Coming (Back) Soon

Carnival Fascination is under charter to FEMA housing people who are repairing the infrastructure on St. Croix. The charter will end in February and the ship will return to regular service sailing weekly from San Juan beginning February 18.

Prior to its return, it will undergo a two-week dry dock (February 4-17), and Carnival just detailed the facilities and features that will be added during the multi-million-dollar project.

The complete story appeared in the December 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 15, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• The DeHoop yard laying the keel for Celebrity Flora. The ship will be used for the line's cruises in the Galapagos beginning in May, 2019. A photo is below. 
• Carnival Breeze failing its latest US Public Health inspection
• Viking Sun setting off on Viking's first world cruise
• A family finding a hidden video camera in their cabin aboard Carnival Fantasy. 

Details can be found in the December 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Executives from Celebrity and DeHoop gathered at the yard for the keel laying of Celebiry Flora. The 49-ton block
can be seen behind the executives. 

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

When It's Cold and Slushy Outside, It's the Best Time to Crack Open a Refreshing Can of the Caribbean

It takes a lot to get the attention of blase New Yorkers. That's why Carnival Cruise line resorted to a really unusual promotion when they wanted to get the attention of New Yorkers earlier this week.

That's why Carnival set up a heated tent in Manhattan's Greeley Square Park. In it they put a steel drum band, piped in scents typical of the Caribbean (coconut, Puerto Rican coffee, etc.) and a very special vending machine.

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

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

Back in Business

The island of Puerto Rico announced that they have fully reopened for business following Hurricane Maria, just in time for the winter season to start on December 20.

The Puerto Rican Tourism Company reports that more than 100 hotels are open, and more than 4,000 restaurants across the island are serving meals.

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

Bahamas Paradise Line Sets Plans for Return to Service

Bahamas Paradise Line has detailed the enhancements customers will find aboard Grand Celebration when it returns from its three-month charter to FEMA and plans they have for their second ship when it joins the fleet in April.

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

Seeing Stars

Some cruise lines' naming ceremonies are short and businesslike: A speech by an executive, a blessing, a snip of a ribbon by the godmother, and a bottle of champagne that breaks. But when MSC names a ship, it becomes an event, a spectacular event with entertainment - with a capital “E.”

MSC just released the lineup for MSC Seaside's naming ceremony, and this is definitely going to be worth tuning in for (live on Facebook).

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

The Pieces Come Together

The huge stern section of AIDAnova was floated out of the covered building dock at Meyer Werft on Monday to make room for the next equally-sized section. This 120-meter-long section contains the first engine room that arrived at the Papenburg yard last month after being towed there from Meyer's yard in Rostock.

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

Stern section of AIDAnova floated out December 11, 2017

Stern section before float out 

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 12, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Eurodam's 13th consecutive perfect score on its US Public Health Inspection
• A crew member aboard Noordam being arrested on a charge or raping another crew member. 

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

After Great Consideration ...

Princess thought it over, and they're going back to Europe in 2019. They will open their 2019 summer European season on Thursday. The program will again see Princess with ships sailing from the British Isles and Ireland, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

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

Overboard from Vision of the Seas

A crew member aboard Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas did not report for work last Friday, and it was determined he went overboard just after 6pm Friday.

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 11, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Peter Shanks is returning to the cruise sector.
• Updates on people waiting for trial

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