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Showing posts from May, 2020

Interesting Fact - Bermuda Denied Ship Layup in March.

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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Europa - One of three ships requesting temporary layup in Bermuda. At the point the cruise lines were forced to pause operations, the cruise lines were scrambling to find a temporary berths to dock their ships. Not knowing how long the pause would be and with hopes to restart cruising soon, cruise lines were looking for ports close to their normal cruising region. There are reports that around March 18th, 2020 Bermuda locked down its borders and  denied entry to three recent cruise ships that requested permission to dock. Bermuda Media reports the Bermuda Ministry of Tourism and Transport confirmed it denied requests by the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Gem, and the MS Europa. The ships were intending to ‘lay up’ with crew and medical staff only, and to date neither cruise line has had any incidents of coronavirus associated with its fleet. Today (5/25), the Norwegian Bliss sits in Norfolk; the Norwegian Gem is in the vicinity of Jacksonvi...

Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas Headed To Southampton England.

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Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas Brings British Crew members home. In an effort to get crew member home, Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas departed Coco Cay in the Bahamas on May 19th, 2020 heading toward Southampton, United Kingdom. The Empress of the Seas is expected to arrive on June 5th 2020.  It is unclear what the next port will be after the Southampton call. If the coronavirus had not occurred the Empress of the Seas would have been sailing from Cape Liberty, Bayonne New Jersey - sailing to Bermuda, or New England / Canada itineraries. RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter .

Anthem of the Seas Heads To Europe to Bring Crew Home.

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Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas sailing between Med ports to bring crew members home. Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is sailing between Mediterranean ports to bring  crew members home. The ship called at Gibraltar on May 24th and is now heading toward Piraeus where she is expected to arrive on May 28th 2020. The Anthem of the Seas loaded crew members in Coco Cay, Bahamas from various ships and Royal Caribbean brands. It is unclear what the next port of call will be after Piraeus. The Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to sail Northern European cruises departing from Southampton, England.  It is unclear whether she will proceed to England for wait for orders elsewhere. RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instag...

Want the Latest Worldwide Cruise News? Check Out Our Other Blog.

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Want more cruise news? Check out NicksCruiseCorner to read about cruise news world wide. Find articles about ports of call, Coronavirus impacts, where ships are now and more. Here are some recent articles published on cruise ships plying the world's oceans. Coronavirus Updates - Cruise Line Layoffs, New Protocols... Video Royal Caribbean's The Perfect Day at Coco Cay... Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Leverage... Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Is Bringing Its Fleet Home Carnival Corporation Ships On Order. Victory Details New Ocean Discoverer Debuting in Alaska... Emerald Cruises On Track to Deliver Two News Ships... Cruise and Maritime Voyages' Amy Johnson - Introductory Details... Marella Cruises Announces the Retirement of the Marela Celebration... Poseidon Expeditions Renews Charter Contract for Sea Spirit... Crystal Cruises Reduces Staff to Contain Costs During Pandemic... Victory Cruise Lines Modifies 2020 Cruise Itineraries .. Carnival Cruises Pla...

Video Royal Caribbean's Private Island - The Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Bahamas

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Unlike any private island the world has ever seen, Royal Caribbean International's highly anticipated Perfect Day at CocoCay - the first in the cruise line's new Perfect Day Island Collection of next-level private destinations around the world - is now open. The $250 million transformation of the line's private island in The Bahamas debuts a combination of first-of-their-kind thrills and one-of-a-kind ways to chill that forever changes what is possible in a vacation destination. From plunging down the tallest water-slide in North America and traveling up to 450 feet in the air in the Up, Up and Away helium balloon, to conquering the Caribbean's largest wave pool, thrill seekers can find plenty of ways to put their courage to the test. For those looking to relax, Perfect Day features the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool, Oasis Lagoon; and pristine, white sand beaches with crystal-clear tropical water, so gu...

Bermuda - A Great Travel Destination for Cruise Passengers from New York and New Jersey.

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Bermuda - A Great destination for Cruises Passengers Departing from New York and New Jersey. Bermuda is a great cruise destination offering swimming, snorkeling, water sports, fishing, sightseeing, golf, fine dining. attractions and more. Bermuda is featured on select 4, 5, 7 and some longer duration cruises. Stays can vary from a 10 hours to multiple days spent dockside in Bermuda allowing passengers to be further immersed in the island's culture and history. The beautiful island of Bermuda is located 600 miles east of North Carolina near the center of the Atlantic Ocean. World renown for its pink sand beaches and pastel color houses, Bermuda is an island paradise. Check out the full Bermuda Review for Cruise Passengers . Please note: Bermuda is currently closed to cruise passengers and air travel. Here is a snip-it from the Bermuda Government concerning the Corona Virus from May 7. Our island’s borders are currently restricted to residents only. Bermuda’s ...

