Spring brings new cruise ships

Debuting in Spring 2010 are four new cruise ships – here’s the rundown of their launch months, passenger capacity and first itineraries. There’s something for almost every taste from the more classic styling of P&O through to the American jazz of the Celebrity cruise line, with two other European cruise companies getting debut ships into service too.

In February AIDA Cruises, which is Germany’s largest cruise line but actually owned by Carnival, launches it’s seventh ship. She’s carries 2,050 passengers and her names id AIDABlu – the other ships in her class AIDAdiva, AIDAbella and AIDAluna in case you were wondering about the name! AIDAblu will sail all year round in Europe from a German home-port.

Then in March it’s the turn of MSC to launch MSC Magnifica. She’s their eleventh ship and carries 2,518 passengers – there’s an interesting service on Magnfica: the MSC Yacht Club, exclusively for guests booking suites and she’ll be home-ported in Venice from where she’ll offer seven-night cruises all year round.

Things get busy in April with two ships launching. First down the ramp is Celebrity Eclipse, the third of Celebrity Cruises Solstice-class cruise vessels. She’s going to spend the summer home-ported in Southampton sailing Mediterranean cruise itineraries but in November she’s moving to the Caribbean. Like her sisters, she accommodates 2,850 passengers.

Also setting off for the first time in November is P&O Cruises new baby, although she’s a big one! The 116,000-ton Azura will carry 3,100 passengers on either seven or fourteen day European cruises leaving from Southampton.