CruiseInd 2.0 » alaska

NCL’s Alaska Gamble

Greg — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:52:07 +0000

Well we all knew that the bubble just burst this past summer for cruises in the Med. I mean Barcelona alone had what like 11 ships homeported there. Who didn’t see this coming. Royal Caribbean was the first to pull their ships out. Now NCl is sending 3 ships to Alaska in 2013 hoping that since its more tax friendly now, passengers will follow.

Presser after the break.

From NCL via CIN

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its summer deployment for the 2013/2014 season with the addition of a third ship in Alaska. Norwegian Sun, sailing seven-day open jaw itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia and Whittier, Alaska, will join Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Alaska for the summer of 2013, marking the first time the company has offered three ships in Alaska since 2009. For a more in-depth Alaskan experience, the company is also introducing land packages that can be combined with Norwegian Sun’s itinerary. The line’s summer deployment also features four ships sailing in Europe, including the continuation of two year-round, along with two ships cruising to Bermuda.

These cruises* go on sale to Norwegian’s top travel partners and Latitudes Rewards members (past guests) today, December 6, 2011, and to the general public on Thursday, December 8.

“Alaska, with its extraordinary beauty and wildlife, continues to be an extremely popular summer destination for cruisers and therefore there is a lot of demand for increased capacity and more varied and unique cruises,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “With the strides made by the state government, we felt the time was right to add a third ship in Alaska, and give our guests the once in a lifetime opportunity to see more of this incredible destination. We’ve also added the option of extending their stay with a Cruisetour that will enhance their overall experience.”

Alaska Deployment

In Alaska, beginning May 20, 2013, Norwegian Sun’s northbound itinerary departs Vancouver, British Columbia on Mondays, and will cruise the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier and make stops in the Alaskan favorites of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau. On her southbound itineraries from Whittier, Alaska, the ship will cruise the Inside Passage, Sawyer Glacier and Hubbard Glacier, as well as making stops in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Icy Strait Point.

Beginning May 18, 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail a series of 18 seven-day Sawyer Glacier itineraries from Seattle, Washington every Saturday with stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska; along with Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Jewel not only offers a fantastic itinerary, but also brings extra fun for the kids with Nickelodeon family programming. The 2,394 passenger Norwegian Pearl begins a series of 18 seven-day Glacier Bay itineraries from Seattle, Washington every Sunday with stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska; along with Victoria, British Columbia.

New for the 2013 summer season in Alaska are four Cruisetour options which provide the opportunity to combine a pre or post-cruise land package with Norwegian Sun’s cruises from Whittier, Alaska. Ranging in length from four to six days, the Cruisetours feature two nights in Denali National Park and are fully escorted by a local Alaskan tour guide for the most authentic experience possible. Highlights of the Cruisetours also include a stop at an Iditarod sled dog musher’s house (on four and five-night tours), along with a ride on the Alaskan railroad. More details on the Alaska Cruisetours will be available in early 2012.

Europe Deployment

In Europe, Norwegian Epic will return for her third season, sailing seven-day Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona beginning May 5, 2013 through October 14, 2013. The new Western Mediterranean itinerary features five ports of call in three countries — Spain, Italy and France — and a call to Palma, Majorca, Spain. Guests will also have the opportunity to sail round-trip from Rome(Civitavecchia), Italy or Marseille, France giving them the flexibility to choose the homeport that is more convenient for them. There is also a four-day Western Mediterranean sailing on May 1, 2013.

Norwegian Star will make her debut in the Baltic replacing Norwegian Sun and will offer a series of 15 nine-day Baltic Capital cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark. Some highlights of this popular itinerary include two full days in St. Petersburg, Russia and an afternoon cruise of the Stockholm Archipelago upon the ship’s departure from Stockholm, Sweden. Rounding out the season, Norwegian Star will offer a unique 14-day Norway, Iceland and Faroe Island cruise from Copenhagen on September 19, 2013.

Norwegian Jade returns to Venice on May 4, 2013 for the summer season and will offer alternating seven-day Greek Isles and seven-day Adriatic, Greece and Turkey itineraries. In the fall/winter, Norwegian Jade will reposition to Rome (Civitavecchia) and offer a series of eight 10-day Eastern Mediterranean and nine 11-day Mediterranean & the Holy Land beginning on October 26, 2013 through April 12, 2014.

