The new world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, has left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, to undertake its first sea trials.
 
The giant new ship, still under construction, left the shipyard on the morning of 19 June 2023, a day later than planned due to strong winds in the area. The ship was assisted by four tugboats when leaving the berth at the shipyard.

Featured Image: Royal Caribbean International Press Centre

Icon of the Seas is to be tested over a series of days during the sea trials. More than 450 specialist personnel are on board, working to carry out crucial, preliminary tests with the ship’s main engines, hull, lifeboats and safety equipment and bow thrusters.
 
A second series of sea trials will take place later this year to further test the new ship, which is the first in a protype design for Royal Caribbean International.
 
The 250,800 gross tonne ship is expected to debut in January 2024. A delivery date to Royal Caribbean International is yet to be confirmed. Icon of the Seas will sail round-trip cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami, Florida. 

MSC Cruises officially named MSC Euribia, its much-anticipated new flagship - a vessel which features the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever.

The celebratory Naming Ceremony event took place in Copenhagen Port on 08 June 2023, honouring traditional maritime heritage, presented by renowned Danish television host, actress and model Sarah Grünewald. 

Featured Image: MSC Cruises

Weeks before its 130th anniversary, Hurtigruten Norway unveiled plans for its first zero-emission ship. Initially announced in March 2022, under project name ‘Sea Zero,’ the first-of-its-kind initiative has revealed early concept plans for the world’s most energy-efficient cruise ship.

Hurtigruten Norway presented the findings alongside its consortium of 12 maritime partners and research institute SINTEF, all joined in the pursuit of achieving emission-free marine travel. Tasked with developing energy-efficient and carbon-neutral technology solutions, the consortium shared key findings following its first year of research.​

The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique today celebrated the delivery of MSC Euribia for the Company’s MSC Cruises brand, a vessel which features the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever.

The delivery marked yet another significant step on the journey to decarbonise the Cruise Division’s fleet and effectively demonstrates what the future of cruising will look like.

MSC Cruises will operate the cruise industry’s first net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage when its latest ship, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered MSC Euribia, leaves the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France – where she is currently being buil, on its way to her naming ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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The new ship, the 22nd vessel to join MSC Cruises’ fleet, will sail for four days from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions to demonstrate that net zero cruising is possible today.  MSC Euribia will depart the French port on 3 June and is scheduled to arrive in the Danish city on 7 June.

Portsmouth harbour welcomed its largest visitor yet, when the TUI cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 docked at the cruise terminal on 26 May 2023. 

Measuring 293.3m in length and weighing 99,536 in gross tonnage TUI cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 takes the accolade of the largest ship to ever sail into Portsmouth harbour, demonstrating the growing capabilities of Portsmouth International Port to manage a wider range of ships.

Featured Image: Portsmouth Port

​PortMiami, known as ‘the cruise capital of the world’, recently celebrated its busiest cruise passenger day ever.
 
On 09 April 2023, a record breaking 67,594 cruise passengers passed through the port, sailing on eight different cruise ships.

Featured Image: PortMiami Facebook

With less than one month to go, MSC Cruises unveiled today further details of the Naming Ceremony for the launch of the line’s most environmentally advanced ship to-date, MSC Euribia, which will take place on 8 June in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The Scandinavian capital was chosen as the launch location for the ship due to its rich maritime heritage and dedication to sustainability. MSC Euribia is symbolic of the line’s vision for a sustainable future and a deep respect and commitment to protect and preserve the marine environment.

Princess Cruises, the most iconic cruise line in the world, today revealed the name of its second, sensational Sphere Class cruise ship – Star Princess, which will sail an inaugural season of Mediterranean voyages when she debuts in August 2025.

​Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Star Princess joins Sun Princess as the largest ships ever built for Princess at 175,500 tons and carrying 4,300 guests. The new ship is built on a platform that is distinctly different and unique to Princess, designed to simultaneously embrace the Princess heritage while celebrating the romance of the sea by offering more dynamic, outward views.

Britain’s newest cruise operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, is gearing up the celebrate the official launch of its second ship, Ambition.

Originally built in 1999, the 41,123 gross tonne ship has undergone a full refurbishment at the Bremerhaven shipyard in Germany, ahead of its first voyage with Ambassador Cruise Line. The upgrades took six weeks to complete, and included painting the ships new livery and the installation of state-of-the-art environmental features.

​Image: Bob McGowan