NYV Caroline

Scheduled for launch in 2023/inauguration in 2024, the expedition megayacht MY Caroline is one of the Norwegian Yacht Voyages ships. The 2017-rebranded ultra-luxury and all-inclusive company intend to build all 4 expedition vessels ice-classed PC6 (Polar Class 6) cruise ships with ice-strengthened hulls. MY stands for "motor yacht".

History - construction and ownership

"Norwegian Yacht Voyages" (NYV) is the rebranded name of "Nordic Cruise Company". The new company is owned by NYV Holdings Inc and operated via the subsidiary Norwegian Yacht Voyages AS (Oslo Norway-headquartered). As to fleet size, vessel capacity and onboard amenities, there is not really any comparable cruise brands. However, the newbuildsScenic Eclipse (by Scenic Cruises) and Crystal Endeavor (by Crystal Cruises) are two megayachts that can be comparable. NYV company's direct competitors on the "superyacht cruising" market are RSSC-Regent, Ritz-Carlton (main competitor), SeaDream.

Following the ship's delivery, MY Caroline will become the world's first true hybrid expedition yacht and also world's largest mega-yacht (LOA length 188 m / 617 ft) currently available for private chartering. All four NYV cruise ships will be built at the same shipyard. Initially, as shipbuilder was announced MetalShips & Docks (company's shipyard in Vigo Spain), but a shipbuilding order is not signed yet. Project partners are Deltamarin, DNV GL, David Morris International, CMI Leisure, and CMI Ship Management, among others. The first NYV yacht (CAROLINE) is scheduled for delivery in 2023. The sisterships (still unnamed) will be delivered with approx 18-month intervals.

The newbuilds will be capable to operate dual fuel generators powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and MDO (marine diesel oil). They will also have battery banks for peak-shaving over the need for extra energy through diesel at key times, such as at startup, plus solar-powered hydrogen fuel cells. The resulting environmentally-friendly vessels will be able to fully run on LNG for a number of days at a time but will not indefinitely due to the limited availability of fuel in the ships' global destinations.

Cruise itinerary program

NYV Caroline tentative cruise itinerary program includes expedition voyages in Northern Europe and Arctic waters (during the summer months) and South America and Antarctica (during winter).

Cabins

MY Caroline yacht has passenger capacity 222 in 111 staterooms, all of which are in suite categories. A total of 204 crew members cater to guests onboard. Cabins are sized from 56 m2 (603 ft2) entry-level to 175 m2 (1884 ft2) Penthouses. Each stateroom is fitted with a private, step-out balcony, modern furniture, premium hotel amenities, large en-suite bathrooms with marble tops. Some cabins are inter-connecting.

Shipboard facilities

NYV Caroline has an aft-located Helideck with helipad (helicopter landing area), a full marina (with Zodiacs), mini-submarine, aerial drone, scuba diving equipment (hyperbaric chamber, wetsuits), water sports equipment (sea kayaks, bikes, etc). The hull is ice-strengthened (certified to run in 0,8 m / 2,6 ft of sea ice) allowing safe navigation in both polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica).

The newbuild vessels are more yacht-like than ever before, as the smokestack is integrated into the superstructure's curvature, outlined by the rear windows. The stack disappears into the design, as does ship's singular sphere (housing the satellite antenna) located on top deck. The forward design elements - from angular windows to the near-vertical bow - are particularly edgier. And even the UFO-like yacht's observation lounge on the top deck sits back, closer to the stack, thus making for aerodynamic forecastle. However, diamond-patterned Atrium's glass wall still remains.