Friday, February 22, 2019

Navigator, Amplified

Navigator of the Seas is currently in the Grand Bahama Shipyard receiving a “shipload” of new features, and it's only a few days until it returns to service on March 1, better than new.

When the 140,000+-ton ship returns to service after its $115 million amplification, it will be packed with new features.

The new video below takes you behind the scenes at the Grand Bahama Shipyard to see just what the thousands of workers are doing to “amplify” Navigator of the Seas in a process that leaves no deck untouched.

Details appeared in the February 22 edition of Cruise News Daily.



You're about to be Connected

Passengers aboard six Princess ships are about to get an upgrade before the end of the year. Medallion Net is the best wi-fi at sea, according to the line, offering fast, affordable, reliable and unlimited internet service.

Medallion Net is actually a part of the Medallion Class that is rolling out across the Princess fleet in a multi-year project, but demand for improved wi-fi has been so high, Princess is unbundling it and making the Medallion Net product available faster on more of the fleet.

The complete story appeared in the February 22 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Thursday, February 21, 2019

The Farthest Outpost

Although you don't hear much about it, at least not on an ongoing basis, Celebrity continues to constantly cruise in the Galapagos Islands. You'll hear more about it later this year when their new mega-yacht Celebrity Flora goes into service and gets positioned there, but for now they have just set their 2021 program not only with Celebrity Flora but also with the modernized Celebrity Xpedition, and it promises to be their best season yet, according to the line.

The complete story appeared in the February 21 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Look Out! Look Out! Look Out!

MSC Orchestra allided with MSC Poesia (which was docked) Wednesday afternoon at Buenos Aires causing some slight damage to both vessels.

MSC Orchestra appeared to initially lose control for some reason while there was plenty of room to maneuver, but then regained some control in time to avert major damage with MSC Orchestra's starboard side contacting the port side of MSC Poesia's bow.

Details appeared in the February 21 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Not Just for the Caribbean

Just as it's always five o'clock somewhere, it is also hurricane season somewhere, and now it's Australia's turn.

Just like in the Caribbean, cruise lines are moving their ships out of the way to keep them and their passengers safely away from Cyclone Oma, and proving the advantage of booking a cruise vacation.

A list of changes by Carnival Australia brands was included in the February 21 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Don't Follow the Crowd

If you enjoy going where none of your friends have ever been, or for that matter where few people ever go, and you'll never see a Diamonds International store in port, Crystal Expeditions has just the cruise for you. 

In its inaugural year, Crystal Endeavor is going to sail a 28-night expedition through the Northeast Passage from Anadyr, Russia to Tromso, Norway. The 200-passenger ship will take the adventurous passengers to some of the world's most remote islands, archipelagos and coastlines, few people ever visit, in the luxurious comfort of the brand-new ship.

Details are in the February 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Purple Sunset and Its Creator Are Winners

If you're sailing aboard Carnival Conquest, look carefully when you order a drink, because there may be a celebrity behind the bar. Carnival bartender Sanja Cvijetic was named the 2019 Bacardi Bartender of the Year.

The Bosnian native took home the top prize for her “Purple Sunset" cocktail made with Bacardí Superior. The complete recipe is below.

The complete story appeared in the February 20 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Purple Sunset®

Ingredients:
  • 60ml BACARDÍ Superior
  • 22ml Monin® Lavender Syrup
  • 15ml lemonade
  • 15ml fresh lime juice
  • Splash of MARTINI Prosecco®
  • Fresh rosemary bunch
Preparation Method:
  • Gently muddle fresh rosemary bunch
  • Place all ingredients (except MARTINI Prosecco) into shaker
  • Add ice, and shake 10 seconds
  • Double strain into a chilled glass
  • Add a few more drops of lavender syrup and a splash of MARTINI Prosecco
  • Garnish with fresh rosemary

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Brewing up Relief

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company created a beer to raise money nationwide for relief efforts for victims of last November's devastating California wildfires, and Carnival Cruise Line is in a unique position in the cruise industry to join this effort.

The complete story ran in the February 19 issue of Cruise News Daily.



One of a Kind Barrel

Last week we told you about the record-setting stay in Australian waters this year of Cunard's liner Queen Elizabeth. To commemorate that Cunard commissioned special uniforms for their iconic bellboys from Australian clothier R.M. Williams, and the Australian look was completed with Akubra hats.

But there's another tastier Australian partnership aboard Queen Elizabeth that has been three years in the making and is now “maturing.” We told you about the final year last year at this time.

Details appeared in the February 19 edition of Cruise News Daily

Monday, February 18, 2019

Royal Caribbean Orders 6th Oasis-Class Ship

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd said today they have ordered a sixth Oasis-class vessel from Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery in the fall of 2023.

The complete story appeared in the February 18 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Building of Silver Moon Begins

Fincantieri laid the keel for Silver Moon at their Ancona yard on Thursday. The ship will be the second in Silversea's Muse class.

Details appeared in the February 18 edition of Cruise News Daily. 


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

Cuba Turns Away Grand Classica

When Bahama Paradise's Grand Classica arrived at Havana on Friday, after prolonged negotiation with immigration authorities, the ship was turned away and sailed on to its next destination.

It is unknown at this point if the reason was some perceived rule infraction by the charterer or cruise line, or if the Cuban authorities had simply changed their minds about the special nature of the charter. Either way, it was the first ship turned away from Cuba since regular cruises began from the US.

Details appeared in the February 18 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Epic Chugging Along

Norwegian Epic left Port Canaveral this afternoon for its shortened cruise to the Bahamas (pared down from a seven-night western Caribbean itinerary) and still apparently not able to cruise at normal speeds.

The complete story appeared in the February 18 issue of Cruise News Daily.