Brooklyn Cruise Terminal getting upgrades

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, the New York City home for Princess Cruises and Cunard Line ships, will get $17.2 million in upgrades.

The funds will go toward building a new apron up to 500 feet long, a passenger viaduct and two new gangways. They will also pay for the design and implementation of a high-capacity wireless network at the terminal, according to an announcement from the New York City Economic Development Corp. and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.

Adams said $2.2 million in capital grants will be provided by the city and another $15 million will come from Ports America, the private operator selected to run the terminal in May.

New York picked Ports America to run both the Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals through 2029. As part of the agreement, Ports America has agreed to invest $38.5 million in capital improvements at both terminals.

Penang Port and Royal Caribbean to upgrade Cruise Terminal

Image result for penang port cruise
Ovation of the Seas at Penang Port

Story by http://www.cruiseandferry.net/

Penang Port and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. have formed a joint venture to upgrade and extend Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in Georgetown, Penang.

Plans include improving accessibility for disabled passengers and extending the existing cruise berths from 400 metres to 688 metres to enable SPCT to simultaneously host two cruise ships with more than 4,900 passengers. Parking areas will also be redeveloped to include spaces for tour buses and ease the flow of traffic in the areas around the terminal.

The Malaysian port will hold a 60% stake in the US$35 million project, while Royal Caribbean will cover the remaining 40%. The project has received support from Malaysia’s state and federal governments, and their associated agencies, including tourism bodies. It will also be a focal part of the Malaysian Tourism EPP6 plan, which aims to create a ‘Straits and Borneo Cruise Riviera’.

Royal Caribbean is scheduled to make 38 calls in Penang in 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line giving Great Stirrup Cay a big upgrade

Great Stirrup Cay will have a new air-conditioned reception area.

VANCOUVER — Norwegian Cruise Line outlined plans to upgrade facilities at its Great Stirrup Cay private island in the Bahamas.

Norwegian will increase dining capacity by 50%, spend $1 million on new landscaping, and create 100,000 square feet of new pathways, including a new boardwalk along the beach.

Other features include a pair of parallel zip lines that will be 1,000 feet long and elevated 100 feet in the air, and a new air conditioned reception area where guests can get oriented, change clothes and make reservations.

New family activities will be available, including an underwater sculpture trail for snorkelers.

Great Stirrup Cay will have villas in its exclusive Lagoon Retreat area.
Great Stirrup Cay will have villas in its exclusive Lagoon Retreat area.

There will be a new lounge area with bar service in the center of the island, a new Landshark Bar & Grill and an Abaco Taco bar, as well as a redesigned buffet.

The amount of shaded area will be increased and more restrooms will be built.

A Lagoon Retreat aimed at high-end guests staying in Haven and Suite accommodations will have the Silver Palm restaurant, a private party room that can be reserved for groups of up to 75 and 22 air-conditioned villas (studio, one bedroom and two bedroom) for rent. A Mandara spa will be on site.

The Lagoon Retreat will be reserved for Haven guests, anyone who books a spa treatment and a limited number of guests on each cruise who will pay extra.

A posh Mandara Spa will have four treatment rooms.
A posh Mandara Spa will have four treatment rooms.

At a press conference at CLIA’s Cruise360 conference, Norwegian president Andy Stuart said the features were not designed after MSC Cruises announced an island with similar amenities in Bimini last year. “We’ve had plans in place for a number of years,” Stuart said.

He declined to say what Norwegian will spend on the upgrades, other than to say it was part of Norwegian’s $400 million Norwegian Edge initiative.

The upgrades at Great Stirrup Cay are expected to be in place by spring 2017, except for the cabanas, which will open in the summer, Norwegian said.