scalise12

Norwegian Cruise Line will add 58 new staterooms and suites to the Norwegian Dawn while she is in drydock in May. The 28 new suites include two categories of family suites that can sleep up to six, according to NCL executives during a February 23 conference call with travel agents and press. There will be 14 Family Suites (category SJ) measuring 408 to 452 square feet, while 10 Family Suites with Balcony (category SD) will measure 409 to 495 square feet. The family suites will be located on a high deck, near the pool, and feature a larger bathroom and more storage space. In addition four Deluxe Owner’s Suites (category SA) will be added right below the bridge, measuring 667 to 732 square feet. Thirty inside staterooms measuring 142 to 174 square feet will also be added . With the new accommodations the current location of the Spinnaker Lounge and cinema, will be moved to a different spot on the ship. Though the dry-dock project is in May, finishing work on the new accommodations will continue until September 1 Click here to view the article

The American Queen steamboat had a successful cruise last night on the Mississippi River as it ran through its first set of builder’s trials. For the first time in almost five years, the paddle wheel achieved 17 revolutions per minute with plenty of steam in reserve. “The new propulsion and control system operated perfectly during last night’s trial,” according to the Great American Steamboat Company’s EVP of Vessel Operations Greg Brown. “There was a significant reduction in vibration and noise thanks to the newly added technology.” The American Queen cruised the Mississippi River along the French Quarter for three hours before conducting berthing trials in front of the famed Café Du Monde on the Riverwalk. Click here to view the article

Carnival on a Saturday Morning in Miami, Florida Click here to view the article

The Philippine coast guard says a fire disabled engines on a foreign cruise ship with about 1,000 people on board and that the vessel is drifting in waters south of Manila. Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente says the fire late Friday on the Azamara Quest was immediately put out but one crew member was injured. It left Manila on Thursday. He says there were no other details about the incident. Ricafrente says two coast guard vessels and a patrol boat are expected to reach the ship late Saturday. He says it was about 75 nautical miles southwest of the Philippines' Tubbataha Reef when the coast guard received the report. The ship says in a statement on its Facebook page that no passengers were injured and that the vessel is running on emergency power in "calm seas" near Indonesia's Borneo Island. Click here to view the article

MANILA (Reuters) - A cruise ship temporarily stranded off the south Philippines coast after a fire disabled engines, injuring five crew, is heading for an eastern Malaysia port under emergency power, the Philippines coast guard and the ship's owner said on Saturday. Coast Guard Captain Perfecto Eden said the Azamara Quest, carrying 600 passengers and 411 crew and which made a port call in Manila on Wednesday, is now on its way to Sandakan port, in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah after the fire was put out on Saturday. "All passengers are safe," Eden told reporters about the status of the Azamara Quest, a vessel operated by Miami-based Azamara Club Cruises. A Philippine Navy ship is escorting the cruise until it crosses the Malaysian maritime border, Eden added. The rest of the cruise, carrying mainly Americans and Western Europeans, has been canceled the company said, adding that "the captain deemed it necessary to muster all guests at their assembly stations." "Unfortunately, five crew members onboard the ship suffered smoke inhalation during the fire," the company, part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said in a website statement. "One crew member is more seriously injured and requires additional and urgent medical attention that can only be provided in a hospital." The fire at sea was the latest in a string of cruise ship accidents. Thirty-two people died when the Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off the western coast of Italy in January and a fire on the Costra Allegra left the ship stranded in waters patrolled by pirates in the Indian Ocean for three days in February. Both ships were run by Costa Crociere, SpA, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise operator. The Azamara Quest was on a 17-night journey and had departed Hong Kong on Monday with port calls to Manila, Balikpapan (Borneo), Palapo (Sulawesi), Benoa Bali, Semarang and Komodo in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Azamara Club Cruises Chief Executive Officer Larry Pimentel is scheduled to fly to Sandakan to meet passengers, the company said. "Until then, we will be working with our guests to determine how we can best assist them with next steps and travel arrangements," the company said. Click here to view the article

