Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. hasannounced it has entered into a definitiveagreement to acquire Prestige CruisesInternational, Inc. the market leader in the upscalecruise segment and parent company of OceaniaCruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in cashand stock for a total transaction consideration of$3.025 billion, including the assumption of debt.

“The acquisition of Prestige represents anextraordinary opportunity for Norwegian CruiseLine to expand our market presence by adding twoestablished, award-winning brands in the upscalecruise segment with loyal followings,” said KevinSheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executiveofficer. "Not only does this acquisitionimmediately enhance our financial performance,but it also deepens the bench of talent that we havebeen developing over the years. Ourcomplementary strengths and skillsets will pavethe way for new cross-selling opportunities, cross-brand collaboration, cross-business support, aswell as joint partnerships which, coupled withmeaningful synergies that can be quicklyimplemented, will provide solid accretion toearnings per share and drive long-term shareholdervalue,” added Sheehan.

“We are excited to become part of theNorwegian family and start a new chapter for ourcompany,” said Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEOof Prestige. “With Oceania and Regent, we havebuilt iconic brands with distinctive productofferings and strong customer loyalty. Thecombination is very compelling and will allow usto further enhance our renowned guest experience.We are looking forward to joining the Norwegianteam and building upon the success that our threebrands have already achieved.”

Prestige operates eight ships and

approximately 6,500 berths under two segment-leading brands. Oceania Cruises is a market leaderin the upper-premium cruise segment with fiveships offering destination-oriented cruise vacationsto more than 330 ports around the globe, gourmetculinary experiences, elegant accommodations andpersonalized service. Regent Seven Seas Cruisesis a market leader in the luxury cruise segment andoperates three award-winning, all-suite ships, withan additional ship on order for delivery in summer2016. Regent offers the industry’s most inclusiveluxury vacation experience visiting over 250destinations worldwide. Frank Del Rio willremain chief executive officer of Prestige.

“The combination of three distinct brands,each serving a different market segment, under oneumbrella immediately creates an industry-leadingcruise operator with an unmatched growthtrajectory and a portfolio of products that allows usto appeal to guests at every stage of their lifecycle,” added Sheehan. “We are fully committedto retaining the brand propositions, guestexperiences and cultures of the Norwegian,Oceania and Regent brands that have allowed eachto realize such success.”

Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven SeasCruises have been long time favorites of WorldOcean & Cruise Liner Society members and thereaders of Ocean & Cruise News. In the last 10years a Prestige Holding ship has won our coveted“Ship of the Year” award 50% of the time. TheRegent Seven Seas Voyager has won that awardmore times than any other ship, while the Oceaniatwins Marina and Riviera have also both won thisaward,

We look forward to this new chapter in thehistory of these wonderful lines.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE PURCHASES PRESITIGE CRUISE HOLDINGS

Vol. 33, Issue 11 - September 15, 2014 “Our 33rd Year of Continuous Publication” Single issue price $2.50

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

EDITORIAL The big news this month in the maritime industry

is the purchase of Prestige Cruises International byNorwegian Cruise Lines. As you will read in thisissue NCL will be purchasing Oceania Cruises andRegent Seven Seas Cruises, the two cruise lines thatmake up Prestige.

This appears to make perfect sense as it givesNCL two new brands for it passengers to move up towithout crossing over to competitor. It mimics theofferings available to a Carnival passenger who canexperience Princess, Holland America, Cunard andothers without leaving the Carnival umbrella. It alsoprovides the premium Presitge products with a hugesupply of cruisers to which to market their upscaleexperiences to.

It is hoped that NCL will continue to leave thetwo Prestige products to operate independently as

they are both truly unique and wonderful cruiseexperiences.

Members might remember back in 1994 NCLbought the iconic Royal Viking Line which soondisappeared and their ships sold off or integrated intoNCL as if it never existed. This however, is a new andwiser NCL, an NCL that has become an innovator inthe cruise industry rather than a follower, so it ishoped they allow these lines to conduct business asusual similar to what Carnival Corporation has donewith all their acquisitions.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises remains a premierluxury product while Oceania in its short history hascarved out a unique place in the cruise industrydeveloping a quality product with a strong and loyalfollowing.

We will have to watch closely and we will be veryinterested in your input through your cruise reportcards and emails as to how the Regent and Oceaniaproducts fair during this transition. It is hoped thatlittle changes

Sincerely,

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!WOCLS has lots of interesting stories, photos

and discussions happening on our Facebook pageon a daily basis. Whether you’re looking for adaily dose of cruise news, or to see pictures andstories of ocean liners and cruise ships ofyesterday, our Facebook page offers somethingfor everyone. Please consider stopping by for avisit. Our Facebook page can be found at:http://www.facebook.com/OceanCruiseNews

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- PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY -The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society

P.O. Box 329 – Northport, NY 11768Phone (866) 631-0611

Contributing Writers

Peter Knego John Maxtone-Graham

Kay ShowkerPat RichardsonShawn J. Dake

Art SbarskyTheodore W. Scull

Ben LyonsAndy Hernandez

Steven Stern

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The American Queen Steamboat Company,owner and operator of the country’s grandestriverboat fleet, is pleased to announce the launchof its new website showcasing sailings throughAmerica’s heartland and the Pacific Northwest.Highlighting the American Queen and AmericanEmpress experience online, the website wasdesigned with digital advertising partner,Fuseideas. The new webpage boasts a fresh lookwith more interactive components than everbefore, allowing future guests and travel agentsto seamlessly research and request their nextriver cruise.

“Fuseideas was pleased to partner withAmerican Queen Steamboat Company to designand construct a modern website using advancedContent Management tools and technology to notonly assist staff in updating itineraries andgeneral site content, but also ensuring it serves avaluable marketing tool to grow their business.”shares Fuseideas CEO Dennis Franczak.

Of the many enhancements, users will mostenjoy the improved search function with morequery options and faster results. Voyage contentincludes expanded information on themes andspecial events. Vessel details are morecomprehensive than ever, with new videos for theAmerican Queen and American Empresshighlighting the brand’s onboard hospitality andhop-on, hop-off shore excursions. Enhancedstateroom descriptions combine deck plans,images and other useful information neatly onepage. Additionally, a list of special offersencourages users to take full advantage of valuecruises and sign up for monthly newsletters. TheTravel Agent section of the website has receivedan upgrade as well, with increased access tomarketing materials and sales support.

For additional information and reservations,contact American Queen Steamboat Company at888-749-5280, visit them online atwww.AQSC.com or call your travel agent agent.

