Other Things You'll Want to Know - November 4, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Carnival brands have all scheduled returns to Caribbean ports damaged by the September storms.   
• Carnival Corp reports employing almost all Bahamian workers at their private islands in the Bahamas

Details appeared in the November 3 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

What the Tourism Minister Has Forgotten

There was an interesting article in The Bahamas' Tribune 242 on Friday in which the Bahamas' Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D'Aguilar, talks about how the cruise lines “make all the money, and we have nothing."

That school of thought may say lots about why the Bahamas - or at least the major ports - may lose much of their cruise business in the coming years and why they are not a favorite among cruise passengers, many opting to stay aboard when their ship docks.

Details appeared in the August 4 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Confirmation - Carnival Cruise Line Will Finally Have Their Own Private “Island”

About six weeks ago the Prime Minister of the Bahamas let the cat out of the bag that Carnival was very close to signing the paperwork to build a port and private resort on Grand Bahama Island. Today, Carnival made it official and signed an agreement with the Bahamas. And they started talking details.

The complete story appeared in the May 2 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Working Toward New Bahamian Port

It's been talked about for months in the Bahamas, but last Thursday, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that Carnival is nearly ready to sign an agreement to build a port on the eastern end of Grand Bahama Island.

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

Royal Caribbean Expands in Miami and the Bahamas

Royal Caribbean had a bevy of announcements today, mostly to do with ports, but there was big ship news included, too. Something for everyone, as long as you were in Miami or the Bahamas.

The complete story appeared in the March 8 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. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 20, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• A female passenger being held in the Bahamas on a charge of statutory rape, but with an interesting twist
• Genting Dream already leaving China

Details appeared in the January 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Much Ado - Now about Nothing

The Bahamas Tribune wrote today that Disney Cruise Line has told them they are no longer interested in developing Egg Island into a private island port. Disney said their impact studies show the island's marine environment could not survive undamaged given the operation the size Disney would be creating on the island.

The complete story appeared in the July 22 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Disney Considering Second Island

The Miami Herald reports that Disney Cruise Line is considering acquiring and building a second private island in the Bahamas.

Reports say the line is considering the 12-acre Egg Island off the north end of Eleuthra. Princess Cruises's Princess Cays is on the south end of Eleuthra.

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

Careful in Nassau

The US embassy in Nassau has updated their advisory to American visitors to New Providence Island (where Nassau is located) and Paradise Island, reminding them of the high crime rate and updating them on the types of crime. The embassy is advising them to be alert at all times and aware of their surroundings.

It previously warned of armed robberies and other violent crimes which were rising in frequency.

Details appeared in the July 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Joaquin Closes the Bahamas

As expected, Hurricane Joaquin has eliminated calls by cruise ships in the Bahamas for a few days. Since Bahamian ports are always so busy with ships, it means lots of changes.

In most cases, cruise lines are just replacing calls in the Bahamas with sea days and keeping the ships far away from Joaquin and in smoother seas.

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for September 11, 2014

* Everything Has a Price
Most cruise passengers have never been to the naming of a new ship. Many may have seen the ceremony and the breaking of the bottle on the internet, but it is even more exciting in person.
   Some passengers aboard TUI’s Mein Schiff 4's maiden cruise will have the opportunity to attend the ship’s naming - for a price.

* Taking a Page from Bermuda’s Playbook
Bermuda has taught Nassau a valuable lesson. There’s easy money to be made from tourists who come on cruise ships. A number of them will have drugs, and if you arrest them, you can fine them hundreds of dollars which they will readily pay rather than face a jail term.
   These types of arrests seem to be on the rise in Nassau with four American tourists from cruise ships arrested over the weekend and in court on Monday. Altogether, fines of $1,500 were collected. Two of the men arrested together had just a gram of marijuana between them.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for May 29, 2014

* An Idea Whose Time Has ComeA few years ago when AIDA had a ship debut with a functioning micro-brewery aboard, we hailed it as an idea whose time had come. Now Crystal Cruises is innovating along the same line.
   Crystal has long been famous for their “Wine & Food” cruises, and now they are extending that appreciation of fine libations to those who appreciate a great lager or a full-bodied stout.
   Come November 5, Crystal Cruises will operate their first “Beer & Food” microbrew-themed luxury cruise.

