Passengers on Cruise Ship Horrified to Witness Slaughter of Pilot Whales in Faroe Islands

When the Ambassador Cruise Line cruise ship Ambition arrived recently in the port of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, its passengers admired the rugged coastline and the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. For many, however, the sense … Continue reading

Cruise Ship Viking Orion Denied Port Entries Due to “Biofouling” — What Happened?

Eight hundred passengers, reported to be mostly Americans, found themselves stranded on the cruise ship Viking Orion off South Australia for seven days after the ship was denied permission to dock in Adelaide, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hobart, due to marine growth … Continue reading

Man Rescued After Going Overboard on Carnival Valor — Thanksgiving Mystery or Miracle?

Yesterday, the US Coast Guard rescued an unidentified passenger who had gone overboard in the Gulf of  Mexico from the cruise ship Carnival Valor on a voyage from New Orleans to Cozumel.  While most cases of passengers who fall or … Continue reading

Carnival Passenger Dies of Covid, CDC Recommends Vulnerable Avoid Cruises Even if Vaccinated

On a recent voyage from Galveston, TX, one passenger and 26 crew members tested positive for Covid-19 on the Carnival Vista. The passenger, Marilyn Tackett, a 77-year-old retiree from Oklahoma, subsequently died. The outbreak represented the highest number of cases … Continue reading

Cruise Ships Blocked from Ports Around the World Over Coronavirus Fears

More that one hundred Australian doctors and dentists on a medical conference cruise have found themselves stranded onboard the cruise ship Roald Amundsen off Punta Arenas, Chile after the country after the country banned cruise ships from docking in response … Continue reading

Déjà Vu — Cruise Ship Grand Princess Held Offshore For Coronavirus Testing

Yogi Berra is alleged to have said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” News of another cruise ship in limbo over the coronavirus feels that way.  On February 5th, we posted about the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that … Continue reading

Quarantined Cruise Ship Diamond Princess — Coronavirus Cases Nearly Double

Overnight the number of passengers and crew onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess who have tested positive for the coronavirus has nearly doubled, from 70 to 136. An additional 66 people on board the quarantined cruise ship have tested positive … Continue reading

The World’s Largest Wo-Wos — Oasis of the Seas & Ocean Shearer

Back in the 70s, the advent of oceangoing ships with wheeled cargo introduced the shipping community to the Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off.)  Since then acronyms with an “o” sound have gained in popularity.  General cargo and container ships became Lo-Los (lift-on/lift-off). Combination … Continue reading

RCCL Grandeur of the Seas, Newly Refurbished, Catches Fire in the Bahamas, No Serious Injuries

At around 2:50 AM Monday night a fire broke out on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Grandeur of the Seas, which had been bound for Coco Cay, Bahamas. The ship was rerouted to Freeport, Bahamas where the 2,224 passengers and 796 … Continue reading

Engine Room Fire Strands Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico, Will be Towed to Mexico

An engine room fire has knocked out the propulsion and the primary electrical system on the cruise ship Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula.  Emergency generators are providing limited power to the passenger areas.  The ship … Continue reading