Cruise News Daily Headlines for July 12, 2013

* Less than Perfect Return
Grandeur of the Seas returned to regular service today in Baltimore, leaving tonight with an enthusiastic crowd aboard. But not everyone was that happy.
   Left behind were approximately 134 people whose staterooms were unavailable.
Additional story/photo


* Alleged Assault on Minor aboard Ship in Alaska
The Alaska State Troopers report they processed an allegation of sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl which occurred aboard Celebrity Century after the ship left Ketchikan on June 28.


Medevac in Glacier Bay
The US Coast Guard came through once again with an unusual Medevac in Alaska today.


* Look out for Humpbacks
Cruising through Glacier Bay is going to be a little more leisurely beginning on Saturday.
   The National Park Service reduced the speed limit in Glacier Bay National Park for all large cruise ships. It will be 10 knots per hour until further notice.


The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Grandeur of the Seas Returns to Baltimore

Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas returned to its home port in Baltimore this morning at the conclusion of a one-night preview cruise for local travel agents. It resumed regular service with this afternoon's sailing (JJuly 12, 2013). As the ship sailed by Ft. McHenry this morning, it hoisted the flag bearing the US Navy motto, "Don't Give Up the Ship."

Cruise News Daily Headlines for July 11, 2013

* MSC Divina Is a Big Deal
When MSC Divina debuts in Miami on November 20, it’s a big deal. This is only the second time one of MSC’s Fantasia-class ships, their largest ships, has left the Mediterranean. Last year one was homeported seasonally in South America. MSC Divina will be homeported in Miami year round. This is a big deal. (Vice President Biden would make it a little stronger, but wisely, he hasn’t been invited.)

And because it’s such a big deal, MSC is pulling out all the stops to celebrate MSC Divina’s maiden cruise from Miami.


* They’ve Heard It All Before
Tourism officials from Grand Cayman are headed to Miami to talk with cruise lines about the government’s plans to build cruise ship berths on the island and to try to convince the lines to keep Grand Cayman on the schedule, for at least some of their ships, while the new berths are being built.


* Grandeur Returns to Baltimore
With repairs completed from its May 27 fire, Grandeur of the Seas returned to Baltimore yesterday, its year round home port. More


The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Grandeur of the Seas Returns to Service

Grandeur of the Seas leaves dry dock in Freeport on Tuesday (July 9, 2013) showing the stern area repaired from the May fire damage.

With repairs completed from its May 27 fire, Grandeur of the Seas returned to Baltimore yesterday, its year round home port.

After the early morning fire, Grandeur sailed under its own power to Freeport where passengers disembarked and were flown home. Repairs have been underway since at the Grand Bahama Shipyard at Freeport. No cause of the blaze has ever been released.

Grandeur left Freeport on Tuesday. The ship is hosting a one cruise for travel agents from Baltimore tonight.

Her first passengers will board on Friday (July 12, 2013) as scheduled.

We have a photo on our blog of Grandeur of the Seas leaving the yard at the completion of repairs on Tuesday.


Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Giles Hawke Appointed as UK & Ireland Managing Director for MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises confirms that former UK & Ireland Managing Director Giulio Libutti has left the company by mutual agreement. After 5 years of committed leadership, the company would like to thank Mr Libutti for his hard work and wish him every success in future endeavors.

The company also confirms that Giles Hawke has been appointed as the new UK & Ireland Managing Director and will take up this position on November 13, 2013.

Giles Hawke spent nine years at Crystal Holidays and a year at Highlife Breaks before joining Carnival UK. He was at Carnival UK for nearly eleven years, the last six of which were spent in the role of sales and customer service director.

“We are confident that Mr Hawke will be an excellent addition to MSC Cruises UK & Ireland and look forward to welcoming him on board,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises.

In the interim, MSC Cruises’ strong management team and its highly qualified and committed employees will continue to develop the MSC Cruises brand in the UK, overseen by MSC Cruises Corporate Executive Neil Palomba.

Source: MSC Cruises