* A Dangerous Place
The US State Department just issued their annual report on crime and safety in the Bahamas, and they agree with us. Nassau and Freeport are dangerous places to visit.

* There Will Be a Slight DelayThe Miami Herald reports that the opening of Miami’s new tunnel to the port, which was dedicated last week, will be delayed until mid-June while additional inspections and safety checks are performed.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 18, 2014

* Do You Need Another Reason Not to Go to the Bahamas?
The courthouse in Nassau was clogged Monday with passengers booted off Royal Caribbean ships last Saturday because they were found to have illegal drugs with them, albeit in small amounts for personal consumption.
   The five individuals were turned over to police by the security departments of two RCI ships in five separate incidents. In this CND article we look at the situation and see if this is the best way to handle these incidents.

* For Those Who Prefer a More Leisurely Pace
Carnival Miracle has developed a problem in its propulsion system that is limiting the ship’s cruising speed. The problem is that it can’t be fixed until the ship’s next dry dock early next year, and that means itineraries on most of its sailings until then are being adjusted.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for September 18, 2013

* In Case You Missed It
Did you really expect that there would be a major event like turning a sunken cruise ship right-side-up and there wouldn’t be a television special about it? There will be already on Friday night in the US and shortly thereafter in the rest of the world. The Discovery Channel has produced “Inside Raising the Concordia.” It steps back to the beginning of Titan Salvage's involvement and follows the planning and preliminary work to last Monday’s actual event.


* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about another port in the Bahamas ... and the port in your phone.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2013 Deployment

Norwegian Cruise Line announced their 2013 summer deployment for several areas today. The new schedule will increase capacity in Alaska by adding one ship, which will operate one way 7-day cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, marking the first time Norwegian has had three ships in Alaska since 2009. The line will again have four ships in Europe for the summer season. Two of them will continue to be deployed there year round. Norwegian will increase capacity in Bermuda again operating two ships in the market, but the capacity increase will come with the previously-announced new Norwegian Breakaway operating from New York.

Norwegian also said they will continue their year round US-flag operation in Hawaii, opening bookings for the 7-day program through April 18, 2015. The line will also continue their year round operation of short cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, with the opening of the books through April 25, 2014.


The complete article appeared in the December 6, 2011, edition of Cruise News Daily.

Port Everglades Gets New Ferry Service to the Bahamas

The Bahamas Express will start a round trip ferry operation from Port Everglades (at Ft. Lauderdale) to Freeport, Bahamas on December 9, 2011.

The ship will depart from Cruise Terminal 1 at Port Everglades, near the Convention Center. Parking is available at the Northport Parking Garage. The line will use the fast ferry Pinar del Rio which sails at a speed of 32 knots and has a capacity for 463 people. Amenities aboard include a bar, a duty-free shop, pet cages and a baby changing area.

The service will operate daily except Wednesdays, departing Port Everglades at 10am and returning at 10pm. The trip will take between two and three hours.

The Bahamas Express is operated by the Balearia Group, a Spanish shipping company which has operated for 13 years in the Spanish Mediterranean.

Additional information is available at www.ferryexpress.com

STX layoffs, Venice comes to aid of Delphin's crew, Nassau merchants excited about a hurricane, and Allure tests Shrek

CND subscribers also read about layoffs STX in the wake of Allure's delivery ... what some employees will do for Cunard ... an update on the Delphin, now in trouble again and the Port of Venice coming to the aid of the crew ... why merchants in Nassau are excited about a hurricane ... and "stress testing" the Dreamworks characters on Allure.


Details of these items appeared in the "Other Things You'll Want to Know" column in the November 4, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily.

From the return to Paradise department:

The people of the Bahamas are excited about Norwegian Cruise Lines has returned for the winter season. The line and the government jointly announced an expanded series of calls a few weeks ago. The calls will replace some of the overall number of calls at Bahamian ports which has been eroding recently. The first of these additional calls was made when Norwegian Gem arrived at Great Stirrup Cay on Tuesday. The Nassau Guardian reported the return today.

The arrival was marred, however, by the police meeting the ship to investigate an unexplained death aboard (the Bahamas were the first port of call) of a crew member. The man was found dead in his cabin, but foul play is not suspected. The death is reported in the Nassau Guardian near the end of the series of incidents listed.

Note: Links are valid at the time of posting.