A luxury cruise ship carrying 600 mostly American and European tourists was adrift in Philippine waters on Saturday after an engine room fire that injured five crew, the coast guard said. The blaze late Friday had been contained but it left the Azamara Quest drifting in the Sulu Sea, the cruise ship said, dealing a further blow to an industry that was already reeling from two incidents in as many months. The Philippine Navy has rushed out three patrol craft and a fourth smaller vessel to provide assistance and they are en route, navy spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Tonsay told reporters. As a precaution, the captain had initially asked all passengers to prepare to evacuate the ship, but that was no longer necessary, the United States-based Azamara Club Cruises said on its website. The crew later restored power to one of the ship's engines, allowing the vessel to resume air conditioning, running water, plumbing and refrigeration, as engineers battled to restore propulsion to the stricken liner. Refurbished in 2007, the upmarket vessel was carrying 590 mostly American and European passengers and 411 crew members, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Algier Ricafrente told AFP. The 180-metre (592-foot) vessel boasts spas, gyms, swimming pools, a casino and eight restaurants, as well as an acupuncture service. It is stranded about 200 miles (320 kms) off the coast of Balikpapan, on the Indonesian section of Borneo, the operator said. In January, the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia ran aground off Tuscany, killing 32 people after it keeled over. A month later a fire struck the Costa Concordia's sister ship Costa Allegra in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, which was carrying more than 1,000 people, had to be towed to shore by a French fishing boat. The Malta-flagged Azamara, described on its website as a 30,277-tonne vessel, left Hong Kong on Monday for a 17-night dream voyage. It left Manila, its first stop, on Wednesday, and had been on its way to Borneo. It was supposed to take in islands of the Indonesian archipelago, including the popular holiday spot Bali, before terminating in Singapore. "Engineers onboard Azamara Quest continue to work on restoring propulsion to the ship," the operator said, without saying how long that would take. Both the operator and the Philippine Coast Guard said the blaze in the engine room had caused smoke-related injuries to five crew members, who were treated on board. No passengers were hurt. The nationalities of the injured crew members was not disclosed, although the Philippine transportation department said it was aware about 120 of the crew are Filipinos. The Florida-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the world's second-largest cruise company, operates Azamara Club Cruises and said it had dispatched a salvage vessel to tow the ship, should onboard engineers fail to get it up and running again, coast guard ensign June Greanata told AF Click here to view the article

CRUISE CRAZIES MICTODRIC; HAPPY TO HAVE U ABOARD , PLEASE POST OFTEN JOHN & JACKIE

CRUISE CRAZIES DAYDAYACUSA; HAPPY TO HAVE U ABOARD , PLEASE POST OFTEN JOHN & JACKIE

A VERY GOOD REVIEW, THANKS FOR SHARING THE REVIEW!

