Croatia's new Zadar port welcomes first arrival

While it won't officially open until this autumn, the Gazenica cruise port in Zadar, Croatia has already welcomed its first visitors.

On Friday last week (July 11th), the Celebrity Equinox became the first ship to dock at the new 12-berth facility, on which construction commenced five years ago.

The government of Croatia has spent a total of €143.8 million (£114 million) on the project, Seatrade Insider reports. This includes construction of motorway links that provide access to Zadar Airport and Zagreb.

When the port becomes active, it will be able to accept vessels of any size - though only five berths will serve cruise ships, with the remaining seven reserved for local ferry traffic.

Zadar itself is currently proving popular with cruise operators, having registered almost 70 calls and 35,000 passengers in 2013 - a 70 per cent increase on 2012. It expects to host as many as 100,000 passengers per year by 2015.

Gazenica is set to enter operation in either late September or early October.

Costa Concordia almost Ready for Final Voyage

Costa Concordia

The massive hulk of the Costa Concordia is nearly ready to be towed away from the Italian island where it struck a rock and capsized two-and-a-half years ago, killing 32 people, officials said on Sunday.

The rusting prow of the once-gleaming white luxury liner was due to emerge fully from the water for the first time on Sunday, and the ship should be ready to tow on Monday, but the departure has been pushed back a day due to forecasts of rough seas.

The 114,500-tonne Concordia has been slowly lifted from the sea floor since Monday, when salvagers began pumping air into 30 large metal boxes, or sponsons, attached around the hull.

The air has forced water out of the sponsons, lifting the cruise liner 7.5 metres off the undersea platform where it had been resting, Franco Porcellacchia, the engineer in charge of the salvage, said. There are 6.3 metres to go, he added.

A convoy of 14 vessels, led by the tug boat Blizzard, will then tow the Concordia to a port near Genoa, where it will be broken up for scrap, completing one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history.

The president of the French Concordia survivors group Anne Decre, who is on the island of Giglio, told Reuters on Sunday that the departure of the ship will be an important symbolic moment for those who were aboard the night of the shipwreck.

"It gives us the opportunity to try and collect ourselves and move forward," she said, adding that the liner will take the same route to Genoa it should have taken more than two years ago to complete its ill-fated cruise.

"We hope that we will also be able to return to our route."

The ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck as he sailed too close to shore to "salute" the port, and abandoning ship. He is fighting the charges.

Paying for the disaster, including breaking up the vessel and repairing the damage to Giglio, is likely to cost the ship's owner and operator Costa Crociere, a unit of Carnival Corp , more than 1.5 billion euros ($20.30 billion), the company's chief executive has said.

The cruise liner will be demolished and scrapped in a port near Genoa a consortium including oil services company Saipem and Genoa-based companies Mariotti and San Giorgio. ($1 = 0.7391 Euros)

Carnival most improved in brand ranking

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines claimed the top spot in a brand research company’s list of most improved U.S. consumer brands at mid-year 2014.

The cruise line’s change in consumer perception score in the YouGov BrandIndex was double the improvement level achieved by Bank of America, which placed second on the list. Facebook ranked as the third most improved brand.

“Carnival not only brought its consumer perception back in line with the rest of industry, but their sales potential, indicated by consumers who say they would consider the brand for their next cruise, has rebounded above the rest of the cruise sector,” said Ted Marzilli, CEO of BrandIndex.

Hotwire ranked as the most improved brand in the travel agent category, although Priceline has the highest overall ranking in the segment.

Brands are rated using YouGov BrandIndex’s Buzz score which asks respondents, “If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?”

Construction begins on Seven Seas Explorer®: The Most Luxurious Ship in the World™

July 15, 2014 by Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Explorer Video

Construction began this morning for Seven Seas Explorer at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The crisp pop of a cork being freed from a Krug Grande Cuvée magnum initiated a laser, which cut the ceremonial first piece of steel for the new ship.  Incorporating a bottle of the world’s finest champagne to start the building process is symbolic of the high level of sophistication and design being developed for Seven Seas Explorer, which is scheduled to debut in summer 2016.

The ceremonial first piece of steel cut this morning will serve as the foundation for an opulent, one-of-a-kind suite unlike any other at sea. The owner’s suite resplendent with exquisite stonework and luscious fabrics will serve as a hallmark for the superior level of elegance found throughout the ship.

During the ceremony, Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, and Gabriele Cocco, senior executive vice president of merchant ships for Fincantieri, began a countdown that culminated with Maison Krug Italy’s master sommelier, Michela Cimatoribus, releasing the cork from a magnum of Krug Grande Cuvée.  As the cork soared and the champagne flowed, confetti cascaded down and the laser cut the first piece of steel for the 750-passenger ship.

