2006

– Alstom, owner of shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique has sells a 75% stake in this yard to the Norwegian company Aker Yards.

– Royal Caribbean orders the largest cruise ship ever at AkerYards, Finland. She will measure an incredible 220.000 GRT and will accommodate 5.400 passengers! This ship will be almost 70.000 GRT larger than the Freedom of the Seas, which is currently being built at the same yard with delivery this summer. When Freedom enters service she will be the world’s largest cruise ship, surpassing the Queen Mary 2 in tonnage.

– A fire breakes out on board Star Princess (Princess Cruises) which quickly engulfes 100 staterooms. One death is reported. The Star Princess proceeds to Grand Cayman on her own power and offloads passengers there. An investigation is initiated.

– Freedom of the Seas, the worlds largest cruise ship is delivered by Aker ship yard to owners Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines today.

– Queen Mary 2 starts on her first world cruise on January 10th, 2007. She departs together with fleetmate Queen Elizabeth 2 from Fort Lauderdale. It is Queen Elizabeth’s 25th world cruise.

– Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 80th birthday aboard the small Scottish cruise ship Hebridean Princess. The Queen has chartered the ship for a cruise around the Western Scottish Isles. The Queen’s original yacht, the Britannia was donated to the port of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland for use as a museum because the ship had become too old (44 years old) and thus costly to keep her in service as the Royal Yacht.

– The starboard engine of Louis Cruise Lines’ Calypso catches fire whilst on a trip from Tilbury to Guernsey. The ship rapidly fills with smoke and passengers are ordered to get their life jackets and report to their muster stations. However, the crew gets the fire under control quickly. The vessel proceeds under tow to Southampton for repairs. Calypso had been chartered by Dutch cruise agency Cruise Travel to celebrate their 20th year in the cruise industry.

– Aker Yards from Finland merges with French Alstom Marine owner of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Both yards are renowned builders of cruise ships.

– NCL announces it will be the first cruise line to enable passengers to use their cell phone on board all of their ships while at sea. In 2002, NCL was the first cruise line to offer passengers wireless internet access.

– Sad news, Blue Lady, ex Norway, ex France, beaches at Alang for scrapping. Until the final end, rumours surrounded the ship, for example that she might be used as a floating hotel in Dubai. Soon, one of the most famous passenger ships of all times will silently disappear into history. Beaching the ship has been postponed several times, as she has asbestos on board. Finally, the Indian Government granted permission to have her scrapped at Alang after she had been at anchor in heavy seas off the Indian coast for several weeks.

– Carnival Cruise Lines introduces a new feature. Passengers can view a video in their cabins on which Carnival’s famous architect Joe Farcus tours the vessel they are sailing on and explains the central interior-theme of the vessel and the idea behind the decoration of the main public spaces on board.

– RCCL buys Spanish tour operator Pullmantur. Pullmantur currently operates five vessels. Probably vessels will be shifted between both companies. This is the first European brand RCCL now owns.

– The famous former Bergen Line cruise ship Scandinavia ex Stella Polaris is lost south east of Japan while under tow to China. Plans were to refit here there and subsequently operate her as a hotel/ restaurant in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. Stella Polaris had been operated as such for the last three decades in Japan. Recently she had been acquired by Petro Fast from Sweden.

– German operator Holiday Kreuzfahrten surprisingly goes bankrupt. Both vessels chartered by the company, the Mona Lisa and Lili Marleen will finish their Baltic cruises and will be returned to their respective owners.

– German tour oprator TUI and Carnival sign a letter of intent to operate two cruise brands targeted at the German market. One of the brands will be Carnival’s subsidiary Aida Cruises, known for their informal club style cruises, while the other will be a newly formed brand.

2007

– The prestigious magazine Conde Nast Traveller awards the three Seabourn vessels the highest ranking of all cruise ships in the categories food and service. Since this survey amongst its readers was initiated in 1994, the Seabourn vessels received award after award.

– Carnival joins forces with the Spanish travel company Orizonia Corp. owner of Iberojet which operates two cruise ships, Grand Voyager and Grand Mistral. This deal will give Carnival a stronger foothold in Europe, and Iberojet a chance for fast growth.

