MSC Cruises Opens its New Private Island, Ocean Cay

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 21:09:00

On Thursday, MSC's new Ocean Cay private island opened to passengers with the arrival of the cruise ship MSC Divina. The former sand mine-turned-resort site has two miles of white sand beaches, cabanas, water sports, catamaran tours, a special VIP satellite island and a spa. "Ocean Cay is founded on a deep commitment to ecological principles – beliefs that shape everything from how venues are built, to how the island is run, to the kinds of activities featured on the...

Economic Citizenship Helps Pay for New St. Kitts Cruise Pier

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 22:01:55

A new $48 million cruise pier has been completed at Port Zante, St. Kitts and Nevis, using $5 million in assistance from the country's citizenship-for-investment program (also known as economic citizenship). With the completion of the second pier, St. Kitts' Port Zante can now host up to three of the largest ships in the world at one time. The islands welcomed an one million cruise passengers over the course of this cruise season, a milestone accomplished for two consecutive years,...

LA County Raises Health Concerns Over Cruise Passenger Illnesses

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 21:12:13

This week, officials in Los Angeles publicly expressed concern after two outbreaks of a serious flu aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Joy. The vessel docked in LA after each instance. "I am calling on the Center for Disease Control to work closely with our LA County Public Health officials to ensure the passenger illnesses aboard the Norwegian Joy do not become an infectious disease outbreak here in the harbor area. This is the second time in a week that this...

Costa Cruises Takes Delivery of LNG-Fueled Costa Smeralda

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 17:35:26

On Thursday, Carnival cruise brand Costa Cruises took delivery of the Costa Smeralda, Costa's new flagship and its first LNG-powered vessel. The handover ceremony was held at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Costa Smeralda is Carnival Corporation's fourth new ship delivery this year and its second LNG-powered ship after the AIDA brand's new AIDAnova, the world's first LNG-fueled cruise ship. Costa Smeralda is the first of two new LNG-fueled sister ships for Costa Cruises. The second vessel, Costa Toscana,...

Luggage Theft Briefly Delays Antarctic Cruise

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 14:58:55

Dozens of passengers aboard a recent sailing of the Hurtigruten expedition cruise ship Roald Amundsen lost their luggage when the truck ferrying it from the airport to the ship was hijacked in Santiago, Chile. The incident led to a brief delay in the ship's departure. Last week, the Amundsen was in Punta Arenas preparing for a voyage to Antarctica. A contractor-operated truck ferrying passenger luggage intended for the voyage was hijacked in Santiago, Chile, and it was later found empty;...

Port of Baltimore Director James J. White Announces His Departure

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-05 13:08:14

James J. White, the executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, has announced his resignation effective December 31. White led the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore's operations for 18 years as the port improved its national rankings, achieved record-setting growth and completed major infrastructure projects. “Jim White is widely regarded as one of the finest port directors in America,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Maryland has been fortunate to have him at...

COP25: Travel Tourism Must Transform to Survive, Thrive

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-04 22:03:27

The travel and tourism sector, with its significant economic and social benefits, has no choice but to transform to survive and thrive in the face of climate change, said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa at COP25 in Madrid this week. In 2018, the industry generated 10.4 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product, over $8.8 trillion, but climate change puts those numbers at risk. The travel and tourism industry accounts for around eight percent of global greenhouse gas...

CMV Acquires Two Cruise Ships

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-04 21:50:00

Independently owned cruise line, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has acquired two more cruise ships to join their expanding ocean fleet - increasing to eight cruise ships in 2021. CMV will take delivery of P&O Australia’s Pacific Dawn in Singapore in March 2020 and Pacific Aria in May 2020, increasing lower bed fleet capacity to 9,000 berths and passenger capacity by 30 percent in 2021. The ships will be officially re-named in summer 2021 following dry docking, some minor upgrade...

Carnival Cruise Line Certified “Sensory Inclusive”

By The Maritime Executive 2019-12-04 21:50:00

Carnival Cruise Line has become the first cruise operator to be certified "sensory inclusive" by KultureCity, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accessibility and inclusion for individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities. The rollout of the program started in October, and all of Carnival Cruise Line's South Florida-based ships are certified, with the balance of the fleet scheduled to be completed by March 2020. As part of a comprehensive fleetwide training program, hundreds of guest-facing team members, including guest...