Beginning on April 17, 2013, Norwegian Spirit will once again sail the waters of the Mediterranean offering 12-day Grand Mediterranean open jaw itineraries from Barcelona, Spain and Venice, Italythrough October 14, 2013. The comprehensive itinerary highlights the best of the Mediterranean with nine ports of call in five different countries including an overnight in Venice. On October 26, 2013, Norwegian Spirit begins a series of 20 nine-day Canary Island cruises. Guests will have the option to sail round-trip from Malaga, Spain giving them the flexibility to choose the homeport that is more convenient for them.

Bermuda Deployment

In the summer of 2013, Norwegian Cruise Line will significantly increase its capacity in Bermuda with the arrival of its newest ship, the 4,000-pasenger Norwegian Breakaway, sailing a series of 22 seven-day cruises from New York, New York, beginning May 12, 2013. Departing on Sundays, the ship will spend three full days in Bermuda, along with three days at sea.

The newly refurbished Norwegian Dawn will return to Boston, Massachusetts for the summer on May 3, 2013 and will sail a series of 22 seven-day Bermuda cruises departing every Friday.

Hawaii Deployment

Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawai`i’s main islands. Because of popular demand for this itinerary, the company is opening Pride of America’s seven-day Hawai`i inter-island cruises departing Honolulu, Hawaii every Saturday through April 18, 2015**. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; Kona, Hawai`i; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

Bahamas “Getaway” Cruises

For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three- and four-day cruises to theBahamas year-round from Miami through April 25, 2014. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs on Fridays and includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, which has recently received $25 million in enhancements, including a new dining facility, marina and expanded beachfront. On Mondays, the ship departs Miami on a four-day Bahamascruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island; and Nassau,Bahamas.

Holland American Vessel Allides with Ice in Alaska

Greg — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:03:09 +0000

Westerdam in 2008

The USCG just issued a statement that they are investigation and incident that recently took place in Alaska.

The United States Coast Guard is investigating an allision between the 935-foot cruise ship Westerdam and ice in the vicinity of Yakutat Bay Wednesday, May 11.

The Westerdam was reportedly maneuvering through ice near Hubbard Glacier Tuesday evening when it sustained damage approximately 15 feet below the waterline. The hull was reportedly not breached and no injuries or pollution were reported.

The Westerdam continued on her voyage to Sitka, where she was met by Coast Guard officials, along with the classification society for the ship, Lloyd’s Register, according to a spokesperson for the Coast Guard.

Royal Caribbean 2012 Alaska Season

Greg — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:30:16 +0000

Hot off the presses comes Royal Caribbean’s Alaska 2012 season.
The main story here is the Radiance of the Seas and the Rhapsody of the Seas return for another season. Radiance sails the one way Vancouve-Seaward {and reverse} and the Rhapsody sails the round trip out of Seattle. Full presser after the break:

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled its 2012 Alaska cruises and cruisetours aboard Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Representing the brand’s return to the “Great Land” for a 23rd consecutive year, Radiance of the Seas will sail seven-night north and southbound itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, while Rhapsody of the Seas will embark on a series of seven-night cruises, roundtrip from Seattle. Royal Caribbean is introducing a brand-new series of cruisetours, ranging in length from 10 to 18 nights, which incorporate both the land and cruise portions of the vacations, for a total of 20 tours. Bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2012 Alaska cruises and cruisetours open today.

“Experiencing the pristine beauty of the 49th State is high on many vacationers’ bucket lists and Royal Caribbean’s portfolio of Alaska cruises and cruise-tour land packages will provide guests with adventures of a lifetime that will fulfill any dream,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of marketing, in a prepared statement. “Whether looking for family fun, high adventure or romance, vacationers will find the experience onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, second to none thanks to the Gold Anchor service from our crew combined with unparalleled ship amenities, or what we call the Royal Advantage.”

For 2012, Royal Caribbean will debut three new Alaska cruise-tours in conjunction with Radiance of the Seas’ seven-night itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, creating 10- to 13-night cruise and land vacations. All Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise-tours are escorted by knowledgeable, dedicated Royal Caribbean Adventure Specialists, who know what to see, where to eat and how to do it best. The offerings feature a 12-night program geared toward families, featuring a Resurrection Bay & Wildlife cruise, where participants can take in the region’s dramatic cliffs, alpine glaciers, marine life and seabirds, with a trip to Fox Island – a nature lover’s delight; and excursions to the Anchorage Museum & Imaginarium, where families learn and explore art, history and science through play. The cruise-tour also includes an excursion to Denali National Park, complete with experiences designed specifically with families in mind.

