Cruise Destinations

No sooner has a Greek taxi drivers' strike ended, than new industrial action is making life difficult for cruise passengers in the Mediterranean. Striking coach drivers at Palma (above), on the island of Mallorca, have forced at least two ships, carrying about 7,000 passengers between them, to cancel visits to the island tomorrow. The industrial action, over a three per cent pay claim, is expected to continue until Sunday. Carnival Magic, on a nine-night cruise which began in Barcelona last Friday (August 5) has changed course for Marseille, where it had originally been expected on a day later. It will [...]

Competition from Liverpool is being blamed for the decision to put plans for a £30 million fifth cruise terminal at Southampton on hold for at least a year. The Government's decision to open up consultation on Liverpool's plans to expand its own terminal - built with help from public money - has brought cries of "foul" from the south coast city, one of the busiest cruise ports in Europe. Southampton port director Doug Morrison told his local paper, the Daily Echo: "When the competition is not fair you have to ask why you would invest another £30 million. If the [...]

Holland America's Prinsendam has been making a big impression on a round-Britain cruise, and was particularly welcome at the north Devon town of Ilfracombe, which had been disappointed in May when sister ship Rotterdam had to cancel a call because of rough weather. The sun wasn't shining on Friday, but local dignitaries and the town crier put on a warm welcome for the 700 passengers, mostly from America, Canada and New Zealand, who came ashore by tender. Maureen Brixius, from Florida, returning from an excursion to Exmoor, said: "We loved it; what's not to like? Even with the rain it [...]

There will be some red faces at Carnival Cruise Line, after two of their ships managed to collide with each other yesterday in Key West, Florida. Goodness knows what the captains had to say to each other as they stood on the quayside examining the minor damage caused when Carnival Fantasy (above) bashed into almost-identical sister ship Carnival Imagination while manoeuvring into port. Admittedly the damage was cosmetic, and no-one was hurt when the ships struck stern-to-stern. The US Coast Guard is investigating, and carried out alcohol and drug tests on key personnel as a matter of routine. Imagination was [...]

The wet weather wasn't exactly welcoming, but Saturday's visit of six cruise ships in a single day is being hailed a success by Southampton's port authorities, who claim they could have handled even more. The picture above shows four of the ships berthed in the harbour; from left, Crown Princess, Balmoral, Artania and Celebrity Eclipse. Elsewhere, Ventura was at the Ocean Terminal and Grand Princess at the QE II building. Click on the image to see it full size. Damian Gevertz, managing director of of CruiseSouthampton.com said: " The additional transport arrangements that ABP Port of Southampton put in place [...]

Cruise ship passengers visiting Bergen got a special treat yesterday when a school of pilot whales swam into the fjord and almost into the city. Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, Costa Deliziosa and Saga Ruby were among the ships in port when about 50 whales decided to put on a spectacular show throughout the afternoon. One local resident told local news outlet bt.no she had never seen anything like it in all the 40 years she had lived overlooking the fjord.