Satisfied Customers Report on their NSB Freighter Voyages from Le Havre to New York in the Hanjin Palermo and from La Spezia to Singapore in the Hanjin Basel

Happy clients Justin Webb and Stephanie Soleil reported to us today on their voyage this month from Le Havre to New York on the 45,625-tonne NSB container ship Hanjin Palermo:

“Just wanted to say thanks for organizing our container ship cruise. Man did we ever luck out. Smooth seas, good cook, an excellent captain, and we got out of NYC just before Hurricane Irene hit. Phew.”

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Here is Justin’s blog and some photos of their early morning arrival:

Arriving in New York by container ship..

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Equally, Keith and Joyce Woodend wrote us from Singapore on their arrival by cargo ship from La Spezia on NSB’s somewhat larger 68,252-tonne Hanjin Basel:

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““We had a great time on the Hanjin Basel and the Captain and crew were exceptional in offering us whatever we needed including excursions in Barcelona and Port Said arranged by the agents there.  The vessel is only 8 years old and is in excellent shape.  We were very comfortable and can highly recommend NSB as a carrier for passengers.  The only drawback with NSB is that their ships only stay in port from 12 to 24 hours so sometimes it is difficult to get off and go ashore to see anything.”

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The Woodends continue their voyage across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal to Houston in the Rickmers Singapore..

To find out more about freighter travel in NSB Freighter Cruises’ container ships or Rickmers Pearl String’s multi-purpose ships please contact The Cruise People Ltd in London at 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk..

The Cruise Examiner for 29th August 2011 – Royal Caribbean Fails the Avis Test : “We Try Harder” – Other Cruise News: Of Boats and Balconies: Costa Romantica – Tahiti’s Aranui 3 To Be Upgraded

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com
by Kevin Griffin

Royal Caribbean Fails the Avis Test : “We Try Harder” – Other Cruise News: Of Boats and Balconies: Costa Romantica  – Tahiti’s Aranui 3 To Be Upgraded

Almost fifty years ago, in 1962, Avis came up with the advertising slogan “Avis Is Only No. 2, We Try Harder.” Last week, the number two in the cruising world, Royal Caribbean, failed this test by allowing Carnival to try harder while it did nothing, or at least very little. Costa Cruises, in recently announcing that it would add two more decks and some balconies to its Costa Romantica, has joined the ranks of Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line in making alterations to their ships that make them less aesthetically pleasing in order to make more money. And the 200-passenger Aranui 3 is to be upgraded this winter.

THIS WEEK’S STORY

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The Cruise Examiner for 22nd August 2011 – CLIA’s 2011 US Cruise Market Profile Study – Other Cruise News: The Cruise West Fleet Finds New Homes – A Brief History of Great Lakes Cruising

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com
by Kevin Griffin

CLIA’s 2011 US Cruise Market Profile Study – Other Cruise News: The Cruise West Fleet Finds New Homes – A Brief History of Great Lakes Cruising

InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Adventurer will cruise in Alaska

Today, we look the latest Cruise Market Profile Study from the US-based Cruise Lines International Association, which is quite positive in view of other factors bearing on the industry today. More ships from the former Cruise West fleet find homes, with three going to American Safari Cruises and its InnerSea Discoveries operation and the largest of the US-flag ships going to Travel Dynamics International of New York. As Travel Dynamics intend to use this ship, the Yorktown,  in the Great Lakes, we also have a brief look at the history of Great Lakes cruising.

THIS WEEK’S STORY

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The Cruise Examiner for 8th August 2011 – A New Concept in Cruising: STX Europe’s Eoseas – Other Cruise News: Cruising’s Economic Impact In The US – Canadian and US Reaction to North American ECA – Disney’s West Coast Itineraries

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com
by Kevin Griffin

A New Concept in Cruising: STX Europe’s Eoseas – Other Cruise News: Cruising’s Economic Impact In The US – Canadian and US Reaction to North American ECA – Disney’s West Coast Itineraries

Today, we look at a novel LNG-powered sail-assisted pentamaran cruise ship concept from STX Europe, which would bring several new (and old) ideas to the world of cruising: long promenade decks with balcony cabins off, forward-facing lounges, solar panels, split after superstructure and sail power among them. CLIA’s recently released figures reveal that the North American cruise market recovered quite well in 2010, with growth of 10%. In Canada and the US Pacific Northwest, the cruise associations look at the potential effect of the new North American ECA – to take effect in less than a year, it could cost them up to 390,000 cruise passengers. And on the West Coast, we look at progress in Vancouver and new itineraries from Disney.

THIS WEEK’S STORY

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The Cruise Examiner for 1st August 2011: Why Some European Cruise Lines Now Avoid America – Other Cruise News: On Board Drinks Prices in 1983 – The New Celebrity Silhouette

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com
by Kevin Griffin

Why Some European Cruise Lines Now Avoid America – Other Cruise News: On Board Drinks Prices in 1983 – The New Celebrity Silhouette

In the wake of the bureaucratic processing some “foreign” cruise ships have been receiving from the US Department of Homeland Security in recent years, several European-based operators of small to medium-size tonnage have started to avoid making calls in US ports. Now, after the 7-hour delay incurred by P&O’s Arcadia in Los Angeles in late May, we have a look at the situation in a bit more detail as it has affected other operators. On a lighter note, we look at shipboard drink prices in 1983 compared to today. And how the $1.60 Martini became $10 (or more). We also look at the latest changes to Celebrity Cruises’ “Solstice” class, as introduced by the Celebrity Silhouette, christened in Hamburg last week. These include The Lawn Grill, The Porch, The Art Studio and the new Alcoves.

THIS WEEK’S STORY

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