Princess Cruises Brand to Enter Japanese Market with Largest Deployment Ever by a Global Cruise Line More than 18,000 Passengers Expected to Cruise Aboard Sun Princess April to July 2013 Formation of Carnival Japan Underscores Commitment to Growing Local Cruise Market Responding to the growing interest for cruising in Japan, Carnival Corporation & plc is introducing the largest deployment ever by a global cruise line in the Japanese market when it brings Sun Princess to Japan for a spring to summer season of cruising in April 2013 . One of the world's leading cruise line brands, Princess Cruises, is launching an 87-day program featuring a total of nine cruises on seven different itineraries operating April through July of next year from both Yokohama and Kobe. The cruises will be from nine to 12 days in length. The unique itineraries have been customized for the Japanese vacation market, and will launch with the most significant national holiday of Golden Week, a nine-day cruise on April 27, 2013 which includes two days in Hakata during the renowned Dontaku Festival. Underscoring the importance of Japan in the growing worldwide cruise market, Carnival Japan, Inc. has been formed to sell the Princess Cruises brand and certain other Carnival brands in Japan, with Princess Cruises being the brand to launch this largest cruise season in the Japanese market. Carnival Japan, Inc. is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, a global cruise company and one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Carnival Japan will be based in Tokyo and overseen by Eiko Kijima, who will be on the board of directors of Carnival Japan. "Our new Japan deployment is three times larger than that of any competitive international cruise program, with superior itineraries specifically designed for the Japanese market," said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer. "It's the very first time a global cruise line is offering a full season of cruises from April to July designed specifically for passengers from Japan. We believe that our unique itineraries and onboard experience will prove extremely popular and will help to introduce cruise vacations to a growing number of Japanese vacationers." Approximately 18,000 passengers are expected to be carried during this first season of cruising in Japan. Highlights of other itineraries include overnight stays at cities with popular annual festivals, destinations known for their natural hot springs, northern ports of Japan and foreign ports in Korea and Taiwan, among others. The 2013 Japan homeport program features the following cruises: · 9-day Golden Week: Departs April 27, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Hiroshima (overnight); Nagasaki; Busan, South Korea, and Hakata (overnight). · 12-day Round Japan with Festivals: Departs May 6, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Aomori, Busan, Kanazawa (overnight), Sakaiminato, Maizuru, and Nagoya. · 9-day Korea & Taiwan: Departs May 18, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama and June 23, 2013 sailing from Yokohama to Kobe, with calls at Busan and Cheju, South Korea; and Kaohsiung and Taipei, Taiwan. · 9-day Round Japan with Onsens: Departs May 27, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Nagoya, Kobe, scenic cruising of Japan Inland Sea, Matsuyama, Busan, Kagoshima and Beppu. · 9-day Kyushu & Korea: Departs June 5, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Koshi, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Cheju, Busan and Hiroshima. · 9-day Hokkaido & Russia: Departs June 14 and July 14, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Kushiro, scenic cruising of Shiretoko Peninsula; Korsakov, Russia; Otaru, Hakodate and Aomori. · 12-day Round Japan: Departs July 2, 2013 sailing from Kobe (overnight) to Yokohama with scenic cruising of Japan Inland Sea and calls at Hiroshima (overnight), Busan, Sakaiminato, Maizuru, Kanazawa, Aomori and Sapporo. Pricing for these cruises starts at ¥124,000 Yen per person, double occupancy for a nine-day sailing. The cruise experience will be substantially the same as the Princess Cruises product offered around the world, providing an impressive array of dining and entertainment options in addition to the line's signature innovations such as its popular Movies Under the Stars poolside theater and The Sanctuary, an exclusive top-deck retreat. However modifications will be made including introducing key passenger-facing positions which will be filled by Japanese-speaking crew members. Dining room menus will offer international Princess cuisine while additional offerings will cater to Japanese tastes, and an a la carte sushi bar will be opened. A specially designed enrichment program will include an expert lecture series on art, culture and history. Other amenities such as the shopping selection and spa treatments will also be tailored to Japanese preferences, and onboard collateral items and stateroom information will be translated into Japanese. An extensive array of shore excursions will be available to complement the itineraries so that Sun Princess passengers can experience all the ports have to offer. The 77,000-ton Sun Princess carries 2,022 passengers and features a high number of staterooms with private balconies, Lotus Spa, steakhouse, wine bar, patisserie, pizzeria, boutiques, and internet café among other amenities. This new season of cruises will open for sale on April 16, 2012 and the sailings, along with all other cruises sold in the Japan market for Princess' worldwide destinations, will be sold in Japanese Yen. In conjunction with this new program, the Princess Cruises brand will also launch a Japanese language version of its travel agent booking tool called POLAR Online, enabling travel agents in Japan to book cruises easily and conveniently. The user-friendly 24/7 booking system, which is the number one booking tool for Princess cruises worldwide, is a real-time travel agent reservations portal featuring an easy-to-navigate program, rich with information and functionality. Click here to view the article

