Visit viking.com , call 1-800-2-VIKING or see your Travel Agent M ODER N I Z I N G M ISSISSIPPI E X PL OR AT IO N Only with Viking, the small ship experts. CST: #2052644-40 Make your dreams come true in 2022 and be among the first to explore America’s mightiest of waterways. CruiseBusiness.com REVIEWING CRUISE BUSINESS GLOBALLY Magazine SPRING 2020 NORTH EUROPEAN PORTS Development projects continue JAMAICA The Port Authority of Jamaica’s newly built Port Royal Cruise Port received its inaugural call by Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery 2 in January 2020. Port Royal joins Falmouth, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio to strengthen port-ofcall options in Jamaica and is fitted with a unique SeaWalk – a removable and reusable floating quay, which requires minimal space to install. Royal Caribbean turns 50 Covid-19 sinks industry financials Are residential ships making a comeback? 425x297%20kansi .indd 1 425x297%20kansi .indd 1 9.6.2020 7.08 9.6.2020 7.08
twitter.com/SMMfair #SMMfair youtube.com/SMMfair smm-hamburg.com/news linkedin.com/company/smmfair facebook.com/SMMfair smm-hamburg.com the leading international maritime trade fair driving the maritime transition 2 – 5 feb 2021 hamburg SMM fuels change in the maritime industry by bringing together its most influential players and presenting solutions that make shipping greener, smarter and safer. Be part of it and see what’s technologically possible, connect with peers and get fresh impetus for your business: • 2,200+ exhibitors from the entire maritime value chain • 50,000 industry professionals from 120+ countries • Top-notch conferences and first-class networking events see what make s SMM the #1 smm-ha mburg.c om/trail er E X P L O R AT I O N OTHER VESSELS www.sunstoneships.com Wherever Your Destination, SunStone Can Take You There. E X P L O R AT I O N As you explore farther and farther into the frontier, we’re there to support you. Our clients and partners depend on SunStone’s innovation to facilitate their ongoing exploration and expansion. Our INFINITY class vessels are a leap forward in technology, design, safety and cost. Join us as expedition cruising enters the INFINITY-era. M/V OCEAN ATLANTIC M/V SEA SPIRIT M/V GREG MORTIMER M/V OCEAN DIAMOND M/V OCEAN ENDEAVOUR M/V QUEST M/V OCEAN NOVA IS THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES INNOVATION. — EDITH WIDDER, O CEANO GRAPHER — Follow The Sun. M/V OCEAN ADVENTURER Our INFINITY class vessels are a leap forward in technology, design, safety and cost. Join us as expedition cruising enters the INFINITY-era. OCEAN DISCOVERER Delivery September 2022 OCEAN EXPLORER/ODYSSEY Delivery Jan. 2021/Mar. 2022 INFINITY-CLASS VESSELS | OCEAN VICTORY, Delivery October 2020 OCEAN ALBATROS Delivery October 2022 OCEAN ALBATROS AURORA II Delivery September 2021 AURORA II Sunstone Ships.indd 1 10/01/2020 10:18 425x297%20kansi .indd 2 425x297%20kansi .indd 2 9.6.2020 7.08 9.6.2020 7.08
The leading cruise port in the Mediterranean C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2020_PBCN_CRUISE•A4.pdf 2 20/1/20 16:24 2-3-4-5-.indd 3 2-3-4-5-.indd 3 9.6.2020 6.45 9.6.2020 6.45
wulffentre.com | sales@wulffentre.com | +358 10 6335 500 As an company, we are driven by customer satisfaction and our processes are streamlined to provide you the best service, quality and experience possible. Wulff Entre is a member of the UN Global Compact and is committed to supporting and implementing the ten fundamental principles Let’s Get Connected Again! Wulff Entre is a turnkey trade show and event service house. WE help our clients to build networks at exhibitions by providing individual stand design completed with professional production services. We have a solution for every budget! Wulff Entre is specialized in marine and cruise industry events. Let us propose you a unique design for your next show! Call us today: +358 10 6335 500 Sales@wulffentre.com www.wulffentre.com WE will be at: Seatrade Cruise Global SMM Nor-Shipping Cruise Ship Interiors London Cruise & Ferry Global Expo Kormarine Louisana Intl WorkBoat Show Europort Marintec China Posidonia Asia Paci?c Maritime Sea Japan Sea Asia Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 6-7 .indd 2 6-7 .indd 2 9.6.2020 12.45 9.6.2020 12.45
