14 Maggio 2021 – Fresno, CA: Per prima volta autore, David Eugene Perry ha portato a casa l’ambita medaglia d’argento nella categoria LGBT ieri sera, guadagnando il trentatreesimo annuale Premio Benjamin Franklin, dall’Associazione Editori Libri Indipendenti, per il suo acclamato romanzo giallo “Upon This Rock”, Edizioni Pace.
“Ben Franklin e’ sempre stato il mio patriota preferito, dunque questo premio mi emoziona”, ha confessato Perry, di anni 59. “In un anno nel quale il COVID ha invitato tutti a rivolgerci maggiormente verso i libri, la IBPA ha ricevuto il più alto numero di richieste di ogni tempo dal 2008. Sono immensamente onorato di esser stato scelto tra molti autori eccellenti e di aver ricevuto questo premio, e sono molto grato alla casa editrice Pace”.
Il premio IBPA Benjamin Franklin, che riconosce il prestigio nell’editoria e nel design, e’ considerato uno dei più grandi onori per gli autori indipendenti.
“Questo e’ un privilegio ben meritato per un romanzo eccezionale”, ha detto Kent Sorsky, editore di Pace Press/Linden Edizioni. “Upon This Rock” e’ un romanzo thriller deliziosamente intricato che i lettori hanno amato. Non abbiamo mai ricevuto una tale risposta per un nuovo romanziere”.
Upon This Rock e’ un “elegante giallo intricato” (Armistead Maupin, autore del successo internazionale Tales of the City1 e “la versione gay di DaVinciCode2,ma una migliore” (Fenton Johnson, Guggenheim
1Racconti di Citta’. 2Il Codice da Vinci.
Fellow, autore di The Man who Loved Birds3; Upon This Rock e’ “per quei lettori che amano l’Italia e la narrativa poliziesca (Lucinda Hawksley, pro-pro-pro nipote di Charles Dickens, autrice di Dicken’s Artistic Daughter, Katey4); “Il romanzo di Perry brilla per una vivacità accentuata, ma e’ scritto con toni seri che ti tengono incollato alla lettura. E, ovviamente, visto che si tratta di un giallo, c’e’ un assassino a sorpresa alla fine! Fate spazio, Sam Spade e Nick e Nora Charles. Benvenuti alle nuove voci, Lee e Adriano.” (Will Snyder, Bay Area Reporter); Upon This Rock e’ “la lettura perfetta per chiunque ami la narrativa del giallo, del mistero e quella storica, come i libri di John Grisham e Dan Brown.” (Ankita Dasgupta, The Bookworm Resort); “Questa e’ una lettura sfrenata. L’abilita’ di Perry di costruire la suspence e’ impressionante e l’epilogo di questa storia non solo vi sorprenderà, ma anche letteralmente vi scioccherà. ” (Erika Atkinson, autrice di Ode to the Castro5).
“Non troverete un romanzo più squisito, accattivante, ben scritto che questo primo composto da David Eugene Perry, Upon This Rock. Sono stata letteralmente catturata fin dal primo capitolo. Ambientato nella città di Orvieto in Italia, Perry ci trasporta in un alti-bassi di avventure, che iniziano con il papato di Clemente VII de Medici nel secolo XVI, per poi velocemente precipitare fino ai giorni nostri. Una storia fantastica, additiva e avvincente con personaggi brillanti e un finale che vi inviterà a controllare attentamente nella vostra libreria preferita per cecare il seguente nuovo romanzo d Perry (Dennis Koller, autore di The Rhythm of Evil6). “Non risusciterete a metter giù questo libro. Ti fa voltare pagina dalla sua prima frase, fino all’inatteso e contorto finale.” (Lynn Ruth Miller, autrice di Getting the Last Laugh). In breve, Upon This Rock di David Eugene Perry e’ un “giallo attraente con una suspence da mangiarsi le unghie” (LewJ. Whittington, New York Journal of Books); un giallo sexy e storico (Julissa James, NobHillsGazette); “una lettera d’amore per Orvieto, come i Tales of the City lo sono per San Francisco (Eric Jansen, SF Bay Times & Out in theBay).