Oceania Cruises announced an additional 180-day journey aboard the newly refurbished Insignia,scheduled to depart on January 4, 2016. Encouraged

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LOOKING BACK

A look at what was making news in Ocean &Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty yearsago.

Five Years Ago – September 2009....DisneyCruise Line announces that it will be going toAlaska for the very first time in 2011. . CaptainChris Wells is appointed Master of CunardLine's Queen Elizabeth, which will enter servicein October 2010 ......Crystal announces thatCrystal Symphony will receive a $25 million-plus makeover featuring dramatic new interiorsand deck space.....Carnival Cruise Linesofficially takes delivery of its newest and largestship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream.

Ten Years Ago – September 2004....CarnivalCorporation has ordered four new ships fromItalian shipbuilder, Fincantieri for delivery in2007 and 2008.....Royal Caribbean announcesthat its entire fleet will be registered in theBahamas by early 2005.....Carnival Valorembarks on sea trials in the Adriatic . . . RoyalCaribbean orders a second Ultra Voyager ship.....Carnival Cruise Lines' announces that theParadise will no longer be a non-smoking shipwhen she starts year-round service from LongBeach to the Mexican Riviera.

Fifteen Years Ago – September 1999.....American Classic Voyages announces anagreement with Holland America Line to buythe Nieuw Amsterdam for $114.5 million.....Norwegian Cruise Line installs a “BridgeCam” on the bridge of the Norwegian Sky thatcan be viewed from the lines website.....Carnival announces that it will positionthe Celebration in Galveston in 2000.

Twenty Years Ago – September 1994....Carnival Cruise Lines new mega-ship is the firstto break the 100,000-ton barrier.....PrincessCruises announces that it will also be building a100,000-ton ship.....Royal Caribbean announcesthat it will place the Sun Viking in the FarEast.....ms Estonia sinks in the Baltic and is thedeadliest shipwreck disaster to have occurred inthe Baltic Sea in peacetime, costing 852 lives.

by the overwhelmingly positive response by guests totheir first two 180-day cruises this newest voyage isthe latest in a series that represents the longest andmost comprehensive world exploration itinerariesavailable in the cruise industry. Reservations openedfor the new Around the World in 180 Days itineraryon July 30, 2014.

Embarking from Miami on January 4, 2016,Insignia will set sail for the Caribbean beforecontinuing on a southern course to South Americawhere the ship will visit ports in Trinidad and Tobago,French Guiana and Brazil. The ship then heads toAfrica where guests will enjoy some of the mostincredible scenery the world has to offer in countriessuch as Angola, Namibia, South Africa andMozambique. After traveling around the Africancontinent, Insignia sails for Asia where guests willenjoy two-night stays in Rangoon, Burma (Yangon,Myanmar), and Shanghai, China, as well as visits to amyriad of exotic and alluring locales. Insignia thenheads to the South Pacific for a number of stops,including Oceania Cruises’ first call on the Australianport of Cooktown, serving as a gateway for the GreatBarrier Reef and the Aboriginal community ofHopevale. After sailing through the azure Hawaiianwaters, Insignia stops in Los Angeles before headingdown the west coast, through the Panama Canal andcompleting the journey in Miami on July 1. As theleader in destination-rich itineraries, Oceania Cruisesdesigned the Around the World in 180 Days voyagewith 14 overnight stays and visit a total of 92 ports ofcall.

For more information on Oceania Cruises, visitOceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or contactyour travel agent.

Make 2015 a year of small ship cruising, seeingyour world our way. Small ship cruising meansdiscovering the world the way it should be seen - freefrom crowds and the freedom that comes by bringingthe destination to you. Our cruises provide by far thebest value in small ship cruising. Learn about ourretractable pilot house that allows us to take youthrough the entire length of the Erie Canal, the onlyovernight cruise line to do so. Experience our bowlandings let you step directly off the ship and ontogentile riverbanks.

In 2015 we have some new adventures for you toexplore…

• The Big Apple to The U.S. Capital• D.C. to Boston• Two Nation Vacation: Maine & New

BrunswickJoin us in 2015 and receive a 15% Early

Booking Discount on all of our itineraries.*Planning your next small ship cruise with Blount

Small Ship Adventures is as easy as the click of amouse with our new 2015 e-brochure atwww.blountsmallshipadventures.com OR Call us at800-556-7450 to receive your FREE brochure today!

Beginning in June and continuing throughOctober 2015, Queen Victoria will embark on herfirst full Mediterranean season, featuring 32 ports ofcall spread across an array of seven-, 14- and 21-daycruises. Both one-way and roundtrip voyages will befeatured. One-way departures will be from Rome,Venice, Athens, Trieste or Istanbul, and roundtripvoyages will be from Athens, Rome or Istanbul.Maiden ports of call during her new season willinclude Rapallo, Zadar and Trieste.

In addition to the classic must-see Mediterraneanports of call, and in keeping with Cunard’s tradition ofunique destinations, there will be visits to Ajaccio onthe west coast of the island of Corsica; Bodrum in thesouthwest Aegean Region of Turkey; La Spezia innorthern Italy; Volos, the newest port city in Greece;Cagliari, the capital city of the island Sardinia in Italy;and Sochi, Russia, where the 2014 Winter OlympicGames took place. In addition, there will be overnightcalls in Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Barcelona andMonte Carlo; with some 21-day voyages featuringtwo or three overnight calls.

Fares for the seven-day Mediterranean voyagesaboard Queen Victoria in 2015 start from $1,049 perperson, based on double occupancy, plus port fees andtaxes. For more information about Queen Victoria, orto book a voyage, contact your travel agent, callCunard Line toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visitwww.cunard.com.

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*Cruise fare discount is per person and based on double occupancy. Valid on new bookings only made by October 31st. Other restrictions may apply.

Holland America Line's ms Prinsendam kicksoff the new year on Jan 3, 2015 with a 68-day GrandSouth America and Antarctica Voyage followed bya 55-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage. These twoitineraries are designed to take guests on longerexplorations that visit some of the most interestingand exciting ports in the world. This is an additionto ms Amsterdam's 114-day Grand World Voyagethat calls at 45 ports in 25 countries.

When ms Amsterdam departs Fort LauderdaleJananuary 5, 2015 on her Grand Voyage, the cruisewill span 114 days and call at 45 ports in 25countries on six continents. Offering a refined andelegant "home away from home," the around theworld journey is the pinnacle in travel, and thiscruise truly is the grandest of the Grand Voyages.

Then Prinsendam returns to South America,Antarctica and the Amazon in 2015 on a 68-dayitinerary sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale thatdeparts January 3. After passing through the PanamaCanal, the ship will reach South America’s Pacificcoast and continue on to circumnavigate thecontinent.

