norwegian cruise line purchases presitige cruise holdings

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY
Vol. 33, Issue 11 - September 15, 2014
“Our 33rd Year of Continuous Publication”
Single issue price $2.50
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE PURCHASES
PRESITIGE CRUISE HOLDINGS
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has
announced it has entered into a definitive
agreement to acquire Prestige Cruises
International, Inc. the market leader in the upscale
cruise segment and parent company of Oceania
Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in cash
and stock for a total transaction consideration of
$3.025 billion, including the assumption of debt.
“The acquisition of Prestige represents an
extraordinary opportunity for Norwegian Cruise
Line to expand our market presence by adding two
established, award-winning brands in the upscale
cruise segment with loyal followings,” said Kevin
Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive
officer. "Not only does this acquisition
immediately enhance our financial performance,
but it also deepens the bench of talent that we have
been developing over the years. Our
complementary strengths and skillsets will pave
the way for new cross-selling opportunities, crossbrand collaboration, cross-business support, as
well as joint partnerships which, coupled with
meaningful synergies that can be quickly
implemented, will provide solid accretion to
earnings per share and drive long-term shareholder
value,” added Sheehan.
“We are excited to become part of the
Norwegian family and start a new chapter for our
company,” said Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO
of Prestige. “With Oceania and Regent, we have
built iconic brands with distinctive product
offerings and strong customer loyalty. The
combination is very compelling and will allow us
to further enhance our renowned guest experience.
We are looking forward to joining the Norwegian
team and building upon the success that our three
brands have already achieved.”
Prestige operates eight ships and
approximately 6,500 berths under two segmentleading brands. Oceania Cruises is a market leader
in the upper-premium cruise segment with five
ships offering destination-oriented cruise vacations
to more than 330 ports around the globe, gourmet
culinary experiences, elegant accommodations and
personalized service. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
is a market leader in the luxury cruise segment and
operates three award-winning, all-suite ships, with
an additional ship on order for delivery in summer
2016. Regent offers the industry’s most inclusive
luxury vacation experience visiting over 250
destinations worldwide. Frank Del Rio will
remain chief executive officer of Prestige.
“The combination of three distinct brands,
each serving a different market segment, under one
umbrella immediately creates an industry-leading
cruise operator with an unmatched growth
trajectory and a portfolio of products that allows us
to appeal to guests at every stage of their life
cycle,” added Sheehan. “We are fully committed
to retaining the brand propositions, guest
experiences and cultures of the Norwegian,
Oceania and Regent brands that have allowed each
to realize such success.”
Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas
Cruises have been long time favorites of World
Ocean & Cruise Liner Society members and the
readers of Ocean & Cruise News. In the last 10
years a Prestige Holding ship has won our coveted
“Ship of the Year” award 50% of the time. The
Regent Seven Seas Voyager has won that award
more times than any other ship, while the Oceania
twins Marina and Riviera have also both won this
award,
We look forward to this new chapter in the
history of these wonderful lines.
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they are both truly unique and wonderful cruise
experiences.
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Shawn J. Dake
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Theodore W. Scull
Ben Lyons
Andy Hernandez
Steven Stern
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omission contained herein. Printed in the United States
Members might remember back in 1994 NCL
bought the iconic Royal Viking Line which soon
disappeared and their ships sold off or integrated into
NCL as if it never existed. This however, is a new and
wiser NCL, an NCL that has become an innovator in
the cruise industry rather than a follower, so it is
hoped they allow these lines to conduct business as
usual similar to what Carnival Corporation has done
with all their acquisitions.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises remains a premier
luxury product while Oceania in its short history has
carved out a unique place in the cruise industry
developing a quality product with a strong and loyal
following.
We will have to watch closely and we will be very
interested in your input through your cruise report
cards and emails as to how the Regent and Oceania
products fair during this transition. It is hoped that
little changes
Sincerely,
EDITORIAL
The big news this month in the maritime industry
is the purchase of Prestige Cruises International by
Norwegian Cruise Lines. As you will read in this
issue NCL will be purchasing Oceania Cruises and
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the two cruise lines that
make up Prestige.
This appears to make perfect sense as it gives
NCL two new brands for it passengers to move up to
without crossing over to competitor. It mimics the
offerings available to a Carnival passenger who can
experience Princess, Holland America, Cunard and
others without leaving the Carnival umbrella. It also
provides the premium Presitge products with a huge
supply of cruisers to which to market their upscale
experiences to.
It is hoped that NCL will continue to leave the
two Prestige products to operate independently as
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3
LOOKING BACK
A look at what was making news in Ocean &
Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty years
ago.
Five Years Ago – September 2009....Disney
Cruise Line announces that it will be going to
Alaska for the very first time in 2011. . Captain
Chris Wells is appointed Master of Cunard
Line's Queen Elizabeth, which will enter service
in October 2010 ......Crystal announces that
Crystal Symphony will receive a $25 millionplus makeover featuring dramatic new interiors
and deck space.....Carnival Cruise Lines
officially takes delivery of its newest and largest
ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream.
Ten Years Ago – September 2004....Carnival
Corporation has ordered four new ships from
Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri for delivery in
2007 and 2008.....Royal Caribbean announces
that its entire fleet will be registered in the
Bahamas by early 2005.....Carnival Valor
embarks on sea trials in the Adriatic . . . Royal
Caribbean orders a second Ultra Voyager ship
.....Carnival Cruise Lines' announces that the
Paradise will no longer be a non-smoking ship
when she starts year-round service from Long
Beach to the Mexican Riviera.
Fifteen Years Ago – September 1999.....
American Classic Voyages announces an
agreement with Holland America Line to buy
the Nieuw Amsterdam for $114.5 million
.....Norwegian Cruise Line installs a “Bridge
Cam” on the bridge of the Norwegian Sky that
can be viewed from the lines web
site.....Carnival announces that it will position
the Celebration in Galveston in 2000.
Twenty Years Ago – September 1994....
Carnival Cruise Lines new mega-ship is the first
to break the 100,000-ton barrier.....Princess
Cruises announces that it will also be building a
100,000-ton ship.....Royal Caribbean announces
that it will place the Sun Viking in the Far
East.....ms Estonia sinks in the Baltic and is the
deadliest shipwreck disaster to have occurred in
the Baltic Sea in peacetime, costing 852 lives.
The American Queen Steamboat Company,
owner and operator of the country’s grandest
riverboat fleet, is pleased to announce the launch
of its new website showcasing sailings through
America’s heartland and the Pacific Northwest.
