THE RIGHT PRICE…………….$549
Aug.-Sept.-Oct. 2010: Venice return (Croatia, Greece), 7 nights, Norwegian Gem
Bonus: up to $250 shipboard credit, 10% discount shore excursions; oceanview $699, balcony $949, suite $1,149; stateroom upgrades
Contact: CruisesOnly
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In anticipation of more cruise ships and passengers going to Alaska, the docks of Juneau will be rebuilt so that floating docks will replace the fixed piers currently used. The Juneau Assembly approved the project this week and, if the design part begins by early August, the docks will be operational by 2013.
Who cares?
The cruise ship industry does, because floating docks that rise and fall with the tide make it easier for passengers to get on and off the ship. That’s why we, the passengers, should care. Starting in 2012, Juneau expects to generate $11 million a year in passenger and port improvement fees.
City Port Manager John Stone told the Juneau Empire newspaper: “With three floating docks in the community, as far as cruise ship ports in Alaska, we will be in the best shape.”
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Did you know that the Epic, Norwegian’s new flagship, is the only cruise ship on earth without a permanent library?
Neither did we until we came across an anecdote on goodtopic.com that Norwegian was responding to the revelation by turning a meeting room into a part-time library, with 700 books. However, it will be unavailable to passengers when the meeting room is booked.
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Another we-didn’t-know-this item…
The Queen Victoria’s Godmother is Camilla, the former Camilla Bowles who became the Duchess of Cornwall after she married Prince Charles. That’s Queen Victoria the Cunard ship, of course, and it will be visited by the Godmother herself next week in Liverpool.
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Bulletin from the all-important Cruise Ship Entertainment Department (CSED)…
Carnival, the “fun ship” line, plans to mimic what it tried out on the new Carnival Dream, by offering a dedicated comedy club on every ship.
Just for laughs.
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Evidently Holland America’s experiment in running the Veendam from New York to Bermuda has been a success. USA Today cruise expert Gene Sloan reports that the Veendam will be back in New York for another five-month series of sailings to the popular ports of Hamilton and St. George’s.
Ironically, Holland America’s first cruises to Bermuda were on a 500-passenger ship named the Veendam, 70 years ago!