By Jerry Limone

American Queen buys riverboat for Pacific Northwest cruises

Partnering in preservation

American Queen Steamboat Co. has formed a partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit based in Washington.

Beginning June 30, the American Queen Steamboat Co. will donate $5 to the National Trust for every booking, in support of the campaign to protect National Treasure sites along the Mississippi River and in the Pacific Northwest.

Through the partnership, American Queen Steamboat Co. and the National Trust for Historic Preservation aim to “help tell the stories about important historical places along the travels of the ship,” said Terry Richey, chief marketing officer for the National Trust.

Passengers will have the opportunity to visit three National Treasures sites on their cruise: the Mississippi Delta Heritage area, Willamette Falls in Oregon and the Manhattan Project in Hanford, Wash.

The American Queen Steamboat Co. has purchased the Empress of the North, a riverboat that last sailed for the defunct Majestic America Line in 2008, from the U.S. Maritime Administration for an undisclosed price.

The 223-passenger paddlewheeler will be renovated and renamed the American Empress. The crew will comprise 80 hotel staff and 17 deck staff, all locally hired in the Pacific Northwest region.

As it did when the riverboat was last in service, the American Empress will sail Pacific Northwest cruises, plying the Columbia and Snake rivers, starting next April.

“We are looking at the region [the American Empress] draws from,” said Ted Sykes, president and COO of American Queen Steamboat Co. “We’ve had a lot of people on the American Queen say, ‘Give us some more geography.’ The repeat customer knows of the luxury on the American Queen, and now they want that luxury somewhere else.”

Cruises will sail between Portland, Ore., and Clarkston, Wash. Ports of call include Astoria, Wash.; Stevenson, Wash.; The Dalles, Ore.; Umatilla, Ore.; and Richland, Wash.

The American Queen Steamboat Co. revived Mississippi River cruising last year with the American Queen, another former Majestic America Line riverboat.

“The American Queen has ushered in a rebirth of U.S. river cruising, welcoming thousands to discover the heartland of the United States and its iconic port cities,” stated Sykes. “Now the American Empress will continue that tradition as an ambassador to the Pacific Northwest, a region equally rich in American and natural history.”

Sykes said the American Empress will be ready to take online bookings by the end of the week.

Tui places £4bn order for new-generation B737s

By Lee Hayhurst

Tui Travel has today unveiled a multi billion-pound investment in new-generation aircraft.

Europe’s largest travel group is to order 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft worth £4 billion with options on a further 90 of the narrow-body type.

Deliveries will start in January 2018 and run until March 2023.

The 737 MAX aircraft utilises a new-technology engine type claimed to result in a 13% improvement in fuel efficiency and a 40% reduction in noise over today’s main competitors.

The new 737s will provide lower per seat costs than current-generation aircraft, according to Tui.

Around 80% of the group’s passenger flew on 114 narrow-body aircraft across six airline brands including Thomson Airways in the last financial year.

“In order to maintain cost competitiveness and support Tui Travel’s aim to minimise the environmental impact of its activities, the existing narrow-body aircraft will need to be replaced in the next decade,” the company said.

“The proposed transaction will ensure that the group has sufficient aircraft to fulfil its long-term plans and that the expected accrued value justifies the cost of the purchase.”

Chief executive Peter Long said: "A major part of Tui Travel's strategy is to provide our customers with unique holiday experiences they can only get from us.

“This multi billion-pound investment in the B737 MAX - representing the future generation of more fuel-efficient aircraft for our short and medium-haul programmes - will be a further driver in delivering this.

“It comes as the first of our Boeing 787s touches down in the UK to commence replacement of our long-haul fleet with best-in-class aircraft.

“We are leading the way in redefining mainstream holidays, and putting our customers at the heart of everything we do is integral to our continued growth.

“I can confidently say that being able to offer our customers the most advanced, comfortable aircraft, whether they are travelling with us to short or long-haul destinations, while reducing our environmental impact, will only strengthen our position.”

Thomson Airways' first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is due to arrive at Manchester airport this morning. It has flown from the Boeing Everett Factory in Seattle and will be followed with the delivery of a further three Thomson 787 aircraft this summer.

View a timelapse video of Tui's Dreamliner production

 http://bcove.me/y2fphluo

Thomson will fly the aircraft from Gatwick, Manchester, East Midlands and Glasgow airports on long-haul routes to Sanford, Florida and Cancun in Mexico.

Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways, said: “After much anticipation we are very excited to welcome the 787 Dreamliner to our fleet, and as the first airline in the UK to take delivery we hope our customers will enjoy the unique experience of this revolutionary aircraft.

“The introduction of the Dreamliner is a major milestone in our journey of modernising the holiday experience. Customers will be amazed at the unique look, feel and service – all of which will ensure the unique Thomson holiday experience starts as soon as they step on board this fabulous new aircraft.

“The extended flying range of the Dreamliner also unlocks a host of new and exciting holiday options for our customers, increasing the range of long-haul destinations available with Thomson Airways, from four UK airports this summer.

“This winter we’ll fly the Dreamliner direct to Phuket in Thailand and from summer 2014 we will be introducing holidays to Mauritius and Puerto Vallarta, flying direct on our new 787 aircraft.”

The Thomson 787 Dreamliner will carry 291 passengers.

Thomson Airways will be taking delivery of eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners in total, up to May 2015.

Royal Caribbean orders third Quantum ship

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said it signed a contract for a third 4,180-passenger Quantum-class ship to be delivered in 2016.

The price and terms for the unnamed ship are similar to the first two Quantum ships, Royal Caribbean said. The ship will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

The stateroom configuration will include a greater proportion of higher-priced cabins than the other two Quantum-class ships. It will also "achieve some of the greatest energy efficiencies at sea," Royal Caribbean said.

The order will put Royal Caribbean's annual growth in capacity at about 4% between 2012 and 2017.

The first ship in the class, Quantum of the Seas, is scheduled for delivery next year with Anthem of the Seas to follow in 2015.

Six more Grandeur cruises cancelled after fire

A further six summer cruises have been cancelled by Royal Caribbean International to allow for repairs to fire damaged Grandeur of the Seas.

The blaze burnt out what the line described as an “industrial area” at the aft of the ship which had only just re-entered service after a refit.

The 2,446-passenger capacity vessel is not expected to return to service on seven-night itineraries from Baltimore until July 12.

The vessel was being moved from Freeport in the Bahamas to a berth at Grand Bahama shipyard yesterday for the repairs to be carried out. A cruise due to depart on Friday had already been cancelled.

Parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises said: “The company has taken the vessel out of service and expects that it will take approximately six weeks to complete the repair efforts.”

The line laid on 11 charter flights to fly passengers from the vessel’s aborted cruise back to Baltimore. Others were travelling by ferry to Florida and then being transferred by  train or coach.

People booked on the cancelled cruises are being offered refunds and 25% future cruise discounts.

Royal Caribbean estimates that the direct financial impact will be a reduction of $0.10 per share.

Senior vice president and chef financial officer Jason Liberty said: "The extent of the financial impact was relatively high because the affected sailings were during the premium summer season."

Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Adam Goldstein said: "We are gratified that no one was hurt and that the safety and comfort systems performed exactly as designed.

"I extend my appreciation to our crew who performed so well, as well as to our guests who have been co-operative, understanding and highly complimentary of the shipboard team throughout.”

FIRE on board a Royal Caribbean Ship.

'Passengers were throwing up, crying... I thought we were going to sink!' The terrifying moment fire engulfed Royal Caribbean cruise and crew got ready to abandon ship

• A fire broke out aboard a Royal Caribbean ship on Monday morning but was extinguished about two hours later with no injuries reported
• The Grandeur of the Seas, which left Baltimore on Friday, never lost power and was able to sail into port in Freeport, Bahamas, on Monday afternoon
• The company said the more than 2,200 passengers will be flown from the Bahamas back to Baltimore where the trip began
• Royal Caribbean said all guests and 796 crew were safe and accounted for

A huge fire broke out on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship last night causing panic as 2,000 passengers abandoned their rooms and prepared to get into life boats. 

The Grandeur of the Seas was forced to return to port this morning after the rear of the ship caught fire, sending smoke into several hallways as passengers waited in assembly stations for more than four hours. 

On Monday afternoon, Royal Caribbean announced that they were reversing a prior decision and cancelling the cruise as it could no longer safely take passengers to the Bahamas, its intended destination. 

'It was obviously the most terrifying thing in my life,' says passenger Katie Coleman according to CBS News. 'There was panic on deck as passengers watched lifeboats being lowered into the water.'