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 7 CONTENTS – SPRING 2020 Editor’s Commentary 8 Upfront 12 Royal Caribbean turns 50 16 Celebrity Apex gets ‘virtual’ delivery 26 Covid-19 sinks industry financials 30 Seven Seas Splendor delivers 34 Chat with Oceania Cruises´ 42 Riviera Captain and Chief Engineer Reliable pole-to-pole 45 connectivity powers Hondius Small is beautiful for 46 Fred. Olsen * Flying Clipper becomes 48 largest sailing ship Residential cruise ships 52 making a comeback? North European 56 port projects continue Road map 60 back to cruising can ferries show the way forward? Small line 63 announces post-Covid plans Viking expands on yet 64 another front * At the press time we learned the world’s largest square-rigged sailing vessel, built as Brodosplit 483, will be re-named, rebranded, and operated by the British cruise company Tradewind Voyages UK Ltd. The ownership of Brodosplit 483 remains with the wholly owned subsidiary of the DIV Group. wulffentre.com | sales@wulffentre.com | +358 10 6335 500 As an company, we are driven by customer satisfaction and our processes are streamlined to provide you the best service, quality and experience possible. Wulff Entre is a member of the UN Global Compact and is committed to supporting and implementing the ten fundamental principles Let’s Get Connected Again! Wulff Entre is a turnkey trade show and event service house. WE help our clients to build networks at exhibitions by providing individual stand design completed with professional production services. We have a solution for every budget! Wulff Entre is specialized in marine and cruise industry events. Let us propose you a unique design for your next show! Call us today: +358 10 6335 500 Sales@wulffentre.com www.wulffentre.com WE will be at: Seatrade Cruise Global SMM Nor-Shipping Cruise Ship Interiors London Cruise & Ferry Global Expo Kormarine Louisana Intl WorkBoat Show Europort Marintec China Posidonia Asia Paci?c Maritime Sea Japan Sea Asia Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 6-7 .indd 3 6-7 .indd 3 9.6.2020 12.46 9.6.2020 12.46
Editor Teijo Niemelä Publisher Cruise Media LLC Copy Editor M.T. Schwartzman Sales and Production Christer Gorschelnik Art Director Julle Järvinen, Julle Oy COMPANY ADDRESS Cruise Media LLC 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc[a]gmail.com SALES OFFICE FINLAND ChrisGo Consulting Pahtankatu 10 as 10 FIN-21200 Raisio, Finland Telephone +358-440-159 554 E-mail christer.gorschelnik[a]kolumbus.fi SALES OFFICE USA Teijo Niemelä 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 cruisemediallc[a]gmail.com FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR Carolyn Spencer Brown, the award-winning Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, has joined Cruise Media LLC as its first-ever Chief Content Strategist. Spencer Brown, who first begin covering cruise in the mid-1990s as a reporter for The Washington Post's travel section, led Cruise Critic through a transformation to industryleading coverage of the cruise industry, ultimately serving the website as Chief Content Strategist, focusing on partnerships with cruise and travel companies. PRINTED IN FINLAND – PUNAMUSTA OY, HELSINKI www.cruisebusinessmagazine.com W hen we entered into the new year, 2020, the global cruise business was preparing for a record-breaking year in terms of number of passengers, new ship introductions and expectations of record profits. The world had heard about a new virus emerging in Wuhan, China, but it still had little impact on business or leisure travel outside of China. Throughout January, cruise ships were still operating full with satisfied customers. Merely a month later the picture could not have been more different. It felt disorienting, changes so fast and furious, changes by the minute not hours, that it was like driving 65 miles per hour and colliding into a concrete wall. One by one cruise ships started to report infections of coronavirus, or Covid-19 – first in Asia, later in other parts of the world. Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess became the first victim of the crisis in the cruise business. The ship faced a multi-week quarantine ordered by Japanese authorities and suddenly the cruise lines were facing their biggest challenge ever: Even when they were not allowed to call the shots. In the early days, Diamond Princess was not the only vessel facing health challenges. Another Princess vessel, Grand Princess reported Covid-19 infections while on a roundtrip voyage from San Francisco to Hawaii. Global news coverage of the tug of war between political authorities, state and local governments, and organizations like the Centers for Disease Control EDITOR’S COMMENTARY and Prevention (CDC) played out to near-constant television news coverage around the world. In early March, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence flew to Florida to meet the cruise line executives in Fort Lauderdale, presumably to discuss health protocols and other strategies that would help the industry adapt to the pandemic, which apparently came to not much when, on March 14, the CDC gave a No Sail Order for all cruise ships operating from U.S. ports. Days earlier, two cruise lines had already proactively issued their own 60-day no-sail orders; first, Viking and then Princess. These events set into motion a domino effect. C ruise lines decided to cancel voyages just as international air travel gradually stopped between countries and continents. Repatriating passengers and crew became a global challenge. Adding to the layers of difficulty, countries all over the world began closing ports to cruise ships, making it difficult to end sailings and disembark. For example, Holland America Line’s Zaandam had just departed for a South America cruise from Argentina to Chile when U.S. announced its No Sail Order. The disembarkation of passengers in the end of cruise in Chile became impossible. Holland America Line scrambled to find alternative port. Ultimately, Zaandam wound up sailing all the way back to Miami, via the Panama Canal, to get its passengers to the U.S., where it then arranged charter flights to get them home. CruiseBusiness.com Magazine 8 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 Mobile Access VingCard Locks Elsafe Safes TrioVing Cylinders A trusted partner for the marine industry. Learn more today at assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/marine At ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, innovation is nothing new. 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Marine system expertise Integrated system solutions raise your efficiency, sustainability and profitability. Our expertise in dual fuel and gas supply systems, optimized propulsion, exhaust after-treatment, and battery hybrid solutions enables your visions to succeed. www.man-es.com Your visions succeed 1812_13435_MAN_ES_Anzeige_SC_FourStroke_Image_reSe_ENG_210x297mm_ISO_V2.indd 1 13.12.18 14:44 Similar stories of extremely complex operations have been reported from all over the world. To find suitable solutions has required, and still does require in some cases, country's leaders to step up and use diplomatic skills. It's also asked the same from cruise line executives (complete coverage of all these events is found on cruisebusiness.com). And the drama still wasn't over. After repatriating passengers, cruise lines faced even bigger challenge: How to get their hardworking crew members back to their home countries. With even scarcer long-haul flight options, and borders closed as a result of the pandemic, cruise lines developed complex new strategies, using their own ships to take crew members home. This required a difficult logistical operation, where in many cases crew members were swapped between ships, via tenders, to the one that would cruise to the appropriate home country. Some headed to South Africa, then India, Indonesia and then Philippines; others traveled to the UK and then on to Central Europe. As CruiseBusiness.com goes to press in early June, all passengers have returned home, including the remaining eight aboard Phoenix Seereissen's Artania. And, too, most -though not by all means all -crew members have reached their home countries, where they potentially faced lengthy quarantines. In the Philand future cruise credits for six months (or more) in which every cruise is being cancelled. On this issue starting on page 30 we are looking at the finances of big three cruise lines. These, plus many smaller ones have now raised funds to allow them to survive roughly until next spring if operations will not re-start. (We are chronicling all of-the-moment changes; please continue to check cruisebusiness.com for breaking developments). Meanwhile, cruise ship builders have enjoyed record-breaking order books over the past few years with pre-pandemic order books extending to 2027. We'll see some retraction