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Around 120,000 passengers stepped off of cruise ships in Sitka last year and municipal officials expected $5 for each one as the city’s share of Alaska’s $34.50 state cruise ship passenger tax . Sitka’s check from the state, however, arrived with a surprise: Fewer than 83,000 passengers who stopped at the port were assessed the tax. It turns out that not every guest aboard a major cruise ship stopping at an Alaska port is taxed. Under state law, the $34.50 tax is assessed only for passengers who spend 72 hours or more per voyage in state waters. The Alaska Department of Revenue concluded that a third of the cruise visitors who stopped in Sitka did not qualify for the tax. City officials are not sure why but they have seen revenue for passengers visiting the city fall from $1.3 million to $414,310 over four fiscal years. “We’re very concerned we could see a dramatic reduction in 2012,” said the city’s public works director, Michael Harmon. “They are setting up itineraries in 2012 similar to itineraries in 2011 in which they did not have to pay, is our understanding. The information we get is very limited from the Department of Revenue so it’s very difficult to connect the dots with certainty, but that’s kind of the trend we’re seeing.” Given the enthusiasm with which cruise lines opposed the tax when it was passed by voter initiative nearly six years ago, Sitka officials wondered if cruise companies were planning itineraries to avoid the tax on passengers, lingering outside territorial waters of the state. That’s not the case, said Sally Andrews, an executive with Holland America Line, the main cruise company that stops at Sitka. Consumer demand for destination and sufficient time for customers to enjoy it are prime considerations, Andrews said. So are ship speed and tidal changes. The tax is not, Andrews said. Holland America plans itineraries two to three years in advance, Andrews said, and consults with state tax officials to determine whether vessels will be in Alaska territorial waters for 72 hours. “The tax is collected from guests and we remit that to the Alaska Department of Revenue, per Alaska law,” she said. “So the tax is paid by guests, not Holland America line. If we are not in an area for a certain amount of time, we don’t collect it. So it has no impact on our profitability, and thus would not be a reason for us to consider that.” A voter initiative created the tax in 2006. Supporters said it would help cover the cost of infrastructure needed for large ships. Cruise interests argued the tax was unconstitutional and sued. The Alaska Legislature, at the urging of Gov. Sean Parnell, in 2010 cut the head tax from $46 to $34.50 with deeper offsets for ships stopping in Juneau or Ketchikan, and the lawsuit was dropped. The state collected $16.4 million last year on 820,238 passengers. Johanna Bales, deputy director of the Tax Division in the Department of Revenue, said Sitka is the only Panhandle community to mention a shortfall. Sitka officials wondered if ships were lingering in Glacier Bay, where the National Park Service exerts jurisdiction for vessel traffic, or Tracy Arm, which is surrounded by federal Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. However, both are considered state waters, said Andrews and Chris Poag, an assistant attorney general. Poag said specific tax cases cannot be discussed but he speculated that the shortfall for Sitka may be because of its location on the Pacific Ocean side of Baranof Island. He suggested cruise ships transiting north from Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia, could be in international waters beyond the Inside Passage for much of voyage and not in Alaska waters for 72 total hours, even with stops in Juneau and Ketchikan. Juneau attorney Joe Geldhof, one of the sponsors of the 2006 initiative, said the 72-hour requirement was picked in part to reflect a sufficient link between the tax and time spent by passengers in the state. “It just seemed like the right point, if you will, on which to strike the balance — when are you over-regulating or under-regulating,” he said. Harmon, the Sitka public works director, said it’s of little consequence to his community if a cruise ship spends more than 72 hours in state waters. “It impacts us the same way as if they had been in our waters for 365 days,” he said. “It wouldn’t make a difference. It’s still the same visit.” Sitka was Alaska’s first capital. The community of nearly 9,000 bills itself as a place to enjoy a mix of Tlingit Indian and Russian-American influences. Cruise passenger revenue must be spent on projects that benefit cruise passengers. The state share is spent on specific projects and is paying for an upgrade of Sitka Centennial Hall, the emergency assembling point for passengers. Sitka has discretion on how to spend its $5 per cruise passenger. The money is put into a fund that has paid for security guard facilities, visitor restrooms and signs that lead to historic sites, said municipal administrator Jim Dinley. “The main criterion always is, ‘Did we serve the cruise ship passenger?’” he said. Andrews said Holland America expects to bring 78,000 passengers to Sitka on 41 sailings in 2012, primarily on the Oosterdam and the Westerdam. “Both of those will be in Alaska waters more than 72 hours,” she said. “We have been collecting the applicable tax on those sailings since we began taking reservations on those sailings, which started in January of last year.” According to the company website, those vessels are each scheduled for 20 seven-day cruises that include Sitka. Another vessel, the Amsterdam, is scheduled for one seven-day cruise. The Amsterdam, according to the website, will also make seven 14-day voyages that include stops in Sitka. Click here to view the article