3 L’Uomo che amava gli uccelli. 4Katey, la figlia artistica di Dickens. 5 Ode ai Castro. 6Il ritmo del diavolo.
Forse il giornalista vincitore dell’Emmy Award, famoso reporter hollywoodiano Jan Wahl, lo ha descritto al meglio: “Upon this Rock e’ favoloso. Questo romanzo giallo e’ una versione sexy del Da Vinci Code.Non vedo l’ora del film”.
UponThis Rock, di David Eugene Perry/ 360 pagine/ $18.95 Quilldriver Books, Fresno, CA.
THE PALACE HOTEL IN SAN FRANCISCO REOPENS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN HISTORY THURSDAY, MAY 27TH
GOLD BALLOON RELEASE TRADITION CELEBRATES THE HOTEL’S LEGACY
San Francisco, CA – The historic Palace Hotel reopens on Thursday, May 27th at 12:00PM after being shuttered for 14 months due to the global pandemic.
As was done for the 1909 reopening and the 2009 100 Year Anniversary, the Palace will release a gold balloon to celebrate this 2021 moment in history. Accompanying the 36” gold balloon will be two 20” balloons in royal purple – the official color of hospitality, bearing the Palace message HERE TO STAY. THE LEGACY CONTINUES. In keeping with the Palace Hotel’s commitment to preserving the environment, the latex balloons and messages are 100% biodegradable and disintegrate at the same rate as an oak leaf.
The opening team of associates will gather on the Palace rooftop at 10:00AM for the balloon release celebration before the grand dame opens her doors to welcome guests at 12:00PM. First guests include a couple from Washington DC who will be traveling to San Francisco for the first time to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary at the Palace Hotel.
This momentous date marks the third time the grand dame hotel has reopened her doors since the hotel was established in 1875. In 1909, a new Palace was unveiled after being completely rebuilt following the devastation of the 1906 earthquake. In 1991, the hotel celebrated a long awaited reopening after undergoing a three year, 170 million dollar restoration. Now in 2021, the hotel makes history once again, proving the Palace is here to stay as its legacy continues.
WE WELCOME PRESS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING
THE MAY 27TH 10:00AM CELEBRATION & THE 12:00PM GUEST ARRIVAL
LIVES OF THE LINERS:CRUISING, CRUISE SHIPS & THE COVID PANDEMIC – APRIL 25, 2021
From Bill Miller May 2021
Mon May 17th P&O Cruises The new 5,200 guest Iona sailed into Southampton on Sunday ahead of her naming ceremony. The $1 billion ship was completed a year ago, but has yet to see any commercial service.
Costa: The Costa Luminosa is back in service as the ship sailed on Sunday from Trieste, becoming the company’s second ship to resume operations in 2021 after the Costa Smeraldare-entered service earlier this month from Savona. The 2,800-bed Luminosa will offer Adriatic Sea itineraries and also call in Greece as part of Costa’s four-ship sailing plan for summer 2021, all operating under the company’s Costa Safety Protocol.
Above: Crystal Symphony & Oosterdam at Turks & Caicos
Fresh Face! When Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Mardi Gras, arrives to her new home in Port Canaveral, Fla. on Jun 4th, she will be flying the Bahamian flag to designate the new ship registry for the first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ship to operate in North America. The Mardi Gras has been the most highly anticipated new ship in the cruise industry for more than a year, with her arrival and inaugural impacted by the extended pause in cruise operations from U.S. ports. But with more and more hopeful signs of a return to guest operations and constructive discussions between the industry and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Carnival is moving the ship to Port Canaveral to get her ready for sailing. The ship will depart from Barcelona on May 21st to start her transatlantic voyage and eventual arrival.
Crystal Cruises announced yesterday: “This is a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to Crystal@Home, our virtual connection for the last year, and say hello to our return to cruising this July. Indeed, from our early-on yoga sessions to our weekly Wednesday travel stories and Thirsty Thursday concoctions, we learned to balance our wellness and our wanderlust during an extraordinary time.”
