All change as cruise ships move between fleets

Last month was busy in terms of cruise ship transitions as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises all sold off a cruise ship each.

A couple of weeks ago Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd announced it was selling Royal Caribbean International’s Majesty of the Seas to its Pullmantur brand in 2016. This was the final Sovereign class that Royal Caribbean International was operating, having previously sold-off Sovereign of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas to the Pullmantur brand in 2008 and 2013 respectively.

Pullmantur's Sovereign cruise ship

"Majesty of the Seas has created wonderful memories for millions of guests, and we expect this record of success to continue as she transitions to Pullmantur," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

This sale shows how much confidence Royal Caribbean International have in its larger vessels, such as the world’s biggest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, and technologically advanced Quantum of the Seas, fulfilling and sustaining demand for the cruise line.

Majesty of the Seas will bid farewell to the Royal Caribbean International fleet in April 2016.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd also announced that they are to form a strategic partnership through SkySea Cruises with Ctrip.com designed to serve the Chinese cruise market.

Speaking of Ctrip, Exquisite Marine Ltd., a subsidiary of Ctrip International Ltd, has entered into an agreement to acquire Celebrity Century from Celebrity Cruises.

Cruising demand is booming in China right now and this move is designed to supply extra capacity to the market where it is needed.

Celebrity Century will bid farewell to the Celebrity Cruises fleet on 5th April 2015. She will be redeployed to Asia via a sailing from Dubai to Singapore.

Lastly, as John Honeywell reported last week, Princess Cruises has sold Ocean Princess to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which will be joining the Oceania Cruises fleet. The ship will undergo a 35-day refurbishment at a cost of $40 million (£25 million) transforming the vessel ready for fare-paying passengers in late April 2016.

This announcement from Oceania Cruises has fuelled speculation that Azamara Club Cruises is likely to make an announcement shortly about its fleet. Rumour has it that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd may opt for a new build rather than buying a second-hand vessel.

(Photo credit to Pullmantur)

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Farewell Season For Celebrity Century

Back in 1995, the all-new Century marked a distinct upmarket arrival for the fledgling Celebrity Cruises (formerly Chandris Lines). Next year, the Celebrity Century will leave the fleet - but not before a ' farewell season' of special events, including a newly introduced “President's 'Celebration of the Century' Cruise,” during a year featuring a record number of ports of call and 17 new destinations for the brand. 

The farewell season will also feature exclusive onboard programming and special offers before Century sails off to new owners in April 2015.

Captain's Club loyalty members and holidaymakers can join Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, on the Celebration of the Century Cruise in Asia, a 14-night sailing from Singapore departing on March 8, 2015, and visiting Vietnam and the Philippines. Further special events and exclusive onboard programming will be announced shortly.

From this March to April 2015, Century will visit 77 ports across 32 countries, the most destinations worldwide of any ship in the Celebrity fleet. New exotic destinations include Manila and Boracay (Philippines), Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara, Brunei) and Yangon (Rangoon, Myanmar). Guests can take their pick from culture-rich experiences in Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Coast and South Pacific.

Since its inaugural sailing in 1995, guests have enjoyed Century’s ahead-of-its-time design, indulgent Spa and dining experiences, as it was the first ship to have the now hugely popular Martini Bar and Murano, the award-winning speciality restaurant.

As a special incentive for all bookings until April 30, guests can receive up to $200 per stateroom in onboard credit for spa treatments, shore excursions, speciality dining and more. Captain’s Club members can choose between the onboard credit or an exclusive savings offer. And, until February 28, both offers are combinable with Celebrity's 123go! offer.

More info: call 0845 456 0523 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

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Celebrity Solstice Heads Down Under

Another thing of beauty will share Sydney Harbour when premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises sends its award-winning Celebrity Solstice to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in the winter of 2012-13.

Australians will enjoy the return of the Celebrity Cruises brand to the region this coming winter with the deployment of the 1,814-guest Celebrity Century while her subsequent replacement will be the 2,850-guest Solstice (above).

Upon arriving in Australia, Solstice will present a series of 12 and 13-night sailings between Sydney and Auckland. The season also will include a circumnavigation of Australia, consisting of two sailings between Sydney and Perth (Fremantle). Many of the itineraries include overnight stays in Sydney.

Celebrity will also continue to offer its popular Australia/New Zealand cruise-tour programme geared toward guests who wish to combine a land-based holiday with a cruise.

Premium concierge-style service is the hallmark of Celebrity’s four and five-night pre and post-cruise escorted packages, which include Port Douglas (Great Barrier Reef), Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Sydney. A six-night pre-cruise New Zealand package will visit Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown and Sydney. Highlights include a full-day tour over the Great Barrier Reef and a gourmet barbecue dinner at Ayers Rock. All of Celebrity’s cruise-tours are escorted by local tour directors and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfast and some additional meals.

Full details will be available on March 23, when bookings for the new 2012-13 Australia/New Zealand itineraries will open for sale. Bookings for the 1,814-guest Celebrity Century’s 2011-12 Australia/New Zealand cruises are open now.

For more information, see http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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