– Carnival sells one of its subsidiaries, Windstar Cruises to Ambassador Int. for 100 million dollar. Ambassador is the owner of Majestic Cruise Lines which operates several classic paddle-wheelers like American Queen, Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen etc.

– Swan Hellenic Cruises, owned by P&O stops operations after their only ship Minerva II is withdrawn, but will probably continue as a brand after all. The company name and rights are been acquired by former P&O chairman Lord Sterling.

– One of the vessels of Cypriot-bases Louis Cruise Lines, the Sea Diamond (former Birka Princess) strikes rocks near the Greek island of Santorini. Passengers are evacuated and in the early morning hours the Sea Diamond sinks and now lies a 100 metres below the surface. It seems that two passengers are not accounted for after the vessel had been abandoned, a father and his daughter from France.

– German shipyard Blohm and Voss lengthens Fred Olsen Cruise Lines newest vessel Balmoral (former Norwegian Crown of NCL and due to enter service for Fred Olsen in January 2008) with a 30 meter midsection. This increases the ships capacity by one third.

– Problems for NCL. Due to heavy competition in Hawaiian waters leading to downward pricing, NCL announces it will withdraw the Pride of Hawaii and shift her to European waters in early 2008. The company has experienced massive losses in 2006 and 2007. The ship will be renamed Norwegian Jade.

– First Choice Cruises acquires Quark Expeditions and its fleet of 6 vessels which make expedition cruises. First Choice wants to expand in the expedition cruises market.

– Carnival reveals plans to upgrade cabins and public spaces on board all eight Fantasy vessels between now and 2009. They will also be renamed, as their current names will be preceded by “Carnival”.

– Interesting news. Cunard Line announces the sudden and unexpected sale of the famous Queen Elizabeth 2 to Dubai interests for a reported 100 million dollars. She will be used as a luxury floating hotel and entertainment centre, berthed at the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in the form of a palm tree. She will be delivered late 2008.

– Royal Caribbean Cruises forms a new cruise line which will aim at the deluxe market: Azamara Cruises. The line will use two former Renaissance R-class ships as Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey

– For the first time, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate voyages to South America with 14- to 18-day departures featuring extended visits to several destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru aboard the new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor beginning in January 2009.

– Holland America Line launches As You Wish dining, an innovative program that allows guests to choose from the best of both worlds — either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a completely flexible dining schedule. One level of the two-tiered restaurant will offer flexible open dining service from 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and the other will host two seatings, an early and main seating.

– Ocean Majesty and Thomson Spirit collide in the Geiranger Fjord in Norway. One of Ocean Majesty’s lifeboats is damaged as well as Thomson Spirits bow.

– After NCL reported massive losses mostly from its US division (Hawaii) the company will receive a financial injection of $1 billion from Apollo Management, a firm which recently also invested in Oceania Cruises.

– P&O Cruises newbuilding Ventura is to be UK’s largest floating art galley. 40 British artists will produce almost 7,000 pieces of modern art worth over 1 million pounds. The collection on board will showcase work from all disciplines including sculpture, photography, digital print, mural, painting, glasswork, lenticular and mosaic.The art will be displayed all around the public areas of the new ship but the three stairwells will be a highlight of the collection, each led by a single artist.

– A new European cruise line is launched by Royal Caribbean Cruises. The new line, to be called CDF Croisieres de France will cater to the French market. Sailings will start in May 2008 using the former Europa, Superstar Aries, Holiday Dream under her new name Blue de France.

– Finally the Norway can be scrapped. This has been ruled by the high court of India although environmentalists still claimed asbestos and other dangerous substances are present on the vessel.

– The Explorer, operated by GAP Adventure Cruises sinks of the Argentinean Coast in Antarctican waters after striking a submerged iceberg. The vessel suffers a hole of about 10 cm in the hull and pumps can’t cope. Passengers are transferred to Nordnorge (Hurtigruten cruise ship) and Lindblad Expedition’s Geographic Endeavour. The Explorer, built in 1969 and former Lindblad Explorer, Society Explorer is known for being the first cruise ship to navigate the North West passage in 1984.