Highlighting the American Queen and American
Empress experience online, the website was
designed with digital advertising partner,
Fuseideas. The new webpage boasts a fresh look
with more interactive components than ever
before, allowing future guests and travel agents
to seamlessly research and request their next
river cruise.
“Fuseideas was pleased to partner with
American Queen Steamboat Company to design
and construct a modern website using advanced
Content Management tools and technology to not
only assist staff in updating itineraries and
general site content, but also ensuring it serves a
valuable marketing tool to grow their business.”
shares Fuseideas CEO Dennis Franczak.
Of the many enhancements, users will most
enjoy the improved search function with more
query options and faster results. Voyage content
includes expanded information on themes and
special events. Vessel details are more
comprehensive than ever, with new videos for the
American Queen and American Empress
highlighting the brand’s onboard hospitality and
hop-on, hop-off shore excursions. Enhanced
stateroom descriptions combine deck plans,
images and other useful information neatly one
page. Additionally, a list of special offers
encourages users to take full advantage of value
cruises and sign up for monthly newsletters. The
Travel Agent section of the website has received
an upgrade as well, with increased access to
marketing materials and sales support.
For additional information and reservations,
contact American Queen Steamboat Company at
888-749-5280,
visit
them
online
at
www.AQSC.com or call your travel agent agent.
Oceania Cruises announced an additional 180day journey aboard the newly refurbished Insignia,
scheduled to depart on January 4, 2016. Encouraged
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by the overwhelmingly positive response by guests to
their first two 180-day cruises this newest voyage is
the latest in a series that represents the longest and
most comprehensive world exploration itineraries
available in the cruise industry. Reservations opened
for the new Around the World in 180 Days itinerary
on July 30, 2014.
Embarking from Miami on January 4, 2016,
Insignia will set sail for the Caribbean before
continuing on a southern course to South America
where the ship will visit ports in Trinidad and Tobago,
French Guiana and Brazil. The ship then heads to
Africa where guests will enjoy some of the most
incredible scenery the world has to offer in countries
such as Angola, Namibia, South Africa and
Mozambique. After traveling around the African
continent, Insignia sails for Asia where guests will
enjoy two-night stays in Rangoon, Burma (Yangon,
Myanmar), and Shanghai, China, as well as visits to a
myriad of exotic and alluring locales. Insignia then
heads to the South Pacific for a number of stops,
including Oceania Cruises’ first call on the Australian
port of Cooktown, serving as a gateway for the Great
Barrier Reef and the Aboriginal community of
Hopevale. After sailing through the azure Hawaiian
waters, Insignia stops in Los Angeles before heading
down the west coast, through the Panama Canal and
completing the journey in Miami on July 1. As the
leader in destination-rich itineraries, Oceania Cruises
designed the Around the World in 180 Days voyage
with 14 overnight stays and visit a total of 92 ports of
call.
For more information on Oceania Cruises, visit
OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or contact
your travel agent.
Make 2015 a year of small ship cruising, seeing
your world our way. Small ship cruising means
discovering the world the way it should be seen - free
from crowds and the freedom that comes by bringing
the destination to you. Our cruises provide by far the
best value in small ship cruising. Learn about our
retractable pilot house that allows us to take you
through the entire length of the Erie Canal, the only
overnight cruise line to do so. Experience our bow
landings let you step directly off the ship and onto
gentile riverbanks.
In 2015 we have some new adventures for you to
explore…
• The Big Apple to The U.S. Capital
• D.C. to Boston
• Two Nation Vacation: Maine & New
Brunswick
Join us in 2015 and receive a 15% Early
Booking Discount on all of our itineraries.*
Planning your next small ship cruise with Blount
Small Ship Adventures is as easy as the click of a
mouse with our new 2015 e-brochure at
www.blountsmallshipadventures.com OR Call us at
800-556-7450 to receive your FREE brochure today!
*Cruise fare discount is per person and based on double occupancy.
Valid on new bookings only made by October 31st. Other restrictions may apply.
Beginning in June and continuing through
October 2015, Queen Victoria will embark on her
first full Mediterranean season, featuring 32 ports of
call spread across an array of seven-, 14- and 21-day
cruises. Both one-way and roundtrip voyages will be
featured. One-way departures will be from Rome,
Venice, Athens, Trieste or Istanbul, and roundtrip
voyages will be from Athens, Rome or Istanbul.
Maiden ports of call during her new season will
include Rapallo, Zadar and Trieste.
In addition to the classic must-see Mediterranean
ports of call, and in keeping with Cunard’s tradition of
unique destinations, there will be visits to Ajaccio on
the west coast of the island of Corsica; Bodrum in the
southwest Aegean Region of Turkey; La Spezia in
northern Italy; Volos, the newest port city in Greece;
Cagliari, the capital city of the island Sardinia in Italy;
and Sochi, Russia, where the 2014 Winter Olympic
Games took place. In addition, there will be overnight
calls in Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Barcelona and
Monte Carlo; with some 21-day voyages featuring
two or three overnight calls.
Fares for the seven-day Mediterranean voyages
aboard Queen Victoria in 2015 start from $1,049 per
person, based on double occupancy, plus port fees and
taxes. For more information about Queen Victoria, or
to book a voyage, contact your travel agent, call
Cunard Line toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit
www.cunard.com.
5
Holland America Line's ms Prinsendam kicks
off the new year on Jan 3, 2015 with a 68-day Grand
South America and Antarctica Voyage followed by
a 55-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage. These two
itineraries are designed to take guests on longer
explorations that visit some of the most interesting
and exciting ports in the world. This is an addition
to ms Amsterdam's 114-day Grand World Voyage
that calls at 45 ports in 25 countries.
When ms Amsterdam departs Fort Lauderdale
Jananuary 5, 2015 on her Grand Voyage, the cruise
will span 114 days and call at 45 ports in 25
countries on six continents. Offering a refined and
elegant "home away from home," the around the
world journey is the pinnacle in travel, and this
cruise truly is the grandest of the Grand Voyages.
Then Prinsendam returns to South America,
Antarctica and the Amazon in 2015 on a 68-day
itinerary sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that
departs January 3. After passing through the Panama
Canal, the ship will reach South America’s Pacific
coast and continue on to circumnavigate the
continent.
For more information about Holland America
Line, consult a professional travel seller, call 1-877SAIL-HAL
(1-877-724-5425)
or
visit
www.hollandamerica.com or the Plan a Cruise tab
at www.Facebook.com/HALcruises.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' brand of all-inclusive
luxury is expanding to include unlimited internet
access. For all Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyages
setting sail after January 1, 2015, guests booked in
Master, Grand, Seven Seas, Horizon, Mariner,
Navigator and Voyager suites will receive unlimited
complimentary internet access. The free internet
access is available for the duration of the cruise and is
accessible in all public spaces and suites via the shipwide Wi-Fi system.
