'Stretching' makes cruise ships bigger by adding a new midsection. It's like unsnapping two Legos and putting another block between. But with a boat.
John Delaney, president of Seattle-based Windstar Cruises, stood on a scaffold at a historic shipyard in Palermo, Italy, and took a blowtorch to the Star Breeze, a 30-year-old, 212-passenger motor yacht.
After four months of surgery, the all-suite Star Breeze will be bigger, more luxurious and more profitable. When it debuts again in February, it’ll have 50 new suites to house 100 additional guests, boast a 50% increase in passenger capacity and command higher rates for its shiny new cabins. Delaney says it should add at least 20 years to the ship’s lifespan.
Last year in Palermo, ultraluxury line Silversea added a 49-foot midsection to its Silver Spirit at a cost of $70 million, increasing the ship’s capacity to 608 passengers from 540 by adding 34 suites. It took 500 workers and about 450,000 man hours to complete the stretch.“For cruise lines, it’s a quicker way to expand capacity compared to building a new cruise ship,” Niemela says. “A new cruise ship takes about 22 months or more [to build].
Fixed costs don’t change much when a ship is stretched. Build a new one, and you have to fully staff it; expand an old one, and it’s a matter of some extra hires to maintain the same crew-to-guest ratio.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Meghan Markle Was Forced to Hide Her Character's Engagement Ring While Filming SuitsMeghan Markle was forced to hide her character's engagement ring while filming Suits. Her on-screen dad explains why:
Read more »
Why You Should Think Twice Before Using a Hotel Hair DryerBad news, germaphobes: Hotel hair dryers could be even dirtier than sinks and toilets.
Read more »
These two charts show why banks could be on the verge of a breakoutAs financials hit highs, banks are still way off a pre-crisis peak. 2020 could be their year, according to the charts.
Read more »
Jenny Lewis Isn't Sure Why Harry Styles Picked Her as an Opening ActJenny Lewis talks opening for Harry Styles. 'What an incredible opportunity. It’s cool opening for Pavement, which I’ve done, but that’s a whole other scene”
Read more »
Why Artists From Drake To Steven Tyler Love NightBird Studios At The Sunset MarquisFrom Drake and Miley Cyrus to Monty Python and Aerosmith, NightBird Studios at the famed Sunset Marquis has seen more than two decades of music history.. Here are some of those stories.
Read more »
Opinion | Millennial women love astrology — and there's a good reason whyOnly a very insecure person takes the time to tear down belief systems that bring positivity into the world.
Read more »