More Carnival Vessels to Leave Alaska Ports

Following the statements made by the parent company of Carnival, Holland America and Princess about the plans to reduce the cruise services in 2010, discussions for further decrease in the following year are now in discussions. Micky Arison, the Carnival Corporation Chairman and CEO told Wall Street analysts that the reason for more pull outs will be the increasing cost of operating in the state. He announced on a conference call during the discussions of the third quarter earnings that "It is likely we are going to do more of (the capacity cutting) in '11... The amount of cost that they've put on to the industry during this short season is astronomical, and it will continue to negatively affect Alaska".

Other destinations such as Europe is becoming more attractive to a lot of cruise lines as compared to Alaska which increases its taxes, fees and regulations to all cruise lines that visits and stops on Alaska's ports. Arison then follows by telling the analysts "The brand will decide to put the ship where there is the best return and the most profitable returns... They have to put it in the context that they already have seven ships in Europe or they already have two ships in Australia, but they will model it out, and if it pays to pull a ship from Alaska and put it in Europe or ... the Far East they will do that." He also adds that even though Disney Cruise Line has decided to include Alaska to one of its destinations, the cruise line will not be servicing the area for long due to high operating expenses in the state.

A lawsuit was filed before this comments were made against Alaska's newly added $50 tax on passengers visiting the state. This lawsuit was made by an association that represents the nine major cruise lines that visits Alaska during the summer season.

To learn more about this news please visit USA Today.

San Francisco To Be Revisited By Cruise Ship

The Japanese owned Crystal Cruises who used to cruise to San Francisco and diverted it routes in 2005 has decided to return in 2011. An increase in the tourism industry for San Francisco along with a boost in its economy is expected along with the arrival of the cruise ship.

The company Crystal Cruises who has routes for Alaska, New York and the Panama Canal will continue to service all of these port but will be heading to San Francisco port as its permanent home. The port of San Francisco reports that it presently accommodates nine cruise lines with 60 vessel calls and more than 200,000 related guest per year.

The Port of San Francisco is expected to complete a modern cruise ship terminal at Pier 27 by 2013, the same site where several development projects has failed for the last few years. Until then, the 299 passenger vessel Crystal Symphony will be one of the first vessel from the cruise line to dock at Pier 35. Pier 27, which is located at the foot of Telegraph hill, has been given a $3.5 million dollar contract by the Port Commission with the city's Department of Public Works for Architectural and Engineering Work for its new terminal as Pier 35, who has served cruise ships and the city for years, is in need of upgrades and repairs as it is dilapidated and too short for some cruise vessels.

Port Executive Director Monique Moyer stated "The continuity of a home-port ship for the summer season on the San Francisco waterfront means a lot for the local economy, both in terms of tourism and also jobs for longshoremen and ship support workers".

For more details about this story please visit San Francisco Chronicle.

Disney Cruise Line's First Visit to Alaska

Beginning May 3, 2011, Disney Cruise Lines will be offering cruises to Alaska for the first time.

Departing from its home port in Vancouver. B.C., it will make its way through Tracy Arm in Southeast Alaska and back while visiting the ports in Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau. The vessel, Disney Wonder will offer activities while it makes its way to Alaska for 18 seven-night cruises to Alaska with its last cruise scheduled in August 30, 2011.

The vessel will be offering rates whose ranges will play in the nine hundreds of American dollar excluding activities for the excursions and other on shore activities that is offered by the cruise line or the locals at the ports that the vessel will be visiting.

This is a good news for the state as the tourism industry for it is not looking that good as some cruise lines are not visiting them anymore. Because of this redirection of other cruise lines, an the state expects more than 150, 000 passenger loss for 2010.

Before the 2011 season for the cruise industry, the vessel Disney Wonder will be outfitted with a 2500 square foot cafe with floor to ceiling curved glass windows. This is where the passengers can watch the scenery and that the outbacks of Alaska offers. The vessel will also be offering cruises from the port of Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta for a seven-night cruise that will be given for the rate of 640$ per person for a standard inside stateroom based on double occupancy before the cruising season begins for the Alaskan Summer.

You can book your cruises for the Alaskan trips starting September 28 by your travel agent or by calling Disney Cruise Lines. For more details and information about this news please visit abc NEWS TRAVEL.

Disney Cruise Ship Rescues Man in Atlantic Ocean

A man who jumped from his original ship, Carnival Sensation, was rescued by Disney Wonder Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean. The vessel was on its way back to Cape Canaveral when it spotted a man swimming in the middle of the ocean in need of help.

The vessel from Carnival Cruise Lines returned to point where they have investigated was the area where the man went overboard to initiate a rescue. The operation covered the area near St. Lucie Inlet as reports shows that this is the area where the man jumped. At 12:15 am, 28 miles east of St. Lucie Inlet, Disney Wonder spotted the same man as it made its way back to Cape Canaveral. Medical officers of the same vessel rushed to check the man for injuries and reported that he was in good condition.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen says that the U.S. Coast Guard sent a chopper, cutter and another boat to search for the man after having notified by the Carnival authorities. Ameen reported that “The man had been treading water for about 90 minutes and was very tired”.

Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement saying "The guest was witnessed jumping overboard from a balcony stateroom on the Carnival Sensation which was on the final night of a four-day cruise to the Bahamas”. No name or origin of hometown of the rescued man was disclosed to the public.

The man, who has been recorded as the eight man to jump overboard Cruise vessels, has requested to be returned to the Carnival Sensation which will be departing for the Bahamas for a 3 day cruise as both vessels were parked at Port Canaveral.

To read more about this story please visit Chicago Tribune.

2009 Southcentral Tourism Summit

One goal of the summit that was held in August 20, 2009 was to determine the problems and solutions for the decreasing number of visitors to Alaska. Discussion on the economic impact of the cruise industry for the state for the 2010 season also took place.

Among the concerns included the $50 head tax and the plans for the marketing of tourism for Alaska. The legality of this taxes were one of the questions that started the summit along with the need for more campaigns to ensure travelers for 2010.

The legality of the head taxes is now under research by the attorney general as assigned by Governor Sean Parnell. The Governor has announced in a similar tourism summit in Southeast Alaska, that he did not support the head tax for the cruisers and discussed the need to stabilize the cruise industry for the state.

Rick Erickson of the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska in Ketchikan said that "Alaska has to send a message to the cruise operators that Alaska is open for business".

Cruise lines have redirected four ships to other destinations which will reduce the number of visitors to Alaska's ports. McDowell's Group and Alaska Travel Industry Association's economists has projected that the state should expect 150, 000 less visitors for next year's season.

Erickson has announced that once cruise lines changes their itinerary and destinations, chances of them coming back to the past ports is highly unlikely. He adds "It is likely that if we don't do something, that cruise lines will not come back".

The next summit will be scheduled in October 5, 2009 in Fairbanks.

To read more about this please visit Alaska Journal of Commerce.

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.