Shipping News

NCL launched the Norwegian Gem
last October, featuring the
5,000-square-foot Garden Villa suite
and a bowling alley.

Despite a troubled economy, surging oil prices, and a flurry of criticism over fuel surcharges, the cruise industry is full steam ahead with upbeat passenger projections and a slew of new ships coming online in the next few years.

“We’re very bullish,” says Terry Dale, the president and CEO of the Cruise Line International Association. “We believe the industry is recession-resilient because we offer the greatest value.”

According to CLIA, the number of cruise passengers is expected to increase from 12.6 million in 2007 to an industry high of 12.8 million this year. Through 2012, 36 new cruise ships will debut, with capacities ranging from 400 to a record-breaking 5,400 passengers.

There will be more luxury afloat, as well, including expansive new spas and the biggest suite ever to grace a ship. And a number of cruise lines have announced plans to dedicate more ships to European itineraries, offering Americans a chance to get more bang for their devalued travel buck.

“It’s all about choice now,” says Dale. What follows is a roundup of ships, both new and under construction, that promise to give planners more choices than ever when it comes to meetings and incentives at sea.

Carnival Cruise Lines
(877) 278-0388
www.carnival.com

With a current fleet of 22 ships, including the recently launched 2,974-passenger Freedom, and three new ships on order, Carnival keeps making waves in the cruise world. The company’s largest ships ever, the Dream and the Magic, both with capacities of 3,652, will launch in October 2009 and June 2011, respectively.

Climbing aboard the spa trend, Carnival will inaugurate its 3,006-passenger Splendor in July with a 21,000-square-foot spa. In addition, 68 spa-category staterooms will afford guests private spa entrances and access to amenities such as a thalassotherapy pool and steam rooms.

On the overseas front, the Splendor figures in Carnival’s first-ever Northern European itinerary, covering England, Germany, Italy and Russia, in July and August.

Water world:
The sleek pool deck
on the new Celebrity
Solstice, setting sail
in December

Celebrity Cruises
(800) 644-6312
www.celebritycruises.com

Besides last year’s launch of Azamara Cruises -- two 694-passenger ships that specialize in exotic locales like Egypt and the Panama Canal -- Celebrity is adding four new 2,850-passenger ships to its fleet: The Solstice debuts in December, the Equinox in 2009, the Eclipse in 2010 and an as-yet-unnamed ship will set sail in 2011.

Ron Gulaskey, director of corporate sales and charters for Celebrity and Azamara, says he’s seen a 25 percent increase in onboard incentive programs and meetings, and the new ships are being specially built to accommodate groups. “We are the only premium cruise line offering four- and five-night itineraries, which are the most popular cruise lengths for groups,” he notes.

The Solstice, which will ply the waters of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, will offer two conference rooms for up to 210 attendees, a 1,100-seat theater and 10 dining venues -- along with an actual grass-covered lawn that will let guests putt, play a game of bocce or just sprawl out picnic-style.

Cunard
(800) 728-6273
www.cunard.com

The 168-year-old cruise line delivers its ships in high style, naming them after royalty and adding decor reminiscent of the Golden Age of ocean travel. Cunard launched its third ship, the 1,850-passenger Queen Victoria, this past December. From its home port in Southampton, England, the vessel will travel throughout Northern Europe, the Carib-bean and the Canary Islands on four- to 14-day itineraries. Onboard meeting space includes the 800-seat Royal Court Theatre and the ConneXions Conference Center, which holds 50. The ship also features a 13,000-square-foot spa and a Cunard museum.

Cunard’s 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth is expected to launch in 2010.

Norwegian Cruise Line
(866) NCL-MEET
www.ncl.com

NCL has begun building two 4,200-passenger ships tagged for now as F3 concept vessels. The first of these behemoths will start sailing in early 2010, and NCL president and CEO Colin Veitch, while withholding details for now, promises something entirely new in cruising (hint: The ships will not have traditional staterooms, main dining areas or deck cafes).

In the meantime, NCL’s new 2,400-passenger Jade is set for year-round service for 12- and 14-night cruises from Barcelona, Spain, through the Canary Islands, Morocco and the Eastern Mediterranean, through 2010.

Royal Caribbean International
(800) 762-0458
www.royalcaribbean.com

RCI is going for the all-time record with two 5,400-passenger ships under construction in Finland, dubbed Project Genesis. The cruise line has revealed features such as a football field-size “Central Park” and a bar that literally floats from deck to deck. Launch dates have been set for fall 2009. RCI is spending $37.4 million to renovate the ships’ home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

This month, RCI launches its 3,634-passenger Independence, purported to be the largest cruise ship ever to call Europe home. It will sail from Southampton, England.

“Europe has been quite popular for incentive business,” notes Patrick Mitchell, vice president of corporate, incentive and charter sales for RCI. “We saw a significant spike in demand for sailings in 2007 and 2008.”