Carnival CEO says Trump likely to be pro-business

Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann at CruiseWorld. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada

Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said that the election of Donald Trump as president has the potential to be good for the cruise industry, but he also said he hopes that Trump will do "the right thing" internationally.

Donald made the comment during a conversation with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann at CruiseWorld, an annual Travel Weekly event in Fort Lauderdale that brings together travel agents and travel suppliers.

Asked by Weissmann for his response to the election, Donald quoted Secretary of State John Kerry, who several years ago said that there are no winners or losers after a U.S. presidential election. "The next morning we all wake up as Americans" who work on problems together, Donald said.

More specifically, Donald said, "On the surface, President Trump will be pro-business. At the same time, I hope he does the right thing internationally. Most of our business is outside the U.S."

In a follow-up about Cuba, Donald said that despite Trump's campaign rhetoric about reversing President Obama's openings toward Cuba, "I'm cautiously optimistic that bringing the two countries together is the right thing to do."

Earlier this year, Carnival Corp.'s Fathom brand became the first line to regularly shuttle passengers between the U.S. and Cuba in over 50 years.

Donald said Carnival continues to work on a private destination in the Bahamas but isn't ready to announce anything. Carnival executives have said in the past they have a potential site picked out on Grand Bahama Island.

"We want the right one on the right terms," Donald said. "We think we have something coming soon, but we don't want to count the chickens before they hatch, so to speak."

Donald took the chance to show the audience of several hundred travel agents clips from the new Carnival-produced Saturday-morning network TV shows, such as "Vacation Creation" and "Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin."

He also regaled the group with a tale of highlights from his rise to CEO of Carnival Corp. He said his initial introduction to Carnival Corp. chairman Mickey Arison was engineered by board member Uzi Zucker, a Bear Stearns partner who also served as an adviser to a private equity firm of which Donald was a part.

He also told about his ambition as an 11th-grader to be a very specific level of manager at a specific type of Fortune 50 company. He said the teachers at the all-boys Catholic high school in New Orleans he attended on scholarship constantly reminded their students to think big.

"Three times a day they told us, 'Gentlemen, prepare yourselves. You're going to run the world.'"

Crystal redeploying mega-yacht to Caribbean

Crystal Esprit

Crystal Cruises said its 62-passenger mega-yacht, the Crystal Esprit, will be redeployed to the Caribbean in November 2017.

The yacht has been sailing in the Adriatic in the summer and in the Seychelles in the winter.

"The decision to reposition Crystal Esprit to the West Indies is one that was made with our guests' expressed wishes in mind," Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez said. She said gusts particularly wanted closer proximity to major travel hubs.

The Esprit will sail roundtrip on Sundays from Marigot Bay, St. Martin, on two alternating seven-day routes. One itinerary will feature calls in St. Barthelemy and four locations in the British Virgin Islands.

A second itinerary will take the Esprit to Anguilla, Saba, Nevis, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.

Seven Seas Voyager renovation completed

The refurbished Voyager Lounge on Seven Seas Voyager. 

The Seven Seas Voyager emerged from a 25-day dry dock with updated public spaces and suites, part of a $125 million refurbishment of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet.

Notably, French restaurant Chartreuse, which debuted on the Seven Seas Explorer, was added to Voyager. The Pool Grill received a new infrared barbecue grill so chefs can sear steaks, chops and salmon.

Major redecoration was done in the Compass Rose main dining room, La Veranda buffet and Voyager Lounge. The Penthouse, Concierge and Deluxe suites were overhauled with a more contemporary design.

Other areas touched during the refurbishment of Seven Seas Voyager include the reception area, Coffee Connection, Connoisseur Lounge, card room, boutiques, casino and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub.

The ship came out of drydock on Nov. 9 with five new production shows on a 23-night cruise from Barcelona to Dubai.

Royal Caribbean offers trade 10-day Wi-Fi trial

Royal Caribbean offers trade 10-day Wi-Fi trial

by Natasha Salmon
Royal Caribbean International’s decision to extend a free Wi-Fi promotion to the trade has been welcomed, but the 10-day limit has been questioned.

