John Honeywell, Author at Captain Greybeard

New adventure ships for Hurtigruten

Norwegian exploration travel company Hurtigruten has ordered two new explorer ships to be designed and developed by Rolls-Royce. The 600-passenger vessels, to be built at a Norwegian shipyard, will be customised for adventure-rich expedition voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as along the Norwegian coastline. The deal – the largest in the company’s 120-year history – will see the ships delivered in 2018 and 2019. Hurtigruten holds an option for a further two ships Set to offer a host of activities for adventure seekers, from climbing and kayaking to rib-tours, whale and sea eagle safaris, the new [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-22T15:32:30+00:00 22 April 2016|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

MSC should find what Bono is looking for

Giuseppe Bono is not the lead singer with an Irish rock band, and he is not the dear departed former husband of Cher. Giuseppe Bono is the chief executive of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. His company built Britannia and several other cruise ships for P&O, two of Cunard’s Queens, and dozens of ships for the Carnival Corporation. It has built ships for Disney and Oceania, and it is currently constructing luxury vessels for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn. Giuseppe Bono's ships have carried millions of passengers on holidays all over the world. He is rightly proud of the Italian passion that [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:23+00:00 22 April 2016|Cruise News|0 Comments

One-year milestone for Silver Muse

Silversea is celebrating the one year-to-go milestone until the christening of its new flagship Silver Muse with commemorative events on board all eight of its ships around the world – from the Amalfi Coast, where Silver Wind inaugurates her Mediterranean season, to Jaco Island in Timor Leste, where Silver Discoverer explores the natural wonders of Northern Australia. Guests will be invited to a special dinner showcasing culinary specialties that will be on board Silver Muse, including specially created dishes from all regions of the world. Due for completion in April 2017, Silver Muse will showcase world-class locations to those who [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:23+00:00 19 April 2016|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Royal christening for HAL’s Koningsdam

Queen Máxima of The Netherlands will christen Holland America Line’s new Pinnacle-class ship, ms Koningsdam, in a ceremony in Rotterdam on May 20. Members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 Holland America Line ships. Most recently, the then Princess Máxima christened ms Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010 and Queen Beatrix served as ms Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. Statendam III in 1929 was launched by Prince Hendrik, and Nieuw Amsterdam II in 1937 by Queen Wilhelmina. Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said, “We are incredibly honoured that Her Majesty Queen Máxima will carry on the tradition of Dutch Royalty christening [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-18T10:49:49+00:00 18 April 2016|Cruise News|0 Comments

Its panda-monium on Ovation of the Seas

The secret was out on Monday evening. The animal sculpture which will be a feature on Ovation of the Seas – rivalling the pink polar bear on Quantum and the swim-suited giraffe on Anthem – was to be a mother panda and her baby. By Tuesday morning, the adult panda was being lifted on board by crane and bolted onto the roof of the Deck 15 SeaPlex. The 33-foot sculpture, weighing six-and-a-half tons, was created by British artist Jo Smith. Crew members, who christened the bear Felicia, and named the giraffe as Gigi, will be asked to come up with [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:24+00:00 13 April 2016|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

What makes Ovation of the Seas a knock-out

The excitement on board Ovation of the Seas is palpable. The temperature began to rise yesterday when Captain Henrik Loy picked up the Southampton pilot at Nab Tower. It grew as the ship sailed sedately up Southampton Water, past a hardy group of ship enthusiasts braving the wind on Calshot Spit. The NorthStar observation capsule, looking like an escapee from the London Eye and almost as high above the waves as Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower, was raised in time to salute P&O Cruises’ Britannia and then Ovation passed another crowd of well-wishers in Mayflower Park before tying up at the City [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-12T16:51:37+00:00 11 April 2016|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Ovation is almost ready for her first guests

Ovation of the Seas has left Germany behind, and is heading for Southampton. Crowds gathered at Bremerhaven cruise terminal to send the 168,666-ton ship on its way and a selection of music - from Enya’s Sail Away to a version of Wild Rover in German - blasted out across the water, silenced only when Captain Henrik Loy blew three blasts on the ship’s whistle. Work continues at a feverish pace to prepare the ship for the arrival of the first guests, from the media and travel trade, who step aboard for a one-off event on Monday. All weekend a team [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:24+00:00 9 April 2016|Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Why Royal Caribbean’s Richard Fain is still not satisfied with his standing Ovation

The Germans are not noted for their sense of humour. The Americans do not normally have a refined sense of irony. So there was plenty of room for misunderstandings at the ceremony today when cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was handed over from builders Meyer-Werft to Royal Caribbean. The event involved much signing of paperwork, shaking of hands, raising and lowering of flags, and sipping of Champagne – before 10 o’clock in the morning. It also involved the handing over of a ring-binder containing all the essential paperwork. It was presented by shipyard owner Bernard Meyer (above right) to [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-08T13:09:00+00:00 8 April 2016|Cruise News|1 Comment

MSC signs deal for four green mega-ships

MSC Cruises has signed a Letter of Intent - the next best thing to a firm contract - for four mega cruise ships carrying 5,400 passengers each to be built by STX France. The ships, classified by MSC as World Class, will be of about 200,000 tons and have eco-friendly dual power, using diesel and LNG (liquified natural gas) The significance of the deal, for both companies, was marked by the fact that it was announced at the Palace of Versailles, in front of French president Francois Hollande. The French government holds a one-third stake in STX. The four ships [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-06T21:17:37+00:00 6 April 2016|Cruise News|0 Comments

Two new ships on the way for Princess

Princess Cruises is to get two new ships within the next four years. It was expecting at least one, but Carnival Corporation has decided to allocate another of the five ships it had provisionally ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The new Princess ships will be to the same design as Royal Princess – christened in Southampton by the Duchess of Cambridge – Regal Princess, and next year’s debutante, Majestic Princess. Each carries 3,560 passengers, and features a dramatic SeaWalk curving from the side of the superstructure. Carnival Corporation currently operates 100 cruise ships and has 16 scheduled for delivery by [...]

By John Honeywell| 2016-04-06T21:43:56+00:00 5 April 2016|Cruise News|0 Comments