Above: P&O’s Iberia at Fiji (1966)
Another Naming Ceremony: Viking Cruises’ newest ship, the Viking Venus, will set sail from Portsmouth today (Mon) on its maiden voyage and naming ceremony. The ship will be christened by journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond as godmother. The first passenger sailings will start on May 22 as Portsmouth becomes the homeport for Viking Venus’ initial five UK sailings.
Resumptions! Seven cruise line brands from Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, have announced plans to resume guest cruise operations this summer, with AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Cruises (UK) sailing from global ports in Europe and the Caribbean
Tue May 18th Alaska! The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill last Thursday that could allow cruise ships to return to Alaska ports this summer. The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act would temporarily suspend the requirement for cruise ships stop in Canada. Canada is closed to cruise traffic through Feb 2022, making a stop there impossible.
Pulling Up the Anchor! All far too long to list here, almost all cruise lines are now posting re-start dates – from Southampton to Singapore, from Antigua to Auckland.
Carnival Cruise Line intends to restart service in the United States without requiring passengers to have the COVID-19 vaccine, according to President Christine Duffy, in an interview on NBC Nightly News on Monday. “There is no mandate for any other business to have that requirement. We wouldn’t be able to have kids under 12 onboard,” said Duffy, standing at Port Canaveral near the Carnival Liberty. Duffy said they are working to restarting in July as the brand is currently continuing its discussions with the CDC.
Above: The Carmania at Port Everglades (Jan 1966)
Thu May 20th Princess Cruises, Holland America Line & Carnival Cruise Line expect to resume US cruising in July with Alaska sailings from Seattle. The news immediately follows Congress’s passage of a cruise ship cabotage temporary waiver for Alaska operations which is on its way to President Biden to sign into law. Plans for the lines’ itineraries to fulfill obligations under the Passenger Vessel Services Act waiver are expected to be approved.
Fri May 21st Alaska: Following passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, work with Alaska government officials, and recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Holland America Line is announcing plans to restart cruising to Alaska in July roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, aboard Nieuw Amsterdam. Bookings are open for the 11 Saturday departures that will operate from July 24 through Oct. 2. The seven-day “Alaskan Explorer” itinerary calls at Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan. Scenic cruising in Alaska’s iconic locales includes Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage.
MSC Cruises: Cruising from the UK is back after a 14-month hiatus as the MSC Virtuosa is set to cast off from the port of Southampton for a four-night sailing on Thursday. Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said: “We are very proud that MSC Virtuosa’s first ever sailing marks the resumption of cruising from British ports after an enforced break of more than a year and effectively heralds the next phase of restart for our industry.
Southampton: Dave Smith reported: “Yesterday (Thursday) we had Ventura docked at QE2 Terminal 38th berth & around 5pm yesterday we had the first cruise ship sailing from Southampton for over 14 months. The ship was the MSC Virtuosa. She is 1,087 feet long, launched in 2019, has a capacity of 4,842 (double occupancy) or 6,334 maximum capacity, and her gross tonnage is 181,541. The ship is only carrying 1,000 guests, however, and is on a 4-night cruise along the South Coast of England, then more 3 & 4 day cruises to follow. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth & the P & O Iona will shortly set sail on cruises around the coast of the British Isles, getting back to normal we hope!”
More News from the UK: Alan Moorhouse reports: “In Southampton yesterday, it was a new day, a new page and a new start of the post pandemic era. Hopefully! The new Iona had just been named. The new MSC Virtuosa left on the first ‘seacation’ out of the UK. Britannia led a P&O ‘hornfest’ as she passed Iona and Ventura. Meanwhile, the new, recently named Viking Venus was nearby in Portsmouth and which will soon host the almost new Scarlet Lady.”
Sun May 23rd Turkey: Justin Zizes has shared a recent view (below) of 4 large cruise liners being scrapped at Aliaga.
