Travelscopes MS Van Gogh Starts World Cruise

Travelscopes MS Van Gogh Started her world cruise today even though some 40,000 potential passengers will not enjoy their cruises this year. The Travelscope world cruise was sold through a Dutch based cruise club and is not affected by the troubles that Travelscope find themselves in following by the December announcement that they are in receivership.

P&O Juggle with Activities

P&O Cruises have announced they are to introduce “Cirque Ventura” onboard Victoria when she joins the fleet this Spring.

Cirque Ventura
is a Circus School that will include training in tight wire walking, acro balance, break-dancing, juggling, stilt walking and (I am not joking here) clowning.

Along with these features are four bungee trampolines, first seen on Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas, which will spring passengers to up to 60 metres above sea level, if that is not enough, how about a flying trapeze. The flying trapeze will be offered in conjunction with other activities during a two-hour circus workshop, with up to eight people at a time able to participate.

Noro-Victoria Strikes

It has been reported that the legendary though unwanted Norovirus has struck passengers and crew on Queen Victoria’s maiden voyage. A type of gastrointestinal flu that causes vomiting and diarrhea, the Norovirus is found all to often in enclosed spaces such as ships and hospitals.

Travelscope Sink into Administration

A message on Travelscopes website states that the company has gone into administration. Based in Gloucester UK, Travelscope charters the Dutch owned MS Van Gogh a small15,420-ton, 506-passenger ship that was built in 1975.

Some 40,000 passengers will be affected during 2008, except for those on the January 4th World cruise, this apparently was sold through another company, a Dutch based cruise club and has been paid for in full.

Fred. Olsen Add Fuel Surcharge

Fred. Olsen Cruises, the independent UK based has, like many other cruise lines, introduced a fuel surcharge on their cruises.

The surcharge has been set at £2.50 per person per day (about $5) and applies to double occupancy only (third and fourth passengers sharing a cabin will not have to pay). Fred. Olsen have said that they will place a cap of £50 per person ($100) for longer voyages.

Artemis Facelift

P&O Cruises’ Artemis is currently under going a face-lift in Bremerhaven in time for her 84 night South America cruise, which is set to depart on 17 December.

Now 23 years old, Artemis started life with Princess Cruises and was known as Royal Princess, before moving to P&O where she is one of two child free ships run by the UK based company. The other child free ship being Arcadia which is the cruise lines largest ship, until Ventura is launched that is.

Camilla Hits The Bottle

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall today christened Cunard’s Queen Victoria in Southampton, however the bottle failed to break. Queen Victoria is the latest Cunarder and will cruise across the Atlantic with the QE2 to join Queen Mary 2 in New York in January 2008. QE2 is to be sold for $100 and will become a Hotel in Dubai, however she will be replaced by another Queen Elizabeth in a couple of years.

Island Cruises Update

Island Cruises, jointly owned by both Royal Caribbean and First Choice holidays have cancelled the next cruise of Island Star after a catastrophic power failure caused by was has been reported as an explosion but probably more like a generator failure.

A source told us that the they were watching a show in the Theatre at about 8pm when there was a loud “Bang” followed by the power failing. Further sources quoted that the ship was not running under any form of power, though this has yet to be substantiated. Eventually the ship was able to limp into Villefrance were engineers were able to join the ship about 4pm. At about 7pm the engineers tried to re-instate the power which lasted but 2 minutes. Soon afterwards the Captain announced that the Cruise was being cancelled and that all the passengers would be flown home the next day.

Without any power the rooms had no air conditioning and apparently many passengers slept with their doors ajar in order to try and quell the heat. Many passengers were disgruntled and Island Cruises eventually did offer some free drinks in the bars and are compensating their passengers.

Island Star Cancels Cruise

Rumours are afloat (sorry about the pun) that the Island Cruises has canceled a cruise on the Island Star, part way through the week apparently caused by some form of explosion (not suspicious) ! Though not yet confirmed, this will be a big blow (sorry pun) to the cruise line as Island Cruises only has two ships, the Island Star and the Island Escape. Apparently the ship limped into Villefranche in France and the guests where not told till later that day of the cancellation.

Island Cruises operate out of Palma in the summer, with the both the Island Cruises and Island Escape cruising from Brazil in the winter. The Island Star however will sail in the Caribbean for the first time (as Island Star) during the winter of 2008.

Island Cruises was is jointly owned by both Royal Caribbean and First Choice holidays.

Southampton Gets Independence

Royal Caribbean International today announced plans to deploy Independence of the Seas - the third in its new Freedom class of ships - in Southampton, United Kingdom, when she debuts in May 2008. Sharing the title of the largest, most innovative cruise ship in the world with sister ships, Freedom of the Seas and the soon-to-be-launched Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe.

“This significant step is part of the company’s strategy of international business development and expansion into emerging and high-growth cruise markets,” said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, at a press conference in London today. “We have already seen tremendous growth of the cruise industry in Europe. This year, 21 percent of the capacity of our three brands combined - Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Pullmantur - will be in this region. Bringing this new generation of megaships to the Southampton, the home of UK cruising, will further develop our global operations and reinforce cruising as an enticing Holiday option for travellers in this region.” For more information on Independence of the Seas click link.

Currently under construction in Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, Independence of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean International in May 2008 and will feature the line’s signature innovations including the FlowRider® surf simulator, the H2O Zone water park, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall and a boxing ring. The 3,634-guest cruise ship will sail the 2008 summer season from Southampton, United Kingdom. “Our decision to base the newest and most exciting ship in Southampton will offer our guests an easy, convenient and affordable way to see several legendary European landmarks and exciting destinations without having to repeatedly unpack their suitcases,” said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International “The amenities available onboard Independence of the Seas will give a fresh face to cruising in Europe and the Mediterranean providing guests with a variety of options to create their own unique adventure.”

Following a series of preview sailings in Oslo, Norway ; Hamburg, Germany and Southampton; UK. Independenceof the Seas will embark on her maiden voyage in mid-May 2008, alternating 14-night ‘Mediterranean Treasures’ and ‘Italian Mediterranean’ itineraries. Ports of call for the ‘Mediterranean Treasures’ itinerary include Gibraltar, UK; Barcelona, Spain; Nice, France; Florence/Pisa, Italy; Sardinia, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; and Malaga and Vigo, Spain. Guests on the ‘Italian Mediterranean’ cruises will experience the destinations of Gibraltar; Cannes/Monte Carlo, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Sardinia in Italy; Seville and Vigo, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal. Guests can also enjoy two four-night getaways from Southampton to Cork, Ireland and St. Peter Port in the Channel Islands. Three 11-night Canary Islands itineraries, also roundtrip from Southampton, will round out the fall season, calling in Madeira, Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria; Lanzarote, Canary Islands; and Vigo, Spain. Independence of the Seas then heads to the Americas for a series of Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Bookings for the European itineraries will be open for sale on March 14 2007. Susan Hooper, senior vice president international, managing director – EMEA, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line said “This exciting announcement further reinforces Royal Caribbean International’s ongoing commitment to the changing face of cruising in Europe”.

Independence of the Seas will join a long list of Royal Caribbean ships in Europe. In the summer of 2007, six ships - the highest number ever for the cruise line - will sail European itineraries stopping in 63 ports of call in Europe alone. Navigator of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas will sail from Southampton and Harwich, England, respectively. In Spain, Voyager of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will be Barcelona-based. Legend of the Seas will homeport in Rome and Splendour of the Seas will sail from Venice, Italy.

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