Chronology of Ocean Liners and Cruise Ships

Copyright © 2008-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

2007

January
  • Norwegian Coastal Voyage's Nordkapp cruise ship runs aground on an island at the Antarctic Peninsula, damaging her hull. [67.24]
February
  • Carnival Cruise Lines sells Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International for US$100 million. [75.18]
March 5
  • Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Freedom cruise ship (110,000 gross tons, 2974 passengers) is officially named in Venice, Italy, and makes its maiden voyage, a 12-day Mediterranean cruise. [73.13] [93.46] [123.16]
April 5
  • The Greek Louis Hellenic Cruises' cruise ship M/S Sea Diamond strikes a reef off the harbor of Santorini, tearing a hole in the hull. [38] [67.24]
April 6
  • The Louis Hellenic Cruises' Sea Diamond cruise ship sinks off the harbor of Santorini, with the loss of two French lives. [38] [67.24]
April 11
  • Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess cruise ship (113,000 gross tons) commences service out of Rome, Italy, for Greek Islands / Mediterranean cruises. [73.13]
April
  • Norwegian Coastal Voyage puts the Fram expedition ship (12,700 gross tons, 328 passengers) into service, for voyages around Greenland. [73.13]
  • Holland America Line's Zaandam cruise ship has a US$1.5 million exhaust scrubber installed during drydock by Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. [125.16]
  • Meyer Werft and Disney Cruise Line sign a contract to build two new ships. [339]
April 18
  • Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of Liberty of the Seas cruise ship (160,000 gross tons, 3634 passengers) from Aker Yards during a ceremony in Turku, Finland. [79]
May 5
  • Azamara Cruises' Azamara Journey re-enters service following a US$19 million refurbishment over four weeks. The company is a new cruise line created by Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited. [110.26]
May 14
  • Majestic America Line's Empress of the North strikes a rock about 20 miles southwest of Juneau, sustaining damage to its starboard underside and propulsion system. [339]
May
  • Norwegian Coastal Voyages takes delivery of the Fram expedition ship (12,700 gross tons, 318 passengers). [67.18]
  • First Choice sells expedition ships Clipper Adventure and Clipper Odyssey to Danish interests. [67.18]
  • Majestic America's Empress of the North cruise ship hits an underwater object in Alaska's Icy Strait. The ship takes on water and lists. [67.24]
May 18
  • Royal Caribbean International officially names its newest ship Liberty of the Seas, in a christening ceremony in the Port of Miami. [79] (May 19 [73.13])

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May 26
  • Costa Cruises' Costa Serena cruise ship (112,000 gross tons, 3000 passengers) makes its maiden voyage, an 8-day cruise from Venice, Italy, to Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. [73.13]
  • Disney Cruise Lines begins 10- and 11-night cruises in the Mediterranean on the Disney Magic. [73.28]
June 2
  • American Cruise Lines' American Star expedition ship (93 passengers) makes its maiden voyage from Baltimore, Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay. [73.14]
  • MSC Cruises introduces the MSC Orchestra cruise ship (89,600 gross tons, 2550 passengers) for 7-night cruises from Venice, Italy, to Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. [73.13]
June 5
  • The Wei Wai Kum Cruise Ship Terminal opens at Campbell River on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, inaugurated by Regent Cruises' Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship. [125.16]
June
  • Star Cruises announces the sale of Orient Lines' ship Marco Polo to Global marine of Greece, effective march 23, 2008. [67.11]
  • Cunard opens worldwide sales of the Final Voyage for ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, and sells out in a record 36 minutes. [339]
  • Carnival Corporation sells Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner to Dubai World for US$100 million, for delivery in November 2008. [67.10] [140.12]
July 2
  • Celebrity's Millennium cruise ship strikes rocks after a mechanical malfunction while anchored off Villefranche, France, damaging a propellor. [67.24]
August 9
  • The VeggieTales & Friends Cruise 2007 on Carnival Cruise Lines' Inspiration cruise ship begins a 4-day roundtrip cruise from Tampa, Florida. [93.14]
September 13
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises launches new cruise line, CDF Croisières de France for the French market. [67.24] [79]
September
  • Star Clippers announces construction of a five-masted 7400 gross ton barque modelled on the France II of 1912, with 37 sails. The ship will carry 296 passengers and 14 crew. [67.11]
  • Silversea purchases World Discoverer expedition ship (6072 gross tons). [67.18]
October 1
  • Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem cruise ship (93,502 gross tons, 2384 passengers) enters service in New York. [73.14] [151.41]
October
  • Cruise ship Azamara Quest joins Azamara Cruises. [110.26]
December 5
  • South Africa issues postage stamps depicting Union Castle Line ships: Kildonan Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Windsor Castle. [285.58]
December 11
  • Cunard Line debuts the Queen Victoria ocean liner (90,000 gross tons, passenger capacity 2014). [73.16] [140.12]
December
  • Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem cruise ship (93,502 gross tons, 2384 passengers) is christened in New York, and begins its maiden voyage to Florida and the Bahamas. [73.14] [151.34]
  • Cunard Line puts Queen Victoria cruise ship (90,000 gross tons, 2014 passengers) into service following christening by Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall, in Southampton, England. [67.10] [110.43] [150.35]