Additionally, a Canadian Rockies cruise-tour of six nights will combine the destinations of Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver and Victoria with an overnight train journey aboard VIA Rail and accommodations throughout at world-renowned Fairmont hotels. An 18-night Ultimate Cruise-tour couples the Canadian Rockies pre-cruise with a five-night post-cruise Alaska land tour.

Radiance of the Seas’ seven-night northbound cruise schedule, from Vancouver to Seward, will cruise the Inside Passage and call at Alaska’s Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Hubbard Glacier (cruising). The southbound journey will reverse the itinerary. Sailing from Seattle, Rhapsody of the Seas’ seven-night cruises also will sail the Inside Passage, calling at Juneau andSkagway, sailing past Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier.

Throughout, guests enjoy an extensive array of shore excursion options for an additional charge to immerse themselves in America’s last great frontier. At Icy Strait Point, guests can take a ride down a 1,300 ft. mountainside on the ZipRider, the world’s largest zip line, for birds-eye views of Port Frederick, Icy Strait and the expansive wilderness. The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour at Ketchikan takes guests aboard the Aleutian Ballad crab boat to explore the coastline scenery and learn about all manners of Alaskan sea life from men who have worked the seas as they haul up crab pots. Alaska Gold Rush & Skagway Highlights is a family friendly adventure aboard the White Pass and Yukon Railway with a stop at the Klondike Gold Fields to offer guests a chance to pan for their own gold.

BREAKING: NCL 2012 Summer Deployments

Greg — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:47:50 +0000

NCL just broke the news this morning that the Norwegian Jewel will be heading west and the Norwegian Star East. The Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage along with the Norwegian Pearl from Seattle for the 2012 season. The Norwegian Star will take the Jewel’s place out of New York doing the 7-night Bermuda trips all summer long.

NCL’s Presser after the break

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its 2012/2013 deployment and itineraries for Alaska, Bermuda, Hawai`i and short cruises to the Bahamas. For the first time, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage joining Norwegian Pearl which is sailing to Glacier Bay from Seattle. In Bermuda, the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star will sail to Bermuda for the first time from her new homeport in New York City.

“The 2012/2013 season is filled with new and exciting Freestyle Cruising choices. Whether it’s our ships cruising different destinations, disembarking from new homeports or sailing new itineraries, we offer the most freedom and flexibility when it comes to cruise travel,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “We are pleased to bring Norwegian Jewel to Alaska and Norwegian Star to Bermuda, along with continuing our popular Hawai`i inter-island cruises and short cruises to the Bahamas through early 2013.”

In Alaska, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star and cruise from Seattle for the first time on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. Norwegian Jewel’s weekly Sawyer Glacier cruises will depart on Saturdays from May 26, 2012 to September 8, 2012 sailing through Alaska’s Inside Passage with ports of call including: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Jewel will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012 and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on September 15, 2012. Families will have the slime of their lives on board with Norwegian Jewel’s Nickelodeon at Sea year-round programming which includes live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including: SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick’s signature slime; Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets; Nick-themed dance parties; and more. Nickelodeon-themed elements are also incorporated into Norwegian’s Kids’ Crew program.

Norwegian Pearl will return to Seattle sailing her weekly seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13, 2012 to September 9, 2012 and will sail through Alaska’s Inside Passage with ports of call including: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012 and a Seattle to Vancouver cruise on September 16, 2012.

Norwegian will continue its commitment to Bermuda, sailing two ships from the Northeast to Bermuda weekly from April through October calling on King’s Wharf. Norwegian Star will sail from New York on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days. The 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will sail her Bermuda itinerary departing on Fridays from Boston with three days in Bermuda.

Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawai`i’s main islands. Pride of America’s seven-day Hawai`i inter-island cruises departing from Honolulu are now available through April 7, 2013. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano (weather permitting); Kona, Hawai`i; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 15, 2013. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs on Fridays and includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. On Mondays, the ship departs Miami on a four-day Bahamas cruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island; and Nassau, Bahamas.

