NYCruiseInfo Blog

Beautiful Beaches of the Bahamas Closed to United States Citizens to Contain Coronavirus The Bahamas has temporarily banned all United States Citizens from vacationing at the island nation. The ban, depending on how long it is enforced, could impact cruises from New York and New Jersey. These cruises frequently called at Nassau, Freeport and private islands in the Bahamas  on 7 day winter cruises. Here is the details of the current ban. "Our current situation demands decisive action if we are to avoid being overrun and being defeated by this virus," Minnis said in his address, noting that the Bahamas has confirmed 15 new cases for a total of 153 cases. 49 of the cases had been identified since the Bahamas reopened its borders on July 1.  Sea vessels carrying commercial passengers will also not be permitted to enter. However, private international flights, charters and yachts from all countries will be allowed.  National airline Bahamasair will en...

RXR Reality's Artists Rendering of the S/S United States after it is jubilantly restored. Today marks the 68th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the SS United States of United States lines. The ship left New York on July 3, 1952 with a full complement of passengers. The ship broke the prior speed record for the transatlantic crossing taking the blue ribbon away from the queen Mary. Yes if United States was the fastest    ship to ever cross the Atlantic at 35.92 knots. The SS United States remained in service until 1969 at which time she was laid up. Numerous plans to reactivate the ship never materialized and the ship has remained idle and stripped of her interiors.  To date, the 55,330 GRT, SS United States is the largest passenger ship to be built entirely in the US. She was built in 1950 into 51 at a cost of over $79 million at the Newport News shipbuilding and drydock company. Measuring 990 feet long, 101 1/2 feet wide and a draft of 31 feet ...

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...

The Americana, which was built in South Korea for Norwegian-owned Ivaran Lines, was a pure container ship that also will carry 108 passengers. The 19,203 ton ship measures 580 Feet long; 85 feet wide and carried 1,120 20-foot containers. At a time when most container ship operators shunned passengers in favor of cargo, Ivaran says carrying people along with cargo mades financial sense. Ivaran, which has sailed between North and South America for 62 years, expects the additional revenue from passenger travel to make up for the added costs of building first-class accommodations on the ship. The first voyage from New York to South America was in February, 1988 which was 46 day voyage that stopped at about 15 ports in the United States and South America, such as Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Buenos Aires. Ivaran's Americana was the only cargo ship operating from the United States with more than 12 passengers and in luxury. The ship carried a doctor and 25-person hote...

United States Conservancy and RXR Reality Have Plans for the SS United Stated  in Manhattan Although not much has happened, in December of 2018, the United States Conservancy - a non-profit organization, which has been trying to save the SS United States has found a new partner to help revitalize the decaying liner. The once proud ship of the United States Lines sailed between New York and Northern Europe at amazing speed. When she became too costly to operate in 1969, the famous ship was laid up in Norfolk Virginia. After years sitting idle, and various buyers / interested parties, the ship sits in Philadelphia totally stripped to her bulkheads. In December, 2018, the United States Conservancy announced a partnership with RXR Reality and a plan to dock the ship in New York City as an entertainment center, hotel, residences, shops and more. The Conservancy has issued the following statement Today, we are pleased to announce an important development: The Conservancy...

As you know, Crystal Cruises has announced that they are interested in potentially acquiring the S/S United States for further cruise service. At this time, Crystal Cruises is funding the layup fees (berthing and security costs) associated with retaining the liner at her Philadelphia berth. The one time great transatlantic liner was the fastest liner afloat and still holds the record today. Competition from airlines and high wages for her crew made her operation uneconomical and in 1969 she was withdrawn from service. The S/S United States was laid up in originally  in Norfolk, Va and later Philadelphia (after all of her interiors had been gutted in Turkey including the removal of vast amounts of asbestos). The intent was to return the ship to the US and have her restored to the Grand Liner she once was. More details are expected to be released, as the Crystal Cruises team of Naval Architects and designer look at the current state of the ship and determine the feasibility of re...