 

“We’re one step closer to fulfilling our dream of building the most luxurious ship in the world and giving our guests another exciting option to explore inspired global destinations with our special brand of all-inclusive luxury,” noted Kamlani.  “Seven Seas Explorer will surpass the current standard in luxury cruising, offering a new level of grandeur throughout the ship from its lavish suites to its elegant public spaces and gourmet restaurants.”

When she debuts in the summer 2016, Seven Seas Explorer will establish a new benchmark for style and service. At 54,000 gross-registered tons and carrying only 750-guests, Seven Seas Explorer will boast the highest space ratios and staff-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry, as well as an opulent one-of-a-kind suite unlike any other at sea.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will begin taking reservations for her maiden voyage and inaugural season in early 2015.  Will you be among the first to sail aboard ‘The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built™?

Norwegian Cruise Line bans smoking on balconies

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line joined the list of cruise lines that prohibit smoking on cruise ship cabin balconies.

It said the policy takes effect Nov. 1. Passengers caught smoking will be fined $250.

In addition, smoking in the casino will be limited to active players.

As reported last week, Carnival Cruise Lines will ban smoking on balconies starting Oct. 9. The changes leave Holland America Line as the major cruise line that still permits balcony smoking.

Norwegian will continue to allow smoking on the starboard side of the Waterfront areas on Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway, except near outdoor dining venues.

Smoking will be allowed in public areas that are designated by management based on an individual ship’s arrangement and characteristics, Norwegian’s smoking policy says.

Electronic cigarettes cannot be used in public areas where there is a no-smoking policy because they look so realistic that guests' perception is that the no-smoking rule isn’t being enforced, Norwegian said.

New Orleans negotiating deal with Norwegian Cruise Line

By Tom Stieghorst

The Port of New Orleans is closing in on a second multi-year commitment with a big cruise line, having just secured one with Carnival Cruise Lines for the next five years.

The port is in the final stages of negotiating a new agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line, port director Gary LaGrange said.

LaGrange said he hopes to have an announcement on a four-year deal in the next 30 to 60 days. “We’re right at the goal line,” he said.

If LaGrange can strike a four-year deal, it would likely give New Orleans a compliment of three big ships doing turnarounds in the Big Easy through at least 2018.

Carnival is the busiest cruise carrier out of New Orleans, which has two terminals in the heart of the city and is working on a third. Currently, it sails the 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream and 2,052-passenger Elation on mostly western Caribbean itineraries.

A new agreement provides that Carnival will keep at least the capacity it already operates in New Orleans through 2019, namely a Dream-class and Fantasy-class vessel.