Marella Cruises To Still Sail From Florida to New York in 2021,

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Marella Cruises' Marella Discovery on track to sail from Cape Canaveral to Bahamas and Coastal US cities in 2021 UK based Marella Cruises' has announced that they intend to operate a previously announced  series of 7-day cruises from Cape Canaveral, Florida sailing to Charleston, South Carolina, with an overnight stay in New York , a day visit to Freeport in the Bahamas and back to Cape Canaveral Florida (where the cruise ends). Even though the coroniavirus has caused cruise lines to re-think itineraries and base ship closer to home, the British / German operator is moving ahead as planned. These US based itineraries are sure to attract British Clientele offering a taste of the Big Apple and Americana. Marella Cruises will operate the Marella Discovery which was originally built as Royal Caribbean's Splendor of the Seas ( RCL Vision Class ship); then becoming the Thompson Discovery and most recently the Marella Discovery. Cruises will sail to New York on s...

Will Cruise Line Passengers Have to Wear Masks?

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Will Cruise Passengers be required to wear masks??? There are some rumors circulating that cruising will not return to normal any time soon.  General consensus is that cruise passengers will NOT be required to wear masks at all times, but should do so at their own discretion. Maybe during check in and boarding procedures mask will be required  but not with most daily activities. Passengers should bring their own masks unless the cruise lines provides them at check in. Passengers may choose to wear masks, at their own discretion, at other times. It is recommended that high risk passengers - mainly the elderly, obese, those with high blood pressure, heart surgery or blocks, etc -  wear a mask. It is expected that all crew will be required to wear masks and protective gear (gloves, other)  to help prevent spreading any influenza among passengers. Only time will tell what policies will be in place when cruising resumes. It is highly recommended that cruis...

Princess Cancels Cruises Through End of Summer Including New England and Canada Program

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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. –    Princess Cruises cancels sailings through the summer and early fall including the Fall New England / Canada cruises from New York on the Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess.   Due to reduced air flight availability , the closure of cruise ports in regions around the world and other factors impacting international travel , Princess Cruises is extending its pause of global ship operations and has therefore made the extremely difficult decision to cancel select cruises through the end of the 2020 summer season , including the following cruises and associated cruisetours : All remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess All remaining E urope and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess Summer Caribbean cruises and all Canada & New England cruises on Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess Summer to Fall cruises departing from Japan on Dia...

Meyer Werft Shipbuilding Yard in Turku Finland Prepares For Layoffs.

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Meyer Werft Shipyard Turku Finland Expecting layoff due to cruise lines impacted by the coronavirus. The Meyer Werft Turku Finland shipyard  has initiated talks to lay off up to 450 of its roughly 2,000 employees. The shipyard, which relies heavily on the construction of cruise ships.has seen a slow-down in construction as cruise lines have requested extended delivery dates for ships currently under construction.  The cruise industry was hit very had by the sudden shutdown of operations and is more focused on having exiting ships return to service rather than add additional capacity. Many cruise lines are in negotiations to delay / slow down / eliminate the construction of new ships due to the coronavirus pandemic.   The shipyard, which is on the west coast of Finland, had initially started talks over temporary layoffs, but said the market situation had now forced it to look for permanent cuts.  “These negotiations will include the permanent layoff of 45...

Carnival Ships Meet Off the Bahamas To Shuttle Crew Between Ships to Sail Home.

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  Carnival to Sail Crew Home, Transfer Between Ship Expected Off of the Bahamas Eighteen Carnival Cruise Line ships will rendezvous in the Bahamas over the next several days as the final plans are put in place to sail nine of the ships to repatriate more than 10,000 healthy crew members who remain on board due to restrictions limiting air travel to Asia, Africa, Europe, India and Latin America.    The ships have been at various US homeports provisioning and bunkering for their journeys. Certain crew will join ships using water shuttles off the coast of the Bahamas.  Once this is completed, nine ships will sail to their destinations with crew from North American-based ships on board. Nine ships to remain at Bahamas, Panama The remaining nine ships will spend most of their time in anchorage positions in the Bahamas or Panama and eventually all ships will reduce their crew numbers to safe operational manning levels. Carnival President Ch...