The intimate, all-suite ships of Seabourn deliver accommodations, service, cuisine and attention to detail that place it among the elite in the global hospitality industry, according to the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. For 2012, the prestigious organization has invited the small-ship cruise specialist into the rarified ranks of its Six Star Diamond honorees, comprising a roster of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, spas, luxury transportation providers and others who cater to the most discerning clientele around the world. “Seabourn’s dedication to excellence in service, cuisine and its unique ability to provide travelers with authentic experiences in ports of call made it a standout among our original Five Star Diamond honorees,” said AAHS president Joseph Cinque. ”Then the company introduced three new luxury vessels that quite simply reset the bar for what luxury cruise guests can expect, and that made them a natural choice to be among our first Six Star award-winners.” Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president, said “We are proud to be in such distinguished company. Our onboard service team has a well-deserved reputation and commitment to being the best, and for that reason they wear the Six Star Diamond insignia with pride.” The Star Diamond award is the latest in a continuing series of accolades Seabourn has recently garnered. For the second year in a row, Seabourn’s fleet dominated Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2012 list of the world’s 100 best cruise ships, occupying five of the top seven spots. The readers of Travel + Leisure voted Seabourn the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the third consecutive year in the magazine’s 2011 survey published in its August issue. It is the fifth time the line has won the award in six years. This year, Seabourn achieved the highest score awarded to any cruise line, regardless of ship-size category. In addition, the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships rated Seabourn’s entire six-ship fleet among its ten highest-rated ships in the world. The editors of x’s authoritative website singled out Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest as the “Best for Luxury,” Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest were also cited as the “Best for Spa-Lovers, ” and x’s U.K.-based sister site selected Seabourn as the “Best of Luxury” for the second consecutive year. Porthole magazine announced that its readers had named Seabourn Best Luxury Line, and Seabourn Quest as the Best Small Ship in its 13th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and had also cited the fleet for offering the Best Accommodations afloat. Click here to view the article