The addition of free unlimited internet access for
upper suites coincides with the completion of a
multimillion-dollar upgrade to internet systems on all
Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships. The upgrades entail
a doubling of available bandwidth to increase internet
speed and reliability, and an expansion of the Wi-Fi
system to provide connectivity throughout the entire
ship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks and
suites.
The expansion of the unlimited internet program
adds to the most comprehensive list of included
amenities in the vacation industry, including roundtrip air, a pre-cruise hotel night stay, fine wine and
spirits, unlimited shore excursions in every port,
specialty dining, ground transfers and gratuities.
Call 1.844.4REGENT (1.844.473.4368), visit
www.RSSC.com or contact your travel agent.
Seabourn has announced an exciting array of
cruises for fall 2015 and winter/spring 2016, featuring
more than 70 departures of 10 to 97 days in length.
Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn
Quest will comprise the newest, most modern ultraluxury fleet in the industry, and will visit exotic
locales on all seven continents.
The schedule includes 25 destinations that are
either maiden calls or ports that the cruise line has not
visited in years. Among the notable additions are
visits to South Korea, China and Japan aboard
Seabourn Sojourn, as well as the South Pacific Isles
on Seabourn Odyssey. Perennial favorites such as
Antarctica, South America, Australia, New Zealand,
Southeast Asia,Arabia, Canada/New England, the
Panama Canal and the Caribbean will also be offered.
In addition, the schedule includes visits to
destinations featuring shore excursions to many
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Itineraries, fares and
additional details for Seabourn’s complete 2015 and
winter/spring 2016 schedule of cruises can be viewed
on www.seabourn.com
For more details contact your travel advisor,
call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit
www.seabourn.com .
6
SHIP OF THE MONTH – PRIDE OF AMERICA
by Andy Hernandez
Our long-planned trip to visit Hawaii began with
our late afternoon arrival at Honolulu airport after a
long flight from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. With the
rental car in our possession, we headed off to the
hotel to drop off our luggage, followed by some brief
sightseeing and a light dinner before calling it a
night. We arose early the next day and headed
straight for Pearl Harbor. It goes without saying that
a visit to our 50th state is not complete without a stop
at this historic site. The following day after dropping
off the car, we hired a cab and headed to the port to
board NCL’s Pride of America.
THE LINE - Based in South Florida, Norwegian
Cruise Lines originally started in 1966 as Norwegian
Caribbean Lines, owned by Klosters Rederei A/S of
Oslo. It began service out of the Port of Miami with
a new yet unemployed 11,000-ton ferry which was
renamed Sunward. Proving a success, the line soon
ordered a pair of larger sisterships. These were
followed by the acquisition of the former Cunard
Adventurer which was renamed Sunward II. The
Pride of America
giant Norway, formerly the French Line flagship
France joined the fleet in 1979, eclipsing all other
cruise liners of her day and ushering in the era of the
mega-cruise ship. The company would become
Norwegian Cruise Line in 1987 and continued
growth through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s not only included
additional new tonnage but acquisition of the Royal
Viking Line in 1984 and the Orient Line in 1998
(which ceased operations in 2008).
The most ambitious expansion however began in
early 2003 when NCL announced its intention of
entering the Hawaiian cruise market full time. To
solidify its commitment to the project, the line
purchased the laid-up liners Independence and
United States. The former, originally built in 1951
for the American Export Line had been sailing for
many years in Hawaiian waters under the American
Hawaii banner until that company ceased operations
in 2001. The United States was a different story.
Entering service in 1952 as the flagship of the United
States Lines, this $78 million marvel of naval
Photo Courtesy of NCL
7
architecture would prove to be the fastest ocean liner
in the world, easily snatching the mythical Blue
Riband from the legendary Queen Mary. Sadly, the
inroads made by commercial aviation and the
numerous labor strikes prematurely doomed the
fabled ship and she was withdrawn from commercial
service in 1969. She has not sailed under her own
power since then.
One of the challenges for the upstart NCL
America brand was that due to federal law, any ship
sailing full-time in Hawaiian waters must not only
require registering the ship in the United States but
also employ a (mostly) American crew. The first ship
for the newly-branded NCL America was originally
intended to be Pride of America, but an unexpected
setback during construction (more on this below)
forced NCL to quickly transfer the Norwegian Sky
instead, renaming her Pride of Aloha in 2004.
Unfortunately, the operation got off to a very rough
start. Complaints surged of unclean staterooms, long
waits and poor food in the dining room and many
guests reported of seeing crewmembers just walking
off the ship and quitting during port calls. In light of
this, the line immediately implemented improved
training procedures, increased staffing on board and
updated the screening methods for future applicants.
While the situation did improve later on, it was
undeniably a black eye for NCL.
In spite of this setback, the new flagship Pride of
America arrived in June 2005 and in the spring of
2006 the 93,000grt Pride of Hawai’i joined the fleet.
However, the three ships combined proved to offer
capacity far exceeding demand and heavy financial
losses forced the company to announce in 2007 that
the fleet would be pared down to just the Pride of
America. The Pride of Aloha reverted to her original
name and as Norwegian Sky continues to sail on 3
and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Miami.
The Pride of Hawai’i was renamed Norwegian Jade
and currently sails in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sadly, neither of the two veteran American liners
ever re-entered service. The Independence was
finally purchased by Indian scrappers and was cut up
in 2009 at Alang. The United States is currently
owned by the S.S. United States Conservancy, a
group dedicated to preserving this great ship. Time
is not on their side, however and the ship still
remains languishing at an unused pier in
Philadelphia.
THE SHIP - The Pride of America was laid down
in October, 2000 and was originally intended to be
the first of two cruise ships (dubbed “Project
AMERICA”) to be built at the Litton-Ingalls
Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi for the newlycreated United States Lines, owned by parent
company American Classic Voyages. However, the
project collapsed in 2001 when ACV declared
bankruptcy, with the ship far from finished. The
partially-built hull was purchased by NCL which
then had it towed to the Lloyd Werft Shipyard in
Bremerhaven, Germany for completion. During this
construction phase many changes were implemented
by her new owners, among them increasing the
ship’s length from 850 feet to 920, subsequently
raising her tonnage from 72,000grt to over 81,000.
