Jewel of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas is a Radiance class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship was completed in the spring of 2004 with her maiden voyage in May of that year. Jewel of the Seas operated cruises from Rome, Italy, to the Greek Isles until in November 2016, the ship repositioned to cruising from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Caribbean destinations. In April 2016, Jewel of the Seas completed a £20 million renovation official website
Meyer Werft
The Meyer Werft GmbH & Co. KG is one of the major German shipyards, headquartered in Papenburg at the river Ems. Founded in 1795 and starting with small wooden vessels, today Meyer Werft is one of world's leading builders of luxury passenger ships. Altogether about 700 ships of different types have been built at the yard, its "Dockhalle 2" is the third largest shipbuilding hall and the building with the fifth-largest usable space in the world. Meyer Werft has been managed by the Meyer family for seven generations. Since 1997, it has been part of the Meyer Neptun Group together with Neptun Werft in Rostock. In 2014 the company added the Turku shipyard in Finland to the group; the shipyard is an anchor on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Five of the ten largest cruise ships in the world have been built at the shipyard in Papenburg, three more at Meyer Turku Oy shipyard; the shipyard was founded at the beginning of 1795 by Willm Rolf Meyer as a wharf for the construction of small wooden vessels.
Josef Lambert Meyer started the construction of iron ships in 1874. Until 1920 there were more than 20 dockyards in the Papenburg area, but today Meyer Werft is the only remaining shipyard in Papenburg. For seven generations it has been a held and family-owned company. Meyer Werft gained international recognition through the construction of Roll-on/roll-off ferries, passenger ferries, gasoline tankers, container ships, livestock ferries and most luxury cruise ships. Meyer is one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world with about 3300 employees, home to the largest roofed dry docks in the world; the first covered dock was inaugurated in 1987 and was 370 meters long, 101,5 meters wide and 60 meters high. In 1990/91 the dock was extended by an additional 100 meters. In 2004, a second covered dock was built, announced to be extended to a full length of 504 meters, a width of 125 meters and height of 75 meters in order to compete with Asian shipyards. Meyer Werft will as a result of this be able to build three cruise ships a year.
Due to its upstream location on the river Ems, the giant ships to be delivered have to make a 36 km voyage to the Dollart bay and which each time attracts thousands of spectators. Up until the completion of the Ems river barrier in 2002, the journey was only possible at high tides. In September 2014 Meyer Werft acquired 70% ownership of STX Finland and the Turku shipyard STX Finland Oy from STX Europe with the state-owned Finnish Industry Investment owning the remaining 30%; the shipyard was renamed Meyer Turku Oy. Meyer Werft acquired the remaining 30% in 2015. A large variety of ships have been built at Meyer Werft, including car carriers, cargo ships, container ships, cruise ships, fishing vessels, gas carriers, paddlesteamers, passenger ships and Seebäderschiffs. Meyer Werft Neptun Werft Meyer Turku Hans Jürgen Witthöft, Meyer Werft- Innovative shipbuilding from Papenburg, Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg Homepage of Meyer Werft Homepage of Neptun Werft Homepage of Meyer Turku Meyer Werft Shipyard in Google Maps
Voyager-class cruise ship
The Voyager class refers to a design of post-Panamax cruise ships owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International cruiselines. The Voyager class ships were built at Finland. In 2012, Mariner of the Seas was modified to include an outdoor movie screen and new passenger lounges; these same changes were made to Adventure of the Seas in 2014. Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas replaced their inline skating tracks with Flowrider surf simulators in 2014 and 2015. Voyager-class ships have a diesel-electric powertrain, they are powered by six Wärtsilä 46 diesel engines, giving a total output of 75,600 kW. The generated electric power drives three 14 MW ABB Azipod azimuth thrusters; the Voyager class featured some world firsts for cruise ships when it debuted, including the first rock climbing wall and ice-skating rink at sea. At 139,570 gross tons, Navigator of the Seas is the eighteenth largest passenger ship at sea as of 2016. Royal Caribbean factsheet on the Voyager class
Costa Deliziosa
Costa Deliziosa is a cruise ship flagship operated by Costa Crociere. Ordered in 2007 as part of a five-ship expansion of the Costa Cruises Fleet, Costa Deliziosa was constructed by Fincantieri, launched in March 2009, handed over to Costa Crociere in January 2010; the sister ship of Costa Luminosa, Costa Deliziosa was ordered in 2007 from Italian company Fincantieri. The keel was laid down at the company's shipyard in Ancona. In July 2008, after the keel and first section were completed, they were towed to the Marghera shipyard for further work, she was launched on 12 March 2009. The ship was handed over to Costa Cruises on 31 January 2010 at the Venice Passenger Terminal. Costa Deliziosa is the third ship to be delivered by Fincantieri to Costa Cruises in a nine-month period, one of five new ships to be in service with the company by 2012. Costa Deliziosa is 292 metres long, with a beam of 32.3 metres. The ship has a gross tonnage of 92,700. Up to 2,828 passengers can be carried in 1,130 cabins.