there, too. Meyer Werft's top executives issued a warning in mid-April, noting that additional new cruise ship orders cannot be expected for a few years and its shipyards needs to adjust its capacity to a new normal. Given the severity of the crisis, the lines will also seek to postpone deliveries and in order to avoid cancellations of orders, the Meyer Group, for one, will have to reduce its capacity. At Papenburg, this means cutting one large ship per year from the present output of two large and one smaller ship per year. Similarly, Meyer Turku shipyard has postponed its plans to deliver two large ships a year instead of one. On this issue we have tried to research as carefully as possible HOW TO FOLLOW US Twitter.com/cruisebusiness facebook.com/CruiseBusinessUSA instagram.com/niemelateijo lipines, for instance, many natives had to quarantine for 14 days before traveling home. The repatriation of hotel crew members means also, that cruise lines are mentally preparing for longer lay ups. As we close this issue, cruise lines have scotched Alaska and New England/Canada cruise seasons. One smaller line, Victory Cruises, has already announced it will not sail at all in 2020. As the lay ups will be longer, the ships will be kept “cold” which means that there will be just deck and engine crews onboard. Unfortunately, this potentially makes the start of operations not only difficult but also slower as the crew members have to be flown back to the cruise ships – and then the key question gets asked all over again. When will borders reopen and what is availability of long-haul flights? N aturally, an entire halt of cruise operations has resulted in absolutely no revenue. Expenses continue, even after most lines have laid off and furloughed large percentages of staff, both onshore and at headquarters. And not the least of the challenges is the never-before need to provide refunds Teijo Niemelä June 2020 how the cruise business could start again. Cruise lines have provided new guidelines for safer operations. Just before the press time our correspondent John Pagni traveled from Helsinki to Tallinn onboard the fast ferry Megastar. He gives first glimpse of how passenger service and operations may look like after the services starts again. We also have looked at one cruise line, namely Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, how they will operate after CDC lifts off the no sail order. n 10 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 “When we talk about how the industry is coming back, I feel we go one step ahead, and then two steps back.” – Teijo Niemela told the Miami Herald 8-11 .indd 4 8-11 .indd 4 9.6.2020 13.24 9.6.2020 13.24
Marine system expertise Integrated system solutions raise your efficiency, sustainability and profitability. Our expertise in dual fuel and gas supply systems, optimized propulsion, exhaust after-treatment, and battery hybrid solutions enables your visions to succeed. www.man-es.com Your visions succeed 1812_13435_MAN_ES_Anzeige_SC_FourStroke_Image_reSe_ENG_210x297mm_ISO_V2.indd 1 13.12.18 14:44 HOW TO FOLLOW US Twitter.com/cruisebusiness facebook.com/CruiseBusinessUSA instagram.com/niemelateijo 8-11 .indd 5 8-11 .indd 5 9.6.2020 13.24 9.6.2020 13.24
? 12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 UPFRONT Regent Seven Seas Cruises was the last North American cruise line to celebrate the naming of a new vessel, the 55,254 gross ton and 750passenger Seven Seas Splendor, before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Exclusive guests – including travel partners, local community leaders, media and luxury travelers – were invited to a private black-tie evening ceremony held February 24 onboard the all-suite, all-balcony luxury cruise ship. In addition, more than 35,000 people watched the festivities broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube. Christened by famous supermodel Christie Brinkley, the Splendor is the fifth unit in the RSSC fleet. Celebrity Cruises made maritime history on March7, when an all-female bridge and onboard leadership team set sail commemorating International Women’s Day. Led by Captain Kate McCue – the first American female cruise ship captain – who was accompanied by 26 other women representing 16 different countries, the Celebrity Edge sailed out of Port Everglades to begin a 7-night Caribbean journey. Captain Cheryl Phipps, currently a Port Everglades