Cruise industry 2012 new built ships.

 

Cruise industry new built ships typically generate a lot of consumer buzz, and 2012 will be no exception. In addition to the 3,600-passenger Carnival Breeze, we will be able to sell several other new vessels this coming year. Disney Cruise Line will debut the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy; Oceania Cruises will launch the 1,250-passenger Riviera; Costa Cruises will christen its 3,800-passenger Fascinosa; Celebrity Cruises will introduce the 3,000-passenger Celebrity Reflection; and MSC Cruises will welcome the 4,363-passenger Divina.

Other encouraging signs for 2012 can be seen in the ambitious renovation projects that both Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Lines are undertaking. Royal Caribbean embarked on the Royal Advantage, a USD 300 million project to bring Oasis-class innovations to more of the line's fleet. The revitalization plan, which began with upgrades to the Radiance of the Seas last spring and the Splendour of the Seas in November, will extend to the Rhapsody of the Seas next March, the Grandeur of the Seas in May and the Serenade of the Seas in November. The revamps will continue in 2013 and 2014, when revitalizations will take place aboard seven more of the line's vessels.

Carnival in 2012 will continue to expand its Fun Ship 2.0 project, a USD 500 million program to enhance 16 ships. Intended to "transform the Carnival vacation experience" through partnerships and new branded spaces, the line partnered with several big names for onboard branding. New features will include Guy's Burger Joint (a restaurant created by Food Network star Guy Fieri), RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, BlueIguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar and EA Sports Bar. Also, comedian George Lopez will oversee the line's comedy presentations. The enhancements have been added to the Carnival Liberty and in 2012 will make their debut on the Carnival Conquest. They also will appear on the new-build Carnival Breeze when it enters service in June.

 

This year's seven new cruise ships.

1. Celebrity Reflection -- PSR* 40; 126,000 tons
2. Disney Fantasy -- PSR 32; 128,000 tons
3. Oceania's Riviera -- PSR 52.5; 65,000 tons
4. Carnival Breeze -- PSR 30; 130,000 tons
5. Costa Fascinosa -- PSR 30.3; 114,500 tons
6. MSC Divina -- PSR 33.9; 140,000 tons
7. AIDAmar -- PSR 34.6; 71,000-tons

*PSR, or passenger space ratio, is the gross registered tonnage -- a measure of interior space on a ship -- divided by passenger capacity, so PSR gives an indication of relative spaciousness.

The first four on the list are slated for the North American market - mostly sailing out of U.S. ports or at least marketed primarily to U.S. cruisers with English as the main language onboard.