Tow, Tow, Tow Your Boat

Saturday, 9:30am Eastern Time US
Norwegian Cruise Line reports that Norwegian Star has arrived in Melbourne under tow and is safely alongside.

The ship never lost electrical power, and all hotel services continue to operate normally.

An assessment team is checking the propulsion system, and the line says they should have a repair time line and expected departure time available within 24-48 hours.

Passengers are invited to remain aboard, or they may disembark and return to Sydney. Passengers were already given full refunds, onboard credits, and future cruise credits.

Following up on a Miracle

Last summer we told you that Carnival was breaking ground in the fall of 2017 by scheduling a two-week round trip cruise from Southern California (Long Beach) to Alaska. Demand was so strong that seven months before the first passenger goes up the gangway, they have scheduled another similar program for late in the summer of 2018.

Next time they will be sending Carnival Splendor on the two-week trip which will sail from Long Beach on August 25, 2018.

The complete story appeared in the February 10 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fatal Accident aboard Emerald Princess

A crew member was killed Thursday aboard Emerald Princess while it was docked at Dunedin (NZ).

The 33-year-old Filipino man was working on deck servicing a gas canister connected to the hydraulic launching system on a life boat when the canister exploded.

Details appeared in the February 10 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Some Days You're the Beauty, and Some Days You're the Beast

Beginning this November, audiences aboard Disney Dream will enjoy a new production show - a live-action adaption of the classic “Beauty and the Beast.”

The show will be presented in the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theater, and Disney will use their magic, as usual, to draw in every age group, and everyone will enjoy it on their own level.

Details appeared in the February 10 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The Best Laid Plans

Yesterday we told you how technicians were aboard Norwegian Star repairing its nonworking port Azipod as it sailed its modified itinerary, and the plan was to have it all repaired by the end of this cruise. But then almost as soon as the story went out, it was almost like Neptune rose up from the sea and said, “Not so fast, NCL!” And he put up his mighty hands and the propellers on Norwegian Star's Azipods just stopped turning.

But there was plenty of power for those onboard. Hotel services are all still fully functional, and at last check, everything's going along just fine onboard.

Details appeared in the February 9 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

HAL and the Big O

Holland America has partnered with O, the Oprah Magazine for an exclusive relationship that will be kicked off by Oprah and Gayle (King, her best friend and editor at large of the magazine, but Oprah fans knew that) aboard Eurodam as they sail to Alaska in July.

It all ties in with Oprah's Year of Adventure.

The complete story appeared in the February 9 edition of Cruise News Daily

Filling in the Holes

Last month when Carnival released Carnival Horizon's inaugural programs for 2018, there were holes in the schedule once the ship got to New York in late May. Carnival said those sailings would be detailed in the near future. The future has arrived.

Carnival had a surprise. If Carnival had followed their past MO, there would have been four-night trips scheduled to the Canadian Maritimes. Not in 2018. Get out your shorts, because in 2018, Carnival is sailing from New York to Bermuda.

The complete story appeared in the February 8 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The Fix Is In

When last we checked in, Norwegian Star was puttering along, more slowly than normal, on one Azipod Down Under. Norwegian and ABB, the manufacturer, were pondering solutions as the ship sailed toward its turnaround last Monday in Sydney.

The ship set off from Sydney Monday afternoon on its modified 12-night itinerary to Auckland, and a repair plan is now in place.

Details appeared in the February 8 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

And Norwegian Is Going to KEEP Sailing to Havana

Norwegian Cruise Line has received approval for 25 additional calls at Havana though the end of the year. That allows the line to extend their four-night cruises from Miami to Havana that begin in May, to weekly cruises through December.

The complete story appeared in the February 7 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 7, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Royal Caribbean declaring a dividend
• A Canadian woman continuing to be held in the Bahamas for more than a month after her cruise. 

Details appeared in the February 7 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

It's Yesterday Once More

You can almost hear Karen Carpenter singing it as you browse the onboard shops aboard Costa ships these days because much of the logo merchandise recalls Costa's past. Called Vintage Costa, the collection features historic graphics and logos of Costa from the '50's, '60's and '70's on everything from T-shirts and hoodies to key rings and bags.

Details appeared in the February 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Coming up on Your TV

Cruisers will want to keep their eye out for a couple of notable things coming down your cable.

The complete story appeared in the February 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Getting Ready to Sail

A quick peek into the covered building dock today at Meyer Werft at Papenburg shows that Norwegian Joy is nearing completion, as it should be. Meyer has tentatively scheduled float out for just about a month from now, and that means its trip down the Ems River is within a month after that.

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