Two cruise ships collide in Greece

Remember the Celebrity Zenith? The much-beloved, 1,378-passenger vessel, well known among American cruisers before it was transferred to Spanish line Pullmantur in 2006, was involved in a collision this morning in the Greek port of Piraeus.

The Associated Press reports that the 16-year-old ship ran into another Europe-based cruise ship, the Greek-flagged Aegean Pearl, while in the harbor.

Nobody was injured in the accident, but Greek authorities are not allowing the ships to sail until they can assess the damage to the vessels.

The 16,700-ton Aegean Pearl, operated by Louis Cruise Lines, had been due to leave Piraeus this morning for a cruise to Turkey and the Greek islands. The 47,000-ton Zenith had just arrived in Piraeus on a cruise that started from Venice, Italy.

Stay tuned for updates.

1,000 to be rescued from stranded cruise ship

RIGA, Latvia (AP) — A stranded cruise ship off Latvia with nearly 1,000 people on board will be evacuated Monday, the country’s coast guard said.

The Mona Lisa’s captain had agreed to evacuate the ship after unsuccessful efforts to free it from a sand bank off Latvia’s coast, coast guard officer Ruslans Kulesovs said. [Read more]

Royal Caribbean Online Now Offering Specialty Restuarant Reservations

As part of their Cruise Enhancements, Royal Caribbean International is now offering cruisers the ability to book specialty dining reservations before setting foot on board. Reservations for Chops Grille or Portofino can be made up to 10 days prior to your sailing. This new feature, which can be found under Cruise Enhancements while in your reservation on the RCI website, is not yet available fleetwide. The dates this service will be available are as follows:

-Adventure of the Seas(for sailings on or after July 27, 2008) Wednesday, June 25, 2008
-Brilliance of the Seas(for sailings on or after June 10, 2008) Tuesday, May 13, 2008
-Enchantment of the Seas(for sailings on or after August 14, 2008) Monday, July 14, 2008
-Explorer of the Seas(for sailing on or after July 26, 2008) Wednesday, June 25, 2008
-Freedom of the Seas(for sailing on or after May 25, 2008 Friday, April 25, 2008
-Independence of the Seas(for sailing on or after July 12, 2008) Wednesday, June 11, 2008
-Jewel of the Seas(for sailing on or after June 27, 2008) Tuesday, May 27, 2008
-Liberty of the Seas(for sailing on or after July 12, 2008) Wednesday, June 11, 2008
-Mariner of the Seas(for sailing on or after August 10, 2008) Thursday, July 10, 2008
-Navigator of the Seas(for sailing on or after August 10, 2008) Thursday, July 10, 2008
-Radiance of the Seas(for sailing on or after June 13, 2008) Tuesday, May 13, 2008
-Serenade of the Seas(for sailing on or after June 28, 2008) Tuesday, May 27, 2008
-Voyager of the Seas(for sailing on or after July 26, 2008) Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Bon Appetit!!!

Cruise Line Deploys Voyager-class Ship for Short Cruises for Third Consecutive Season

MIAMI, April 17, 2008 – Short cruises are perfect getaways for those who just can’t get away – or can’t wait – to enjoy a week-long vacation. Royal Caribbean International today announced its short cruises for 2009-10, offering vacationers 18 unique itineraries, ranging from two to five nights, on 306 sailings. Guests can choose departures from Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami aboard one of five Royal Caribbean ships, including Navigator of the Seas, the largest and most innovative cruise ship to be offered for a short cruise, Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, and Monarch of the Seas. Bookings open today for these short cruises. [Read more]

RCI names Christer Schoug as the company’s VP of Newbuildings.

MIAMI – April 9, 2008 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today named long-time maritime executive Christer Schoug as the company’s vice president of Newbuildings.

In his position, which is new to the company, Schoug will play a key role in the design and construction of new cruise ships within the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France brands.  Schoug will report to Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president of Maritime, and he will work in the company’s Newbuildings office in Miami. [Read more]

Deal to bring Disney, Royal Caribbean megaships to Port Canaveral

BY DONNA BALANCIA - FLORIDA TODAY

Disney Cruise Line has agreed to make Port Canaveral home for both of the newest super liner cruise ships in its fleet beginning in 2011, FLORIDA TODAY has learned.

In addition, Royal Caribbean International has signed a letter of intent to bring its Freedom of the Seas to be home-ported at Port Canaveral in 2009.

The deals are the culmination of a year of negotiations.

[Read more]

Next Page »