Tue May 25th Update from California: Long Beach bought the Queen Mary in 1967 for $3.45 million, and for decades the city has leased the ship to a string of operators who have failed to make a profit. The ship’s latest operator, Eagle Hospitality Trust, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January and the city is now battling with the leaseholder in bankruptcy court over the Queen Mary’s future. A city-commissioned inspection report released in court documents last week says the historic vessel is in worse condition than previously thought and will need an additional $23 million in urgent safety repairs to keep it viable in the next two years. The ship could be in danger of flooding or even capsizing if the repairs aren’t addressed, according to court documents. The Queen Mary in the meantime remains closed until further notice.
Barbados & Beyond: The Caribbean may be the cruise market coming back in the strongest and quickest manner, backed up by the North American source market wanting to stay close to home. The Caribbean commanded an average of 38.9 percent of the global deployment of the cruise industry prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that number is expected to grow in the future as the industry returns to sailing. Cruise guests from North America will want to stay closer to home, with homeports in Florida, Texas and Louisiana driving the majority of deployment to the Caribbean on big ships.
Above: Carnival Splendor at Cabo San Lucas
Wed May 25th Viking will expand its Mediterranean presence this summer by adding a third ship for round-trip cruises from Malta. The Viking Star will now join sister ships Viking Venus and Viking Seathere and will sail a new 11-day itinerary, Malta & the Western Mediterranean.
Another One Gone! Formerly with the Fred Olsen Line, the 48-year-oldBoudicca (below) was last serving as an accommodation vessel at Pendik, near the Tuzla Shipyard in Turkey. She was built in 1973 by WärtsiläHelsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky. But earlier this month, the 21,500-ton the ship was beached for scrapping at nearby Aliağa.
The ship certainly had a diverse history. In 1991–1992, she began sailing for Norwegian Cruise Lines as the Sunward – and then alternating, in summers, as the Baltic-based Birka Queen. Between 1993 and 1997, she sailed for Princess Cruises as their Golden Princess. Then, it was to Hong Kong-based Star Cruises in 1997–1998 as the SuperStar Capricorn followed by a charter 1998–2001 as the South Korean-operated Hyundai Keumgang. She went back to Star Cruises in 2001–2004, again as the SuperStar Capricorn, before going on charter in 2004–2005 as Grand Latino for Spain’s Ibero Cruises. She joined Fred Olsen in 2005, becoming the Boudicca.
Above: Victoria & United States at New York (1965)
Out of the old shoebox:
Above: The classic Michelangelo seen at Genoa – with Lauro Lines’ Roma & the Rumanian Transylvania also in port.
Below: A splendid painting of the outbound Aquitania
Thank you to all our readers, correspondents, those “agents” in faraway places!
MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO’S DOWNTOWN AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Mayor Breed’s Downtown Recovery Plan includes a series of performances and events, downtown community ambassadors, and improvements to Hallidie Plaza, to beautify and reactivate key public spaces throughout Downtown and Union Square and welcome the return of downtown employees and visitors
San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced a series of new investments to support Downtown San Francisco and the city’s economic recovery. Mayor Breed’s Downtown Recovery Plan seeks to attract workers and visitors back to the city’s downtown area, thereby advancing the city’s broader economic vitality and recovery. As San Francisco approaches full reopening, the Mayor plans to invest in activations and community ambassadors to make Downtown and Union Square feel welcoming, engaging, and open for business. This Plan complements the Mayor’s recently announced Mid-Market Vibrancy and Safety Plan.
“A vibrant, thriving, and healthy Downtown is essential to San Francisco’s recovery. Our downtown is a core part of our city,” said Mayor Breed. “As we continue reopening and moving forward on our recovery, we need to make investments now to ensure our downtown area is welcoming, clean, and attractive, so that people want to come back and spend time in the area.”
As businesses reopen and workers return over the summer, and as more people begin to visit San Francisco, Mayor Breed is proposing the Downtown Recovery Plan to support their return. The Downtown Recovery Plan includes an expansion of the number of ambassadors in the downtown and Union Square areas; a series of events and activations throughout Downtown, at the site of the temporary Transbay Terminal, and along the waterfront; and improvements at Hallidie Plaza, the entrance to the Powell Street BART Station and site of the Cable Car turnaround.
