According to authorities in St. Kitts, two masked gunmen held up a tour bus, robbing 16 cruise ship passengers of their cash and cameras. None of the passengers were injured in the incident
Police say the passengers from Celebrity Mercury were traveling to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a park popular with visitors.
Park manager Joseph Woodley told local radio that the thieves blockaded the road with fallen tree. When the bus driver got out to clear the way, they emerged from bushes and robbed the tourists before disappearing back into the woods.
A police statement calls Sunday’s robbery “an unprecedented incident in St. Kitts.” It calls visitors’ safety a “highest priority.”
This week we talk about submarines – and if the HMS Astute Great Britain’s newest and most expensive nuclear submarine can’t figure out how to miss Scotland, image what kind of trouble the HMS Imbicile could end up in!
NCL made headlines this week, first with an update on the upgrades at Great Stirrup Cay, then an announcement that they’re planning on an IPO, and finally ordering two new ships expected in 2013 and 2014.
Holland America has announced a new partnership with Le Circue (the restaurant not the show).
Disney Dream is floated out of the builder’s dock at Meyer Werft - UPDATE- As we suspected, the ship’s horn WAS NOT playing a Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, however there were PA speakers that were playing the song…
Richard Fain says there’s no newbuilds on the horizon for Royal Caribbean, but their newest ship will have a Starbucks – and Royal Caribbean took delivery of Allure of The Seas.
Now that Allure is finished, things are going to be quiet for a few months at STX Turku yards – it’ll be a few months before construction ramps up on their next order.
Finally, authorities insist that Seattle’s Pier 91 is safe, despite find WWII era munitions in the silt below the pier on 6 different occasions this summer.
The first calls scheduled for Jamaica’s new port of Falmouth this year are going to Ocho Rios or Montego Bay instead, with Navigator of the Seas now due to be the first ship at Falmouth on Jan. 7.
Cruise lines and port officials this week jointly decided to wait until the new year since the upland facilities are not completed, William Tatham, vp cruise operations for the Jamaica Port Authority, told Seatrade Insider.
Holland America Line’s Ryndam and P&O Cruises’ Aurora were due to make the first calls on Nov. 3. Three other visits by Ryndam and one by Noordam were planned before year’s end.
‘On this occasion Aurora will be at anchor in Ocho Rios but we do plan to go into Falmouth in the future,’ a Carnival UK spokeswoman told Seatrade Insider.
HAL is booked seasonally through 2012.
Marine-wise, Falmouth is ready to receive ships. However, the terminal building is not finished and shops are not occupied, though most upland construction is done. ‘Most of the buildings are up and roofs are on but common areas still need to be cobblestoned. Stores will start to be outfitted next month,’ Tatham said.
The port had planned to provide air conditioned tents to receive passengers and would have put on entertainment to welcome the ships in November, but it was mutually decided with the lines that it would be better to wait until the upland area is in a more finished state.
After Navigator’s Jan. 7 call, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will ramp up visits with Voyager of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Century all scheduled. Falmouth’s official ribbon-cutting is planned for March 16 with the maiden call by Allure of the Seas. Oasis of the Seas will make its first visit on March 22.
The Port Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean are partners in developing what is called Historic Falmouth, highlighting the area’s history and Georgian architecture and created to serve the Oasis-class ships but open to other operators.
Tatham said the development faced many challenges, including the economic crisis which made financing more difficult.
Yup, we’re kinda surprised that we’ve done 200 shows too! Thanks for sticking with us for the past 4 years!
This week, Princess begins cold ironing in San Francisco, and disco isn’t dead – it’s coming to Liberty of The Seas!
Ted Koppel has signed on to another cruise, and Seven Seas Voyager is having engine troubles.
Carnival has 5 ships that have gotten perfect scores on their USPHS inspections.
Changes are coming to San Juan as the port authority starts demolishing the structure that prevent Carnival Dream from visiting, and Boston completes work on the Black Falcon Terminal.
Queen Elizabeth is officially named, and Hat Watch 2010 ends….
The Wall Street Journal reported it first and several other news outlets have since run with the story – but according to the WSJ the SS United States Conservancy has purchased the ship from NCL for $3 million. Reportedly NCL agree to sell the ship to the Conservancy even though a scrapper offer NCL $5.9 million for the ship.
The deal could pave the way for the ship to be converted into some sort of dockside attraction – however before that can happen the ship needs to be cleaned of PCBs which many parts of the ship may be contaminated with. As part of the deal the Conservancy will also be paying the $60,000 monthly bill for keeping the ship moored in it’s current berth in Philadelphia.
We’re expecting an official announcement from the SS United States Conservancy later tonight…
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