The Top 10 Cruise Line Sun Decks

The Top 10 Cruise Line Sun Decks  9 Things to Do on Your Balcony and 1 You Probably Shouldn't Cruise ship sun decks have always been popular hangouts for passengers, but the original "one deck, one pool" mindset of the 90s has gotten stale. With limited deck and pool space, adults yearning for a nice long nap in the Caribbean sunshine or a peaceful dip in a refreshing pool had to share space with rowdy kids splashing away or overly chipper cruise staff hosting interactive and noisy pool games (hairy chest contest, anyone?). Soakers were packed shoulder to shoulder into hot tubs, and more active vacationers got restless, with little room for swimming laps or more adrenaline-pumping water-based activities. But as cruise ships become larger and lines compete to offer the most innovative onboard amenities, cruise ship sun decks are undergoing revolutionary changes. Modern, multipool complexes -- including adults-only pools, for-fee cabana rentals, kiddie pools and even waterslides -- are standard features on new cruise ships. The bottom line: Cruise lines are designing pool areas that mirror land resorts, the best of which have always offered fabulous pool and sunning areas. Here are a few of the hottest trends: Peaceful, adult-only retreats are getting their day in the sun. Lines are taking a variety of approaches to this concept, offering spa-like sun decks (a la Princess Cruises' Sanctuary) with alfresco massages and healthful fare delivered to your lounger; adults-only solariums (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises) with kid-free whirlpools and comfy chaises for two; and cabana rentals (Holland America and Oceania). Although many of these amenities come with additional fees, the blissful retreats might be worth the cost. Sun decks have turned into fun decks. Waterslides can be found on Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival and Disney cruise ships. Norwegian and Carnival have added ropes courses. Royal Caribbean pioneered the concept of an onboard water park for kids on its Freedom-class ships, and its newer ships include everything from zip lines and surf simulators to skydiving simulators. Even Celebrity has real grass lawns on its newest class of vessels. Pool decks and movies go hand in hand. Princess introduced the industry's first outdoor cinema -- Movies Under the Stars, affectionately known as MUTS -- on Caribbean Princess. The outdoor LED screen has been so popular the line added one to each of its new ships and has rolled it out to most of its fleet. Several Carnival, Costa, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Disney ships feature their own versions of MUTS. The screens offer daytime programming, ranging from CNN to World Cup Soccer, as well as nighttime movies. If dynamic pools and sun decks are priorities when choosing a cruise, check out our favorites. Princess Cruises Which Ships: Grand Princess, Star Princess,Golden Princess, Caribbean Princess,Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess,Royal Princess and Regal Princess Sun Deck: If you want to be in the heart of the action, stick to the Calypso Reef and Neptune's Reef areas midship. Key components include large pools, hot tubs, bars, silly pool games, musical entertainment and dining options. Plus, all ships (save for Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess) feature sliding-glass roofs that cover the Calypso Reefs and pools. This is particularly useful in Alaska and Europe's Baltic during inclement weather. At night, the Calypso area is transformed into a swim-in cinema (we refer again to the fabulous Movies Under the Stars feature, available on most Princess ships). Plus, spa pools, nestled in the courtyard of each Lotus Spa, offer swim-against-the-current features. Distinctions: On Crown Princess, the line went a step further and introduced the concept of The Sanctuary, an adults-only haven with pampering services and at-your-deck-chair drink and snack delivery. The idea proved so popular that The Sanctuary can be found on all Princess ships (except Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess). If you want to kick back and relax without paying a premium, there's also the Terrace pool area -- definitely off the big-ship beaten path -- tucked away aft. Poolside Dining: You can have pizza at Neptune's Reef and burgers at Trident Grill. At the Sanctuary, healthful fare, such as tuna pate and fruit drinks, is available for a small service fee. Celebrity Cruises Which Ships: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection Sun Deck: On the outdoor pool deck, kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy splashing through the "dancing" fountains next to the family and sports pools. The adults-only Solarium is a beautiful space, featuring a lap pool, whirlpools, glass walls and roof (with solar panels, to boot) and a water feature that lights up at night. Distinctions: The top-of-ship Lawn Club is carpeted with actual living grass -- an at-sea first. Passengers can soak up the sun while playing bocce, putting golf balls or picnicking on the grass. Celebrity also offers a glass-blowing studio, open for demonstrations both day and night on Eclipse, Equinox and Solstice. On Silhouette and Reflection, the glass-blowing studio has been replaced by an outdoor interactive grill venue, and eight cabana-style alcoves are available for rent. Hammocks and Adirondack chairs have been added to the grassy plot. Poolside Dining: The Mast Grill and Bar serves up greasy favorites like tacos, nachos, hot dogs, brats, burgers, fries and onion rings. If that leaves you feeling a little queasy, the spa and fitness center are only steps away. Royal Caribbean Which Ships: Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas Sun Deck: Freedom-, Oasis- and Quantum-class ships make sure there's a swimming and sunning option for everyone. One pool is for swimming and another for sports (think water-jousting and pool volleyball), and of course, whirlpools are at the ready for a hot-water soak. Oasis and Allure (and two upcoming Oasis-class new-builds, to be launched in 2016 and 2018) also have "zero entry" pools that are great for gradually wading into deeper water. The H2O Zone is for kids only. The expansive area is fitted with a kids' pool, water cannon and abstract, colorful sculpture fountains. Adults have their own play place in the kid-free Solarium, touting a pool, hammocks, swinging chairs and cantilevered whirlpools that hang over the side of the ship providing incredible ocean views. Distinctions: Royal Caribbean's signature pool attraction is the FlowRider, a surf simulator on which the most daring passengers can try their boogie-boarding and surfing skills. Freedom- and Quantum-class ships have one FlowRider each, while Oasis and Allure have two apiece. For armchair surfers, bleachers provide up-close views of the thrills and spills of the surfing daredevils. In addition, newer ships -- those in the Oasis and Quantum classes -- offer cutting-edge outdoor pursuits like skydiving and zip-lining. Poolside Dining: The Solarium pool has a cafe that features pizza, while the self-serve Sprinkles provides frozen yogurt. If you're looking for a healthy drink option, Squeeze sells various fruit drinks. Crystal Cruises Which Ships: Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony Sun Deck: Crystal's sun decks exude the same luxurious qualities as the rest of the ships' venues -- spacious upscale decor. Crystal's all-teak sun decks are furnished with comfortable, padded lounge chairs (not the tacky plastic kind). You can use as many fluffy pool towels as you'd like, and the pools and Jacuzzis are relaxing and are rarely crowded. Distinctions: Crystal gives a nod to its active passengers with paddle tennis courts, shuffleboard, golf driving nets, a putting green and Ping-Pong tables. Poolside Dining: Crystal's poolside buffets are some of the best around. The Trident Bar and Grill offers typical poolside dining options as well as more unusual specialty sandwiches. Tastes features themed buffets as well as a casual dining option under the stars. Norwegian Cruise Line Which Ships: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway Sun Deck: Sun decks on Norwegian's Epic, Breakaway and Getaway begin with the typical pair of pools, surrounded by fountains and an ocean of loungers, but it doesn't end there. Little ones have their own place to frolic in the Splash and Play Zone, a shaded oasis of fountains, wading pools and animal sculptures (SpongeBob-themed ones on Breakaway and Getaway). This kiddie area is tucked under the