pilot and one of only a few female pilots in the country, conned the ship out to sea. Around the world, only 2% of the world’s mariners are women. Celebrity Cruises has made it a priority to #BRIDGEthegap, leading the maritime industry into a more diverse future and increasing the number of women on its bridge teams from 3% to nearly 25% over the last few years. Assembly work started on February 1 at the Meyer Turku shipyard on the hull of the 185,010 gross ton Costa Toscana, the second ship in the Costa Cruises fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for lower emissions. Currently, Meyer Turku is outfitting Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, which shares many characteristics of the Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana. Due to Covid-19, there are no confirmed delivery dates for the Mardi Gras or Costa Toscana. From left Meyer’s Project Manager Kalle Hyytiä and Costa’s President Neil Palomba. 12-15 .indd 2 12-15 .indd 2 8.6.2020 7.51 8.6.2020 7.51
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2018/2019 19 The Scarlet Lady – the first of four ships that Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages has ordered from Italy’s Fincantieri – was delivered in mid-February at the Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. Attending the ceremony were President and CEO of Virgin Voyages Tom McAlpin (INSET), Chairman of Fincantieri Giampiero Massolo and CEO Giuseppe Bono. The Scarlet Lady registers about 110,000 gross tons, is 278 meters long and 38 meters wide. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Lady was not able to begin service before the U.S. “No Sail Order” took effect in March. At press time, a new inaugural date had been set for October 15. UPFRONT ? Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia launched the 128meter/200-guest Ultramarine in a ceremony on May 16. The 9,000 gross ton expedition vessel will be delivered to Quark Expeditions, which is part of the Travelopia Group. This is the first time that Brodosplit has constructed a ship for a U.S. shipowner. CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 13 12-15 .indd 3 12-15 .indd 3 8.6.2020 7.51 8.6.2020 7.51
12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2018/2019 UPFRONT Helsinki Shipyard started production of the first of two 157-passenger luxury expedition cruise vessels on April 27. Steel cutting took place in safe conditions and as scheduled despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Known only by the project name Vega, these luxury expedition cruise vessels – which were ordered by the Russian shipowner Vodohod in summer 2019 – are intended to operate both in the Arctic and Antarctic waters during winter and summer, as well as in tropical waters during the spring and autumn seasons. Deliveries are expected in 2021 and 2022. Production of Tallink’s newbuilding the MyStar began on April 6 at Rauma Marine Constructions Shipyard in Rauma, Finland. RMC’s President and CEO Jyrki Heinimaa and Project Manager Marko Paloluoto started the process with the traditional steel cutting. Tallink’s new car and passenger ferry will be the largest ship built at the facility yet. Making use of cuttingedge technology and innovative solutions, the ship will be energy efficient and have a dual-fuel solution on its MAN engines capable of using LNG. The vessel’s advanced, certified electric propulsion system allows energy-efficient operation in all circumstances at speeds up to 27 knots. 14 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 UPFRONT 12-15 .indd 4 12-15 .indd 4 8.6.2020 7.51 8.6.2020 7.51
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2018/2019 21 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 15 Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises has taken delivery of its first-ever destination-specific ship, the 5,800 gross ton and 100passenger Silver Origin, from Dutch shipyard De Hoop. An intimate ceremony on June 3 marked the first in-person ship delivery since the Covid-19 pandemic prompted a global lockdown. Select Silversea top executives – including Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Executive Chairman; Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO; Damien O’Connor, SVP Hotel Operations & Onboard Revenue; and Barbara Muckermann, Chief Marketing Officer – attended the ceremony in Pernis, Rotterdam. Joined by representatives from De Hoop Shipyard, including CEO Patrick Janssens, Silversea’s executives took a tour of the completed ship for the first time. With a true Silversea style the executives traveled to Holland on a chartered private jet. UPFRONT 12-15 .indd 5 12-15 .indd 5 8.6.2020 7.51 8.6.2020 7.51