The Mayor is proposing to support these programs with $9.5 million in funding in her proposed City budget. The Mayor’s proposed two-year budget will be introduced on June 1, 2021. If approved in the budget, Ambassadors could be on the street by late summer. Smaller events and performances are planned to begin in July. The Transbay and Port activations are already moving forward and slated to begin this summer.
These initiatives go hand-in-hand with Mayor Breed’s efforts to support businesses in San Francisco and enliven commercial corridors throughout the city with the Shared Spaces program and the Small Business Recovery Act. Mayor Breed has introduced legislation to make the Shared Spaces program permanent beyond the pandemic and is advancing the Small Business Recovery Act to make it easier for small businesses to recover, open, and operate in San Francisco. These efforts are especially important for San Francisco’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as they will help existing businesses succeed and attract new commercial activities to neighborhoods throughout the city.
Downtown Recovery Plan
Community Ambassadors
The Mayor is proposing to invest $7.5 million to expand the presence of Community Ambassadors in Downtown transit hubs and key tourist destinations. Community Ambassadors will provide a consistently welcoming atmosphere for returning office workers, residents, and tourists in the downtown area and support the reopening of storefront businesses. They will engage with commuters and visitors to provide hospitality and wayfinding services, engage with people who may be in distress to address safety issues and access appropriate City services, and will monitor and maintain the appearance and cleanliness of sidewalks and public spaces, calling in issues to City departments as needed.
Starting in late summer, approximately 50 Community Ambassadors will be stationed at downtown transit hubs and tourist destinations in the Union Square, Financial District, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown neighborhoods. The Community Ambassador program builds on the success, augments the resources of, and will coordinate with similar programs created by area Community Benefit Districts.
Events and Performances
Mayor Breed is committed to supporting the arts and creating vibrant, cultural opportunities that allow residents and visitors to reconnect with public spaces. As part of the Downtown Recovery Plan, the Mayor is proposing $1 million to create “SFWednesdays,” an ongoing series of activations in various downtown locations, starting in July. This will include a series of open-air events ranging from small lunch-time events to larger programs in Downtown’s iconic plazas. In creating these performances and activities, San Francisco will reinvigorate downtown public spaces, employ local artists and arts organizations, and support downtown small businesses by encouraging the return of people to our downtown area.
The City is working with the local arts community to develop activations that reflect and celebrate the unique and diverse cultural make-up of San Francisco. This series of events will take place on at least 10 Wednesdays between July and October. The two-hour events will take place at transit hubs, public plazas, and pedestrian streets and alleyways between 12:00pm-6:00pm. More information will be added online:sfwednesdays.com
San Francisco will also soon launch a range of programs at the former temporary Transbay Terminal site with a series of events and activities for people in the neighborhood and visitors. OCII’s Commission is scheduled to hear the recommended activation proposal and confirm the operator of this activation on June 1 and, if approved, the programs on this site would begin in July 2021.
The Port of San Francisco is organizing a series of “Pop-up Parks” in parks and public spaces along San Francisco’s waterfront. Events and activities are expected to begin in August 2021.
Hallidie Plaza Improvements
Mayor Breed is also proposing $1 million in her proposed budget to support beautification and other improvements to Hallidie Plaza, which is the gateway to Union Square at the Powell Street BART station. These improvements will include cleaning, installation of plants and greenery and colorful furniture, as well as increased food and beverage options for visitors and commuters who are disembarking from BART and the Cable Car.
Support for the Downtown Recovery Plan
Kate Sofis, Director, Office of Economic and Workforce Development
“Like people across the country, San Franciscans are ready to get out of the house and back to the bustle of the City. Union Square retailers and Downtown companies draw shoppers, tourists and workers who in turn support our city’s world-renowned hospitality industry from diverse local restaurants to bars and nightlife venues to our museums and family entertainment establishments. These areas are culturally iconic and economically essential parts of San Francisco and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to them.”
Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs, San Francisco Arts Commission
“By jump starting cultural activities downtown, the City is signaling to our San Francisco and Greater Bay Area residents, We Are Open and We Welcome You Back! The artists and performances that will enliven these downtown plazas beautifully reflect our city’s racial equity values; they will bring vitality and life back to our streets, and help everyone remember why San Francisco is so special. We champion and celebrate the BIPOC artists that make us a world-class destination. In addition to awakening the soul after this year-long slumber of sorts, and re-engaging with our shared humanity, these arts programs will also increase the economic activity downtown, which the city also needs.”
Karin Flood, Executive Director, Union Square Business Improvement District
“San Francisco and Union Square are resilient, and our businesses are eager to welcome back residents, visitors and workers. We are pleased that the Mayor has heard the recommendations of our own Union Square Economic Recovery Task Force, which called for more events and activations in the public realm. These additional City investments, especially in Union Square Park and in Hallidie Plaza – the gateway to our district – are key to our economic recovery. We support Mayor London Breed’s budget request for more “eyes and ears” on the street helping to ensure that San Francisco lives up to its promise as a vibrant world-class city.”
Rodney Fong, CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
“Our city’s economy depends on the vibrancy of our downtown core. San Francisco downtown businesses bring in hundreds of thousands of local jobs, commuters, and visitors who are essential to the success of our small businesses. The Mayor’s budget proposal allows us to embrace this moment and invest in our city’s future.”
Kevin Carrol, President and CEO, Hotel Council
“San Francisco’s arts and cultural scene are one of the reasons people visit San Francisco. This summer, whether visitors come from in-state, out-of-state or outside the country, San Francisco will be ready to welcome them. This #SFWednesdays initiative highlighting local artists is just the ticket to enliven our public spaces.”
Joe D’Alessandro, President and CEO, San Francisco Travel Association
“We have an opportunity to make visitors feel safe and welcome as we begin to bring them back and show them all that our beautiful city has to offer. Tourism is San Francisco’s number one economy, fueling tens of thousands of jobs and supporting our small businesses. This focused investment on the downtown core will reap huge benefits for the city at large.”
Peter Quartaroli, Managing Partner, Sam’s Grill
“Sam’s Grill has been in San Francisco since 1867 and has weathered through thick and thin. We are excited for the efforts that the city has planned to revitalize downtown. We’re happy to invite one and all to come enjoy downtown San Francisco and stop by Sam’s. We are made for this!”
Mid-Market Vibrancy and Safety Plan
The Downtown Recovery Plan complements Mayor Breed’s recently announced efforts to create a safer and more welcoming environment in the Mid-Market area. The Mid-Market Vibrancy and Safety Plan includes both a visible increase in police presence to deter criminal activity and a community ambassador program to connect people in need with services, and provide a welcoming presence for residents, workers, visitors, and businesses. Community-based safety ambassadors will be stationed on every block of the area from Powell Station (5th Street) to 8th Street on Market Street and adjacent areas just south of Market Street, UN Plaza, and the Tenderloin blocks bordered by Larkin Street and Eddy Street.
CRUISING, CRUISE SHIPS & THE COVID PANDEMIC – MAY 18, 2021
From Bill Miller
May 2021
Thu May 13th Norwegian Cruise Lines’ next new ship initially will sail in Northern Europe before moving to North America for voyages out of New York City, the line announced on Monday. Scheduled to debut in Aug 2022, the 3,215-passenger Norwegian Prima (below) also will offer voyages out of Galveston, Texas; and Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida, during its first year in operation. Currently under construction at a shipyard near Venice, Italy, the $950 million Norwegian Prima will be the first of a much-awaited new series of vessels for Norwegian that are scheduled to debut over the next six years. Norwegian has announced few details of the new vessels other than that they’ll measure around 140,000 tons — about 15% to 17% smaller than the Breakaway Plus Class ships the line has unveiled in recent years.
Among the inaugural voyages planned are: A 12-night, transatlantic sailing from Southampton, England, to New York starting on Sep 23rd, 2022, with calls at Lerwick, Scotland; Reykjavík, Iceland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia; and a five-night, roundtrip voyage to Bermuda out of New York on Oct 10th.