Representing Carnival Cruise Lines’ most ambitious refit and transformation project ever, Carnival Destiny will undergo a $155 million makeover next year that will incorporate all of the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a variety of exciting innovations unique to this vessel. The refit will also include a reconfigured layout, the addition of a partial deck and the expansion of two other decks within the forward section of the ship, providing the opportunity to incorporate a number of new and exciting on-board spaces. One-hundred and eighty-two cabins will be added, as well. The redesign will be so extensive and wide-ranging that the ship will be renamed Carnival Sunshine following the 49-day dry dock, which will take place from February to April 2013. The refit work will be completed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Following the dry dock, Carnival Sunshine will embark on a schedule of nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona and Venice from April to October 2013 then launch year-round seven-day Caribbean departures from New Orleans beginning November 2013. This is our most ambitious ship conversion project to date and it will radically transform the Carnival Destiny into essentially an entirely new ship offering a variety of exciting dining and beverage choices, spectacular outdoor spaces and entertainment options, and on-board innovations not available anywhere else,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. Here’s a look at some of Carnival Sunshine’s many features: Wide-Ranging On-Board Dining Choices Guy’s Burger Joint,a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieriserving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries in an atmosphere that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture BlueIguana Cantina, a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic, freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas that can be personalized with a variety of salsas and toppings. Fahrenheit 555, a classic American steakhouse offering mouth-watering steaks and gourmet appetizers, entrees and desserts, all enhanced by understated ambiance and impeccable service(venue will carry a surcharge consistent with other steakhouses in the Carnival fleet) Cucina del Capitano – or “The Captain’s Kitchen” – with Italian favorites and new Carnival classics served family-style in a fun and engaging atmosphere reminiscent of a cozy Italian home (during the day, the venue will serve as a free casual lunch-time pasta bar with a nominal charge for dinner) A stunning new full-service Asian restaurant inspired by the line’s popular Mongolian wok casual eateries that will feature an extensive menu of delicious favorites from the Far East, along with a striking Asian-themed décor (no charge for lunch with a nominal fee for dinner) An expansive casual poolside eatery, Lido Marketplace, offering a seemingly endless array of delectable favorites from around the world, from paninis and pizza to a deli offering piled-high sandwiches and just about everything in between A new casual dining option, “The Comfort Kitchen,” located within the Lido Marketplace and offering a tempting array of American-style “comfort food” entrees and side dishes Completely renovated main dining rooms that will offer extensive menus and wine lists, with a tantalizing selection of salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts nightly, including Carnival’s legendary chocolate melting cake A newly designed coffee bar, serving a wide range of sweet and frothy concoctions such as cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and other caffeinated favorites, along with delicious pastries and other decadent confections Innovative Bar and Beverage Concepts RedFrog Pub where guests can enjoy the Caribbean’s best rums and beers – along with Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red private label draft brew – and island-inspired pub fare while soaking up the distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West ambiance RedFrog Rum Bar, a poolside adaptation of the RedFrog Pub offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red BlueIguana Tequila Bar, a fun and festive outdoor watering hole offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool EA SPORTS Bar, a sports and video game lovers’ paradise where guests can catch live sporting events, check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker, and play the latest EA SPORTS games on a 16-screen video wall Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” that’s the go-to spot for guests seeking a unique experience with mixologists who “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients or guests’ own custom-created cocktails The Library Bar, a warm and cozy venue offering full bar service for those seeking a more intimate spot for before- or after-dinner drinks An exciting new lounge, Havana Bar, a tropical-inspired nightspot located aft within Lido Marketplace featuring a panoramic ocean view from its floor to ceiling windows and offering a unique and memorable venue for cocktails, live Latin music and dancing The new Sunshine Bar, an elegant lounge with sun-splashed interiors located at the lobby level of the ship’s towering atrium where guests can enjoy a cocktail, dance and listen to live music A new cigar bar concept, with plush, comfortable surroundings, along with fine cigars and a variety of brandies, cognacs and liqueurs, ideal for pre- or post-dinner drinks and conversation Outdoor Fun and Relaxation Carnival’s first three-deck-high Serenity adults-only retreat, an oasis of tranquility offering plush chaise lounges and chairs, a whirlpool, a cascading waterfall, teak-planked decks, a pool, a complimentary dining area with freshly made salads that can be customized by guests, and, of course, magnificent sea views SportSquare Carnival Sunshine’s new open-air recreation complex that includes such attractions as a ropes course, mini-golf course, a lighted half court for basketball and volleyball, jogging track, ping pong, pool, and foosball tables, and bar with a large flat-screen for those who want to check out the action on TV , WaterWorks, a “splash-tastic” top-deck attraction that’s sure to be a hit with guests of all ages with wet ‘n wild thrills such as the line’s iconic “Twister” water slide, a Splash Zone kids water play area, an all-new thrill slide and other fun features Carnival’s Seaside Theatre, a poolside 270-square-foot high-tech LED screen offering nightly “Dive In Movies,” along with a variety of concerts, sporting events and other programming, all of which are enjoyed in the fresh sea air That’s Entertainment! Playlist Productions,which builds upon Carnival’s reputation for high quality entertainment by combining captivating live performances and spectacular staging and special effects to create enthralling music revues produced by the top directors and choreographers in the industry Hasbro, The Game Show, where guests are part of the show through a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the company’s iconic and popular games and presented in the ship’s remodeled main show lounge Piano Bar 88, a new twist on Carnival’s popular piano bar concept that will amp up the excitement with themed nights, an engaging new décor and opportunities for spontaneous sing-along fun The Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez, featuring a hilarious line-up of both established and up-and-coming talent evaluated and vetted by the popular TV personality who serves as Carnival’s “curator of comedy” The Punchliner Comedy Brunch, for those who want a little merriment in the morning, serving up laughter along with delicious cuisine Staterooms, Shopping and More All staterooms will be fully revamped and feature a new tropical décor that pays homage to the ship’s Caribbean itineraries with a combination of bright colors and soothing pastels, with 182 new staterooms to be added across a broad range of accommodations from interior to balconies, including 96 new spa staterooms Newly designed play areas catering to kids in three age groups, part of the line’s top-rated children’s programs – Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle “C” (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17), with enthusiastic counselors and fun supervised activities for each group, along with popular elements of Carnival’s new partnership with Hasbro The FunHub, featuring dozens of flat-panel stations for keeping up with the latest Carnival Sunshine happenings, surfing the Web, and staying in touch with friends and family back home Cloud 9 Spa – Designed as the ultimate refuge for rest and relaxation, this newly constructed facility will set a new standard in oceangoing wellness with a sophisticated menu of exotic therapies, an elaborate thermal suite with varying degrees of soothing warmth, private treatment rooms, and the latest exercise equipment Cherry On Top, which celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more Ocean Plaza, a stunning café and entertainment venue where guests can meet new friends, listen to music, enjoy drinks and light snacks, participate in a wide range of activities and people watch Exciting European and Caribbean Itineraries Carnival Sunshine will launch a series of Mediterranean cruises beginning with a 14-day voyage departing from Venice April 12 and arriving in Barcelona April 26, 2013. The ship will then operate a series of 18 nine- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises either round-trip from Barcelona or sailing between Barcelona and Venice. These departures will visit a wide variety of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular ports, including Marseilles, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Livorno (Pisa/Florence) and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Carnival Sunshine will then sail on a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing departing Barcelona Nov. 1 and arriving New Orleans Nov. 17, 2013, positioning the vessel for its year-round deployment from the Big Easy. Following a special six-day cruise from New Orleans Nov. 18-24, 2013, Carnival Sunshine will launch its year-round seven-day cruise schedule from that port Nov. 24, 2013. Three different week-long itineraries will be offered – an exotic western Caribbean route to Belize City, Belize; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, and Cozumel, Mexico; a Bahamas/Florida schedule to Key West, Fla., and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas; and western Caribbean departures to Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel. Carnival Sun will replace Carnival Conquest, which is currently based in New Orleans. Additional details on the Carnival Conquest deployment will be announced in the near future. Click here to view the article

