16 JUN 2017: It’s a year when innovative new ships are making waves across the cruise spectrum. From debuts of small luxury ships from Seabourn Cruises and Silversea Cruises to the arrival of floating worlds including, MSC Cruise’s MSC Meraviglia and Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and a sister on the way at the mega- ship extreme.
Overlooked in all the excitement is that many of the improvements appearing on the new vessels are being added to existing ships in the fleets. Many are getting extreme facelifts well beyond the standard maintenance that puts ships regularly into dry dock for scraping the hull and freshening of fabrics.
Classic ships are spending a month or more out of service for major reconstructions that change layouts, expand cabins into suites and add new restaurants and lounges.