Princess Danae detained and arrested in Dublin over fuel bill claim

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 August 2012 30 August 2012

The High Court in Dublin has ordered the arrest and detention of Princess Danae that arrived in Dublin Port on Thursday, the Irish Independent reports.

"The Princess Danae, which has a capacity to carry more than 800 passengers and crew, has been detained arising out of an alleged failure by its owners to pay an outstanding fuel bill of US$94,000 (€75,000)," the report said.

 

The ship, which is owned by Classic International Cruises in Lisbon, registered in Madeira and flies the flag of Portugal and it arrived in Dublin Port on Thursday morning, and was due to depart at 7pm this evening. 

"Today, at the High Court, Mr Justice Roderick Murphy said he was satisfied to issue a warrant under a 1952 International Maritime Convention allowing for the arrest and detention of the Portuguese registered cruise ship. The application was made ex-parte, where only one side was represented in court," the repott said.

 

The arrest and detention order was sought by Italian registered firm Omega Bunker SRL, who entered into an agreement with the ships owners Waybell Cruises Inc, with a registered address at Panama City, Panama, to supply the vessel with fuel in the Port of Manila the Philippines last April.

 

The owners were then invoiced for $409,000 (€325,000). Ciaran Lewis Bl, for Omega, told the court that this deal was not honoured by the ship's owners.

 

Earlier this year counsel said that his client had the ship detained in the port of Pireaus in Greece over its alleged failure to pay the fuel bill.

 

The ship was released in early June after the parties entered into an settlement agreement.

 

The ship’s owners agreed to make a number of payments in June of July of this year in order to settle the bill.

 

Several payments were made. However, despite that agreement the ship's owners had refused to pay an outstanding amount of $94,000, which Omega claims it is due.

Counsel said his client now wanted the ship restrained from going to sea until security was given that it would receive its money. There was some urgency in the matter, as the ship was due to sail later today.

 

The Judge said that in light of the evidence present to the court he was prepared to grant orders detaining the ship, the report stated

Fred. Olsen offers an antiques-themed cruise for 2013

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 August 2012 30 August 2012

Citing the popularity of antique collection in the UK, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will offer a special antiques-themed cruise in the autumn of 2013, through its onboard enrichment programme, Vistas.

The 14-night so-called “The Art of the Mediterranean” cruise with Balmoral willdepart from Southampton on 27^th September 2013. It will be accompanied by the Danish-born historian, Lars Tharp, as the onboard antiques expert.  

Lars has been a regular cruiser with Fred. Olsen and has hosted a number of talks and lectures across its fleet of four ships

This Mediterranean cruise will first call at Malaga, then on to Palamos, Ajaccio, Mahon and Cartagena, before reaching its final destination, Lisbon, where guests will be offered the delightful mix of palaces, churches, Art Nouveau cafés, and museums, among others. From there Balmoral will sail back to Southampton on 11^th October 2013.

 

P&O Cruises to revamp three ships by 2014

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 29 August 2012 29 August 2012

P&O Cruises, which is part of the Carnival Corp & plc group, says it will refurbish three of its seven ships before the start of 2014, the company said in a leaflet describing its plans.

The first ship earmarked for a facelift is the 77,449 gross ton Oceana, which will spend 15 nights in a dry dock, starting on 5 December this year. The cabins on board will receive £1 million worth of attention, while Le Club, the ship’s night club and bar area, will be totally redesigned and new equipment will be installed. The spa and Horizon Grill will also receive attention. Oceana was built in 2000 as Ocean Princess for sister company Princess Cruises and transferred to P&O Cruises three years later.

On 22 March next year, Ventura that was introduced in 2008, will see the introduction of The Glass House wine bar and restaurant to replace the Ramblas bar area, while dance floor will be fitted on the Atrium. The ship will also receive 18 single cabins. All features are adopted from sister ship Azura that is two years younger than Ventura. The work will be completed on 7 April, according to plans.

Finally, the 2005 built Arcadia is to receive a facelift in December next year, which will see 10 single cabins being introduced. These will take over the floor space of Electra, the night club on board, plus some area of the current casino. The Globe, a secondary lounge, will become the new night club and it will receive a facelift and a glass wall to improve soundproofing.

Ocean Grill, the Marco Pierre White restaurant on the ship, will also receive a new look, while the company promises news regarding the Asian fusion Orchid Restaurant in the near future.

 

Study finds 40% of 15-24 year olds in UK would consider cruise holiday

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 28 August 2012 28 August 2012

A growing number of young people in the UK, aged between 15 and 24, are warming to the idea of going on a cruise holiday in the years to come, the online cruise retailer cruise.co.uk says in a report on its website.

That is according to research conducted by Mintel in which 2,000 people were asked about their views on cruise trips abroad.

“The findings revealed that while only four per cent of those youngsters quizzed had been on a cruise, an impressive 40% admit they would consider one of these packages in the near future,” the report said.

Cruise holidays offer a wealth of entertainment options for young passengers, with onshore activities and days of exploration complemented by onboard entertainment such as cinemas, arcades, swimming facilities and sports areas.