For more information about Holland AmericaLine, consult a professional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visitwww.hollandamerica.com or the Plan a Cruise tabat www.Facebook.com/HALcruises.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' brand of all-inclusiveluxury is expanding to include unlimited internetaccess. For all Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyagessetting sail after January 1, 2015, guests booked inMaster, Grand, Seven Seas, Horizon, Mariner,Navigator and Voyager suites will receive unlimitedcomplimentary internet access. The free internetaccess is available for the duration of the cruise and isaccessible in all public spaces and suites via the ship-wide Wi-Fi system.

The addition of free unlimited internet access forupper suites coincides with the completion of amultimillion-dollar upgrade to internet systems on allRegent Seven Seas Cruises ships. The upgrades entaila doubling of available bandwidth to increase internetspeed and reliability, and an expansion of the Wi-Fisystem to provide connectivity throughout the entireship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks andsuites.

The expansion of the unlimited internet programadds to the most comprehensive list of includedamenities in the vacation industry, including round-trip air, a pre-cruise hotel night stay, fine wine andspirits, unlimited shore excursions in every port,specialty dining, ground transfers and gratuities.

Call 1.844.4REGENT (1.844.473.4368), visitwww.RSSC.com or contact your travel agent.

Seabourn has announced an exciting array ofcruises for fall 2015 and winter/spring 2016, featuringmore than 70 departures of 10 to 97 days in length.Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and SeabournQuest will comprise the newest, most modern ultra-luxury fleet in the industry, and will visit exoticlocales on all seven continents.

The schedule includes 25 destinations that areeither maiden calls or ports that the cruise line has notvisited in years. Among the notable additions arevisits to South Korea, China and Japan aboardSeabourn Sojourn, as well as the South Pacific Isleson Seabourn Odyssey. Perennial favorites such asAntarctica, South America, Australia, New Zealand,Southeast Asia,Arabia, Canada/New England, thePanama Canal and the Caribbean will also be offered.In addition, the schedule includes visits todestinations featuring shore excursions to manyUNESCO World Heritage Sites. Itineraries, fares andadditional details for Seabourn’s complete 2015 andwinter/spring 2016 schedule of cruises can be viewedon www.seabourn.com

For more details contact your travel advisor,call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visitwww.seabourn.com .

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Our long-planned trip to visit Hawaii began withour late afternoon arrival at Honolulu airport after along flight from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. With therental car in our possession, we headed off to thehotel to drop off our luggage, followed by some briefsightseeing and a light dinner before calling it anight. We arose early the next day and headedstraight for Pearl Harbor. It goes without saying thata visit to our 50th state is not complete without a stopat this historic site. The following day after droppingoff the car, we hired a cab and headed to the port toboard NCL’s Pride of America.

THE LINE - Based in South Florida, NorwegianCruise Lines originally started in 1966 as NorwegianCaribbean Lines, owned by Klosters Rederei A/S ofOslo. It began service out of the Port of Miami witha new yet unemployed 11,000-ton ferry which wasrenamed Sunward. Proving a success, the line soonordered a pair of larger sisterships. These werefollowed by the acquisition of the former CunardAdventurer which was renamed Sunward II. The

giant Norway, formerly the French Line flagshipFrance joined the fleet in 1979, eclipsing all othercruise liners of her day and ushering in the era of themega-cruise ship. The company would becomeNorwegian Cruise Line in 1987 and continuedgrowth through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s not only includedadditional new tonnage but acquisition of the RoyalViking Line in 1984 and the Orient Line in 1998(which ceased operations in 2008).

The most ambitious expansion however began inearly 2003 when NCL announced its intention ofentering the Hawaiian cruise market full time. Tosolidify its commitment to the project, the linepurchased the laid-up liners Independence andUnited States. The former, originally built in 1951for the American Export Line had been sailing formany years in Hawaiian waters under the AmericanHawaii banner until that company ceased operationsin 2001. The United States was a different story.Entering service in 1952 as the flagship of the UnitedStates Lines, this $78 million marvel of naval

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SHIP OF THE MONTH – PRIDE OF AMERICAby Andy Hernandez

Pride of America Photo Courtesy of NCL

architecture would prove to be the fastest ocean linerin the world, easily snatching the mythical BlueRiband from the legendary Queen Mary. Sadly, theinroads made by commercial aviation and thenumerous labor strikes prematurely doomed thefabled ship and she was withdrawn from commercialservice in 1969. She has not sailed under her ownpower since then.

One of the challenges for the upstart NCLAmerica brand was that due to federal law, any shipsailing full-time in Hawaiian waters must not onlyrequire registering the ship in the United States butalso employ a (mostly) American crew. The first shipfor the newly-branded NCL America was originallyintended to be Pride of America, but an unexpectedsetback during construction (more on this below)forced NCL to quickly transfer the Norwegian Skyinstead, renaming her Pride of Aloha in 2004.Unfortunately, the operation got off to a very roughstart. Complaints surged of unclean staterooms, longwaits and poor food in the dining room and manyguests reported of seeing crewmembers just walkingoff the ship and quitting during port calls. In light ofthis, the line immediately implemented improvedtraining procedures, increased staffing on board andupdated the screening methods for future applicants.While the situation did improve later on, it wasundeniably a black eye for NCL.

In spite of this setback, the new flagship Pride ofAmerica arrived in June 2005 and in the spring of2006 the 93,000grt Pride of Hawai’i joined the fleet.However, the three ships combined proved to offercapacity far exceeding demand and heavy financiallosses forced the company to announce in 2007 thatthe fleet would be pared down to just the Pride ofAmerica. The Pride of Aloha reverted to her originalname and as Norwegian Sky continues to sail on 3and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Miami.The Pride of Hawai’i was renamed Norwegian Jadeand currently sails in the eastern Mediterranean.Sadly, neither of the two veteran American linersever re-entered service. The Independence wasfinally purchased by Indian scrappers and was cut upin 2009 at Alang. The United States is currentlyowned by the S.S. United States Conservancy, agroup dedicated to preserving this great ship. Timeis not on their side, however and the ship stillremains languishing at an unused pier inPhiladelphia.

