John Honeywell, Author at Captain Greybeard

The new MSC Preziosa in pictures

A small selection from the naming ceremony of MSC Preziosa and my two nights on board in Genoa. Sophia Loren, flanked by Ennio Morricone and Capt Giuliano Bossi On the big screen, the Champagne bottle smashes against the ship's hull Firework finale: a shower of dazzling crystals over Genoa Great view: the ship's Garden Pool, with the city of Genoa behind It's a mug's game: But we couldn't buy these because the ship was in port Time for tea . . . in the exclusive Yacht Club lounge No takers . . . too cloudy for the sunloungers to attract [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 24 March 2013|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Precious performances on a dazzling night as MSC Preziosa is christened

Screen goddess comes nowhere near to describing the appeal of Sophia Loren to her fellow Italians, and it is no surprise that MSC invites her back time after time when they launch a new cruise ship. MSC Preziosa, christened on Saturday, is the 12th ship for which she has been called upon to act as godmother. There is no doubt she does it with style and grace. But it is also clear that, at the age of 78, she remains very much a diva. And I would be prepared to bet that not everything was going her way as the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 24 March 2013|Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Cruise lines launch 2014 plans

It's more than likely you are still looking forward to your 2013 holidays, but cruise lines have been busy this week releasing details of what's new for 2014 - several of them with more ships than ever sailing from a growing number of UK ports. Here are some of the highlights of announcements made during the past few days: A total of 269 cruises visiting 218 places, including 17 maiden calls, in 77 countries. Itineraries include Norway and Iceland, the Baltic, Iberia, Canary Islands, Mediterranean and Caribbean, plus three world cruises. More short break cruises - some 35 - than [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 21 March 2013|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

Magnificent 10 for Viking

There's more to Viking River Cruises than sponsorship of the hit ITV drama series, Broadchurch, and the only mystery yesterday - when the company christened 10 new ships in one go - was how to ensure the Champagne bottles smashed successfully on each one. The ceremony took place in Amsterdam, although six of the ships were named by remote control at a shipyard in Rostock, Germany. Ten ships meant 10 godmothers, who each recited a maritime blessing and cut a ribbon on a waterfront stage lined with red and white balloons. Among them was Lady Fiona Carnarvon (above), chatelaine of [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 21 March 2013|Cruise News|0 Comments

Safety enhancements delay Carnival dry-dock and cancel two cruises

The £100 million refit of cruise ship Carnival Sunshine is to be extended by two weeks in order to incorporate safety enhancements as a result of the recent fires and power failures on other vessels in the company's fleet. Two Mediterranean cruises have been cancelled and the ship - formerly Carnival Destiny - will not now be back in service until May 5. The extra work will address problems highlighted by the loss of power after a fire last month on board Carnival Triumph and the electrical shortcomings which came to light during testing of an emergency generator on Carnival [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 19 March 2013|Cruise News|0 Comments

World cruise Britons shot during armed robbery in Barbados

UPDATE: The two cruise passengers shot in Barbados have left hospital and rejoined Adonia in St Kitts for the voyage back to Britain. The ship returns to Southampton on April 3. One man has been charged with the shooting and a second has been charged with robbery. Two passengers from a P&O cruise ship are in hospital after being shot during an armed robbery in Bridgetown, Barbados. Police say a man of 72 was hit in the left pelvis by a single bullet. A woman aged 59, believed to be his wife, was hit in her right side. They were [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:36+00:00 18 March 2013|Cruise News|2 Comments

Cunard goes casual? Not quite

Cunard has announced an update to its dress codes, describing it as a "loosening of ties" on non-formal nights. Why has it decided to make the change? And from a wider point of view, why are there dress codes at all on cruise ships? When I embarked on my first cruise not far from two decades ago, I welcomed the opportunity to dust off my dinner jacket and pull on a bow-tie (elasticated and pre-tied, by the way - I have never mastered the art of doing it myself). On one memorable Transatlantic crossing aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, every night [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:37+00:00 18 March 2013|Cruise Gossip|4 Comments

Sabotage, or plain bad luck?

The spate of power and propulsion-related incidents that has recently afflicted cruise ships owned by Carnival Corporation has prompted one Wall Street observer to speculate wildly that the company could be the victim of sabotage. In reality, however, most of the incidents have been minor and may well have gone unnoticed were it not for social media, and passengers using Facebook, Twitter and internet forums. In the past, the fact that a ship was delayed mid-cruise would have passed unnoticed and unremarked. The fact that a port call had been cut short or missed entirely would have remained a matter [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:37+00:00 18 March 2013|Cruise Gossip|0 Comments

QM2 in magnificent Fjordland

Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 made history today as the largest vessel to enter New Zealand's spectacular Milford Sound in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fjordland National Park. In the south-west corner of South Island, the sound - named after Milford Haven in Wales - is a 10-mile-lomg inlet hemmed in by granite cliffs rising to 4,000 ft. Mitre Peak, immediately astern of QM2 in the picture, reaches to 5,560 ft The ship continued to nearby Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound during its maiden 12-day circumnavigation of New Zealand. PHOTO BY JAMES MORGAN/CUNARD

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:37+00:00 16 March 2013|Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Marco Polo out until Easter

Damage to Marco Polo, caused when the ship hit the seabed in northern Norway last weekend, is more serious than first thought and it will be out of action until Easter. It had been hoped that a brief spell in dry dock would be sufficient to repair the vessel, which has an ice-strengthened hull. Operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages initially delayed the start of its next cruise from Thursday until tomorrow (Sunday). Passengers have now been informed their holidays are cancelled. The ship will remain at a yard in Antwerp while repairs are carried out. CMV will also be looking [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:37+00:00 16 March 2013|Cruise News|1 Comment