Cruise Operator

Tasmanian Luxury Wilderness Cruise Operator Launches Odalisque III Cruise Ship

On Board, a luxury wilderness expedition cruise company in Tasmania, has launched the Odalisque III liveaboard cruise ship, which was designed by Incat Crowther. On Board launched Odalisque III in January 2023 with a public ceremony attended by local media at Hobart’s historic Constitution Dock, and the , a 24-meter boutique vessel is now set for its maiden voyage into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Built by Tasmanian shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine, the aluminum-hulled Odalisque III can host up to 12 guests in six stylish and flexible guest cabins…

Image courtesy Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection/ABB

Pair of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Vessels to Sport Azipod Propulsion

ABB inked a deal with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to supply the electric propulsion systems and remote support for the luxury cruise operator’s two forthcoming mega-yachts. The ships are the second and third in a series that began with Ritz-Carlton Evrima, to start operations later this year, also featuring ABB technologies on board.With a capacity of 456 passengers, the two yachts will be larger than the 298-passenger Evrima while maintaining the exclusivity and personalized service that differentiate Ritz-Carlton.

Hurtigruten has plans for cruises to a wide range of new destinations, including the Norway Fjords, Svalbard, Russia, South America and Antarctica. Photo: Hurtigruten

Cruise Shipping: 'Green Cruising' with Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten orders third hybrid-powered expedition cruise shipGrowth in the global cruise sector continues, as Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, signed an MOU with shipbuilder Kleven Verft AS for the construction of a third hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship. Tom Mulligan, Maritime Reporter’s Science & Technology writer, reports from Norway.“We are thrilled to introduce yet another revolutionary hybrid-powered expedition ship,” enthused Hurtigruten’s CEO, Daniel Skjeldam.

The first of Hurtigruten’s new hybrid powered expedition cruise vessels, the MS Roald Amundsen, under construction at the Kleven Yard in Ulsteinvik, Norway: delivery is expected in May 2019. (Photo: Tom Mulligan)

Shipbuilding: Hurtigruten Hybrid Construction Forges Ahead

Norwegian company Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, is continuing to push the boundaries when it comes to green travel with its order for three hybrid-powered vessels nearing completion, the first ship being due for delivery in May 2019.Two of these revolutionary ships are currently under construction at the Kleven Yard in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the MS Roald Amundsen and its sister ship, the MS Fritjof Nansen, both of which are custom-designed to cope with some of the most extreme conditions seen on our planet, each having a specially-designed, ice-strengthened hull.

Damen Takes on Six Viking River Cruises Vessel Jobs

Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) reports that it is currently working on a modification and maintenance contract for six inland cruise vessels owned by Viking River Cruises. With this winter service complete, all six vessels – known as longships – will be ready for the coming river cruise season. The Viking Idi was the first of the six to arrive at the yard in late December 2015. Sister ships Viking Idun, Viking Kvasir, Viking Kara, Viking Hlin and Viking Gullveig will follow consecutively.

Cruise Shipping: RCL's 'Quantum of the Seas' Delivered

MEYER WERFT delivered the 167,800-gt cruise ship Quantum of the Seas to the U.S. cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. yesterday in Bremerhaven. According to the builder, the first ship of the Quantum class sets new standards in terms of eco-friendliness, featuring highly energy-efficient systems, optimized hydrodynamics, heat recovery, an effective underwater paint coating, a state-of-the-art exhaust gas treatment plant (hybrid scrubber) as well as energy-saving LED lighting systems. The ship can accommodate 4,180 guests in 2,090 cabins, and is staffed by a crew of approximately 1,550.

MTN Launches NEXUS

The advent of maritime communications is at a crossroads of sorts, with increased demand for connectivity that mirrors land-based performance, but still stuck at a price point which makes this reality too costly. The situation is particularly poignant onboard modern cruise ships, packed with thousands of passengers and crew that want and need to stay connected. Enter MTN Satellite Communications which today announced the launch of its MTN Nexus, the company’s next-generation communications network.