From tomorrow (November 18), agents will be able to offer customers free Wi-Fi on selected European and Dubai sailings of six nights or more between January 1 and October 28, 2017. The promotion ends on November 28.

The offer was previously only available to customers who booked direct for a six-week test period, prompting complaints from agents, although the line said it always planned to roll it out to the trade.

Denise Hodgson, a partner at in Cheshire, welcomed the move but said the promotion seemed ‘unbalanced’.

“This would have been more welcome if it had come to agents in the first place. How will they be able to compare? If this is still part of the test, it is unbalanced as it is not running for the same period.”

Ben Bouldin, Royal sales director, stood by the promotion, saying: “I said from day one it was a test and we would offer it to the trade. It is for just 10 days, but if successful it will be considered for future campaigns and run for longer. If it works really well it could become a more mainstream part of our campaigns.”

Bouldin added: “Our research shows connectivity is an absolute priority for holidaymakers.

“We have just launched our November campaign and we thought the free Wi-Fi would be a good overlay before we head into a strong selling period around Thanksgiving and Black Friday.”

Royal’s November promotion includes a 25% discount on 2017 European and Dubai sailings, up to $400 onboard spend and low deposits from £25 per person.

MSC offers its first world cruise

MSC Magnifica

MSC Cruises said that for the first time it will offer a world cruise.

The cruise company said the 119-day voyage will depart on the MSC Magnifica from Genoa, Italy, on Jan. 5, 2019, returning May 3.

In between, the ship will visit 49 destinations in 32 countries. Guests will be able to book 15 complimentary shore excursions, MSC said.

Other highlights include four full days in Polynesia, three full days in both Hawaii and San Francisco, and two full days in Los Angeles.

MSC Voyager Club members can book on Nov. 14, with sales to the general public starting Dec. 14. Prices start at $16,999, MSC said. 

 

MSC first ever Around the world cruise from £10,164 inside; £15009 Balcony.

U.S. Judge Says Ex-Presidential Yacht Can Be Sold for $0 to Foreign Investors

The former Presidential Yacht USS Sequoia (AG 23) served as the Presidential Yacht for 45 years before being sold by President Carter in 1977. U.S. Navy Photo

Story by GCaptain.com

Nov 14 (Reuters) – A Delaware judge on Monday said the former presidential yacht, U.S.S. Sequoia, can be acquired by an investment group for zero dollars, ending a years-long dispute over the storied ship once used by John F. Kennedy.

U.S. presidents for decades entertained dignitaries on the 104-foot wooden Sequoia until it was sold by Jimmy Carter in 1977.

Washington attorney Gary Silversmith bought the yacht in 2000 and used it for private charters. In 2012, Silversmith borrowed $5 million from FE Partners LLC, which is backed by the Timblo family of India, to help fund needed repairs.

The loan set off years of legal wrangling while the historic vessel was neglected.

“The Sequoia, an elderly and vulnerable wooden yacht, is sitting on an inadequate cradle on an undersized marine railway in a moribund boatyard on the western shore of the Chesapeake, deteriorating and, lately, home to raccoons,” wrote Delaware judge Sam Glasscock in his Monday ruling.

Silversmith sued in 2013 to block FE Partners from exercising their right under the loan to buy the yacht.

Glasscock ruled last year the lender had the right to purchase the ship for $7.8 million, minus various costs including the initial $2.49 million loan disbursement, because of a default on the loan. The two sides spent the last year fighting over the final deductions from the purchase price.

On Monday, Glasscock said the purchase option could be exercised for zero dollars, reflecting the extensive work required to make the Sequoia safe to use.

“We remain willing and able to pay off the lender, but unfortunately it appears that we will be denied that opportunity,” said Silversmith in an email, who added he was concerned the yacht was being acquired by foreign investors. “We are concerned that there is nothing to prevent the Sequoia from going overseas.”

FE Partners did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

FE Partners said on its website it is committed to restoring the yacht, which was built in 1926 in Camden, New Jersey, and designed by John Trumpy. 

