Discovery Deluxe is going head to head

The discovery and expedition market is growing fast, and at the top head to head.

by Earl of Cruise

Rendering of deluxe SCENIC ECLIPSE - courtesy SCENIC CRUISES

rendering of Crystal Endeavor in Antarctica

Rendering of deluxe CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR - courtesy CRYSTAL CRUISES

rendering of Ponant´s new buildings, expedition cruisers deluxe

Rendering and description of PONANT´s new deluxe LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE and LE KERGUELEN - courtesy PONANT

SCENIC CRUISES, CRYTAL CRUISES and PONANT anounced new de luxe expedition ships. SCENIC the SCENIC ECLIPSE, CRYSTAL the CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR and PONANT its four French endeavourers - LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE and LE KERGUELEN. While SCENIC has an option for a second vessel CRYSTAL seems to check the market, while they slow a bit down in their growing strategy. And it looks like - we have to have the more luxurious expedition vessel, as of our self claimed position at the top ...

All six vessels aim for the sophisticated travellers or cruisers, who have good filled `portemonais´ filled with coins to spend.

Another tour and cruise operator, the self proclaimed "top of the luxury" HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES, is building two vessels for the same market, but won´t reach the level that is set by SCENIC at first, toped by CRYSTAL and still underneath the level of the French offer.

SCENIC and CRYSTAL have lesser desisity than PONANT and far less from that of HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES. The HURTIGRUTEN newbuilds will have in comparision a cramped condition on board, and can´t be named in any way luxurious.

The expedition and especially the luxury expedition market is fast a growing cruise segment in the mainly volume oriented international cruise market. It turns out that the luxury expedition seems to be the hotest market in the industry. This year four lines have announced newbuilds for this market.

Of the three top offers we will see 2018 the first luxury expedition vessel, which is by far the better luxury offer than the REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER offer, or that from HAPAG-LLOYD, EUROPA 2 and the two expedition cruises newbuilds.

But undoubtedy, the sexiest and most exciting are the two new polar vessels: SCENIC ECLIPSE and CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR, with PONANT’s chic new foursome coming up the rear.

When CRYSTAL announced their new offering, Australians gulped. Wasn’t it almost exactly like Aussie ship-builder Glen Moroney’s SCENIC ECLIPSE, announced some months before?

The helicopters … the submarines … the special safetly features. Even the superstructure – with the exception that SCENIC ECLIPSE is black and CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR is white.

Mr Moroney was stoically saying nothing. CRYSTAL maintained the designs were definately CRYSTAL inspired.

Space, the room per passenger is the benchmark to luxury. But too the service and the quality of food and drinks.

Looking at the figures below, you may think PONANT´s newbuild are out of shape for the deluxe expedition market. It looks like, but perhaps - cabins can be interchanged (two into one) - their food quality will beat ...

So how do they stack up? I went behind the renderings to find out.

	Size		Passenger	Crew	Cabin Size
PONANT	131 m	10,000 GT	184	110	min 18 square metres
SCENIC ECLIPSE	165 m	16,500 GT	228	228	min 32 square metres
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	183 m	25,000 GT	200	200	min 37 square metres
Technology
PONANT	Ice Class ranked, equipped with latest environmental preservation technology
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Custom-built stabilisers that are 50% larger than other ships, state of the art fins to adjust to large swells, ice strengthened hulls with Polar Class 6 (Ice Class 1A Super) rating
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	PC6 Polar Class rating, state of the art offshore dynamic positioning technology to maintain position and float over reefs without dropping anchor
Top cabin
PONANT	Not yet released. Sister ship Le Lyrial has 67 square metre Owner’s Suite with private balcony, Jacuzzi bath, two flat screen TVs and 24 hour room service
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Two-bedroom Penthouse Suite. 233 square metres with private terrace, Jacuzzi, spa bath, spa day bed for in-suite treatments, dual steam shower with light therapy, two walk in wardrobes, dining table for 10, library, fully stocked wine bar and personalised mini bar replenished daily and butler service
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Owner’s Suite. 290 square metres with three bedrooms, private conservatory, garden, Jacuzzi, spa and gym with sauna and steam room, and butler service
Onboard toys
PONANT	Zodiac fleet, Infinity-Pool, variable Marina used as wassersports plattform and mini-landing station, Kajak, Paddle Board (SUP), diving, snorkeling, water skiing
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Two twin-engine six-seater helicopters, a seven-seat submarine, fleet of zodiacs
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Two helicopters, two seven-seat submarines, eight zodiacs, jet skis, waverunners, recompression chamber for scuba diving, dive support tender, multi-person ATV, SEABOB underwater scooters, Remote Operated Vehicle to see underwater wrecks
Facilities
PONANT	Panorama restaurant, Grillrestaurant
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Six dining options, retractable roof heated pool, plunge pools, gym, yoga and pilates studios, 450 square metre spa, theatre
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Six dining options, lecture rooms, cinema, infinity pool, Jacuzzis, 930 square metre spa and fitness area

Comments

Ocean Liners in Movies or Films at Sea (updated Nov 2017)

