Archive for April, 2008

Just Cruises News on April 19th

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Tim
on April 18, 2008
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News

 

NCL Increases Fuel Supplement

Norwegian Cruise Line will increase its fuel supplement, effective for bookings made on or after May 1. Citing ever-increasing oil prices, the line upped its surcharge to $9 per person per day for the first and second passengers in a cabin and $4 per person per day for additional passengers in the same cabin.

Currently, NCL charges $7 per day for the first two passengers and $3 per day for additional passengers. These fees will still be in effect for all bookings made during the month of April.

 

 

Drug Bust on Brilliance of the Seas

 

According to a statement by Royal Caribbean, a ship security guard noticed that a returning passenger was acting suspiciously. The guest was taken aside for questioning and the guard discovered 62 pounds of cocaine in bags taped to the passenger’s body. The cruise line informed the Panamanian police, who arrested the man and his two traveling companions.

 

 

 

Just Cruises News on April 12

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Tim
on April 12, 2008
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Celebrity Tightens Smoking Restrictions

Celebrity Cruises will no longer allow passengers to smoke in cabins and on balconies once the new restrictions go into effect in early October. Violators may be slammed with a $250 cleaning fee. While by far most cruise lines permit in-cabin smoking, there’s a small group of lines that have begun to create stricter rules, such as Disney, Crystal, Peter Deilmann and Oceania. One major instigator of tightening restrictions was of course the terrifying fire aboard Star Princess last year; it was discovered that it began as a result of a passenger smoking on his balcony.

 

Carnival Family Increases Fuel Supplement

Effective for all new bookings made on or after April 21, Carnival’s fuel surcharge will increase from $5 to $7 per person per day, based on double occupancy. In addition, a fuel supplement of $2 per person per day will apply to third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. Total fuel charges are not to exceed $98 per person per voyage for the first two passengers and $28 per person per voyage for any other passengers sharing the cabin. The fee increase applies to six of the Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines: Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Cunard and Seabourne. The price hike actually does not make Carnival’s fuel surcharge the most expensive in the industry Cruise West charges $12 per person per day. However, Carnival can no longer be counted among the cruise lines with the lowest fuel taxes — that territory now belongs to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara.  Disney is still one of the only major cruise lines to not charge a fuel supplement.

 

The Queen to Bid Farewell to QE2

Back on September 20 1967 in Clydebank, U.K, a new Queen was launched by its namesake, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2.Now, 41 years later, and with the ship set to retire from Cunard’s fleet this fall, it seems only right that Cunard Line’s QE2 is bid a fond farewell by the Monarch.  On Monday June 2 the Queen will head to Southampton for a final visit to see the “Grande Dame” before it retires to become a floating hotel out in Dubai. Kids Not Welcome Princess Cruises is citing popular demand for its decision to extend its adult-only Sanctuary areas to all of its ships.

 

 

 

 

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Out of Business

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises is no longer licensed to sell travel in the state of Florida — effectively putting the kibosh on rumored plans for a renaissance. Although the CEO of the company promised faithful fans that Windjammer’s ships would be operating again sometime in April 2008, no cruises are sailing and the company’s offices are dark. Windjammer experienced financial difficulties throughout much of last year. Vendors, port facilities and even crewmembers did not receive payment; ships were stranded; and a slew of canceled voyages in the fall of 2007 left many would-be passengers searching for refunds.

 

Princess Cruises is citing popular demand for its decision to extend its adult-only Sanctuary areas to the rest of its ships through 2010.

 

American Airlines

American Airlines has canceled several hundred flights today (April 9-10-11) to conduct additional inspections of its MD-80 fleet.  Hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

 

We think that this was a calculated move by American Airlines. These inspections could have been conducted quietly over several weeks time. American chose to make these inspections very public to make it appear that the airline will stop at nothing to preserve safety. This is compares well to Southwest’s and other low-budget airlines’ aircraft that miss and fail inspections all the time.

 

If fact, The MD-80 has one of the best safety records in its class, far better than the Boeing 737.

April 5 to April 11

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Tim
on April 5, 2008
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PASSPORT NEWS: The final word is out.  If you’re cruising round-trip from any US port, you will NOT need a passport.  A birth certificate and photo ID is sufficient.

This does NOT apply, however, if you embark in one American city and disembark in another. A cruise from Miami to Los Angeles still requires a passport. AND remember,

in the event of an emergency, you cannot fly home from a foreign port without a passport.

Carnival Caves: Carnival Corporation has announced a voluntary refund of the fuel supplement for bookings that were made prior to November 7, 2007, under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office.  The company’s North American brands, including Cunard & Princess Line, will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced.

 

Royal Caribbean International will offer 66 sailings originating from the Northeast in summer and fall 2009, including itineraries from New York and Boston. Explorer of the Seas will continue year-round service from the New York area to Canada; Grandeur of the Seas will offer Bermuda and Caribbean sailings from Norfolk, VA, and Canada calls originating from Baltimore; and Jewel of the Seas will operate out of Boston offering Canada calls.

 

Carnival Cruise Lines is teaming up with Whodunit Productions to offer a series of mystery cruises at sea on the Carnival Paradise from Long Beach, CA, this year and in 2009. There will be eight different three-day “Mystery Cruises” offered the first of which departing this Halloween. Other departure dates include January 9. February 13, March 13, May 1, July 17, October 30 and December 4, 2009. Guests will have the chance to solve mysteries and interact with professional actors who will play the various roles. It’s like a live version of the board game Clue.

 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN: According to strong reports, the first of the 220,000-ton Genesis Class ships will be named Mosaic of the Seas.  Can’t wait to see this baby!

 

SS UNITED STATES: There will be searchlights, a red carpet and a black tie dinner dance aboard the legendary Queen Mary, moored in Long Beach harbor,  May 3rd, for the world premiere of Lady in Waiting.   The 60 min film in high definition details the rich history as well as the 39-year lay-up of the otherwise brilliant SS United States, the greatest American ocean liner ever created and the last Blue Ribbon champion on the Atlantic liner run.   The film has been sold to no less than 80 public TV stations, with viewing dates to be announced.  The ship is currently docked in Philadelphia.

Carnival Cruise Lines is adding a new eight-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary from New York in 2009 on Carnival Miracle, featuring a call to Grand Turk.

ATA Goes Bust: ATA Airline declared bankruptcy and stopped flying.  This happened on the heels of a similar demise by Aloha Airlines.  Our recommendation: When buying airline tickets, always pay by credit card.  You have a greater chance of getting your money back than if you pay by cash or check.