Friday, February 17, 2017

Oceania's Cuban Program with a Difference

Cuba has approved a short series of cruises Oceania Cruises has scheduled from mid-November through the end of December aboard the 342-stateroom Insignia. While not copying what Fathom was doing, Oceania seems to be filling the void in the market for the longer cruise to the island that includes multiple Cuban ports.

The complete story appeared in the February 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 17, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:
  • Princess sets the schedule for their fourth ship to be equipped with Ocean Medallions
  • Norwegian Cruise Line bartender wins top cocktail honor in Bacardi contest
  • Crystal Esprit rescues twelve
  • State of Emergency renewed in Tunisia and cruise lines continue to bypass it
  • Crew member death aboard Costa Magica
Details of the stories appeared in the February 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Norwegian Orders Big

Norwegian Cruise Line ordered their first ships from Fincantieri today. Four ships were ordered with an option for two more, and the line said this new class will form the backbone of the future Norwegian fleet.

Fincantieri scheduled delivery for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. If the options are exercised, they would be delivered in 2026 and 2027.

Details appeared in the February 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fincantieri Begins Dry Dock Construction of Fifth Viking Ship

Viking Spirit began to take shape today when Fincantieri laid the first block of the keel at their Ancona yard.

That block was 11 meters long, 28.2 meters wide and weighed about 280 tons.

The  complete story appeared in the February 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 


Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

AIDA sets AIDAperla Christening

AIDA, Carnival's German brand, will name the next ship at Palma de Mallorca, one of its summer home ports, on June 30.

Details appeared in the February 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

New Pacific Dawn Restaurant will Reel In the Seafood Lovers

Australians love seafood. A couple of weeks ago we told you how Carnival added seafood restaurants to the two ships they have based in Australia. Now word comes that sister line P&O Australia will be adding a seafood restaurant to Pacific Dawn (the former Regal Princess) when it goes into drydock later this week.

Details appeared in the February 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Neptune Is Allowing It

Norwegian Star returned to service on Tuesday afternoon (local time) when the ship left Melbourne (Australia) after technicians completed repairs on both Azipod propulsion pods, which failed leaving the ship adrift last week off the coast of Melbourne.

The ship is now scheduled to arrive at Auckland on February 18 at 9:30am (local time). 

The complete story appeared in the February 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 16, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:
  • As promised, Cunard will be taking the winner (and her people) of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show across the Atlantic aboard Queen Mary 2. Cunard is the only line to carry dogs and cats aboard their ships in a special dedicated kennel. 
  • Harmony of the Seas diver Cesilie Carlton is seen in the video below, shot by acrobat Sydney Brown, diving into the Aqua Theater pool 55 feet below.  

Details appeared in the February 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Video courtesy of Sydney Brown, via Instagram, shown under the standard Instagram license. All rights reserved. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Carnival's Goin' to Havana

Carnival Cruise Line said today they have been approved to operate a dozen cruises to Cuba from Tampa beginning in June aboard Carnival Paradise. Havana will be the only Cuban port on the four- and five-night cruises.

The cruises will run approximately every other week through October, except for one that unexplainedly sails next May.

Details appeared in the February 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Overboard from Carnival Elation

Monday morning, about 8:30am, when Carnival Elation docked in Nassau, a passenger notified the crew that she couldn't find her husband and last saw him about 2:30am.

Crew members made a full search of the ship for the 24-year-old man from Georgia, but they did not find him. Just before 11am, officers searching the security camera footage did find images of him going overboard at approximately 2:45am from Deck 11.

The complete story appeared in the February 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Coast Guard Delays Majesty of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas was delayed at Port Canaveral Monday night when it failed a US Coast Guard safety inspection.

There were reportedly five items of lifesaving equipment that needed repair.

Details appeared in the February 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Monday, February 13, 2017

First Dent

The month-old Seabourn Encore broke its aft moorings Sunday afternoon (local time) while it was docked at Timaru (NZ). Sudden strong winds (up to 45 knots) then carried the ship's stern a couple hundred feet so that it allided with the cargo ship Milburn Carrier II and then came to rest against the wharf.

There were no injuries on either vessel.

Details appeared in the February 13 edition of Cruise News Daily. Cell phone video of the incident is below.



Video courtesy of Corrina Worthington used under the standard YouTube license. All rights reserved.

The Pig & Anchor Has Another Sister

Following two weeks away from New Orleans, Carnival Dream has returned after a dry dock that created a number of new dining venues and bars aboard the 130,000-ton ship.

One of the most notable is a new branch of Guy Fieri's Pig & Anchor Barbeque Smokehouse. It is just the third branch of the restaurant to open.

The complete story appeared in the February 13 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Star Resting in Melbourne

The disabled Norwegian Star arrived at Melbourne Saturday afternoon (local time) under tow and is safely alongside the Station Pier. The ship lost propulsion when it was about 20 miles off the coast on Friday.

Technicians have assessed the situation and have begun repairs. 

Details appeared in the February 13 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Next Two TUI Ships Pass Construction Milestones

It was a busy day at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku (Finland). It was just as busy for TUI executives who were in town for the events concerning their next two ships.

Meyer was laying the keel for Mein Schiff 1, and they were cutting the first steel for Mein Schiff 2.

The complete story appeared in the February 13 edition of Cruise News Daily.