Military vets get MSC Seaside bonanza

MSC Cruises had an "Oprah moment" for agents who are military veterans. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

A group of more than 30 travel agents who are military veterans got a surprise on the final day of CruiseWorld when MSC Cruises awarded them spots on a preview cruise for the new MSC Seaside a year from now.

At first, MSC vice president of sales, public relations and guest services Ken Muskat gathered the vets on stage for recognition on Veteran's Day and a drawing that would have awarded one Seaside cruise.

"I'm feeling an Oprah moment," Muskat said, alluding to the talk show host's propensity for giving away valuables to everyone in the studio audience for her show.

As the room rose to its feet in applause, Muskat and his colleagues awarded the Seaside prize to all of the vets on stage.

The giveaway continued MSC's focus on veterans as a market segment. At last year's CruiseWorld, MSC sponsored a Veteran's Day reception and fireworks show at the waterfront Perez Art Museum in Miami.

CruiseWorld, a Travel Weekly event for travel suppliers and agents, is held every November at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Carnival switching the Liberty and Valor

Carnival Liberty

The Carnival Liberty's propulsion problems persist, so Carnival Cruise Line said it will continue to operate modified cruises from Galveston, Texas, through the month of November to account for the ship's inability to reach maximum speed.

The five-day cruise departing Nov. 26 will be the Liberty's last from Galveston, as the ship will enter a previously scheduled drydock after that sailing and then be redeployed to Port Canaveral, Fla., to operate short Bahamas cruises starting Dec. 15. The Carnival Valor, meanwhile, will reposition to Galveston from Port Canaveral.

"This change is being made since Carnival Valor is better suited to operate at the higher speeds required for the four- and five-day Mexico itineraries from Galveston while Carnival Liberty is well equipped to handle shorter duration cruises from Central Florida," Carnival said in a statement.

Carnival said its technical team, with the help of outside contractors, "continue to work to fully resolve" the Liberty's propulsion problem.

Carnival canceled two Liberty cruises, the Oct. 31 and Nov. 5 departures, because of the technical issue, and it has modified the Nov. 10, 14, 19 and 26 departures.

For the four- and five-day cruises, Carnival is canceling calls at Progreso, Mexico. During the seven-day cruise departing Nov. 19, calls in Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica, have been scrubbed. All of the modified cruises' departure and return times have been adjusted.

Guests sailing on these voyages will receive a $50-per-person credit to their shipboard accounts and a 25% discount on a future Carnival cruise. Guests also have the option of canceling and receiving a full refund.

To allow sufficient time for the Valor to reposition to Galveston, the ship's four-day cruise departing Port Canaveral on Dec. 11 will be shortened to three days. Guests sailing on this voyage will receive a one-day, prorated refund of their cruise fare and a $25 per-person credit to their shipboard account. Guests also have the option of canceling and receiving a full refund.

Carnival will automatically transfer reservations for guests on the Liberty to the Valor and vice versa. Carnival noted that the Valor and Liberty are sister ships with similar accommodations and public venues, including Guy's Burger Joint, the BlueIguana Cantina, the RedFrog Rum Bar and the BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

MSC announces UK return with Magnifica season

MSC announces UK return with Magnifica season

by Natasha Salmon 
MSC will return to the UK in 2018 with Magnifica sailing its first full season ex-UK programme.

The ship, which launched in 2009, will make Southampton its home for eight months from April until November.

The company also revealed it will operate its first world cruise in 2019.

UK managing director Antonio Paradiso announced the ‘big UK comeback’ at their All Star of the Seas event held on Sunday November 13 onboard the MSC Fantasia in Barcelona.

Paradiso said: “We are coming back to the UK with our ship Magnifica for a whole season, it is a big comeback for us and we are very excited.

“It marks a new dedication from MSC to the UK market and how we want to be one of the most popular cruise lines in the country.

“We have created itineraries that make the most of the British Isles and the best of what are customers can experience out of their own country.

“I am really excited, this is game on for us. I want us to become one of the top three cruise lines in the UK.”