waterslides of Epic's mammoth Aqua Park. The main attraction here is the Epic Plunge, in which tube-riders zip into a giant funnel before dropping through a 200-foot-long chute into a pool below. On Breakaway and Getaway, passengers will also find ropes courses (complete with planks that jut out over the sides of the ships) next to the waterslides, one deck up. For a quieter retreat, head to Spice H2O, a tiered, stage-like space that serves as an adults-only pool during the day, complete with the huge outdoor LED screen that's becoming a staple of cruise ship sun decks these days. Another peaceful spot is the nearly hidden, unfrequented sun deck aft on Deck 18. Distinctions: Staff are on hand to bring sunbathers chilled towels and spritz them with Evian water on hot days. In addition, you'll no longer be harassed by waiters hawking drinks; if you're thirsty, put the flag on your lounger up, and someone will come over to take your order. But the real VIPs are the ones who can afford a pricey Owner's Suite, Penthouse or Villa, all of which allow access to the semiprivate Villas sun deck with pool, whirlpools and comfy sun loungers. Poolside Dining: The Grill offers limited breakfast items and typical grilled lunch items, such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken, as well as salad and dessert. Holland America Which Ships: Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam Sun Deck: On both ships, the main midship Lido pools, which can be covered by a retractable magrodome roof in inclement weather, are tastefully decorated in earth tones with brown wicker-like chaises and plush cushions. Each is surrounded by a jumbo whirlpool and a pair of smaller ones. The second Sea View pool is located aft. This adults-only pool features two hot tubs and plenty of deck space with a view of the open sea and the wake. Distinctions: To solve cruisers' No. 1 pet peeve -- overcrowded sun decks with no vacant lounge chairs -- Holland America offers private cabanas for rent, both on the Lido Deck and in an exclusive area one deck up. Inside your private tent, you'll find wicker couches and chairs, Evian spray misters, a special menu for lunch service, complimentary snacks like fruit skewers and iPods uploaded with music. Poolside Dining: Slice offers pizza by the Sea View pool, and the Terrace Grill serves the Lido pool; both eateries also include bars for frosty beverages. Disney Cruise Line Which Ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder,Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy Sun Deck: Disney's pool areas are great for kids, naturally, but also stylish enough for adults. In fact, we love that the three quite distinctive pool areas -- which all occupy the same deck, allowing you to easily walk from one to the other -- are targeted at specific demographics. Mickey's Pool, which boasts a waterslide, is for young kids; Goofy's Family Pool (Donald's Pool on Dream), in the center, is for folks of all ages and is the site for the major musical entertainment; and the Quiet Cove is for mom and dad -- no kids allowed. Distinctions: During an extensive refurbishment, Disney Magic received the see-through body slide AquaDunk, as well as AquaLab -- a Huey, Dewey and Louie-themed splash area that offers dump buckets, sprayers and a kid-friendly waterslide. Disney Dream's and Fantasy's pool areas also feature the AquaDuck water coaster: a transparent, acrylic tube that propels riders along on a raft, up and down four decks of the ship -- at one point swinging out 13 feet over the side and 150 feet above the ocean. Nemo's Reef is a small water park area for the youngest passengers. Disney also utilizes its pool areas for fabulous deck parties, often involving fireworks. Poolside Dining: For families, Pluto's Dog House Snack Bar (adjacent to Mickey's Pool) and Pinocchio's Pizzeria (by Goofy's Pool) are terrific alfresco options. Parents seeking the peace of the Quiet Cove have two bars, one of which serves snacks. P&O Cruises Which Ships: Ventura, Azura and Britannia Sun Deck: Ventura is designed on the same platform as the Grand-class Princess ships we've already cited. It has four pool areas with five pools. The Beachcomber has a sliding-glass roof so you can swim anytime, even when the weather's not warm. This "main" pool also features hot tubs, bars, silly pool games, musical entertainment and dining options. Opposite the Beachcomber is Laguna Pool, again flanked by hot tubs. A plunge pool is aft, next to the children's area. The Terrace Pool is a quieter setup, located aft, and the Endless Pool, part of the ship's spa, is located forward. Azura boasts five pools: the Aqua and Coral pools are midship and tend to draw families, while Terrace Pool is adults-only. There's a plunge pool aft, and Azura's fourth pool, Oasis, is reserved for spa and Retreat passengers. Britannia, scheduled to launch in 2015, will also have four pools, including Serenity, a "quiet zone" pool. Distinctions: Azura's and Britannia's Retreat are outdoor spa terraces with for-fee cabanas and alfresco spa treatments. Ventura's Endless Pool features swim-against-the-current technology for aquatic workouts. Poolside Dining: Among the options are a pizzeria and ice cream spot between the two main pools. There are also two bars, a grill, a restaurant aimed at families and the ship's buffet venue. Oceania Cruises Which Ships: Marina, Insignia, Nautica,Regatta and Riviera Sun Deck: The sun decks on Oceania ships are centered on tranquil saltwater pools, each ringed by comfortable, cushion-topped loungers and straddled by a pair of whirlpools. Gorgeous outdoor living areas -- boasting plush couches, deep armchairs and people-watching views -- are tucked away behind the pools, and they're perfect for folks who prefer to sit in the shade. Distinctions: Oceania's Insignia, Regatta and Nautica rent private cabanas that allow passengers to escape from the general cruise melee. Oceania's cabanas feature teak double loungers with terry-covered cushions, and waitstaff will bring in food from the poolside grill or afternoon tea. On Marina, a fantastic and otherwise hidden sun deck with a huge whirlpool is available to all passengers, just beyond the spa at the bow of the ship. Poolside Dining: The poolside Waves Grill offers sandwich fare -- creative burgers and paninis, whose recipes came from Oceania's staff -- and waiter service. Milkshakes served from a dedicated station are refreshing treats on a hot day. Carnival Cruise Lines Which Ship: Carnival Breeze and Carnival Sunshine Sun Deck: Carnival has long been known for its candy-colored, high-energy sun decks -- featuring corkscrew waterslides, adults-only havens and casual dining options -- but Carnival Breeze and refurbished Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) boast the line's best ship-toppers. Distinctions: Nearly every inch of Breeze's sun deck is utilized. SportSquare is an outdoor activity hub with a two-deck mini-golf course set amid alfresco billiards and foosball tables. Directly above is the SkyCourse, on which harnessed passengers navigate a series of wobbly planks, dangling ropes and other vertigo-inducing challenges. All the way forward, the WaterWorks aqua park features a pair of corkscrew slides, a host of water-spraying apparatuses and the Power Drencher, a dump bucket that reverses poles at regular intervals, sending forth a torrent of water on yelping, mock-shocked passengers. Oddly, the adults-only Serenity, a private enclave with black whicker loungers, clamshells and hammocks topped with teal cushions, is nearby. The midship Beach Pool also features Carnival's signature Seaside Theatre, a giant screen that airs TV episodes, movies and sporting events. On Sunshine, Serenity is particularly notable in that it's three decks high, offering adults even more space that's exclusively theirs. At the aft of the ship, Destiny's former retractable-roofed pool was replaced by a bar, and an extra deck was added to serve as home to WaterWorks and SportSquare. Poolside Dining: Casual eats rule the pool areas on both ships. At the main pool, Guy's Burger Joint, an oft-thronged venue, serves greasy burgers (with all the toppings) designed by Food Network stalwart Guy Fieri. Across from Guy's is the BlueIguana Cantina, which specializes in rolled-to-order burritos and tacos alongside a salsa and hot sauce bar. The stern-situated Tides Pool on Breeze features Carnival's staple 24-hour pizzeria, serving cruising's best made-to-order mini-pies, and Tandoor, which doles out Indian comfort food (grilled meats, daal, curries) with the requisite accompaniments (raita, achar, chutneys).

