Crystal Cruises will move the Crystal Harmony to its sister company NYK Cruises at the end of 2005. The 940-passenger, 50,000-ton Harmony will be named the Asuka II and replace the current 1991-built, 584-passenger, 28,856-ton Asuka.
Crystal President Gregg Michel said: “This paves the way for new tonnage at Crystal. We will return to a three-ship operation.”
With the withdrawal of the Harmony, Crystal’s estimated annual passenger capacity will drop from an estimated 97,680 in 2005 to 64,080 in 2006, compared to 84,510 for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.
Princess will be moving the Regal Princess to sister company Ocean Village where the 1991-built, 1,590-passenger, 70,000-ton ship will debut in October 2006. The sister ship, the Crown Princess, was previously moved to A’ROSA and is now sailing as the AIDAblu. The Regal had originally been intended to also go to A ‘Rosa.
“Transferring the ship is a natural evolution of the Princess fleet, which has grown progressively younger as new ships have been introduced and older ships have been transferred to key growth markets,” said Peter Ratcliffe, CEO of P&O Princess Cruises. He said Princess will have the youngest fleet in the industry with an average ship age of 5. 7 years.
Norwegian Cruise Line bas confirmed that the Norway will be towed to Malaysia on Star Cruises’ behalf. While seemingly beating the scrappers, no further plans have been announced.