– As the transaction between Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Apollo Management, nears completion and the infusion of $1 billion comes into the company, NCL announces its Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide initiative featuring significant enhancements in its onboard product. The enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience across the ship; new wide ranging onboard activities for guests of all ages; additional service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and a re-launch of a tiered Latitudes past guest recognition program.

2008

– Although british cruise-operator Travelscope had gone into administration, passengers who had booked the world cruise on the Van Gogh could set set sail Friday, reports the Press Association. The Gloucester-based Travelscope, a tour operator that also operates the ocean-going Van Gogh and river ships, had gone into administration shortly before Christmas. All other trips planned by the company, some 45,000 on number, were canceled.

– Private equity group Apollo Management agreed to invest heavily and become a major shareholder in Norwegian Cruise Line. NCL has announced the closing of a $1 billion cash equity investment. Apollo has now become a 50 percent owner of NCL. Star Cruises, NCL’s previous sole shareholder, owns the other 50 percent. NCL needed cash to implement Freestyle 2.0 on their ships and for the new F# prototype ship.

– Cunard Trio Sails Together for First — and Last — Time
Three cruise ships from the same company sailing out of the same port at the same time is usually not such a big deal. But when the ships are the three Queens of Cunard, and they’re departing from New York … well, that makes big headlines.

– Between 8:30 and 9 p.m. yesterday, Queen Mary 2, the new Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2 lined up in New York for their first ever rendezvous (and last; Queen Elizabeth 2 is being retired at the end of this year). It was a big event, even in a metropolis like New York. In Battery Park, thousands of spectators arrived to witness the historical lineup, which ended with fireworks as the Queens passed under the VerrazanoNarrowsBridge — Queen Mary 2 heading to Barbados on her 10-night Caribbean cruise, and Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2 to Ft.Lauderdale on their World Cruises.

– While this is the first World Cruise for the Queen Victoria, it will be the last for the Queen Elizabeth. Fortunately, the ship still has scheduled calls in New York prior to its retirement.

– Celebrity’s new vessel Celebrity Solstice innovation is grass: a 1/2-acre lawn for sports and relaxation. “The Lawn Club,” on the top-most deck, aft, will feature real growing grass and a full-time gardener to keep in good condition. It will be the central element of the ship’s outdoor experience.

– Marco Polo will depart Orient Lines fleet and being a one-ship operator and given the fact that NCL, Orient’s parent company will not replace the ship means that Orient Lines, created in 1991 as a destination-oriented company, will no longer exist.

– Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Evolutions of Fun” initiative, a $250 million renovation and upgrade program of its eight Fantasy-class ships goes ahead on schedule with pase 2 being implemented. Next vessel to be refitted the 70,000-ton, 2,052-passenger Carnival Fantasy which will enter dry dock this fall. A new aqua park, an adults-only area and a redesigned main pool are the main features of this program. Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration were the first two ships to receive these improvements, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Elation, Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Fascination will be renovated by the end of 2009. Phase one of the initiative, already complete, featured updated staterooms with flat-screen TV’s, a renovated 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival facility, refreshed dining rooms, a New York-style deli, an atrium lobby bar, a new conference facility, a patisserie, and new photo and art galleries.

– Stelios Haji-Ioannou has put his first vessel for his low budget company easyCruise, easyCruiseOne up for Sale and has cancelled his new-build order (for up to seven ships!) at a Greek yard. The line will now launch in April easyCruise Life, their second ship which easyCruise bought in September 2007.
easyCruise Life will be operated om 7-night cruises around in Greek and Turkish waters.

– Celebrity orders fifth Solstice-class ship for delivery in 2012 and now has five Solstice-class vessels on order to be launched between 2008 and 2011.

– Pearl Seas Cruises, the recently formed line in the luxury cruise market, has experienced serious construction delays with its first ship. The vessel is now set to debut spring 2008 (built at Halifax Shipyard Ltd)ed.

-Thomson Cruises announces that its Thomson Emerald (built 1958, rebuilt in 1991) will be leaving the fleet at the end of October. Thomson has been chartering the vessel, owned by Louis Cruise Lines, since 1993 The ageing vessel is not up to standards anymore..