Scroll down for video

Passengers report that amid the chaos life preservers were distributed to several people as they waited in safety areas

The fire broke out on deck 3 and was quickly extinguished but the damage caused Royal Caribbean to cancel the cruise bound for the Bahamas

Startling photos of the ship emerged on social media showing the entire rear of the vessel charred and destroyed.

Royal Caribbean said that the fire began at 2,50am and was extinguished about two hours later with no injuries reported.

The ship had sailed from Baltimore on Friday and arrived in Freeport, Bahamas, Monday afternoon.

Royal Caribbean announced that the 2,224 passengers would be receiving a full refund and a gift certificate from the company. They said all 2,224 guests and 796 crew were safe and accounted for.

Bang Warren was one of the passengers who had to evacuate her room as a warning horn blared over the sound system. 

She described the scene chaotic to The Baltimore Sun, saying: 'A lot of people were passing out with fear.' 

Bang also said she saw crew members distributing oxygen masks and life vests. 'I know some children were vomiting,' she said.

Grandeur of the Seas passenger Danielle Miller initially thought the ship was sinking as she filmed this footage

South Jersey resident Jennifer Allen filmed the moment when lifeboats were lowered into the ocean as the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Grandeur of the Seas caught fire on Monday morning

The ship was forced to dock in Freeport, Grand Bahama island as the fire damage was assessed

According to several passenger accounts nobody was seriously injured but the fire did cause smoke and flooding

 

One New Jersey cruise-goer, Jennifer Allen, told NBC 10 Philadelphia that she thought the ship was doomed and it made her think of the 1997 movie, 'Titanic'.

Another passenger, Danielle Miller, 23, said that she was sound asleep and was unaware of anything untoward until the ship's intercom asked passengers to put life jackets on.

'My first thought was that we were sinking,' said Danielle of her terror.

'I opened the door and just see people running around with life jackets on and we were being yelled at to get our life jackets on and run up to a deck that was two floors above us,' she told ABC News. 

'But we didn't know what was going on because when we were going to bed it was really stormy, so we honestly thought the boat might have been sinking. And we were just panicking and running upstairs. 

'And we didn't know for about a half hour that there was a fire two decks below where we were at.'

Miller revealed she was so nervous as the fire raged that her hands were shaking and her heart was pounding.

'A couple people fainted. People were throwing up, crying. Just anxiety attacks everywhere. I was just telling my roommate stay calm,' she said. 

Fire Investigators: A fire that broke out aboard a Royal Caribbean ship Monday did enough damage that the rest of the cruise was canceled

Fiery Call: The fire that began at 2:50 a.m. Monday was extinguished about two hours later with no injuries reported

President and CEO Adam Goldstein (left) meets with passengers on board Grandeur of the Seas. Courtesy Royal Caribbean while (right) the Grandeur of the Seas captain and Royal Caribbean executives meet with passengers on board the ship after the fire

Adam Goldstein, president & CEO or Royal Caribbean and Anders Aasen, AVP of Technical Services survey the fire damage

Nathan Pletscher spoke to ABC News to explain how he became nervous for his parents aboard the ship only after he looked at a photo tweeted by Royal Caribbean's public relations team.

'We originally saw a news article and were a little nervous. When we made contact with my parents, they said there was a small fire,' he said.

'When I saw the photo on Twitter, I said, "That was a little more than a small fire." It's really fortunate the crew was able to get fire under control and things of that nature.'

Speaking to the news network, Pletscher admitted that his parents had a 'sense of panic' and had become 'obviously nervous', but were calmed by the ships crew.

'When the alarm first went off, there was an 'uh-oh' moment,' Pletscher said. 'But they couldn't say enough about how organized and professional both the captain and crew were. They kept everyone calm and were extremely transparent on with the whole situation.'

The Twitter account for their public relations department announced they were in the process of scheduling passengers on flights to Baltimore. 

Panic on the High Seas: Royal Caribbean said all guests and 796 crew were safe and accounted for

Royal Caribbean has said they are in the process of arranging flights for the 2,224 guests currently aboard the ship

Firefighter Brian Goss, a passenger on the ship, told WOOD-TV that some of the cabins did experience flooding and that the hallways smelled of smoke for most of the morning. 

He praised the efforts of the company, and said they were working tirelessly on the situation. 

'Up all night in emergency mode and now serving food and drinks with smiling faces and no sleep.'

