The full text of the stories has been delivered to our subscribers on the dates indicated.
* Woman Overboard from Norwegian Dawn
May 12 - A 46-year-old woman went
overboard from Norwegian Dawn Sunday evening, shortly after leaving New
York for Bermuda.
* Almost Back to Paradise
May 12 - Ten years ago, Carnival
Cruise Lines had a great idea for nonsmokers and those who wanted to be
healthier: a nonsmoking ship, Carnival Paradise. While it was successful,
meaning not wanting for passengers, it never achieved the success so many
thought it would at the outset. There weren't people lined up to get on
it. A couple of years ago, the decision was made to change the policy and
make its smoking policy consistent with the rest of the fleet. It turned
out to be a good idea that just didn't work as well as anyone thought it
would.
Ironically, it was about that time that all lines started
making smoking off-limits in more and more areas of the ship. Over the
last year, depending on the line, a smoker may only be able to smoke in
one lounge, or in his cabin. Another line may limit smoking to balconies
or outdoor deck areas. None of them are consistent with each other, but it
seems all are limiting smokers more and more. Today, however, one line
announced a new smoking policy aboard their ships, that just about pushes
things back to the way they were on the smoke-free Paradise.
* Joining the Online Revolution
May 12 - Carnival Cruise Lines
reports that it's online shore excursion bookings have grown by 16% over
the last year, either meaning more people are managing their cruise
booking online or more people have realized how much time it can save them
onboard.
The complete text of these stories appeared in the CND editions referenced and was sent to subscribers.
* Thinking Ahead
May 9 - You can't say they didn't
give you enough warning. The people at MSC must have crystal balls. They
seem to know already how much the price of fuel will be next winter.
The line announced today they are increasing their fuel
supplement by $2 per person to $8 per person per day for each of the first
two passengers in the cabin, but not right away.
* Made in Europe Tag to Remain for Now
May 9 - Last October Korea's STX
Shipbuilding which primarily builds container ships and gas tankers took
an $800 million stake in Europe's Aker Yards. That sent nervous tremors
through the European shipbuilding industry and got the attention of the
cruise industry.
That $800 million bought STX a 39.2% stake in Aker, making
them the company's single biggest shareholder and, subject to EU approval,
gives them control of the European company.
EU approval came Monday, and they are now free to vote their
shares and control the company.
* A Windy Day in Greece
May 8 - Most people know that
cruise ships are like giant sails, somewhat at the mercy of the wind. We
saw another example of that effect today when Louis Cruises' Aquamarine
was departing Heraklion (Greece, on the island of Crete). Unexpected winds
blew the ship into the pier as it was maneuvering away from the dock, and
it headed to sea before any damage was discovered.
Shortly after departure a gash in the side of the ship
above the waterline was discovered, and the ship slowed and diverted into
port at nearby Milos for further inspection instead of going to its
scheduled evening port call at Santorini.
* A New Reason to Card Teens
May 8 - It's a little-known fact
that most cruise lines carry a bottle of smelling salts at the purser's
desk for the time when parents of teens look at their onboard, especially
if they haven't checked them during the cruise. Teens aren't usually the
best at limiting their expenditures during the cruise.
MSC, on the other hand, hasn't had that need for the
smelling salts because they've had a different way of approaching the
problem. Perhaps it's a cultural difference, but they've just never let
teens charge on their cards. That "solution" has had its own
problems, in that everything the teen has wanted had to be purchased by
one of the parents. MSC now has a new way of dealing with teens that might
become a model for other lines.
* Eureka Isn't Always in California
May 8 - Eureka! Jesus found just
the right combination!
"Eureka" is the name of a new cocktail invented
by Jesus Gomez, a bar manager aboard Celebrity Summit, and finding just
the right combination of liquids has netted him the title, Bacardi
Bartender of the Year, in the rum-maker's third annual competition among
cruise line bartenders.
* No Longer Just Passing Through
May 7 - Princess Cruises announced
customers will have three itinerary options on their 2009-2010 Panama
Canal cruise program. The line will operate the classic 10-day full
transit itinerary, their 10-day round trip partial transits from Ft.
Lauderdale, and a new "Two-day Canal Experience" on their 15-day
or longer full transit itineraries.
* Not the Copa Cabana, but the Lido Cabana
May 7 - One of the hottest
reservations to get at Holland America Line is a private cabana on the
beach at their private Bahamian island, Half Moon Cay. The concept works
so on the beach, why not on the ship?
Thus was born an interesting new feature of the line's new
Signature-class ships, private cabanas right out on deck.
* Newest Ship on the Blocks
May 7 - Starting today, visitors to
the Aker France yard at St. Nazaire will be able to see construction
actually taking place on MSC's fourth ship in the Musica-class, MSC
Magnifica.
The first block of the keel was put into place in the
yard's building dock today, and along with that, there was the traditional
coin-welding ceremony for good fortune.
* Not So Fast - You're Not Going Anywhere
May 7 - Four tugs finally freed the
German-operated Mona Lisa from a sand bar today off the Latvian coast.
The ship ran aground on Sunday as it was heading to Riga
(Latvia). Now even after freed, the ship won't be going anywhere right
away.
The complete text of these stories appeared in the CND editions referenced and was sent to subscribers.
May 7 - The first block of MSC Magnifica is lowered into place at the Aker yard in St. Nazaire (France). The ship is set for delivery in December 2009. Larger
Apr 23 - One time only - Cunard's three queens - Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria (back to front in the upper picture, left to right in the lower picture) met in Southampton yesterday. This meeting of the three queens is the only time their schedules have crossed in Southampton and will not again before QE2 retires in November. Larger upper Larger lower
Apr 17 - Aker Yards delivered Independence of the Seas to Royal Caribbean today at their Turku yard. Larger
Apr 17 - The forward elevator tower aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Larger
Apr 15 - The open-air Central Park aboard Royal Caribbean's Project Genesis ships will be 62 feet wide. Note the Rising Tide bar entrance at left shown here with the bar descended. Larger
Current features:
Sailing from the new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal? Everything you need to know but can't find is in our new Out-of-towner's Guide to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
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Guide to New Ships Lots of new ships will be sailing over the horizon in the next couple of years. This is the place to sort them all out and keep them straight. Here we list in a table how big, how many, who's got them, when they're coming.
Cruise Weather Page Here, you'll find links to some major weather sites that will help you find the current weather forecasts at ports you plan to visit and to sites that track major tropical storms.
Links to Cruise-Related Sites Here we gathered all the links to the major cruise lines' official home pages (and some selected smaller ones, too) along with links to the official pages of tourist boards at ports of call. Also included are other cruise-related sites that you will find useful.
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