The world's largest cruise ship, the biggest U.S.-flag passenger vessel ever built, the first surf park at sea, the largest spa afloat, more culinary choices than ever before -- the Class of 2006 includes a host of superlatives and firsts.
Size and innovative facilities are the overriding themes of the six newbuilds entering service this year. Four will go to U.S. brands (Holland America Line, NCL America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International) and two to European operators (MSC Crociere and Costa Crociere). Three will emerge from the yards of leading cruise builder Fincantieri, while one each will come from Meyer Werft, Aker Finnyards and Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

At 158,000gt, Freedom of the Seas sets a new size record and brings a host of water-themed attractions, including a surf park. Three other brands also will introduce their largest vessels to date: the 112,000gt Costa Concordia outsizes the earlier 105,000gt Costa Magica and Fortuna and brings an enormous two-deck spa with direct-access Samsara Spa accommodations.

MSC Musica, at nearly 90,000gt, will usher MSC into the mega-ship era with a high percentage of balcony cabins and a poolside LED screen. At 93,000gt, Pride of Hawaii -- though identical to Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel -- will become the giant of NCL America's three-ship fleet, and the largest U.S.-flag passenger ship.

The 'smallest' new vessel of 2006 will be the first out. As the fourth and last in Holland America's Vista series, the 82,000gt Noordam will be the first of the brand to enter service with all of HAL’s Signature of Excellence amenities, including a cyber cafe and a new Pinnacle Bar. Slightly smaller than the preceding Caribbean Princess, the 113,000gt Crown Princess will feature a piazza-style atrium with a street café atmosphere offering an International Café and a wine and seafood bar.

Deployment is another noteworthy aspect of the year’s newbuilds, with two ships entering service from the booming homeport of New York -- Noordam from Manhattan in late February and Crown Princess from the new Brooklyn terminal in June. Both will provide roundtrip Caribbean cruises, with Noordam inaugurating Carnival Corp. & plc’s Grand Turk cruise facility and Crown Princess reviving regular Bermuda service for Princess.

Miami gains another full-calendar ship in June with Freedom of the Seas, following its inaugural activities in Europe and along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Pride of Hawaii joins the year-round Hawaii trade in mid-June after introductory sailings from the U.S. mainland.

Designed for year-round Mediterranean cruising, Costa Concordia enters service from Civitavecchia in July. The same month, MSC Musica debuts in Venice for Med sailings before redeploying to Fort Lauderdale for the 2006/07 Caribbean season.

[For full details on the year’s new ships, see the latest issue of Seatrade Cruise Review.]

Maybe 06 should be called the 'Year of New York', with so many cruise lines ramping up their activities there.

And I thought Noordam wasn't the last Vista - aren't HAL getting an 86,000ton version from the latest batch of orders?

I'd be interested to know what Freedom's 'inaugural activities in Europe' are....

[ 01-02-2006: Message edited by: Matts ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by sympatico:
Matts [...]
I haven't heard what the name of the new class of ship will be but it won't be out until 2008......[...]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sympatico:
Matts - Noordam is the last of the Vista Class ships. The 5th, was turned over to P&O and is the Acadia.
I haven't heard what the name of the new class of ship will be but it won't be out until 2008......it will be larger than the Vista Class and carry more passengers.

---