Medevac from Carnival Triumph

The US Coast Guard received a call from Carnival Triumph about 9am Friday morning (May 21) requesting a medevac for a 69-year-old woman who was experiencing breathing problems. An MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew was launched from Air Station New Orleans and met Carnival Triumph when it was about 120 miles southeast of the Southwest Pass. As shown in the short video clip below, they hoisted her from the ship's deck above the aft pool (you can see the sliding dome closed over it) and transported her to a local hospital in New Orleans for treatment.

Another New Opening Date for Falmouth

Royal Caribbean reports that work is proceeding on their new Jamaican port at Falmouth, but not fast enough.

The line has just pushed planned opening date back for the second or third time, depending on which ship you are talking about. When it does open, however, it's going to be a top-rated facility both from the cruise lines' and the passengers' perspectives.

The complete article appeared in the May 21, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily.

Paul Gauguin CEO to Host Line's First Trips to New Zealand

Paul Gauguin has scheduled their first cruise from home base in Tahiti to New Zealand in November, and CEO Richard Bailey is going along to meet the passengers.

Details appeared in the May 21, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily.

RCI Security Lapse, Another Option for Getting to the Ship, Some Can't Wait to Sue, Cooking on MSC and RCI Records

* Other Things You'll Want to Know

CND subscribers also read about a lapse in RCI security allowing a weapon aboard ... a new option for British cruisers who don't want the hassle of flying to their cruise ... some British passengers who just can't wait to sue the cruise line ... some really fancy Italian cooking on MSC ... and RCI setting records in Japan.

Details appeared in the "Other Things You'll Want to Know" column in the May 21, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily.

David Linley Marquetry to Become Focal Point of Queen Elizabeth Grand Lobby

Cunard's new liner, Queen Elizabeth, will be a sister to Queen Victoria. If you've ever seen the Grand Lobby aboard Queen Victoria, you know that it's the first part of the ship passengers normally see when they board, and your eye is drawn directly to the main staircase and the huge artwork at the landing. So when designing Queen Elizabeth, Cunard knew they wanted something special there, since it sets the tone for vessel and the entire voyage. They wanted something that said, "Britain," and something that said, "Cunard."

Sure they could have gotten a wax figure of Benny Hill with a recorded voice saying, "Britain and Cunard," but instead they chose to go the less fun, but more upscale route and commission an 18-and-a-half-foot panel from David Linley, the Queen's only nephew and noted creator of fine furniture and marquetry.

The complete article appeared in the May 20, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily. Photos are in a newsfile on the CND website.