Just one show this week - there was enough to talk about in the news this week that we ended up filling up the show before we had a chance to even get to a feature this week.
MeyerWerft says that they’re getting an order from Royal Caribbean for a fourth Freedom Class ship, while Celebrity Galaxy will be getting a refit soon.
Crystal launches Newspaper Direct, a new way of getting full format newspapers while at sea.
In other shipbuilding news, Aker France floats out two new ships for MSC.
Senators Ted Stevens and Danial Inouye pressed DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff not just for a decision on Customs and Border Patrol’s proposal to re-interpret the Cabotage rules but to also to limit the decision to Hawai’i.
Finally, Patricia has earned the Accredited Cruise Counsellor designation from CLIA.
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Filed under: Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Royal Caribbean International Posted by Michael on 02/03/08
Overall it’s been pretty quiet on the news front - and probably will stay that way for another month or so. We did have a few stories of interest this week.
Carnival Fantasy gets a date with the shipyard for her Evolutions of Fun upgrades.
Princess had several stories this week - from their first fleet wide series of casino tournaments, to a dramatic change to their disembarkation process, to the floating out of Ruby Princess.
Apollo Management completes their acquisition of Regent Seven Seas and promptly gives them the go ahead to lay the groundwork for a new ship.
Florida’s Attorney General has launched a “preliminary” investigation of the various fuel surcharges that were enacted this past fall.
Finally, MSC says that they haven’t given up on the New York market and may move a ship there in 2010.
This week we turn the spotlight on a cruise line - and selected Celebrity Cruises who will be hosting SeaSocks 2008 with us onboard the Infinity. Celebrity is relatively new line although with some old roots. The have very distinctive ships, which are easily spotted by their blue and white paint scheme and big white X on their stack… BUT that’s not really an X on their stack - you’ll have to listen to find out just what’s on their stack - and why… 
This week we don’t have a Deal of the Week, but rather a Deal of the Day. This Tuesday February 5 only, you can book the March 29, 12 night trans-Atlantic sailing of the Summit for just $549 and for under $1000 for a Concierge Class cabin! But you have to contact us this TUESDAY to take advantage of this!
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises Posted by Michael on 11/17/07
MSC Lirica should have just completed repairs to her hull in a Genoa drydock before sailing to the US on November 17 for the start of her winter Caribbean season.The ship was damaged during Lirica’s last call in Civitavecchia on November 2 when strong winds during the unmooring operation caused it to scrape the pier. An area between the bow and portside bulwarks was damaged, reports the line. The company advised the Italian Coast Guard and classification society, and both inspected the vessel to guarantee its seaworthiness before sailing from Civitavecchia.
The day after, Lirica called Genoa and undertook another 10-day cruise terminating, again, in Genoa on Monday. The 2003-built ship will now be repaired before sailing Saturday for her winter home base of Fort Lauderdale. Due to the drydock work, the last cruise of the Mediterranean season was cancelled.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: MSC Cruises Posted by Michael on 10/04/07
Based on a new agreement with CIAL (Consorzio Nazionale per il Recupero e il Riciclo dell’alluminio), the Italian National Consortium for the collection and recycling of aluminum, a special collection for aluminum will be made from ships in the MSC Cruises fleet.
This collection will apply to the ships departing from Genoa and Venice. Recycling will take place at designated plants in the ports of Genoa and Bari. Tin cans used for drinks, foil used in cooking, tubs and containers used for storage will be collected and handed to CIAL for recycling. The recycled material will be re-utilized for household goods, furnishings, and in construction and transportation, as well as many other uses.
It is estimated that in the second part of 2007, approximately 15 tons of aluminum will be collected on board MSC Cruises’ ships. Once recycled, this material could become the equivalent of 29.000 new stovetop espresso makers, 1,300 bicycles or 1,650 wheel rims. Aluminum is 100% recyclable, which result in savings of 95% of the energy needed to produce the metal from the raw material, bauxite.
MSC Cruises is at the forefront of safeguarding environmental aspects. It was the first cruise company to obtain the UNI EN ISO 9002/1994 e UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 certificate; from July 2007, the company and its entire fleet are certified with ISO 14001 Environmental Protection, as a result of a system that regulates all activities that have an environmental impact.
MSC Cruises is also one of the first to support the “Venice Blue Flag” project; this was set up to control emissions of all the ships in transit between Bocca di Porto Lido and the Maritime Station of this lagoon capital.
MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida are the newest generation of twin ships, currently under construction at the Aker Yards, in St. Nazaire, France. These two giants of the sea – each at 135,000 tons, will be the largest ships built for a European ship owner and will have the most modern technology to safeguard the environment, including: grey and black water treatment plant, energy saving across all cabins and public spaces, non-toxic paints specially formulated for ship hulls. MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida will join the fleet in November 2008 and June 2009, respectively.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: MSC Cruises Posted by Michael on 10/01/07
Not a lot of cruise news this week as we get ready for our upcoming Eastbound Trans-Atlantic onboard Queen Mary 2.
Crystal is speeding up internet access onboard, and Princess is adding some Hawai’ian cultural programs to their Hawai’i sailings.
Silversea has snatched up the expedition ship World Discoverer, meanwhile Disney has announced how they will be celebrating the upcoming holidays onboard their ships.
MSC has revised it’s smoking policy, and Carnival is re-affirming their commitment to New Orleans departures.
Don’t forget, US passport regulations get a little tighter today too!
We talk a bit about insurance, however we don’t did too deep - this is insurance after all and not the most exciting of topics.
With us heading out of town this week, there’s no Deal of The Week. But as always when we had out of town, one of our colleagues we be keeping an eye on our phones while we are gone.
Finally a piece from The Arrogant Worm’s Ballad of Dan closes out the show this week. Listen and you’ll know why!
1 comment so farFiled under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Princess Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Travel Advisories « Previous Page — Next Page »
