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]
Ship Name | Cruise Line | Year Stretch | Length of Section | Shipyard Lengthened | Notes | |
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Song of Norway | Royal Caribbean Cruise Line | 1977 | 85 feet | Wärtsilä Marine, Finland | |
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Nordic Prince | Royal Caribbean Cruise Line | 1980 | 85 feet | Wärtsilä Marine, Finland | |
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Royal Viking Star | Royal Viking Line | 1981 | 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) | A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany | |
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Royal Viking Sky | Royal Viking Line | 1982 | 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) | A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany | |
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Royal Viking Sea | Royal Viking Line | 1983 | 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) | A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany | |
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Westerdam | Holland America Line | 1989 | 36.9 m (121 ft 1 in) | Meyer Werft, Germany | |
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Costa Allegra | Costa Crociere | ~1991 | ~13,4 m | T. Mariotti, Genoa | |
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MV Regent Sky | Regency Cruises | 1989 | the ship was never completed and later scrapped | ||
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Sally Albatross[3] | EffJohn International | 1992 | 13 meters | The Sally Albatross was rebuilt in 1992 using the hull of the old Sally Albatros which was damaged by a fire. Hull extendet about 13 Meters.[4] | |
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Norwegian Dream | Norwegian Cruise Line | 1998 | 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) | Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. | |
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Norwegian Wind | Norwegian Cruise Line | 1998 | 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) | Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. | |
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Norwegian Majesty | Norwegian Cruise Line | 1999 | 33.76 m (110 ft 9 in) | Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. | |
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Costa Classica | Costa Cruises | 2000 (CANCELLED) | 146 ft (intended)[5] | Cammell Laird Birkenhead shipyard, United Kingdom | New midsection constructed, job was cancelled when ship was enroute to shipyard[6] Would have been largest lengthening of a cruise ship. |
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Pride of America | NCL America | 2004 | 70 ft | Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. | Stretched while under construction at Lloyd Werft shipyard. |
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Enchantment of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2005 | 22 m (73-ft) | Keppel Verolme shipyards in Rotterdam | |
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Balmoral | Fred Olsen Cruises | 2007 | 30 m (98 ft) | Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany | |
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Braemar | Fred Olsen Cruises | 2009 | 102-foot[7] | Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany | |
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MSC Armonia | MSC Cruises | 2015 | 24 metres (79 ft)[8] | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[9] | |
MSC Sinfonia | MSC Cruises | 2015 | 24 metres (79 ft) | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[9] | ||
MSC Lirica | MSC Cruises | 2015 | 24 metres (79 ft) | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[9] | ||
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MSC Opera | MSC Cruises | 2015 | 24 metres (79 ft)[10] | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[9] | |
Silver Spirit | Silversea Cruises | 2018[11] | (49 ft)[12] | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy[13] | ||
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Star Breeze | Windstar Cruises | 2020[14] | 25.6-meter | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy | |
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Star Legend | Windstar Cruises | 2021[15] | 25.6-meter | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy | |
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Star Pride | Windstar Cruises | 2021 | 25.6-meter | Fincantieri Shipyard, Palmero, Italy |