New ship order saves Turku yard

Back in action after a few days sailing in the Adriatic on board Aegean Odyssey – and more of that soon. But first, time to catch up with the cruise news from while I was away.
The big announcement – although hardly unexpected – came yesterday when NCL revealed they had ordered two new ships from the Meyer-Werft yard in Germany.
There was also news from the Finnish yard of STX Europe, which was facing a bleak future once Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas sails to Florida on Friday. Viking Line, which operates luxury ferries from Finland to Sweden and Estonia, has ordered a 2,800-passenger vessel from the yard. Construction work will start next autumn, and the vessel should be completed by early 2013.
There is speculation that it may be powered by liquefied natural gas – a development which the major cruise companies should be following with interest.
The contract, for more than £200 million, includes an option for a second vessel. Viking’s fleet is of modern ships carrying up to 2,500 passengers and between 100 and 500 cars.
CUNARD entertainment director Alastair Greener, reporting from the Queen Elizabeth’s maiden voyage, has had news of two unexpected guests.
First was singer Kiki Dee, who joined Lulu on stage for a surprise duet of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, her 1976 hit with Elton John.
And second was this long-eared owl, which hitched a ride with the ship in the Bay of Biscay. Imagine the shock when a passenger drew back their curtains one morning to find that perched on a balcony chair!
MY COLLEAGUE Steve Read, in his excellent new blog, was first to report that two of the stars of the musical Chicago, which will debut on Allure of the Seas next month, will be Brits.
Genevieve Nicole, who has been on tour with the show, takes the part of Velma – who was played by Catherine Zeta Jones in the film version – and Helen Turner will be Roxy (as portrayed by Renee Zellwegger).
Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain watched a preview in Royal Caribbean’s rehearsal studio in Florida last week and described it as “WOW-some.” He does have a way with words!
FINALLY for now, it’s time to say farewell ot Ocean Village, famously promoted as the cruise line “for people who don’t do cruises.”
After attracting a whole new generation of passengers with its dress-down, casual style, the line has been wound up by parent company Carnival so that the ships can be moved to the P&O Australia fleet.
OV2 went first, and the original Ocean Village left Crete last week for Singapore. After her passengers have disembarked there she will be repainted and re-named Pacific Pearl, ready for a new life Down Under.