NYCruiseInfo Blog

Meyer Werft Shipyard Turku Finland Expecting layoff due to cruise lines impacted by the coronavirus. The Meyer Werft Turku Finland shipyard  has initiated talks to lay off up to 450 of its roughly 2,000 employees. The shipyard, which relies heavily on the construction of cruise ships.has seen a slow-down in construction as cruise lines have requested extended delivery dates for ships currently under construction.  The cruise industry was hit very had by the sudden shutdown of operations and is more focused on having exiting ships return to service rather than add additional capacity. Many cruise lines are in negotiations to delay / slow down / eliminate the construction of new ships due to the coronavirus pandemic.   The shipyard, which is on the west coast of Finland, had initially started talks over temporary layoffs, but said the market situation had now forced it to look for permanent cuts.  “These negotiations will include the permanent layoff of 45...

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore - Sporting her hull art - the Final Breakaway Plus Ship. Norwegian Cruise Line accepted delivery of the final ship in the Breakaway / Breakaway Plus class of ships. The 6 ships were delivered over the course of 6 years. The smallest in the series - the Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway weigh in at 145,655 tons. The largest is the Norwegian Encore at 169.116 tons delivered in the fall of 2019. Here are all the ships and the year they were delivered. Norwegian Breakaway 2013 Norwegian Getaway 2014 Norwegian Escape 2015 Norwegian Joy 2017 Norwegian Bliss 2018 Norwegian Encore 2019 The delivery of the Norwegian Encore marks the end of a long relationship between Meyer Werft and Norwegian Cruise Line (for now). The next generation of NCL ships - the Leonardo Class - will be constructed at Italy's Fincantieri Shipyard. The first ship in the series of 4 will be delivered in 2022. Artists Rendering of Norwegian Cruis...

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that its newest innovative ship, Norwegian Encore, successfully completed another major construction milestone, when she departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and sailed down the Ems River towards the North Sea. On Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, Norwegian Encore began her conveyance to Eemshaven, Netherlands, with initial crew members on board already preparing to welcome her first guests this November.  At nearly 1,100 feet long, with a gross tonnage of almost 170,000 and a guest capacity of 3,998, the ship will be delivered to the cruise line on Oct. 30, 2019. She will be christened by Grammy Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson in Miami on Nov. 21, 2019 and will commence seven-day voyages to the Caribbean on Nov. 24, 2019. “Today we celebrate a huge milestone for our history-making ship,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Now is when th...

Norwegian Cruise Line's Newest Ship - the Norwegian Encore emerges from Meyer Werft's Covered Building Dock August 17, 2019 - Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that its latest ship, Norwegian Encore, successfully completed a major construction milestone, when it emerged for the first time from the Meyer Werft ship building dock in Papenburg, Germany.   Norwegian Encore will remain in the shipyard port for the final phase of construction, before her conveyance up the Ems River and towards the North Sea at the end of September. At nearly 1,100 feet long, with a gross tonnage of almost 170,000 and a guest capacity of 3,998, the ship will be delivered to the cruise line on Oct. 30, 2019. She will be christened in Miami on Nov. 21, 2019 and will commence seven-day voyages to the Caribbean on Nov. 24, 2019. “To see the ship emerge from the shipyard is always one of the most exciting construction milestone...

  Artists Rendering of Carnival Cruises' Mardi Gras Currently Under Construction at Meyer Turku Yard. In keeping with maritime tradition, a keel-laying ceremony was held today at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, for Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras , which is scheduled to enter service in August 2020.   The ceremony, which dates back hundreds of years, was highlighted by the placement of coins placed on top of a 750-ton keel block called 3C signifying good luck for the ship and the official start of construction.    Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Newbuilds Ben Clement and Mardi Gras Captain Giuseppe Giusa, Chief Engineer Ferdinando Ruocco and Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri joined Meyer Turku CEO Jan Meyer at the festivities.    Mardi Gras will be a stunning expression of the Carnival vacation experience offering a variety of groundbreaking innovations, including BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea; t...