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 17 ? meyerwerft.com The upcoming 50th anniversary in November 2020 of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s first cruise will highlight the dramatic development of the cruise industry over the past five decades. Looking today at Royal Caribbean’s modern fleet of megaships, it is hard to envision what cruising looked like when the company was founded in the late 1960s. As Royal Caribbean works to rebuild its business in the postpandemic era, CruiseBusiness.com Magazine recalls the origins of a global leader in cruising. By Allan E. Jordan Royal Caribbean builds and rebuilds cruising Royal Caribbean builds and rebuilds cruising T he vision for Royal Caribbean emerged in the 1960s, as Wisconsin-born Edwin Stephan became excited by the opportunities in the developing cruise business. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Stephan headed to Miami in 1954, where he would get into the hotel business. Working near the port, he saw the little ships cruising to the Bahamas, Cuba and the Caribbean, and realized the appeal of a tropical vacation. By the early 1960s, Ed Stephan had become general manager of one of the fledgling cruise companies, a firm called Yarmouth Cruise Line, which operated two 5,000 gross ton, 1920s-vintage ships. The market was small, with just 250,000 passengers annually, but the business was growing. It almost came to a tragic end, though, on November 13, 1965, when the ss Yarmouth Castle burnt at sea claiming the lives of 90 passengers and crew. Still believing in the opportunities for cruising, Stephan continued to develop his vision for the modern business. The market was growing rapidly as the partnership between Knut Kloster and Ted Arison introduced the ms Sunward to Miami in December 1966 and announced plans to build four additional cruise ships for Norwegian Caribbean Lines. Anxious to get in on the developing business, Stephan teamed up with a Miami Beach hotel owner, Sanford Chobol, to launch Commodore Cruise Line. In the summer of 1967, they marketed a chartered Brazilian ship on Caribbean cruises from Miami, and in December 1968, introRoyal Promenades became an integral part of the Royal Caribbean experience in 1999 Nordic Prince, the second ship of original trio in the Caribbean 16-25 .indd 3 16-25 .indd 3 29.5.2020 9.42 29.5.2020 9.42
18 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 duced one of Miami’s first year-round 7-night Caribbean cruises aboard the new 11,000 gross ton mv Boheme. Creating the brand Ed Stephan’s vision for modern cruising focused on what he called the “volume economy market.” Using “propelled hotels,” he believed it would be possible to make cruise vacations available to large numbers of people. He would employ newly built ships that would be efficient to operate and have amenities designed specifically for tropical cruises. There would be large outdoor decks, a swimming pool, spacious lounges and a restaurant featuring large windows. However, when it came to accommodations, Stephan believed the cabins should be small, efficient spaces for sleeping and standardized for easy marketing. In Norway, he hoped to entice some of the well-established shipping companies with his new business plan. The traditional passenger lines were leery of the brash American, but Stephan found his partners. Sigurd Skaugen, who headed the shipping company I.M. Skaugen, had operated passenger ships in the 1950s and was looking for an opportunity to enter the cruise business. Arne Wilhelmsen, with a Harvard M.B.A., was leading his family’s shipping company Anders Wilhelmsen. Cash-rich from success with tankers, he was looking to diversify. Intrigued by Stephan’s ideas, and maybe a little envious of the success of their fellow countryman Knut Kloster, Wilhelmsen and Skaugen traveled to Miami. There they would meet Irwin Stephens, who as the new port director was selling his vision for Miami as the cruise capital of the world. Like Kloster before them, these Norwegian ship owners were impressed by what they heard and saw. The partnership was