Work on the new ship proceeded at a steady pace,
with completion slated for early 2004. However,
these plans were abruptly altered when a severe gale
hit the shipyard in January 2004. Several openings in
the incomplete hull allowed water to pour into the
ship which soon settled on the bottom of the harbor
at a 12 degree list and with up to 3 decks completely
submerged. Fortunately, a survey of the ship soon
afterwards determined that some of the machinery
could be salvaged but the delay in repairing the ship
would push the delivery date back to mid-2005.
When she finally debuted in Hawaii, she was the
first major U.S.-registered liner to fly the Stars and
Stripes since the legendary S.S. United States was
abruptly retired in 1969. A rather short, stumpylooking bow detracts somewhat from what is
otherwise an attractive-looking cruise ship. NCL’s
signature artwork for the Pride of America’s hull
features a huge eagle’s head emblazoned along her
flanks. The ship received a comprehensive refit in
March, 2013 that saw the addition of 32 new cabins
(including four single Studio units), directional
onboard signage, new carpeting, soft furnishings, flat
screen TV’s in all cabins as well as enhanced dining
options found on the newest NCL ships. One note of
interest; as the state of Hawaii forbids any sort of
gambling (even bingo), there is no onboard casino.
THE CRUISE: The ship departed Honolulu at
6PM, with our first port of call being Maui early the
following morning. Twenty-one tour options are
offered at this stop and we selected ‘The Road To
Hana’, a 9 ½ hour land tour ($169.99pp) along the
famed Hana Highway, the highlights consisting of
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lava cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, tropical hillsides and
the rugged northern countryside. The tour was quite
informative and lunch very enjoyable but do be
aware that there are several areas where road
conditions are extremely poor and those with back
problems might abstain from this journey. Happily,
there was no rush to return to port as the ship stays
overnight. The following morning after breakfast we
headed off on our next tour, “Waterfalls & Rainforest
Hike”, (5 hours, $149.99pp), with our very savvy
naturalist providing detailed narrative of Hawaii’s
fascinating ecosystems along our sometimes
strenuous 2-mile trek through the lush rainforest. Do
make sure to bring a bathing suit and towel as time
permits a dip in the cool streams. We sailed late that
afternoon for our next port of call, Hilo.
time). We flew through the stunning Waimea
Canyon, the mist-shrouded Mount Waialeale and
Wailua Falls and viewed the rugged majesty of the
Na Pali coastline. When the Pride of America finally
cast off for Honolulu later that afternoon, a special
treat for guests is the close sail-by along the Na Pali
coastline, the colorful mountains showcasing an
enchanting blend of verdant greens and lush earth
tones which contrasted vividly with the rich aqua
hues of the ocean. It was simply mesmerizing to
view this scenery from the comfort of our stateroom.
Alas, we felt a tinge of sadness as we quickly
realized this event marked the close of our weeklong voyage and with the itinerary being so portintensive, this was about as close as you would get to
a full day at sea.
Our stop at Hilo allowed us to experience our
first helicopter adventure, the ‘Circle of Fire’ (2 ½
hours, flight time is aprox. 45 minutes, $269.00pp).
It was thrilling to fly over the steaming Kilauea
volcano within an open-door aircraft, allowing us
some truly spectacular photo opportunities.
Although not spewing out huge molten geysers of
lava during our call, when flying over the nearby
Puna forest and black-sand beaches we did observe
pencil-thin, orange lava trails igniting some nearby
trees.
Please note that upon arrival at Honolulu on
Saturday morning, NCL does offer 8 post-cruise
tours, including one to Pearl Harbor.
Our arrival at Kona on Wednesday morning
required tendering and after a satisfying breakfast we
headed ashore for our ‘Secret Waterfalls of Kohala’
experience, a mix of wheeled and on-foot hiking (7
hours, $189.99pp). Our very knowledgeable and
friendly guide took us through some truly stunning
scenery and time permitted for a refreshing dip in a
stream, followed by a hilltop lunch providing some
spectacular vistas.
We would spend the last two days of our trip on
Kauai, on Thursday setting off on our own after a late
breakfast and relaxing on the nearby beach. Later
that afternoon, we opted for the Lu’au Kalamaku, a
Luau dinner and show (4 1/2 hours, $109.99pp). The
theatrical performance recounted how the early
Polynesians migrated to Hawaii through traditional
song and dance as well as a dazzling Samoan fire
dance. On Friday, we wound up selecting what
turned out to be the very best tour of our cruise,
opting for the breath-taking Mokihana Helicopter
Tour ($299.99pp, 2 hours total, with 45-minute flight
PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES - The Pride of
America’s décor unabashedly celebrates all things
Americana. She has a total of 15 decks of which 11
are for passenger use. Deck 4 is for guest
accommodation only. Starting at Deck 5 forward is
the single-level Hollywood Theatre, with a Tinsel
Town paparazzi red carpet event theme. This 880guest lounge offers comfortable seating, good
sightlines for just about every seat and as the room is
not large, acoustics were excellent. The shows
presented during our voyage cater mostly to a Baby
Boomer crowd and were always well attended.
Inspired by early 1900’s New England shops, the
Newbury Street Shops offer the usual resort wear,
sundries, watches, jewelry, accessories and more.
The photo gallery is set off to starboard. At the twinlevel Capitol Atrium amidships, guests find the
Reception Desk and Shore Excursion Desk as well
as the John Adams Coffee Bar to starboard and East
Meets West to port. The latter offers the line’s taste
of Asia by featuring three restaurants in one; a 12seat sushi/sashimi bar (with a la carte pricing), Shabu
Shabu tables (guests cook their meat in boiling water
- $15pp) and a 32-guest Teppanyaki grill ($25pp).
Set off to starboard and further aft is the 84-seat
Jefferson’s Bistro, NCL’s signature French restaurant
with its menu of nouveau and classic Gallic
specialties ($20pp). Honoring the third President of
the United States who was Minister to France (from
1785-1789), the room’s décor is modeled after his
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home library in Monticello, located in
Charlottesville, Virginia. The SoHo Art Gallery is
set off to starboard on a long corridor which ends at
the entrance to the 574-guest Skyline Main Dining
Room, its theme being a tribute to the architecture of
New York’s 1930’s Art Deco skyscrapers.
Deck 6 forward finds the Mardi Gras Cabaret
Lounge, with the 192 seat venue featuring smaller
shows, lectures or movies by day and dance club
activities (such as the White Hot Party) during late
evening hours. Further aft are the Chapel, Internet
Center and Shuffles Card Room. The S.S. America
Library is unquestionably one of the most beautiful
at sea and features memorabilia and artifacts from
that famed liner. Amidships is Pink’s Champagne &
Cigar Bar to port and to starboard is the Kumu
Cultural Center, with several large vitrines filled with
Hawaiian artifacts recounting the early history of the
islands. Open 24-hours and serving all-American
comfort fare, the 52-guest Cadillac Diner features
décor themed to the iconic car brand and has
indoor/outdoor seating. To starboard is the lovely
Napa Wine Bar, also offering indoor/outdoor seating.