There will be five new itineraries out of Southampton including a 14-day sailing calling at Le Havre, La Coruna, Leixoes, Lisbon, Malaga then Amsterdam and Hamburg.

A North Sea sailing will travel to Stavanger, Bergen, Olden and Alesund in Norway plus a round-UK sailing calling at Southampton, Newcastle, South Queensferry in Edinburgh and Invergordon.

Following the UK sailings, the Magnifica will then host the company’s first ever world cruise from January 2019.

The 119-day itinerary will visit 32 countries with 49 ports of call with some destinations including Panama, San Francisco, Melbourne and Petra in Jordan.

Paradiso said: “This will open up a whole new market for us and it is something we have waited a long time to do.

“We wanted to reduce days at sea so during the 119 days there will be no more than five consecutive days at sea.”

Bookings for the ex-UK Magnifica sailings will be available in early 2017, no set date has been released yet.

In an intricate spectacle, Harmony of the Seas christened

From left, Harmony of the Seas captain Gus Andersson, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley and ship godmother Brittany Affolter. 

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Royal Caribbean International turned the Harmony of the Seas naming ceremony into a technology demonstration, using its robotic bartenders as part of the process.

The ship was christened at Port Everglades by Brittany Affolter, a 23-year-old Teach for America educator in Miami who won a contest for teachers that drew over 1,000 nominees.

Far from a typical christening, Royal Caribbean cooked up a Rube Goldberg-style procedure that started with Affolter and Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain on stage in the ship’s open-air Aqua Theater.

An aerialist descended from above on guide wires with a button to activate the process. When Affolter pressed the button, it sent a signal to the robot, which did a spin and punched a second button, which then released a bottle of champagne rigged to the ship’s zipline.

A 3-foot bottle of champagne smashes into the Harmony of the Seas. 

The bottle, a 3-foot tall sovereign custom-made for Royal Caribbean by Veuve Clicquot, then whizzed down the zipline course and crashed into a steel nameplate above the ship’s pool deck.

Back at the Aqua Theater, a blizzard of blue confetti was unleashed and singer Jon Secada, who once performed on Royal Caribbean ships, gave a concert.

Witnessing all of the festivities via a giant TV screen in the ship’s Studio B ice skating arena were 500 travel agents from Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld conference, who were invited to participate in a launch viewing party onboard.

The Harmony entered service last May and spent its first few months sailing in Europe. It arrived in Fort Lauderdale earlier this month, and will sail seven-night Caribbean voyages from the port.

MSC sets course for 'UK comeback'

MSC sets course for 'UK comeback'

Photo Credit Dave Jones

by Natasha Salmon
MSC Cruises plans to double its UK sales team as it aims for growth in the UK market, Natasha Salmon reports from the line's new offices in west London

MSC Cruises has pledged allegiance to the trade as it plans to double its sales team ahead of a planned “huge comeback” in the UK market.

The operator says it has set its sights on helping the UK reclaim its position as the largest cruise market in Europe having been overtaken by Germany.

Market ambitions
Speaking at MCS’s new offices in Uxbridge, UK managing director Antonio Paradiso and sales director Steve Williams said strengthening its team of account managers was key.

Paradiso said: “MSC will be making a huge comeback in the UK as the British market really matters to us. We have had the opportunity to develop the German market and it has overtaken Britain in the rankings. We want to get the UK back to number two in the world [behind the US].

“The size of the market is always going to be linked to the capacity you have at sea, and as we have 11 ships coming in the next 10 years, we want 3.6 million European passengers by 2024.”

This year MSC operated six sailings from Southampton on MSC Splendida, the line’s first UK departures for two years.

The family‑owned line will launch the 4,500-capacity MSC Meraviglia next year and the first of its new Seaside-class ship in 2018.

Paradiso said he wants MSC to become one of the top-three cruise lines in the UK and has tasked Williams with growing the sales team from six to 14 following his switch from rival Royal Caribbean.

“It is a huge opportunity to restructure a sales business in a way that really gives British and Irish cruise agents what they expect,” said Williams.

“We will have a team of regional sales managers covering the UK to grow our presence on the ground, where we were weaker before, especially with high street agents.