– Royal Caribbean takes delivery at Aker Yards, turku, Finland, of the Independence of the Seas, third vessel in the Freedom-class series. She measures 160,000 tons, carries 3,630 pax.

– Private Cabanas Introduced on Eurodam
On its first Signature-Class ship, Eurodam, HAL will introduce so called private cabanas, tented cabanas for private use on the Observation and Lido Decks. All of them will be furnished with woven chaises, ottomans and upholstered settees, and are stocked with bathrobes, plush towels, handheld fans, Evian spray misters and iPods already loaded with a variety of music.

– Swan Hellenic, returns on the cruising scene. Operating one vessel 12,500-ton, 350-passenger Minerva.
In 2006 the line was to be sold by parent company, Carnival UK; and its existing ship, Minerva II, was transferred to Princess Cruises. But, in April 2007, Lord Sterling (former P&O Cruises chairman) bought the Swan Hellenic name and its former passenger lists”. What he actually got was the name, its list of passengers and other back-of-the-house stuff; he then needed to go out and find a ship. Interesting detail: the Minerva now to be introduced was actually also Swan Hellenic’s popular former Minerva; so the ship is returning to her former name and owners.

– easyCruise’s newvessel, easCruise Life, has now departed on its maiden voyage (may 2008), a month late as she was delayed by greek labour strikes.

– HAL’s “Grande Dame”, the Rotterdam V of 1959 has returned home at last.Rotterdam V, its one-time flagship, pulled into Rotterdam for good; there, after years of planning and renovating the ship in Spain, Poland and Germany, the ship will be permanently docked and serve as a floating hotel.

– MSC has signed a contract with Aker Yards to build two more ships which will belong to the Musica class; they measure 89,600 tons and carry 2,550 passengers.

– easyCruise has decided to include Half-board meal packages and daily housekeeping as part of the published fares starting immediately. Up till now, the line, operating as a budget cruise line excluded all shipboard services from it fares, but because of this move, the line is getting closer to becoming a standard traditional cruis line. .

– TUI Travel, parent company of Thomson, now owns 100 percent of Island Cruises; this will result in Island Star leaving the fleet. She is acquired by Spanish Pullmantur, meaning all 2009, 20110 cruises will be cancelled.

– As a result of SOLAS 2010 safety rules, Fred Olsen will retire its classic Retire Black Prince of 1966. Costs of upgrading the little ship, still very popular among British passengers are too high.

– When QE2 enters Dubai’s port of Mina Rashid her active career as the wordls most publicized liner/ cruise ship will have ended. Plans are to strip the vessel, partially rebuild her and in three years after a grand reopening, operate her as a floating luxury hotel berthed at Palm Jumeirah, a manmade island shaped like a palm tree.

– Norwegian Cruise Line and STX Europe, which have been in dispute over plans for the newly developed F3 series of ships, have resolved their disagreements, resulting in NCL will now build just one ship, rather than the pair originally planned. This is scheduled to debut in May 2010. The disagreement began when NCL objected to the higher costs STX France calculated to make additional design changes NCL included in the F3 project at a later stage of development.

2009

– QE2, taken over from Cunard by Dubai government-owned firm Nakheel, is in danger of being sent to the scrap yard after all. Since delivery in November 2008, QE2 has been waiting for conversion to hotel, museum and convention centre. Spectacular plans have been shelved because of the economic crisis also hitting Dubai and as a result of this declining numbers of tourists visiting Dubai.

– Costa Cruises is the first shipping line which sells cruises through the website of an airline. In this case, Ryanair features a page on its UK-website through which passengers can book for Costa cruise packages. Ryanair flights can be combined with Costa cruises in this way.

– Construction on both new Disney vessels to be introduced in 2011 and 2012 has begun. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will measure 128.000GRT and carry 2500 pax. They are being built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Current Disney liners have the highest occupancy ratio in cruising because of the many children per cabin (ratio: 150%!). This means that although officially the new ships (which feature two extra decks) will carry 2500 pax, their actual occupancy will be around 3500.