Concordia, by the numbers

By Tom Stieghorst

Although I’m loath to admit it, numbers can tell a story just as effectively as words sometimes. Or images.

We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words. So when it comes to the Costa Concordia, the image of the ship being towed to Genoa, Italy, next week will go further than any number of words in showing that the ship is at last floating again and on its way to oblivion.

More intriguing are the numbers. In a graphic compiled by CNN from numbers released by the Costa Concordia’s builder, Fincantieri, and the salvage consortium Titan Micoperi, some numbers are juxtaposed, making for several eye-opening stories.

First are the dollars. Costa CEO Michael Thamm said this week the meter on the Concordia accident has reached 1.5 billion euros, including the cost of demolition and recycling over the next two years. That’s about $2.04 billion at current exchange rates.

According to the CNN graphic, the Concordia took about $612 million to build. By that math, recovering the wrecked Concordia cost more than three times the price of building the new Concordia. Somewhere there’s a lesson there about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

Likewise, the numbers show it took about 20 months to build the 114,000-ton ship at Fincantieri back in 2004, but will take about 54 months, or four-and-a-half years from the time of the accident, to remove and unbuild it.

The graphic shows a loss of 12,000 tourists since the accident in the island of Giglio, but I think that’s misleading. Most of the tourists lost were likely Italians or Europeans from other nearby countries.

The Concordia accident, for better or worse, made Giglio nearly a household name in countries around the world that never heard of it before. I think over the long term it may lead to more tourism, despite the short-term losses.

Another story told through numbers appears dramatic but again is misleading. Of the 500 people who worked on the salvage team, fewer than 12 were locals, according to the graphic.

I have no idea how that count was made, or if it is accurate, but I do know that salvage work of the magnitude involved in raising the Concordia requires world-class expertise, and is not the kind of thing where local hiring outreach makes a lot of sense.