“They will be overseen by a head of retail. Plus, I will also have a team of national account managers who will focus on supporting cruise specialists. We’re keen to build great relationships with the consortia and multiples too.”

Commission review
Another area Williams will be assessing is commission and MSC’s agent reward scheme, with an individually focused loyalty scheme under consideration.

“There is a base commission but we are reviewing the whole commercial structure,” he said.

“We will work with business owners to discuss what rewards and commission are appropriate for their companies. Currently, we don’t believe a blanket scheme is the right way for us, but this will develop as our regional account managers work with frontline staff.”

Ship visits
Agent engagement will be enhanced with more ship visits in Scotland, Ireland and Southampton as well as more fam trips and a new online training platform.

Paradiso stressed agents remain the priority for a line that sees just 2% of its business come direct.

“We are aware that some of the larger cruise lines are adopting aggressive approaches to drive direct business. We have no intention to do this,” he said.

“We have a contact centre in the UK, so if people want to book direct with us they can, but the trade remains our key priority.”

On price, Paradiso said: “We are starting a journey to become more popular and the prices will reflect that. There will always be value for money, but we offer premium cruises as well with our Yacht Club.”

As part of a drive to make UK agents feel like they are part of “the MSC family”, the line will host 50 agents at Travel Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards 2017 in January.

Celebrity Cruises to base ship in Dublin

Celebrity Cruises to base ship in Dublin

Irish travel agents will have a dedicated ship to sell when Celebrity Cruises becomes the first major cruise line base a ship in Dublin.

One of the line’s 2,800-plus passenger Solstice-class vessels will run five sailings from the Irish capital’s port between April and June 2018.

Itineraries will run throughout northern Europe with details to be announced later in the year.

The line expects to attract more than 14,000 passengers to the Dublin sailings.

The move is estimated to be worth almost €6 million to Dublin and the surrounding area in knock-on economic benefits.

Celebrity Cruises already features Dublin and other ports throughout Ireland in its European deployment.

However this is the most significant increase in its investment into Ireland in the history of the global business.

UK and Ireland managing director Jo Rzymowska said: “Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed significant support from our travel agent partners and guests throughout Ireland for many years.

“Now we are saying thank you by basing one of the flagships of our fleet in Dublin for a mini season during early summer 2018.

“We know that our guests from around the world, and in Ireland, will love the warm welcome they receive when starting a holiday in Dublin.

“Calling Dublin home in 2018 is a major development to our European deployment.”

Dublin Port has hosted more than 180,000 cruise visitors on over 100 cruise ship calls this year, including four turnarounds where the ship begins its sailing and guests embark.

Head of corporate services Pat Ward said: “It has been a clear ambition of Dublin Port to attract a cruise line to offer our great city as a homeport.

“Today, that ambition is realised and Celebrity Cruises will be an important step-change in our history.

“The opportunities that this new investment will bring are extensive. We look forward to maximising this new platform for growth and welcoming yet more cruise ships and holidaymakers to Dublin for the first time.”

One killed and nine injured in P&O Cruises shore excursion accident

One killed and nine injured in P&O Cruises shore excursion accident

One passenger was killed and nine injured in a bus crash while on a P&O Cruises shore excursion yesterday in the Caribbean.

The bus was carrying 12 passengers, including 10 from the ship Azura, when the accident occurred on the island of Dominica.

The names of the passengers involved in the incident have not been released.

Representatives from the cruise company are on-site at the hospital to support the injured. Next of kin have been informed, according to the line.

The company said in a Facebook posting: “We'd like to advise you of some very sad news. A bus operated by a shore excursion provider was involved in a collision in Dominica on Wednesday lunchtime.

“The bus was carrying 12 passengers, including 10 guests from Azura. The cause of the accident is not yet known.

“One passenger has sadly died of their injuries. Another nine passengers were injured and treated at a local hospital, with the majority now discharged.

“We have activated our care team to help those affected by the accident.”

P&O Cruises senior vice-president Paul Ludlow said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone touched by this tragic event.

