New Regent Seven Seas Ship Delayed Until 2012...At Least.

On Monday, Prestige Cruise Holdings announced its plans for the new Oceania Marina...and some interesting insight into the future for any Regent newbuild(s).

According to Seatrade, PCH has entered into a deal for potentially five (5) ships to be built by Fincantieri...all with the same hull; three for Oceania and two for Regent. While there has been a firm commitment for two Oceania ships, not so for Regent.

Robin Lindsay, Executive Vice President for Vessel Operations characterizes the Regent order as "semi-firm" and is dependent on financing. Lindsay was quotes as saying ‘We hope by the end of the year we will arrange financing to sign a firm contract.’ If that schedule holds, the Regent ship will be delivered in April 2012.

For those of you who also read the Cruise Critic message boards, I "did the math" many months ago and asserted that Regent would not have a new ship until 2012 and the usual suspect(s) flamed me for being so "anti-Regent". Alas, there is a big difference between being realistic and negative. The fact is that it will be AT LEAST FOUR YEARS before Regent will have a new ship...and that is dependent on financing; something that is much harder to obtain these days.

But we need to look further into this information...and into our crystal balls...to try and understand what this means.

The concept is that Oceania and Regent will share the same ships to a great extent. Not only hull forms, but engines, systems, etc. The main difference is that the Regent ships - if built - are in theory going to have 450 or less cabins versus the 629 on the Oceania ones.

But when Frank Del Rio discussed the Oceania Marina on Monday he made the ships sound incredibly similar to the current Regent Seven Seas product: luxury, space, cuisine and options. He told Seatrade the Marina will abandon the English country decor for a more modern "transitional and eclectic" one, have large cabins, marble or granite baths, seven dining venues and an internet connected laptop. (As an aside, my guess as to the last item is that in 4 years this will be an antiquated concept...something I said about the move to put ethernet wiring in new homes back in the '90s.)

One thing I find telling, however, is that PCH is not using pod propulsion. This technology has been shown to be more fuel efficient and provides better maneuverability. The reason given for going with propellers: the technology is not proven. Huh? Pods are being installed on vessel after vessel and even the earlier pods are now being retrofitted so that the former problems are just that. Reality check: Pods are a lot more expensive and omitting them can save significant dollars in construction costs...though increased operating costs will exceed that short term financial "solution"...especially on larger ships.

So with Oceania significantly improving its product to be very similar to what Regent and the luxury lines are offering today - save drinks and gratuities included and, possibly, a higher level of cuisine, are we looking at really nothing more than paying for more real estate on Regent...keeping in mind that Regent will be increasing its passenger counts on the new ships; not reducing them to afford a more personalized level of service.

To be fair, I do not know if the crew counts and design have been worked so that this is adjusted to some extent, but I cannot see how 900 passengers can be treated to the same intimate, luxury experience, as 450 or less can be on, for example, the new Seabourn Odyssey and her two sisters that will be sailing by the time the single new Regent ship MAY be delivered...or the new Silversea ship, etc.

I guess we shall see what the plan is when, in fact, there is a defined plan.

What Drives Me Crazy About Message Boards and Why I Am Here

As many of you know, someone incorrectly posted on Cruise Critic that Seabourn "stole" away a Silversea ship...then it was that it was meant to be a Silversea ship and that "Some people were even crossed with Seabourn for taking over the contract! " Where does this stuff come from?

Then, on the Silversea board someone posted that - as I reported days ago...again - that the yard owned the hull design and that it was never an issue of using another cruise line's design. In fact, the poster commented that is a cost savings measure rather than designing an entirely new hull form. Geez that sounds really familiar, doesn't it?! (I am not attesting to that poster's knowledge or the basis for it; only that he posted it.)

So then there was the comment that the original premises came out of something found on Google. So I looked: Nothing even close.

So which poster has the correct information? Why was the original post phrased in a way that it inferred an answer that was controversial? Why wasn't the post, "Does Anyone Know How Seabourn Chose The Shape of Odyssey?"

Obviously if I had posted a response it would have been short and sweet...and there would have been some sort of personal attack...and more misinformation would be posted...and then some posts would be removed...and then, funny enough, the actual information as to the inquiry might well have been so buried that it was never recognized or appreciated.

Many of you have asked me to try to post again on Cruise Critic. Some of you have even posted requesting Cruise Critic allow me to post again. I truly appreciate and am flattered and honored by your pleas and compliments.

However, those that really want information are learning where to get it...with detail and thought...and without the clutter (and, at times, absurdity): Right here.

Clipper Pacific Update: Cleared to Sail...Sort Of.

According to Newsday, the Clipper Pacific has as of about noon been cleared to sail...but not to Venezuela as contemplated. It is cleared to sail to Tampa, Florida so that permanent repairs can be made.

As I had written yesterday, the temporary patch with cement and whatever else the ship might have done would never have been cleared for open ocean sailing. As there are no shipyards in the New York area that could handle such a large ship, it appears there is some space in Tampa. I am curious as to whether they are going to have to drydock her to make the repairs, but what is certain is that the damaged plate (and who knows what else) will need to be replaced.

I do not have any information on what is happening with the passengers, though from what I have read I do not think many have the finances to simply walk of the ship and fly to wherever, nor do I think the ship's owner or operator would have the funds to do such things based upon the conditions found aboard the ship. I also do not know if the ship must be escorted since it has so many passengers aboard.

I will keep you posted.