THE
ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS is
operating on schedule after a construction barge struck the vessel
during its call in Key West, Fla., creating a six-foot hole in the
ship's hull. Royal Caribbean International was able to make
temporary repairs to the puncture area, which is on the forward
port side of the hull, about six feet above the water line. The
line said none of the 2,040 passengers or 741 crew onboard were
injured in the crash, which occurred at 8 a.m. on Nov. 5, while the
Enchantment was docked at its berth in Key West.
CRUISE
SHIPS resumed visits to Grand
Cayman last week with calls by Carnival Cruise Lines' Imagination
and Inspiration. A maximum of two cruise ships are permitted in
port at one time through Nov. 13, according to McKeeva Bush, the
Cayman Islands' minister of tourism. Bush said that during that
time, the situation would be monitored closely and additional ships
"will be added as deemed appropriate, depending on an assessment of
the situation and port facilities."
REPOSITIONING
SEASON is coming to a close,
with ships making their way to warm waters via the Atlantic Ocean
or the Panama Canal. The Grand Princess arrived in its new
homeport, Galveston, after its fall foliage cruises in the
Northeast; the Carnival Miracle made its way to Tampa from
Baltimore; the Westerdam joined the Veendam and Volendam in Florida
last weekend; and several ships from luxury lines Crystal, Radisson
Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn and SeaDream are stateside after
their summers in Europe.
NEWS
BRIEFS:
· Actress Julie Andrews
will be one of the celebrity guests on the Crystal Serenity's 2005
world cruise. Andrews acted as the Serenity's godmother during the
ship's July 2003 debut.
· Celebrity Cruises inked a
credit card deal with MBNA America Bank to create the Celebrity
Rewards WorldPoints Visa. Cardholders earn double points for buying
Celebrity cruises and can redeem points for air travel, hotel and
car reservations and other benefits.
STAR
CRUISES said it is in
preliminary discussions with "potential business partners," but the
company, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines, did not
reveal details of the discussions. An unusual spike in the stock
price prompted the company to suspend trading of its shares on the
Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges on Oct. 27. In a statement,
Star said the company "from time to time" engages in discussions
with potential business partners "with respect to tourism-related
business." Star Cruises added that discussions are "in a
preliminary stage and may or may not materialize."