New Cruise Line Formed

Greg — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Alaskan Dream Cruises has just formed and will sail two smallships from the former Cruise West. The Alaskan-based Allen Marine Tours purchased the 78-pax Spirit of Columbia and Spirit of Alaska. They will be renamed the Admiralty Dream and Baranof Dream respectively. The new line also purchased a 49-pax catamaran named Alaska Dream.

These ship will sail 7-night Alaskan voyages roundtrip out of Sitka, Alaska.

Odd Happenings over Alaska Head Tax

Greg — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:02:27 +0000

If you haven’t followed the Alaska cruise saga I’ll sum it up:

Basically locals were getting annoyed that lines were sending more and increasing larger ships to their ports. Passengers were overwhelming tiny port towns and ruining the waterfront. The ships were also ruining the environment both above water, exhaust fumes, and below water, legal and illegal discharging.

The solution was a recent tax on every passenger (head tax) that called in each Alaska port. The lines couldn’t afford to pay this for the passenger so they passed it along to the passenger.

Then it was realized last year, the first year of the tax, that the Alaska cruise market was down as lines didn’t send as many ships there and people weren’t booking as many trips up there.

_____________________________________________________________________

So then came last March when Alaska officials came down to Miami for the annual cruise convention. Cruise executives lobbied the Alaskan government to help them out saying how great the industry was for then economy. Alaskan officials listened, and as of last Friday, AP is reporting that the cruise lines, in a shocking partnership between Carnival and Royal Caribbean, dropped a lawsuit against the state. They said they would drop the suite if and only if the state passed a law that lowered the head tax. Which they did. [See Update]

Is this a win-win? They lines get a lower tax price, and the state gets money to (hopefully if its used right) clean the harborfront and environment. It may seem so. But its is really up to the lines and passengers to be responsible and the state to use the tax money on nothing else other than what needs to be helped out in the fragile environment of Alaska.

An ironic saying goes something like: The lines were polluting the very nature they were selling.

UPDATE: Uber-Cruise-Website CruiseCritic is reporting the details on the law. This just seems like a sketchy deal, but these things happen:

Although the base head tax will only be lowered to $34.50 per person, Terry Harvey, a spokesman from State Rep. Cathy Munoz’s office, says cruise lines will be reimbursed [emphasis CruiseInd’s] an additional amount each time a ship calls in Juneau, Ketchikan or both. Refunds will total $7 per person for calls in Ketchikan and $8 per person for calls in Juneau; if a sailing calls in both ports (which 75 percent of Alaska cruises do), $15 per person will be refunded to the line, thus reducing the amount from $34.50 to $19.50 per person.

source: AP via MSNBC

updated: Cruisecritic

Almost 100 Sick as Ship Sails into Seattle

Greg — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:34:25 +0000

UPDATE 11:46: So it turns out that when I go to find a quote from Princess, their news site is down!

96 passengers became ill with the norovirus on Princess Cruises, Sapphire Princess. She was on the return leg of a 7-Night Inland Passage cruise in Alaska. Port officials decided to dock the ship at Pier 91 in Seattle as it offers easier access to the ship to commence extreme cleaning operations. The passengers disembarked and the vessel went into sanitation mode before starting the embarking process.

She set sail yesterday with 2,000 passengers onboard for another Inside Passage cruise to Alaska.

King5 in Seattle has some quotes from Passengers and officials:

Kym Boisvert, passenger in cabin across from an infected cabin:

You go on vacation, you pay quite a lot of money for this. It’d be nice if they gave you the courtesy, or at least get the sick people off. We didn’t mingle with anyone on the boat because we didn’t want to get sick, so we pretty much stayed to our room.

Cindy Hedum, Passenger:

All the time people were wearing latex gloves. They were being very careful and they made you sanitize your hands before you went into the food area and you weren’t allowed to touch any of the food utensils.

Joyce Jordan, a not so worried passenger:

I took all the precautions, I washed my hands a lot.

Rodney Liverman, longshoreman, props to King5 for getting a quote from them. We usually don’t hear from them:

We’re wearing gloves, latex gloves. You just take precautions. We’re handling money, touching luggage, dealing with people.

Robert Bowen, another Longshoreman:

If people are really, really concerned, they have the masks.

P.S. How weird is this. Right as I go to post this, the story is mentioned on CNN!