THE SHIP - The Pride of America was laid downin October, 2000 and was originally intended to bethe first of two cruise ships (dubbed “ProjectAMERICA”) to be built at the Litton-IngallsShipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi for the newly-created United States Lines, owned by parentcompany American Classic Voyages. However, theproject collapsed in 2001 when ACV declaredbankruptcy, with the ship far from finished. Thepartially-built hull was purchased by NCL whichthen had it towed to the Lloyd Werft Shipyard inBremerhaven, Germany for completion. During thisconstruction phase many changes were implementedby her new owners, among them increasing theship’s length from 850 feet to 920, subsequentlyraising her tonnage from 72,000grt to over 81,000.Work on the new ship proceeded at a steady pace,with completion slated for early 2004. However,these plans were abruptly altered when a severe galehit the shipyard in January 2004. Several openings inthe incomplete hull allowed water to pour into theship which soon settled on the bottom of the harborat a 12 degree list and with up to 3 decks completelysubmerged. Fortunately, a survey of the ship soonafterwards determined that some of the machinerycould be salvaged but the delay in repairing the shipwould push the delivery date back to mid-2005.

When she finally debuted in Hawaii, she was thefirst major U.S.-registered liner to fly the Stars andStripes since the legendary S.S. United States wasabruptly retired in 1969. A rather short, stumpy-looking bow detracts somewhat from what isotherwise an attractive-looking cruise ship. NCL’ssignature artwork for the Pride of America’s hullfeatures a huge eagle’s head emblazoned along herflanks. The ship received a comprehensive refit inMarch, 2013 that saw the addition of 32 new cabins(including four single Studio units), directionalonboard signage, new carpeting, soft furnishings, flatscreen TV’s in all cabins as well as enhanced diningoptions found on the newest NCL ships. One note ofinterest; as the state of Hawaii forbids any sort ofgambling (even bingo), there is no onboard casino.

THE CRUISE: The ship departed Honolulu at6PM, with our first port of call being Maui early thefollowing morning. Twenty-one tour options areoffered at this stop and we selected ‘The Road ToHana’, a 9 ½ hour land tour ($169.99pp) along thefamed Hana Highway, the highlights consisting of

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lava cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, tropical hillsides andthe rugged northern countryside. The tour was quiteinformative and lunch very enjoyable but do beaware that there are several areas where roadconditions are extremely poor and those with backproblems might abstain from this journey. Happily,there was no rush to return to port as the ship staysovernight. The following morning after breakfast weheaded off on our next tour, “Waterfalls & RainforestHike”, (5 hours, $149.99pp), with our very savvynaturalist providing detailed narrative of Hawaii’sfascinating ecosystems along our sometimesstrenuous 2-mile trek through the lush rainforest. Domake sure to bring a bathing suit and towel as timepermits a dip in the cool streams. We sailed late thatafternoon for our next port of call, Hilo.

Our stop at Hilo allowed us to experience ourfirst helicopter adventure, the ‘Circle of Fire’ (2 ½hours, flight time is aprox. 45 minutes, $269.00pp).It was thrilling to fly over the steaming Kilaueavolcano within an open-door aircraft, allowing ussome truly spectacular photo opportunities.Although not spewing out huge molten geysers oflava during our call, when flying over the nearbyPuna forest and black-sand beaches we did observepencil-thin, orange lava trails igniting some nearbytrees.

Our arrival at Kona on Wednesday morningrequired tendering and after a satisfying breakfast weheaded ashore for our ‘Secret Waterfalls of Kohala’experience, a mix of wheeled and on-foot hiking (7hours, $189.99pp). Our very knowledgeable andfriendly guide took us through some truly stunningscenery and time permitted for a refreshing dip in astream, followed by a hilltop lunch providing somespectacular vistas.

We would spend the last two days of our trip onKauai, on Thursday setting off on our own after a latebreakfast and relaxing on the nearby beach. Laterthat afternoon, we opted for the Lu’au Kalamaku, aLuau dinner and show (4 1/2 hours, $109.99pp). Thetheatrical performance recounted how the earlyPolynesians migrated to Hawaii through traditionalsong and dance as well as a dazzling Samoan firedance. On Friday, we wound up selecting whatturned out to be the very best tour of our cruise,opting for the breath-taking Mokihana HelicopterTour ($299.99pp, 2 hours total, with 45-minute flight

time). We flew through the stunning WaimeaCanyon, the mist-shrouded Mount Waialeale andWailua Falls and viewed the rugged majesty of theNa Pali coastline. When the Pride of America finallycast off for Honolulu later that afternoon, a specialtreat for guests is the close sail-by along the Na Palicoastline, the colorful mountains showcasing anenchanting blend of verdant greens and lush earthtones which contrasted vividly with the rich aquahues of the ocean. It was simply mesmerizing toview this scenery from the comfort of our stateroom.Alas, we felt a tinge of sadness as we quicklyrealized this event marked the close of our week-long voyage and with the itinerary being so port-intensive, this was about as close as you would get toa full day at sea.

Please note that upon arrival at Honolulu onSaturday morning, NCL does offer 8 post-cruisetours, including one to Pearl Harbor.

PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES - The Pride ofAmerica’s décor unabashedly celebrates all thingsAmericana. She has a total of 15 decks of which 11are for passenger use. Deck 4 is for guestaccommodation only. Starting at Deck 5 forward isthe single-level Hollywood Theatre, with a TinselTown paparazzi red carpet event theme. This 880-guest lounge offers comfortable seating, goodsightlines for just about every seat and as the room isnot large, acoustics were excellent. The showspresented during our voyage cater mostly to a BabyBoomer crowd and were always well attended.Inspired by early 1900’s New England shops, theNewbury Street Shops offer the usual resort wear,sundries, watches, jewelry, accessories and more.The photo gallery is set off to starboard. At the twin-level Capitol Atrium amidships, guests find theReception Desk and Shore Excursion Desk as wellas the John Adams Coffee Bar to starboard and EastMeets West to port. The latter offers the line’s tasteof Asia by featuring three restaurants in one; a 12-seat sushi/sashimi bar (with a la carte pricing), ShabuShabu tables (guests cook their meat in boiling water- $15pp) and a 32-guest Teppanyaki grill ($25pp).Set off to starboard and further aft is the 84-seatJefferson’s Bistro, NCL’s signature French restaurantwith its menu of nouveau and classic Gallicspecialties ($20pp). Honoring the third President ofthe United States who was Minister to France (from1785-1789), the room’s décor is modeled after his

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home library in Monticello, located inCharlottesville, Virginia. The SoHo Art Gallery isset off to starboard on a long corridor which ends atthe entrance to the 574-guest Skyline Main DiningRoom, its theme being a tribute to the architecture ofNew York’s 1930’s Art Deco skyscrapers.

