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…
The cruise industry has signed an agreement with the state of Alaska to settle the head tax lawsuit, but state lawmakers must approve the bill to lower the tax this year.
A legally binding agreement was reached Sunday between Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan and Alaska Cruise Association president John Binkley. The association’s nine member lines are challenging the constitutionality of the $46 head tax.
The settlement calls for a reduction to be passed this year similar to the on submitted by Gov. Sean Parnell, who proposed a 25% cut, to $34.50, as well as an offset, not to exceed $17.50, for certain municipalities.
The Alaska Cruise Association agreed to dismiss its action if the governor’s bill or another bill with the same reductions passes both houses of the Alaska Legislature during the current session and is signed into law ‘without material amendment.’
If lawmakers fail to approve a reduction similar to the governor’s proposal, the suit can proceed.
Versions of Parnell’s proposal have been under consideration in the House and Senate finance committees one of the proposals needs to be passed soon as the current legislative session closes Sunday.
The settlement also commits the nine cruise lines to agreeing that a reduction in costs ‘will assist in making Alaska a more attractive destination … and thereby further the goal of increasing future ship deployments to Alaska.’
Low cost airline Spirit Air, an airline notoriously unsympathetic to it’s passengers has decided to see how much unfriendlier it can make the skies…
Spirit has just announced that for reservations made starting today for travel on or after August 1 they will be charging fees for carry on bags that will not fit under the seat in front of you… 1 item sized 16 X 14 X 12″ will be accepted onboard per person at no charge.
Umbrellas, cameras, infant diaper bags, assitive devices, outer garments, car seats, strollers, reading material and food for the flight are considered excluded items. There is no charge for excluded items and they do not count toward passenger’s carry on baggage allowance.
Passengers are allowed 1 other carry on item not to exceed 22 X 18 X 10″ and must fit into the overhead bin. Rates for this carry on item vary. Paid online by members of Spirit’s $9 fare club the bag fee is $20. Non-members will be charged $30 if they pay for the bag over the phone or at check-in. Make it to the gate without paying – then Spirit will charge you a whopping $45
Carnival Corp. & plc signed one of its largest passenger terminal use agreements today, committing 25.5m passenger movements from Port Everglades over the next 15 years. The agreement is estimated to bring in nearly half a billion dollars in revenue for the port.
Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl called it a ‘landmark agreement that will give back to the people of South Florida repeatedly over the next 15 years.’
The new usage agreement takes effect Oct. 1 and comes with a five-year option. Approval came this morning by Broward County Commissioners. It follows another major long-term agreement reached with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in December 2007 and, like that deal, employs a port user charge in lieu of various service tariffs.
The Carnival agreement calls for an average of 1.7m passengers embarking and disembarking annually from ships belonging to several Carnival Corp brands including Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and the Yachts of Seabourn, which already sail to and from the port.
In return, Port Everglades is committed to making significant improvements to four cruise terminals estimated at a total cost of $34m. The Broward County Commission also approved amending an agreement with Bermello Ajamil & Partners by $3.57m for expedited design services. Other action begins the process to select a construction manager to complete the improvements.
Port Everglades director Phil Allen estimated 621 new construction jobs will be created in the next three years for the facility upgrades discussed with Carnival.
‘We strive to be the best cruise port in the world, not just the largest,’ he said.
The new agreement is expected to have an average annual economic impact of more than 6,000 local jobs with related personal income of $293.6m over the 15-year period. According to a study by maritime research company Martin Associates, the homeporting of Carnival ships is also expected to generate $21.7m in state and local taxes annually.
With the big Cruise Shipping Miami convention this past week we were expecting to hear a lot of news from the industry – but it was actually pretty quiet…
NCL announced some work at Great Stirrup Cay as well as some more information about Norwegian Epic.
Celebrity Mercury continues to battle Norovirus.
Seabourn gives us a construction update on Seabourn Sojourn.
Holland America continues their Signature of Excellence upgrades and creates a stir in Alaska who is now reconsidering the head tax.
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