2023-09-19 07:12:09
In February 2024, a new superlative will set sail: Then the “Icon of the Seas” will go on its maiden voyage. With space for 7,600 passengers and a length of 365 meters, it is the largest cruise ship ever built in the world, a kind of floating town. Later in the year, Royal Caribbean will be upping the ante with the “Utopia of the Seas” for at least 5,500 guests.
Gigantism is also the order of the day among the competition: the “Carnival Jubilee”, Carnival’s third 5,200-passenger ship, is coming at the end of 2023, with a special attraction: a roller coaster around the chimney. MSC, in turn, is sending the “MSC World America” to the oceans in 2025 for almost 6,800 guests.
“Icon of the Seas”: The cruise ship is the largest in the world to date. The question is when the next even bigger pot will be launched
Those: GCI Germany
There are three main reasons why more and more mega ships are being launched.
First of all, the economics: the costs per passenger are lower, and the larger a ship is, the more competitive it is. Secondly: A large proportion of new buildings rely on LNG as fuel – this liquefied natural gas takes up a relatively large amount of space, which is easier to implement on large ships. The third reason is the most important for shipping companies: technical developments in shipbuilding create scope for even more spectacular but space-consuming features – infinity pools, multi-story kart racing tracks or roller coasters on board. Parks with thousands of real plants.
also read
And then there are the new builds, for example from TUI Cruises, NCL, Virgin, Celebrity, Princess, Disney and Cunard, which will be launched in the next year or two. Their passenger numbers are between 2,500 and 4,300 Although lower than the giants, these ships are still large. What they have in common is that they will have similar leisure amenities as the big ones, but are still just “small” enough to be able to call at smaller ports.
Butler service and culinary shore excursions
Luxury is more in demand on the high seas than ever – around a dozen premium ships will enter service in 2023 alone. This segment is primarily about round-the-clock butler service, rarely visited exotic destinations and top-class dining on board. One trend is the regional cuisine of the respective sailing area, and culinary shore excursions are also very popular.
also read
The Italian MSC Cruises is even investing specifically in a new brand called Explora Journeys, with six 900-passenger ships by 2028. The first ship, the “Explora I”, has been sailing since August 2023. The newcomer relies on a European ambience as a counterpart to the otherwise mostly American-style luxury ships.
Another new addition since August is the “Silver Nova” from Silversea Cruises, which is identical to the “Silver Ray” that will follow in 2024. A new type of asymmetrical architecture opens the ship visually towards the sea and even moves the pool, which is usually in the middle, to the side – a static masterpiece.
New luxury ships also come from Regent Seven Seas, the Australian Scenic Group, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Swan Hellenic. And seasoned luxury cruisers are rejoicing at Crystal’s return, with new ownership and a $150 million renovation for Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.
Renovated for millions: the “Crystal Symphony”, here in the port of Bordeaux, before her expensive makeover
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa/Lartigue Stephane
This luxury trend is also bringing hotel groups such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Accor and Aman onto the scene: They will be expanding their portfolio to include exclusive cruise yachts in the coming years. Your customers will soon be able to enjoy a luxury holiday at sea, in the usual ambience and with the same service as in the luxury hotels on land.
A project that is still outstanding even in this environment is a sailing yacht “Orient Express Silenseas” from the Accor Group with hybrid drive planned for 2026: It combines wind energy with three sails, each one hundred meters high, with an engine powered by LNG.
Stricter limits for greenhouse gas emissions
A big change in cruising is taking place in secret. More than half of new cruise ships now use LNG as fuel, and they can also use shore power. Some combine their drive with batteries, fill up with biofuels or test fuel cells.
also read
Of course, the almost 400 cruise ships worldwide will not become climate neutral overnight, just as the industry on land will not switch to more environmentally friendly technologies overnight.
The fact that environmental and climate protection in cruises is now progressing quite quickly is due to stricter legislation. The EU requires all ships to use shore power from 2030. From 2025 onwards, gradually stricter limits for greenhouse gas emissions will apply.
Shipping companies such as Hurtigruten or Aida – here the “Aida Prima” on the Elbe off Blankenese – are working on concepts to operate ships in a climate-neutral manner
Source: picture alliance/dpa/Jonas Walzberg
Several shipping companies, including Aida Cruises, TUI Cruises and Hurtigruten, say they are already working on concepts for how the first ships could be operated in a climate-neutral manner as early as 2030.
At the same time, government research funding accelerates the expensive development of climate-friendly technologies. For example, the Ministry of Transport is investing 15.6 million euros in funding for a fuel cell project that the German manufacturer Freudenberg e-Power Systems is implementing together with Meyer Werft, which specializes in cruise ships.
Private island instead of close contact
More popular than ever are private islands that almost every major US shipping company now has in the Caribbean, such as the relatively new Ocean Cay from MSC or Coco Cay from Royal Caribbean, which has been developed into a kind of Caribbean amusement park.
Passengers can enjoy a day of sun, beach and margaritas all to themselves. Disney wants to launch a new private beach called Lighthouse Point on the Bahamas island of Eleuthera from summer 2024.
A “perfect day” on Coco Cay? The Royal Caribbean private island is an amusement park washed by the sea
Quelle: picture alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com/Joe Burbank
Shipping companies are increasingly building their own ports with shopping villages and beach resorts, for example Carnival with Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic or, from 2025, the new Celebration Key on Grand Bahamas. Royal Caribbean is currently building its own resort on Paradise Island near Nassau.
Exclusive private beaches and islands have become so popular that many guests book a cruise just for them. Getting to know the country and its people is becoming less and less important, especially on short cruises from Florida.
also read
In the long term, the concept will also be expanded to other oceans: Royal Caribbean, for example, is planning its first private island in Vanuatu in the South Seas.
Here you will find content from third parties
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
#Trends #cruise #ships #superlatives #await #high #seas