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Carnival Cruise Line provides statement on Carnival Freedom fire

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

On Thursday morning while in port at Grand Turk, Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel. All guests and crew are safe, and all other ship, hotel, and guest services, along with safety equipment are fully functioning.

While the majority of Carnival Freedom’s guests went ashore in Grand Turk today, Carnival’s technical team completed an initial assessment of the funnel and related features, and the shoreside team completed a plan to get our guests back to Port Canaveral.

There are 2504 guests and 972 crew on board. Carnival Conquest’s next cruise, departing May 27 from Miami has been cancelled and that ship will be deployed to Grand Turk to transport Freedom guests back to Port Canaveral. Carnival Conquest will arrive to Grand Turk on Saturday, May 28 and guests aboard Carnival Freedom will transfer to Carnival Conquest for the voyage back to Port Canaveral, arriving on Monday, May 30. Carnival Conquest will then return to Miami, and her May 30 departure will be shortened by one day, with guests embarking on May 31.

Once guests are transferred from Carnival Freedom, the ship will proceed to Freeport for a repair to the funnel. The May 28 departure of Carnival Freedom from Port Canaveral has been cancelled. Guests booked on the impacted sailings on Carnival Conquest and Carnival Freedom voyages have been notified of these changes.

Carnival apologized to all those guests who are impacted and offered special thanks to the crew who handled the situation on the ship effectively and according to safety protocols.

Carnival said to be in talks with Saudi fund over Seabourn sale

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Carnival Corporation & plc, which is the world’s largest cruise company, is reportedly in talks to sell its luxury brand Seabourn Cruise Line to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

CNBC reports that “people familiar with the situation” told them about the negotiations. Carnival refused to comment on rumours or speculation to CNBC, while the Saudi fund did not reply to their inquires.

Seabourn has a fleet office ships, with a 23,000 gross ton expedition cruise ship newbuilding called Seabourne Venture due to sail on its maiden voyage in the summer and a similar ship scheduled to enter service in the spring of next year

The Carnival group has massive debts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that led to the suspension of virtually all its operations for months. Equity accounted for only $10.3 billion of there group’s $53.3 billion balance sheet at the end of February, i.e. the first quarter of its financial year.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to celebrated onboard Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships will offer the chance to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style over the long Bank Holiday weekend, with the festivities starting aboard ‘royal’ ship Balmoral next week, the company said in a statement.

Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for 70 years, making her the longest serving monarch in British history, while Balmoral is also the name of her 40,000 acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.

Daytime activities include Corgi Racing, a royal twist on Fred. Olsen’s ever-popular Dolphin Racing; Victoria Sponge and ‘Platinum Pudding’ competitions between the fleet’s expert chefs; a British teatime, offering a traditional British take on Afternoon Tea; specially themed cooking demonstrations and royal trivia quizzes, to name just a few.

These royal celebrations are in addition to an on-board enrichment programme designed to showcase and celebrate each port of call, with scenic voyages to Scottish islands and the Faroe Isles setting sail over the long Bank Holiday weekend. Departures for these cruises are available from Liverpool, Belfast and Newcastle.

Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “It’s not too late to plan a trip over the long Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. We have a host of activities planned, and we’re inviting you all to join us to mark the occasion in quintessentially British style on what promises to be a memorable few days. In keeping with the street parties taking place all over the UK, if you are sailing with us on the Thursday and Friday you can join us for a ‘street fayre’ out on deck, with live music, games and activities to enjoy. All of our ships will be adorned with Union Jack bunting and red, white and blue decorations and there will be special events aplenty for you to enjoy in the Jubilee spirit on board.

“You can dress-to-impress in your favourite red, white and blue outfits, join us for a rousing British sing-a-long and wave your Union Jacks on British Night, which will include themed dinner menus and entertainment.

Azamara’s all four ships in service

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Azamara, the destination focused cruise operator of four ships, said its fleet of four ships has returned to the high seas.

“I am beyond thankful to our hard-working team and dedicated crew members for all the incredible work and effort that has brought us to this exciting moment,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.

“Thanks to them, our four-ship fleet are all sailing for the first time ever, allowing us even more opportunities to immerse our guests in the smaller ports and hidden gem destinations of the world,” she said in a statement.

The company’s current programme includes 392 overnight stays and 862 late evening departures, plus more than 3,000 shore excursions, the company said.

Cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong could resume in July - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 May 2022 24 May 2022

Mainland Chinese cruise ship Piano Land could provide cruises to nowhere in Hong Kong in July to cater to demand for these trips after two vessels offering such services left the city for Singapore, the South china Morning Post reports.

Sources the paper had spoken to reportedly said Astro Ocean Cruise – a brand invested in and operated by state firms China National Travel Service Group Corporation and China COSCO Shipping – and the Hong Kong government were in talks to bring Piano Land services to the city.

The ship was built as Oriana for P&O Cruises in the UK by Meyer Werft in Germany in 1995 and it was one of the vessels that the Carnival group disposed of in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.