12 new ships to debut in 2009

2009 will see a further 12 new cruise ships added to the world’s fleet, ranging in size from just 104 passengers to 5,400! The first two deliveries of 2009 are scheduled for March, when US operator Pearl Seas Cruises’ 210 passenger capacity Pearl Mist is delivered by Canada’s Irving Shipbuilding and AIDA Cruises’ 2,050 passenger capacity AIDAluna is handed over by Germany’s Meyer Werft.

April and May see two new ships for Costa Cruises; the 2,260 passenger capacity Costa Luminosa and the 3,004 passenger capacity Costa Pacifica, both delivered from Italy’s Fincantieri, while June sees MSC Cruises take delivery of the 3,300 passenger capacity MSC Splendida from France’s STX France. June is also the delivery date for Seabourn Cruises’ luxury 450 passenger capacity Seabourn Odyssey from Italy’s T. Mariotti.

American Cruise Lines’ 104 passenger capacity Independence is due for delivery from domestic shipyard Chesapeake Shipbuilding in August, around the same time as Celebrity Cruises’ 2,850 passenger capacity giant Celebrity Equinox, the second in a series from Germany’s Meyer Werft. September sees Carnival Cruises’ 3,652 passenger capacity Carnival Dream emerge from Italy’s Fincantieri, while the end of October will see the arrival of the world’s largest cruise ship, RCCL’s 5,400 passenger capacity giant Oasis of the Seas. The last two months of 2009 will see Silversea Cruises’ 540 passenger capacity Silver Spirit delivered by Italy’s Fincantieri, and the 2,550 passenger capacity MSC Magnifica delivered by STX France to MSC Cruises. Sphere: Related Content