- The US-based company SunStone Ships recently celebrated the steel-cutting ceremony for Ocean Odyssey, the fifth Infinity-class next-generation expedition cruise vessel.
- Slated for delivery in 2022, the newbuilding will offer year-round expedition cruises for tour operator Vantage Deluxe World Travel.
- Ocean Odyssey marks Vantage Travel’s second entry into expedition cruising, following Ocean Explorer which is planned for delivery in 2021.
- Designed by Norway’s Ulstein, the ice-strengthened (Polar Class 6) Ocean Odyssey is a luxury cruise vessel for worldwide operations.
SunStone Ships, the largest tonnage provider in the expedition market, announced the successful Steel Cutting of their fifth next-generation, INFINITY-class vessel (CMHI 196-5).
Cruises for vantage travel
With a goal of marrying European design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency, the INFINITY- class delivers cutting-edge design, innovations like X-bow technology, and significant operating efficiencies.
SunStone CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We are very pleased with the quality and high building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European Shipyards.”
“We are looking forward to continuing our relationships with all our partners in the Infinity-class project and we, even considering the COVID-19 world crisis, are moving fast forward as planned at very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level,” he added.
The Steel Cutting Ceremony of the OCEAN ODYSSEY (CMHI 196-5) took place at China Merchant Heavy Industries in Haimen, China. The Vessel will do Worldwide year-round expedition cruises for Vantage Travel.
Infinity class vessels
INFINITY Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115.
The Vessels are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 and are being built with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning and Zero Speed Stabilizers. The Vessels are featuring the X-Bow® by Ulstein Design & Solutions.
They are small enough to give an exclusive atmosphere and yet large enough to yield all expected services and facilities such as a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, boutique, gym and spa.
Current INFINITY Class new-builds under way after the delivery of GREG MORTIMER are;
- the OCEAN VICTORY, the OCEAN EXPLORER and SYLVIA EARLE with delivery in 2021,
- the OCEAN ODYSSEY and OCEAN ALBATROS with delivery in 2022 and
- the OCEAN DISCOVERER with delivery in 2023.
All vessels ordered have long-term charter agreements in place.
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Source: SunStone Ships