The first cruise company to use Abu Dhabi as a home port is pulling out less than a year after it started sailing from the capital as the industry struggles in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster. Italy's MSC Cruises has scrapped plans to return to the emirate this year for the next season in a setback for the emirate's ambitions to become a cruise industry hub. A variety of factors were behind its decision to withdraw, including commercial reasons, the limited facilities and range of cruise destinations in the region, and a preference to take the ship that was destined for Abu Dhabi to South Africa instead, the company said. "There is no doubt that MSC Cruises' guests enjoyed the destination," MSC Cruises said. "However, for the long-term success of cruising in the [GCC] region, new ports of call need to be developed, terminal facilities must be upgraded and there must be increased focus on sourcing from local and regional markets." Abu Dhabi has identified the cruise sector as an important pillar in its tourism ambitions as it aims to attract 2.3 million hotel guests by the end of this year. In the longer term, it is hoping to attract 300 sailings a year and 600,000 passengers by 2030, including ships that sail out of Abu Dhabi and those that stop off in the capital as a port of call. The first cruise ship to use Abu Dhabi as its base, the MSC Lirica, was estimated to have brought in about 40,000 visitors, with a direct economic impact of Dh80 million (US$21.7m) to the emirate, including money spent on flights, accommodation, retail, transport, food and beverage, according to projections from the emirate's tourism authority issued at the time of its launch. The cruises sailed to Muscat, Fujairah, Khasab in Oman, and Dubai. MSC Cruises had intended to bring a bigger ship to Abu Dhabi next season, carrying 54,000 passengers. But that ship, MSC Opera, is now going to Durban in South Africa, where the company says it has made substantial investments. There have been a spate of safety incidents in the sector recently, including the capsizing of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy, resulting in the loss of 30 lives. "[We view] MSC Cruises' decision as a short-term tactical imperative, largely brought about by the commercial and operational challenges currently confronting the global cruise industry," the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority said. "Abu Dhabi's cruise tourism hub ambitions continue unabated. Growth prospects, for both fly-cruise and intra-regional cruises, remain fundamentally positive. We are confident that there will be at least one major cruise liner home-porting in Abu Dhabi in the 2013/14 season." The tourism authority is striving to boost the industry . "To realize our cruise hub ambitions, the authority has established a number of strategic priorities," it said. "These include: the establishment of a dedicated cruise terminal at Mina Zayed within three years; the development of one of Abu Dhabi's many islands into a permanent cruise port-of-call; the enhancement of passenger and ship handling capabilities among Abu Dhabi stakeholders." It also wants greater cooperation within the region to help to boost interest in taking cruises among the local and regional populations, including India, with the aim of growing "these bookings from their current level of 1 per cent of total passenger figures to at least 10 per cent within three years". The authority also remains in contact with MSC Cruises "with a view to facilitating its return to Abu Dhabi in the near future", it said. MSC Cruises also remains optimistic on the potential for the industry in the region. "The United Arab Emirates has great potential in terms of travel and tourism, particularly as a destination for cruise calls," the operator said. "The growth of the cruise industry seen in recent years combined with the region's commitment to encouraging future growth are significant evidence of such potential." Click here to view the article

Cunard’s highly popular Apple iStudy courses are now available on all three Cunard ocean liners, following the recent opening of the Apple Learning Center onboard Queen Victoria. The centers offer the latest iMac machines for confidence-boosting seminars and workshops that aim to familiarize guests with the latest technology, from Facebook to iPads, in a fun and interactive way. The iStudy programmed has been a feature of flagship Queen Mary 2 since October 2011, while Queen Elizabeth has had an Apple center on board since her introduction in 2010. The workshops have proved a particularly strong draw on Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton, with many guests bringing along their own iPads to use during the sessions. “We are delighted to offer this additional attraction on board our ships. We find that guests today are increasingly computer savvy and iStudy is an innovative new program designed to introduce and showcase the latest Apple technology,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The concept is great for those who are already confident with Apple products as well as for those who want to try out an iPad or learn how to get the best out of devices they already own.” Course creator and iStudy Presenter trainer Richie Litchfield said, “All the seminars and workshops are fronted by specially trained presenters to make learning fun, in a positive and relaxing environment. There is something for everyone – from the beginner to the more advanced – and our aim is for guests to walk out of the iStudy feeling enriched and more confident.” Aboard Queen Elizabeth, Cunard also features an iRange store as an Authorized Apple Reseller at sea. Guests can experiment with the latest Apple devices at their leisure, and Apple trained staff are available to give specialist advice on all the products offered for sale on board, including iPods (Shuffle, Nano and Touch), iPad 2, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, as well as accessories such as cases, bags, sleeves and speakers. It is hoped that these iRange Stores will also be opened on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in the future. The iStudy programme on all three ships aims to take advantage of today's technology and present computer-based learning in an accessible and non-intimidating way. All Guest Computer Services Managers have been trained on the latest Apple technology to offer Apple courses to interested guests. In addition, the sessions offer a great way for Windows users to test-drive Apple programs and to compare Windows and Apple software side-by-side. “Apple computers were selected because of their versatility in toggling over to a PC/Windows environment, allowing instructors to teach classes on both computer platforms,” said Shanks. Click here to view the article