Saga Cruises Spirit of Discovery floated out of Meyer Werft's Covered Drydock seeing the sun for the first time. Saga Cruises new Spirit of Discovery was floated out of the Covered Dry dock at Meyer Werft Shipyard at Papenburg, Germany. The 999 passenger ship, floated out under blue skies today. As she was floated out of the dry dock, her funnel was put in place. The ship will sail it's 13-day maiden voyage from Dover England on July 10, 2019. The Spirit of Discovery is the first new build for Saga Cruises and is modest in size when compared to today's ships. The Spirit of Discovery ship measures 774 feet in length, 102 feet wide and 58,250 tons. The Spirit of Discovery is the first of 2 ships ordered for Saga Cruises. The Spirit of Discovery caters to cruise passengers 50+ years of age and offers worldwide itineraries, concentrating primarily in Europe and the Mediterranean. The Spirit of Discovery will make a call to the port of New York in late December bef...

  Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore to Sail from New York to  Bermuda 2020. Norwegian Cruise Line has announced thier 2020 Cruise Ship Deployment from New York and Boston. In a surprise move, Norwegian Cruise Line is taking their newest ship - the Norwegian Encore and will deploy her on the New York to Bermuda circuit. In addition, the Norwegian Gem will also sail to Bermuda but she will sail from Boston. The highly rated Norwegian Pearl will sail from New York as well offering New England / Canada  and Florida / Bahamas cruises. Here are the details from the Norwegian Cruise Line Press release. Bermuda – Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Gem Following her inaugural season in the Caribbean, Norwegian Encore will reposition from Miami, Florida to New York City offering seven-day cruises to Bermuda beginning April 22, while Norwegian Gem will offer seven-day voyages from Boston to Bermuda beginning May 1. Both ships’ seven-day itineraries over...

  Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils the Hull Art on their Newest Ship the Norwegian Encore Norwegian Cruise Line today revealed that Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, the award-winning Spanish artist, created the hull artwork for the fourth and final ship of its Breakaway-Plus class, Norwegian Encore, debuting in Miami in November 2019.  A representation of his modern and abstract style, the ship’s hull will feature a labyrinth of color inspired by Arranz-Bravo’s life by the sea in Barcelona and paying tribute to the vibrant guest experience for which the Norwegian brand is recognized.   “Norwegian Cruise Line is a dynamic, pioneering company known for its innovative experiences and breathtaking collection of beautifully designed ships,” said Arranz-Bravo. “I am honored to not only bring that vibrancy to life even more on Norwegian Encore but also showcase my love for the ocean and my hometown of Barcelona.” Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive of...

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss Delivered from Meyer Werft. On April 19, 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 168,028-gross-ton Norwegian Bliss from Meyer Werft during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, marking the conclusion of an 18-month building period.  In attendance were executives from Norwegian Cruise Line, including Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer, Harry Sommer, executive vice president of international business development, Robin Lindsay, executive vice president of vessel operations for the 16-ship fleet, representatives from Meyer Werft including Bernard and Tim Meyer, managing partners of the German-based shipyard, and the ship’s captain and hotel director. Before cruising to Southampton, England to begin her transatlantic journey on April 21, Norwegian Bliss will showcase all she has to offer to her first guests during a two-day European inaugural preview cruise hosted by Andy Stuart and Harry Sommer. Upon her arrival to...

First block set in place as Norwegian’s first Breakaway class ship begins to take shape In Papenburg Germany, on May 4th, at Meyer Werft Shipyard, the keel was laid for Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship - the Norwegian Breakaway. In just under a year, the shipyard will assemble the great ship just in time for her maiden overnight voyage from Rotterdam, Netherlands to England on April 28, 2013. On April 30th 2013, the Norwegian Breakaway will set sail on a 7-day transatlantic voyage from London to New York, before settling in on her 7-day cruises to Bermuda. Below is more details on the keel laying of the Norwegian Breakaway and Ceremony. Norwegian Cruise Line executives and officials from Meyer Werft took part in the Keel Laying Ceremony of Norwegian Breakaway at the ship yard in Papenburg, Germany on Friday, May 4.  During the official ceremony, the first of 73 blocks that will comprise the 144,000 gross ton vessel was lifted into the covered building dock, mark...