Cagney’s Steakhouse ($30pp) is a meat-lover’s
nirvana with decor paying tribute to Hollywood film
legend Jimmy Cagney. Set at the stern is the Liberty
Main Dining Room (417 guests) with a Colonial
theme.
Decks 7 through 10 are assigned to guest
staterooms only. Deck 11 amidships is the South
Beach Pool (with 4 whirlpools) and the adjacent
Ocean Drive Bar. Further aft to port is the Gold
Rush Saloon, the ship’s sports bar with seating for
102 guests. Set to port is La Cucina, serving popular
Italian fare with a bit of New York’s Little Italy flair
($15pp). Newly added to the ship during her recent
refit is the 96-seat Moderno Churrascaria, the line’s
Brazilian-style steakhouse ($20pp). The Aloha Café,
with its Hawaiian Tiki outrigger theme is at the stern
and is the ship’s main buffet-style restaurant. With
multiple food stations, this attractive indoor/outdoor
venue offers seating for 480 guests.
Our review of Deck 12 begins amidships with
the complimentary Key West Bar & Grill serving
snacks, burgers, hot dogs and cocktails in a rustic,
South Florida setting and overlooks the South Beach
Pool. Entourage is the place for kids ages 13-17;
Splash Academy for those 3 through 12. Set all the
way aft is the Mandara Spa and Pulse Fitness Center.
Stepping outside you find the Oasis Pool flanked by
a pair of whirlpools.
Deck 13 aft has a video arcade, along with a golf
driving nets and other deck games aft. At the stern
and overlooking the Oasis Pool is the Waikiki Bar.
Lastly, Deck 14 forward has a sun deck and aft is the
basketball/volleyball court.
FOOD & DINING - Norwegian's signature
Freestyle Cruising concept means you can dine
anytime you want, with whomever you want. Thus
the Pride of America has nine restaurants, including
two main dining rooms, the casual buffet-style Aloha
Cafe and the no-charge Cadillac Diner. The other
five specialty restaurants levy a surcharge.
Both main dining rooms, the Liberty and the
Skyline, are located at the aft, one above the other.
Both carry through the Americana themes of the
ship, with Skyline being an Deco-version of New
York City and Liberty honoring American
patriotism. Both offer the same menus, so your
decision on where to dine will be primarily based on
preference of décor. While we would usually opt for
the former, we found that dining at either of these
establishments could sometimes be a rather
frustrating, hit or miss experience. Our meals were
always a delight while under the care of a wonderful
Filipino waiter named Ronaldo. There were several
occasions however, when going to the same dining
room and asking for this particular waiter by name,
we would simply be met by a befuddled stare.
Happily, we only had one unpleasant evening, being
assigned to a waitress who would bring out our
courses in a rush, not allowing us to finish the
previous ones! When asked to slow down the pace,
she just smiled but simply ignored our request.
Making matters worse was her assistant, the poor
chap seemingly not having a clue as to what his
duties were. Thankfully, the meals were generally of
good flavor and presentation.
The Aloha Cafe, Pride of America's Lido Deck
restaurant, is set up with self-serve stations for
breakfast (5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.), lunch (noon to 3
p.m.), snacks (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to
9 p.m.). And the no-charge Cadillac Diner -- a
favorite for a basic breakfast, family lunching, early
dining and late-night snacks offers to limited outside
10
seating. Here the diner's are comfort foods, such as
meatloaf, grilled burgers and English-style fish and
chips. It also has a kids menu and it is open 24/7 and
can be quite busy in the late evening after the shows
let out. It also has an always-open coffee/tea/hot
chocolate station in one corner.
We dined in several of the alternative
restaurants; Jefferson’s Bistro ($20pp), Moderno
Churrascarria ($20pp) and Cagney’s Steak House
($30pp) and all, without exception, delivered topnotch service for a splendid dining experience, and
well worth the extra fees. At Cagney’s, my 16-oz.
Ribeye steak arrived medium-well as ordered, juicy
and flavorful, with a side of sautéed mushrooms,
steamed broccoli and Cagney’s delicious truffle
fries. A moderately price Cabernet Sauvignon
proved an excellent choice from our wine steward.
The sinfully decadent Raspberry Crème Brulee
completed a simply fabulous meal.
Because of the ship's emphasis on port calls,
restaurants tend to be busiest early, with long lines
often forming right at 5:30pm. The later you dine,
the less the wait and the better the service, as the staff
won't be as rushed. And note that it's easier to get
reservations at alternative restaurants on nights that
you are in a port.
Room service is available at all hours, but the
menu for passengers in standard cabin
accommodations is rather limited.
STATEROOMS - There are a total of 1,095
staterooms aboard the Pride of America, the largest
being the beautiful 1,382 sq. ft. Deluxe Owner’s
Suite. Additionally, there are also 11 Owner’s Suites
ranging from 570 to 875 square feet. Penthouse
Suites number 52 in four different sub-categories
with these ranging from 363 to 650 square feet.
Family Suites with Balcony (360 sq. ft.) number
eight. There are also four Obstructed View Family
Suites but these do not feature a balcony. There are
a total of 613 Balcony Staterooms (179-233 square
feet) and 178 Ocean View Staterooms (at 144 sq.
ft.), with 76 of these having obstructed views. Inside
staterooms number 224 and there are four newlyadded Studio Staterooms (at 107 square feet).
Twenty-three staterooms in various categories are
designed and set aside for the physically challenged.
Our home during this 7-night cruise was Cabin
#9626, a 179-square foot Family Balcony
Stateroom. Turquoise, yellow, orange and fuchsia
hues on the soft furnishings lent a pleasant and
tropical feel to the room. The bathroom was useful
in size and well laid-out, although the shower was
rather compact. Storage is adequate for two guests
but we found it a bit tight for our family of three.
SERVICE & CREW - The very charming and
affable Norwegian-born Captain Kjell Nesheim is
the long-time master of the Pride of America.
Celebrating his 50th year at sea in 2014, he has been
in command of the ship since 2004. The crew is
primarily American (75%) and much has been
written in various travel publications regarding the
quality of service found on board. Yet we found the
vast majority of the crew to be friendly and helpful,
although admittedly in some cases not on the same
level as one would find on a ship with a
predominately Asian crew.
