May

St.Petersburg,Russia
Within the framework of The Tall Ships Races Baltic 2009 (TSR) 24 A-class sail ships will arrive in St. Petersburg, PortNews IAA learnt from the TSR organization committee. According to the source, 127 vessels have already confirmed their participation. “Huge fleet will come to St. Petersburg,” Race Director Peter Newell underlined. Here the official Site and listing more....

Sydney
P&O Australia' ms PACIFIC DAWN Crew may have the Swine Influeza and await test results. Queensland Health says the crew members been isolated until test results are known. Health Minister Nicola Roxon says if those on board are found to have swine flu it does not necessarily mean everyone board will need to be quarantined. more.... Video Statement from Ann Sherry, CEO Carnival Australia >>>>

Helsingin Sanomat
The demolition of GTS Finnjet, once the fastest passenger ferry in the world, is nearing its end at the Alang breakers’ yard in Western India. Two-thirds of the ship’s hull has already been dismantled, and all the fittings and furnishings have long since disappeared. According to information acquired by Helsingin Sanomat, for the gigantic ship scrapyard Rishi Ship Breakers, the GTS Finnjet has been possibly the most troublesome exercise in the company’s history.  GTS Finnjet has already cost the company in excess of EUR seven million. The non-profitability of the deal results from the slowness of the demolition work and the steepling nosedive of the price of scrap iron and steel. more...
 

Seattle
Cruise West revealed a 335-day circumnavigation of the world, departing Singapore March 6, 2010, that will attempt to follow some the routes taken by famous ocean explorers. Called the Voyage of the Great Explorers, the cruise sets out on the ms Spirit of Oceanus, the largest vessel in the small-ship cruise line's fleet. The Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, Cruise West said, and will return Singapore on February 3, 2011, after visiting 242 ports in 59 countries, crossing 14 seas and oceans, and transiting three canals.

MSC Cruises has rerouted two sailings between Europe and south Africa via West Africa rather than the Suez Canal. "Now none of MSC Cruises’s ships will pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, with all the company’s transoceanic cruises following the West Coast of Africa only, calling in Morocco, Senegal and Namibia en route to Cape Town and Durban. These itineraries will be served by the luxurious MSC Sinfonia for the 2009 Autumn and 2010 late Spring seasons.," MSC Cruises said in a statement.

Ambassadors International posted a first quarter loss of $11.4m, or $1.01 per share, compared to a year-ago loss of $12.5m, or $1.15 per share. The loss from continuing operations was narrowed to 63 cents per share, down from $1.27. (latest Stock quote >>>) "For 2009, we are focused on improving our Windstar Cruises business performance and have identified three major areas for improvement as follows....

List of cruise passengers who don't tip is made public to staff!
An email picking out the names of holidaymakers who opted out of a pre-paid tip to staff on a cruise has caused uproar after passengers discovered it pinned to a wall in crew quarters. The embarrassed Carnival Splendor has had to defend themselves, claiming it is not protocol to make the names of passengers who have opted out of the service charge public to the staff. more....

Copenhagen
After closing the Service Uk - Norway in Sept.08, she was laid up. February this year she was then chartered by Altshom, as a floating accommodation vessel for their workers. Now it has been reported that she has been sold to unnamed buyers for DKK 175 mio. The new Owners will take delivery on Mai 15th. Interesting to see who is behind the purchase and where she will resurface. The Queen was build 1981 and has a capacity for 1600 passengers and 450 cars. 

Swan Hellenic' ms Minerva, will visit the white continent this coming winter for the last time. As several cruise lines recently announced withdrawl of vessels from Alaska, same is now happening in Antarctica. Environmentalists are keen to see all the cruise ships leave Antarctica, the US has been talking about tighter regulations. Voyages of Discovery and Saga's Spirit of Adventure are both pulling out of the White Continent this winter and sailing instead to the Far East, while Hurtigruten is cutting back to having one ship there. 

Toronto
Canadian polar cruise specialist G.A.P. Adventure’s latest vessel, the 105m Expedition, entered service last week, after a 10-day Azores cruises was cancelled due to main engine problems. The cruise ex-Portsmouth has calls at Alderney & Sark, Herm & Guernsey, St. Michael’s Mount and the Helford River, St. Mary’s & Tresco, Waterford, Bantry Bay, Clifden, Portrush, the Isles of Islay & Gigha, Colonsay & Iona, Siel & Craignure, and Oban where the cruise ends. G.A.P. says that Expedition is one of the first polar vessels to be fully 2010 compliant with the new International Association of Antarctic Cruise Operators (IAATO) environmental recommendations. 

Genoa
According to el presidente Gianni Onorato, is the ms Luminosa Costa's "our most exclusive and innovative ship, designed for the high-end Customer". Gianni Onorato further says "our ships are made to amaze, to be a magic world, away from everything". Another Joe Farcus design, "she is smaller and intimate, with a mix of designs so that passengers never get bored," said the Interior designer, which is his 10th vessel he had worked on for the Company. 

Stockholm
Passengers from 40 different countries were evacuated to safety on Monday morning after a vessel plying the trans-Sweden Göta Canal ran aground near Oxelösund. According to the shipping company the circumstances surrounding the accident remained unclear. A salvage operation is due to commence on Monday afternoon. more...

In a brief statement, Maersk confirmed discussions with a number of parties were taking place over a possible transaction although there was no certainty that a deal would be reached. The Danish conglomerate, which also owns oil and gas operations, shipyards and port operations, supermarkets and a 20% stake in Danske Bank, reported a 4.8% decline in 2008 net profit to 16.96 billion Danish kroner ($2.88 billion) and warned that its 2009 results will be significantly below last year's levels. Norfolkline was acquired by Maersk in 1985 and operates 18 passenger and freight ferries on routes from the U.K. to Denmark, Ireland, France and Belgium. It carried more than 2.4 million passengers, more than 700,000 vehicles and 1.3 million trailers in 2008. Meanwhile DFDS danmarks largest Ferry operator confirmd talks.
WSJ