2008

January 6
  • Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 sets sail on its 25th around-the-world cruise. [254.14]
January 13
  • Cunard Line's Queen Victoria cruise ship (90,000 gross tons, 2000 passengers) makes its maiden voyage from New York for a 23-country, 36-port world tour. [73.13]
  • The Isle of Man issues three one-pound postage stamps depicting Cunard Line ocean liners: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2, andQueen Victoria. [195.31]
January
  • Royal Caribbean International bans smoking in staterooms. [292.22]
  • Apollo Management LP of New York acquires Regent Seven Seas Cruises from Carlson of Minneapolis. [292.7]
February
  • Disney Cruise Line orders two new ships built, each 124,000 gross tons, with 1250 cabins. [67.11]
  • NCL America withdraws Pride of Hawai'i cruise ship from Hawaii. [67.11]
  • Fred. Olsen Cruises introduces the Balmoral cruise ship to the British market. The ship is the former Crown Odyssey. [292.21]
March 12
  • P&O cruise liner Artemis makes an unscheduled stop at Falmouth for repair to damage to the anchor stowage area during a storm. [152.4]
March
  • MSC Cruises' Poesia cruise ship (89,600 gross tons, capacity 3013 passengers) enters service, delivered from Aker Yards. [127.13] [128.11]
March 22
  • Orient Lines' Marco Polo cruise ship arrives in Lisbon, Portugal, ending its final cruise for the company before being delivered to new owner Global Cruise Lines of Piraeus. [292.8]
(month unknown)
  • P&O Cruises' Ventura cruise ship (3100 passengers) enters service, the largest ever for the British market. [128.9]
April 12
  • MSC Cruises' MSC Poesia cruise ship begins sailing seven-night Eastern Mediterranean round-trip cruises from Venice. The 92,400 gross ton ship can carry 2550 passengers. [67.12] [253.16] [292.7]
April
  • Maiden voyage of AIDA Cruises' AIDAbella cruise ship in the German market. The 68,500 gross ton ship can carry 2030 passengers. [67.12]
  • Debut of MSC Poesia cruise ship (92,400 gross tons, 2550 passengers) of MSC Cruises of Italy. [110.44]
April 16
  • P&O Cruises' cruise ship Ventura (116,000 gross tons) is officially named by Dame Helen Mirren at Southampton, England. [152.8] [292.7]
  • Maiden voyage of P&O Cruises' Ventura cruise ship from England to the Mediterranean. The 116,000 gross ton ship can carry 3076 passengers. [67.12] [152.8]
April 17
  • At Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of the Independence of the Seas cruise ship (160,000 gross tons, 3634 passengers). [79]
April 30
  • Inaugural celebrations and official naming ceremony of Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Independence of the Seas in Southampton, England. [79]
May 1
  • Saint Vincent issues three postage stamps depicting ocean liners: Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2. [461.51]
May 2
  • Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas cruise ship. [79]
May 4
  • German-owned 30,000 gross ton cruise ship Mona Lisa with 984 passengers runs aground off Latvia in the Baltic Sea. [57]
May
  • Norwegian Cruise Line withdraws the Pride of Aloha cruise ship from the Hawaiian market, to be renamed Norwegian Sky, and shift to conducting Bahamas cruises from Miami. [292.7]
  • Holland America Line takes delivery of the Eurodam cruise ship (86,000 gross tons). [128.9]
  • Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas cruise ship debuts in Southampton, England. At 160,000 gross tons, this is now the world's largest cruise ship, with passenger capacity of 3634. The ship will commence 14-day Mediterranean cruises and 11-day Canary Islands cruises. [67.13] [110.43] [127.13] [128.9]
May 23
  • Swan Hellenic cruise line restarts under new ownership, with ship Minerva. [152.8] [422.46]
June
  • Silverseas Cruises relaunches the Prince Albert II cruise ship (6072 gross tons, 132 passengers) after renovation in Fincantieri Shipyards, Italy. [359.29]
June 16
  • Near Venice, Italy, Holland America Line officially accepts delivery of its newest ship, ms Eurodam (2,104 passenger capacity), from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard. [67.13] [76] [339]
June 25
  • At Christie's auction house in New York, an unused life jacket from the Titanic ship sells for US$68,500. [35]
June 27
  • Costa Cruises' Costa Luminosa cruise ship (92,700 gross tons) first floats out of the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. [292.7]
