There's definitely a joke there - unless you are one of the many cruisers who book to be on a maiden voyage, only for another cruise to be slotted in before yours because your vessel is ready earlier than planned.
It's an understandable decision by the cruiselines - they don't want their ships sitting around when they could be earning money - but it is occurring with alarming frequency these days.
Ventura, Celebrity Solstice and Ruby Princess (pictured) all had new maiden voyages last year; earlier this year Royal Caribbean announced giant Oasis of the Seas would set off on its maiden cruise on December 1 - that's after they had sold an inaugural departing on December 12.
Now Celebrity Cruises has slotted in a new maiden cruise for Celebrity Equinox, a sister to Solstice, which is being named in the UK in July.
The new cruise is an eight-night sailing from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords priced from £999. It will be followed by the original inaugural cruise - a 10-night sailing from Southampton to Civitavecchia (the port for Rome).
It's not all bad news if you booked the Rome inaugural to be the first on board though. Celebrity says you can combine the two cruises in to an 18-night voyage and get $200 per stateroom ($300 per suite) on-board credit.
Don't all rush now.
Jane Archer
