Cruise Lines Escape US-Cuba Travel Ban – The Flying Clipper Is Launched – Ex-Russian Ship Converted To Expedition Vessel

The Cruise Examiner for 19th June 2017

Royal Caribbean International’s Empress of the Seas arriving in Havana for the first time, on April 23, 2017

On Friday, in the “Little Havana” neighbourhood of Miami, surrounded by Cuban Americans, President Donald Trump’s words for Cuba were “we will enforce the ban on tourism.” However, his edict will have very little effect on the cruise lines that have been able to return to Cuba in the last year thanks to a loosening of regulations by former president Barack Obama. In Croatia, meanwhile, the world’s largest sailing ship, the 300-passenger Flying Clipper, was launched for Star Clippers. Finally, Sunstone Ships’ 230-berth Ocean Atlantic has recently re-entered service as an expedtion ship.

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Star Clippers Orders Its First Ship In 15 Years – Riviera Travel’s New “Author” Ships – Absolute Nevada Takes Deutschland

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 1st June 2015

Star Clippers has recently announced plans for a 300-berth square-rigged ship (above) that will be designed after one of the world’s two largest square-rigger, the France II. Now under construction at Brodosplit Shipyard in Croatia, she will join the fleet in 2017. Elsewhere, UK-based Riviera Travel is in the course of doubling its fleet of owned river ships to four, with the Jane Austen and the Charles Dickens, while Germany’s 550-berth Deutschland has gone to US buyers Absolute Nevada, who will charter her to Semester at Sea as the World Odyssey.

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As The US Recognizes Cuba We Look At Cruising To The Largest Island In The Caribbean – And Two New Ships For Grand Bahama

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 22nd December 2014... ..

Thomson Cruises’ Thomson Dream arriving in Havana, where she began calling in 2011

 

Last week, as a result of a number of meetings in Canada that were arranged through the Vatican, President Obama surprised the world by announcing that after more than half a century, the United States would resume diplomatic relations with Cuba. Today, we have a look at what’s been happening in the cruise business in Cuba. Meanwhile, Costa Cruises’ Costa Celebration arrived in Freeport last Thursday to replace the damaged Bahamas Celebration on the Palm Beach-Freeport route – under her last name of Grand Celebration. What could be more appropriate?. Arriving in port that same week was the S F Alhucemas, a full-hulled replacement for the Fort Lauderdale-Freeport catamaran ferry. Both services will offer cruise and stay packages in conjunction with resort hotels in Grand Bahama, all backed by a $3 million advertising campaign by the Bahamian Government.

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New Cuba Cruise Season Opens – More Reports From China – And Individual Ship News

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 24th November 2014... ..

Louis Cruises’ Louis Cristal departs Piraeus this Friday for Havana and her second season with Canadian operator Cuba Cruise

Last week saw the beginning of a new Cuba cruise season, with regular callers Thomson Cruises, Cuba Cruise and Star Clippers now being joined by small ship operator Variety Cruises. Meanwhile, the competition heats up in China as both Carnival Corp & plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises make another move. And finally, Costa abruptly withdraws the Costa Celebration while Semester at Sea announces the withdrawal of its Explorer and her charter to Celestyal Cruises from next June.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                                 (See previous columns)

Five Transatlantic Sail Opportunities With Star Clippers In 2015 – Schooner Or Square Rigged – Caribbean to Europe And Vice Versa

Star Clippers’ range of extended ocean cruises allows you really to get a feel for life on the open water as you sail across the Atlantic Ocean from one delightful destination to another. Usually these crossings embark from in Europe and travel to a port in the Caribbean, or vice versa, giving you the opportunity to discover two vastly different continents and enjoy a relaxing break at sea in between.

Flights, non UK transfers & port charges included in the following fares

St. Maarten to Lisbon

Departing April 2, 2015 – 18 nights aboard Star Flyer – Visiting: St. Maarten, 12 nights at sea, Punta Delgada, 4 nights at sea and Lisbon – From £1,979 per person, Single from £2,359

Barbados to Rome

Departing April 25, 2015 – 21 nights aboard Royal Clipper – Visiting: Barbados, 10 nights at sea, Punta Delgada, 4 nights at sea, Malaga, Palma, Mahon and Rome – From £2,049 pp, Single from £2,679

Las Palmas to Barbados

Departing October 24, 2015 – 15 nights aboard Star Flyer – Visiting: Las Palmas, Santa Cruz, 13 nights at sea and Barbados – From £1,789* pp, Single from £2,229

Malaga to St. Maarten

October 31, 2015 – 21 nights including Star Clipper – Visiting: Malaga, Safi, Arrecife, Las Palmas,
13 nights at sea and St. Maarten – From £2,539 pp, Single from £3,279

Lisbon to Barbados

November 5, 2015 – 16 nights including Royal Clipper – Visiting: Lisbon, Casablanca, Safi, Tenerife,
10 nights at sea and Barbados – From £2,149 pp, Single from £2,729

For further details of crossing the Atlantic with Star Clippers please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk. In North America call 1-800-961-5536 or e-mail cruise@thecruisepeople.ca.

The Cruise Examiner Samples A Cargo Ship Voyage – Star Clippers To Cruise From Cuba – American Queen Steamboat Company

          THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

          by Kevin Griffin

     The Cruise Examiner for 27th August 2012

Last week The Cruise Examiner sampled freighter travel on a coastal voyage from Southampton to Rotterdam and Hamburg, and today reports on his experience on board the French-flag container ship CMA CGM Chopin. Cargo ship cruises are now offered on over 300 cargo ships worlwise and can be booked through specialist agents such as The Cruise People Ltd. In other news, this weekend Star Clippers announced a program of Cuban cruises for its 170-guest Star Flyer in 2014, while the Great American Steamboat Company has quietly changed its name to the American Queen Steamboat Company, the better to reflect its business as operators of the 436-berth American Queen, while the 150-berth competitor Queen of the Mississippi was christened in Nashville this weekend.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                       (See previous columns)