– British Hebridean International Cruises will end sailing in international waters and sell one of her vessels, Hebridean Spirit. The line states it will focus on operating her remaining vessel, Hebridean Princess in domestic Scottish waters. Reason for this downsizing of operations is the company has received less bookings than expected because of the economic recession and suffers from a weak pound against euro and dollar. This means operating a vessel in international waters will no longer be viable.

– A group of world leaders from eight countries France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada among them U.S. President Barack Obama will be staying on board MSC Cruises 135.000GRT MSC Fantasia during thus year’s G8 Summitin Sardinia.

– Starting March, a new cruise line will start operating ms Celebration on short cruises to the Bahama’s from Port Everglades. This former rebuilt Color Line ferry will be used and will replace the ss Regal Empress of now defunct Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. Regal Empress has recently been scrapped as she did not comply to the new SOLAS 2010 requirements due to her age.

– All Leisure Group (owners of Swan Hellenic Cruises andVoyages of Discovery) has acquired Hebridean Island Cruises. Hebridean went into administration earlier this year and had to dispose of one of her two vessels, Hebridean Spirit. The line will now focus on her domestic trade in the Scottish isles.

– The former Celebrity Galaxy, retired in March, has been launched in Hamburg. Germany-based TUI Cruises will target Mein Schiff (German for “My Ship) to German-speaking passengers. 50 million euro’s have been spent to completely modernize her resulting in some spectacular public spaces like the Himmel and Meer Lounge featuring pod chairs with cushions dangling from the ceiling. A number of balconies even feature hammocks.

– German operator Peter Deilmann Cruises will shut down its river cruise division beginning in 2010. The cruise line cites financial concerns as the reason. Through 2009, river cruises will be operated as normal and then Deilmann will sell of her fleet of eight river cruisers. The ocean-going cruise ship, Deutschland, will not be affected and will continue to offer luxury cruises. Deilmann is yet another victim of the current economic depression.

– Saga Holidays, the Britain-based two-ship line that aims at the over 50 market, has purchased a replacement for Saga Rose, the classic cruise ship which will retire in December 2009. The company acquired the 18,600GRT, 446-passenger Astoria at an auction yesterday in Gibraltar. After a thorough 14 million pound refurbishment, the ship will begin sailing in March 2010 as Saga Pearl II. (the refurbishment will include the addition of new balcony cabins; upgrades to the show lounge, spa and two swimming pools; and the creation of a library and a new Veranda Restaurant).

– A new British cruise line is formed: Cruise & Maritime Voyages, offering sailings on two intimate classic vessels, the 22.000GRT Marco Polo and the 17.000GRT Ocean Countess The line will aim at the same market as competitors Voyages of Discovery and Saga Cruises, both also British lines that cater for more mature travellers and emphasize on destination oriented cruises.

– Cruise line Paul Gaugain Cruises has been up for sale for some time and has now been sold to Pacific Beachcomber, a firm which owns luxury resorts. Owner Regent Seven Seas Cruises had just shifted operations of Paul Gauguin to the newly formed cruise line, Paul Gaugiuin Cruises starting from 2010 as Regent’s charter of the vessel ends 2009. Beachcombers interests are in the region of Tahiti, French Polynesia, so Paul Gaguin will most likely stay in the area.

– German cruise operator Transocean Tours, which charters Marco Polo and Astor, filed for insolvency in September. The company, which resides in Bremen will start restructuring within weeks. Cruises for the remainder of 2009 on both ships will be unaffected. It seems that one of the reasons for the company’s financial difficulties is the cancellation of Astor’s 2008/ 2009 world cruise resulting in high insurance payouts which had to be made.

– Up till now, Celebrity Cruises was one of the few cruise lines not to offer their passengers flexible dining options like NCL’s Freestyle Dining which was the first alternative dining program introduced in the business. Later all other large cruise lines followed, and now Celebrity introduces Celebrity Select offering passengers flexible dinner times and a new feature here is that passengers can pre book on a daily basis when and where they will dine, and with whom.

– Former Windjammer Barefoot Cruises passengers have formed a new cruise line to fill the void left in this niche market of casual sail cruises when Windjammer when bankrupt in 2008. The line will start operating the small 12-passenger Diamant from Grenada to six islands: Carriacou, Union Island, Bequia, Tobago Cays, Mayreau and Palm Island.

