Cruise Line News
Posted on 03/04/2016
Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison was aboard the Carnival cruise ship, billed as the ‘Legends of Pittsburgh’ cruise that had pro athletes from the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins teams when it encountered and rescued 16 Cuban migrants on a hand-made raft last Saturday. Harrison posted images but was not involved in the rescue in international waters. The Carnival cruise ship does not allow passengers to engage with rescued migrants who are turned over to immigration authorities at the next port of call.
Carnival released a statement on February 27, “Earlier today while en route from Key West, Florida, to Cozumel, Mexico, the cruise ship Carnival Sensation rescued 16 individuals (15 males and one female) from a vessel in distress approximately 50 miles off the northern coast of Cuba. The vessel has now resumed course for Mexico where it is expected to arrive this afternoon. Both Mexican and U.S. authorities have been contacted.”
Outbreak
Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control have reported norovirus outbreak on the Carnival Sunshine currently on a 13 night southern Caribbean cruise. It is stated that 118 guests and five crew reported symptoms of the gastro bug which typically include vomiting and diarrhea.
The CDC website says "CDC Vessel Sanitation Programme is monitoring the outbreak and onboard response procedures. Specimens were collected and tested onboard using a norovirus rapid test. Results were positive for norovirus.”
Cheers
Carnival Cruise Line has changed its onboard beverage package by adding more premium drinks to the programme; with some drinks costing up to US $50. Prior to that the limit was $10. Carnival's Cheers! Beverage programme took effect this week.
Ultimate bevvy package
Norwegian Cruise Line has increased the price of its Ultimate Beverage Package (which includes wine, beer and cocktails priced up to US $15) from $69/day per person to $79/day per person, including a mandatory service charge of 18 percent. A couple (in the same cabin) on a seven night cruise can expect to pay US $1,300 for their drinks.
Princess on Location
This month a documentary that was filmed aboard The Regal Princess sailing to northern Europe and Russia will be broadcast in the UK on ITV. The six-part production gives a glimpse into the lives of Captain Edward Perrin and the hotel manager Michael Prasse as well as 1,400 crew from across the globe.
Viewers learn details of preparing 20,000 meals a day and servicing 1,800 cabins. Wild Pictures has produced the series and Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) is the narrator.Tony Roberts, princess Cruises’ vice president UK and Europe, said: “It was fantastic to have every aspect of modern life on a modern cruise ship captured on film."
Perk for techs
Chinese tech company Cheetah Mobile (known for apps Clean Master and Battery Doctor) hired the Costa Atlantic cruise ship for its 2,500 employees, for a six-day voyage across the Sea of Japan.
Take a brake
An unlucky driver of an empty bus realized the brakes on his vehicle failed as he was driving toward the port in Bonaire this week. Thankfully his luck changed as he was able to jump out before it reached the edge and the bus went over. He sustained no injuries as did no passengers of the Aidadiva that was calling at Kralendijk, Bonaire at the time.
Scam
A Facebook scam has just been discovered and removed, but not in time to have protected some Australians from releasing personal information. New South Wales Police report that a page called Royal Caribbean Australia claimed to offer a chance to win a cruise by sharing the post and clicking on the link. Royal Caribbean International confirmed that the page was a scam and worked with Facebook to have it removed.
