114 CRUISE ORDER BOOK Entering 2023, cruise shipbuilders are set for a busy period of deliveries. A total of 12 new vessels are expected to join the worldwide cruise fleet in the first half of this year, ranging from large oceangoing vessels such as MSC Cruises’ 4,888-passenger MSC Euribia to Amadeus River Cruises’ 158-guest river cruise ship Amadeus Riva. A host of new innovations will be appearing onboard these vessels, providing passengers with unique experiences and enhancing operational efficiency. Among the most significant new additions will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva, the second of its six planned Prima-class ships. Like its sister ship Norwegian Prima, the vessel is being built by Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy, and will be able to accommodate up to 3,219 guests. Norwegian Viva will feature Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000-square-foot outdoor walkway, which wraps around the entire ship; the Indulge Food Hall, featuring 11 dining venues; the Infinity Beach pool area; and Oceanwalk, where glass bridges will span the water below. “Norwegian Viva sets the standard in the premium segment, illustrating our commitment to pushing boundaries in four main areas: wide open space, service that puts guests first, thoughtful design and experiences beyond expectation,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We have taken everything our guests love to the next level with this brand-new class of ships designed with them in mind.” Also making its debut will be Seabourn’s second expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, which will begin sailing in April after delivery from T. Mariotti. Like its sister ship Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Pursuit has been designed and built to Polar Class 6 standards and will be able to travel to destinations in different environments across the world. Guests will be able to explore these destinations using two custom-built submarines, a complement of double sea kayaks, or the 24 Zodiac rigid inflatable boats kept onboard. SunStone Ships will be taking delivery of its sixth Infinity-class vessel, Ocean Albatros, from China Merchants Heavy Industries in the spring. The ship will be chartered to Albatros Expedition in May, joining sister ship Showcasing innovation Alex Smith previews a busy period of shipbuilding in the first half of 2023 that will see cruise ships debuting with new designs, spaces and technologies Photo: Ulstein China Merchants Heavy Industries is currently completing the construction of Ocean Albatros at its shipyard in China
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