Royal Caribbean Orders An Oasis Class Ship From STX France.



Oasis of the Seas / Allure of the Seas - Oasis Class Ships Royal Caribbean.


Last week Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that it has executed a contract with STX France to construct a third Oasis-class vessel for delivery in mid-2016, with an option for a second ship with a potential delivery in mid-2018.

These extemely large ships boast 16 decks, weighing in at 225,282 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms.

The tow existing Oasis Class ships - the Oasis of the Seas and Azure of the Seas, currently sail weekly from their home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

With the potential for 4 Oasis Class ships - the real question is where will the 3rd and possibly 4th ship be deployed?  These mammoth ships require special docking facilities, terminals for loading and unloading passengers and the efficient handling of luggage and supplies. In addtion, most ports do not have the infrastructure and facitilies in place to handle these ships. Many of the port currently servicing these ships, invested significantly in terminal and port improvements just to attract these vessels.

Here are my predictions. The new ships will be deployed to the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale replacing the Oasis of the Seas and Azure of the Seas. The Oasis and/or Azure could possibly be deployed to the Mediterranean. The Chinese market is also an option because it is growing significantly. Royal Caribbean has already deployed an Explorer class vessel there and these larger vessels would be the next logical progression. Or finally New York/Cape Liberty Bayonne. The Bayonne Facility can easily handle a ship of that size and my research shows that the Oasis class can clear the Verrazano Bridge with 15 feet to spare. The height of the Oasis Class is listed as 213 feet and the Bridge clearance is listed as 228 feet.

Only time can tell where the ships will ultimately be deployed.

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Carnival Cruises Donates $2M To Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds

Carnival Corporation & plc is donating $2 million to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy that struck the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, and devastated New Jersey and New York. The funds are earmarked for four charities providing an array of relief and rebuilding services and support.

 

The Robin Hood Relief Fund will receive $1 million, Habitat for Humanity International will receive $500,000, and Save the Children and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City — Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts each will receive $250,000.

 

"Super Storm Sandy was one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history and on behalf of the 90,000 global employees of Carnival Corporation & plc we are pleased to provide this financial support to those who were affected by the storm," said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “We also have a special relationship with the region, with several ships either homeported or visiting the area as a port of call, as well as  hundreds of thousands of  residents who sail on the fleets of our various cruise brands.”

 

The Robin Hood Relief Fund launched a large-scale relief effort to aid those in the tri-state area within hours of the storm, providing more than $17.6 million in grants to more than 160 different groups. The organization now is moving into phase two of its recovery effort, providing for the long-term needs created by the storm including: housing, job-training, legal counseling and more, with 100 percent of donations going to Sandy relief. www.robinhood.org/rhsandy 

 

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization that builds houses for people in need. Carnival Corporation’s donation has been earmarked for the five Habitat chapters that have been affected by the storm and are assisting with the recovery efforts. Following the storm, Habitat for Humanity International launched a multiphase response to help affected communities. This effort includes a range of services that will address both the short-term and long-term need for safe and decent housing.

 

On Dec. 17 Habitat for Humanity deployed the first-ever fleet of Habitat Mobile Response Units from Atlanta to assist communities in New York and New Jersey. The 24 Express vans are especially outfitted with tools and equipment for critical home repairs. www.habitat.org 

 

Save the Children's domestic emergency response teams were dispatched to New Jersey and New York within 48 hours of the storm to work with children and families in shelters, and communities to identify both short- and longer-term needs. The organization also is coordinating with national partners to assess the critical needs of families impacted by the storm. By Nov. 30, Save the Children had assisted 40,400 children and adults.

 

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is assisting with immediate and long-term restoration efforts throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The fund is accepting financial donations to support hurricane relief efforts, and 100 percent of donations are being dispersed to relief efforts and organizations. Grant funds have supported the supply and transport of emergency needs including hot food, toiletries, baby supplies, cleaning materials, warm clothing and medications to communities hit hardest by the hurricane. The Mayor's Fund also is committed to rebuilding and restoration efforts including assistance for displaced families, schools, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, parks and other impacted groups. http://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/home/home.shtml

 

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise company in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).  

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Missed News Article - Carnival Glory Completes Refit.

Carnival Cruises Carnival Glory Completes Refit

I missed this story dating back to November about an extensive refit to Carnival Cruises' Carnival Glory.

Carnival Glory began an extensive two-week-long dry dock early in November at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport. There workers transformed part of the Lido and Promenade Decks into a variety of new Fun Ship 2.0 spaces, including Guy’s Burger Joint, the poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Alchemy Bar, the BlueIguana Cantina, the EA Sports Bar and more. 

Carnival Glory is the latest ship to receive the line’s extensive Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades which are part of a $500 million ship enhancement initiative being rolled out across the fleet.

 The Carival Glory sails from New York, Boston and Norfolk during the spring, summer and/or fall.

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Manhattan Cruise Terminal Gets New Gangways For Norwegian Breakaway

New Gangways Ordered For Manhattan Cruise Terminal

TEAM Ports & Maritime  has won a contract to design, manufacture, assemble, transport and install of two HYDRA Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs) at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York.

The gangways will provide seamless access for cruise guests from cruise terminal building to Norwegian Cruise Line'’s new Norwegian Breakaway. The NCL Breakaway will start sailing year-round from New York as of May 12, 2013.

With these PBBs the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is equipped to fully service the embarkation and disembarkation of cruise guests to any new generation mega cruise ship with overhanging life boats.


The new gangways will be designed and manufactured in Spain. Assembly will take place in the Port of Barcelona, from where they will be placed on a ship and transported to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York.

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