Ahh What Would Have Been - Oasis of the Seas Maiden Voyage From Cape Liberty, NJ Yesterday 5/10/20

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Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas New York New Jersey 2020 Debut Delayed. If the world was back in order, yesterday would have been the maiden voyage of the totally renovated Oasis of the Seas from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey. Although the Oasis class ships have been around for a while (some 12 years), yesterday would have marked the first time an Oasis Class ship visited New York. The 1,186 foot long, 213 foot long ship would have sailed a 7 day cruise to Cape Canaveral, Fla; Nassau, Bahamas ; and Coco Cay, Bahamas . Coco Cay is Royal Caribbean's Private Island - Branded as the Perfect Day at Coco Cay . Instead the Oasis of the Seas sits some 100 Nautical Miles Southeast of Freeport in the Bahamas awaiting a decision on the future. Oasis of the Seas carried 6,296 passengers at full capacity and a crew of 2,165 crew, The Oasis was expected to sail a series of these Florida and Bahamas cruises until October of 2020 along with a single cruise to Canada....

Carnival Cruises Planning to Return to Service August 1 - Departures From Miami, Cape Canaveral and Galveston Tx Only.

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Carnival Cruise Lines Planning a Limited Return to Service August 1st, 2020 Carnival Cruises says it is planning to resuming limited service beginning August 1. Due to  limited customer demand combined with operationalizing its new sterilization and shipboard cleansing policies - Carnival's August  start up will include 8 ships from the following ports:  Galveston: Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista. Miami: Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sensation. Port Canaveral: Carnival Breeze and Carnival Elation. The balance of the  North American and Australian homeport cruises will be cancelled through August 31 and plans post 8/31 will be announced once determined. Hopefully Carnival Cruises will return to New York in 2021 with the Carnival Magic . RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Cal...

REVIEW: Nowegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy - Sailing From New York in 2021.

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Review: Norwegian Joy Norwegian Cruise Line Photos, Statistics, Public Spaces, Amenities and More. Norwegian Joy is the 4th ship in Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway /Breakaway Plus class and weighs in at 167,725 tons. The Norwegian Joy has many amenities to offer cruise passengers. Lets start off with the 678 Ocean Place - the ship's main atrium. The hot spot of the ship, features shops, bars, music, the passenger relations desk and more. The area is ideal for a drink, listening to music and people watching. The Norwegian Joy has 14 bars and lounges for passengers enjoyment - including the Atrium Bar where passengers can people watch, have a drink and relax. To continue reading the review on the Norwegian Joy including more photos, Norwegian Joy Statistics, Norwegian Joy Amenities, Staterooms and Public Spaces - Click here.   RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website -...

Norwegian Cruise Line to Lay-Up 3 Ships in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Spirit (Shown) along with the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore will be temporarily docked in Norfolk, Virginia During last week's earning call, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that some ships would be moved to a cold lay-up status in order to reduce costs during the pause in operations. On Friday it was announced that 3 Norwegian Cruise Line ships - the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore and the newly transformed Norwegian Spirit will be laid up at Norfolk Virginia's Portsmouth Marine Terminal . The ships reportedly have only a skeleton crew of 175 each. Crew member will NOT be allowed to go ashore but the ships will have reduced fuel, staffing and upkeep costs. The trade offs - these ships will require more time to reactivate to a cruising status. This may be a foreshadowing of the fate of the Norwegian Bliss' Alaska program; the Norwegian Spirit's Eastern European cruise program and the Norwegian Encore's 2020 New...

Oasis of the Seas Expected to Sail From Cape Liberty Bayonne, New Jersey in 2021

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Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas - To Sail From New York in 2021. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is expected to sail from Cape Liberty Bayonne, New Jersey in 2021. It is unclear at this time, if a portion of her 2020 cruise season from Bayonne will occur, but 2021 is looking promising. The Oasis of the Seas' New York arrival will represent the first time one of the Oasis class ship have pulled into the port. To date all Oasis class ship have avoided  the Port of New York as it was suspected the Oasis class ships may be too tall to slip beneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The Bridge's clearance is listed as 228 Feet. The  Oasis of the Seas measures 225,282 tons, is 1,187 feet long, 208 feet wide and requires an air clearance of 208 feet.. The largest passenger ship to call in the port to date is MSC Cruises' MSC Meravilgia weighing in at 171,598 GT, 1,036 feet long and 141 feet wide. To learn about all the Oasis of the Seas - Check out the Oasis of...