This week there were quite a few long stories -
Azamara, who really needed a direction gets a new name and a new attitude. Maybe this one will work?
Costa’s newest completes technical trials, and the Seabourn triplets are getting renovations.
A new villainous show is coming to Disney and so are some family friendly shore excursions.
Princess looses a ship when Royal Princess heads to P&O while Silversea takes delivery of their newest Silver Spirit.
Oceania’s massive owner’s suites on Marina will showcase Ralph Lauren.
Carnival Dream isn’t compatible with a pier in San Juan.
A few of Holland America’s ships are getting some really cool tech…
We got a request to talk about a few other things from our Westerdam trip and there’s some new video’s up for you to check out as well!
Costa Deliziosa, Costa’s newest flagship, completed her official technical trials in the open sea successfully. She will be inaugurated on February 23, 2010 in Dubai, which marks the first time the international locale has hosted a cruise ship naming ceremony.
The stunning ship, Costa’s 15th fleet member, built at Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard, was put through her paces in the open sea for the first time, with a series of running tests on the ship’s systems, machinery and engines. During the official trials performed at sea, the Costa Deliziosa sailed at maximum speed (in excess of 23 knots = 40 km/h), for eight hours non-stop during the endurance test. A crash stop was also carried out. This maneuver involves the total shutdown of propulsion with full ahead movement to see the distance required to bring the vessel to a total stop in the event of an emergency. During the UMS trial, the Costa Deliziosa sailed for six hours non-stop using only her automatic control systems for power generation and propulsion. Lastly, the blackout test was conducted whereby all the ship’s control equipment is shut down and reactivated automatically.
After the trials, the Costa Deliziosa returned to the yard in Marghera for her final touches before entering service. The Costa Deliziosa will be ready for delivery on January 29, 2010, while her inauguration will take place in Dubai on February 23, 2010 during her Grand Maiden Cruise, which departs from Savona on February 5. The inaugural event promises to be an unforgettable occasion combining traditional Arabian enchantment, reminiscent of “A Thousand and One Nights,” with Costa’s traditional Italian style.
The Costa Deliziosa is part of the Italian Company’s fleet expansion program, presently the largest of its kind in the world, with five new ships launched between 2009 and 2012, for a total investment worth 2.4 billion euros. The Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica and the Costa Deliziosa will be followed by the Costa Favolosa, due for delivery in summer 2011, and the Costa Fascinosa, which will make her debut in spring 2012. All five ships are Italian builds commissioned from Fincantieri, each one requiring the labor of nearly 3,000 people, comprising both the shipyard’s own employees and those of about 500 contracted suppliers, most of which are Italian firms.
Costa Deliziosa Along with her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa will be the fleet’s “flagship,” offering the most exclusive and innovative elements in the fleet and designed for Costa’s most discerning clientele. These innovations include the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as various type of marbles, granite, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass, stucco applied by spatula using the technique known as “spatolato veneziano” and other decorative interior finishes including “parchment scroll” lamé, refined Zebrano wood, Wenge timber and stylish polished and glazed steel. The stunning atrium features fine works of art, including “Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro, and “Delizia fisica e Delizia intellettuale” (Physical Delight and Intellectual Delight), a piece by leading contemporary Italian painter Mario Donizetti. In addition, there are a variety of entertainment options onboard including a 4D cinema; roller skating track; the latest generation golf simulator with an outdoor putting green, a Grand Prix race car driving simulator with the same software and technology used by the F1 champion drivers in training; the exclusive “Samsara Spa,” “PlayStation World,”an area on board dedicated exclusively to PlayStation3, as well as the “PlayStation on demand” cabin service.
Costa, and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced that the new Costa Deliziosa with be named in Dubai. Costa and DTCM will team up for the event, which marks the first time a cruise ship will be named in an Arabian city. The new flagship of the Costa fleet will be inaugurated in the international locale on February 23, 2010. The announcement was made at World Travel Market in London.
The naming ceremony will take place during the ship’s Grand Inaugural cruise, departing from Savona, Italy on February 5, 2010 and calling in Dubai from February 23-26. Costa guests sailing on the first leg of the grand maiden cruise will be able to attend the exclusive inaugural ceremony.
The Costa Deliziosa (92,600-tons; 2,260 dbl occ) is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard and will be delivered on January 29, 2010. Together with her sister ship, Costa Luminosa, christened on June 5 of this year, the Costa Deliziosa will be the most exclusive and innovative ship in the Costa fleet. Both ships will be deployed in Dubai during winter 2009/10, offering 7-night cruises from Dubai, complete with two overnights and visits to other UAE countries.
After more than 16,000 suggestions from more than 40,000 travel agents and fans around the world, the names of the 16th and 17th ships in the Costa fleet have been selected. The two sister ships, set to debut in 2011 and 2012, will be named the Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa. The selections were chosen as a result of Costa’s “Send Us a Sea of Names” project whereby travel agents and fans sent in name suggestions for the two ships. The final selections were chosen based on their definition of the all-encompassing magic, glamour, emotion and passion reflected on all of Costa’s ships.
The Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa, (114,500 gross tons with a double occupancy of 3,000 each) will be delivered in summer 2011 and spring 2012 respectively. The two new sister ships, built by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard, are part of a major fleet expansion plan for Costa with five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012. This plan includes the launch of the Costa Luminosa the Costa Pacifica (June 2009) and the Costa Deliziosa (set to debut in January 2010) for a total investment worth 2.4 billion Euros. The Costa Favolosa will be the first of the two new vessels to enter service. The laying of the first “building block” is set to take place on Thursday, November 5 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
The countdown has begun! We’re just a few episodes away from our hiatus as we move most of the way across country. But before then there’s still some Cruise News to discuss – and none of it envolves Swine Flu, Monkey Pox, or even Chicken Pox!
Bermuda is ready for larger ships – it’s opened it’s second large pier. Crystal is celebrating the Theater Guild with some special guests and some special onboard performances.
NCL has revealed the hull art for Norwegian Epic and Holland America is trialing some new excursions that go beyond the usual sightseeing.
Costa details more about their Playstation partnership with Sony, and MSC made it’s first ever call to New York. Finally Princess is celebrating ALaska’s 50th Anniversary in their own special way.
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