June

Queen Mary 2, billed by its owners as "the most magnificent ocean liner ever built," isn't getting such rave reviews from  US government sanitation inspectors. During the visit on June 10, inspectors found a number of violations. As a result, the ship received a score of 84. The government has two score classifications: Anything 86 or higher is "satisfactory, " while scores of 85 or lower are considered "not satisfactory." Cunard Line, which operates the Queen Mary 2, called the ship's most recent grade "an uncharacteristicall y low score." "The poor assessment on 10 June resulted largely from one small area of the ship's overall operation. All the issues raised in the report were immediately addressed and have now been corrected," said Cunard spokeswoman Jackie Chase in a statement. 
See the CDC Inspection Report in Detail here...

On June 15th, 2011, Judge Patricia Seitz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered a judgment maintaining a jury's January 2011 fraud verdict in favor of Carnival and against Rolls-Royce for $16,788,000. Judge Seitz found that Carnival had suffered damage as a result of being induced by Rolls-Royce to choose the Mermaid pod propulsion - Video - and steering system for its Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, based upon false statements made by Rolls-Royce. Judge Seitz also found there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding that seven statements made by Rolls-Royce to Carnival regarding the Mermaid Pods were false.

Miami
NorwegianCruise Line today unveiled the first look at its new balcony and mini-suite stateroom designs for Project Breakaway, the project name for the company’s two new next generation Freestyle Cruising ships scheduled for delivery in April 2013 and April 2014.  Each of the 144,017 gross ton vessels will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths, which are being build at German shipyard Meyer Werft. Norwegian commissioned design group Priestmangoode from London, working in conjunctionwith Tillberg Design of Sweden, to design the staterooms for Project Breakaway.  The staterooms combine the form and function ofthe line’s Jewel class ships’ staterooms with the modern and contemporary design touches of Norwegian Epic. Project Breakaway ships will each have 1,024 balcony staterooms and 238 mini-suites setin rich panelling with warm tones and accent colors.

Genoa/Cape Town
MSC Cruises, the fourth largest cruise company in the world and market leader in the Mediterranean, South African and Brazilian markets, says it has acquired Starlight Cruises, their sales agents in South Africa of almost 20 years. The new company will trade as MSC Starlight Cruises with effect from May 2011. The agreement gives MSC Cruises overall control of Starlight Cruises. It also allows for the continued management by former owners, the Foggitt family, who have operated as sales agents for cruiseliners in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands for over 30 years.

The ship originally launched in 1991 as the Renaissance Four and was later renamed the Clelia II. It has been refurbished several times, including a $19 million upgrade in 2009. The cruise line describes its new acquisition as "yacht-like," with a crew of 70 servicing only 100 passengers in 50 suites. Orion Expedition Cruises is a luxury line that also operates the 106-passenger Orion, and has focused the marketing of its Asia Pacific voyages more to the U.S. market over the last few years. After its inaugural cruise, the Orion II will sail to the Russian Far East, the Inland Sea of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands before offering a series of 10-night itineraries around Borneo. Later 2011 cruises will visit Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

NBC,LA
Royal Caribbean Cruises demonstrated "a gross indifference to the life and health" of passengers by continuing to cruise with a ship that "that allowed poison gas exposure to its passengers," according to a judge based on evidence including government documents related to the case. The ruling is in a lawsuit involving a leak of hydrogen sulfide that killed three crew members and injured 19 others.
Marc Schumacher, of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, wrote in the ruling that the evidence provided "a reasonsable basis" to find that the cruise line's conduct was "was either intentional or constituted gross negligence." Read the complete court order here. (pdf).
The company "failed to take reasonable measures to prevent exposure" to the poison gas, Shumacher wrote in the ruling permitting Bjoern Eidiseen, who was staff captain at the time, to seek punitive damages. more...

