Cruise Talk: Pullmantur & a new ship to come

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Topic: Pullmantur & a new ship to come

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 01-23-2004 04:54 AM

Pullmantur has announced that it will soon present a ship in their fleet. The ship will have about 50000 grt and was build in the 90ies.
They have also announced that there has not yet been signed any contract between Alsthom and Pullmantur in order to take over the MISTRAL. Festival still has not given up (which actually are positive news).
Any guesses of which new ship they might get ...?!?

It looks toward a HORIZON-class ship...

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 01-23-2004 07:37 AM

Do you mean a HORIZON-class ship from Celebrity?

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Admiralmaster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3663

posted 01-23-2004 06:31 PM

Statendam series??
Nordic Empress?? (...perhaps future "Nordic")
Costa Classica or Romantica??
(...perhaps future "Classic" and "Romantic")
Costa Europa??
Norwegian Dream or Wind??
Horizon or Zenith??

No others match with those figures.

Carles

Posts: 21 | From: Barcelona | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 01-23-2004 07:57 PM

Not Nordic Empress, she's going to get an extensive refurbishment and a new name- Empress of the Seas to kick off her Bayonne-Bermuda cruises.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 01-24-2004 01:07 AM

I believe the EMPRESS OF THE SEAS rumor has been proved false elsewhere. She is getting somewhat of a refurbishment (how much is a topic of debate) but as far as I know no renaming. The rumor of a stretch, is definitely untrue. If she does get a decent-sized refurbishment it could either be a genuine attempt to bring her up to date, or an attempt to make her more appealing to prospective buyers (this was done, for instance, with SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN).

My guess would be either HORIZON or ZENITH; the most common rumor is actually MISTRAL but she's too new, assuming Pullmantur is giving out the right age.

HAL, as far as I know, is not about to sell any ships either (except NOORDAM which was just sold); and again, if they were to get rid of any, it would probably be within Carnival where other brands have much older ships than the STATENDAM-series.

I don't think Costa is ready to give up any ships either, with the possible exception of COSTA EUROPA, but she's considerably older than early '90s.

NCL really needs all the ships they can get right now, even if one of their older ships were to go, it would almost surely be to Star and not outside the corporate family.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 01-24-2004 01:19 AM

quote:
cruiseny posted:
I believe the EMPRESS OF THE SEAS rumor has been proved false elsewhere...If she does get a decent-sized refurbishment it could either be a genuine attempt to bring her up to date, or an attempt to make her more appealing to prospective buyers (this was done, for instance, with SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN). My guess would be either HORIZON or ZENITH;

Does this mean RCI is ALSO withdrawing their Bermuda program if infact the NORDIC EMPRESS is leaving...? I agree that RCI might sell one of the two Celebrity's Horizon-class ships as this rumor has been mentioned earlier...

quote:
I don't think Costa is ready to give up any ships either, with the possible exception of COSTA EUROPA, but she's considerably older than early '90s.

I would think the COSTA ALLEGRA or the MARINA will go first? Just curious, if the price was right, would Costa dump the COSTA TROPICALE?

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 01-24-2004 01:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Does this mean RCI is ALSO withdrawing their Bermuda program if infact the NORDIC EMPRESS is leaving...?

If she were to leave, I suppose they'd pretty much have to, as I think their other ships are too large to dock at Hamilton and they could never compete if they only docked at the West End or if they tendered all the time.

quote:
I would think the COSTA ALLEGRA or the MARINA will go first? Just curious, if the price was right, would Costa dump the COSTA TROPICALE?

Well, any ship is for sale if the price is right, but COSTA TROPICALE really got a new lease on life with her massive refit at Marriotti and should be staying around for the forseeable future.

I would think Costa is not planning on getting rid of any ships right now, but I would expect EUROPA and/or MARINA to be the first to go if they were to do so. ALLEGRA is essentially only ten years old, having even gotten new engines (which MARINA doesn't have) in her 1992 conversion.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Johan C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1201

posted 01-24-2004 03:12 AM

I agree with cruiseny that there is a big difference between Allegra and Marina: My first cruise was on the Marina back in 1997.
They were loading lots of mechanical parts and pipes and someone told that technicians were on board for several months. There were a lot of vibrations in the aft part of the ship. In the restaurant some tabels were out of use because of the vibrations.
The same person told me that she was very happy being switched to Allegra because this was a much better ship

Posts: 256 | From: Ghent, historic city in Belgium | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 01-24-2004 08:53 AM

It's quite difficult to say which new ship will go to Pullmantur Cruises.
All the ships you have mentioned are around 50.000 grt, but none of them is still avalaible for sale.
-Nordic Empress, Horizon & Zenith are all deployed to Bermuda... they are the only ships in the RCI group able to dock at Hamilton and St. George's.
-The Statendam class is not for sale... why should HAL do this, when they have other 4 ships in the fleet ( Rotterdam, Amsterda, Zuiderdam and Zaandam ) who are an evolutionary version of the Statendam class ? When the Statendam class will be too old for HAL it will be probably transferred to another Carnival brand, probably Costa.
-Neither Costa Classica or Romantica are for sale: the company needs them for their mediterranean and paneuropean caribbean cruise operations. Ok Costa should replace one them with another ship, for example Costa Atlantica: but I believe that she is simply too large for the caribbean itineraries marketed just in Europe... and Costa seems not interested to return to San Juan, to offer cruises in the Souther Caribbean both to Americans and Europeans.
If Pullmantur had announced the take over of a 50.000 grt built in the Eighties, I'd say that probably Pacific Sky, Costa Europa, Holiday, Celebration or even Royal Princess could go to them.
I still believe that probably one of the three Festival newbuildings will go to them.