– Only a year after leaving the Cunard fleet for a new life as a luxury hotel in Dubai, the QE2 may have to be sold. The ship was bought for $100 million in 2007 by Nakheel, a specialist property subsidiary of state-run Dubai World, and has been berthed in Dubai since arriving there in November 2008. Now, Nakheel which has run into financial trouble will have to restructure (it has a debt of $ 60 billion) which could result in QE2 being sold off.

– Oceania which will launch the 66,000-ton, 1,258 passenger Marina, its first new-build, January 2010 unveiled drawings for its most expensive suites. The three Owner’s Suites on Marina are more than twice the size of their counterparts on her fleetmates Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. These 2,500-square-foot suites are the first staterooms to go from beam to beam, all across the ship offering views both from port- and starboard.

– Silversea’s 36,000-ton, 540-passenger new-build, Silver Spirit, has been handed over to the company by the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy.
The inaugural sailing, from Barcelona to Lisbon will be on December 23.

2010

-An extensive fleet modernisation plan has been launched by Celebrity Cruises which celebrates its 20th anniversary. Their Solstice-class vessels have proven so popular, that when overhauling their Millennium class vessels this will be done with Celebrity Solstice’s facilities in mind. Solstice introduced the industry’s first real lawn on the top deck of a cruise ship as well as an ice-walled bar among other never seen facilities.

– Paul Gauguin, the luxury cruise ship operated in the South Pacific for the last decade, has now been officially handed over to her new owners, Pacific Beachcomber. Itineraries will remain the same as will the ship itself apart from the replacement of the old spa by an algotherm Spa (which can also been found in the Inter Continental resorts Beachcomber also owns).

– Silversea’s new ship Silver Spirit has been christened and has been officially taken into service during a short and simple ceremony in Port Everglades. Just before the christening, the ship was inspected by the Centre of Disease Control and earned a score of 96 out of 100.

– Plans to dock the QE2, the former famous Cunard cruise liner now owned by Dubai developer Nakheel at Cape Town, South Africa during this summer’s FIFA World Cup have fallen through. Nakheel wanted to dock the ship for 18 months in Cape town, much longer than the World Cup, but port officials state they need the berth for handling regular cargo vessels. Nakheel is short of funds to execute their original plans to vastly rebuild the QE2 and operate her in Dubai and currently tries to find ways to have the ship generate alternative sources of income .

– Easycruise ends operations by cancelling sailings for the remainder of the 20210 season and offering passengers refunds. The line started in 2005 as a low budget cruise line in the Caribbean, meals and housekeeping were not included in the fare. Later Easycruise altered this and became more of a standard cruise line. A larger vessel replaced the original Easycruise One, but Easycruise did not succeed in finding an solid foothold in the cruise industry.

– For the first time a cruise ship has been named at an Arabian port: at a spectacular event during which Arabian horseman performed and parachutists with Costa logo’s on their parachutes landed, Costa Deliziosa was named by godmother Tala Dionisi, wife of the Italian ambassador to the Arab Emirates. Because of Muslim faith, a bottle of juice instead of champagne was used and the ceremony was referred to as a naming, not a christening.

Oceania first newbuilding Marina (it currently operates Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, all three ex-Renaissance ships) will be floated out of its construction dock during a special event at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genova. Although far from finished, travel agents and press are invited to tour the ship for a first impression.

– Three crew members have died and four other people have been injured after Costa Europa collided with a pier during bad weather in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh this morning. An unexpected gust of wind threw the ship against the pier.

-A growth to 1.65 mio British cruise passengers in 2020 is envisaged because of ships offering more facilities are being introduced as well as cruises to more varied destinations are offered. This spectacular number of cruise passengers does cause shipping lines problems as they will have to increase capacity in time. British passengers mostly sail on ships of one of the brands of Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess, Cunard etc

– West Africa is becoming more important as a cruise destination. Crystal Cruises and Princess offer cruises in the region. Star Clippers and Seabourn Cruises also did until recently but because of increased risks of piracy off the coast of Somalia, these line have cancelled their sailings in the area for now. Several ports are building cruise terminals to be able to accommodate cruise passengers in the near future.

