Florida 7-Night Lead-In Fares – Other Cruise News: Seattle Breaks Records Again – New Ships For Genting Cruise Lines
by Kevin Griffin
With Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam going up against Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Edge from the US, a member of one of the Internet’s many shipping groups has released an interesting comparison of 7-night fares for several popular cruise ships out of Florida in February. Elsewhere, Seattle cointinues to break its own records and together with Vancouver now serves more than two million cruise passengers a year. Finally, we look at a summary of new ships on order for Genting’s various cruise brands – Star, Dream and Crystal.
THIS WEEK’S STORY
Florida 7-Night Lead-In Fares
Recently, Holland America Line offered a sampler cruise from Florida on its newest ship, Nieuw Statendam.
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam
Feedback from this sailing, combined with the recent introduction of the Celebrity Edge, led Ernie Roller, a member of the “Liners List” internet chat group, to reveal some interesting research.
On December 29, he posted the following:
“I’ve been watching pricing for several new and popular ships for a 7-day Caribbean cruise in late February… Nieuw Statendam is a great value, and for that reason we may end up on her.
”The price difference between her and Celebrity Edge is astonishing when you think they are both brand new ships from competing cruise lines.
Celebrity Edge entering at Port Everglades
Nieuw Statendam is probably the most bang for the buck, at least for this week in February.
“Starting rates per person in an inside cabin (capacities in lower berths)
Nieuw Statendam (2,666 berths): $449
MSC Seaside (4,140 berths): $629
Norwegian Bliss (4,002 berths): $679
Carnival Horizon (3,954 berths): $719
Symphony of the Seas (5,400 berths): $863
Celebrity Edge (2,904 berths): $1,349
Disney Fantasy (2,500 berths): a whopping $1,827
“I’m still amazed the per diems that Disney can pull in, for a ship that is almost seven years old, $1,827 per person for an inside cabin.
Disney Fantasy
Good for them.
Obviously the Disney name means something. I’m wondering what per diems will be for Virgin’s Scarlet Lady.”
OTHER CRUISE NEWS
Seattle Breaks Records Again
Seattle’s twenty years in the cruise business started with just half a dozen sailings in 1999. This $500 million business now brings tourism to the city, and has played a significant role in development of the city’s infrastructure and hotel expansion.
The port of Seattle
The record 1,114,888 passengers using the Seattle’s two cruise terminals this year is set to be broken again in 2019 with the arrival of two more new ships.
Nearby Vancouver handled more than 900,000 cruise passengers in 2018, so together the two ports now account for more than two million cruise passengers, sailing mainly to Alaska.
This summer, the Norwegian Bliss became the largest ship to sail from Seattle to Alaska when she arrived in May. For 2019, sister ship Norwegian Joy will also come to Seattle and Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas will enter Seattle-Alaska service as well.
Both ships will sail weekly, with each carrying more than 4,000 passengers. Both operators are already reporting the new ships virtually sold out for 2019, and 2020 bookings are now being taken.
Norwegian Bliss at Seattle, September 2018 (Credit Andrea Sugranes x NCL)
Seattle now has two cruise terminals. Bell Street Pier at Pier 66 is the homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises, while Smith Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 serves Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean.
Smith Cove serves two ships and, like Canada Place in Vancouver, offers connections to the city’s power grid.
In 2019, Seattle will host seven home-porting cruise lines operating ten Seattle-based ships. Most frequent, with three ships, will be Holland America Line, while Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will each operate two ships.
MV Werften’s Global Class ship. Above pictured in Rostock (Artist impression MV Werften)
There is exceptional access into Seattle from the UK and Ireland for 2019, with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both offering daily nonstop service from Heathrow, and Norwegian, Aer Lingus and Thomas Cook Airlines offering flights from Gatwick, Dublin and Manchester. Other airlines such as Icelandair offer one-stop flights at competitive fares.
New Ships For Genting Cruise Lines
As part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, Genting Cruise Lines has announced that it will build a series of ”Contemporary” class ships for its original unit, Star Cruises.
The first ship for Asia’s leading contemporary brand is expected to be delivered from the Genting-owned MV Werften shipyard in 2023 But before that, in 2021 and 2022, Genting’s Dream Cruises brand will be taking delivery of two “Global” class ships.
The new Diamond Class Ships – Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises will meanwhile receive a trio of 200-berth expedition newbuilds in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In addition, Crystal will take delivery of its first 67,000-ton “Diamond” class ship in 2022.
Star Cruises, meanwhile, will transfer its SuperStar Virgo to the Dream brand in early 2019 and the ship will become the Explorer Dream. Star will then operate the SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini, while the Star Pisces will offer one-night voyages.
(Kevin Griffin is managing director of specialist cruise agency The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)
