Croisieres de France (CDF) Announces a Second Ship for 2014

Croiseieres de France - Horizon

Croisieres de France (CDF) stated they will double its capacity in 2014 with a second ship, The Zenith will be transferred between Royal Caribbean subsidiaries. The Zenith is currently sailing for Royal Caribbean's Spanish Brand Pullmantur and will be transferred to CDF in the spring of 2014.

The CDF fleet caters primarily the French speaking passengers.

The 1992-built 1,828-passenger Zenith is a sister ship to L’Horizon, which CDF currently operates. Both ships originally sailed for Celebrity Cruise From New York to Bermuda as the Zenith and Horizon for many years.

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More on the Atlantic Star.

Shown as Sitmar Line's Fairsky - the Atlantic Star has been sold to STX Europe

As per reported yesterday - Royal Caribbean Ordered a third Oasis class ship with an option for a fourth.

As part of the financing deal, STX Europe took ownership of the Atlantic Star. The Atlantic Star is a unique ship. She is not old but is one of the last cruise ships built with fuel hungry, steam propulsion systems. Originally built for Sitmar Line as the Fairsky, she has been passed to various owners and has spent the last few years in lay-up due to her high fuel consumption.

Due to a lack of work at the STX Europe Shipyard, cruise enthusiasts are hopeful that the Atlantic Star will be re-engined and returned to profitable cruising. The shipyard will benefit from the work to provide the new engines, since it will occupy shipyard workers until the actual construction of Oasis 3 begins in September. In addition, STX Europe should be able to sell or charter out the vessel for additional cruising.

Below is a brief history on the Atlantic Star.

• FairSky: Sitmar Line: 1984-1988
• Sky Princess: Princess Cruises: 1988-2000
• Pacific Sky: P&O Australia;  2000-2006
• Sky Wonder: Pullmantur: 2006-2009
• Atlantic Star: Pullmantur: 2009-2012
• Atlantic Star: STX Europe: 2012

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Royal Caribbean Shifts Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur

Earlier this month Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced the transfer of Monarch of the Seas from its Royal Caribbean International cruise brand to its Pullmantur brand, a cruise and tour operator based in Madrid. Monarch of the Seas will transfer to Pullmantur on April 1, 2013, following its last sailing for Royal Caribbean International, which departs on March 29, 2013.

“We are very proud of Monarch of the Seas for delivering great service and outstanding destinations to vacationers since her maiden voyage,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “She will go on creating wonderful travel memories through her final sailings for our brand through next March and then continue doing the same for Pullmantur’s guests.”

With the incorporation of Monarch of the Seas, Pullmantur will increase its total guest capacity by nearly 25 percent and meet a rising demand for the brand’s distinctive All Inclusive-style cruise holidays.

‘‘The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands,’’ said Pullmantur’s President and CEO, Gonzalo Chico Barbier.

Monarch of the Seas was built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique (now STX France) in St. Nazaire, France and sailed its maiden voyage on November 17, 1991. The ship is part of the Sovereign class of cruise ships, which were the world’s largest and most innovative of their time.

Pullmantur is the leading Spanish Tour Operator and Cruise Company, founded in 1971, and famous for introducing the ‘All Inclusive’ concept to cruising. Pullmantur is leader of the cruise market in Spain and Portugal, currently operating a modern fleet of four vessels, with a daily passenger capacity of 9,000, cruising worldwide, and calling on approximately 100 destinations. The company offers a unique door-to-door flight service, operated by its in-house air travel division with a fleet of four Boeing 747-400. Pullmantur Air provides charter flights to the European Cruise Port Embarkations and long-haul flights between Spain and the Caribbean Sea for the company’s tour-operation division. Spain based Pullmantur, operates through satellite offices in Brasil, Mexico, Portugal and France.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand currently with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

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Nick's Cruise Corner Blog

Peaceboat Charters Oceanic

Previously owned and operated by Pullmantur, the Oceanic has been sold to a Panamanian company which has long term chartered the ship to Japan's Peaceboat.org.

The Oceanic, which started her career as the Oceanic for the legendary Home Lines, has had a splendid career, sailing for Home Lines, Premier Cruises and Pullmantur.

Under charter to Peaceboat, the ship is sailing world wide itineraries (a first for the ship) and is currently sailing on her first voyage.

Maxim Gorki, Oceanic, Regal Empress

This month brought about a number of changes for Vintage Cruise Ships.

Perhaps the saddest of all is the beaching, in Alang India, of the Maxim Gorki, ex Hamburg of German Atlantic Line. The futuristic ship, which enjoyed a long career under Russian ownership, was no longer economical with her fuel hungry steam engines and the slow down of the economy. Looking almost new, it is sad to see the ship grounded on the beach with her bulbous bow almost fully exposed. Within the next few weeks, work will begin to haphazardly dismantle the ship and chop away at her classic profile until she is all but a memory.

On a happier note, the Oceanic of Pullmantur (Formerly the Oceanic of Home Lines / StarShip Oceanic of Premier Cruises), has been sold for use as the Peaceboat for the Peaceboat Organization. The ship will sail worldwide itineraries on Japanese good will missions. It appears that this great ship will have an extended life for years to come.

On March 6th, 2009, the Bahamas Celebration began sailing for Celebration Cruise Line. Celebration Cruise Line is the new name for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line.

With the change of name, came the retirement of the Regal Empress. The Regal Empress, was originally built in 1953 as the Olympia for Greek Line. In 1982, she underwent a major refurbishing and had her engines replaced with modern diesel engines.

Although further plans for the Regal Empress have not been announced, the ship remains laid-up in Fort Lauderdale. There was interest in returning the ship to Greek waters as a national monument and there are rumours circulating that she has been sold to Indian breakers for $3 Million dollars

Both the Maxim Gorki/Hamburg and Regal Empress are covered in additional articles within this blog.