Deck 6 forward finds the Mardi Gras CabaretLounge, with the 192 seat venue featuring smallershows, lectures or movies by day and dance clubactivities (such as the White Hot Party) during lateevening hours. Further aft are the Chapel, InternetCenter and Shuffles Card Room. The S.S. AmericaLibrary is unquestionably one of the most beautifulat sea and features memorabilia and artifacts fromthat famed liner. Amidships is Pink’s Champagne &Cigar Bar to port and to starboard is the KumuCultural Center, with several large vitrines filled withHawaiian artifacts recounting the early history of theislands. Open 24-hours and serving all-Americancomfort fare, the 52-guest Cadillac Diner featuresdécor themed to the iconic car brand and hasindoor/outdoor seating. To starboard is the lovelyNapa Wine Bar, also offering indoor/outdoor seating.Cagney’s Steakhouse ($30pp) is a meat-lover’snirvana with decor paying tribute to Hollywood filmlegend Jimmy Cagney. Set at the stern is the LibertyMain Dining Room (417 guests) with a Colonialtheme.

Decks 7 through 10 are assigned to gueststaterooms only. Deck 11 amidships is the SouthBeach Pool (with 4 whirlpools) and the adjacentOcean Drive Bar. Further aft to port is the GoldRush Saloon, the ship’s sports bar with seating for102 guests. Set to port is La Cucina, serving popularItalian fare with a bit of New York’s Little Italy flair($15pp). Newly added to the ship during her recentrefit is the 96-seat Moderno Churrascaria, the line’sBrazilian-style steakhouse ($20pp). The Aloha Café,with its Hawaiian Tiki outrigger theme is at the sternand is the ship’s main buffet-style restaurant. Withmultiple food stations, this attractive indoor/outdoorvenue offers seating for 480 guests.

Our review of Deck 12 begins amidships withthe complimentary Key West Bar & Grill servingsnacks, burgers, hot dogs and cocktails in a rustic,South Florida setting and overlooks the South BeachPool. Entourage is the place for kids ages 13-17;Splash Academy for those 3 through 12. Set all the

way aft is the Mandara Spa and Pulse Fitness Center.Stepping outside you find the Oasis Pool flanked bya pair of whirlpools.

Deck 13 aft has a video arcade, along with a golfdriving nets and other deck games aft. At the sternand overlooking the Oasis Pool is the Waikiki Bar.Lastly, Deck 14 forward has a sun deck and aft is thebasketball/volleyball court.

FOOD & DINING - Norwegian's signatureFreestyle Cruising concept means you can dineanytime you want, with whomever you want. Thusthe Pride of America has nine restaurants, includingtwo main dining rooms, the casual buffet-style AlohaCafe and the no-charge Cadillac Diner. The otherfive specialty restaurants levy a surcharge.

Both main dining rooms, the Liberty and theSkyline, are located at the aft, one above the other.Both carry through the Americana themes of theship, with Skyline being an Deco-version of NewYork City and Liberty honoring Americanpatriotism. Both offer the same menus, so yourdecision on where to dine will be primarily based onpreference of décor. While we would usually opt forthe former, we found that dining at either of theseestablishments could sometimes be a ratherfrustrating, hit or miss experience. Our meals werealways a delight while under the care of a wonderfulFilipino waiter named Ronaldo. There were severaloccasions however, when going to the same diningroom and asking for this particular waiter by name,we would simply be met by a befuddled stare.Happily, we only had one unpleasant evening, beingassigned to a waitress who would bring out ourcourses in a rush, not allowing us to finish theprevious ones! When asked to slow down the pace,she just smiled but simply ignored our request.Making matters worse was her assistant, the poorchap seemingly not having a clue as to what hisduties were. Thankfully, the meals were generally ofgood flavor and presentation.

The Aloha Cafe, Pride of America's Lido Deckrestaurant, is set up with self-serve stations forbreakfast (5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.), lunch (noon to 3p.m.), snacks (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to9 p.m.). And the no-charge Cadillac Diner -- afavorite for a basic breakfast, family lunching, earlydining and late-night snacks offers to limited outside

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seating. Here the diner's are comfort foods, such asmeatloaf, grilled burgers and English-style fish andchips. It also has a kids menu and it is open 24/7 andcan be quite busy in the late evening after the showslet out. It also has an always-open coffee/tea/hotchocolate station in one corner.

We dined in several of the alternativerestaurants; Jefferson’s Bistro ($20pp), ModernoChurrascarria ($20pp) and Cagney’s Steak House($30pp) and all, without exception, delivered top-notch service for a splendid dining experience, andwell worth the extra fees. At Cagney’s, my 16-oz.Ribeye steak arrived medium-well as ordered, juicyand flavorful, with a side of sautéed mushrooms,steamed broccoli and Cagney’s delicious trufflefries. A moderately price Cabernet Sauvignonproved an excellent choice from our wine steward.The sinfully decadent Raspberry Crème Bruleecompleted a simply fabulous meal.

Because of the ship's emphasis on port calls,restaurants tend to be busiest early, with long linesoften forming right at 5:30pm. The later you dine,the less the wait and the better the service, as the staffwon't be as rushed. And note that it's easier to getreservations at alternative restaurants on nights thatyou are in a port.

Room service is available at all hours, but themenu for passengers in standard cabinaccommodations is rather limited.

STATEROOMS - There are a total of 1,095staterooms aboard the Pride of America, the largestbeing the beautiful 1,382 sq. ft. Deluxe Owner’sSuite. Additionally, there are also 11 Owner’s Suitesranging from 570 to 875 square feet. PenthouseSuites number 52 in four different sub-categorieswith these ranging from 363 to 650 square feet.Family Suites with Balcony (360 sq. ft.) numbereight. There are also four Obstructed View FamilySuites but these do not feature a balcony. There area total of 613 Balcony Staterooms (179-233 squarefeet) and 178 Ocean View Staterooms (at 144 sq.ft.), with 76 of these having obstructed views. Insidestaterooms number 224 and there are four newly-added Studio Staterooms (at 107 square feet).Twenty-three staterooms in various categories aredesigned and set aside for the physically challenged.

Our home during this 7-night cruise was Cabin#9626, a 179-square foot Family BalconyStateroom. Turquoise, yellow, orange and fuchsiahues on the soft furnishings lent a pleasant andtropical feel to the room. The bathroom was usefulin size and well laid-out, although the shower wasrather compact. Storage is adequate for two guestsbut we found it a bit tight for our family of three.

SERVICE & CREW - The very charming andaffable Norwegian-born Captain Kjell Nesheim isthe long-time master of the Pride of America.Celebrating his 50th year at sea in 2014, he has beenin command of the ship since 2004. The crew isprimarily American (75%) and much has beenwritten in various travel publications regarding thequality of service found on board. Yet we found thevast majority of the crew to be friendly and helpful,although admittedly in some cases not on the samelevel as one would find on a ship with apredominately Asian crew.

