Celebrity Eclipse In front of the Hubbard Glacier Alaska
Celebrity Apex Arriving into Liverpool
Silver Muse Cruising Alaska.
The above images are taken from my 2024 Cruise Ship Calendar, there are 13 high quality images taken by myself in Alaska, Azores, Norway, Scotland and Liverpool, this Calendar is available on an Etsy Site by Crafty Ideas by Dawn-
Crafty Ideas by Dawn are now selling drinkware, tee shirts, and images taken by Myself (Spacejunkie2) I have got sample tops and have worn and washed them and they still look like new, Please support dawns website and it will help support my blogs. Thank You.
PortMiami welcomed the new Explora I for her maiden call marking the ship’s debut in South Florida on Friday.
“We take immense pride in introducing our remarkable new ship, the Explora I, to the Magic City,” said Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys. “Miami is a paramount destination and important gateway to the Caribbean for ocean travel and it is a privilege to showcase our new ship and immersive journeys to this market. Our team has spared no effort in pushing the limits of innovation and delivering a product that we’re thrilled for guests to experience as they embark in South Florida.”
The maritime tradition of a crest exchange to celebrate a ship’s first visit to a destination took place on November 3, 2023, at PortMiami. The crest exchange was attended by the ship’s master Captain Diego Michelozzi, Michael Ungerer, CEO Explora Journeys, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Hydi Webb, PortMiami Director and CEO, among others.
“As the cruise industry continues to rebound and make a strong comeback, we are grateful for our new partnership with Explora Journeys,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Their commitment to providing a world-class experience to passengers and a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050 is critical to keeping PortMiami on the cutting edge of the cruise industry.” Hydi Webb, PortMiami Director and CEO added, “As we continue to expand our operations and partnerships, we look forward to cruise activity growth with Explora Journeys, which will benefit all of our passengers.”
Following her maiden call, the ship set sail from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico. From November through March, the luxury ship will explore the Caribbean and Central America, calling on ports like Samana/Dominican Republic and Bridgetown/Barbados, with stops in Antigua and Barbuda, Turks and Caicos, Cartagena, Saint Barthélemy and the Grenadines, among others, before heading to the U.S.’ West Coast.
“Journeys aboard the Explora I aim to transport guests to an ‘Ocean State of Mind’ by delivering best-in-class service, exquisite onboard offerings and immersive destination experiences, authentic to the places the ship serves,” commented Ungerer. “A harmonious mix of well-known and hidden gems on the itinerary for the Explora I will provide our guests with opportunities to savor genuine cultural encounters and a more leisurely travel pace, leaving them refreshed and filled with inspiration.”
Amsterdam’s council has banned cruise ships from the city centre as the Dutch capital tries to limit visitor numbers and curb pollution.
Politicians said the vessels were not in line with the city’s sustainable ambitions.
It means the central cruise terminal on the River IJ near Amsterdam’s main train station will close.
It is the latest measure to clamp down on mass tourism in the city.
Cruise ships have become a symbol of the problem, with more than 100 mooring in the capital every year.
The council has been trying to scrub up the city, banning cannabis smoking on the streets of the red-light district.
In March the city launched an online campaign urging young British men considering holding their bachelor parties in Amsterdam to stay away.
Amsterdam has become a victim of its own popularity, attracting 20 million annual visitors – some drawn by its party city reputation.
“Cruise ships in the centre of the city don’t fit in with Amsterdam’s task of cutting the number of tourists,” said Ilana Rooderkerk of the liberal D66 party, which runs the city along with the Labour party and environmentalists.
Ms Rooderkerk recently compared cruise tourists to a type of “plague of locusts” descending all at once on the city.
Iconic buildings in Amsterdam are great for Photographers credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)Other Amsterdam officials have baulked at that kind of language. But Mayor Femke Halsema complained last year that cruise tourists were let loose for a couple of hours, ate at international chains and had no time to visit a museum, consuming the city but doing little for it.
The other key reason for removing cruise ships is to lower air pollution levels in Amsterdam. A 2021 study of one big cruise ship found that it had produced the same levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in one day as 30,000 trucks.
Other mooring sites away from the city centre have been under consideration for some time but no decision has yet been taken.
In a separate development, Amsterdam has announced plans to beef up night-time culture for young people.
The city has outlined its aim to find nightclub locations such as disused tunnels and garages to develop the talent of “creative young people who want to organise something at night”.
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