Another set of numbers is also about people: 3,200 passengers, 32 killed, one missing. With that there can be no argument.

Guide to the New Ship Builds

Guide to the New Ship Builds

What's next from the world's largest cruise lines? Below is our annual list of ocean-going ships on order for major brands such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, updated to include details of two new vessels recently announced by MSC Cruises.

As in the past, we include only ships from lines that market to North Americans, leaving out such operators as Germany-based Aida Cruises, which caters to the German-speaking market. We also have left off river cruise ships on order (stay tuned for a separate update on the topic).

For the coming year, the big story in cruise-ship building is the development of Quantum of the Seas, the first of a new class of vessel for Royal Caribbean that will boast several groundbreaking features. Also notable are the first ships from new lines Pearl Seas Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises (click through the carousel above for artist's drawings of all three vessels as well as others on order).

Among the most complex traveling machines built by man, ocean-going cruise ships take years to construct, so any new orders placed in the coming months likely won't be filled until 2017 at the earliest. We'll continue to update this page as new orders are announced.

2014

Pearl Mist (Pearl Seas Cruises)
Passengers: 210
Maiden voyage: June 25
Notable: The first vessel of a new small-ship line

Costa Diadema (Costa Cruises)
Passengers: 3,700
Maiden voyage: Nov. 1
Notable: Largest Costa ship ever

Quantum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Passengers: 4,180
Maiden voyage: Nov. 2
Notable: First of a new class of ship for Royal Caribbean
See also: New Royal Caribbean ship to have gee-whiz ride

2015

Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Passengers: 928
Maiden voyage: April 11
Notable: First ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking
See also: New upscale line to launch in 2015

Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Passengers: 4,180
Maiden voyage: April 22
Notable: Sister to Quantum of the Seas

Le Lyrial (Compagnie du Ponant)
Passengers: 264
Maiden voyage: May 9
Notable: Fourth in upscale line's Boreal class series
See also: Next Ponant ship to have bigger suites

Norwegian Escape (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Passengers: 4,200
Maiden voyage: Oct. 29
Notable: A larger version of Norwegian Breakaway
See also: Norwegian unveils plans for "Breakaway Plus"

2016

Unnamed (Holland America)
Passengers: 2,660
Maiden voyage: February
Notable: First new ship for line since 2010
See also: Holland America orders new ship for 2015

Viking Sea (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Passengers: 928
Maiden voyage: April 3
Notable: Second ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Viking Sky (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Passengers: 928
Maiden voyage: June 24
Notable: Third ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking
See also: Fast-growing Viking orders two more ships

Unnamed (Royal Caribbean)
Passengers: 5,400
Maiden voyage: Mid-year
Notable: Third in the hugely successful Oasis class series
See also: Third Oasis class ship on the way

Seven Seas Explorer (Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
Passengers: 750
Maiden voyage: Summer
Notable: First new ship for luxury line since 2003
See also: New details emerge about Regent's next luxury ship

Unnamed (Royal Caribbean)
Passengers: 4,180
Maiden voyage: Mid-year
Notable: Third in new Quantum class series
See also: Royal Caribbean orders another Quantum class ship

Unnamed (Seabourn Cruise Line)
Passengers: 604
Maiden voyage: second half of 2016
Notable: Seabourn's largest ship ever
See also: New Seabourn ship to be line's biggest ever

Carnival Vista (Carnival Cruise Lines)
Passengers: 4,000
Maiden voyage: Winter
Notable: First new ship for line since 2012
See also: Carnival orders new ships for 2016

Titanic II (Blue Star Line)
Passengers: 1,680
Maiden voyage: N/A
Notable: A replica of the famed Titanic
See also: Billionaire unveils plans for Titanic II

2017

Unnamed (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Passengers: 928
Maiden voyage: Early 2017
Notable: Fourth ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Passengers: 4,200
Maiden voyage: Spring 2017
Notable: Second in line's new "Breakaway Plus" series
See also: Norwegian Cruise Line orders another new ship

Unnamed (MSC Cruises)
Passengers: 4,500
Maiden voyage: 2017
Notable: First in a new class of ship for MSC
See also: MSC Cruises to expand with new, larger ships

Unnamed (MSC Cruises)
Passengers: 4,140
Maiden voyage: November 2017
Notable: First in the Seaside class of ship for MSC
See also: MSC Cruises orders two 'revolutionary' new vessels

2018 and beyond

Unnamed (Royal Caribbean)
Passengers: 5,400
Maiden voyage: 2018
Notable: Fourth in the Oasis class series
See also: Royal Caribbean plans another giant cruise ship

Unnamed (MSC Cruises)
Passengers: 4,140
Maiden voyage: May 2018
Notable: Second in the Seaside class of ship at MSC
See also: MSC Cruises orders two 'revolutionary' new ships

Unnamed (MSC Cruises)
Passengers: 4,500
Maiden voyage: 2019
Notable: Second in a new class of ship for MSC

Major lines with no ships on order: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Windstar Cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line orders ships for 2018 and 2019

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line said it has ordered ships for delivery in 2018 and 2019 from Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard that together will cost about 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion).