CONCLUSION - The ship’s 7-night itinerarycombined with an extensive and varied selection oftours allows guests an excellent opportunity toexperience the tropical beauty of Hawaii in arelatively short time and at good value. (The authorwould like to thank Vanessa Lane Picariello & LillianCalderon for their assistance with this article)

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American Banner Lines 1958

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Passenger Capacity: 2,186 Builder: Lloyd Werft, GermanyNumber of Crew: 917 Entered Service: 2005 Tonnage: 80,439 Registry: USALength: 920 feet Maximum Speed: 22 KnotsBeam: 120 feet Propulsion: Diesel ElectricDraft: 26 feet Passenger Decks: 15

Ocean & Cruise News Classification: Standard - 4-Star +Passenger Cabins:Deluxe Owner’s Suites ......................................1 Owner’s Suites................................................11Penthouse Suites ..............................................52 Family Suites..................................................12Balcony Staterooms.......................................613 Ocean View ..................................................178Inside Staterooms ..........................................224 Studios (Single) ................................................4Services and Amenities: Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge and Nightclub, Napa Wine Bar, Pink’sChampagne Bar, John Adams Coffee Bar, Gold Rush Saloon, Key West Bar & Grill, Waikiki Bar,Ocean Drive Bar, SoHo Art Gallery, Hollywood Theatre, Internet Center, The Conservatory, SouthBeach Pool, Pulse Fitness Center, Mandara Spa, S.S. AMERICA Library, Newbury Street Shopping,Shuffles Card Room, Oasis Pool, jogging/walking track, volleyball/basketball court, Entourage TeenClub, video arcade, kid’s pool, Splash Academy, golf driving net, photo gallery, Shuffles CardRoom.Restaurants: : Skyline Restaurant, Liberty Restaurant, Aloha Café, Cadillac Diner, Cagney’s SteakHouse, East Meets West, Jefferson’s Bistro, La Cucina and Moderno Churrascaria.Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the generalstandards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normallyexpected for the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normallyexpected for the classification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough towarrant a higher or lower whole number.Level of Activity...............................................2 Quality of Ports................................................3Air/Sea Program...........................................N/A Guest Conveniences.........................................2Alternate Dining ...............................................3 Quality of Food................................................2Food Presentation .............................................2 Food Preparation..............................................2Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2 Overall.............................................................2

Suggested Tipping: A daily charge of $12.00 is automatically added to your shipboard account asgratuity for the hotel and restaurant staff. Strong Points: Excellent itinerary, wide and spacious promenade deck, good choice of (alternative)dining options.Weak Points: Storage space in cabin is rather tight for more than two guests, service in mainrestaurants is somewhat uneven, no full sea day, no onboard casino or any form of gambling (due toState of Hawaii law).

CRUISE FACTS — PRIDE OF AMERICA

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How does a two-ship company stay at thepinnacle of the cruise industry’s quality pyramidfor so many years in a row? Well, one way ismaking sure they constantly look for ways toimprove the onboard experience. Another is byspending enough money to keep the shipsrefurbished and renovated often enough to makesure they are absolutely current. Crystal Cruisesdoes exactly that with what they refer to as an“extreme makeover.” While that may sound likea tv reality show, it’s truly real as I had a chanceto see when I visited the Crystal Serenity in thePort of Miami earlier this year and shortly afterthe latest work was done. For the second time intwo years, Crystal Cruises has spent significantmoney updating Crystal Serenity, spending $17million, bringing the total to $52 million for bothyears.

This time around, they made changes tostaterooms/suites; inside and outside publicspaces; and put the ship through a thoroughcleaning, repainted the exteriors and much more.All in all, it adds up to some excellent changesand a ship that is immaculate throughout.

AN “EXTREME MAKEOVER”

The most extensive changes took place onLido Deck. At the very front, one relativelysimple change was the new cherry wood dancefloor in Palm Court. At the opposite end, the LidoCafé was virtually recreated with multiple islandsserving different food items. There are manymore tables for two and even an openkitchen/bakery. The very mellow color schemeincludes denim blue and ochre fabrics, bronze andcream tile floors and pale blue glass-tile walls.Ceramics from Italy and various shades of woodthat are UK-made add to the gentle scheme.

The area forward of Lido Café (with theretractable glass ceiling) really has changed as thepool is gone (actually completely covered to thepoint that guests will have no idea it was everthere) and comfy seating and tables added. Butanother major change is that after 6pm, itbecomes a separate restaurant with a global menu

created in conjunction with Sapphire Restaurantsin Laguna Beach, CA. Menu items includeinteresting items as Tunisian Crab Warka,California Street Tacos and North African LambDumplings. I haven’t seen the restaurant in actionbut I did get a sneak preview via a slidepresentation and it look great. As another eveningalternative, especially being outside (and coveredwhen necessary), it’s a great, complimentary (andcomplementary) dining option.

The four largest suites, the 1345 square footCrystal Penthouses, have been redone byToronto’s II BY IV. The rooms were completelyreconfigured. The dining area is closer to thefloor-to-ceiling windows/private deck and otherspaces include a den/library/media room with asleeper sofa and closet. The bedroom areas havenew beds and window treatments, and gorgeousmaster baths with a TV embedded in the vanitymirror. Luxury fittings including Kohler sinks,Duravit spa floating tubs, glass tiles from Italy,and much more that make these rooms even moreluxurious than they were. 70 deluxe verandahstaterooms are now the cruise industry’s firsthypoallergenic rooms with a comprehensive,chemical- and odor-free indoor environmentproduced by PURE Marine Solutions. There’s aseven-step patented and proven air and surfacepurification process in each room to filter out99.9% of all airborne impurities. For thosesensitive folks out there, this would seem to bevery beneficial.

In addition, the Tender Landing/Boarding arehas been redone, LED lighting has been added inpublic areas/crew offices and more.

NEW PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

Crystal’s new president has been in placesince October 2013 and I had a chance to chatwith her aboard Crystal Serenity after I saw theabove changes. Naturally, she’s very excitedabout her new position. Here are some excerptsfrom our conversation:

CRYSTAL CRUISES: NEW CHANGES, NEW PRESIDENTby Art Sbasky

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As an overview, Edie Rodriguez says, “her jobis to evolve the product, embracing the existinghallmarks.” The first thing she is “endeavoring todo is to work with travel agents.” She emphasizesthe “strength of the line’s itineraries, wanting toconvince people to find someplace they want tovisit and do it on Crystal because of the stellarservice and all of the onboard options” She talkedabout their shore excursions, both the regulardeluxe ones and the private trips that can be puttogether, including the Volunteerism program.This last is a good example of how the companyhas continued to evolve their product. Theseprograms, which are complimentary to the guests,sound great. Friends who work at Crystal told meabout a trip they did in Odessa: “It was amazing.We played with children at a homeless shelter andrehab school for street kids. We learned abouthow the shelter was started within the context ofthe collapse of the Soviet Union. I will neverforget it. It is a unique way to learn more about adestination and connect with it in a memorableway.”