incorporated in December 1968. Skaugen would provide the ship management, Wilhelmsen the financial management and Stephan the American marketing skills. A third partner, GotaasLarsen, joined as an investor in the summer of 1969. One of the first challenges for the new partners was to develop their corporate identity. They wanted a name that not only reflected the business, but also denoted quality. They considered names including Pleasure Cruise Line, Holiday Cruise Line and Crown Cruise Line, before selecting Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Similarly, they considered names for their ships including the Coral Dawn, Norwegian Lights and Tropic Moon, before selecting Song of Norway, Nordic Prince and Sun Viking. Aboard its ships, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line would feature contemporary styling, with bold colors and modern furnishings such as Mies van der Rohe sofas in the embarkation foyer. The line also would use the names of popular musical stage shows, ranging from “My Fair Lady” to “Camelot” and “Annie Get Your Original partners Sun Viking, the third of the original trio, arriving in Miami 16-25 .indd 4 16-25 .indd 4 29.5.2020 9.42 29.5.2020 9.42
? AnttiMarine2020_Cruise business_90mmx279mm_042020.indd 1 AnttiMarine2020_Cruise business_90mmx279mm_042020.indd 1 27.4.2020 10.01 27.4.2020 10.01 Gun,” for its lounges and dining rooms to create familiarity and set the tone for passengers. The ships would be staffed with Norwegian officers, who were given American etiquette classes, and a West Indian hotel staff. Innovative ships The first of the new ships was ordered in September 1968, with the contract going to Wartsila in Helsinki, Finland. Best known for building Soviet-bloc icebreakers, Wartsila gave Royal Caribbean an attractive price of $16 million. An option for a sister ship would be exercised before the end of 1968, and a third ship was ordered in the summer of 1969. Construction began in April 1969. The design featured a long clipper-style prow and rounded cruiser stern, which created a sleek, modern look. The most distinctive feature started as an observation deck and evolved into a cocktail lounge and nightclub cantilevered off the ship’s funnel 10 stories above the waterline. Wilhelmsen would say the inspiration came from other, earlier observation decks, while Stephan said he had been inspired by the Space Needle, the centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Named the Viking Crown, the lounge seated just 50 passengers and was accessed by an outdoor staircase. It would become the company’s first signature feature. The Song of Norway was launched eight months later on a cold winter’s day, christened by the wife of the Norwegian prime minister. Construction began that same day on the Nordic Prince, which would be launched in July 1970, the same month the Song of Norway would run its first sea trials. While everyone was pleased with the look of the ship, the sea trials were less successful. As the vessel reached its cruising speed of 18 knots and top speed of 21 knots, it produced more than expected levels of vibration, which would require additional stiffeners in the hull. Once completed, the Song of Norway was delivered on October 5, 1970. After visiting Oslo, the ship proceeded across the Atlantic. The startup line’s big day finally came on November 7, 1970, when the Song of Norway sailed on its maiden voyage – a 7-night cruise to the eastern Caribbean. With bands on the dock and a fireworks display as it departed, the Song of Norway was hailed as “big and sleek.” At 18,000 gross tons and able to accommodate 870 passengers, it was the largest cruise ship to be homeported in Miami. The Nordic Prince was introduced in July 1971 and the Sun Viking in December 1972. These two sisters initiated 14-night cruises sailing on alternating weeks from Miami circling the Caribbean. Song of Norway’s dining room in its original design 16-25 .indd 5 16-25 .indd 5 29.5.2020 9.42 29.5.2020 9.42 Antti Marine Doors The new, safe and easy Antti E-hinge is the new online cabling system for marine doors. Easy to install, safe from damage and invisible from open to close. One more reason Antti Marine doors are in a class of their own. antti-teollisuus.fi/en/marine | tel. +358 2 774 4700