  • Costa Cruises' Costa Pacifica cruise ship (114,500 gross tons) first floats out of the Fincantieri Sestri Ponentri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. [292.7]
June 30
  • Costa Cruises and Fincantieri set a record by launching, for the first time ever, two cruise ships the same day: the Costa Luminosa (92,700 gross tons, 2828 passengers) and the Costa Pacifica (114,500 gross tons, 3780 passengers). [339]
  • Keels are laid for two new ships in Italy for Seaborn Cruise Line, scheduled for entering service in 2010 and 2011. Both ships are to be 32,000 gross tons, 450 passenger capacity. [292.7]
  • Carnival Cruise Lines takes delivery of the Carnival Splendor cruise ship (113,300 gross tons, 3006 passengers) at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy. [292.6] [339]
(month unknown)
  • The District Court of Southern Florida orders Norwegian Cruise Lines to pay US$13.75 million to victims of a boiler explosion aboard the SS Norway in 2003, and US$1 million fine for gross negligence. [202.34]
July 1
  • Holland America Line's Eurodam cruise ship is officially dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at Wilhelminakade. [76] [292.6]
July 4
  • The former Empress of Britain passenger liner arrives at Alang for breaking. [726.8]
July 5
  • Holland America Line's Eurodam cruise ship begins its 10-day round-trip maiden sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark. [76] [291.53]
July 7
  • At the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the keel is laid of the Costa Cruises' Costa Deliziosa cruise ship. When complete, the ship will be 92,700 gross tons, with capacity for up to 2828 guests. [339]
July 10
  • Carnival Cruise Lines hosts a christening ceremony for its new Carnival Splendor cruise ship (113,000 gross tons). [339]
July 13
  • Carnival Cruise Lines introduces the Carnival Splendor cruise ship (113,300 gross tons, 3006 passengers), its biggest ship. The ship begins a series of 12-day Northern European cruises from Dover, England. [67.13] [128.8]
  • In New York Harbor, a routine inspection over three days of Peace Boat Organization's 1200-passenger Clipper Pacific cruise ship (originally Song of Norway 1970) by the US Coast Guard identifies 67 deficiencies. [726.8]
July 14
  • NCL Corp introduces the Norwegian Sky cruise ship (2002 passengers), formerly the Pride of Aloha, for 3- and 4-day Bahamas cruises form Miami, Florida. [202.14]
August 10
  • Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas cruise ship leaves Miami, Florida on a special "Nickelodeon Family Cruise With Royal Caribbean" seven-day cruise of the Western Caribbean. [110.14] [151.16]
September 11
  • Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Splendor cruise ship (113,300 gross tons, 3006 passengers) begins a 12-day London to Rome cruise. [67.15]
September 12
  • Crystal Cruises begins a "Theatre At Sea" themed cruise, on the Crystal Serenity cruise ship, a 12-day cruise with performances by famous artists of stage, screen, and television. Ports are in Croatia, Italy, and Monte Carlo. [202.14]
September
  • MSC Cruises announces it is ordering two more ships for 2011 and 2012, the MSC Meraviglia and MSC Favolosa, both 93,000 gross tons, 2550-passenger capacity. [292.7]
September 21
  • Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 embarks from Southampton, England on its 100th transatlantic crossing. [339]
September 23
  • Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Splendor cruise ship (113,300 gross tons, 3006 passengers) begins a series of 12-day Mediterranean cruises. [67.15]
September 28
  • The Celebrity Solstice cruise ship (2850-passenger capacity) departs the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the shipbuilder. [339]
October 1
  • Celebrity Cruises imposes a no-smoking policy in staterooms and stateroom verandas on all of its ships. [202.14] [292.22]
October 6
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises announces it will sell its 50 percent interest in Island Cruises to First Choice Holidays. [292.8]
October
  • Princess Cruises takes delivery of the Ruby Princess cruise ship (113,000 gross tons, 3100 passengers), from Fincantieri. The ship cost US$570 million to build. [128.9]
October 16
  • Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner departs New York for the last time. [292.6] [736.32]
October 24