The ship has a cruising speed of 21.6 knots, a top speed of 23.6 knots. Around 3,000 people worked on the construction of Costa Deliziosa. Costa Deliziosa was christened at Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates on 23 February, during her inaugural voyage, which started from Savona on 5 February. In deference to the Muslim faith of Dubai a bottle of special date juice was used rather than the traditional sparkling wine, champagne, or prosecco used to christen ships; the christening is planned to coincide with the opening ceremony for the new Port Rashid cruise ship terminal. The ship spent the first part of her career operating on seven-day cruises in the Persian Gulf. During the northern summer, the ship relocated to Copenhagen, for seven-day cruises through the Baltic region. On 28 December 2011, Costa Deliziosa embarked on a 100-day round-the-world cruise. Departing from Savona, the ship will visit the Caribbean, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Samoa, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, before returning to Italy.
In 2013 the ship will leave Northern Europe. Between spring and fall, Costa Deliziosa operates in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands and Black Sea. All cruises start from Savona. From January to April 2013, in 2014, she undertook a 100 night world cruise, it was on this world cruise that the vessel rescued 8 sailors whose boat had hit an unidentified object mid-Atlantic. The ship's course was altered to rescue the sailors; every summer she operates in the Eastern Mediterranean region and more she offers cruises to Greece and Croatia. In the winter period she does world cruises. Spirit class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Carnival Cruise Lines. Radiance class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Royal Caribbean International MV Arcadia - a similar Panamax ship operated by P&O Cruises. MS Queen Victoria - a similar Panamax sized ship operated by Cunard Line. Vista class cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line "Signature class" cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line Coral Princess and Island Princess - A similar set of Panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises Costa Luminosa - A Panamax ships operated by Costa Cruises derived from the Spirit Class and Vista Class designs.
Sister ship to Costa Deliziosa Official website Media related to Costa Deliziosa at Wikimedia Commons
Vision-class cruise ship
The Vision class is a group of six cruise ships built by Royal Caribbean International, operated by themselves and Marella Cruises. Although called a class by Royal Caribbean, the Vision-class ships were built as three pairs of sister ships, each pair differing from the others in size and design. Unlike other Royal Caribbean classes, the Vision class is not named for the first ship built. Royal Caribbean had been promoting "Project Vision" for some time before ordering the first two ships in the class in 1992, but Vision of the Seas was not ordered until 1994. Vision-class ships were designed to have more glass windows than any other ships at the time they debuted, therefore greater views of the oceans from interior spaces. Ships in the Vision class were the fastest built in 25 years thanks to their diesel electric propulsion systems, which allowed the larger engines to be placed closer to the middle of the ships for better weight balance. Two of the ships were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Helsinki New Shipyard, while the others were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France.
Built in 1996 and 1997 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards 74,000 gross tons when built. Enchantment was lengthened by 73 feet in 2005. Built in 1997 and in 1998 by Chantiers l'Atlantique 78,000 gross tons. Built in 1995 and in 1996 by Chantiers l'Atlantique 70,000 gross tons, as Legend and Splendour of the Seas; the only two ships in the Vision class to feature miniature golf courses
Costa Cruises
Costa Crociere S.p. A. operating as Costa Cruises, is an Italian cruise line, based in Genoa, owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Founded in 1854, the company operated cargo ships, in order to carry olive oils and textiles from Sardinia to Liguria. In 1924 the company passed to founder's sons that started commercial activities, buying the ship Ravenna. Commercial activities continued until the introduction of passenger services in 1947, with regular services between Italy and South America; the company converted its entire fleet to full-time cruising, as an independent company became one of the largest cruise operators in Europe. Acquired by Carnival Corporation in 2000, Costa Cruises is now one of ten brands operated by Carnival and accounts for 16% of its revenue. Today, as Costa Cruises Group, the company is one of the main operating companies in the Carnival group, with executive control of the group's activities in Europe; the company is responsible for operation of Costa Cruises in Italy, AIDA Cruises in Germany and was responsible for the operation of Ibero Cruises in Spain.