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

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

A cruise carrying relatives of some of the more than 1,500 people who died aboard the Titanic nearly 100 years ago set sail from England on Sunday to retrace the ship's voyage, including a visit to the location where it sank. The Titanic Memorial Cruise, carrying the same number of passengers — not including crew — as the Titanic did, cast off from Southampton, where the doomed vessel left on its maiden voyage. The 12-night cruise will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the White Star liner. Waving passengers crowded the decks as the ship prepared to set sail, many dressed in period costumes as first-class passengers, crew members, steerage passenger and stewards. Graham Free was dressed as an Edwardian gentleman and described his excitement for the cruise as he waited to board. "I have been a fan of the Titanic since I was nine years old and this cruise is the closest you are going to get to it," said the 37 year old. "The trip has cost a considerable amount, but I wanted to do it." Fellow cruiser Carmel Bradburn, 55, who lives in Australia, described herself as "fanatical" about the Titanic and struck back at accusations that retracing the doomed voyage is in poor taste. "I don't think the cruise is morbid. It's like saying Gallipoli is morbid or commemorating the (Crimean) war," she said. "Remembering those who died is not morbid." With 1,309 passengers aboard, the MS Balmoral will follow the same route as the Titanic — though the Balmoral had to leave two days earlier than the Titanic did because it is a small and slower vessel. The Balmoral is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, whose parent company, Harland and Wolff, built the Titanic in Belfast. It has been chartered for the event by Miles Morgan Travel, which specializes in tailor-made holidays. The organizers are trying to recreate the onboard experience — minus the disaster — including the food and a live band playing music from that era, in a tribute to Titanic's musicians who reportedly played their instruments until the ship sank. People from 28 countries have booked passage, organizers said, including relatives of some of the more than 1,500 people who died when the Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912, in international waters in the North Atlantic. Other passengers include relatives of the around 700 survivors, along with authors and historians. The tickets varied in cost from 2,799 pounds ($4,445) to 5,995 pounds ($9,520). Over the course of the voyage, passengers will attend lectures by Titanic experts such as Philip Littlejohn, grandson of a Titanic survivor. Littlejohn said he is sure his grandfather would be proud to know his story would be shared with passengers on the Titanic Memorial Cruise. "It will be an emotional moment when we are over the wreck site, where I dived in 2001 and where my grandfather left Titanic rowing Lifeboat 13," he said. While on board, passengers also will dine on meals based around dishes served in April 1912, with a formal dinner on April 13 made up entirely of dishes served aboard the Titanic. Cruise organizers have set up a special memorial service on April 14 to start at 11:40 p.m. to mark the moment Titanic hit the iceberg, and later at the exact moment when the ship sank. The cruise is among an abundance of commemorations and memorials to the reputedly unsinkable ship that have sprung up to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's doomed voyage. Click here to view the article

Taiwan could become a new star in the cruise tour market once restrictions on foreign ships traveling across the Taiwan Strait are eased later this year, an operator said yesterday. The removal of such restrictions will allow cruise operators to obtain permission for several trips with each application, which will encourage more ships to stop in Taiwan, said Royal Caribbean Cruises, a major cruise ship company based in the US. The company said Taiwan’s strategic location in maritime transportation lanes in Asia makes it possible for Keelung Port to become a major cruise ship hub like Hong Kong, Singapore and Tianjin, China. Royal Caribbean plans to put a 140,000-tonne cruise ship into service on its Asia routes next month, introducing the biggest cruise liner operating in the region. Starting in August, the massive ship will sail routes between Keelung and Shanghai, as well as to destinations in Japan and South Korea, Royal Caribbean said. Taiwan and China have agreed to allow foreign cruise ships to operate between the two sides of the Strait without having to apply for permission before each trip, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The agreement, negotiated by the shipping associations of Taiwan and China late last year, is expected to be officially signed during bilateral talks in China in the first half of this year, the ministry said yesterday. Because very few cruise ships are registered in China or Taiwan, cruise operators have not benefited from a 2008 cross-strait pact that allows direct services across the Strait by ships registered on either side. As a result, cruise operators have had to obtain approval before each trip between Taiwan and China. Keelung Port, which handles the heaviest cruise ship traffic among all of Taiwan’s ports, recorded more than 461,000 visits by cruise ship passengers last year, a 2.6 percent increase from the previous year. Click here to view the article

