Things are falling into place (seemingly) smoothly for passengers having to disembark Royal Princess unexpectedly at Port Said.
The passengers spent Friday night aboard the ship with all hotel functions once again operating normally. All passengers will have to disembark on Saturday.
Princess reported that a group of 20 Princess Care Team members arrived in Egypt Friday evening (local time) to assist passengers with travel arrangements home. While they were traveling there, the air department in California had been securing air arrangements for everyone. By 8pm (EDT) Princess reported they had air arrangements confirmed for all passengers.
They have also secured 300 hotel rooms in Cairo for the passengers who won't be flying out until Sunday, and they've reserved 24 motorcoaches to transfer passengers from Port Said to Cairo.
Passengers will begin to disembark from Royal Princess Saturday morning at 10:30am local time (3:30am EDT), and Princess has also arranged for 24 porters to be on the pier to assist.
For information about the cancellation of the Royal Princess cruises, please see our earlier blog item.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Packing up
Another one of those people behind the scenes whom long-time readers know - but don't know their name - has moved on.
When you read about an incident on one of the ships of a Royal Caribbean brand, and the article said, "a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said," chances are that spokesperson was Michael Sheehan, the Associate VP of Corporate Communications. Be it a hurricane scattering ships, a passenger overboard, a fire in the engine room, or a ship bumping a pier, for just short of a decade, Sheehan was almost always the go-to person at RCCL with all the details.
Friday was Michael's last day at Royal Caribbean in Miami, and he's moving on to Seattle due to a family situation, and we wish him well. You never know; he just might resurface in the cruise industry again.
When you read about an incident on one of the ships of a Royal Caribbean brand, and the article said, "a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said," chances are that spokesperson was Michael Sheehan, the Associate VP of Corporate Communications. Be it a hurricane scattering ships, a passenger overboard, a fire in the engine room, or a ship bumping a pier, for just short of a decade, Sheehan was almost always the go-to person at RCCL with all the details.
Friday was Michael's last day at Royal Caribbean in Miami, and he's moving on to Seattle due to a family situation, and we wish him well. You never know; he just might resurface in the cruise industry again.
Seabourn Odyssey Delivered
The Yachts of Seabourn reports they took delivery of the 32,000-ton Seabourn Odyssey on Thursday, the first newbuild in the luxury sector in six years.
The handover was at the T Mariotti yard in Geona. The ship immediately left for Venice where its official naming will take place on June 24, just prior to its maiden voyage.
Details appeared in the June 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The handover was at the T Mariotti yard in Geona. The ship immediately left for Venice where its official naming will take place on June 24, just prior to its maiden voyage.
Details appeared in the June 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Canyon Ranch Remains aboard QM2
Canyon Ranch is celebrating five years of providing the spa services aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2, and Cunard reports they have just finalized an agreement to keep them aboard for another year.
To begin the sixth year, Canyon Ranch said they have expanded their services aboard the ship with three new services.
Details are in the June 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.
To begin the sixth year, Canyon Ranch said they have expanded their services aboard the ship with three new services.
Details are in the June 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Royal Princess Returns to Port after Fire
Updated 4pm
Royal Princess returned to Port Said (Egypt) this morning under tow from an Egyptian tug. Reports from the ship say they now have air conditioning and enough electricity to run the toilets in the cabins.
The ship experienced a fire in the engine room Thursday evening as it was sailing from Port Said, and spent an uncomfortable night anchored 5 miles offshore operating on emergency power, with many passengers sleeping on deck due to the lack of air conditioning.
From the reports we are hearing and the photos we posted earlier, people seem very appreciative of the lengths to which the Princess crew members are going to, to make them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
Princess has decided to cancel the rest of the current cruise and the June 25 sailing, saying the vessel needs to go to a shipyard for repair. Passengers will be returning home over the weekend.
Princess will provide a full refund for passengers on both sailings and a future cruise credit of 25% of the cruise fare they paid.
The story is still developing. Today's updates will be placed in this blog item. Details will be in this evening's edition of Cruise News Daily.
Please see this item for earlier reports and photos from yesterday.
Royal Princess returned to Port Said (Egypt) this morning under tow from an Egyptian tug. Reports from the ship say they now have air conditioning and enough electricity to run the toilets in the cabins.
The ship experienced a fire in the engine room Thursday evening as it was sailing from Port Said, and spent an uncomfortable night anchored 5 miles offshore operating on emergency power, with many passengers sleeping on deck due to the lack of air conditioning.
From the reports we are hearing and the photos we posted earlier, people seem very appreciative of the lengths to which the Princess crew members are going to, to make them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
Princess has decided to cancel the rest of the current cruise and the June 25 sailing, saying the vessel needs to go to a shipyard for repair. Passengers will be returning home over the weekend.
Princess will provide a full refund for passengers on both sailings and a future cruise credit of 25% of the cruise fare they paid.
The story is still developing. Today's updates will be placed in this blog item. Details will be in this evening's edition of Cruise News Daily.
Please see this item for earlier reports and photos from yesterday.
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