When “Nowhere” Might Mean Somewhere

When Carnival Fantasy left Mobile yesterday, it had a propulsion issue and passengers were advised they weren't going to be able to call at Cozumel as scheduled. The cruise was becoming a cruise to nowhere and would remain at sea the entire time.

Passengers were offered some generous compensation (50% refund and 50% future cruise credit), but quite a few decided to disembark and receive a full refund. It turns out they may have made the wrong decision.

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 14, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• New cruise operation in Iran
• The US Navy bans e-cigarettes on their vessels
• Medevac from Carnival Ecstasy

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

Fincantieri/STX Deal Moves Forward

Fincantieri moved another step closer to being the largest shareholder in STX France yesterday when they signed the “Head of Terms” agreement with the French government.

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

Carnival Fantasy Not Sailing in the Fast Lane

Another Carnival ship is experiencing propulsion problems, but the folks aboard are on one of those cruises for people who love sea days.

Carnival Fantasy was scheduled to leave Mobile at 4pm this afternoon for an Easter cruise to Cozumel, but it remained in port through the early evening as technicians worked on the ship's propulsion system.

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 13, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Lena Gercke serving as godmother for AIDAperla
• P&O's Pacific Dawn became the first ship to return to Airlie Beach after Cyclone Debbie
• Vancouver's cruise season opening
• Trouble on the poop deck

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

Lena Gercke

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

When “Year Round” Doesn't Necessarily Mean All Year

Majestic Princess was just delivered, and hasn't even yet arrived at its year round home port in China. It was purpose-built for the Chinese market with features aboard that will specifically appeal to the market and lots of other customization they will love.

Breaking with previously-announced plans, Princess has just decided, Australians will love them too, and the line announced today that the ship will be based in Sydney for the 2018-2019 Austral summer season (peak there, off-peak in winter China).

The complete story appeared in the April 12 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Spreading out in Long Beach

Carnival broke ground today on their terminal expansion at Long Beach to better accommodate the larger number of passengers that come with the larger ships they will be operating from there.

The new addition will more than double Carnival's space taking it from about 66,000 square feet to 142,000 square feet. Of course the existing part of the terminal is part of the iconic geodesic dome that used to house Howard Hughes' “Spruce Goose.”

Details appeared in the April 12 edition of Cruise News Daily.  

Royal Caribbean Upgrading Puerto Rico

Royal Caribbean confirmed last week they will be investing in the expansion of San Juan's Pan American Pier II to upgrade the facilities in order to homeport Freedom of the Seas there beginning May 12, 2018.

The ship is the largest ever to be based in Puerto Rico, although the larger Oasis-class does call there. Freedom will be operating a seven-night eastern Caribbean itinerary from San Juan.

The complete story appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Opening Early - First Ship Already In

Even though your US taxes aren't even due until next week, the Alaskan cruise season opened yesterday with the arrival of Star Princess at Victoria (BC).

Details appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Star Princess opened the cruise season at Victoria on April 10, 2017.

Photo courtesy of Greater Victoria Harbor Authority. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

And Now for Something Completely Different

The shows in the AquaTheater aboard Harmony of the Seas aren't just high-diving and swimming demonstrations. They're, well, fun. Yes, if you look beyond the story, you see incredible feats of high-diving and synchronized swimming, but you also see some cops and robbers in “Hideaway Heist,” which is currently running in the AquaTheater aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.

The complete story appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today ...

What were you doing twenty years ago in the late '90's? (Yes, if you were in Sgt Pepper's band he was teaching you to play, but besides that?) If you were Cunard Line, it was the last time you were sailing in Alaska. It's been so  long since Cunard sailed in the 49th state that none of their current fleet has ever been there.

That's going to change in a couple of years, because in 2019, Cunard is going to return, if only briefly. Queen Elizabeth will be sailing in Alaska as she repositions from Japan to North America.

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

Only in Australia and Only on Carnival

In case it slipped by and you missed it, National Beer Day was last Friday (April 7) in the United States. But that didn't deter the folks at Carnival Australia from celebrating it with an icy glass of Thirsty Frog Summer Ale. The beer is a take off of Carnival's Thirsty Frog Red served in the US, but it was developed in conjunction with The Lord Nelson Brewery in Australia to suit Australian tastes. It's available only on the two ships the Carnival brand has based in Australia, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend.

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