Weekly News Flashes

19 May 2024 admin Comments 0 Comments

First sea trials for Mein Schiff 7

The new build Mein Schiff 7 is about to undergo its first sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The ship will leave the Finnish shipyard in Turku for the first time this evening. It will perform various manoeuvres at sea. It will also test the functionality of its technical systems. A team of experts from Meyer Turku, Tui Cruises and the classification society will accompany the sea trials. The team will document problems. It will also record defects for later rectification.

These tests are crucial for the ship's delivery, which is expected soon. Part of the initial crew, including the future captain Omar Caruana, is already on board. Meanwhile, work continues on board in the guest and crew areas to ensure everything is ready on time.

the cruise ship Mein Schiff 7 sails on calm seas towards the horizon at sunset.

AIDAbella Resumes Cruise Operations

AIDAbella resumed cruise operations in Kiel on 18 May 2024. The ship was transferred from Dubai via Africa to Kiel without guests. This marks the end of a temporary suspension of operations that began in Dubai in April due to security concerns in the Red Sea. AIDA Cruises responded to the uncertainties in the region by rerouting or cancelling cruises. AIDAbella is starting the 2024 summer season with two four-day short trips. It will then continue with weekly cruises to destinations such as the North Cape, Iceland and Great Britain.

the AIDAbella is docked in port, showing its distinctive exterior with a colourful ship front design. — c Michis Kreuzfahrten

Shore power usage of MSC Preziosa in Hamburg

On 15 May 2024, MSC Preziosa was successfully connected to the local power grid in Hamburg. It is now using shore power during layovers. This initiative is part of MSC Cruises' environmental strategy, which aims to reduce local emissions through the use of shore power. MSC executives emphasise the importance of shore power availability in ports worldwide to minimise environmental impact. The HPA recently commissioned its second shore power facility. This underscores Hamburg's efforts to support cruise companies in their environmental protection endeavours. MSC Cruises plans to further expand its use of shore power. Already 59 percent of the fleet is equipped for it. An increase to 72 percent is expected by the end of the year.