For liners and the shipping companies movies and films had been a top marketing tool Movies or Films and liners at sea, had been intriguing me since I have read about in my youth in LUXUSLINER - BILDER EINER GROSSEN ZEIT by Lee Server ( THE GOLDEN AGE OF OCEAN LINERS ). But earlier, mot only since my first crossing, I was keen watching movies with liners in it, and disapointed, which was an understatement, when I realized the films have been made in a set ashore in some movie "factory". That was after my first crossing. by Earl of Cruise an essay in progress `Sabrina´, Humphrey Bogart in the office, while LIBERTÉ is sailing out of New York harbor - screenshot Ocean liners, especially those of the luxury category, had been the location of dramas, love stories, thrillers, suspense and catastrophies sinde film was born, or nearly. In this list, the most descriptions are taken from Wikipedia, as I guess no one can expect having seen all these films ... otherwise I w...

Review - Le BLEU DE FRANCE la France en Mer

La France en Mer, á bord de BLEU DE FRANCE - a swan song. I have made a wonderful cruise in spring 2009 on board BLEU DE FRANCE, which started her life as HAPAG-LLOYD´s EUROPA in 1981. by Earl of Cruise BLEU DE FRANCE in Barcelona - own photography © Earl of Cruise Deep rain clouds hang over Marseille. The radiant white city, the gateway of France to the south, shows itself grey. The roads, trotoires and buildings still are wet from the last rainshower. Our car turns into the entrance of the Gare Maritime in the new port. And there she is, the BLEU DE FRANCE. Darkblue hull, white, wet glistening superstructure. The ship seemed to be covered with a layer of laquer. We are unloading the luggage at the check-in and have the boarding, we're early. A steward leads our small group of travellers to the final formalities at the reception in the cabins. that friendly "Bon voyage" from the reception is still echoing in the ears, and the steward opens the door to our Ri...

Cruise - PULLMANTUR ceases CROISIÈRES DE FRANCE a Conundrum or Fait accompli?

CDF is a 100% subsidiary of PULMANTUR and was catering the French cruise market with French styled and with French cuisine offering cruises. by Earl of Cruise HORIZON of CROISIÈRES DE FRANCE - courtesy CROISIÈRES DE FRANCE You can´t serve a French anything else than French cuisine, as good quality food is one of the most essential needs for French. When money saving is needed the last will be food in France! CDF reported an average of 100,000 cruisers on board their ships HORIZON and ZENITH. CDF was in 3rd place in the French cruise market after COSTA (CARNIVAL subsidiary) and MSC (Italian, based in Switzerland). Both are surprisingly are everything but not French. Their food is acceptable Mediterranean. And the cruises are cheap. When once, 2008, sailing on board the BLEU DE FRANCE, ex EUROPA V, 1991, now SAGA´s SAPPHIRE , I was amazed by the cusine and the really French atmosphere on board the former German vessel, who´s heritage was still to be seen. Back then I ...

Germany and HAPAG - A Journey through History

HAMBURG-AMERIKANISCHEPACKETFAHRT ACTIEN GESELLSCHAFT - HAPAG or HAMBURG AMERICA LINE is reflecting, as Germany, the LLOYD of Bremen, two times of rsing and two times of devasting downfall and a third rise. BORUSSIA , 1856, First Day Cover 1956 of Deutsche Bundespost - own collection Once Germany´s biggest shipping line HAPAG / HAMBURG-AMERIKANISCHE PACKETFAHRT ACTIEN GESELLSCHAFT-LLOYD, merged with it former old Hanseatic rival NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD in 1970, to now HAPAG-LLOYD, had its peaks and downs, but rose each time on its own to new hights, without any state subsidies. As German mail subsidiaries did never cover the costs for purchasing or mainting the vessels ordered for the specific German mail lines. by Earl of Cruise In this article I used most German Wikipedia links, as they proved to be mostly of better research quality, and surprisinf to me, some English lines and liners have only German written articles, for the others, English Wiki links are to ...

HISTORY - ss LA BOURGOGNE - Women and Children last

What had happend on sinking LA BOURGOGNE? Why had been so few women and children been rescued ? by João Martins , editing by Earl of Cruise ss LA BOURGOGNE - editors collection From our viewpoint of today we see this disaster of ss LA BOURGOGNE as one of egoism and the right of the stronger, with no "heroism", or stepping back for the weak to be saved. And we blame the crew for not doing their duty ... Are we allowed to judge? Are we allowed to chide? Are we alowed to claime it as typical ... for the seamanship of France - I have heard and read so! - ? No, we have not been on board. This tragedy is not the place to be chauvinistic! And looking in todays world we see a lot of chauvinism again and egoism! The ss LA BOURGOGNE was a 7,395 GRT French ocean liner built by the FCM in Toulon for the Transatlatic mail and passenger service of Cie. Gle. TRANSATLANTIQUE and completed in 1886. She was an iron and steel construction, 150 metres long, had two funnels an...

