Meyer Werft Lays Keel for First Breakaway Plus Ship

Meyer Werft in Papenburg is a very busy place these days with several ships already under construction, and yesterday cutting steel for another. You wouldn’t think they’d have room to build any more - but they do.
   The yard laid the keel for Norwegian Escape today. It will be the first of a new class of ships to be delivered in October 2015.

The complete article appears in the September 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The first block is lowered into place

Bernard Meyer (left) and Kevin Sheehan show the coins placed beneath the keel for luck. There was obviously a miscommunication about Freestyle Friday being canceled.

Bernard Meyer shows off the detail on one of the coins.

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for September 18, 2014

* Meyer Werft Cuts First Steel for Ovation of the Seas
Meyer Werft cut the first steel today for the third Quantum-class ship on order. Royal Caribbean took the opportunity to announce they will name the ship Ovation of the Seas.

* Silversea Will Take You Where You Haven’t Been
Who says there’s nowhere new to go? Silversea just released their 2016 programs and among their eight ships they will visit 107 new ports out of their 845 port calls during the year.

* Quantum’s Delivery Getting Closer
Meyer Werft said today that Quantum of the Seas will leave their Papenburg yard on Sunday afternoon to begin its passage down the Ems River to the sea.

* San Francisco Now Has a New Cruise Terminal AND Tony Bennett’s Heart
The Port of San Francisco opened their new $100 million cruise terminal today with the arrival of the first ship, Crown Princess. Instead of fireworks and streamers, it was just the passengers and the ship.

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

Anthem of the Seas with bow partially attached at Meyer Werft

Photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Meyer Werft Cuts First Steel for Ovation of the Seas

Meyer Werft cut the first steel today for the third Quantum-class ship on order. Royal Caribbean took the opportunity to announce they will name the ship Ovation of the Seas. The event took place today at Meyer Werft in Papenberg, Germany.

The complete story appeared in the September 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Richard Fain (left) and Bernard Meyer push the button to cut the first steel.

Richard Fain autographs the first piece of steel cut for Ovation of the Seas

The eventual location of the steel cut today is pointed out to Richard Fain.

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for September 17, 2014

* It’s the Real Thing
Pizza is synonymous with Italy, and because it is so much a part of the culture, Costa strives to keep theirs at the top of the industry. With the recent enhancements to Costa neoRomantica came a new pizzeria and enhanced pizza. It has been so successful, Costa has carried the product out to other ships in the fleet.

* Seeing Spots Again
Passengers aboard Norwegian Pearl’s Alaskan cruise last week were notified that a crew member “likely has a case of measles” (rubeola).

* Texas = Taxes
The eyes of Texas may be upon you, but as we reported in December, the State of Texas is getting their hand deeper into the pockets of cruise passengers if they sail into either of the state’s cruise ports. Passengers have been surprised since the first of the year when returning and paying a state tax on their liquor and cigarettes at Galveston. Now the state is ready to "surprise" passengers at Houston next month.

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for September 16, 2014

* The Best Carnival Perk You’ll Probably Never Use
Carnival Cruise Lines renewed their most unique sales tool for another year, but it also seems to be one of their best kept secrets.
   The Great Vacation Guarantee has been extended through 2015.


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

Artwork being installed aboard Quantum of the Seas

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.