There will be eight new cruise ships launched this year, and the two here are on the list, even though they have been around under “assumed” (old) names. This is the final installment of the new ships of 2012.
Photo by Kim Hansen
Ship: MV Voyager
Launch date: November 17
Capacity: 556
Sister ships: None
Maiden Voyage: Istanbul
Home Ports: Portsmouth, then Caribbean
Ships now in Voyages of Discovery fleet: 2
Interesting: Its old name is the Alexander von Humboldt and the new version will have 86 per cent of the rooms with ocean views.
Ship: Costa neoRomantica
Launch date: February 20
Capacity: 1,800
Sister ships: Costa Classica
Maiden Voyage: Savona
Home Ports: Barcelona
Ships now in Costa fleet: 16
Interesting: Almost two years ago, an engine room fire on the Romantica (above) left her stalled for a day, with clogged toilets, no running water and no electricity. The 18-year-old ship was last refurbished in 2003 and in this refurbishment, two half decks will be added. But the name…really? Wouldn’t Costa have been best to leave it just as Romantica?
DAILY DEAL:
Costa Pacifica
18 nights
March 10, 2012
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ilheus, Salvador, Maceio, Recife, Santa Cruz (Canary Islands), Funchal, Casablanca (Morocco), Savona (Italy)
Inside $1,199
www.costacruise.com