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California Passes Tough Ocean Vessel Fuel Law
California air regulators have approved the nation's toughest
regulations to reduce harmful emissions from ocean-going ships using
the state's ports, according to an Associated Press article. The
regulations require domestic and foreign cruise vessels, cargo ships
and tankers sailing in and out of California ports to use cleaner
fuel to power their engines and boilers. Similar international
regulations are being looked at by various agencies, but won't go
into effect until 2015. A similar 2006 California regulation, which
required large ships to use cleaner fuel in their auxiliary engines,
was struck down in federal court last year. The federal judge ruled
the state did not have the authority to set shipping emission
standards without the approval of the US Environmental Protection
Agency. The state of California said the new regulation is a fuel
requirement and not an emissions requirement, and therefore does not
need federal permission. The new regulation, which goes into effect
on July 1, 2009, requires ocean-going vessels to switch to a more
expensive, but cleaner-burning marine fuel, to power their main
engines and auxiliary boilers when they sail within 24 nautical miles
of the California coast. For passenger cruise ships, the increased
fuel costs brought about by the new regulation would add about $15
per passenger for a typical Los Angeles to Mexico itinerary.
We Don't Care about International Law, We're California
The California Air Resources Board adopted rules that require all
cargo vessels, tankers and cruise ships to switch to a
cleaner-burning type of fuel oil whenever they are within 24 nautical
miles of California's coast, beginning next July 1. There's
just one problem. International regulations take precedence until you
get within three nautical miles of the coast, and they don't require
the cleaner fuel until 2015.
Tobago sees sharp rise in cruise calls
Initiatives that give Tobago an opportunity to grow and prosper
within the cruise industry are moving ahead with the support and
guidance of the Tobago House of Assembly. Cruise brands including
Celebrity, Fred. Olsen, Holland America, Ocean Village, Princess and
Windstar are expected to make 60 calls from October through April, up
from 34 calls in the 2007/08 season, and carrying an estimated
100,000 passengers to the Southern Caribbean island. 'Traffic is
continuing to build,' said Henry Yaniz, Tobago's Miami-based cruise
consultant. 'We are well on our way to reaching our goal of making
Tobago's cruise business year-round instead of seasonal.' The first
step in putting Tobago on the map of large-ship lines began with the
completion of the $2.7m Scarborough Jetty expansion to accommodate
vessels as large as the Voyager class. The island aims to develop
more cruise business to stimulate its tourism-based economy. The
2009/10 season is expected to generate $329m in cruise-related
revenue. Tobago is also expected to gain exposure from the
Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's annual conference and trade
show in late October, hosted by sister island Trinidad.
EPA ruling raises complex discharge issues
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week upheld a District
Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency should not have
exempted vessels' operational discharges from the Clean Water Act.
That means, for the first time, commercial vessels operating in U.S.
waters will be required to obtain a permit that covers 28 discharges
including ballast water, graywater, bilge water, deck runoff and
engine cooling water.
Regent Seven Seas Confirms New Ship, Refurbishes Vessels
Regent Seven Seas Cruises confirmed that a new ship is under
development. Regent Seven Seas President Mark Conroy said the
line plans to get delivery the yet-unnamed ship in 2012. An official
announcement is expected by year-end 2008. Details are sketchy at
this point, but the ship will have a gross tonnage of approximately
60,000 and will likely accommodate 750 to 800 guests. Standard suites
will measure about 400 square feet, and all suites will have
balconies. In addition, the ship will offer new alternative
restaurants, as well as a full deck of spa and athletic activities.
The Clock Is Ticking
Port Canaveral has finally chosen an engineering firm to design the
new Disney terminal there, but the contract still has to be
negotiated, and construction has to move right
along. Why? Disney stipulated in their contract
that the new terminal must be ready for occupancy by October 1, 2010,
just a little over two years away.
Celebrity's "Soap Cruise"
Sixteen stars of daytime television's top soap operas are booked to
sail aboard Celebrity Century's 2009 'soap cruise.' Customers who buy
the soap cruise package will be able to interact with the actors in
autograph and photo sessions, trivia games, a cocktail party and
other special events, including the opportunity to write a script and
act it out with one of the stars. Hosting the cruise will be Cameron
Mathison, who plays Ryan on 'All My Children.' Mathison will be
joined by other actors from 'All My Children,' 'As the World Turns,'
'The Bold and the Beautiful,' 'Days of Our Lives,' 'General
Hospital,' 'One Life to Live' and 'The Young and the Restless.' The
cruise sails Jan. 22 round-trip from Miami.
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Cruise West Cancels Spirit of Glacier Bay's Alaska Season
Cruise West has decided to cancel the rest of the Alaska season for
its ship, Spirit of Glacier Bay. The cancellation comes after
an accidental grounding earlier this month, which required repairs.
The cruise line had originally scheduled the ship to return to
service on July 26. |
Cruise West decided to pull the ship from service and combine the
needed repairs with refurbishments that had been scheduled to be done
at the end of the season. Spirit of Glacier Bay has already departed
for Seattle where the work will be done. The ship will then winter
there until next year's Alaska season.
Some of the upgrades that will be done while the ship is in Seattle
include redecoration and renovation of public corridors, lobby areas
and the Observation Lounges, as well as new carpeting and window
treatments in the cabins.
Celebrity rolls out Southern Caribbean sale
A new Celebrity Cruises promotion offers discounted fares on certain
Southern Caribbean itineraries. Customers who book by Aug. 31 will
save based on the length of the sailing.
Cruises operate round-trip from San Juan on Celebrity Galaxy and
Celebrity Summit and range from seven to 11 nights. Savings of $200
per stateroom are offered on itineraries 10 nights or longer and $100
per stateroom for seven-night itineraries.
The offer applies to all Celebrity Summit sailings between Dec. 13
and April 11, and Celebrity Galaxy sailings between Dec. 19 and March 2.
Regular, pre-discount fares for the seven-night cruises included in
the offer start at $749 per person, double occupancy. The 10-night
cruises start at $999 per person, and the 11-night cruises at $1,049
per person.
Azamara booking perks for 2009 Europe
Azamara Cruises is offering on-board credits and including standard
gratuities for customers who book any 2009 Europe sailing by the end
of this month.
The shipboard credit is $150 for each ocean-view or veranda
stateroom, and $300 for each suite. Additionally, the first and
second passenger in each room will get complimentary standard gratuities.
Both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will sail in Europe from April
to November next year. Itineraries include 20 new ports and a number
of overnight stays and late-night departures.
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