Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 7, 2014

* Confirming What Was Known All Along
The Centers for Disease Control issued their report on the illness that affected approximately 700 people aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas during its January 21 sailing, and as expected, they confirmed it was norovirus. Not only that, but it was a relatively new strain, GII.4 Sydney, but in the US it is currently the most common strain causing most norovirus illnesses.
   Jan Vinje is the head virologist who tested the samples from people aboard Explorer in the CDC’s lab. He said that the virus most often is brought aboard by a passenger. It’s so extremely contagious it spreads rapidly before the cruise line can start their sanitation procedures.

* And We’re Not Going Anyplace
The cruise industry is relatively new in China. Apparently Chinese vacationers haven’t yet dealt with cruise lines enough to know that the cruise contract is stacked against the passenger.
   A lot of passengers aboard Costa Victoria didn’t know that if their ship missed a port, they couldn’t really “demand” anything of the cruise line. So they did, and they got something. 

* The Ship Has a Name
Norwegian Getaway now officially has a name. The ship was christened this afternoon in Miami, its new year round home port.  More

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

AIDA will again be a sponsor of the celebration in Hamburg Harbor in 2014

 

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

Norwegian Getaway Christened at Miami Party

Norwegian Getaway will be homeported year round at Miami, and the ship was named today at a real Miami party. The godmothers were the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders, and entertainment included hometown Miami legend, Pitbull.

The mermaid on the bow gets a champagne bath.

Pitbull performed for the crowd at the christening.

Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Cake Boss Buddy Valastro both have establishments on the ship.

The Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders served as godmothers.

Photos courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 6, 2014

* Celebrity Hopes Canyon Ranch Will Rub You the Right Way
Last month Steiner Leisure announced that they had been informed by Celebrity Cruises that their contract to operate the line’s spas would not be renewed. The question has been what provider would replace them. That question was answered this morning when Celebrity announced that Canyon Ranch would be operating the spas, beauty salons, wellness and fitness services aboard Celebrity ships.
   Judging by what Canyon Ranch does on other ships, Celebrity’s customers should expect to see a real difference from the Steiner-provided product.

* The Only Cruise Line You’ll See
If you’re watching the Olympic coverage on TV, and don’t go to the bathroom or kitchen during the commercials, Carnival Cruise Lines will be the only cruise line you see. Carnival has won the rights to be the exclusive cruise line advertiser during the Olympic coverage.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about Norwegian Getaway arriving in Miami and who will be aboard on Friday ... Fincantieri cutting steel in "the middle" ... Royal Caribbean paying out ... and the NTSB reports about Carnival Triumph in Mobile.

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

Norwegian Getaway arriving in Miami this morning

Photo may not be copied or used without permission. All rights reserved.

Canyon Ranch to Replace Steiner in Celebrity Cruises' Spas

Breaking News: Celebrity Cruises has chosen Canyon Ranch to replace Steiner Leisure as their spa provider fleetwide. Canyon Ranch will handle all spa, beauty salon, wellness and fitness services on the ship. The new product will begin to appear on the ships as soon as the first week of next month and be complete by the middle of April 2014.

Full coverage will be in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

Holland America Honors World Cancer Day

Holland America Line Honors World Cancer Day with On Deck for a Cause fundraising Walks

Shipboard events raise money for the global fight against cancer

Seattle, Wash. - As a part of its ongoing cancer research fundraising and awareness program, Holland America Line will hold On Deck for a Cause events this week across its fleet of 15 ships in support of World Cancer Day. From Australia and Antarctica to the Indian Ocean and Caribbean, guests and crew around the world will gather on deck to make the walk amid glaciers, palm trees and the Panama Canal.

On Deck for a Cause invites guests to participate in a noncompetitive 5k fundraising walk on every sailing of the line’s ships, with proceeds distributed among the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and KWF Kankerbestrijding (Dutch Cancer Society). These walks take place on more than 500 cruises each year.

“Although we support the fight against cancer year-round with our On Deck for a Cause program, World Cancer Day is a time to reflect on the potential we have to impact future treatment and prevention,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Cancer is a disease that affects every region in the world, and we’re proud to support top organizations in those countries where many of our guests come from.”

Since fully launching across the line’s 15 ships in mid-2013, On Deck for a Cause fundraising events have raised more than $200,000 with 200 walks and more than 10,000 participants. Holland America Line began its onboard fundraising walks in 2006 with On Deck for a Cure which raised more than $3 million to fund breast cancer research, education and treatment.

With On Deck for a Cause, guests of all ages are invited to donate $20 to the Holland America Line Foundation, and a minimum of 80 percent ($16) is distributed to the organizations. The remaining 20 percent covers program and administrative expenses. On a day at sea, participants join in a 5k walk around the ship’s decks. Guests may walk less or not at all, as they prefer. Participants also receive an On Deck for a Cause T-shirt, wristband and a reception following the walk. Depending on the ship, the distance to reach 5k ranges from nine to 12 laps.

Holland America Line and its corporate foundation’s charitable giving programs include cash sponsorships, in-kind donations, shipboard events, free- and reduced-fare cruise donations for nonprofit fundraising events, donations of usable shipboard items around the world, employee volunteerism and other philanthropic activities.

Source: Holland America Line

Royal Caribbean Goes Better with Coke

Royal Caribbean Appoints John F. Brock To Board Of Directors

MIAMI, Feb. 5, 2014 - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) today announced the appointment of John F. Brock, chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

"John's demonstrated leadership skills and his broad and impressive executive experience in the international beverage industry will help us to deliver long term value for shareholders," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We warmly welcome him to the board."