American Banner Lines
1958
CONCLUSION - The ship’s 7-night itinerary
combined with an extensive and varied selection of
tours allows guests an excellent opportunity to
experience the tropical beauty of Hawaii in a
relatively short time and at good value. (The author
would like to thank Vanessa Lane Picariello & Lillian
Calderon for their assistance with this article)
11
CRUISE FACTS — PRIDE OF AMERICA
Passenger Capacity: 2,186
Number of Crew: 917
Tonnage:
80,439
Length:
920 feet
Beam:
120 feet
Draft:
26 feet
Builder:
Entered Service:
Registry:
Maximum Speed:
Propulsion:
Passenger Decks:
Lloyd Werft, Germany
2005
USA
22 Knots
Diesel Electric
15
Ocean & Cruise News Classification: Standard - 4-Star +
Passenger Cabins:
Deluxe Owner’s Suites ......................................1
Owner’s Suites................................................11
Penthouse Suites ..............................................52
Family Suites..................................................12
Balcony Staterooms.......................................613
Ocean View ..................................................178
Inside Staterooms ..........................................224
Studios (Single) ................................................4
Services and Amenities: Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge and Nightclub, Napa Wine Bar, Pink’s
Champagne Bar, John Adams Coffee Bar, Gold Rush Saloon, Key West Bar & Grill, Waikiki Bar,
Ocean Drive Bar, SoHo Art Gallery, Hollywood Theatre, Internet Center, The Conservatory, South
Beach Pool, Pulse Fitness Center, Mandara Spa, S.S. AMERICA Library, Newbury Street Shopping,
Shuffles Card Room, Oasis Pool, jogging/walking track, volleyball/basketball court, Entourage Teen
Club, video arcade, kid’s pool, Splash Academy, golf driving net, photo gallery, Shuffles Card
Room.
Restaurants: : Skyline Restaurant, Liberty Restaurant, Aloha Café, Cadillac Diner, Cagney’s Steak
House, East Meets West, Jefferson’s Bistro, La Cucina and Moderno Churrascaria.
Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the general
standards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normally
expected for the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normally
expected for the classification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough to
warrant a higher or lower whole number.
Level of Activity...............................................2
Quality of Ports................................................3
Air/Sea Program...........................................N/A
Guest Conveniences.........................................2
Alternate Dining ...............................................3
Quality of Food................................................2
Food Presentation .............................................2
Food Preparation..............................................2
Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2
Overall.............................................................2
Suggested Tipping: A daily charge of $12.00 is automatically added to your shipboard account as
gratuity for the hotel and restaurant staff.
Strong Points: Excellent itinerary, wide and spacious promenade deck, good choice of (alternative)
dining options.
Weak Points: Storage space in cabin is rather tight for more than two guests, service in main
restaurants is somewhat uneven, no full sea day, no onboard casino or any form of gambling (due to
State of Hawaii law).
12
CRYSTAL CRUISES: NEW CHANGES, NEW PRESIDENT
by Art Sbasky
How does a two-ship company stay at the
pinnacle of the cruise industry’s quality pyramid
for so many years in a row? Well, one way is
making sure they constantly look for ways to
improve the onboard experience. Another is by
spending enough money to keep the ships
refurbished and renovated often enough to make
sure they are absolutely current. Crystal Cruises
does exactly that with what they refer to as an
“extreme makeover.” While that may sound like
a tv reality show, it’s truly real as I had a chance
to see when I visited the Crystal Serenity in the
Port of Miami earlier this year and shortly after
the latest work was done. For the second time in
two years, Crystal Cruises has spent significant
money updating Crystal Serenity, spending $17
million, bringing the total to $52 million for both
years.
This time around, they made changes to
staterooms/suites; inside and outside public
spaces; and put the ship through a thorough
cleaning, repainted the exteriors and much more.
All in all, it adds up to some excellent changes
and a ship that is immaculate throughout.
AN “EXTREME MAKEOVER”
The most extensive changes took place on
Lido Deck. At the very front, one relatively
simple change was the new cherry wood dance
floor in Palm Court. At the opposite end, the Lido
Café was virtually recreated with multiple islands
serving different food items. There are many
more tables for two and even an open
kitchen/bakery. The very mellow color scheme
includes denim blue and ochre fabrics, bronze and
cream tile floors and pale blue glass-tile walls.
Ceramics from Italy and various shades of wood
that are UK-made add to the gentle scheme.
The area forward of Lido Café (with the
retractable glass ceiling) really has changed as the
pool is gone (actually completely covered to the
point that guests will have no idea it was ever
there) and comfy seating and tables added. But
another major change is that after 6pm, it
becomes a separate restaurant with a global menu
created in conjunction with Sapphire Restaurants
in Laguna Beach, CA. Menu items include
interesting items as Tunisian Crab Warka,
California Street Tacos and North African Lamb
Dumplings. I haven’t seen the restaurant in action
but I did get a sneak preview via a slide
presentation and it look great. As another evening
alternative, especially being outside (and covered
when necessary), it’s a great, complimentary (and
complementary) dining option.
The four largest suites, the 1345 square foot
Crystal Penthouses, have been redone by
Toronto’s II BY IV. The rooms were completely
reconfigured. The dining area is closer to the
floor-to-ceiling windows/private deck and other
spaces include a den/library/media room with a
sleeper sofa and closet. The bedroom areas have
new beds and window treatments, and gorgeous
master baths with a TV embedded in the vanity
mirror. Luxury fittings including Kohler sinks,
Duravit spa floating tubs, glass tiles from Italy,
and much more that make these rooms even more
luxurious than they were. 70 deluxe verandah
staterooms are now the cruise industry’s first
hypoallergenic rooms with a comprehensive,
chemical- and odor-free indoor environment
produced by PURE Marine Solutions. There’s a
seven-step patented and proven air and surface
purification process in each room to filter out
99.9% of all airborne impurities. For those
sensitive folks out there, this would seem to be
very beneficial.
In addition, the Tender Landing/Boarding are
has been redone, LED lighting has been added in
public areas/crew offices and more.
NEW PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS
Crystal’s new president has been in place
since October 2013 and I had a chance to chat
with her aboard Crystal Serenity after I saw the
above changes. Naturally, she’s very excited
about her new position. Here are some excerpts
from our conversation:
13
As an overview, Edie Rodriguez says, “her job
is to evolve the product, embracing the existing
hallmarks.” The first thing she is “endeavoring to
do is to work with travel agents.” She emphasizes
the “strength of the line’s itineraries, wanting to
convince people to find someplace they want to
visit and do it on Crystal because of the stellar
service and all of the onboard options” She talked
about their shore excursions, both the regular
deluxe ones and the private trips that can be put
together, including the Volunteerism program.
