Headlines

 

P&O's Pacific Sun Refurb to be completed in Brisbane next month
A multi-million dollar revamp of P&O’s Pacific Sun scheduled refurbishment at the Forgacs Cairncross Dockyard in Brisbane on August 30 were unveiled today.

P&O Cruises Australia’s 47,000gt resident ship will be repainted all white to match her sister ship, Pacific Dawn.

The top sun deck of the former Jubilee will be converted into an adults-only area -- the Oasis Spa Retreat which Australian designers McRae & Lynch will decorate with chocolate brown wicker daybeds, lounges, ottomans and tables.

A new gym on Deck 10 will have sweeping views of the ship’s wake and the existing gym will become a relaxation room for the Lotus Spa. A coffee bar will be a new feature and at night the library will be transformed into a steakhouse.

‘P&O are confident that these changes will make a Pacific Sun cruise even more attractive.

The Pacific Sun will emerge from dry dock in Brisbane next month.

Oceania's new builds revealed
The new Oceania Marina will be 65,000 gross tons and carry 1,252 guests; it's considerably larger than the current ships (30,277 tons and 684 guests), but the line says it will have the style and all of the signature elements that have made the current ships popular. As part of the ceremony, held at the Fincantieri Sestre shipyard, participants were able to view the mock ups for a Veranda stateroom
and a Penthouse Suite.
 
Most striking is the significant increase in size of these rooms. A current Veranda Stateroom on Insignia measures 215 square feet including veranda; on Marina, it will be 312. Penthouse Suites on Insignia measure 322 square feet; on Marina, they'll be 429. It's very large even compared to similar types of accommodations on ships of competing lines.
 
Design details of the staterooms, such as lighting, closet design, carpet, and furniture patterns are still to be worked out, but so far, they're classy and stylish, with soft colors and walls a combination of dark wood and lighter surfacing. Del Rio mentioned that the Owner's Suites, whose details will be revealed at a later date, will be worthy of architectural awards; he said, "There will be no room at sea that will be what this is."
 
Other details revealed: 96% of all accommodations will have private verandas, and there will be 780 staff members, so the crew/guest ratio will actually go up on the larger ship. Cruising speed on Oceania class will be 20% faster than Regatta class, and there will be six open-seating restaurants for dinner (compared to four on the current ships).
 
Itineraries will be made available at a later date, but Oceana Marina is expected to take over Oceania Regatta's routes, continuing the line's style of port-heavy itineraries. Indeed, continuity in patterns both at sea and air are emphasized. For example, execs expect the ratio of air-only guests versus those using the line's popular, deal-oriented air program will remain at around 50/50.

Conflicting reports on when Pearl Seas new ship will launch
Pearl Seas Cruises is delayed yet again. And as for when the company’s first ship – which still has yet to be named – will sail is anyone’s guess.

The line’s “target date” is slated to be the beginning of the first quarter of 2009, according to a company source. However, its reservations department said that the first available booking for the company is July 18 – one year after originally planned. “The cruises aren’t sold; we just aren’t taking reservations because we don’t have the availability right now,” an agent explained.

Pearl Seas – an offshore affiliate of American Cruise Lines, Inc. – originally announced plans in late 2006 to build two new 210-passenger ships at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax. The first ship was scheduled to begin cruise service in July 2008 – and the second, June 2009. However, in April, the date for the first ship was pushed back to November. There was no word on the status of the second ship at press time. Jack Berglund, vice president of marketing and sales at the Halifax shipyard refused to comment on either of the ships. “I can’t answer any questions about the Pearl Seas, and I can’t be any clearer than that,” he said.

Same day headline - Pearl Seas Cruises Ship in Outfitting.  Pearl Seas Cruises announced today that their first ship, which was launched in March, is in its outfitting stage. “It is progressing with over 150 people working on the ship daily at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Nova Scotia” said Vice President Tim Beebe. The joiner work and the electrical installation are being completed at this time. The cruise line plans to announce the ship’s name on Thursday August 14th. Pearl Seas Cruises expects the first ship to be delivered in the first quarter of 2009.

The new ship will carry 210 passengers and have international cruises in the Canadian Maritimes, St Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New England, and in the Caribbean.

The ships’ spacious suites (each measuring 302-580 square feet) will all have private balconies with large opening picture windows. All staterooms will also feature flat-screen satellite TV's, DVD players, have individual climate control and Internet access.

Since the above was reported we have now been advised that the situation is as follows;

August 11, 2008 - Guilford, CT- Pearl Seas Cruises announced today that their first ship, which was launched in March, is in its outfitting stage. "It is progressing with over 150 people working on the ship daily at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Nova Scotia," said Vice President Tim Beebe. The joiner work and the electrical installation are being completed at this time. The cruise line plans to announce the ship's name on Thursday, August 14th. Pearl Seas Cruises expects the first ship to be delivered in the first quarter of 2009.

The new ship will carry 210 passengers and have international cruises in the Canadian Maritimes, St Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New England, and in the Caribbean.

The ships' spacious suites (each measuring 302-580 square feet) will all have private balconies with large opening picture windows. All staterooms will also feature flat-screen satellite TVs, DVD players, have individual climate control and Internet access.

Regent Seven Seas Confirms New Ship, Refurbishes Vessels
Regent Seven Seas Cruises confirmed that a new ship is under development. Regent Seven Seas President Mark Conroy said the line plans to get delivery the yet-unnamed ship in 2012.

An official announcement is expected by year end 2008. Details are sketchy at this point, but the ship will have a gross tonnage of approximately 60,000 and will likely accommodate 750 to 800 guests. Standard suites will measure about 400-square-feet, and all suites will have balconies. In addition, the ship will offer new alternative restaurants, as well as a full deck of spa and athletic activities.

Meanwhile, Regent Seven Seas will continue refurbishing its existing ships, starting in December, when the Regent Seven Seas Voyager goes into dry dock. The Mariner will follow in January. The Seven Seas Navigator was refurbished last December.

The renovations, the largest investment in existing tonnage made by Regent Seven Seas, will create a new look and feel for the ships, with soft-goods refurbishment of all suites and public areas and a complete redesign of many of the areas.

There will be a new alternative dining venue on each ship called Prime Seven, a contemporary steakhouse. There will be no additional charge for guests to dine there, but reservations will be required.

The ships’ casual dining options also will be expanded with addition of a pizza parlor and an ice cream parlor. In the ships’ theaters, the line is installing retractable stages to increase the size of the dance floors. In addition, more guest shower tubs in the guest bathrooms on the Mariner will be converted into full-size shower stalls.