Bermuda’s Royal Gazette is reporting on a newly approved plan allowing cruise ships to open their casinos, bars, and shops after 10PM while in port in Bermuda. In exchange cruise lines will be required to contribute to on-island activities like the Bermuda Music Festival and Harbor Nights.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: General News Posted by Michael on 01/21/08
From the US State Department’s travel website:
U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, 
in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008.
The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.
The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.
To facilitate the frequent travel of U.S. citizens living in border communities and to meet DHS’s operational needs at land borders, the passport card will contain a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. This chip will link the card to a stored record in secure government databases. There will be no personal information written to the RFID chip itself.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: General News, Travel Advisories Posted by Michael on 12/24/07
It’s been a while but we’re back! We really had planned on there being at least one show while we were gone - we talk about what happened during the show.
There were several big stories while we were gone that we wanted to talk about so we have two shows for you this week. With the first one being a news show.
We first wanted to talk about Queen Victoria’s naming on the tenth, and Apollo Managements acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
NCL not only named Norwegian Gem while we were gone but also announced their new Freestyle 2.0 initiative which will be bringing some pretty significant changes to their onboard offerings.
US Customs and Border Patrol is seeking to re-interpret the US Cabotage laws. The new proposed interpretation would require Foreign Flag vessels sailing from/to US ports to have a minimum of a 48 hour port call in a foreign port during their sailing. If this proposal goes through it would radically alter the cruise industry from the US.
There were also two NTSB reports released while we were gone, first was the report on Crown Princess’ unexpected listed in June 2006, the second was on Empress of The North’s grounding earlier this year.
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Filed under: Cunard Cruise Lines, General News, Majestic America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Podcast, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises Posted by Michael on 09/14/07
KTUU.com is reporting that Juneau city leaders are looking to issue a contract for the design of a $50 million cruise ship pier.
Juneau can currently accomodate just one Panamax ship and one smaller ship. The new floating pier which would be completed in 2010 would be able to accomodate two “large ships” as well as the recently retired USCGC Storis which could become a maritime museum.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: General News Posted by Michael on 08/22/07
Seatrade Insider (sorry registration required 
) is reporting that Carnival Corporation (parent of Carnival Cruise Lines and many others) has signed a 20 year deal with the government of St Maarten and the Port of Sta Maarten to provide funding for the islands new two berth pier.
Carnival will provide $35.4 million in financing for the project as well as guaranteeing a minimum number of passengers. In return Carnival Corp has preferential rights at the facility, with eight of it’s brands including three European ones expected to visit.
Construction is scheduled to begin in December and be completed in 2009.
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