  • Celebrity Cruises takes delivery of the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship (122,000 gross tons, 2850 passengers). [292.7]
October 27
  • In Monfalcone, Italy, Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani delivers the Ruby Princess cruise ship (3,070-passenger capacity) to Princess Cruises. [339]
November 4
  • At Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. in Salisbury, Maryland, USA, American Cruise Lines launches the Independence cruise ship (104 passengers). [339]
November 7
  • In Florida, Princess Cruises christens its newest cruise ship: Ruby Princess (3080 passengers). [339]
November 11
  • The Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner leaves Southampton, England, on its last ever voyage. Following the voyage, the 41-year-old liner will be turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. [57] [254.14] [292.7]
  • At the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Dream cruise ship (130,000 gross tons, 3646 passengers) is floated out of dry dock. [339]
November 15
  • Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess cruise ship (113,000 gross tons, 3080 passengers) debuts, begining 7-day Caribbean cruises round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [67.16] [127.13] [292.7]
November
  • Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas cruise ship makes a trans-Atlantic cruise from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin a series of 6-day Western Caribbean and 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruises. [67.13]
November 17
  • At Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Celebrity Cruises christens its newest cruise ship Celebrity Solstice (2850-passenger capacity). [339]
November 18
  • Malta issues four postage stamps depicting cruise ships MSC Musica, M.S. Yoyager of the Seas, M.S. Westerdam, and RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. [338.81]
November 21
  • Falkland Islands issues four postage stamps depicting the Queen Elizabeth 2 in honor of its retirement as an ocean liner. [302.74]
  • At STX Europe in Turku, Finland, Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas cruise ship is floated out from dry dock as part of its construction. [339]
November 23
  • Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean Cruises' Celebrity Solstice cruise ship. The ship cost US$750 million to build. [365.100]
November 27
  • Cunard Line delivers the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner to Dubai World. The ship will be refurbished for use as a floating hotel at The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. [124.18] [140.12] [292.7]
November 30
  • In the Gulf of Aden, M/S Nautica is approached by two boats, which fire eight rifle shots before being outdistanced. [339]
December 3
  • At STX Europe's shipyard in Turku, Finland, the keel is laid for Royal Caribbean International's Allure of the Seas cruise ship (to be 220,000 gross tons, 5400 passengers in 2700 staterooms, 15 decks). [339]
  • MSC Cruises' MSC Lirica cruise ship arrives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin the Caribbean season. [110.45]
December 4
  • Argentine cruise ship Ushuaia runs aground off the Antarctic coast. The Chilean navy rescues all 89 passengers. [57]
December 10
  • At the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, MSC Cruises takes delivery of the MSC Fantasia cruise ship. [339]
December 14
  • Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice cruise ship (122,000 gross tons, 2850 passengers) begins 7-day East Caribbean round trip cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [67.16] [127.13]
December 18
  • Debut of MSC Fantasia cruise ship (137,936 gross tons, 3274 passengers) at Naples for MSC Cruises of Italy. This is the largest ship ever commissioned by a European ship-owner. [110.44] [253.16] [292.7] [339] [422.27]
December 22
  • The American Environmental Protection Agency publishes a Clean Water Act General Permit that will allow cruise ships to dump unlimited quantities of untreated "graywater" into the ocean just a mile from U.S. shores. [339]
End of 2007-2008. Next: 2009.

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A list of references to all source material is available.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 2008-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/cruiseship/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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