Fri May 14th Holland America: It was smooth seas and fair winds for Holland America Line’s newest ship, the 100,000-ton Rotterdam, which returned in the evening of May 6 to Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard in Italy, after successfully completing two sets of sea trials off the country’s Adriatic coast.
Norwegian Cruise Lines is about to up the ante when it comes to the suite life on megaships. The world’s fourth-largest cruise brand on Wednesday announced that its next series of vessels would have the largest variety of suite categories available at sea, including three-bedroom suites that are larger than anything that has emerged from other lines in recent years. The six-ship series also will boast a higher staff-to-passenger ratio and a higher space-to-passenger ratio than other recently built big cruise ships, allowing for a higher-end experience across the board.
Royal Caribbean: The annual “Monsters of Rock Cruise” is set to sail on the Freedom of the Seas in 2022, marking the sailing’s 10th anniversary Departing out of Miami, Florida, promoter On The Blue announced the five-night full ship charter cruise will set sail Feb 9th to 14th and visit two ports in CocoCay, Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti, and feature performances from Alice Cooper, along with performances from over 35 artists.
Viking Ocean Cruises announced the “restart of limited operations” from locations including Bermuda, with the cruises “available exclusively for vaccinated guests.” The cruise line’s website shows sailings from Bermuda in June and July of this year, and the itinerary shows the ‘Bermuda Escape’ 8-day cruise will visit all three Bermuda ports – Hamilton, Dockyard and St George’s — with prices starting at $1,799.
Update from Southampton: Dave Smith reports “The P & O ship Britannia has been docked in the Ocean Terminal on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, but do not know when she is sailing. Rumor has it that the brand new Iona [also P&O] is due in port next week.”
Sat May 15th New Guidelines: In a major win for cruise fans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention updated its Conditional Sailing Order on May 12 to loosen mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated cruise passengers. The update also allows vaccinated cruise passengers to explore independently on shore at ports of call.
In the updated rules for the resumption of cruises, the CDC says cruise ship operators “at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.” The CDC further says cruise lines may allow fully vaccinated passengers to explore ports on their own. The agency says those who are vaccinated “may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors.” The CDC notes, however, that foreign countries could have their own requirements concerning independent port exploration.
Immediately, lines began putting out information. Masks will not be required at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Vicki Freed, the line’s senior vice president of sales, said in her Wednesday Coffee Talk. The CDC has been meeting frequently with cruise lines since it updated its guidance for test cruises and restricted startup cruises last week. The updates included rules for mask wearing, social distancing and shore excursions.
Cruise line officials, including Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, had criticized the agency for not issuing separate guidance for passengers who are fully vaccinated, as opposed to those who are not. Norwegian Cruise Line has committed to sailing ships with 100 percent vaccinated passengers and crew through October. Cited as particularly onerous in the original guidance were restrictions on how long cruise passengers can take off their masks to dine, as well as rules to wear a mask outdoors by the pool. The updates appear to address some of these concerns.
Carnival Cruise Lines this week notified its guests and travel advisor partners of cancellations for additional sailings as it works toward plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami. Further, if Carnival can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, the Carnival Miracle will assume some of Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle. Given that there is still some uncertainty in our ability to operate these cruises, guests booked on those sailings who wish to make alternate summer vacation plans may cancel without penalty by May 31, 2021 and receive a full refund. The company is cancelling sailings on all other ships through July 30th. Guests whose cruises are cancelled are eligible for a future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) or a full refund. Separately, late last week Carnival notified its guests that the Carnival Splendor’s pause out of Sydney was extended another month, as it cancelled sailings from Aug 19th to Sept. 17th.
Further CDC Update: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has seemingly lightened up on its complex cruise regulations, releasing an update to its COVID-19 operation guidelines for cruise lines wanting to operate from U.S. ports under the agency’s Conditional Sail Order. While the CDC stressed its mask order remains in effect, it said that “cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.” The CDC also noted that cruise lines may allow fully vaccinated passengers to go ashore on their own, instead of having to participate in organized group tours.
