Galveston deems Carnival passenger no public health threat

Posted on 20 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

The Galveston Public Health Authority said it has reviewed all available information regarding a potential Ebola contact voluntarily isolated on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship returning to the Port of Galveston.

In a statement posted on its website, the authority said it has concluded there is no evidence of a public health threat to cruise ship passengers or Galveston County from the passenger.

The Carnival Magic returned to Galveston on Oct. 19 after a seven-night cruise. The passenger in question worked at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital as a lab supervisor where she handled test samples from a patient who died from Ebola infection.

She was voluntarily isolated on the ship after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed Carnival of her status on Oct. 15. Authorities in Belize declined to let the supervisor and a traveling companion off the ship to be flown back to the U.S. Carnival skipped a subsequent port of call in Cozumel after delays in getting clearance to dock.

The Galveston health agency said upon Carnival Magic’s arrival the passenger and her travel partner were allowed to disembark without restrictions.

The agency said its assessment was based on the fact that the person was confirmed to have remained asymptomatic. Also, a blood sample obtained from the woman on Oct. 18 and flown for screening by the Department of State Health Services lab tested negative for Ebola.

Carnival said the Magic is expected to depart as normal on its next scheduled cruise.

Carnival moves toward shipbuilding in China

Posted on 16 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Corp. said it signed a memorandum of understanding that could lead to a cruise ship being built in China.

The memo is an agreement between Carnival Corp. and the China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC) to explore the formation of a joint venture.

The goal of the venture would be to construct a modern cruise ship in China together.

China State Shipbuilding Corp. is the largest shipbuilder in China, according to a Carnival Corp. announcement.

The Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri could partner in the joint venture should it be formed, Carnival Corp. said.

There is no firm agreement to build yet, nor is it clear who would own or operate any ship that results from the joint effort.

Carnival Corp. said the venture is “aimed at accelerating the development and growth of the Chinese cruise industry.”

The agreement was made official at an Oct. 14 signing ceremony at the ninth China Cruise Shipping and International Cruise Expo in Tianjin.

“This really is a breakthrough day for all of us at Carnival as well as our friends at the CSSC,” Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said.

Carnival Corp. said its contribution to the venture would be to use its design and shipbuilding expertise to create the “vision, definition and overall specifications” for the China-built cruise ship.

The memorandum also includes the exploration of other possible joint venture opportunities with CSSC including the potential to form a domestic cruise company, port development, talent development and training as well as supply chain and logistics, Carnival Corp. said.

No major cruise line has ever built a ship in China, although a few have been built in Japan.

A Chinese Ministry of Transport forecast estimates there will be 4.5 million cruise passengers sourced in China by 2020.

Two Carnival Corp. brands, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises, are already selling cruises in China. Carnival said it will have 220 port calls from five brands in China in 2014.

Smokey Robinson to play Carnival Cruise Lines

Posted on 14 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Singer Smokey Robinson will be one of the new acts to perform on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship next year.

The R&B legend is scheduled for concerts April 21, 22 and 23 as part of Carnival voyages docking in Cozumel.

Carnival last year inaugurated the Carnival Live format in which well-known entertainers play on Carnival ships. The price of the concerts is in addition to the cruise fare but generally lower than a comparable event on land.

Next year, Carnival said it will offer the concerts at a new port, St. Thomas, in addition to Nassau and Cozumel. This year, concerts were also scheduled on Catalina Island near Los Angeles.

The anthem rock band Journey launches the St. Thomas concert series March 18 and 19. Other artists announced for the first half of 2015 include country acts Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts, and rock band Styx.

Carnival said the price range for the 2015 season would be $35 to $60 for general admission and $125 to $250 for VIP tickets, which include seating in the first four rows, an artist meet-and-greet, a souvenir photo with the artist and a commemorative concert pass.