An announcement from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship that passengers needed to go their muster stations roused Mark J. Ormesher from his stateroom on the Grandeur of the Seas early Monday.

Ormesher said in an email to The Associated Press that immediately after the captain's announcement, his room attendant knocked on the door and told him and his girlfriend to grab their flotation devices, saying: 'This was not a drill.'

The native of England, who lives in Manassas, Virginia, Ormesher said he and his girlfriend smelled acrid smoke as they went to their muster station, the ship's casino. He said the crew quickly provided instruction.

A provided by Royal Caribbean shows the fire-damaged exterior on the Grandeur of the Seas cruise ship

The company in a statement on its website said it is 'deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests' vacation. We understand that this may have been a very stressful time for them'

'This encouraged calm amongst the passengers,' he said.

Passengers were required to remain at their stations for four hours, he said, and the captain 'provided us as much information as we needed to stay safe.'

Ormesher, 25, and on his first cruise, said the air conditioner had been shut off, and as the hours passed and the ship got hot, bottled water was passed around.

The crew and passengers remained calm, and helped those who needed it. Crying babies were given formula and held while their parents used the bathrooms.

 

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After passengers were allowed to leave their stations, Ormesher said he saw water on the outside of deck 5 and in the hallways. The mooring lines were destroyed he said; crew members brought new lines from storage.

Royal Caribbean said all 2,224 guests and 796 crew were safe and accounted for

In Freeport, passenger Andrea Sanders of Washington, D.C., said she slept on the deck with hundreds of other passengers as smoke billowed out of the stern of the ship. 'I was terrified with it being my first cruise,' Sanders told The Freeport News as she ate lunch in port.

Magnus Alnebeck, general manager of the Pelican Bay Hotel, said they were asked to hold rooms for passengers, although it was not yet clear how many would stay there.

The ship will stay docked in Freeport overnight.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement on its website that most public areas and staterooms are safe and power, propulsion and communications systems functioned without interruption.

Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Adam Goldstein met with passengers in Freeport.

A tweet sent from the NTSB shows they are investigating the situation

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet that it will join the U.S. Coast Guard in investigating the fire.

Carnival Corp. also had trouble with fire aboard ship earlier this year.

The 900-foot Triumph was disabled during a February cruise by an engine room fire in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving thousands of passengers to endure cold food, unsanitary conditions and power outages while the ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama.

It remained there for repairs until early May when it headed back to sea under its own power.

NOAA predicts active hurricane season

By Gay Nagle Myers

Get ready for another active hurricane season with potentially close to 12 hurricanes, half of them major storms, forecasts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The NOAA expects 13 to 20 named storms, seven to 11 of them reaching hurricane status (winds of at least 74 mph).

Three to six will become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher (wind speeds of at least 111 mph).

The six-month hurricane season, which officially begins June 1, could start a bit earlier, according to Kathryn Sullivan, acting NOAA administrator.

Although there were a large number of named storms in 2012, Hurricane Sandy last October is the one for the history books. The name has been retired.

Five of the past seven seasons have been more active than normal. The season of 2005 set a record with 28 named storms.

This year's names: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.

P&O Cruises announces new 141,000-ton ship to enter service in March 2015

P&O Cruises announces new 141,000-ton ship to enter service in March 2015

To be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard, the all-in cost is approximately €155,000 per lower berth. Ushering in an exciting era for P&O Cruises, the ship will offer a stylish and innovative new design and an unprecedented number of passenger facilities, along with many of the brand’s classic and iconic features. Specifications and new product innovations will be announced at a later date.

Commented Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc’s chairman and CEO, “P&O Cruises is Britain’s number one cruise operator, and is synonymous with high quality holidays that celebrate its rich British heritage. The UK continues to be a key growth market and innovative vessels such as this new P&O Cruises ship – targeted specifically to British clientele – underscore our commitment to leading the expansion of this important cruise region. With a progression of highly successful new ships introduced over the last 15 years, P&O Cruises is uniquely experienced in designing vessels to meet the specific needs and aspirations of British passengers. This newly ordered ship will underline P&O Cruises’ position as Britain’s favourite cruise line.”