“Our employees and crew are working to do everything we can to extend support and assistance to those affected and their loved ones.”

Azura is on a re-positioning cruise to the Caribbean which left Southampton on October 28

Alabama port gets another chance to woo cruisers

Carnival Cruise in Alabama, 

You might think that a city with its own Carnival Museum, like Mobile, Alabama, would be a good bet for Carnival Cruise Line.

However, Carnival pulled out of Mobile five years ago, citing poor financial results. This year, the line decided to give the city another try, returning this week for at least a year with one of its oldest ships, the 2,056-passenger Fantasy, to offer 4- and 5-day cruises to Mexico.

The move will bring at least 100,000 visitors over the next year to Mobile, which has many of the same charms as New Orleans, and a lot to offer anyone who wants to tack on a pre- or post-cruise stay.

Take that Carnival Museum, for example. While New Orleans has the most famous and well-attended Mardi Gras in the United States, the Carnival celebration in Mobile pre-dates it and claims to be the oldest in the country. Like New Orleans, Mobile was in French and Spanish colonial territory until being annexed by the U.S. in 1813. There are many antebellum homes and seven historic districts within Mobile recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

The No. 1 tourist attraction in Mobile, according to TripAdvisor, is the USS Alabama, a World War II battleship that became a museum after it was retired in 1962. It is about three miles from the cruise terminal.

New since Carnival last sailed from Mobile is the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum. Opened in 2015, the five-story attraction has more than 90 exhibits based on the Gulf of Mexico, and is walking distance from the dock.

Also new since 2011 are a Duck amphibious vehicle tour; an historic trolley tour; and a Mobile River/Port of Mobile boat tour from WildNative Delta Safaris that will run only on cruise departure days.

And baseball fans know Mobile's minor league ballpark is named after native son Hank Aaron, but may not know that it hosts a Christmas light pageant in the off season.

Stacey Hamilton, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Mobile, said the agency's Very Important Cruiser program provides discounts to almost twenty attractions to anyone that shows a boarding pass.

Mobile is also trying to liven things up on Sunday for cruisers staying overnight before Monday departures.

Hamilton said Visit Mobile is working with the Mobile Arts Council and the Downtown Mobile Alliance to host an arts and crafts market in the historic Cathedral Square and has asked downtown area shops, museums and art galleries normally closed on Sundays to open on those days.

"We've branded this 'Sunday Funday' and will promote this heavily as a reason to come to town on Sundays and have some fun," Hamilton said.

All of these additions helped make Carnival's decision to return to the city.

"Since we were in Mobile in 2011, the Mobile officials have done a tremendous job of creating thousands of new jobs and business investments in the region," said Terry Thornton, senior vice president of itinerary planning at Carnival.

Norwegian CEO: Mediterranean cruising bouncing back

Photo by Dave Jones; Norwegian Jade in Santorini 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said bookings for the Mediterranean have been strong in the past eight weeks, and that the company's 2017 results will hinge on whether that continues.

Del Rio said business sourced in North America for the Med is up "strong double digits" across all three of the company's brands (Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) for the past eight weeks.

He said occupancies are currently flat and that pricing is behind in the Med for the second half of 2017, but that pricing could be up by year's end if the current trend continues.

Del Rio said that because of the out sized yields of European itineraries, "2017 will greatly depend on the Med."

In 2017, Norwegian will have 23% of its capacity in Europe, which is up due to the redeployment of the Norwegian Getaway to the Baltic, where demand is strong, Del Rio said.

Del Rio commented in a conference call for analysts held to discuss third-quarter earnings.

In the third quarter, Norwegian reported net income of $342.4 million compared to $251.8 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 15.6% to $1.5 billion.

CRUISE SEASON BRINGS IN £7M

Cunard's Three Queens in Liverpool

Liverpool Cruise Terminal helped to generate an economic impact of about £7m during the summer season after welcoming more than 100,000 passengers, according to the latest figures.

A report to go before the city council's Culture, Tourism and Events Select Committee next week said 63 cruise liners visited, bringing 114,676 passengers and crew to Liverpool. Inaugural calls were made in 2016 by four different vessels, including two visits by the Disney Magic ship.

