|
Lawmaker introduces crime reporting bill
A bill that requires the reporting of crimes on
cruise ships and sets penalties for failure to comply was introduced
by Rep. Christopher Shays of Connecticut. The Cruise Line Accurate
Safety Statistics Act was co-sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York.
Cruise operators already are required to report
crimes at sea, according to a statement by the International Council
of Cruise Lines. ICCL also said lines operate ‘within a
structured legal framework under which international, federal, state
and local authorities investigate any alleged crime.’
Bermuda plans second pier at West End
Plans are proceeding to build a second mega-ship
pier at Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard for completion by no
later than 2008. The facility will be large enough to handle vessels
like Queen Mary 2 and Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom class.
However, that doesn't mean those ships will be
able to call. Voyager-class vessels are the largest Bermuda can take
now but Larry Jacobs, transportation coordinator for Bermuda’s
Ministry of Tourism and Transport, said it would be shortsighted not
to create infrastructure for the future.
‘With the second pier, we could have 7,000
passengers [at West End],’ he told Seatrade Insider. Bermuda is
now handling about 10,000 cruisers from five ships (at West End, St.
George’s and Hamilton) on the peak days. With the decision not
to widen the cut leading to St. George’s and navigational
constraints in Hamilton, the growth likely will have to come at the
Royal Naval Dockyard.
Carnival cuts wires, expanding Wi-Fi access fleetwide
Carnival Cruise Lines will expand its wireless
Internet access to all public rooms and suites in its fleet by the
end of 2006.
Guests on any Carnival vessel will be able to
connect via any wireless-equipped laptop computer from almost
anywhere onboard, including the lounges, bars, pool areas, open
decks, dining venues and suites.
The project is roughly 75% complete with the
balance of the fleet expected to be completed by year’s end. The
Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty currently have “100% bow to
stern” wireless access.
“Guests view our ships as ‘floating
hotels,’ expecting the same modern technology and conveniences
found on land. The Internet has become an indispensable tool for
staying abreast of the latest news and keeping in touch with the
office and loved ones,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival CEO.
In addition to the wireless Internet technology,
Carnival ships have Internet cafes open 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Passengers can bring their own computers or rent a laptop
through the ships’ Internet cafe for a fee; a temporary e-mail
account can be obtained for use while onboard or passengers may use
their own e-mail.
Both the wireless Internet and Internet cafes
cost 75 cents per minute; minutes can also be purchased in bulk at a
discount. There is also a one-time activation fee of $3.95.
Teens;
You Better Behave!
Princess Cruises inaugurated a new "Teen
Security" program on all its ships in an effort to control
rowdiness and underage drinking during voyages carrying a large
number of families with children, including holiday sailings. The
"security patrol" consists of staff in their 20s wearing
yellow T-shirts; they don't try to serve as police officers, but
encourage teens to act appropriately.
For MSC Cruises, it's the sound of Musica
in Venice
By Johanna Jainchill
Against the backdrop of the setting sun on the
bell tower of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italian actress Sophia
Loren christened MSC Cruises’ newest vessel, the Musica June 29.
The christening was attended by about 1,300
members of a mostly European press and travel agent contingency;
speaking at the ceremony were Italy’s transportation minister,
Alessandro Bianchi; the mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari; and MSC
CEO, Pierfrancesco Vago.
The Musica is the largest ship in the line’s
fleet, at 89,600 tons and 964 feet long, with four restaurants; 11
bars; a casino; a 12,400-square-foot spa and fitness area; a
1,240-seat theater and room to carry 2,550 guests.
RCI, Hagel Smith reach settlement
Royal Caribbean International and Jennifer Hagel
Smith announced they have reached an agreement settling any potential
claims regarding the death of George Smith, who went missing during a
Mediterranean cruise last summer. Royal Caribbean said it
entered into the agreement with Smith’s widow ‘to provide
closure and move forward.’ Royal Caribbean will also
match a contribution by Ms. Hagel Smith to a charity of her choosing.’
Meanwhile....
As Royal Caribbean International reached a
settlement with Jennifer Hagel Smith over the disappearance of her
husband George Smith IV during a Royal Caribbean cruise in July 2005,
other members of Smith’s family filed a lawsuit against the
cruise line.
The terms of the settlement with Hagel Smith were
not disclosed, but the agreement settles “any potential
claims” regarding the death of Smith, according to a statement
from Royal Caribbean.
Celebrity wins $193m in Legionnaire’s case
Pentair, Inc., which manufactures water pumps and
pool and spa equipment, was ordered to pay Celebrity Cruises $193m in
commercial damages related to a 1994 outbreak of Legionnaire’s
Disease on the Horizon. One passenger died and others
became ill, some critically, due to legionella bacteria in the
filtration system of a pool area hot tub.
CLIA lines post 5.8% growth in Q1
Cruise Lines International Association members
carried 2.79m worldwide passengers in the first quarter of 2006, a
5.8% increase over the year-ago quarter.
The number of North Americans carried grew 4.3%,
to 2.44m, up from 2.34m in Q1 2005.
CLIA lines also posted a collective 106.1%
occupancy factor in the first quarter of 2006, up from 104.3% a year ago.
CLIA president and ceo Terry Dale said the
figures show travelers are ‘excited by today’s innovative
cruise vessels and value-oriented seagoing vacations.’
Costa Allegra debuts
in Shanghai with eye on
Asian market
The Costa Allegra, the first cruise ship from an
international company to operate locally in the Chinese market, was
inaugurated in Shanghai on July 2.
Costa Cruises CEO Pier Luigi Foschi, Carnival
Corp. CEO Micky Arison and representatives from the Italian and
Chinese consulates will attend the ceremony.
Arison, owner of the NBA’s Miami Heat, will
bring the team’s new championship trophy to showcase on the ship
during the ceremony.
On July 3, the 28,500-ton Costa Allegra will
begin sailing from Shanghai, offering five-day itineraries with stops
in Nagasaki, Japan and Cheju, Korea.
The ship will reposition to Hong Kong in November
and will offer five-day cruises with stops in Sanya, China, and
Vietnam’s Halong Bay
Fincantieri delivers Costa Concordia
Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard has delivered Costa
Crociere’s new flagship. The 112,000gt Costa Concordia, with
capacity for 3,780 passengers, becomes the largest cruise vessel
flying the Italian flag.
Costa said the newbuild includes innovations such as the large
Samsara Spa and 67 spa accommodations with direct access to the
2,104-square-meter facility. A pair of swimming pools under a
retractable glass roof covering a 3,500-square-meter area will enable
outdoor lounging year-round in the Mediterranean, where the ship will
operate until 2007. The central pool area sports a giant movie
screen. An exclusive feature is the ship’s Grand Prix race-car
driving simulator.
|