As the 100th anniversary of the iconic cruise liner Titanic approaches, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is renewing its links with her historic home – Belfast – by offering a very special commemorative mini cruise aboard its own flagship, Balmoral. This five-night mini cruise, L1202, departs from Southampton on 3rd April 2012, and visits Liverpool and Belfast, returning to Southampton. Each of the ports on this mini cruise has a rich history of ship-building and seafaring. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has long-established links with the city of Belfast, having cruised from the city and visited it many times over the years. Significantly, Fred. Olsen will be returning to Belfast in 2013, with 880-guest Boudicca making two turnaround visits in October 2013. Nathan Philpot, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Sales and Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted to be offering cruises direct from Belfast. The addition of this new regional departure port in 2013 means that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is able to operate a vessel within a radius of only 100 miles from 90% of the UK population, further enhancing our reputation as the UK’s local cruise line with a global choice of itineraries.” Fred. Olsen’s historic connections run deep; the Fred. Olsen group of companies includes Fred. Olsen Energy, which comprises Offshore Drilling and Engineering & Fabrication; the latter part of this company owns the Harland and Wolff Shipyard, where the Titanic was built. Joe O’Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour, said: “We are delighted to once again have the opportunity to work with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and offer the Northern Ireland public the opportunity to begin a cruise from their local port. Belfast Harbour previously worked alongside Fred. Olsen in 2007, when 500 local people embarked on the Black Prince to begin their cruise.” There are some very special Titanic-related excursions available on Fred. Olsen’s Titanic Mini Cruise L1202. They include ‘In the Footsteps of the Titanic’, a visit to Queen’s Island in Belfast and a guided tour of the Titanic Quarter. This includes a visit to the former headquarters of shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, where visitors can see the Titanic’s slipway and visit the Dock and Pumping House. Being here in person gives guests an idea of the massive scale of this world-renowned ship, and the great feat of engineering that went into her constriction. Another tour with a Titanic theme on this mini cruise is a full city tour by coach, culminating in a visit to the newly opened ‘Titanic Belfast’ exhibition. This impressive exhibit has nine galleries, telling the full story of the Titanic, using film, video, archive material and scale models. A highlight is a ride through the Titanic’s construction, making guests really feel a part of the experience. There is still some availability on this historic cruise; prices for a Superior Suite start from £449 per person with a Latesaver deal, based on two adults sharing a twin cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes. Shore excursions are charged separately; see the website for more details www.fredolsencruises.com Boudicca will be offering a 12-night ‘Iberian’ and 2-night mini cruise to Liverpool from Belfast in October 2013. Boudicca’s cruise to ‘Portugal, Madeira and The Canaries’, D1323, departs on 3rd October 2013, for 12 nights, and visits Leixoes (for tours to Oporto, Portugal), Funchal, (Madeira), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Arrecife (Lanzarote) and Lisbon (Portugal), before returning to Belfast. Prices for this cruise start from just £999 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes. This price is available until 26th April 2012, as part of Fred. Olsen’s ‘Pre-Launch Offers 2013/14 Brochure’. The price will rise to £1,079 with effect from 27th April 2012. Click here to view the article