Sovereign of the Seas, Seaward, Seabourn Pride, Star Princess, Seabourn Spirit, Club Med I, Fantasy, Westerdam, Nordic Empress, Crown Princess, Horizon, Silja Serenade, Ecstasy, Regal Princess, Monarch of the Seas, Hanseatic, Silja Symphony, Majesty of the Seas, Dreamward, Zenith, Royal Viking Queen, Club Med II, Crown Jewel, Gruziya, Costa Allegra, Barfleur, Normandie, Windward, Crown Dynasty, Costa Romantica, Kazakhstan II, American Adventure, Kong Harald, Richard With, Nordlys, Oriana, Legend of the Seas, Century, Splendour of the Seas, Sun Princess, Carnival Destiny, Galaxy, Costa Victoria, Grandeur of the Seas, Nordkapp, Rhapsody of the Seas, Dawn Princess, Mercury, Enchantment of the Seas, Nordnorge, Vision of the Seas, Grand Princess, Sea Princess, R One, R Two, Voyager of the Seas, R Three, R Four, R Five, R Six, R Seven, R Eight, Norwegian Sky, Seven Seas Navigator, Explorer of the Seas, Aurora, Costa Atlantica, Millenium, Infinity, Adventurer of the Seas, Carnival Spirit, Radiance of the Seas, Norwegian Sun, Summit, Brilliance of the Seas, Constellation, Coral Princess, Navigator of the Seas, Island Princess, Crystal Serenity, Mariner of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Carnival Miracle, Jewel of the Seas, PontAven, Caribbean Princess, Carnival Valor, Pride of America, Norwegian Jewel, Carnival Liberty, Pride of Hawaii, Freedom of the Seas, Crown Princess, MSC Musica, Norwegian Pearl, Liberty of the Seas, Emerald Princess, MSC Orchestra, Norwegian Gem, Ventura, MSC Poesia, Independence of the Seas, Ruby Princess, MSC Fantasia, Celebrity Solstice, MSC Splendida, Oasis of the Seas, Celebrity Equinox, MSC Magnifica, Carnival Dream, Silver Spirit, Azura, Celebrity Eclipse, Le Boreal, Norwegian Epic, Queen Elizabeth, Allure of the Seas, L’Austal, Disney Dream, Carnival Magic, Celebrity Silhouette, Disney Fantasy, Carnival Breeze, MSC Divina, Celebrity Reflection, MSC Preziosa, Royal Princess, Mein Schiff 3, Regal Princess, Quantum of the Seas, Mein Schiff 4, Britannia, Anthem of the Seas, Carnival Vista, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Mein Schiff 5, Silver Muse, Seabourn Encore, Majestic Princess, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, Symphony of the Seas, MSC Seaview, Seabourn Ovation, Mein Schiff 1, Aida Helios, Celebrity Edge, Mein Schiff 2, Costa Venezia, MSC Belissima, Spectrum of the Seas, Sky Princess, MSC Grandioza, Carnival Panorama, Celebrity Apex, P&O Iona, Enchanted Princess, Silver Moon, Odyssey of the Seas, Costa Firenze, Mardi Gras, MSC Virtuosa Top performer With three ships in service, Stephan and his team began to establish many of the elements that continue to be a part of the cruise industry. Working alongside him at a Miami advertising agency, and later as Royal Caribbean’s first marketing director, was a young Rod McLeod. Together, they would come up with marketing slogans such as “Who ever heard of a dull Viking!” and soon would be advertising the ships as “The most popular islands in the Caribbean.” They also began one of the industry’s first flycruise programs, operating charter flights from major cities including unique departures from California to Miami. Their efforts were successful, and in its first full year of operations, the Song of Norway had the highest occupancy percentage in the cruise industry. According to Travel Weekly, an American travel agent magazine, the vessel carried over 35,000 passengers, achieving a better than 95% occupancy rate and earning over $11 million in revenue. Again, in 1972, the Song of Norway led the industry with over 99% occupancy, while the Nordic Prince reported better than 97% occupancy. Consistently among the best performing lines in the 1970s, Royal Caribbean was challenged to increase capacity. Arne Wilhelmsen believed in economies of scale and had urged an enlarged design for the Sun Viking. The conservative board, however, was unwilling to pay the price to build a fourth ship. As an alternative, they explored buying the ms Royal Viking Sea from A.F. Klaveness, and to increase capacity, would have stretched the hull in a radical reconstruction. While the deal to buy the fourth ship did not proceed, the idea of enlarging the existing ships to increase capacity prevailed. A few liners and ferries had been rebuilt over the years, but Royal Caribbean’s 20 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 New midsection of Song of Norway Arne Wilhelmsen with Sun Viking model 16-25 .indd 6 16-25 .indd 6 29.5.2020 9.42 29.5.2020 9.42