News on Passenger Water Transportation

Recession hurting cruise ship builders

2010-03-19T05:01:12Z

<div id="subtitle">Ship builders fear downsizing, or worse, if cruise companies don't order more vessels</div><div><p>The cruise industry is rebounding, but not for the companies who build the increasingly elaborate ships.</p><p>Executives from the major European shipyards say they're not getting enough orders to keep busy and profitable. Though cruise bookings and prices are up, a flood of new ships is crowding the market, and operators have shown little will...

Cruise liner hit again with illness returns to SC

2010-03-18T12:18:07Z

<div><p>A cruise liner hit by an outbreak of intestinal illness for a third straight trip from South Carolina returned a day early Thursday as operator Celebrity Cruises brought in extra crew to scrub the ship down for three days.</p><p>The Celebrity Mercury arrived about 2 a.m. and passengers began disembarking as the sun rose over Charleston.</p><p>...

U.S. cruise lines say return to Cuba would take time

2010-03-17T12:45:31Z

<div><p>MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. cruise companies are eager to add Cuba to their itineraries; but even if U.S. policy allowed that, Cuba's ports would need years of rebuilding to accommodate the ships, industry officials said on Wednesday.</p><p>"Our business has grown so much that these ports in Cuba that were (established) in ...

Celebrity Century Review

2010-03-15T13:26:40Z

Having just returned from our first Celebrity Cruise aboard the Celebrity Century and I wanted to post a Celebrity Century review that hopefully others can benefit from it.<br><br>Some background on our cruising experience. This is our 6th cruise we have taken in the last 20 years so by no means are we what you would call experts. Nor would you call us rookies either. In the past 20 years we have cruised with Stockholm, Friday March 5, 2010, after colliding with another ferry whilst stuck in the ice in the Baltic Sea. Sweden's sea rescue service said four passenger ferries with more than 1,000 people on board were trapped in the ice. (A...

50 ships, thousands of people, stuck in Baltic Sea ice

2010-03-04T18:15:32Z

<div><p>Around 50 ships, including large ferries carrying thousands, were stuck in the ice in the Baltic Sea, with many unable to move until Friday, Swedish maritime authorities said.</p><p>Several vessels, including at least one passenger ferry carrying more than 1,000 people, had collided with each other as they drifted amid huge blocks of moving ice.</p><p>But the Viking Line ferry company insisted "there ...

Carnival to raise prices as bookings strengthen

2010-02-24T09:45:59Z

<div id="subtitle">Carnival to raise prices starting March 22 for summer cruising as bookings strengthen</div><div><p>Carnival Cruise Lines said Wednesday it will raise prices by about 5 percent for summer bookings, effective March 22, after a strong showing during the busiest time of the year for cruise reservations.</p><p>The peak booking period typically runs from about mid-January thro...

SC ports to unveil concept for cruise terminal

2010-02-22T10:36:28Z

<div id="subtitle">South Carolina Ports Authority to unveil concept for new passenger cruise terminal</div><div><p>After months of meetings and planning, a South Carolina agency is unveiling a concept for a new cruise terminal to serve the state.</p><p>The

Study: Cruises to mean $37M for SC economy in 2010

2010-02-22T12:54:44Z

<div id="subtitle">New study estimates that cruise industry will pump $37 million into SC economy this year</div><div><p>A study released Monday shows South Carolina's expanding cruise industry will mean $37 million to the state's economy this year.</p><p>The study, commissioned by researchers at the

Travel Cruise Trends

2010-01-27T15:01:21Z

In this Jan. 5, 2010 photo released by Carnival Cruise Lines, the Carnival Dream is docked in St. Thomas, U.S.VI. The 1,004-foot-long cruise ship is the longest ever built for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines and can accommodate 3,646 passengers. It sails alternating weekly eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries, originatin...

Some worry about growing cruise industry in SC

2010-02-22T15:07:21Z

<div id="subtitle">As cruise industry expands in SC, some worry it will change the face of Charleston</div><div><p>As South Carolina's cruise industry expands, some worry more ships and people could hurt the charm that draws visitors to Charleston in the first place.</p><p>The Royal Caribbean Cruises to provide at least $1 million in humanitarian relief for Haiti</div><div><p>Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said Friday that it will provide at least $1 million in humanitarian relief in response to the earthquake in Haiti.</p><p>The cruise oper...

Weekend Cruise Comparison: Norwegian Vs. Carnival

2010-02-22T21:58:30Z

The cruise vacation industry has blossomed in recent years, offering an array of different experiences for all types of travelers. If you're interested in taking a weekend cruise vacation, one of the first decisions you should make is which cruise line suits you best. You might be tempted to select your cruise vacation based on itinerary alone, but there are two drawbacks to that strategy. One, weekend cruise itineraries really don't vary that much across cruise lines. And two, you might choo...

Philippines Ship Sink

2009-12-26T20:45:23Z

Philippine National Red Cross Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon, right, consoles Eris Musni, a survivor of the latest sea tragedy, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 at the port in Batangas City, south of Manila, Philippines. A passenger ferry sank off the coast of Batangas and 63 passengers were res...

On the Call: Carnival Corp. CEO Micky Arison

2010-02-23T14:00:06Z

<div id="subtitle">On the Call: Carnival says Oasis of the Seas hasn't hurt business, shines light on industry</div><div><p>Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s behemoth boat that set sail this fall, got worldwide attention for its size. The largest cruise ship in the world, the 16-deck, $1.5 billion vessel is nearly 40 percent larger than t...

High-speed ferry ends service from Maine to Canada

2010-02-23T14:00:29Z

<div id="subtitle">End of subsidies puts an end to high-speed ferry service from Maine to Canada</div><div><p>A high-speed ferry that has run between Maine and Nova Scotia for more than a decade is discontinuing service because the operation is no longer financially viable.</p><p&am...

Bahamas man charged with robbing Segway tours

2010-02-23T17:25:35Z

<div id="subtitle">Bahamas man charged in shotgun robberies of cruise passengers taking Segway tours in Nassau</div><div><p>A 21-year-old man has been charged with robbing two groups of cruise ship passengers with a shotgun as they toured the capital of Nassau on Segways.</p><p>Court officials say Dekota Von Lockhart of Nass...

3 cruises cancel trips to Nassau after robberies

2010-02-23T22:29:31Z

<div id="subtitle">3 cruise ship companies cancel excursions within Bahamas capital after rise in robberies</div><div><p>At least three cruise ship companies have canceled excursions within certain parts of Nassau after police in the Bahamas reported several tourists being robbed.</p><p>Carnival spokeswoman Royal Caribbean says onboard H1N1 incidents few, optimistic about ability to minimize exposure</div><div><p>Last spring's outbreak of swine flu caused cruise lines to cancel visits to areas of Mexico and even quarantine infected passengers. On Tuesday, executives at Royal Caribbean Cruises Lt...