About the future of Costa Allegra and Costa Marina I suppose that both will remain with Costa for a long time. The company could decide to lenght and to reengine the latter... some plans about this were previously drawn around 1997/98, immediately after the Carnival take over.

What about Costa Tropicale ? She is now the oldest Costa ship: 22 years old... but internally she is nearly new. Even if I don't like her much I suppose that she will stay with Costa at least until 2006.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 01-24-2004 01:54 PM

Cruiseny, don't put me down so fast! I have a very reliable source, and although I shouldn't say who they are, I will tell you that it is the same source where I found that Voyager of the Seas and Nordic Empress were going to Bayonne, more than 2 weeks before you guys ever mentioned it. Let's just say that it was an internal source.

[ 01-24-2004: Message edited by: Commodore ]

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 01-24-2004 02:14 PM

Pullmantur may get the Mistral, we dont know that for sure as Tim said the Newer Festival ships have found a new home and I believe he would know! No names we're mentioned but just put two and two together!

It's simple...Tim mentions they will have new homes and Pullmantur announces they will get a new ship that is pretty much the same size!

I dont think maybe they will ALL have new homes but 1 or 2 maybe!

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 01-24-2004 09:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
No names we're mentioned but just put two and two together!

Names were definitely mentioned, if not here then elsewhere.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Karsten
First Class Passenger
Member # 1509

posted 01-25-2004 11:28 AM

What about the UNITED STATES?

Posts: 875 | From: NRW/Germany | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 01-26-2004 03:07 AM

I have talked on Friday to a collegue at Celebrity Cruises and he confirmed that neither HORIZON nor ZENITH are currently intended to be sold or chartered. Neither the NORDIC EMPRESS is supposed to leave RCI. The vessel will indeed be renamed EMPRESS OF THE SEAS.
Celebrity seems more to look towards aquiring other ships instead of selling theirs. In this context, some interesting smaller units (also Greeks) could be available and have cought Celebrity's attention...
Now speculations can continue...

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 01-26-2004 07:27 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Johan C:
I agree with cruiseny that there is a big difference between Allegra and Marina: My first cruise was on the Marina back in 1997.
They were loading lots of mechanical parts and pipes and someone told that technicians were on board for several months. There were a lot of vibrations in the aft part of the ship. In the restaurant some tabels were out of use because of the vibrations.
The same person told me that she was very happy being switched to Allegra because this was a much better ship

I've read on another forum that in the industry, the ALLEGRA is considered to be the better ship of the two by far. Will try to find back that particular message so I can tell you more...

Posts: 1037 | From: The Hague, Netherlands | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 01-26-2004 01:56 PM

Thanks Patrick for the "insider" news! I wonder what changes will be done to the NORDIC EMPRESS....

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

lebelty
First Class Passenger
Member # 3855

posted 07-05-2004 10:51 PM

Does anyone think/know if Pullmantur will purchase MSC's Melody? According to MSC's website, MSC Melody isnt booked anywhere after October of this year.

Thanks in advance,
tyler

Posts: 672 | From: CT/Maine | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 07-06-2004 05:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by lebelty:
Does anyone think/know if Pullmantur will purchase MSC's Melody? According to MSC's website, MSC Melody isnt booked anywhere after October of this year.
Thanks in advance,
tyler

At the moment Msc Melody isn't for sale.
During the winter season 2004-2005 she will be probably laid up... as Msc Monterey during the last two winter season... or could be chartered by another operator.

Msc Cruises has decided to repace her in South America with the new Msc Armonia... an excellent choice because this ship will compete directly against Costa Victoria.

Probably Msc Melody will leave the fleet in the near future, particularly if European Stars will be bought by Msc Cruises. Melody is getting old and her interiors are quite dated... inside she is still a mix of Home Lines and Premier touches.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

lebelty
First Class Passenger
Member # 3855

posted 07-06-2004 12:43 PM

joe, could you please delete this?

thanks
tyler

[ 07-06-2004: Message edited by: lebelty ]

Posts: 672 | From: CT/Maine | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

lebelty
First Class Passenger
Member # 3855

posted 07-06-2004 12:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Italian Cruiser:
At the moment Msc Melody isn't for sale.
During the winter season 2004-2005 she will be probably laid up... as Msc Monterey during the last two winter season... or could be chartered by another operator.
Msc Cruises has decided to repace her in South America with the new Msc Armonia... an excellent choice because this ship will compete directly against Costa Victoria.
Probably Msc Melody will leave the fleet in the near future, particularly if European Stars will be bought by Msc Cruises. Melody is getting old and her interiors are quite dated... inside she is still a mix of Home Lines and Premier touches.

True, but isnt any ship for sale, for the right price?
Whats the point of laying her up, if MSC could sell her or even use her?

tyler

Posts: 672 | From: CT/Maine | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 07-06-2004 02:02 PM

What if it's that Regency Cruises hull, the STENA-class ship that they were supposed to buy, but went under? That was 1995 and reports did say it was a 50,000 ton hull.

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

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