....is a brand-new 12-night adventure cruise incorporating a selection of extraordinary outdoor pursuits not previously available on other itineraries, which are designed to excite and inspire lovers of the Great Outdoors. Sailing from Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city, in Argentina, on 8th November 2011, passengers travel with One Ocean Expeditions on board Akademik Ioffe - Video -, an impressive ice-strengthened ship designed for polar research. Guests will be able to experience three new activities:  ski touring, overnight sea kayaking trips  – unique in Antarctica to One Ocean – and full-day expedition field photography with renowned polar photographer Daisy Gilardini. One of the only Antarctic ships still actively participating in true oceanographic science through Russia’s Institute of Oceanography in Kaliningrad, the Akademik Ioffe combines modern comforts and superb amenities with first-class safety and manoeuvrability.

Shanghai
At a press conference today at the Shanghai International Conference Center in China, executives from Royal Caribbean International told an audience of 300 travel agents and media partners that it will introduce Voyager of the Seas - Video - to the China market in 2012. "There are clear opportunities in the China market, a key area for Royal Caribbean International's global development," says Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Voyager of the Seas will be double the size of any cruise ship operating in China, and in the Asia-Pacific region -- weighing in at nearly 150,000 gross registered tons and more than double the size of Legend of the Seas. The Voyager will come to Shanghai from Europe and offer a variety of sailings to ports in Japan and Korea until August, including Fukuoka and Kobe in Japan, and Busan and Jeju in Korea. Voyager of the Seas will depart for Sydney, Australia in October.

Miami/Freeport
Grand Bahama may have dodged another bullet in the loss of transportation linchpin Discovery Cruise, with Guardian Business learning a Bahamian businessman has stepped up to the plate to invest millions to keep the service going. Five years after his first attempts to acquire the cruise liner, Global United Limited’s CEO Jackson Ritchie is reportedly in negotiations to continue its Fort Lauderdale-Freeport route, Guardian Businessunderstands. That’s even after the aging ship is taken offline in a matter of months, several sources close to the deal confirm. “From what I understand,” said one insider, “he is purchasing two other ships. more...

Miami
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, will transfer 11 ships to a new company in the UK to facilitate the group’s growth and to take advantage of the UK tonnage tax system, the company says in its 2010 annual report. “The Brilliance of the Seas is operated by a company that is strategically and commercially managed in the United Kingdom,which has elected to be subject to the United Kingdom tonnage tax regime,” RCCLsaid. “Commencing in 2011, to facilitate our growth strategy, an additional 11 ships from our fleet will be operated by a newly created company that is strategically and commercially managed in the UnitedKingdom and will also elect to be subject to the U.K. tonnage tax regime.”

Barcelona (ACN)
Friday, June 3rd was the second busiest day for number of cruise ship passengers at the Port of Barcelona. Seven liners arrived on Friday with a total of 27,200 passengers on board. Three of the ships are more than 300 metres long. Three of the seven ships do a “turnaround” (ending a trip and starting a new one) through Barcelona’s harbour: the Costa Serena, Carnival Magic, and MSC Splendida. The other four are only passing through: the Noordam, Aidavita, Thomson Dream and Independence of the Seas. According to the journey scheduled, the busiest day of the year will be August 20th, when nine cruise ships with a total of 31,000 passengers will be stopping in the city. This data shows the importance of Barcelona Port on the world’s cruise ship map.

Genua
Seabourn took delivery of the new 450-guest Seabourn Quest on May 31 at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The all-suite ship is the third vessel constructed by Mariotti for Seabourn's fleet, completing a three-year expansion that increased the ultra-luxury line's capacity by more than 200 percent. Blythe Danner, the Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, will serve as godmother and name the ship during a sunset ceremony at the port of Barcelona on June 20, 2011.

Dubai has been selected as the venue for the latest cruise event to join the Seatrade cruise calendar - the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Convention. A dedicated event focusing on the Middle East's rapidly expanding cruise sector, this 3 day convention is organized by Seatrade and hosted by DTCM (Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing). To be held at The Meydan in Dubai from 18 – 20 October 2011, the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Convention will feature an exhibition, conference, workshops and a training seminar. Click here to download the brochure.