AIDA was a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, being transferred to Costa following the merger of Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess in 2002. Ibero Cruises is a new brand, created in 2007 as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and Orizonia Group; the Costa Cruises brand operates fourteen cruise ships, which all sail under the Italian flag and provide cruise holidays in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, South East Asia and South America. The company gained international attention on January 13, 2012 when one of its cruise ships, the Costa Concordia, ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy, because Captain Francesco Schettino wanted to'salute' the Italian island of Giglio off Tuscany with a close sail past at night; the captain was one of the crew to leave the sinking ship early while many passengers were still on board. The ship was left lying on its starboard side in shallow water. Thirty-two people died. Six weeks the company made headlines again when a fire on Costa Allegra left it drifting without power for 13 hours in waters near Somalia frequented by pirates, before the ship was taken under tow.
On July 27, 2014, after tugboats had towed the wreck of the Costa Concordia 200 miles north from the island of Giglio over a period of five days, the Costa Concordia arrived in its home port of Genoa, for eventual scrapping. The total cost of the disaster is estimated to be over $2 billion, including $500 million for the loss of the ship and $1.5 billion for the salvage and recovery operations. On February 11, 2015, Captain Francesco Schettino was found guilty by an Italian court of multiple manslaughter, causing the shipwreck, abandoning his passengers and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. An Italian appeals court on May 31, 2016 upheld the 16-year prison sentence, he will be released in 2031. In February 2018, Costa announced its partnership with football club Juventus - “The Italian Champion at Sea, The Glorious League.” As of 2015, according to Scott Knutson, vice president of sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America, Costa was “... uniquely positioned as the only international brand that hasn’t adapted its product to the American market.
That authenticity allows us to go to a certain segment of the market. It’s those vacationers who like the international experience — the food, the wine, the service." Italians accounted for 25 to 30 percent of bookings on most Costa cruises, they were followed by passengers from France and Spain. Depending on the season or destination, North Americans could make up 5 to 15 percent of the passenger list; the "universal" language on board was English. See Carnival Cruises Accidents and incidents for incidents associated with the parent company's other cruise operations. On Sunday October 22, 1961, the Bianca C was off Grenada when an explosion occurred in the engine room causing the deaths of two crew members and the ship to catch fire. Local fishermen helped rescue the passengers and crew but as the local authorities did not have the equipment to extinguish the fire the ship was left to burn until the British frigate HMS Londonderry arrived from Puerto Rico; the burning ship was in the main anchorage and would block the harbour if it sank there, so the Londonderry towed it to a different location where the Bianca C sank.
On January 13, 2012, Costa Concordia ran aground off Isola del Tuscany. The ship capsized and sank, killing 32 people. In 2014, the ship was parbuckled and refloated with caissons, in July 2014 it was towed to its home port of Genoa, where it was dismantled and scrapped. On February 27, 2012, Costa Allegra suffered an engine room fire and went adrift in the Indian Ocean. After several days adrift without power, the ship was towed to the Seychelles island of Desroches but was unable to dock there, she was towed to Mahé, where the passengers disembarked. No casualties were reported. On 9 March 2012, it was announced that Costa Allegra would not return to service with Costa, she was given to Themis Maritime Ltd ship company. In late 2012, Costa Allegra was beached at Aliaga, for scrapping. Costa Cruises Corporate Costa Cruises Official Website Costa Line – Linea "C" Page 1A – The Early Liners 1948–65
Freedom-class cruise ship
The Freedom class is a group of three cruise ships for Royal Caribbean International. The first ship of the class, Freedom of the Seas, was the largest passenger ship in the world, the largest built in terms of passenger capacity and gross tonnage, when it was built in 2006; these two records were shared by all three ships until the construction of the Oasis of the Seas was completed in November 2009. Freedom of the Seas left Aker Finnyards Turku Shipyard, Finland on 24 April 2006 and started regular sailings out of Miami the next month; the second ship of the class, Liberty of the Seas, sailed on its maiden voyage on 19 May 2007. The third ship of the class, Independence of the Seas, was delivered and started work out of Southampton in April 2008; the Freedom-class ships are similar in design and layout to the earlier second-generation Voyager class, including an ice skating rink and a 400-foot mall named the Royal Promenade, featuring pubs, arcades, a 24-hour Cafe Promenade. New features added to the Freedom class include the FlowRider surf park, cantilevered whirlpools, a full-size boxing ring, the H2O Zone waterpark.
In March 2008, Aker Yards and Royal Caribbean announced a memorandum of agreement for a fourth ship in the class, subject to board approval and finalization of terms and conditions, but no actual order for the ship was announced. In 2011, Royal Caribbean announced that it had ordered two ships from the similarly-sized Quantum class, making an order for a fourth Freedom-class ship unlikely. Royal Caribbean webpage for the Freedom class