The full text of the stories has been delivered to our subscribers on the dates indicated.
* End of Discussion
May 14 - When Norwegian Dawn
arrived at Bermuda this morning, the investigation into the New Jersey
woman going overboard Sunday night moved forward.
FBI agents met the ship there and interviewed those connected
with the incident and any witnesses and collected evidence.
NCL spent their day with the FBI reviewing the evidence which
included some rather conclusive video that seems to prove the woman not
only went over the side while climbing from one balcony to another, just
as was reported to NCL by the witnesses, but also that she was alone in
her cabin at the time.
* The Maltese Fender Bender
May 14 - Today was to be a day
of minor celebration at Malta. Cunard's Queen Victoria was making its
maiden call there as part of a 14-day Mediterranean cruise. All was well
as the ship entered the harbor this morning, but as it was turning and
backing up to dock, it went a little too far and the ship's bridge crew
now knows the feeling every new-car owner feels the first time they are
backing into a parking place and they feel that gentle bump and hear a
scraping sound.
* Celebrity Going South - Really South
May 14 - Celebrity is getting
set to do something they've never done before.
The 2009/2010 season will mark the tenth consecutive year
the line has operated a South American program. Eight sailings aboard
Celebrity Infinity will comprise next year's, and they will visit 26 ports
in 13 countries, but in 2010, the program will include two special
additions.
The complete text of these stories appeared in the CND editions referenced and was sent to subscribers.
* Carnival Considers Being "Flexible"
May 13 - Carnival is about to
join the club. They are considering an option for restaurant-style seating
(a/k/a Anytime or Freestyle on other lines) in their dining rooms. The
line will begin testing the "FunShip" version on Carnival Legend
for sailings beginning June 29 and after.
* Any Similarity to NCL Ships is Purely Coincidental
May 13 - Some of the familiar
big white buses in Alaskan cities are going to be replaced shortly with
new multicolored rolling pieces of art.
* Another Sad End to a Story
May 13 - The US Coast Guard has
officially suspended their search for the 46-year-old New Jersey woman who
fell from Norwegian Dawn on Sunday 45 miles northeast off the coast of
Atlantic City.
* 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.
* 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.
The complete text of these stories appeared in the CND editions referenced and was sent to subscribers.
May 13 - Princess Tours is showing off the new exterior artwork on their motorcoaches in Alaska. There will be three distinctive designs customized to the city in which the vehicle is based. The Anchorage design is shown above. Larger
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
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