To coincide with second the Disney Magic visit, a free family-focused event was programmed comprising an outdoor cinema screen showing Disney films, a Victorian bandstand with performances and a firework finale for both passengers and spectators.

In 2017 – a year when Liverpool Cruise Terminal celebrates its tenth anniversary – there have already been 65 confirmed cruise calls, with more than 108,000 passengers and crew expected.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that plans are being drawn up to build a permanent cruise liner building. Liverpool City Council has identified the former Princes Jetty at Princes Parade, close to the landing stage, as a preferred location.

Carnival cancels cruise from Galveston, modifies others

Carnival Cruise Line canceled the scheduled Oct. 31 departure of the Carnival Liberty from Galveston because of a persistent propulsion problem with the ship.

It also has modified the itineraries of the following two cruises departing Nov. 5 and Nov. 10.

The Nov. 5 five-day cruise will include a full-day call in Cozumel, but the call in Progreso will be canceled. The Nov. 10 four-day cruise will include a call in Progreso instead of Cozumel.

Guests sailing on these voyages will receive a $50-per-person credit to their shipboard accounts and a 25% discount on a future Carnival cruise.

Carnival said the ship "is experiencing a technical issue which is affecting the ship's maximum cruising speed."  Outside experts have been brought in to assist with repairs.

Those experts, with the ship's technical team, found a problem that previously hadn't been known with an alternator in a diesel generator, "which cannot be readily fixed," Carnival said in a statement.

Carnival then decided to cancel the Oct. 31 cruise. Guests, who had already arrived for the cruise, got a full refund, a 100% credit toward a future cruise and a $90-per-person reimbursement representing a previously promised onboard credit and stipend for meals in Galveston.

Ruling restricts size of cruise liners in Dún Laoghaire Harbour

Ruling restricts size of cruise liners in Dún Laoghaire Harbour

An Bord Pleanála grants harbour redevelopment permission but cuts the size of ships

Super-size cruise liners will not be docking in Dún Laoghaire Harbour following a Bord Pleanála decision that restricts the size of vessels allowed under the new harbour redevelopment scheme.

The planning board has granted permission to Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for the €18 million redevelopment of the port, but has restricted the size of ships permitted to enter the harbour to 250m in length, more than a quarter smaller than the 340m limit sought by the company.

The decision means the largest ocean liners will only be permitted to dock in Dublin Port’s Alexandra Basin which is to undergo a €230 million redevelopment project due to start construction this month.

The 250m ship restriction is in line with the new Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan. Councillors last February voted to inset a provision into the plan to “preserve the integrity, natural beauty and historical significance of the harbour by protecting this central area from any cruise berth that would allow cruise ships longer than 250m to come directly into the harbour”.

• Dún Laoghaire cruise plan ‘could attract 400,000 visitors’
• Plans for new Dun Laoghaire berth spark opposition
• Over 150 objections to €18m cruise berth in Dún Laoghaire

Caption: The ship 'Windsurf' has regularly used Dun Laoghaire Harbour, while the new upper limit for ship length is 250m meaning a super-size ship such as the 'Liberty of the Seas' is prohibited

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council chief executive Philomena Poolehad opposed the councillors’ move because of the potential economic benefits of the cruise ship trade.

The change to the development plan came after what had originally been the expected decision date for the harbour redevelopment project.

Postponed

Bord Pleanála had been expected to announce its decision on the Harbour Company’s application by January 8th last, it revised that date to April 15th, but the decision was again postponed. It is understood that the length of the public hearing on the application, which lasted almost a month, and the large number of objections at more than 150, contributed to the delays.

The board is required to take into account formally adopted changes to development plans even where they are introduced in the middle of a planning adjudication. Although, while it must take them under consideration, it is not necessarily bound by their content.

The board’s inspector who conducted the oral hearing had recommended permission be refused because of the potential detrimental effect on the environment, on historic post structures, and “a degree of uncertainty as to the ability of cruise ships to navigate safety through the harbour mouth to the berth”.