The ships will be the third and fourth in the “Breakaway Plus” class that can carry about 4,200 passengers.

The first two ships in the series, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, are due for delivery in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2017. The third and fourth ships don't have names yet.

After all four ships are finished, Norwegian would have 17 vessels in its fleet, barring any disposals. It will have added ship a year from 2013 to 2019 with the exception of 2016.

Norwegian said export credit financing is in place for the two new orders, arranged and underwritten by KfW IPEX-Bank of Germany.

MSC sets out plans to triple UK passengers

MSC Cruises has set out ambitious plans to grow the number of UK passengers it serves.

According to chief executive Giles Hawke, the company reckons it can attract 200,000 Britons per year by 2017 - up from 60,000 today and an almost threefold increase.

Mr Hawke made these comments in an interview with Travel Weekly, mentioning a raft of new marketing initiatives intended to support the campaign.

MSC, which mostly serves the Mediterranean cruise market and recently announced it will add a further four ships to its fleet, also plans to charter three flights per week from Heathrow to ferry Britons into Italian ports.

Two of the planes will fly to Genoa, with the other landing in Venice.

In time, though, MSC wants to reintroduce Mediterranean cruises that actually depart from the UK itself, potentially by launching a Fantasia-class ship in 2016.

Rainforest Cruises adds Peru lodge option

By Michelle Baran

Rainforest Cruises is offering a package that combines a stay at the Treehouse Lodge in Iquitos, Peru, with one of its Peruvian Amazon cruises.

The Miami-based Rainforest Cruises sells cruises and packages on the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon.

The Treehouse Lodge experience will be combined with an Amazon River cruise onboard the eight-passenger Cattleya.

The cruise-tour begins with a two-night stay in the Treehouse Lodge, a 345-acre property in the jungle at the confluence of the Yarapa and Cumaceba rivers, where guests will have the opportunity to view rainforest wildlife from the treetops.

The lodge has 18 bungalows that are between 25 feet off the ground and 65 feet above ground. They are equipped with en suite showers and are sealed by a fine mosquito mesh.

Daily activities include daytime and nocturnal jungle walks to learn about medicinal plants, or to spot insects and night monkeys, piranha fishing in dugout canoes, early morning bird-watching, dolphin-watching, visiting a butterfly farm and visits to the local Jibaro and Kukama communities.

A six-day cruise and lodge package is $2,499 for double occupancy and $3,139 for single occupancy, per person. Included in the tour is a two-night stay in the Treehouse Lodge with full meals and choice of excursions, a four-day Amazon cruise aboard the Cattleya, all transfers and bilingual naturalist Amazon guides.

Work starts to refloat Costa Concordia

By Phil Davies

Salvage workers today started attempting to refloat the Costa Concordia more than two years after it sank off the Italian island of Giglio.

Divers and engineers will oversee the operation to raise the 114,500-tonne ship, which may still contain the body of one of the 32 people who died in the disaster.

The ship’s owner, Costa, hopes to finally raise the rusting vessel from the sea-bed in a week-long operation before towing it away to be scrapped in Genoa.

Engineers plan to raise the vessel from the artificial platform where it has rested since it was righted in another large-scale operation last September, the Times reported.

Nick Sloane, the South African salvage master in charge of the operation, was reported as saying this morning: “The risks are that the ship could bend as it is raised, or the chains underneath it could snap.

“There will be 42 people on board during the first manoeuvre. If disaster strikes we will evacuate through emergency escapes on the bow and stern.”

Once the ship is successfully raised off the platform, air will slowly be pumped into 30 tanks or “sponsons” attached to both sides of the 290-metre Concordia to expel the water inside and raise the ship.

The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning the vessel before all passengers had evacuated.

Russel Rebello, an Indian waiter, is still missing and the refloating will include a new search of the ship as it is raised that may finally recover his body.

Hamas rocket shrapnel lands on cruise ship

Debris and shrapnel from rockets that were fired by the extremist Palestinian group Hamas have reportedly landed on the deck of the German cruise liner AIDAdiva.

Hamas is believed not to have targeted the ship itself, but instead at various Israeli targets. Whilst in the air, the rockets were destroyed by Israeli Defence Forces.

Just as the 2000+ passenger ship was leaving the port, sirens begun to sounds warning Israeli cities of the imminent attack.

Despite shrapnel landing on the deck of the ship, there was no damage sustained and none of the crew or passengers were harmed. AIDAdiva is currently on a seven day cruise across the Mediterranean from Antalya to Turkey

Hamas responded by saying they fired the rockets to respond to "Zionist aggression". This came shortly after accusing Israel of killing five of its fighters.

The Israel Military reported that its offensive was part of a campaign targeting Hamas militants.