This last is a good example of how the company
has continued to evolve their product. These
programs, which are complimentary to the guests,
sound great. Friends who work at Crystal told me
about a trip they did in Odessa: “It was amazing.
We played with children at a homeless shelter and
rehab school for street kids. We learned about
how the shelter was started within the context of
the collapse of the Soviet Union. I will never
forget it. It is a unique way to learn more about a
destination and connect with it in a memorable
way.”
Rodriguez says her mission is, “to keep the
artistic ratings high and run what is already a wellrun company, with a greater breadth of itineraries
and new initiatives for travel agents.” She will do
this in part, “by growing the company from its
current two ships to seven ships over time with
possibly new builds or acquisitions” but with no
specific plan or timetable to be talked about
presently. One strong area she talked about is the
2015 World Cruise: they already have “over 700
full cruise guests booked” for the 108-night
round-trip Miami voyage. So far, she has not
announced any major product changes, just some
“small tweaks such as revamping the room key,
wallet and ship’s map packaging.” They recently
announced a spectacular Northwest Passage
cruise from Nome, Alaska, through Canada and
ending in the New York City.
2015 WOCLS Bermuda Cruise
aboard ms Veendam
May 2, 2015
Roundtrip from Boston
In 2015 Holland America Line is returning to
the island of Bermuda with seven-day cruises
aboard the Veendam.
Sailing roundtrip from Boston in May, June and
July, and featuring three days and nights at
Hamilton these cruises have always been a popular
Hlland America itnerary.
WOCLS will be joining the Veendam on the first
of these cruises sailing from Boston on May 2, 2015
by hosting a group of WOCLS members, family and
friends.
The Veendam offers an ideal mid-size ship
experience to Bermuda that enables the vessel to
dock at Hamilton in the center of town. The sevenday voyages spend a day at sea after departing
Boston and arrive at Hamilton mid-day with enough
time for guests to go ashore and enjoy the town. The
ship then spends three nights alongside, where
guests can experience local nightlife and dine
ashore, if desired. Veendam departs Bermuda in the
afternoon of the final day in Hamilton, with a day at
sea before arriving back at Boston.
STAYING CURRENT
Hosting our exclusive WOCLS members cruise
will be Bermuda resident and noted maritime artist
Stephen Card and your Editor Tom Cassidy. Special
events planned exclusively for our group include; a
welcome aboard cocktail party, a group dinner in
the intimate Pinnacle Grill and a tour and reception
at the Bermuda Maritime Museum hosted by
Stephen. All group members will receive a Stephen
Card signed print as a keepsake. You must book
with our group to enjoy the exclusive group
benefits.
The two ships in the Crystal Cruise fleet are
11 and 19 years old. But they both are amazingly
luxurious and current with constant renovations
ongoing changes to the onboard product and a
corporate dedication to keeping the ships as clean
and spiffy as the can possibly be.
Rates start at $819.00 per person for an inside
cabin, $1,009 for an outside and $2,149 for a
balcony cabin. For information or to book please
contact our coordinator Marie Ricardo at (352) 6331776 -or- (516) 808-0175. Or she can be reached via
email at [email protected].
14
Crystal’s Northwest Passage
Cunard’s inaugural sailing from Liverpool to
North America, by its first ship Britannia.
Crystal Cruises is introducing a new
expedition-style voyage traversing the Arctic
Ocean via the legendary Northwest Passage one
so mysterious and remote (500 miles north of the
Arctic Circle), that explorers spent centuries
seeking the passage, until it was first completed
successfully by Roald Amundsen just over 100
years ago.
Called the Triumph of a Great Tradition, these
concerts will be attended by all passengers on
Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2’s 175th
Anniversary Crossing transatlantic voyage from
Liverpool to New York via Boston, Mass, and
Halifax, NS.
Crystal will be the first luxury cruise line to
ever navigate the route, maneuvering through 900
miles of majestic waterways lined with
spectacular glaciers, towering fjords, and vast
unspoiled landscapes away from mainstream
civilization and tourism, north of mainland
Canada.
Beginning August 16, 2016 in
Anchorage/Seward, Alaska, the award-winning
Crystal Serenity will sail for 32 days from the
Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean ending in New York
City.
The concerts will celebrate Cunard’s history
and achievements in words and music as well as
the current fleet of three ships, which is among the
newest and most highly-rated afloat. Queen Mary
2 will be berthed at Liverpool Cruise Terminal to
embark 400 passengers for the transatlantic
voyage and give an opportunity for many of the
other 2,200 people already aboard to visit the city.
HAL’s Koningsdam
Holland America Line revealed the name of its
new 99,500 gross ton cruise ship slated for
delivery in February 2016 will be Koningsdam.
While the name pays homage to the company’s
Britannia Takes Art
rich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, it
to a New Dimension
also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an
P&O Cruises’ new ship Britannia will boast original in Holland America Line’s 141-year
Britain’s largest floating art collection, containing history. The 2,650-passenger ship is an evolution
more than 8,000 artworks, when it launches in in design for the line, a new Pinnacle Class, and
is being built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s
March next year.
Marghera shipyard.
The multi-million art collection represents a
Since 1883 every Holland America passenger
new approach by the company with works having
been chosen to complement and enhance vessel has borne the "dam" suffix, and
Britannia’s interior designs to give the feel of a Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word
koning means "king" in Dutch, and the name
luxury hotel.
celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also
Pieces ranging from paintings and bronze pays honor to His Majesty King Willemsculptures to ceramics and paper wall reliefs have Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in
been created by a wide variety of artists, most of over a century.
them British, with some from as far afield as
Holland America Line has a long, proud
Japan, Australia and South Africa.
history with the Netherlands. All 15 premium
cruise ships fly the Dutch flag as they sail
Cunard 175th Anniversary Concerts
throughout the world, to more than 400 ports of
The 175 year history of Cunard Line since its call. The historic greatness of the line’s Dutch
founding in Liverpool in 1840 will be retold in heritage is shared with nearly one million guests
two special concerts at the Anglican Cathedral in each year. And the line has many Dutch
Liverpool next year. The events will take place on employees, including most of the fleet’s captains
July 4, 2015, which is 175 years to the day of and officers.
15
Many of Holland America Line’s ships have
been christened by members of the Dutch Royal
Family over the past 75 years. Most recently,
Nieuw Amsterdam was christened by Her Royal
Highness Princess Máxima in 2010. And in 2008
Eurodam was christened by Her Majesty Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands.
director Julie) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, the
captain's daughter).
