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Four Giant Cruise Ships For 2022
Four giant cruise ships are scheduled to go into service in March 2022. The ships incorporate the latest features their owners have developed to attract passengers and incorporate new environmentally more sustainable technology. Thus, their arrival on the scene is a positive development.
One may well ask, however, why are the cruise lines increasing capacity at a time when cruising is just emerging from the industry-wide shutdown caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic and existing ships are sailing at a fraction of capacity? The answer is multi-part. First, these ships were ordered before the pandemic. Contractual obligations would have made it difficult to just cancel the orders. Leaving the law aside, if the cruise lines had simply walked away it would have ruined their relations with the shipyards. Indeed, when the lines came back after the crisis looking to place new orders, some yards may have no longer been there. Thus, the lines and the yards found ways to work together such as delaying construction and delivery.
Second, the various cruise lines have sold off or scrapped older less efficient ships. Thus, the increase in fleet capacity resulting from the addition of new ships to the various fleets is offset to some degree by the decease in caused by the departure of some older ships.
Third, new ships attract passengers. Thus, the new ships should help the cruise lines recover from the Covid crisis. In addition, more efficient ships are less costly to operate.
Finally, the cruise lines' investment in new ships indicates confidence that bookings will return and exceed pre-Covid numbers.
One may well ask, however, why are the cruise lines increasing capacity at a time when cruising is just emerging from the industry-wide shutdown caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic and existing ships are sailing at a fraction of capacity? The answer is multi-part. First, these ships were ordered before the pandemic. Contractual obligations would have made it difficult to just cancel the orders. Leaving the law aside, if the cruise lines had simply walked away it would have ruined their relations with the shipyards. Indeed, when the lines came back after the crisis looking to place new orders, some yards may have no longer been there. Thus, the lines and the yards found ways to work together such as delaying construction and delivery.
Second, the various cruise lines have sold off or scrapped older less efficient ships. Thus, the increase in fleet capacity resulting from the addition of new ships to the various fleets is offset to some degree by the decease in caused by the departure of some older ships.
Third, new ships attract passengers. Thus, the new ships should help the cruise lines recover from the Covid crisis. In addition, more efficient ships are less costly to operate.
Finally, the cruise lines' investment in new ships indicates confidence that bookings will return and exceed pre-Covid numbers.
Wonder of the SeasEntering service in March 2022, Wonder of the Seas will be the world's largest cruise ship. The fifth ship in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class, Wonder is slightly larger than her sisters with a gross tonnage of 236,857. Guest capacity at double occupancy is 5,734 but with all the berths occupied, Wonder can serve nearly 7,000 guests.
The ship was built at Chantiers De L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. 
Wonder of the Seas (photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)
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Wonder of the Seas (photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean).
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Costa Toscana
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The cruise industry is moving away from traditional fuels to Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG"), which is more environmentally friendly. Carnival Corporation has been a leader in this movement, deploying a number of LNG ships prior to the pandemic.
Carnival's LNG ships are quite large - over 180,000 gross tons. Costa Toscana, along with her sister ship Costa Smeralda are the largest of these at 180,010 gross tons. Each can serve 6,600 guests. Toscana was built at Meyer Turku in Finland. She was handed over to Costa in late December 2021 but her first assignment was to act as an offshore venue for the Sanremo Festival. Her her first cruise is scheduled for March 2022. (Photos courtesy of Costa Cruises). |
AIDAcosma
AIDAcosma (photo courtesy of AIDA Cruises).
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AIDAnova was the first of the Carnival Corporation LNG ships to enter service. In late February 2022, her sister AIDAcosma entered service. Slightly smaller than the Costa LNG ships, the AIDA LNG ships are 183,858 gross tons.
Built at Meyer Werft in Papenberg Germany, AIDAcosma is marketed to the German-speaking market. AIDAcosma can accommodate 5,228 guests. |
Discovery Princess
Discovery Princess (photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)
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Also entering service n March 2022, is Discovery Princess. The sixth and final ship in Princess' Royal class, Discovery Princess is 141,000 gross tons and can accommodate 3,660 guests.
Built by Fincantieri in Malfalcone, Italy, Discovery Princess uses conventional fuel. However, the ship s uses the latest technologies to reduce fuel consumption, treat wastewater, and support Princess' environmental compliance efforts. |
Cruise ship article - - Four Giant Cruise Ships For 2022