U.S. Coast Guard Cancels Carnival’s Fathom line maiden voyage

Posted on 12 April, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

by kgnadmin (Crew Center.com)

The maiden voyage for the new social-impact cruise line Fathom has been canceled by the U.S. Coast Guard. The cruise ship Adonia, didn’t pass the U.S. Coast Guard safety inspection on Sunday after the authorities find out that 30 fire screen doors were not functioning properly.
MV Adonia was scheduled to set sail on April 10 from Miami on a 7-night voyage to the Dominican Republic, after a major dry dock renovation. Fathom says the April 10 cruise is completely canceled and, plans to make the maiden voyage on April 17.

Fathom passengers received the following letter:

“Dear Travelers

Thank you for being so gracious about the unexpected delay today. We are so sorry we did not sail as planned.

The ship arrived in Miami directly from re-fit and the U.S. Coast Guard is performing operational tests. These tests are still underway and the company hopes to sail once all tests are complete. We want to assure you that we are in constant contact with the Coast Guard and will continue to be throughout the night and into tomorrow to make arrangements to depart Miami.

We have arranged your dinner and breakfast at the hotel and have organized for late check out for you. Your check out is 1 p.m.

At 11 a.m. tomorrow, we will share more information in the lobby.

The Adonia is moving to a new terminal overnight – it will be at Terminal C on April 11.

We apologize that we haven’t been able to sail as planed but we sincerely hope that you have a restful evening.

The Fathom Team.”

U.S. Coast Guard conducts safety inspection when newly transformed cruise ship goes back to service in the United States. In order to provide safe environment in events of emergency, the vessel undergoes series of safety inspections on the watertight doors, fire doors, lifeboats and life rafts and their launch ramps, firefighting equipment and other safety procedures.

Jazz artist Herbie Hancock to play QM2 crossing

Posted on 15 December, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Herbie Hancock

Jazz legend Herbie Hancock is the latest artist to be announced in Cunard Line’s jazz-at-sea themed transatlantic crossings on the Queen Mary 2.

Hancock will perform three 45-minute shows on the Aug. 1 voyage from Southampton, England, to New York.

A pianist, Hancock played early in his career with Miles Davis and wrote several modern jazz standards such as “Maiden Voyage” and “Watermelon Man.”

Jazz singer Gregory Porter is scheduled to play on a crossing departing Oct. 25 from New York as part of Cunard’s partnership with Blue Note Records and Blue Note Jazz Clubs.

Norwegian Cruise Line has no plans for brand expansion

Posted on 8 November, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line has no plans for brand expansion

By Tom Stieghorst

FORT LAUDERDALE — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will stick with its core competencies and not acquire or start brands other than its flagship Norwegian brand, CEO Kevin Sheehan said at the CruiseWorld event on Friday.

Sheehan said he looked at several acquisitions after he came to Norwegian in 2008 but decided against them.

“I don’t want to create distractions for our team,” Sheehan said. “We have so many opportunities with our brand.”

In addition, Sheehan told travel agents that Norwegian is a variety of brands under one name. The Haven ship-within-a-ship luxury areas on Norwegian ships function as a luxury line, he said.

CruiseWorld 2013 Kevin Sheehan and Arnie Weissmann He also cited a focus on solo cabins, family programs with Nickelodeon and the Pride of America ship in Hawaii as other brand-like experiences within Norwegian Cruise Line.

Sheehan said he is working hard to keep Norwegian focused on its own long-term future and goals, now that the company has become publicly traded. He said he would have preferred to go public later, but the private-equity owners needed some “affirmation” for their investors.

“I have always said to our investors, I know you are watching the next quarter, but I’m watching the next five years,” Sheehan said.

The next big event on Norwegian’s horizon is the arrival of Norwegian Getaway, which will sail from Miami year-round. Norwegian last had a ship sail seven-day cruises year-round from Miami 10 years ago.

Sheehan said he has tried to keep Norwegian’s ships consistently positioned to provide stability for travel agents, and that a limited number of ships left Miami as a seasonal market, until now.

Getaway is in the final stages of construction and is expected to arrive in New York in early February for a week’s duty as the Bud Light Hotel at the Super Bowl before coming to Miami for its maiden voyage.

Sheehan pointed out that Norwegian started the modern cruise industry in Miami 45 years ago.

“It’s just getting back to where we should have been all along,” he said.

Sheehan was the third cruise CEO to address CruiseWorld attendees, following talks by Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. CEO Richard Fain.