Oasis Passes Milestone on Trip to US

Oasis of the Seas has passed a rather important milestone on its deadhead delivery cruise from the shipyard in Finland to its public debut in Ft. Lauderdale next week. Yesterday it passed under the Great Belt bridge in Denmark (actually 7pm Saturday night Eastern US time). It had only two feet to spare, even after lowering its smokestacks into the funnel. A check of the map will show why transit under this bridge is so important.

Some of the better coverage we've seen, with the better pictures was in London's Daily Mail and in the Associated Press (be sure to click the link at the side of the article for pictures).

Update 10:30am - Royal Caribbean now has released this interesting video hosted by Capt Bill Wright which shows the event:

First Disney Dream Features Revealed

Disney today released the first details of some of the features aboard their new ship, Disney Dream. This video will highlight some of them.



Disney Dream will enter service on January 26, 2011 with 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. In the summer it will shift to a 4- and 5-night pattern. The programs open for booking on November 9, 2009.

The Handover Process

In RCCL chairman Richard Fain's blog, he gives an interesting look at the actual handover process of a ship from the builder to the owner. He's currently in Turku (Finland) for the handover of Oasis of the Seas this week.

Cunard's Operation at Southampton's New Ocean Terminal

The Cunard liners have begun operating from Southampton's new Ocean Terminal, and on Cunard's blog, cruise director Alistair Greener takes a look at the new facility.

Ashes of last Titantic survivor scattered

The London Mail Online reports that the ashes of Millvina Dean were scattered in the water near Southampton's port, the port from which Titanic departed on it's ill-fated trip. Dean was the last survivor of the shipwreck, although only an infant at the time. She died May 31, shortly after it was revealed she was selling her collection of Titanic memorabilia in an effort to pay her nursing home bills. Additional coverage is in This Is Hampshire.