Theft at International Waters

Costa Cruises' Costa Classica, carrying almost 2000 passengers, had four of its passenger robbed at high seas. Four Chinese tourist and a Shanghai resident had nothing else to do except to report the incident to the Shanghai marine police this Saturday when their cruise ship docked at the city for a tour from China to Japan and South Korea.

The cruise was scheduled to last for a week. The Shanghainese Liu Bo was the one who reported the crime to the authorities. Traveling with his wife, a total of $700 and 10,000 yen or $106, has been stolen from the safe in their cabin. The Shanghainese was also the first victim to alert the management about the incident followed by the two tourist from Beijing and another from Southern Guangdong Province.

$300 was lost from the cabin safe of one of the tourist from Beijing and the others has lost 2,000 yuan or $293 in cash.

The Shanghainese announced that “One thing in common about our losses is that only part of our cash was stolen. In my case, I lost US$700 of US$1,700 cash, while the Beijing tourist had US$300 of US$900 taken out of his safe. The thief was obviously cunning, trying to make the losses less obvious".

The victims suspected that the Filipino who cleaned their rooms may have something to do with this. But after the officials have searched the Filipino's cabin and the man himself, they have announced that they didn't found any large amount of cash. The crew was immediately suspended upon the request of the Shanghainese.

The Shanghainese would be staying in Shanghai for another week as he waits for the reports of the police and the management of the vessel.

To get more details please visit Shanghai Daily.

San Diego's New Cruise Ship Terminal Begins Construction

More than 22 million dollars will be spent for the new cruise ship terminal in San Diego. Construction officially began on the first Tuesday of the month and is scheduled to be completed by December of 2010. The new terminal will be located along the downtown waterfront at Broadway Pier.

Ticketing, baggage and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be included in the terminal and the two-story steel and metal framed 52,00 square foot terminal will be able to assist and handle more than 2500 passengers. The terminal is to increase productivity in the growing cruising industry in San Diego.

The existing terminal at B Street Pier, which can only handle two cruise ships at a time, has been outgrowned. More than 290 cruise ship calls in San Diego last year and with the new terminal, they are expecting more.

Carlos Torres de Navarra of Carnival cruise lines said, "Although our industry, as well as the world, is facing some rather difficult economic times, planning for the future cannot be overlooked".

Carnival has loaned the Port of San Diego a sum of 12 million dollars for the construction of the terminal. It is expected that this will be easily paid as each cruise ship stop in San Diego profits about 2 million dollars according to Stephen Cushman, the chair of Board of Port Commissioners.

They have high expectations from the terminal and hopes that it brings economic benefits soon. To read more about this story please visit San Diego 6.

Chiapas Port Development

Plans to build up Puerto Chiapas' Port as a commercial center and tourist spot is taking form as cruise liner horns are heard more often.

The past improvements of the port has shown good results in tourism. More cruise liners are attracted and export of goods from the region to other countries has been more efficient. Officials are trying to upgrade the old fishing ports to showcase the Chiapas' beauty and natural resources to turn around the economic status of the region-which is poorest in the country.

Juan Sabenas, governor of Chiapas, is looking forward for the development of the port as from the past improvements, passengers from Europe and America would spend the day in the region giving more or less $100 per head.

The General Director of the Port Authority in Puerto Chiapas, Alfonso Perez, says that the Port is a brand new one as it was inaugurated in 1975 as a fishing port. He also adds "Now, in 2005, a lot of money was invested to upgrade the port and now we are a port that started receiving cruises."

He then remembers that in 2006. he only sees one cruise liner in the port and in present, he is expecting more than 20 more. Chocolates, flora and fauna and Mayan archaeological digs are some of the few offers that the region has for the tourists.

He adds"We have another income that comes from the tuna-fish ships and some other cargo that comes to port of Chiapas ... We are not depending just on the cruises where we are doing very well.....There are other industries that will come to port of Chiapas. One is the oil. You know in Mexico, Petroleum Mexicanos is the Mexican oil company, and they are going to open a facility here in the port with an investment of around $15-million, which is very nice, very good."

He believes that the port is going to be a long term investment and Federal Government funds would be needed for the improvements. He also estimates that in 5 years, they maybe able to operate themselves and give profit to the region.

To know more about the port development in Chiapas please visit Voice of America News.

Sao Paulo Royal Caribbean Cruises Office

The first Royal Caribbean company-owned office has just opened in Sao Paulo, Brazil to meet the South America cruise market needs. Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara cruises are three brands of the company that will be supported by the office commercially.

Adam Goldstein, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, marks the even highlighting Brazil as a new place for investment and growth of the company.

"The cruise market in Brazil is one of the fastest growing in the world, and with increased investment and commitment, we aim to accelerate this trend," said Goldstein. "In late 2009 Royal Caribbean International will have two ships - Vision of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas - dedicated to the Brazilian market which represents a significant uplift in available cruise departures. Reinforcing the positive knock-on economic benefits that cruising brings and improving cruise selling awareness are key objectives of my visit to Brazil. I look forward to Royal Caribbean International's expansion in Brazil and in the entire South America cruise market."

New for the 2009-2010 season, Royal Caribbean International will offer 21 departures of three and four-night cruises from the port of Santos with the 2,000-guest Vision of the Seas and 1,804 guest Splendour of the Seas. Also available are five, six, seven and eight-night cruises on board Vision of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas from December 2009 including cruises dedicated to Christmas and New Year celebrations, for a total of another 21 sailings.

For more details and information please visit eTurboNews.

Florida and the Cruising Industry

Even with the current economic problems and issues, the cruise industry is still one of the great factors in keeping Florida's economy in good condition. The industry's leading trade group has reported that the cruise industry for Florida has generated more than 120,000 jobs and more than 6 billion in direct spending last 2008.

Cruise Lines International Association has reported that a 2500 passenger cruise ship has more than $300,000 economic impact every time it leaves for its itinerary.

The impact of the industry on Brevard Country is very substantial as it has six major cruise ships home ported at Port Canaveral, ports in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale which is the three busiest cruise port.

Bobby Giangrisostomi, deputy executive director of business development for Port Canaveral says that "The cruise industry serves as a valuable economic partner that has made Port Canaveral one of the primary economic engines for Brevard County”.

The Port was responsible for an estimated 9000 jobs, more than $200,000 wages and more than $160 million in annual economic output in Brevard in 2003.

More than 6 billion was added by cruise lines in direct spending to Florida's economy in 2008 while studies shows that cruising has generated more than 120000 jobs that pays more than 5 billion dollars.

For more information please visit Florida Today.