P&O Cruises Managing Director Carol Marlow said, “This next-generation ship will deliver the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, with ‘sophisticated wows’ and new features to attract thousands of newcomers to our brand, and equally to resonate with existing P&O Cruises passengers by giving them the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love. She will offer ‘the best of the best,’ combining the favourite classic features of Oriana and Aurora, the choice and variety of Azura and Ventura, and a host of new ideas and concepts which together will deliver to our passengers the holiday of a lifetime, every time they travel with us.”

About P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises can trace its roots back to 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the lucrative Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Today, as trusted cruise experts, P&O Cruises has a fleet of seven ships offering holidays tailored to British tastes combining genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time they travel with us. Azura was launched in April 2010 – officially named by Godmother Darcey Bussell CBE and small ship Adonia was added to the fleet on May 21, 2011 with global singing star Dame Shirley Bassey DBE as Godmother. 

P&O Cruises Fleet: 

Oriana entered service 1995, named by Her Majesty The Queen, 1,828 passengers

Aurora entered service 2000, named by HRH Princess Anne, 1,870 passengers

Oceana entered service 2003, named by HRH Princess Anne, 2,016 passengers

Arcadia entered service 2005, named by Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, 2,016 passengers

Ventura entered service 2008, named by Dame Helen Mirren DBE, 3,078 passengers

Azura entered service 2010, named by Darcey Bussell CBE, 3,100 passengers

Adonia entered service 2011, named by Dame Shirley Bassey DBE, 710 passengers

Newbuild  2015  to be confirmed , 3,611 passengers

Italian judge orders trial for captain of Costa Concordia

A judge in Italy has ordered that the captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia will stand trial.

Bloomberg reported that the trial of Francesco Schettino will begin on July 9 in Grosseto, Italy.

He faces criminal charges including manslaughter and abandoning the ship before all the 4,200 passengers had been evacuated. 32 people were killed in the disaster.

He is accused of steering the ship too closely to the island as a way of saluting the inhabitants and a veteran captain of the Costa line. Schettino has always denied any wrongdoing, claiming his actions saved lives.

The vessel ran aground near the island of Giglio hours after leaving a port near Rome on January 13 last year.

Last month it emerged Costa Cruises had made a deal with an Italian court to limit its criminal liability for the capsizing of the vessel for a fine of €1 million.

The plea bargain payment means the cruise line will not face any more criminal charges and will now aim to participate in trials as an injured party.

P&O Cruises has designs on Britain's biggest and best cruise ship

Special Report: P&O Cruises has designs on Britain's biggest and best cruise ship

By Lee Hayhurst

Compared to designing and building hotels, cruise ships like P&O Cruises’ new vessel are built at an incredibly fast rate, chief architect Terry McGillicuddy said.

A London-based agency behind some of the world's most iconic hotels will oversee the cruise line's new superliner. Lee Hayhurst found out more at last week's keel laying in Italy

P&O Cruises has broken with tradition and employed a single design team from outside the cruise industry to oversee the development of its next ship.

The UK’s leading cruise operator said its decision to appoint London-based Richmond, a design agency for hotels, reflected its desire to come up with a new concept for a cruise ship.

Traditionally, separate design teams are allocated specific areas of ships, but P&O said it wanted to ensure the as-yet unnamed ship has a better flow.

Carol Marlow, managing director of P&O Cruises, said she had used hotel designers when she worked for Swan Hellenic to create a country club feel.

P&O Cruises is aiming for a contemporary British feel for its new 3,600-passenger ship, the biggest ever built for the UK market and due to enter service in 2015.

Richmond, which has 45 years’ experience of designing hotels, has worked on properties including Four Seasons Baku, InterContinental Park Lane and Langham hotels in London and Chicago.

Richmond’s introduction to cruise came when its spa at the Four Seasons in Hampshire was spotted by a Carnival executive and it was asked to design the spa for Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess.

“We wanted a design very much with British people in mind who have never been on a cruise before,” said Marlow.

“We hope this ship will bring in these types of people. British tastes are moving forward and we are trying to anticipate the future.”

We’ll be introducing British style, says ship’s architect

The enormous drydock in the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste was largely empty after the keel laying last week apart from the 500-ton chunk of metal that was ceremoniously lowered in. But within just two years, the ship will be cruising the world’s oceans.

“Very rarely can we get a hotel finished in two years, it’s usually four or five,” said McGillicuddy, director of London-based design agency Richmond.

“A ship is a huge build. There are a lot of food, beverage and entertainment areas that a hotel does not have.