Mr. Brock has been Chairman of Coca-Cola Enterprises since April 2008 and CEO since April 2006. Before that, he served as CEO of InBev, S.A., a global brewer, from 2003 to 2005 and as COO of Cadbury Schweppes plc, from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Brock also has significant Board experience, having previously served on the boards of Dow Jones & Company, Campbell's Soup Company, InBev, Cadbury Schweppes, and Reed Elsevier.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with an additional six under construction contracts. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Source Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 5, 2014

* Royal Caribbean Raises the Stakes in the Med
Royal Caribbean International made a “big” move this morning when they announced Allure of the Seas would be going to the Mediterranean for a full summer season next year. It will be the first time one of the Oasis-class ships will be based in Europe for a full season, and for that matter, the first time one has been based anywhere other than Port Everglades.
   Allure will be based in Barcelona for 22 five-port, seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean.

* Steel Cut for the Largest Dam Ship in the Fleet
It’s still two years from the delivery date, but Fincantieri yesterday cut the first steel for Holland America’s new-class of ship, the Pinnacle class. That even marks the first actual step in the construction of a ship. More

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

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth transited the Panama Canal last week as part of its world cruise

Photo courtesy of Cunard Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Fincantieri Cuts Steel for HAL Pinnacle Class

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri cut the first steel for Holland America's Pinnacle-class vessel which will be delivered in February 2016, marking the first step in construction of the ship. The 99,500-ton vessel will be the largest ship in the Holland America fleet.

The ceremonies are always thick with executives, and this one is no exception. Pictured (left to right) are Bo-Erik Blomqvist, Carnival Corp's SVP of corporate shipbuilding, Antonio Quintano, director of Fincantieri’s Marghera yard, Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line, and Cyril Tatar, VP of newbuilding for Holland America Line. 

Photos courtesy of Holland America Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Giant Allure of the Seas to Operate Full Mediterranean Season

Royal Caribbean International has scheduled Allure of the Seas to operate a full summer Mediterranean season in 2015. Allure will be based at Barcelona for a series of 7-night cruises beginning May 24, 2015, marking the first time one of the 225,282-ton vessels in Europe - or anywhere other Port Everglades.

Full coverage will be carried in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 4, 2014

* Navigating into the Future
Navigator of the Seas is on its way back to Galveston today from the Grand Bahama Shipyard today after a month long stay in dry dock in which it underwent Royal Caribbean’s revitalization process.
   Usually we say that in the extensive refit, the ship receives versions of the line’s popular features found on its newest vessels. This time, however, Royal Caribbean did things a bit differently.
   Like other revitalized ships, Navigator did get new features found on new ships, but unlike others, Royal Caribbean added some new features not yet found on any other Royal Caribbean ship.

* Port Everglades Continues Upgrades
Port Everglades announced today that Cruise Terminal 4 will be modernized and expanded beginning this spring. It will be the sixth terminal in five years at the port to be reconfigured and expanded.

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

Navigator of the Seas "properly attired" for its arrival in Texas.

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 3, 2014

* Costa Concordia Claims Another Life
A diver working on installing the sponsons on Costa Concordia to facilitate its removal, died as a result of injuries he sustained while working on the ship Saturday.

* Seems Like Old Times
Carnival Triumph experienced a short power outage last Friday as it was sailing from Cozumel to Galveston. Normally, we wouldn’t cover this, except Carnival Triumph was the first ship refitted with all the redundancies and so forth to keep emergency power up and running to prevent a repeat (or worse) of last year’s incident on that ship.

* Two Children Drown aboard Norwegian BreakawayA tragic incident was unfolding late this morning aboard Norwegian Breakaway as it was east of North Carolina as it was heading from New York to Port Canaveral.
   The medical team was called to the Pool Deck because two small children were pulled from one of the swimming pools and were unresponsive.
   CPR was administered by the ship’s medical team, and they were able to resuscitate the older child.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about fog closing the Port of Houston on Saturday, keeping Caribbean Princess in port ... and Carnival setting a record during wave season.

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

One last look at the Bud Light Hotel before it becomes Norwegian Getaway again.

Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Costa Appoints New Sustainability and PR Director

Stefania Lallai Appointed Costa Cruises' New Sustainability and PR Director

Genoa – February 3, 2014 – Costa Cruises is pleased to announce that, with effect from February 3, Stefania Lallai has been appointed to the new position of Sustainability and PR Director, reporting directly to Costa Crociere S.p.A. Vice President Communication & Sustainability Hansjoerg Kunze.

“I am delighted at the arrival of Stefania, who is one of Italy’s leading sustainability experts, with extensive experience also in the areas of communication and corporate relations,” commented Costa Crociere S.p.A. Vice President Communication & Sustainability Hansjoerg Kunze. “Stefania will be in charge of developing socially sustainable strategies for the company and intensifying relations with our principal

Stefania Lallai, 47, joins Costa from TNT Express Italy, where she started in 2001 and received a series of promotions culminating in her appointment as Communication and Corporate Responsibility Director Italy, Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa. During her career she has managed all the main aspects of sustainability (i.e. social impact, environmental issues, voluntary work and charitable contributions). She was also a member of the working group for the listing of TNT N.V. in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the global stock index that measures the performance of leading companies in terms of their sustainability practices.


Source: Costa Crociere