– Carnival Ecstasy (70,367 GRT, 2052 pax) suddenly developed a heavy list when it needed to avoid a large buoy which was adrift and had not been detected by the ships radar, resulting in 60 passengers suffering minor injuries.

– Cruise travelers suffer from cancelled flights in all of Europe because of several volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Cruise ships, Celebrity Eclipse, Thomson Dream and Island Escape offered assistance and repatriated stranded tourists back to the UK.

– Even on Royal Caribbean 225.000 GRT Oasis of the Seas, which is a stunning success because of its sheer size and impressive facilities, some of the ships facilities are used less than expected. An example of this is the Coney Island Boardwalk featuring a carousel and shops offering ice cream, candy etc. As these services come with a fee, passengers divert to the other (free) amenities this ship has to offer. So on sister ship Allure of the Seas, these lesser performing areas will be replaced by alternative facilities.

– A spectacular feature of Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth, currently under construction, will be a two and a half deck art panel in the Grand Lobby, the area where passengers will board the ship, depicting the first ship to carry the name Queen Elizabeth, created by artist David Linley, a nephew of the Queen.

– Mr Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s CEO stated at a press conference onboard the lines new $1.1 billion Norwegian Epic that he line will not order a second F3-class sister ship to the Epic. Newbuildings, when ordered will be of an entirely new class.

– The SS United States has been saved from the scrapyard. Philadelphia philanthropist Mr Gerry Lenfest has donated $5.8 million, enabling the SS United States Conservancy to acquire the ship for $ 3 million from current owners NCL. Mr Lenfest will pay for docking fees for 20 months during which the Conservancy will develop a business plan to convert the ship to a floating hotel/ museum.

– Passengers on the Clipper Adventurer (operated by Canadian Adventure Canada) saw their cruise end earlier than expected when their ship hit an uncharted rock en route from Epworth to Kugluktuk. When the ship couldn’t be freed on the next high tide, an icebreaker offered help and transported its passengers to Kugluktuk from where they were flown home.

– In September, Dick West, CEO of Cruise West announced the closure of the company after 64 years. The company had suffered badly from the economic crises and could not survive financially any longer.

– Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has christened Cunard´s new cruiser Queen Elizabeth (92.400 GRT). When the bottle smashed into her hull, the ship was covered by red, white and blue streamers.

– Costa Classica, stationed in Shanghai, China has collided with a cargo ship in the port of Shanghai when returning from a cruise, suffering a 20 meter gash above the waterline. Although summoned to their lifeboat stations, passengers have not been in any danger.

Costa Classica

– Although kept quiet by the line at first, NCL has ordered two 143.500 GRT ships from Meyer Werft, Germany. They will not be sisters to Norwegian Epic, but will be ships of a new generation derived from NCL’s popular Norwegian Jewel, Jade, Pearl and Gem.

– Regent Seven Seas wants to emphasize the ultra luxury character of its product by including pre-cruise stays to all of its sailings, starting next season, this in addition to shore excursions, beverages and tips which are already included in the fares of most sailings.

– The success of Oasis of the Seas’ extensive facilities is overwhelming and Royal Caribbean will include several of them in older ships when they are refitted. Starting with mid size Radiance of the Seas (90.000GRT) which will receive a Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse and Rita’s Cantina (Mexican food), Giovanni’s Table, serving Italian dishes and the Park Cafe deli, which will not be in situated in an actual park by the way and the Chef’s Table, an exclusive dinner restaurant.

– Splendor of the Seas (Carnival Cruises) has been stricken by an engine-room fire and the ship was adrift for four days before being towed into port. On board power was lost, toilets did not work. Food had to be improvised as the kitchen was also crippled.

– Saga Holidays, the line for passengers over 50 years of age has acquired a new vessel, the Blue the France. She will be refitted and will enter service in 2012

– Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity’s two new vessels for 2011 an 2012 will offer more amenities than their three sister ships already in service. Onboard Reflection 42 suites will be added for which the pool will be raised one deck, more seats in the theatre and the Ocean View Café and cabana’s will be added which can be rented for half a day or a full day. Due to time limitations the size of Silhouette could not be increased, but it will feature 17 additional cabins.