August

Miami
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced a partnership with NextEra Energy Resources,  North America's largest producer of wind and solar power, which provides the opportunity for Norwegian guests' to help build new renewable energy projects and offset their carbon footprint.  This innovative program, a first within the cruise industry, is just one initiative amongst the many environmentally conscious efforts Norwegian is committed to through its award-winning Eco-Smart Cruising practices, NCL said in a statement. "Guests sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line are able to voluntarily contribute $10 per person, per cruise through NextEra Energy Resources' EarthEra(r) Renewable Energy Trust via Norwegian's website at www.ncl.com/environment.  The EarthEra Renewable Energy Trust will direct 100 percent of the funds received from Norwegian's North American guests to build new renewable energy facilities across the United States. "

Costa Cruises will resume its Japan itineraries with the Aug. 26 departure of the Costa Classica from Shanghai on a four-day cruise to Fukuoka, Japan, and Cheju, South Korea. The Italian line said the decision “demonstrates Costa’s confidence in Japan’s tourism market and its support to the revitalization of the local tourism industry.” Costa has been operating cruises from China to Japan for more than five years. From August to October, Costa will operate 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. n 2012, Costa is further expanding in Asia and the Far East, with the deployment of the 75,200-ton, 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria.

Miami
This November, Norwegian Cruise Lines will set sail with what its claiming is the world's first Twitter-themed cruise. Personally, a vacation for us means a chance to temporarily cut our ties from all our gadgets, but apparently some people can't wait to Tweet about sunbathing on a cruise ship deck. 
Norwegian says its teamed with "members of the South Florida social media community" to put together the #SeaTweetup. Because Twitter favors brevity, the cruise itself is only three days and takes participants to the Bahamas. The ms Norwegian Sky - Video - will leave from Miami on November 18th.

The Great American Steamboat Company, the Memphis-based start-up, has cleared the purchase of the 436-passenger American Queen - Video - paddlewheeler from the U.S. Maritime Administration. The company plans to open for business as planned this month with the first cruise set for April 11, according to local news reports. The company was formed when Kyte, founder of Uncommon Journeys, joined forces with another riverboat aficionado, John Waggoner, president and CEO of HMS Global Maritime, which is the largest operator of U.S.-flagged vessels in the country. Krida, former president of Delta Queen Steamboat Company, decided to join the new venture.

SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap)
North Korea appears likely to use a ferry to try to attract foreign tourists, a source familiar with the issue said Friday, in what could be an attempt to earn much-needed hard currency. For decades, the Mankyongbong-92 served as the only shuttle between North Korea and Japan, which have no diplomatic relations, and was mostly used by pro-North Korean residents in Japan. The 9,700-ton ship was later used to transport cargoes before Tokyo blocked its entry as part of economic sanctions over Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests in 2006. more...

Southampton Port bosses had hoped to start work on a huge £30m terminal next year, capitalising on the booming cruise market and creating hundreds of jobs. But those plans have been pushed back to 2013 at the earliest until the results of Liverpool’s controversial bid to muscle in on the lucrative industry is known. The news will come as a blow to the many companies in Hampshire who rely on the cruise trade for business. Last year there were more than 300 separate calls by cruise ships to Southampton and this number is expected to hit 450 by 2015. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 2m by 2020. more...

Cruise Atlantic Europe, an organization of eight ports in five countries of the Atlantic front, is seeing an increase in calls by cruise ships. This year, the ports are welcoming almost 800 cruise ship calls from more than 50 cruise companies, with 90 itineraries visiting two or more Cruise Atlantic Europe ports.

Miami/Kuala Lumpur
Genting chairman KT Lim may be one of Malaysia’s wealthiest individuals, but he still drives his own car, carries his own bag, answers his own phone and periodically travels economy class.
“He’s a very humble guy who doesn’t surround himself with all the trappings of wealth and status,” Veitch said. “Walking around a cruise ship, most of the passengers would never recognize that the owner and chairman was there. He’s just so low key.”Today the 59-year-old Lim’s net worth is estimated at $665 million, making him the 13th wealthiest Malaysian, according to Forbes Asia. His mother ranks No. 3 on the list overall and is the richest woman, with an estimated net worth of $6.6 billion. 
While turning around the operations at Norwegian, Lim played a hands-on role in shaping the company’s future. NCL’s now-famous “Freestyle Cruising”. Lim likes to take regular vacations on Norwegian ships with his wife and three children. His favorite pastime: hanging out in the public areas, watching how passengers are using the facilities and listening to what they had to say. 
“KT Lim is a bit of a mysterious guy,” said Kevin Sheehan, chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line. “He travels constantly. He’s always all over the place and working on something. I will run into him places I wouldn’t expect. He will be in and out of this town and I won’t know he has even been here. He’s stealth.”