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. 

One Time Only (for Now)

Add Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to the list of lines going to Cuba. The line which normally only sails two-night cruises to Freeport has scheduled a four-night cruise to Havana next month.

The best part is that when you return home, you can honestly say you've been to Havana twice.

The complete story appeared in the January 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Who Says There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch?

The news media doesn't seem to want to cover it, but lots of companies are offering concessions and assistance to federal workers who aren't receiving paychecks due to the partial shutdown of the government. One of those companies is Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.

Federal workers (and their families) can have a free buffet lunch on either of the line's ships in Palm Beach beginning today.

Details appeared in the January 21 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 22, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• A passenger who died aboard Grand Classica due to a fall
• A passenger who was arrested aboard Radiance of the Seas for allegedly attempting to throw his partner over the rail

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 1, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• A new show aboard AIDAluna
• Grand Celebration has again been chartered for two months to house relief workers, this time in Massachusetts. The ship will be out of service for all of October and November. 
• A woman was arrested for cutting and stabbing her boyfriend with a steakknife aboard Carnival Fantasy during an argument. 

Details appeared in the October 1 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

A scene from "Augenblick" aboard AIDAluna. Note the performer hanging above the state at the top of the picture.

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - June 21, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Bahama Paradise Line's new program for solo travelers
• A change at the top of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
• The end of an era for Norwegian Cruise Line

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 13, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Miami approving Norwegian's new terminal
• A second ship enters service for Bahamas Paradise Line
• Vancouver opens largest cruise season ever

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

Grand Classica Unveiled

Bahamas Paradise's Grand Celebration has a sister on the way, and she's someone we all know, Costa Classica. But she'll soon be reborn to be Grand Classica and then she'll be more like Grand Celebration.

Grand Classica will join her new sister sailing two-night cruises to Grand Bahama Island from Palm Beach beginning April 13. 

The complete story appeared in the February 21 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.

A Perfect Solution

In the 21st century, when the National Guard moves in to help, they don't live in tents (a la M*A*S*H). They live on a cruise ship, which turns out to be a perfect solution for the situation.

FEMA has chartered Grand Celebration from Bahamas Paradise Line to house the National Guard and other first responders at St. Thomas as they work to rebuild the island's infrastructure after Hurricane Irma and now Hurricane Maria.

Details appear in the September 19 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Bahamas Paradise to Add Second Ship

Bahamas Paradise Line inked a deal with the Port of Palm Beach to add a second ship homeported there, and the ship will be the former Costa neoClassica, renamed Grand Classica.

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