The Cartoon Network Universe is going to the sea, and starts a cruise brand. It first ship is known to cruise lovers and ship enthusiasts. CARTOON NETWORK WAVE will be the choosen name and started its career as CROWN PRINCESS after her original initators the Vlassov owned SITMAR CRUISES was bought by P&O and the fleet went most into PRINCESS CRUISES.
The American audiovisual group TURNER has entered into a partnership with OCEANIC Group to operate a cruise ship in Asia from the end of the year, dedicated to the world of CARTOON NETWORK, its television channel specialising in cartoons and animation films. This represents an investment of US$ 100,000,000.00 in the purchase and repair of a used liner.
by Earl of Cruise
The ship, which will be operated by OCEANIC, will offer 3 to 7 day cruises from Singapore (where this management company is based) to China, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
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| The future CARTOON NETWORK WAVE - © DR |
The current identity of the vessel, which will be renamed CARTOON NETWORK WAVE, has not been officially revealed, but based on the broadcast footage, it appears to be the PACIFIC JJEWEL. Currently operated by P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA. Originaly designed by Renzo Piano for Vlassov owned SITMAR. Released in 1990 from the Italian shipyards FINCANTIERI, this 245-metre, 69,845 GT passenger vessel with a capacity of 2014 passengers began its career as CROWN PRINCESS before moving on to A' ROSA CRUISES (then a subsidiary of P&O PRINCESS) as the superior mass market AROSAblu in 2002 and then to AIDA CRUISES the following year. The ship was extensively refurbished to become a SPA oriented cruise offer. The vessel was renamed AIDAblu to sail under the AIDA brand until 2007, before making a brief stint at OCEAN VILLAGE, a fleeting company launched by the CARNIVAL Group on the British market in 2003. OCEAN VILLAGE was the copy of the AIDA club cruises transformed for the British taste and market. From 2008, OCEAN VILLAGE II will be paid to P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA and renamed PACIFIC JEWEL. Another nearby vessel, the PACIFIC DAWN (73,285 GT, 1900 passengers), delivered in 1991 by FINCANTIERI as REGAL PRINCESS, is also operated by P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA under the name PACIFIC DAWN. These moves took place after a bidding war around P&O, which ended when CARNIVAL became the winner.
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| PACIFIC JEWEL - © P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA |
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| The future CARTOON NETWORK WAVE - © DR |
The Australian subsidiary of the CARNIVAL Group would therefore once again sell off one of its oldest ships, after the sale last year of the PACIFIC PEARL (formerly STAR PRINCESS delivered in 1989 by Saint-Nazaire) to the British CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES, where it was renamed COLUMBUS. A departure compensated by the integration of the former DAWN PRINCESS (77,400 GT, 2000 passengers), now PACIFIC EXPLORER, which was added to HOLLAND AMERICA LINE's former STATENDAM and RYNDAM (55,450 GT, 1260 passengers), which became PACIFIC EDEN and PACIFIC ARIA in 2015.
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| The future CARTOON NETWORK WAVE - © DR |
For the rest, P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA is due to receive at the end of 2019 the current CARNIVAL SPLENDOUR (113,000 GT, 3000 passengers on double base).
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| The future CARTOON NETWORK WAVE deck space - © DR |
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| The future CARTOON NETWORK WAVE kids area - © DR |
Cartoons are loved by the most, as films for cinemas or TV, as comic book, as comic strip and in adverts. Cartoons and sea works, that shows DISNEY CRUISES. Okay DISNEY is multi million dollar empire with parks and included hospitality. And NICKELODEON is a searched partner in the cruise, entertaining the kids on board cruise ships.
Starting a new cruise brand with a second hand vessel is a "normal practice" for those that want to try the market, or don´t have enough cash to play big. VIRGIN f.e. is playing big with VIRGIN VOYAGES. And CARTOON NETWORKS? To me it is a "testing the water". The brand is dedicated for the Asian market where the "new" is allways a good choice for the Asian customers. But they are "brand oriented". Looks like a secure bank.
P&O Australia is saying the PACIFIC JEWEL will not be leaving the fleet, so take that for what it's worth. Also the CARNIVAL SPLENDOR will not be transferred to the P&O Australia fleet but will be cruising from California to Mexico year-round. GOLDEN PRINCESS will be transferred to P&O in her place.
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