HISTORY - Traveling with airliner LZ 129 HINDENBURG was the most luxurious airtravel

The real airliner LZ 129 HINDENBURG enabled the most luxurious airtravel for decades. Imagine, gliding through the air while the landscape or the sea below can be seen ... LZ 129 HINDENBURG marks the climax of airship construction. On May 6, 1937, the story of civilian airship ended in a tragedy. In Lakehurst, New Jersey, the largest flying object and has been with the similar sized LZ 130 GRAF ZEPPELIN II the most luxurious of all time. How this came about can be reconstructed logically, a series of fatal physics concatenations . The airship LZ 129 HINDENBURG marks the climax of airship construction. It was in its time the fastest and most exclusive traveling object between Europe and America. The challenges of the construction of the giant of the heaven were immense. by Earl of Cruise LZ 129 HINDENBURG, 1936, in Lakehurst - digital copy of a coloured cover photo, originally by Bill Schneider, published in Dan Grossman´s book ` ZEPPELIN HINDENBURG: AN ILLUSTRATED HI...

HISTORY - HAMBURG-SÜD and the CAP express liner

The CAP express liners of HAMBURG-SÜD, CAP FINISTERRE, CAP TRAFALGAR, CAP POLONIO and CAP ARCONA, are known worldwide for their luxury, renowned service on board and grandeur. Their successors of the 60s, the CAP SAN vessels, have not been that elegant, but truly first class and were known as the "White Swans" of the Atlantic. by Earl of Cruise HAMBURG-SÜD´s SANTA TERESA in Santos - courtesy HAMBURG-SÜD Since its formation in 1871, HAMBURG-SÜDAMERIKANISCHE DAMPFSCHIFFFAHRTS-GESELLSCHAFT ( HSDG or HAMBURG-SÜD ) has evolved from a conventional freight and passenger shipping company into a global operating transport logistics organisation. Today, it ranks among the world's ten largest container shipping lines and is one of the leading providers in the North-South trades. T ill recently it was a member of the successful Oetker Group, one of the largest and best-known family enterprises in Germany. The heirs and owners sold HAMBURG-SÜD to the Danish MAERSK Group ...

HISTORY - One of the earliest steam ship companies in the world ÖSTERREICHISCHER LLOYD was founded in 1833 - II 1855-1914

One of the "early bird" shipping companies start sailing with steam powered vessels, was 1833 LLOYD AUSTRIACO of Austria-Hungary. With the industrial and engineering progress, LLOYD AUSTRIACO begann with paddle wheel steamships and changed to screw driven vessels, when this technology was still young and innovative. Let´s not forgett, Josef Ressel, an Austrian state serviceman, was the first to test a screw as propulsion for ships. First convoy passing the SUEZ CANAL in 1869, among this convoy had been ships of LLOYD AUSTRIACO, as well the empirial yacht of Kaiser Franz Joseph - own collection And via its board member Pasquale Revoltella LLOYD AUSTRIACO became a shareholder of the SUEZ CANAL , one of the back bones for the British Empire ... Honi soit qui mal y pense [ɔni swa ki mal i pɑ̃s] by Earl of Cruise Steamer PANDORA - Source: Civicp Museo del Mare Trieste As early as 1857, the Semmering was no longer an obstacle for the railroad, the first...

ss NORMANDIE 1935 - 1942 IX

s s / te NORMANDIE starting from cold Owners: COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE BUILDERS: PENH Ö ET, St. Nazaire, France by Stephen Carey © , editing by Earl of Cruise This document is almost exclusively about the engineering aspects of NORMANDIE , mainly on how to start her up from cold. If you are looking for photos of the passenger spaces, there is a plethora of them on the web, in Facebook groups - Admirers of the ss Normandie , ss Normandie photographic file , The French Ocean Liners / Les Paquebots Fran ç ais , ss Normandie , GREAT LINERS OF THE PAST & PRESENT , and others, Pinterest and in articles about NORMANDIE here in the blog, please see at the end of the article. Using "ss" for NORMANDIE is quite incorrect, as NORMANDIE was a Turbo Electric vessel and not a steamship, therefore NORMANDIE should be adressed as "te". by Earl of Cruise te / ss NORMANDIE berthed in Le Havre, Gare Maritime May 29th, 1935 - colouring courtesy ...

HISTORY - ts / ss BREMEN and ts / ss EUROPA

Germany’s two luxury liners, BREMEN and EUROPA , have not only played an important part in their country’s mercantile revival, but have added also an immortal chapter to the history of transatlantic travel. Copy from Shipping Wonders of the World From part 6 , published 17 March 1936 editing by Earl of Cruise ss / ts BREMEN in her early years - Source: Shipping Wonders of the World/Bundespresse Archiv The PRIDE OF A NATION - the NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD quadruple-screw turbine express liner BREMEN . The keel of this ship was laid in June 1927. Her launch took place in August, 1928. In less than a year later, the Bremen made her first voyage to America, when she crossed the Atlantic from Cherbourg to New York in four days seventeen hours forty-two minutes, thus setting up a new record and gaining the coveted “Blue Riband”. During the passage the Bremen attained an average speed of 27.83 knots. ss / ts BREMEN in her early years - Source: W ikipedia For the pop...

Search This Blog

Thank You 500,000 readers