Rodriguez says her mission is, “to keep theartistic ratings high and run what is already a well-run company, with a greater breadth of itinerariesand new initiatives for travel agents.” She will dothis in part, “by growing the company from itscurrent two ships to seven ships over time withpossibly new builds or acquisitions” but with nospecific plan or timetable to be talked aboutpresently. One strong area she talked about is the2015 World Cruise: they already have “over 700full cruise guests booked” for the 108-nightround-trip Miami voyage. So far, she has notannounced any major product changes, just some“small tweaks such as revamping the room key,wallet and ship’s map packaging.” They recentlyannounced a spectacular Northwest Passagecruise from Nome, Alaska, through Canada andending in the New York City.

STAYING CURRENT

The two ships in the Crystal Cruise fleet are11 and 19 years old. But they both are amazinglyluxurious and current with constant renovationsongoing changes to the onboard product and acorporate dedication to keeping the ships as cleanand spiffy as the can possibly be.

2015 WOCLS Bermuda Cruiseaboard ms Veendam

May 2, 2015

Roundtrip from Boston

In 2015 Holland America Line is returning tothe island of Bermuda with seven-day cruisesaboard the Veendam.

Sailing roundtrip from Boston in May, June andJuly, and featuring three days and nights atHamilton these cruises have always been a popularHlland America itnerary.

WOCLS will be joining the Veendam on the firstof these cruises sailing from Boston on May 2, 2015by hosting a group of WOCLS members, family andfriends.

The Veendam offers an ideal mid-size shipexperience to Bermuda that enables the vessel todock at Hamilton in the center of town. The seven-day voyages spend a day at sea after departingBoston and arrive at Hamilton mid-day with enoughtime for guests to go ashore and enjoy the town. Theship then spends three nights alongside, whereguests can experience local nightlife and dineashore, if desired. Veendam departs Bermuda in theafternoon of the final day in Hamilton, with a day atsea before arriving back at Boston.

Hosting our exclusive WOCLS members cruisewill be Bermuda resident and noted maritime artistStephen Card and your Editor Tom Cassidy. Specialevents planned exclusively for our group include; awelcome aboard cocktail party, a group dinner inthe intimate Pinnacle Grill and a tour and receptionat the Bermuda Maritime Museum hosted byStephen. All group members will receive a StephenCard signed print as a keepsake. You must bookwith our group to enjoy the exclusive groupbenefits.

Rates start at $819.00 per person for an insidecabin, $1,009 for an outside and $2,149 for abalcony cabin. For information or to book pleasecontact our coordinator Marie Ricardo at (352) 633-1776 -or- (516) 808-0175. Or she can be reached viaemail at riccardotravel@gmail.com.

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Crystal’s Northwest Passage

Crystal Cruises is introducing a newexpedition-style voyage traversing the ArcticOcean via the legendary Northwest Passage oneso mysterious and remote (500 miles north of theArctic Circle), that explorers spent centuriesseeking the passage, until it was first completedsuccessfully by Roald Amundsen just over 100years ago.

Crystal will be the first luxury cruise line toever navigate the route, maneuvering through 900miles of majestic waterways lined withspectacular glaciers, towering fjords, and vastunspoiled landscapes away from mainstreamcivilization and tourism, north of mainlandCanada. Beginning August 16, 2016 inAnchorage/Seward, Alaska, the award-winningCrystal Serenity will sail for 32 days from thePacific to the Atlantic Ocean ending in New YorkCity.

Britannia Takes Art to a New Dimension

P&O Cruises’ new ship Britannia will boastBritain’s largest floating art collection, containingmore than 8,000 artworks, when it launches inMarch next year.

The multi-million art collection represents anew approach by the company with works havingbeen chosen to complement and enhanceBritannia’s interior designs to give the feel of aluxury hotel.

Pieces ranging from paintings and bronzesculptures to ceramics and paper wall reliefs havebeen created by a wide variety of artists, most ofthem British, with some from as far afield asJapan, Australia and South Africa.

Cunard 175th Anniversary Concerts

The 175 year history of Cunard Line since itsfounding in Liverpool in 1840 will be retold intwo special concerts at the Anglican Cathedral inLiverpool next year. The events will take place onJuly 4, 2015, which is 175 years to the day of

Cunard’s inaugural sailing from Liverpool toNorth America, by its first ship Britannia.

Called the Triumph of a Great Tradition, theseconcerts will be attended by all passengers onCunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2’s 175thAnniversary Crossing transatlantic voyage fromLiverpool to New York via Boston, Mass, andHalifax, NS.

The concerts will celebrate Cunard’s historyand achievements in words and music as well asthe current fleet of three ships, which is among thenewest and most highly-rated afloat. Queen Mary2 will be berthed at Liverpool Cruise Terminal toembark 400 passengers for the transatlanticvoyage and give an opportunity for many of theother 2,200 people already aboard to visit the city.

HAL’s Koningsdam

Holland America Line revealed the name of itsnew 99,500 gross ton cruise ship slated fordelivery in February 2016 will be Koningsdam.While the name pays homage to the company’srich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, italso reflects a new era with a bold name that is anoriginal in Holland America Line’s 141-yearhistory. The 2,650-passenger ship is an evolutionin design for the line, a new Pinnacle Class, andis being built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’sMarghera shipyard.

Since 1883 every Holland America passengervessel has borne the "dam" suffix, andKoningsdam carries on that tradition. The wordkoning means "king" in Dutch, and the namecelebrates the majestic new ship. The name alsopays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands inover a century.

Holland America Line has a long, proudhistory with the Netherlands. All 15 premiumcruise ships fly the Dutch flag as they sailthroughout the world, to more than 400 ports ofcall. The historic greatness of the line’s Dutchheritage is shared with nearly one million guestseach year. And the line has many Dutchemployees, including most of the fleet’s captainsand officers.

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Many of Holland America Line’s ships havebeen christened by members of the Dutch RoyalFamily over the past 75 years. Most recently,Nieuw Amsterdam was christened by Her RoyalHighness Princess Máxima in 2010. And in 2008Eurodam was christened by Her Majesty QueenBeatrix of the Netherlands.

