Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Catches Fire near Jamaica

Office_Fire_ExtinguisherA fire broke out aboard Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Wednesday injuring one crew member. Passengers were moved to assembly stations but not evacuated.

The incident happened at about 9:30 a.m. while the cruise ship was pulling into the port of Falmouth, Jamaica. Royal Caribbean International said on its Twitter page that the fire started in a mechanical area and was extinguished a short time later. The passengers were told to put on their life jackets and gather on the deck. The fire suppression system for the vessel was immediately activated and the fire did not spread. Photos posted on social media showed a thick plume of grey smoke coming from an upper deck of the 154,407-ton Freedom of the Seas. Continue reading

Carnival Cruise Line Bans Carry-on Bottled Drinks

800px-Sparkling-bottled-waterCarnival Cruise Line will ban passengers from bringing their own beverages aboard its ships, starting this summer.

The Miami-based cruise operator announced its new beverages policy in a statement earlier this week. Passengers and travel agents are being sent a letter explaining the new rules. Continue reading

New Carnival Cruise Port to Open in October

800px-Carnival_Victory2Carnival Cruise Lines will open a new port of call at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on October 6, 2015, the company officially announced. The new $85-million facility is situated near the city of Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The port will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships currently operating. Continue reading

Young Girl Drowns Aboard Norwegian Gem

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA young girl drowned in a swimming pool aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship off the Carolinas last Sunday afternoon, officials reported. The ship immediatey changed course for Port Canaveral, Florida, arriving about noon on Monday.

The 91,740-gross-ton ship was sailing a 7-day Bahamas and Florida cruise Continue reading

Carnival Boosts its Presence at Port Canaveral

carniva victoryCarnival Cruise Line is planning a major expansion of its presence at Port Canaveral by adding two new ships, announced the officials from the company a couple of weeks ago.

The Carnival Victory will replace the smaller Carnival Sensation and will offer three- and four- day Bahamas cruises. The Victory is 34 per cent larger and has more balcony rooms, features and shipboard amenities. The Sensation will head to Port Miami at that time, replacing the Victory there. Continue reading