$24M cruise terminal coming in Honolulu

The reinvigoration of the inter-island Hawaiian cruise market driven by the new Norwegian Cruise Line ships Pride of Aloha and Pride of America have inspired the state of Hawaii to build a new Oahu cruise-ship terminal, planned for completion in November 2005.

Honolulu Advertiser: $24M cruise terminal coming

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Regis Philbin to Broadcast From Cruise Ship

Reeeeeg! That's right, Live with Regis and Kelly is setting sail aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's new Pride of America. From June 18-24 the ship will be sailing along the east coast of the US on an introductory cruise with the show aboard before relocating to Hawaii for its year-round 7-night Oahu-roundtrip itineraries.

Pride of America, you may recall, is the ship that sank in 2004 during its construction in a major storm at its shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, adding a lengthy delay to its introduction. Its hull had been one of the two Project America ships commissioned by American Classic Voyages (parent of the American Hawaii cruise line) that went bankrupt post-9/11. NCL scooped up the two hulls, creating the first two new US-flagged cruise ships in many years, the other being Pride of Aloha that is already in service in Hawaii. The US-flagging means that these ships are permitted under the Passenger Services Act to sail inter-island Hawaiian itineraries without the inconvenient and time-consuming detour to a foreign port such as Fanning Island, Kiribati required of foreign-flagged vessels.

AP via Yahoo! News: Regis Philbin to Broadcast From Cruise
Pacific Business News: Pride of America Sinks at Dock

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New U.S. passport rule could hurt Caribbean tourism, regional leaders say

The latest US effort to increase border security may negatively impact tourism--cruising and otherwise--by requiring passports for travel to regions where, today, a certified birth certificate and photo ID would suffice. Our opinion is that it's a good idea anyway.

Current plans call for passports to be required beginning December 31 , 2005 for US citizens returning from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America, and beginning December 31, 2006 for those returning from Canada and Mexico.

Our opinion is that passports have always been the preferred proof of citizenship and identity, especially since travelers are frequently denied boarding when they arrive at the pier with a simple photocopy of a birth certificate, instead of the required certified copy. The passport requirement elimintes any ambiguity.

USA Today: New U.S. passport rule could hurt Caribbean tourism, regional leaders say

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Cruise Ship Returns After Wave Damage

The media feeding frenzy seems to be subsiding over the freak wave that hit Norwegian Dawn, which has returned to regular service. In case you missed it, the 70-foot wave broke the windows in four staterooms, flooded 65, surprised everybody on board, and caused the ship to divert to Charleston for repairs. Norwegian tells us they arranged a charter flight back to New York for the passengers in the flooded staterooms, found hotel rooms and commercial flights for others who wanted to jump ship, and offered everybody a 50% refund on their cruise plus 50% off a future cruise. We think it was a solid response to the situation.

Consipiracy theorists, meanwhile, point to the cruise line's disclosure that the ship was planned for an appearance on The Donald's TV show The Apprentice upon its return to New York as proof that the captain took an unnecessary chance "rushing into the storm." Not likely in our opinion.

UPDATE 5/26/05: Bahamas Maritime Authority clears captain, stating his "actions have been found to be prudent and appropriate throughout."

ABC News: Cruise Ship Returns After Wave Damage
New York Daily News: Captain can take bow in scary cruise's wake

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