PRINCESS
CRUISES confirmed that last months fire aboard the Star
Princess that led to one passenger death and damaged 100 cabins
started on one of the ships balconies. As a result of its findings,
Princess is immediately implementing precautions designed to
prevent such a fire from happening again and to detect and
extinguish one if it did:
" 24-hour fire
watch of balconies: Crewmembers will be posted on the bridge wings
of each Princess ship to watch the balconies full-time. (All
balconies are visible form the bridge wings.)
" Specific training
and fire-response procedures for the crew, especially for handling
fires on balconies, and a new balcony fire drill as well as
enhanced communication to passengers regarding fire
safety.
" Changing
housekeeping procedures on balconies, such as instructing room
stewards to put personal items left on balconies by passengers back
in the room and to observe balconies during other
visits.
THE PRIDE
OF HAWAII remains in Germany this week, delayed due to
repairs needed on its Azipod propulsion system, Norwegian Cruise
Line said. Problems were detected last week during sea trials, when
it was deemed necessary to replace bearings on the vessel that were
replaced just two weeks ago. The ship will be delivered to NCL once
the complications are resolved. NCL said that the inaugural events
in Los Angeles scheduled for May will proceed as planned, including
its inaugural event on May 20.
ATLANTIS
EVENTS chartered Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas, the
worlds largest cruise ship, for an all-gay cruise to the Caribbean
in January. The charter will be the first for the Freedom of the
Seas, which holds up to 3,700 guests. The announcement came just
days after RSVP Vacations said it had chartered the worlds
second-largest ship, the Queen Mary 2, for a gay-and-lesbian
transatlantic cruise, set to depart in May 2007.
REGENT
SEVEN SEAS CRUISES and Regent Hotels will be consolidated
under one management structure, headed by Regent President Mark
Conroy, who will take on responsibility for all global relationship
and brand governance. Conroy was previously president of the cruise
line, which changed its name from Radisson to Regent last month.
Regent also announced various other changes to its Fort Lauderdale
headquarters organizational structure.
Cruise
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