MS Noordam, a Vista class cruise ship, at Grand Turk Island, March 2007 |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, Italy |
| Operators: | Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises |
| Subclasses: | Signature class |
| Built: | 2001–present |
| In service: | 2002–present |
| Planned: | 11 ships (including derived designs) |
| Completed: | 11 ships |
| Active: | 11 ships |
| General characteristics | |
| Length: | All except MS Noordam: 951 ft (290 m) MS Noordam: 935 ft (285 m) |
| Beam: | 105 ft 9 in (32.23 m) |
| Decks: | 11 passenger decks |
| Installed power: | Diesel-electric |
| Propulsion: | Azipod |
| Speed: | 24-knot (44 km/h) maximum (service at 22 knots) |
| Capacity: | varies by configuration 1848–1952 (2 berths/cabin) 2272–2388 maximum |
| Crew: | 800–976 |
The Vista class is a class of Panamax-type cruise ships, built by Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, in Italy. Vista class cruise ships are operated by Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Costa Cruises. The ships are equipped with a diesel-electric power plant and an Azipod propulsion system. The ships are designed so that eighty-five percent of the staterooms have ocean views and sixty-seven percent have verandas; the extensive use of glass in the superstructure of Vista class ships is also reflected in the class name.
The Signature class ships operated by Holland America Line are based on the Vista class.
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The Vista class design was originally created for Holland America Line, using the Panamax guidelines to determine their designed size. A fifth hull which was originally intended for Holland America was transferred to Cunard Line in 2003 where it was planned to become the MS Queen Victoria. However, due to restructuring within their parent corporation Carnival Corporation & plc, as well as a later decision by Cunard that modifications should be made to introduce successful elements from the design of the RMS Queen Mary 2, the hull was again transferred to become P&O Cruises' MS Arcadia.[1]
The Vista class design has been used in two derivative designs. After the transfer of the original hull to P&O Cruises, Cunard Line ordered the MS Queen Victoria from Fincantieri in 2004. This modified design extended the hull to 964 ft 6 in (293.98 m) and added an additional deck, as well as redesigning the layout of cabins and all public areas of the ship. In order to meet the requirements of regular trans-Atlantic crossings, she has also had key parts of her decks, bulkheads, and hull reinforced.[2] The MS Queen Elizabeth, based on this same design, entered service in 2010.[3]
The second derivative design is Holland America Line's Signature class cruise ship, the MS Eurodam. While the same length as the MS Noordam, she has one more deck than the standard Vista class design, and her public areas and cabin placement have been significantly redesigned, especially on her upper-most decks.[4] A second Signature class ship, MS Nieuw Amsterdam, entered service in 2010.[5]
In May 2009 Costa Cruises took delivery of Costa Luminosa, the first ship in a class described as a hybrid design "taking the best parts from Aker Yards' [sic] built Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea, and from Holland America’s Vista class ships." A second ship of the same design, Costa Deliziosa, entered service with Costa Cruises in February 2010.[6]
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