Odyssey OTS Sails Backwards Down Ems River

Ever see a Cruise Ship Sail Backwards?

Watch the second Royal Caribbean Quantum Ultra class ship, Odyssey of the Seas, make her way – backward – down the Ems River and to the North Sea on her conveyance. The 20-mile (32-kilometer), 10-plus-hour journey brings the highly anticipated ship one step closer to her debut in Haifa, Israel in May 2021. 

Odyssey is set to sail a mix of 3- to 7-night cruises to Greece and Cyprus for the summer before continuing her inaugural year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to cruise the eastern, western and southern Caribbean in November 2021.

 


Odyssey OTS Sailings (Click here)

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Norwegian Getaway Conveyance

Norwegian Getaway Conveyance   Courtesy Meyer Werft

Ems Conveyance of Norwegian GETAWAY
Papenburg - Eemshaven | November 14/15, 2013 

A schedule can be found here

On 2 November 2013 the 146,600-gt cruise ship Norwegian GETAWAY, whose construction has taken merely 12 months, floated out of MEYER WERFT's covered building dock II. Weeks prior to that the shipyard was busy conducting extensive tests and machinery trials.  Following the float-out more tests were carried out in the harbour and the ship was berthed alongside the yard's outfitting pier.   

Norwegian Getaway will sail a 10-night Transatlantic in January 2014 from Southampton, England to New York.  Starting in February, the ship will be home-ported in Miami and will be sailing 7-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.   For more information about ship and schedules (click here). 

Two Sisters Under Construction

Quantum of the Seas Keel Laying
Photo courtesy Meyer Werft

Royal Caribbean

New Sister-Ships

Construction Milestones

On August 2, 2013, in the German village of Papenburg, the traditional "laying of the keel" took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard for Royal Caribbean's new ship Quantum of the Seas.

The maritime industry is one that is filled with traditions that live on today.   One of those traditions is the laying of the keel ceremony, which is marked by a celebration that includes the placement of a ceremonial coin under the new ship's keel for good luck.   In modern times,  laying down of the keel is when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock.  This marks the initial step in construction of a ship, so by shipbuilding tradition, the construction is dated from this event.  

A 430-ts block was put in place in the yard's covered building dock. Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President Maritime of Royal Caribbean International, put down the lucky penny in the dock before the block of the new ship was lowered by the 800-ts crane. 

The first of a total of 74 blocks of the new cruise liner weighs 430 tons. This keel-laying marks the official start of construction of the Quantum of the Seas. For the time being the 167,800-gt Quantum of the Seas is the biggest ship the shipyard has built so far.

Anthem of the Seas Steel Cutting - Courtesy Meyer Werft

Prior to this the first steel-cutting for her sister ship Anthem of the Seas took place at MEYER WERFT 's laser centre. Delivery of the Anthem of the Seas is scheduled in the spring 2015, that of the Quantum of the Seas as early as in the autumn of 2014.

The Oasis and Allure of the Seas will remain the largest ships in the industry, at 220,000 gt, when these two new ships join the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

The ship will include many of the features from the Oasis-class along with some new innovations such as  a parachuting simulator, bumper cars, virtual balconies and many more.  Studio staterooms will allow solo travelers to enjoy their space, inside and out, with 12 of the 28 cabins including balconies.
   

Visit our Quantum of the Seas Microsite

Related Blog Articles:

Quantum Changes for Cruisers
Prepare to be WOWED – The Quantum Class
Royal Caribbean Has a New Star

Norwegian Breakaway: Hey Look Me Over

Click for more images

Norwegian Breakaway

Float-Out

Meyer Werft Shipyard

Sporting Peter Max's New York City Skyline design, Norwegian Breakaway emerged from MEYER WERFT's covered building dock II today as scheduled.

This milestone in the construction of the 145,000 gross ton cruise ship, signals the start of final construction and testing of the ship's systems.   The Papenburg, Germany shipyard has already been busy the past few weeks conducting extensive tests and machinery trials.  Following the float-out and more tests to be carried out in the harbour, the ship will be berthed alongside the yard's outfitting pier.

Watch this video to see today's float-out courtesy of MEYER WERFT.

Delays in the time schedule due to weather conditions may occur. With the ship being berthed at the yard's pier, the remaining work and tests and trials will be carried out in the next few days. Within merely a couple of days, the first crew members will move into their cabins on board, and familiarize themselves with the ship itself and its numerous systems.

The Norwegian Breakaway's conveyance down the river Ems towards the North Sea, where she will prove her seaworthiness, is scheduled for early March 2013.

Norwegian Breakaway Keel Laying

Photo courtesy Meyer Werft

Norwegian Breakaway

Officially Under Construction

Papenbug, Germany - Meyer Werft Shipyard

The keel laying of the cruise ship with the yard number S.678 was celebrated at the MEYER WERFT shipyard on Friday, May 4. The first of 73 blocks of the 144,000 GT vessel was lifted into the covered building dock II. 

In the dock, Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO, laid the traditional "lucky coin", before the block was put down by the 800-ton crane.

The ship's first block that weighs more than 350 tons marks the start of the ship's construction in the yard's building dock. 

Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled for delivery in spring 2013. It is the first of two new ships to be built for Norwegian Cruise Line.  The ship will accommodate 4000 passengers and more than 1500 crew members. 

The shipyard also cut the first piece of steel for the construction of sister ship Norwegian Getaway, which is set for delivery in spring 2014.

Traditional Keel Laying Ceremony

The maritime industry is one that is filled with traditions that live on today.   One of those traditions is the laying of the keel ceremony, which is marked by a celebration that includes the placement of a ceremonial coin under the new ship's keel for good luck.   In modern times,  laying down of the keel is when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock.  This marks the initial step in construction of a ship, so by shipbuilding tradition, the construction is dated from this event. 

 Related Blog Posts:

Introducing Norwegian Breakaway

Celebrity Reflection Construction Begins

Construction Begins On

 Final Celebrity Solstice-Class Ship 

Photo: Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner MEYER WERFT | Dan Hanrahan, CEO Celebrity Cruises | Hermann Lembeck, Produktion Manager MEYER WERFT Laserzentrum | Lambert Kruse, Managing Director MEYER WERFT

Photo: Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner MEYER WERFT | Roswitha Arnett, Hotel Director Celebrity Cruises | Dan Hanrahan, CEO Celebrity Cruises

Steel cutting for Celebrity Reflection

Shipbuilder MEYER WERFT in Papenburg, Germany, has launched the production of the first steel plate for the new giant cruise ship Celebrity Reflection . The fifth ship of the Celebrity Solstice-class will be delivered to Celebrity Cruises, in the autumn of 2012.

Celebrity Reflection offers all the most-loved Solstice Class features along with myriad new ones: more staterooms, new restaurants, expanded onboard activities.  This 126,000 gross ton ship will have a passenger capacity of 3,030 guests.   

What's New?

The Lawn Club Grill

New specialty restaurant for lunch and dinner where you can celebrate the flavorful joys of outdoor grilling. Take a class on pizza-making – including the art of dough-tossing. Learn the secrets of grilling and making marinades. Beverages include wine, buckets of beer and pitchers of sangria. Specialty dining surcharge.

The Porch

An idyllic, new restaurant on The Lawn Club featuring fast and fresh food for breakfast and lunch, fresh-baked bread, pastries and coffees. Salads, paninis, specialty coffees, wine and beer. No dining surcharge.

The Alcoves

A cool, cabana-style private retreat on The Lawn Club for two to four guests. By day, filtered sunlight and breathtaking ocean views. By night, ambient lighting for drama and star status. A la carte foods and beverages arrive in picnic baskets. Alcoves are even equipped with Wi-Fi. Rental fee applies.

Art Studio

A new venue on The Lawn Club that allows intimate, hands-on instruction from resident experts in drawing, painting, beading, drink mixology, culinary lessons, taste tests and chef-prepared dinners.

Michael's Club

Enhanced with a cozy wraparound bar, high-top seating with bar stools and low-top seating in plush banquettes. Libations now include up to 50 international beers – ales, lagers, lambics, ciders, wheat beers, seasonal brews, beer cocktails – as well as an extensive collection of fine whiskeys, scotches, cognacs and bourbons.

The Hideaway

A retreat on Deck 7 where you’ll find a quiet spot to disconnect, rest and relax. Read a book, listen to music, do a crossword puzzle, or explore your new iPad® purchased from the Celebrity iLoungeSM. You can even escape into your own private “treehouse.” The natural, modern design and location give you a great view of the Live Tree in the center atrium.

We will continue to monitor the construction of Celebrity Reflection and share additional insider information as it becomes available.   Looks like Celebrity Cruises has saved the best for last.

Disney Fantasy Keel Laying

Disney Fantasy Keel Laying Courtesy DCL & Meyer Werft

 Disney Fantasy Construction

Has Officially Begun

The maritime industry is one that is filled with traditions that live on today.   One of those traditions is the laying of the keel ceremony, which is marked by a celebration that includes the placement of a ceremonial coin under the new ship's keel for good luck.   In modern times,  laying down of the keel is when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock.  This marks the initial step in construction of a ship, so by shipbuilding tradition, the construction is dated from this event.

Disney Fantasy Keel Laying Ceremony

Papenburg, Germany was the site of today's keel laying ceremony for the Disney Fantasy, sister ship to Disney Dream.   The new ship is being built by Meyer Werft shipyard.

Officials from Disney Cruise Line and Meyer Werft were onhand today for the lowering of the first section of the new Disney Fantasy into the building dock.  Placing the coin was Karl Holz, President of Disney Cruise Line, assisted by Minnie Mouse. 


The Disney Fantasy will offer many of the innovations that her sister ship, Disney Dream, features and brought to the cruise industry for the very first time, including AquaDuck -- the world’s first shipboard water coaster.  However, the Disney Fantasy will feature a few new design elements and guest experiences that will give the ship a unique identity all her own.


The 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

Disney Dream entered service this January and early voyages quickly sold out.   Anyone wishing to sail on Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy should consider booking now so that they won't be disappointed.

We will continue to bring you news about the new Disney Fantasy and follow her construction.  Be sure to visit here and also our FB fan page to be kept up to date on progress.