THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT agreed to review a case brought by disabled
passengers against Norwegian Cruise Line that could determine
whether foreign-flagged ships are subject to the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Two separate U.S. appeals courts have
issued opposing opinions on the case, which prompted the passengers
attorneys to file for Supreme Court review last April. In their
petition to the Supreme Court, the five plaintiffs said, This is no
mere conflict between two circuits, noting that the two appeals
courts that are in disagreement have jurisdiction over the ports
from which nearly two-thirds of all United States cruises depart.
As a result, this conflict renders uncertain the rights of millions
of travelers with disabilities.
MORE NCL
NEWS:
* NCL America has been allowing passengers to cancel cruises on the
Pride of Aloha and receive a full refund. If we cant allay their
apprehension about cruising on the Pride of Aloha, well allow them
to cancel their cruise without penalty, an NCL spokeswoman said. We
havent had that many people taking us up on the offer. The offer is
good through the Pride of Alohas Oct. 17 cruise.
* The Norwegian Dream will head to New Orleans earlier than
scheduled after its planned drydock in the Bahamas was canceled
because of hurricane damage to the shipyard. Two sailings were
added to the Dreams lineup, a pair of western Caribbean cruises
departing Oct. 10 and Oct. 17. Agents will receive a $100 bonus per
cabin on these two sailings.
LOOK FOR NEW
RESTAURANT concepts on Princess Cruises second Caribbean
Princess-type newbuild. Included is a bakery/sandwich shop/coffee
bar and a wine and seafood bar, both on the ground floor of the
atrium; bar food in the Wheelhouse Bar; a new steak and seafood
restaurant; and a newly designed Sabbatinis Italian restaurant,
which will fit in beneath the ships top-deck disco. The second
Caribbean Princess also will drop the spoiler design -- the bar at the top
aft of the ship -- that makes the Grand-class ships so
distinctive.
ROYAL
CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL pulled the plug on its plan to
hinge the bow on the Enchantment of the Seas when the ship is
lengthened next year. The original plan was to enable the tip of
the bow to flip up in order to squeeze the stretched ship into the
Panama Canal locks, but a spokeswoman said that since the ship isnt
scheduled to go through the canal, the hinge project was put on
hold.