Operating under the Carnival Coporation, AIDA Cruises caters primarily for German-speaking passengers.

"You are advised to exercise caution if travelling in the vicinity of Gaza, and to check and follow local security advice," the FCO said.

American Queen repositions due to Mississippi River flooding

By Michelle Baran

The American Queen Steamboat Co. (AQSC) is moving its 436-passenger paddle wheeler American Queen to the Ohio River for the remainder of July due to high water levels on the Upper Mississippi River.

Torrential downpours in recent weeks in the Midwest have resulted in flooding along stretches of the Mississippi River.

Consequently, the American Queen is moving to the Ohio River for its next three sailings, which will impact the originally scheduled July 9 sailing between Cincinnati and St. Louis and the July 15 and 23 sailings between St. Louis and St. Paul, Minn.

"Sometimes river conditions are outside our control," AQSC President and COO Ted Sykes said in a statement. "We recognize the need to cruise on the Ohio River for our July 2014 itineraries and will then return to our regularly scheduled itineraries."

The new itineraries will sail between Cincinnati and Paducah, Ky., calling on Cave-In-Rock, Ill.; Henderson, Ky.; Louisville, Ky.; Madison, Ind.; and Augusta, Ky. Guests on the July 9 voyage will travel by motorcoach from Paducah to St. Louis at the conclusion of the sailing and resume their return home as scheduled. The July 15 pre-cruise hotel stay in St. Louis remains, and guests will be transferred to Paducah to join the American Queen.

The July 23 voyage will now depart Cincinnati, replacing St. Paul, and details on that itinerary will be available shortly.

Guests booked on the July 9 or 15 itineraries have the option to stay on their deviated voyage and receive a $100 onboard credit, per person, and a $500 future cruise credit per stateroom. Guests preferring to book an Upper Mississippi River voyage in late 2014 may roll forward their booking with a one stateroom category upgrade (subject to availability), noted AQSC.

The Mississippi River continued to gradually rise on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, but overnight rainfall wasn't as severe as predicted. 

The highs and lows of river water levels

By Michelle Baran

As river cruise lines glide into their busy sailing season, high water levels on the Mississippi and some lower levels on the Danube and Elbe rivers in Europe serve as a reminder that conditions on the rivers are as changeable as they are charming.

And while river cruise executives themselves often admit there isn’t anything they can do about the water levels (despite likely wishing they could!), the way river companies respond is indicative of the fact that the product is adaptable and water level issues are often somewhat solvable with a bit of innovation and operations juggling.

Recently, water levels on the Elbe River and a stretch of the Danube River between Regensburg and Passau in Germany were lower than normal, Viking Cruises informed passengers on its website. 

In response, Viking is having impacted guests begin their itineraries on a different sister ship than was originally scheduled located on the other side of the impassable lower water area. Can’t pass through? No problem. There’s an identical ship waiting on the other side.

Scenic Cruises did what many river cruise lines do in this situation: It had passengers who couldn’t continue their itinerary on one vessel swap ships with passengers on the other side of the lower water level area.

“It is not that unusual for the rivers of Europe to go through phases of low or high waters — remember last year’s historic high water levels?” noted Elliot Gillies, spokesman for Scenic Cruises and Emerald Waterways.

In order to reduce the amount of impact, Gillies noted that parent company Scenic Tours builds its Scenic Cruises and Emerald Waterways river cruise vessels with the lowest drafts possible to be able to pass through shallower waters.

But at the end of the day, the issue is in the hands of Mother Nature.

“Water levels are generally influenced by the snow pack in the mountains of Central Europe and the amount of rain during the season. As long as there is enough water in total running into the rivers, operations can be expected to run smoothly,” noted Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways, which does not operate on the Elbe and only faced some minor itinerary adjustments due to the lower waters.

Indeed, the ebbing rivers in Europe are a small operational blip compared to last year’s flooding in Central Europe that wreaked havoc on the region and the river cruises running through it.

In the U.S., the Mississippi is once again showing its erratic side (there have been ups and downs on this river as well in the past couple of years that have caused delays and itinerary disruptions).

Heavy downpours in recent weeks in the Midwest have resulted in flooding along stretches of the Mississippi River, and forced the American Queen Steamboat Co. (AQSC) to move its American Queen paddlewheeler to the Ohio River for the remainder of July.

AQSC President and COO Ted Sykes observed that “sometimes river conditions are outside our control.”

I think it’s safe to say they’re always out of river cruise lines’ control, but their tides still flow in favor of the river cruise industry at large.

Carnival bans smoking on balconies

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines said that smoking will no longer be allowed on cabin balconies on its ships, starting Oct. 9.

Smoking inside cabins is already prohibited.

Smoking will continue to be allowed in designated open deck areas, as well as nightclubs and certain areas within the casino and casino bar, Carnival said.

The change is consistent with policies at most other cruise lines. Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line continue to allow smoking on balconies.
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