However, the board decided to allow the scheme subject to a number of conditions, chiefly the ship size restriction which will reduce the length of the new berth from 435m to 320m.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company welcomed the board’s decision which it said would still allow it accommodate up to 80 per cent of cruise ships that currently visit Dublin Bay.

“It is estimated that this new berth will attract circa 50 cruise calls a year (from May to September), an average of 2 a week, each with an average of 2,000 cruise visitors who will disembark to spend money in the area. The money generated from these visitors will, over a season, amount to €10m,” it said.

Royal Caribbean's three Oasis class ships meet for the first time at sea

Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and the new Harmony of the Seas, all met at sea earlier today.  This marked the first, and possibly only time an meeting like this might occur.

The three ships rendezvoused off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a celebration of the arrival of Harmony of the Seas to her new homeport of Port Everglades.

Harmony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, just edging out her sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.  The three ships represent the meeting of the largest cruise ships in the world, in one place.

Royal Caribbean curtails Adventure of the Seas renovation

Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International is scaling back renovations to the Adventure of the Seas, citing extensive hurricane damage at the Grand Bahamas Shipyard in Freeport, where the work was scheduled to take place.

Freeport suffered the greatest destruction anywhere in the Bahamas from Hurricane Matthew's pass last month.

Royal Caribbean said the Adventure will still exit drydock on Nov. 14, but without many of the improvements that had been planned. Some will be added on the first few sailings after drydock.

Grand Bahama Dockyard

In a letter to travel partners, Royal Caribbean said work will continue on the Dual Racer water slides, FlowRider and Splashaway Bay aqua park with a new opening date of Dec. 10.

Royal Caribbean said its premium steakhouse, Chops Grille, won't open on the Adventure until early next year. In the meantime, Giovanni's Table will offer select items on the Chops menu.

Plans to add Izumi, a Japanese restaurant, have been shelved.

Also, the introduction of new suites and staterooms "is no longer possible at this time," the letter said. Royal Caribbean and travel partners will be contacting guests who had booked those rooms to discuss re-accommodation.

Boleros Latin Lounge

Improvements that will open for the initial sailing after the drydock include Boleros Latin lounge and the two-story mini-golf course.

In addition to storm damage at the shipyard, Royal Caribbean cited the global rerouting of cargo ships carrying equipment and materials as a factor in the modified renovation plan.

Launched in 2001, the Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class ship. In 2014, it received "Royal Advantage" upgrades, including an outdoor movie screen, digital signage, ship-wide WiFi, new Concierge and Diamond lounges, and the changeover of the Portofino restaurant to Giovanni's Table.

Crystal Cruises to renovate Serenity and Symphony again

The Crystal Symphony in Hong Kong. 

Crystal Cruises said it will make major improvements to its two oceangoing vessels, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.

In 2017 and 2018, the Serenity and Symphony will receive "massive enhancements" similar to the $52 million makeover Serenity got in 2013 and the $20 million redesign of Symphony in 2014, Crystal said.

One feature will be to reconfigure dining so that full open seating is available. A criticism of Crystal is that it doesn't have dining capacity to accommodate all of its guests in one seating. Crystal also said there will be more suites.

The luxury line has announced plans to build three new-generation "Exclusive" class ships with high space ratios and residences on the top deck. The first of those was initially to be delivered in 2018, but that had been pushed back first to 2019, then to 2021 and now is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.

Crystal also pushed back the delivery date of the 200-passenger Crystal Endeavor expedition ship from 2018 to 2019, but said that it plans to build two additional such ships for 2020 and 2021. In addition, it has rebranded Crystal Yacht Cruises as Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises.

In the air, Crystal said it plans to add a second Global Express Jet to its Crystal Luxury Air fleet in 2017 due to the "popularity of the existing charter options, and travel partners and guests' wishing to customize their vacation experiences with all things Crystal."

On land, Crystal plans a marketing branch office in Sydney to open in 2017. An office in Amsterdam to support the operations of its river cruise fleet will officially open Nov.21, and a display center in Miami's Boulevard Shops near downtown will open in spring 2017.