List of stretched cruise ships

Cruise lines have opted to increase capacity by stretching their current ships. Known as lengthening, the process of enlarging a cruise ship usually includes cutting the ship in half and adding a new midsection, adding more cabins and public areas.[1] The first modern cruise ship to be stretched was Royal Caribbean Line's Song of Norway in 1977.[2]

  • Royal Viking Sky Before Stretch
    Royal Viking Sky Before Stretch
  • Royal Viking Sky After Stretch
    Royal Viking Sky After Stretch
  • Norwegian Wind & Norwegian Dream Before and After Stretch
    Norwegian Wind & Norwegian Dream Before and After Stretch
Ship Name Cruise Line Year Stretch Length of Section Shipyard Lengthened Notes
Song of Norway Royal Caribbean Cruise Line 1977 85 feet Wärtsilä Marine, Finland
Nordic Prince Royal Caribbean Cruise Line 1980 85 feet Wärtsilä Marine, Finland
Royal Viking Star Royal Viking Line 1981 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany
Royal Viking Sky Royal Viking Line 1982 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany
Royal Viking Sea Royal Viking Line 1983 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany
Westerdam Holland America Line 1989 36.9 m (121 ft 1 in) Meyer Werft, Germany
Norwegian Dream Norwegian Cruise Line 1998 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Norwegian Wind Norwegian Cruise Line 1998 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Norwegian Majesty Norwegian Cruise Line 1999 33.76 m (110 ft 9 in) Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Costa Classica Costa Cruises 2000 (CANCELLED) 146 ft (intended)[3] Cammell Laird Birkenhead shipyard, United Kingdom New midsection constructed, job was cancelled when ship was enroute to shipyard[4] Would have been largest lengthening of a cruise ship.
Pride of America NCL America 2004 70 ft Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. Stretched while under construction at Lloyd Werft shipyard.
Enchantment of the Seas Royal Caribbean International 2005 22 m (73-ft) Keppel Verolme shipyards in Rotterdam
Balmoral Fred Olsen Cruises 2007 30 m (98 ft) Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany
Braemar Fred Olsen Cruises 2009 102-foot[5] Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany
MSC Armonia MSC Cruises 2015 24 metres (79 ft)[6] Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[7]
MSC Sinfonia MSC Cruises 2015 24 metres (79 ft) Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[7]
MSC Lirica MSC Cruises 2015 24 metres (79 ft) Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[7]
MSC Opera MSC Cruises 2015 24 metres (79 ft)[8] Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[7]
Silver Spirit Silversea Cruises 2018[9] (49 ft)[10] Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[11]
Star Breeze Windstar Cruises 2020[12] 25.6-meter Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy
Star Legend Windstar Cruises 2021[13] 25.6-meter Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy
Star Pride Windstar Cruises 2021 25.6-meter Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy

References

  1. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2021-01-03). "These Cruise Ships Were Cut in Half To Be Enlarged". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  2. ^ Kolltveit, Baird (1995). Under crown and anchor: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the first twenty-five years, 1970-1995. On-Board Media.
  3. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (1999-10-01). "Costa Stretch Job". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  4. ^ "Shipyard left high and dry after £51m liner deal is halted". the Guardian. 2000-11-25. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  5. ^ "Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to lengthen the Braemar: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  6. ^ "MSC Cruises to stretch ships". www.traveldailymedia.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  7. ^ a b c d Staff, C. I. N. (2014-02-07). "Fincantieri Starts MSC Steel-Cutting for Ship Stretch". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  8. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2015-11-04). "MSC Completes Ambitious Vessel Stretch Program". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  9. ^ "What Is a Cruise Ship Stretching?". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  10. ^ "Why Do Cruise Lines Keep Cutting Their Ships in Half?". Time. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  11. ^ "Silversea's Silver Spirit is stretched". Cruise International. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  12. ^ "Star Breeze stretch and renovation project update". Windstar Cruises Travel Blog. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  13. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2021-05-27). "Stretched Star Legend Delivered to Windstar from Fincantieri". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.