April

Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asia Pacific, has deployed SuperStar Aquarius to Taiwan from April 2011 in order to continue promoting cruise holiday in Taiwan. With various itineraries, exotic cuisines, spectacular shows, and diverse destination tours, SuperStar Aquarius provides customers a full package of entertainment onboard. In addition, promotion and events are themed along the 100th anniversary of the founding of the republic. In addition, promotion and events are themed along the 100th anniversary of the founding of the republic. more...

Miami
Carnival Cruise Lines, a brand of global cruise operator Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), today accepted delivery of the corporation's 100th ship, the Carnival Magic, in ceremonies at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the vessel was built. In recognition of this achievement, on April 29 all guests sailing aboard Carnival Corporation & plc's 100 ships will enjoy a complimentary champagne toast at dinner to commemorate this historic and unprecedented milestone.  All told, more than 227,000 guests across the company's 10 cruise brands will participate in the toast, believed to be the largest celebration of its kind at sea. Following the traditional maritime handover ceremony in Italy, Carnival Magic will debut on May 1 with a nine-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona. more...

On a recent cruise to Norway, a sick british female had to be evacuated from the MS OCEAN COUNTESS - Video -. The Norwegian Emergency Crew transferred the woman by stretcher to their rescue boat, when their boat suddenly moved and caused the stretcher to fall to the icy waters. Supposedly it took 8 minutes to take her out of the water (3°!). She was then send to a norwegian Hospital. “We take the safety and comfort of our passengers very seriously, and although the actual logistics of the rescue was in the hands of the Norwegian rescue team, we will assist the investigation fully.” said a Spokeperson of Cruise and Maritime Voyages.

The full Charter of the Clothing Optional, Couples only Lifestyle Cruise is sold out! MS FREEDOM OF THE SEAS of Royal Caribbean Cruise line, departure on April 25th to Belize and mexico was sold out! However, there are more cruises to come this year. On August 8th a Cruise to Alaska from Vancouver onboard the ms Celebrity Century. But the big Event is coming 2012. On November 11th, again with Freedom, an 8 day Cruise from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean. So, if your game, don't hesitate.
Bon Swing Voyage!

Today Grand Princess begins the most significant transformation ever in Princess Cruises history, and viewers can follow along with a daily video journal chronicling the 24-day drydock. 
Hosted by Grand Princess Cruise Director Martyn Moss, the videos, as well as photos, are available a at princess.com/granddrydock and on YouTube and Flickr.  In the first installment, audiences get a first look at the beginning of the ship’s transformation as it sails to the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas.  The journal will include daily updates through May 4

Seattle,WA
InnerSea Discoveries plans to officially name its two ships in an April 29 ceremony at Seattle’s Fisherman’s Terminal. Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Adventurer have undergone extensive technical and interior upgrades prior to beginning their inaugural Alaska - Video - season in May. The 60- to 68-passenger ships will operate one- and two-week sailings between Juneau and Ketchikan through September. These vessels belonged previously to Cruise West, which went out of business late last year. The ships have been outfitted with High-Tech and upscale amenities. more...

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s 414-foot yacht Octopus has been down in southern Argentina and Antarctica this winter and, according to today’s Norwegian shipping paper TradeWinds, on February 8 she may have salvaged the black box recorder from GAP Adventures’ pioneer expedition cruise ship Explorer, lost by sinking in ice on November 27, 2007.
On Wednesday, March 30, Navigea Ltd, owners of the Octopus, filed suit in Seattle against Kelvin-Hughes NDR 2000 Voyage Data Recorder and GAP Shipping Ltd for the cost of salvage, which it is said could be between $2 and $3 million. GAP of course did not sanction this work and will resist any responsibility for this effort. As well as helicopters, the Octopus is outfitted with two submersibles that could have carried out this work. more...

The Inside Passage’s waterways will be a little busier starting this summer. Disney Cruise Line said Thursday it will make an initial sailing to Southeast Alaska in May, then offer 14 seven-night cruises from Seattle in 2012. Beginning May 28 of next year, the Disney Wonder will visit Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. Gov. Sean Parnell’s office estimates the Disney ships will bring approximately 38,400 passengers, providing nearly $40 million in direct and indirect spending to Alaska businesses next year.

Cunard's newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, arrived at Port Rashid on the return leg of her maiden world voyage to a welcome from her illustrious ancestor QE2 which has been laid up at the port since 2008, awaiting conversion into a floating hotel. Passengers on the new ship - launched last October by Her Majesty the Queen - lined the rails to get the best view, but will have been unable to get too close to QE2 which was a tantalising few yards away behind a mountain of ballast. Rob Lightbody, of the QE2 Story website, explains that the liner still has a skeleton maintenance crew of 40 on board, and that while conversion plans are on hold because of Dubai's financial crisis, he still expects the work to be completed eventually. more...

The United Nations has admitted that it lost at least $600,000 after it cancelled its controversial rental of a comfortably appointed cruise ship for U.N. staffers in the early stages of rescue operations last year in earthquake-shattered Haiti.
The world organization abruptly backed out of the deal after a Fox News exclusive analysis showed that the boat rental for the 11,000-ton ship called Ola Esmeralda, which cost $72,000 per day, was vastly overpriced compared to going commercial rates.
Overall, the U.N. contracted to spend $13 million on rental of the Esmeralda, and another $3.6 million on a companion vessel, the Sea Voyager—which was known to U.N. staffers as “the Love Boat.” more...

One of Switzerland’s leading cruise lines has unveiled a new eco strategy which it claims will change the face of the industry. After several years of testing on Lake Geneva, Swizz Crooz has discovered that by putting the engines in reverse, 10411 tons of carbon can be recovered per annum. 
The cruise line's spokesman Al Peen said: "We are thrilled with the results. We know how discerning our clients are and this will enable them to take a holiday that does little or no harm to the environment. 
"This process is revolutionary and we are sure others will follow in our footsteps."