Firework display opens Kiel’s cruise shipping season - “AIDAcara” inaugurates extended Ostseekai season Kiel, March 29, 2012: The Port of Kiel opens its 2012 cruise shipping season on Saturday, March 31st. With a firework display to see her off, this year’s first guest, “AIDAcara” will leave the port’s Ostseekai Terminal around 1700 for the Norwegian fiords. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG), said: “we are well prepared and looking forward to the new season, which will, once again, be longer than last year. It won’t be long before cruise ships are sailing in northern Europe the whole year round.” This year’s season will last until mid December and, during it, 26 different cruise ships are registered to call a total of 137 times. The most frequent guests will be the vessels of shipping companies AIDA, Costa, MSC and TUI Cruises, which, like the ships of many well-known classic German travel companies, regularly call at Kiel to exchange passengers. For the first time three ships in the MSC Crociere fleet – “MSC Magnifica”, “MSC Poesia” and “MSC Lirica” will call at Kiel. During the Kieler Woche between June 16th and 24th eleven cruise ships will visit Kiel fourteen times, along with the “Star Flyer” under full sail. This year no fewer than eight cruise ships will call at Kiel for the first time, among them Cunard’s “Queen Elizabeth” which is expected at the Ostseekai Terminal on July 24th. Regular maintenance and overhaul work on gangways and operational areas was all completed punctually at the Ostseekai Terminal in time for the start of the new season. One new feature is that the terminal facility is now eco-powered – meaning that its electricity is 100% generated by water. In addition the waste disposal system has been adapted so that ships can now offload paper, plastic and residual waste separately. “This is a step in the right direction”, said Dirk Claus. “We are also working with our partners to provide the ships of the future with shore-based electric power.” As far as service is concerned Kiel has for many years set great store by the best handling quality available for ships and passengers. Efforts like these, made by all the companies involved in ship handling in the Port of Kiel, have just been acknowledged at the world’s biggest trade fair of its kind, Cruise Shipping Miami, with no fewer than three awards from the trade publication “Cruise-Inside”. The magazine voted Kiel the best in the categories “Most efficient Terminal Operation”, “Best customer-oriented Port” and “Most efficient Port Services”. Dirk Claus said “our efforts are winning national as well as international recognition. Kiel’s job now is to expand its capacities by creating a third terminal berth for big cruise ships”. Berth No. 1 in Kiel’s Ostuferhafen will be extended to do just that, so that next year it will be ready to handle cruise ships of the 300 m category. The terminal facility has 395 m of quayside and has all the amenities required to process cruise ships including a handling building big enough to process passengers and luggage. Still primarily a start and end port for cruises, Kiel is also gaining importance as a port of call for day excursions. “The number of ships calling at Kiel with international passengers on board, will rise steeply this year”, said Dirk Claus. “Our efforts to market tourist destinations in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein are beginning to bear fruit. Among the ships calling at Kiel this year as part of ongoing cruises are, for example, Holland-America Line’s “Eurodam” and “Rotterdam” as well as “Saga Ruby”. New to Kiel is the “Thomson Spirit” while Fred Olsen’s “Black Watch”, although a regular visitor to the port, will call this year for the first time during an Advent cruise. This year’s cruise shipping season in Kiel ends later than in previous years – on December 15th to be exact - when the Phoenix Seereisen cruise ship “Amadea” leaves the Norwegenkai Terminal. Click here to view the article