New Cruise Line: Former Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) bosses have reunited to launch Ambassador Cruise Line, a UK-based operator aimed at the over 50s market which plans to start sailing with one ship in Apr 2022. Ambassador will operate cruises on the Ambience, formerly known as the Regal Princess and then Pacific Dawn, a P&O Australia-based ship, which had been set to become CMV’s flagship under the name Amy Johnson.
The 1,400-passenger ship’ maiden voyage will be a “short-break cruise” out of Tilbury to Hamburg, Germany, starting on Apr 6th next year. The ship’s debut full-year program, running from Apr 2022 until May 2023, will include 33 sailings, calling at 88 ports across the Baltics, Greenland, the Arctic and Iceland. During the winter months, Ambassador plans to offer “expedition-style voyages” to the Canaries, Cuba, the Caribbean, Cape Verde and Scandinavia. All passengers and crew will be required to be vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to departure, the line confirmed.
Sun May 16thAlaska: The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that will allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate in Alaska without calling on a Canadian port as the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act was passed on Thursday. It’s a huge step to saving part of the 2021 Alaska cruise season.
Update on Restarts: The three largest cruise brands are targeting different restart plans should get the green light to cruise in July from U.S. ports, according to recent announcements and comments from executives.
Carnival Cruise Line said earlier this week it is hoping for a July restart in the U.S. on select ships. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including the Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.
Royal Caribbean International “We believe we are now seeing a clear way forward to safe cruising in the near future,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, on the company’s business update call in late April.
Added Michael Bayley, CEO and president of the Royal Caribbean International brand: “With what (CDC letter) we received last night July looks very realistic (for restarting cruises in North America).” As for the Alaska season, Fain noted there are uncertainties and that service resumption may require a waiver from the Passenger Vessels Service Act as long as Canada will not allow ship calls. Alternatively, Canada could allow technical calls. “Given the momentum, there is reason for optimism,” Bayley added.
Norwegian Cruise Line had intended to restart in the United States on Jul 4th, having submitted what it referred to as an ironclad plan and letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in early April. But as of early May, and with no reply from the CDC, company executives said that a July restart from U.S. ports won’t be happening. “The July U.S. launch at least from our company, it’s just not possible,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, on the company’s first quarter earnings call in early May.
More News from the UK: Two of our top UK agents, Dave Smith & Nick Braddock report that P&O Cruises’s brand new Iona (below) will arrive today (Sun May 15th) at Southampton for the first time. German built, the $1 billion ship has been laid-up (mostly in Norway) since delivery last year. The 184,000-ton Iona is the largest British owned passenger ship yet, measures 1,130 feet in length and can carry up to 5,200 passengers. A sistership, the Arvia, is now under construction.
Mon May 17th Getting Closer! The cruise industry is getting closer to a restart in the United States as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released another update to its Conditional Sail Order late last Friday. The update added new sections for the screening of embarking passengers for restricted voyages, testing of embarking and disembarking passengers for restricted voyages, test selection and specifications for passenger screening testing on restricted voyages, and onboard COVID-19 testing for symptomatic passengers and their close contacts. In short, the changes continue to open the door for cruise lines to operate with ease if passengers and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Late last night we received multiple updates to the CSO from the CDC,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a Saturday morning social media post. “All reflect the significant progress made with the vaccines. Reading the updates last night and this morning give me increased optimism. Today the light at the end of this long dark tunnel is bright. One step at a time!”
Change at Royal Caribbean: With an ongoing conflict involving Israel, Royal Caribbean International is expected to cancel or at least significantly adjust its summer season from Haifa on the new Odyssey of the Seas. According to a report from Crew Center, staff aboard the ship have already been informed the season has been scrapped. Industry sources indicated earlier in the week that the company would need to at least delay the season amid ongoing violence in the region. Now it appears the ground-breaking home-porting operation, which was set to see Royal Caribbean make history by putting a brand new ship into Israel, will need to wait.
Thank you to all our readers, correspondents, those “agents” in faraway places!
