Norwegian Cruise Line has officially joined the cruise ship arms race.
While Royal Caribbean has set the standard with its Oasis and Icon Class ships, Carnival has not been far behind with its Excel Class offerings. MSC Cruises will be joining that race soon when MSC World America joins its U.S. fleet.
It’s a game where bigger has generally been better. Royal Caribbean has retired the idea of “world’s biggest cruise ship.” Traditionally, the next ship in its largest class has claimed that title.
Star of the Seas, however, won’t make that claim, even though it will be at least the same size as Icon of the Seas. Carnival and MSC seem to have also given up on the idea of taking that crown, but all the ships being ordered by all three of these companies have been what would be considered megaships.
Now, Norwegian Cruise Line has decided to join the arms race and place an order for larger ships.
Cruise News Today’s Doug Parker has the full story as well as news of an outbreak of norovirus on a Royal Caribbean ship.
He also has some good news for gamblers who don’t smoke.
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Norwegian orders 4 new cruise ships
Transcript:
From Las Vegas, this is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning. Here’s your cruise news for Thursday, February 6.
Norwegian Cruise Line has finalized an order for four massive new cruise ships, each weighing 226,000 gross registered tons and carrying over 8,000 guests.
Built by Fincantieri, these will be the largest ships in Norwegian’s fleet, with delivery set for 2030, 32, 34, and 2036. The deal, worth over $2 billion, follows previous expansions, including Norwegian Aqua, which is launching this spring.
Sister brands Oceana and Regent Seven Seas will also get new ships.
Meanwhile, construction is underway on a new pier at Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, expected to open later this year.
Royal Caribbean fights norovirus, adds nonsmoking casino
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas has reported an illness outbreak, delaying embarkation for its next cruise. [The] CDC has confirmed that 89 passengers and two crew members aboard the seven-night Caribbean voyage reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
To prevent further spread, the cruise lines have increased sanitation measures.
This marks the cruise industry’s sixth outbreak of the year.
And Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas is adding a new nonsmoking casino as part of its recent dry dock.
[First] reported by the Royal Caribbean blog, the new Casino Royale nonsmoking will replace the underused Vintages Wine Bar on the ship’s Royal Promenade.
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Royal Caribbean says the update gives guests more choices while on board.
The move follows the success of nonsmoking conversions on Oasis Class ships and could expand to other Freedom and Voyager Class ships, allowing guests to go broke in a cleaner and healthier environment.
If you have a lead on a story, let us know. [email protected].
Here outside the Luxor in Las Vegas, I’m Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
Have yourself a great Thursday.
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