New Port of call in Jamaica

The new port of call, located between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, will become the fourth Jamaican port to serve the cruise industry. (The less-used Port Antonio on the eastern end of the island is the third.) Falmouth is the capital of the Trewlany Parish, and is most widely known historically for its sugar plantations and factories. Tourist infrastructure is somewhat minimal — a shopping and historical center, an 18th-century Anglican Church, plantation houses, spelunking adventures — but the port addition is expected to drive improvements.

Royal Caribbean’s big South Pacific splash

Royal Caribbean International has released a 32-page brochure for Rhapsody of the Seas’ 2008/09 programme in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The 78,491gt ship, which sailed from Sydney for Singapore last Saturday after operating a cruise to the South Pacific and two round voyages to New Zealand under charter to Cruiseco, returns next year for RCI’s biggest presence in the region. [Read more]

“Live” from Serenade of the Seas”

Check out Bill’s (BRL) “Live” from Serenade of the Seas” Post on our message board.

Powerful Earthquake Hits Caribbean

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique (AP) — A powerful earthquake rocked the eastern Caribbean on Thursday, damaging buildings and panicking residents, some of whom were hurt when they jumped from windows.

The magnitude-7.4 earthquake was centered 14 miles northwest of Martinique’s coastline, lasted longer than 20 seconds. It struck at 2 p.m. EST and was felt as far away as Puerto Rico to the west, and Venezuela and Suriname to the south. [Read more]

CrownCast Episode 71

Episode 71 is now available for download.

Questions can be e-mailed to Questions@crowncast.org
Hosts: Jamie and Veronica Snyder
Location: Live from the Sea view Cafe aboard Jewel of the Seas
Guest: Dianna from Indiana
Episode Sponsor: None

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Topics:

• Top news stories and rumors of the week
• A Canadian cruise ship struck submerged ice off Antarctica and began taking on water.
• Oranjestad, Aruba - Natalee Holloway Update.
• The Latest Cruise Companies to implement a fuel surcharge are Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Silversea Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Crystal Cruises and NCL Corp.
  • RCCL’s $5 per passenger, per day charge, capped at $70 per person per voyage, applies to bookings not paid in full by Nov. 16 on sailings on or after Feb. 1 on its three U.S. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.
  • Silversea implemented a $10 per person, per day surcharge for new bookings made on or after Nov. 14.
  • NCL Corp. said passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line and NCL America ships will be levied $7 per person, per day for bookings made on or after Dec. 1. A $3 per person, per day surcharge will apply to third and fourth passengers in a cabin.
  • Windstar will levy a $8.50 per passenger per day fuel surcharge on bookings not paid in full by Dec. 14 on cruises through March 2009.
  • Crystal Cruises, which had set a $5 per passenger, per day fuel surcharge for its 2007 sailings, will implement a $7 per passenger surcharge on 2008 sailings not paid in full by Jan 1.
    
    
• Potpourri
• Today - 1890 - In West Point, New York, the United States Naval Academy defeats the United States Military Academy 24-0 in the first Army-Navy football game.
  
• A discussion of a recent cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas out of San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Hot Post - Discussion of a hot post on Cruise Critic
• Stop! Towel thief.
  
• Join us on our next cruise, check out Group cruise for more information

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Is that Explorer of the Sea? not likely.

Running Time: 58:38

You can listen to the CrownCast Podcast by clicking on the Play button, you can listen in a popup window by clicking on the Play in Popup link and you can download the Podcast by right clicking on the Download link and choosing Save target . All of these links can be found below.

Bon Voyage

The CrownCast Staff would like to wish Bon Voyage to Bill (BRL) and his family. They are leaving this Saturday for a 7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise on the beautiful Serenade of the Seas. They will visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados. We hope they have a fabulous time and join us for a review when they return

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