“P&O was looking for overall designs throughout the ship to be up to date, and different from ships they have now that have rooms that are individually designed and do not really flow.

“The fact we are a British firm was really important; we will be introducing some British style.”

McGillicuddy said most of the initial design work was completed, with only details of the open deck area to be finalised.

P&O Cruises will be releasing details to build interest in the ship as construction continues.

Tui targets river cruise after signing eWaterways deal

By Chloe Berman 

Tui UK and Ireland hopes to attract new customers following a partnership with eWaterways that will see small ship and river cruises sold through its agencies.

The distribution partnership is due to be confirmed at this week’s Clia UK & Ireland Selling Cruise Conference in Southampton.

The deal will see Tui UK offering a diverse new collection of small ship cruises to customers from companies including Compagnie du Ponant, and river voyages onboard Royal Crown.

Other options include expedition cruises in Antarctica and coastal voyages throughout Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

The partnership will see boutique motor sailing holidays around Croatia being offered to a new audience.

Tui UK cruise general manager Karen Doyle said: “As a major cruise retailer we are always looking at new opportunities to increase our sales and take advantage of growing sectors, such as river cruise.”

Daniela Wagner, chief executive of eWaterways, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership as this will provide a number of exceptional small ship cruise products for Tui that fits with its medium and long‑term plans for diversification, as well as adding to our own distribution strategy in terms of positioning eWaterways with key wholesalers and tour operators in the UK.”

eWaterways features a range of small ships, luxury yachts, river boats and barges, with capacity ranging from six to 150 cabins.

Carnival shares sink after profits warning

By Phil Davies

Carnival Corporation shares sunk by as much as 13% in the wake of an overnight profits warning on Monday.

The shares were down 8.6% at £22.02 in afternoon trading yesterday, the Financial Timesreported.

Numis analyst Wyn Ellis said the company’s problems had clearly affected consumer confidence and led to deep discounting.

“It is disappointing that management has left it this late in the season to issue its warning and, in our view, it has questions to answer,” he told the FT.

Karl Burns of Panmure Gordon said the decline in yields “bodes ill for the future as we think Carnival will struggle to regain pricing power”.

He added that “the market must begin to appreciate there are structural as well as cyclical challenges to the Carnival business model”.

James Hollins, Investec analyst, said: “The Carnival bull story has taken a major hit and we look for further detail at the time of Q2 results in late June.”

The negative responses followed the cruise giant saying net revenue yields will be down 2% to 3% this year as a result of cruise price cuts employed to boost booking levels.

Earnings will also be cut by 10 cents a share as a result of cruise cancellations following technical faults on a series of Carnival Cruise Lines ships.

Cruise ship runs aground in Scotland

By Phil Davies 

A small cruise ship ran aground in Oban Bay in Scotland yesterday evening.

The MS Serenissima, which was recently refurbished and is under charter to Noble Caledonia, is reported to have 112 people on board.

No-one was believed to have been injured in the incident.

The vessel was refloated in the early hours of this morning after it ran aground in Oban Bay. Divers will carry out underwater surveys of the vessel to ensure its seaworthiness.

An initial attempt to refloat the ship using its own engine, with a lifeboat pulling from astern, failed because of strong winds blowing the ship towards the shore.

High tide was not due until around midnight but it was hoped to tow the vessel off around 10.30pm.

An RNLI spokesman told the BBC last night: "The vessel is currently aground at the bow but still afloat at the stern.

"The initial attempt at refloating the ship used its own engine with the lifeboat providing assistance by pulling at the stern.

"Unfortunately this attempt was hampered by a strong wind blowing the ship towards the shore, and was unsuccessful.

"The lifeboat is now working with the crew of the ship to refloat it at a higher state of tide."

The local Oban Times newspaper reported: “It would appear that the 87-metre MS Serenissima went the wrong way round a navigation buoy, as she encountered the MV Isle of Mull ferry, when she entered Oban Bay in Argyll from the north.”

The vessel was completing an 11-day ‘Great Gardens and Houses of Britain and Ireland” itinerary which left Poole on May 11.

The ship, which previously operated for   on Norwegian coastal voyages as the Harald Jarl, is scheduled to depart from Oban today (Tuesday) on a seven-night Hebridean cruise, according to Noble Caledonia’s 2013-14 Small Ship Cruising in Britain and Ireland brochure.