The ceremony will officially launch the
golden year anniversary celebrations for Princess
Cruises, which will celebrate five decades of
operation throughout 2015.
Holland America Line was founded in the
Netherlands in 1873 as the NetherlandsVenice Cruise Ship Ban Reinstated
American Steamship Company headquartered in
Rotterdam. The original headquarters building
The Governor of Venice, Italy, Luca Zaia,
still stands today as the Hotel New York on the announced on Friday the reinstatement of a ban
Wilhelmina Pier, with the company’s European on cruise ships above 40,000 from Saint Mark's
headquarters located nearby.
basin and the Giudecca Canal in Venice. In
making the announcement the Governor said that
When it debuts in February 2016, the "unanimous decision" was made by an
Koningsdam will be a new type of ship for international committee of experts looking into
Holland America Line. At 99,500 gross tons and ways to preserve the buildings in the sunken city
carrying 2,650 guests and 1,025 crew members, and surrounding lagoons. Last year, over 650
the vessel is the largest ever built for the cruise ships passed through the city
company. The increased size provides more
opportunities to add new public spaces and
The reinstated restrictions will reduce by 20%
venues, and several innovative features will debut the number of ships over 40,000 tons that are
on Koningsdam.
authorized to cross the Giudecca canal. Another
restriction that is scheduled to go into effect in
November of 2014 would ban all ships over
Princess Cruises' 50th Anniversary
96,000 tons from the same route.
Celebrations
It's been nearly forty years since the iconic
television show The Love Boat went on the air
and introduced viewers to modern day cruising
and, in the process, made Princess Cruises and its
ships synonymous with vacations at sea.
As Princess prepares to celebrate its milestone
50th anniversary year in 2015, the company is
honoring the role that The Love Boat played in its
history by selecting the original Love Boat cast
members to serve as godparents for its new cruise
ship Regal Princess. All six Love Boat cast
members - who played the roles of Captain
Stubing, Gopher, Isaac, Doc, Julie and Vicki –
will reunite to christen the new ship on November
5 in Fort Lauderdale.
Environmentalists have warned that the
ecosystem and lagoon that surrounds Venice,
including the centuries-old pilings that support
the city could be damaged by the large cruise
ships.
Viking Sea Steel Cut
Fincantieri has announced that the steelcutting ceremony for Viking Sea was held at its
Marghera shipyard. Viking Sea is the second ship
in order of acquisition that Fincantieri is building
for Viking Ocean Cruises. Fincantieri is also
building Viking Star, with delivery scheduled
from their Marghera yard in spring 2015, and
Viking Sky, which will be delivered from their
Ancona yard in summer 2016.
The actors include Gavin MacLeod (Captain
Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief purser),
Like it sister ships, the Viking Sea will weigh
Ted Lange (Isaac, the bartender), Bernie Kopell approximately 47,800-tons and will have 465
(Doc, the ship's doctor), Lauren Tewes (cruise staterooms, accommodating 930 guests.
16
MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS
Meyer Werft announced that it is acquiring a
majority share in the STX Finland shipyard in
Turku. Following weeks of negotiations the
Finnish Government and Meyer Werft signed a
share purchase agreement with the current owner
STX Europe. With its 70% stake Meyer Werft
takes the industrial leadership of the new
company.
P&O Cruises has unveiled its plans for a $43.8
million make-over for Aurora this winter, the first
ship in the fleet to receive the bold new livery
design. The refurbishment will take place
November 29 to December 18 in Hamburg, ahead
of its Christmas and New Year cruise and before
the South America & Pacific Adventure world
cruise itinerary departing January 8, 2015.
Quark Expeditions, the polar expedition
leader announces the addition of a third small
expedition ship to its Antarctic fleet. The 199passenger Ocean Endeavour will replace the Sea
Spirit during the 2015 and 2016 Antarctic season.
Quark offers a greater choice of vessels and
number of voyages to Antarctica than any other
operator.
Princess Cruises will debut a regional menu
onboard its newest ship, Regal Princess, when it
begins sailing from Florida later this year. The
menu will showcase regional culinary specialties
that reflect the destinations the ships visits
throughout the year, and will incorporate local
produce, spices and seafood.
Cunard Line is moving up its dry dock of
Queen Victoria due to a problem in one of its
propulsion units. Two scheduled cruises are being
canceled as a result. While the problem is being
fixed, the ship also will get a multimillion-pound
refit. The canceled sailings are a 12-night Canary
Islands cruise (January 3-15) and a five-night
Amsterdam & Cherbourg cruise (January 15-20).
Taking place at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in
Hamburg, Germany, the refurbishment will see
nine solo cabins added to the ship as well as new
carpets and flat-screen TVs. Sun awnings will be
put in the open area near the stern Lido pool on
both sides of the Grills Upper Terrace to create
more shade. Additionally, fine jewelry and watch
shops will be created
The captain of the sunken Italian cruise ship,
the Costa Concordia, has sparked outrage after it
emerged he had delivered a lecture to university
students on best emergency practices. Italy's
education minister said the decision by a Rome
university professor to invite Francesco Schettino
to speak at a seminar was "disconcerting". Mr
Schettino is currently on trial for manslaughter and
abandoning ship when the luxury liner sank in
January 2012.
Bermuda has recently added a cruise ship
shuttle to the famed Horseshoe Bay beach. A
roundtrip ticket on the private mini-bus shuttle
between King's Wharf where most cruise ships
dock costs $16 and are sold at the Beach Shuttle
Booth at Zone 6 at the Dockyard. It runs to the
beach continuously between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Last
shuttle back to the cruise ship terminal is at 6 pm.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is launching
a new series of Ganges River cruises in January
2016 on a new river cruise ship. The all-suite
Ganges Voyager II will sail from New Delhi to
Kolkata (Calcutta) on a 12-night itinerary that
combines seven nights onboard with a five-night
land tour.
P&O Cruises has confirmed its 2016 world
cruise program: a trio of grand sailings,
comprising a classic world cruise on Aurora; a
South America & Japan sailing on Arcadia; and a
Caribbean and America voyage on Oriana.
Collectively, the ships will cover over 90,000
nautical miles, visiting 90 ports in 58 countries
Mark Fosselman of Diamond Head, Miss.,
recently debarked the Carnival Elation after 33
consecutive voyages totaling 270 cruise days. It’s
believed to be the longest streak of consecutive
cruise days in Carnival Cruise Lines’ 42-year
history. Fosselman boarded the Carnival Elation
in New Orleans for his first cruise in April and
sailed 32 additional four- and five-day cruises,
visiting the Mexican ports of Cozumel and
Progreso.