Tag Archives: Bahamas

Carnival to use Royal Caribbean island

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Carnival to use Royal Caribbean island

By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival Cruise Lines has arranged with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to use its private island at Coco Cay for selected sailings of two Carnival ships this year.

Starting March 14, the Carnival Fascination will call there 19 times this year on its five-day cruise from Jacksonville, while the Carnival Ecstasy will call 11 times on five-day cruises from Port Canaveral.

For each ship, the calls replace a stop in Key West. The switch is being made to expand and diversify Carnival’s port of call/destination options, Carnival said.

Guests are currently being notified about the itinerary change.

Carnival brands use two other private islands in the Bahamas, Princess Cay and Half Moon Cay, which was developed for Holland America Line.

Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said that given the short duration of the cruises and the other ports on the itineraries, it would be difficult to reach Half Moon Cay and still maintain the ships’ published schedule.

In addition, Princess Cay does not offer tender operations, he said.

Asked about payment, Gulliksen said Carnival entered into a commercial agreement with Royal Caribbean for the use of Coco Cay, also known as Little Stirrup Cay.

Hairy Bikers take over Cruise ship

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Hairy Bikers take over Cruise ship

According to a report in todays mail, 2,500 hairy, American Bikers booked themselves onto the RCI Cruise ship ” Freedom of the Seas” for a cruise around the Caribbean.

An English family on board reported that they took over the ship with Drunkenness & lewd behaviour, they wore Leathers & other Bikers regalia in the MDR & told the English family who had dressed for Dinner, that they were in the wrong dining room.

RCI have offered a refund but state that they welcome groups of all persuasions on there cruise ships..

You have been warned, its going to happen here in the UK soon, perhaps a Boat load of ” Hippies” on Cunard, I kid not.

Six US states on alert as Hurricane Irene arrives

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Six US states on alert as Hurricane Irene arrives

Aug 26, 2011 08:00AM GMT

Six US states on alert as Hurricane Irene arrives

Six US states have declared emergencies as they prepare for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Irene which has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean.

Having battered the Bahamas the first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has prompted states of emergencies in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and New York.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina as Irene approaches bringing with it winds of at least 115mph .

The huge storm is creating hurricane force winds extending 80 miles from its centre, and tropical storm winds reaching up to 295 miles from the eye, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

Forecasters said Irene could strengthen slightly throughout today (Friday) before its expected arrival in North Carolina on Saturday.

The hurricane, which has forced cruise lines to amend itineraries across the Caribbean and airlines to revise schedules, is then expected to weaken as it moves up the US east coast, diminishing in strength to a still-powerful category two storm on Sunday.

Up to 25 cruise ships in the Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas have had to change schedules affecting companies including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

The Miami-based Hurricane Centre’s former director Max Mayfield told the Associated Press news agency: “One of my greatest nightmares was having a major hurricane go up the whole north east coast.”

He predicted that the damage could climb into billions of dollars, saying: “This is going to have an impact on the US economy.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie warned holidaymakers to avoid the shore, and urged people to evacuate ahead of the storm’s anticipated arrival on Saturday night.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged residents of low-lying and beach-front areas to find a place to stay on higher ground ahead of Irene’s anticipated arrival on Sunday. The city is even planning to shut down the entire transportation system.