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

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

BYCYP; ENJOY YOUR CRUISE ON THE ALLURE OF THE SEAS, ON THE 15TH APRIL

CANDLAU; ENJOY YOUR CRUISE ON THE SAPPHIRE PRINCESS, ON THE 14TH APRIL

AWAY! CURL130 ENJOY YOUR CRUISE ON THE VOYAGER OF THE SEAS, ON THE 14TH APR

MICHAEL DE THORNE; ENJOY YOUR CRUISE ON THE CARNIVAL SPIRIT 13TH APRIL

KID; ENJOY YOUR CRUISE ON THE DAWN PRINCESS 13TH APRIL

The new Titanic Belfast visitor experience has opened to the public. The 14,000 sq m building, modeled on four ships’ hulls rising to the same height of Titanic and clad in almost 3,000 striking aluminium shards, was opened by Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. They were joined by 105-year-old Belfast man, Cyril Quigley, believed to be the last witness of RMS Titanic’s launch. It’s expected that over 400,000 visitors, including 150,000 from outside Northern Ireland, will visit Titanic Belfast in its first year, with 100,000 tickets having already been pre-sold. The building includes nine interactive galleries looking at every aspect of the Titanic story and the Titanic Suite, a Titanic-themed banqueting venue with a 10,000 piece near replica of Titanic’s Grand Staircase. Click here to view the article

The world's largest cruise ship picked up 23 Cuban refugees in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday. Royal Caribbean 225,282-ton, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas was sailing from Falmouth, Jamaica, to Cozumel, Mexico, when it spotted a small boat, said the line in a statement. Oasis approached the boat and picked up 23 refugees, including 19 men and four women. (Thanks to x member bajathree, who's on board, for the tip.) The green arrow on the image right marks the spot of the event (ship is not to scale), per coordinates provided by Royal Caribbean. Once on board, the refugees received food, water and medical treatment, said the line. Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez told x that the new passengers were housed in Oasis' conference room with a few crew members until the ship arrived in Cozumel this morning (April 5). According to Royal Caribbean, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified, as is the line's standard practice when dealing with distressed mariners. At the direction of the U.S.C.G, the 23 Cuban citizens were disembarked in Cozumel, where they were handed over to the Mexican authorities. Passenger and YouTube Spensaf1 posted a video of the refugees being handed life jackets and then transferred from their makeshift craft to a yellow boat. One of the onlookers can be heard saying, "it's lobster night tonight. Going to be eating pretty well tonight." Click here to view the article

The May issue of Vanity Fair magazine includes an exhaustively researched analysis of the Jan. 13 Costa Concordia sinking, detailing the errors committed by Capt. Francesco Schettino and the efforts by unsung heroes who helped rescue people from the tilting ship. Written by Bryan Burrough, Vanity Fair special correspondent and co-author of “Barbarians at the Gate,” the article includes interviews with numerous survivors who told harrowing tales of climbing down rope ladders and jumping into lifeboats, enduring 24 hours in frigid water with a broken leg, and leaping off the ship into the black night. Even as Schettino abandoned the ship, appearing to some to be in shock, the deputy mayor of Giglio, Mario Pellegrini, boarded the vessel and helped rescue hundreds with the help of the ship’s doctor, Sandro Cinquini, and the navigation officer, Simone Canessa . Burrough assigns blame to Schettino, saying he made several mistakes—going too fast (15 knots) during the salute to the Island of Giglio navigating by eyesight instead of consulting maps and radar, talking on the phone while at the controls, and turning the ship the wrong way so that it struck, instead of avoided, a large rock in the water. He also reportedly told his officers to lie to the Italian Coast Guard, saying there was just a simple blackout onboard, even as water was rushing into the ship, in an effort to avoid humiliation. In an effort to stop the ship from falling on its side as it approached land, Schettino dropped anchor, but let out too much chain, so that the anchors did not dig into the seabed. “If he had dropped the anchors properly, the ship wouldn’t have listed so badly,” says John Konrad, an American captain and nautical analyst. In all, 4,200 passengers and crew made it off the ship, and 30 died with two still missing and presumed dead. The ship remains on its side near the island of Giglio as Costa executives evaluate how to remove the hull, a process estimated to take 10 to 12 months. The May issue of Vanity Fair was available on newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on April 5, in subscription copies on April 5, and nationally and on the iPad, Nook, and Kindle on April 10. Click here to view the article