4 0 Innovative arrivals Demand for innovative cruise ships shows no signs of slowing down. Jacqui Griffiths looks at some of the high-profile newbuilds that are about to hit the waves S everal highly anticipated newbuild debuts promise to electrify the industry in 2020. Among them, Virgin Voyages’ Fincantieri-built carlet Lady, which will sail her first cruise in April, making the operator’s promised innovations – including reduced plastic use, revolutionised onboard restaurants and guest suites with rock-star chic – a reality. This February, Fincantieri delivered Seven Seas Splendor to Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which intends the vessel to set a new industry benchmark in luxury cruising. “Wherever you turn on Seven Seas Splendor you will be surrounded by elegance, comfort and hospitality,” says Jason Montague, president and CEO of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, adding that the day the ship opened for reservations was the busiest booking day in the company’s history. Meanwhile, French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique will deliver Celebrity Cruises’ latest vessel, Celebrity Apex, in March. The ship will feature new culinary, entertainment and wellness offerings including a digitally animated menu and a redesigned theatre with a 23-foot-tall 4K LED screen and a 20-foot-tall ‘Tree of Life’ with over 3,000 LED leaves. “It takes a great shipyard, a great owner and a great partnership to bring a ship like this together,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., as guests toured the new ship at the end of January. Among Carnival Corporation’s imminent deliveries is P&O Cruises’ first LNG-powered ship Iona, which is being built by Meyer Werft and will be the greenest cruise ship to homeport in the UK when she debuts in May. In June, Fincantieri will deliver Princess Cruises’ second MedallionClass ship, Enchanted Princess, featuring many of the experiences introduced on her sister ship, Sky Princess. Carnival Cruise Line’s new ship, Mardi Gras, will sail from Port Canaveral in November after being delivered by Meyer Turku. Featuring the first rollercoaster on a cruise ship and the first seagoing restaurant by chef Emeril Lagasse, Mardi Gras will also be the first LNG-powered cruise ship in North America. “As the line’s newest, largest and most innovative ship, Mardi Gras will usher in an exciting new chapter of Carnival Cruise Line’s history,” says Ben Clement, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president of newbuilds. Expected this summer, Saga Cruises’ second Meyer Werft newbuild, Spirit of Adventure, will feature boutique luxury design and high fuel efficiency. “All of Spirit of Adventure’s equipment has been selected with minimal energy usage in mind: from the Siemens ESiPod permanent magnet propulsion units to the Engie multi-stage chillers, every item has the highest efficiency in its class,” says David Pickett, director of newbuilds at Saga. “When it comes to passenger services, the growth of CRUI SE ORDER BOOK Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Endurance has an X-bow hull built by Ulstein Werft to enable her to sail safely in icy waters