Holland America Line was founded in theNetherlands in 1873 as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company headquartered inRotterdam. The original headquarters buildingstill stands today as the Hotel New York on theWilhelmina Pier, with the company’s Europeanheadquarters located nearby.

When it debuts in February 2016,Koningsdam will be a new type of ship forHolland America Line. At 99,500 gross tons andcarrying 2,650 guests and 1,025 crew members,the vessel is the largest ever built for thecompany. The increased size provides moreopportunities to add new public spaces andvenues, and several innovative features will debuton Koningsdam.

Princess Cruises' 50th AnniversaryCelebrations

It's been nearly forty years since the iconictelevision show The Love Boat went on the airand introduced viewers to modern day cruisingand, in the process, made Princess Cruises and itsships synonymous with vacations at sea.

As Princess prepares to celebrate its milestone50th anniversary year in 2015, the company ishonoring the role that The Love Boat played in itshistory by selecting the original Love Boat castmembers to serve as godparents for its new cruiseship Regal Princess. All six Love Boat castmembers - who played the roles of CaptainStubing, Gopher, Isaac, Doc, Julie and Vicki –will reunite to christen the new ship on November5 in Fort Lauderdale.

The actors include Gavin MacLeod (CaptainStubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief purser),Ted Lange (Isaac, the bartender), Bernie Kopell(Doc, the ship's doctor), Lauren Tewes (cruise

director Julie) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, thecaptain's daughter).

The ceremony will officially launch thegolden year anniversary celebrations for PrincessCruises, which will celebrate five decades ofoperation throughout 2015.

Venice Cruise Ship Ban Reinstated

The Governor of Venice, Italy, Luca Zaia,announced on Friday the reinstatement of a banon cruise ships above 40,000 from Saint Mark'sbasin and the Giudecca Canal in Venice. Inmaking the announcement the Governor said thatthe "unanimous decision" was made by aninternational committee of experts looking intoways to preserve the buildings in the sunken cityand surrounding lagoons. Last year, over 650cruise ships passed through the city

The reinstated restrictions will reduce by 20%the number of ships over 40,000 tons that areauthorized to cross the Giudecca canal. Anotherrestriction that is scheduled to go into effect inNovember of 2014 would ban all ships over96,000 tons from the same route.

Environmentalists have warned that theecosystem and lagoon that surrounds Venice,including the centuries-old pilings that supportthe city could be damaged by the large cruiseships.

Viking Sea Steel Cut

Fincantieri has announced that the steel-cutting ceremony for Viking Sea was held at itsMarghera shipyard. Viking Sea is the second shipin order of acquisition that Fincantieri is buildingfor Viking Ocean Cruises. Fincantieri is alsobuilding Viking Star, with delivery scheduledfrom their Marghera yard in spring 2015, andViking Sky, which will be delivered from theirAncona yard in summer 2016.

Like it sister ships, the Viking Sea will weighapproximately 47,800-tons and will have 465staterooms, accommodating 930 guests.

Meyer Werft announced that it is acquiring amajority share in the STX Finland shipyard inTurku. Following weeks of negotiations theFinnish Government and Meyer Werft signed ashare purchase agreement with the current ownerSTX Europe. With its 70% stake Meyer Werfttakes the industrial leadership of the newcompany.

P&O Cruises has unveiled its plans for a $43.8million make-over for Aurora this winter, the firstship in the fleet to receive the bold new liverydesign. The refurbishment will take placeNovember 29 to December 18 in Hamburg, aheadof its Christmas and New Year cruise and beforethe South America & Pacific Adventure worldcruise itinerary departing January 8, 2015.

Quark Expeditions, the polar expeditionleader announces the addition of a third smallexpedition ship to its Antarctic fleet. The 199-passenger Ocean Endeavour will replace the SeaSpirit during the 2015 and 2016 Antarctic season.Quark offers a greater choice of vessels andnumber of voyages to Antarctica than any otheroperator.

Princess Cruises will debut a regional menuonboard its newest ship, Regal Princess, when itbegins sailing from Florida later this year. Themenu will showcase regional culinary specialtiesthat reflect the destinations the ships visitsthroughout the year, and will incorporate localproduce, spices and seafood.

Cunard Line is moving up its dry dock ofQueen Victoria due to a problem in one of itspropulsion units. Two scheduled cruises are beingcanceled as a result. While the problem is beingfixed, the ship also will get a multimillion-poundrefit. The canceled sailings are a 12-night CanaryIslands cruise (January 3-15) and a five-nightAmsterdam & Cherbourg cruise (January 15-20).Taking place at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard inHamburg, Germany, the refurbishment will seenine solo cabins added to the ship as well as newcarpets and flat-screen TVs. Sun awnings will beput in the open area near the stern Lido pool onboth sides of the Grills Upper Terrace to create

more shade. Additionally, fine jewelry and watchshops will be created

The captain of the sunken Italian cruise ship,the Costa Concordia, has sparked outrage after itemerged he had delivered a lecture to universitystudents on best emergency practices. Italy'seducation minister said the decision by a Romeuniversity professor to invite Francesco Schettinoto speak at a seminar was "disconcerting". MrSchettino is currently on trial for manslaughter andabandoning ship when the luxury liner sank inJanuary 2012.

Bermuda has recently added a cruise shipshuttle to the famed Horseshoe Bay beach. Aroundtrip ticket on the private mini-bus shuttlebetween King's Wharf where most cruise shipsdock costs $16 and are sold at the Beach ShuttleBooth at Zone 6 at the Dockyard. It runs to thebeach continuously between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lastshuttle back to the cruise ship terminal is at 6 pm.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is launchinga new series of Ganges River cruises in January2016 on a new river cruise ship. The all-suiteGanges Voyager II will sail from New Delhi toKolkata (Calcutta) on a 12-night itinerary thatcombines seven nights onboard with a five-nightland tour.

P&O Cruises has confirmed its 2016 worldcruise program: a trio of grand sailings,comprising a classic world cruise on Aurora; aSouth America & Japan sailing on Arcadia; and aCaribbean and America voyage on Oriana.Collectively, the ships will cover over 90,000nautical miles, visiting 90 ports in 58 countries

Mark Fosselman of Diamond Head, Miss.,recently debarked the Carnival Elation after 33consecutive voyages totaling 270 cruise days. It’sbelieved to be the longest streak of consecutivecruise days in Carnival Cruise Lines’ 42-yearhistory. Fosselman boarded the Carnival Elationin New Orleans for his first cruise in April andsailed 32 additional four- and five-day cruises,visiting the Mexican ports of Cozumel andProgreso.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS