National Safe Boating Week 2012

National Safe Boating Week May 19 - 25, 2012 

The National Weather Service has partnered with the National Safe Boating Council to help promote safe boating practices. During Safe Boating Week NWS will disseminate a Public Information Statement and broadcast public service announcements on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.
2012 Safe Boating Week : May 19 - 25
Sat.	Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.
Hypothermia	Life Jackets	Thunderstorm Safety	Boating Under the Influence	Marine Forecast	Wind and Waves	EPIRBs
Click on one of the days above to view the safety message that will air on NOAA Weather Radio during Safe Boating Week. In addition, you can download audio and several video clips of the PSAs through these links.

Approximately 500 people drown each year from recreational boating accidents, so we've teamed up with NOAA and the National Safe Boating Council to remind you to  "Wear It!"  when you are on the water.   Here are some links for you to learn additional information about boating safety.

North America Safe Boating Campaign	Ready Set Inflate.com
NWS National Safe Boating Week	National Safe Boating Council
USCG Boating Safety Resource Center	USCG Boat Rental Safety

Ready, Set, Inflate - Post Your Pics on our Facebook Page

Safety is a primary concern in the cruise industry.  One of the first things you'll do once you are onboard the ship is a mandatory safety drill which includes locating your life jackets and proceeding to a muster station for further instructions.

When you put your life jacket back away in your stateroom, that doesn't mean you forget about safety for the rest of the cruise.   Instead, that is the start of paying attention to safety.    You may participate in some shore excursions that include water sports, sailing on small boats, etc.    Be sure to wear your life jacket during these excursions.

We thought it would be fun to post some of your pictures in life jacket attire, so we've started a Safe  Boating Photo Album that you can add your pics to.  Even if you don't send us one of your pics, check out the photos that are posted. 

All Eyes on London Summer 2012

Olympians of the World

Assemble in London

Olympic Games 27 July - 12 August 

With just 70 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a major milestone has been reached.  As is tradition,The Olympic Flame has been handed over to the London 2012 delegation, headed by President of the British Olympic Association HRH the Princess Royal, in a Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Greece.

Torch Handover

The ceremony was attended by President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias.  During the Ceremony there were addresses by President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos and Chair of the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) Seb Coe, before the Olympic Flame was handed over to Her Royal Highness.

Panathenaic Stadium - Athens, Greece

‘The Handover of the Olympic Flame is a key milestone for each Olympic Games as the Torch Relay rallies the world’s athletes to make their final preparations.

'After a fantastic eight-day Torch Relay around Greece we wish London and the whole of the UK well for a successful 70-day Torch Relay and Olympic Games.’

~ Spyros Capralos

Olympic Torch Relay

The Flame will be leaving Athens on Friday 18 May to arrive into the UK at RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, Cornwall at approximately 7.30pm.

On the morning of 19 May the Olympic Flame will travel to Land’s End ready for the start of the 70-day London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. It will travel 8,000 miles across the UK to within 10 miles of 95% of the population before reaching the Olympic Stadium on 27 July.

The Olympic Torch Relay will be covered on the London 2012 site in multi-media.   Complete with maps, photos, videos, and even its own Facebook Page, visitors will be able to trace the relay across the UK.

Tomorrow We Begin a Special Series on London

Here and on our Facebook Page

Breezing Along in the Adriatic

More Images: Carnival Breeze Passes Sea Trials

Important Milestone 

Reached

Less than a month away from its inaugural sailing, Carnival Breeze completed one of the final milestones in the shipbuilding process, sea trials.

A contingent of officials and technicians were onboard Carnival Breeze testing the navigation, technical, and mechanical systems. This aerial photo shows the ship breezing along nicely somewhere in the Adriatic Sea.  Following the successful completion of the sea trials, workers at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, will put the finishing touches on the ship and prepare to turn over the keys to Carnival Corporation PLC.

Carnival Breeze's sister ship, Carnival Magic, is about to complete its inaugural year of sailing as the new ship takes to the waters.   The ships are similar, but not identical.   The inaugural sailing is June 3rd from Venice, Italy.

Carnival Breeze will offer a variety of innovations, including the line’s first Thrill Theater, an immersive multi-dimensional special effects experience that makes viewers feel as if they’re part of the movie, along with popular features such as WaterWorks, with fun water slides and attractions, and SportSquare, an expansive top-deck recreation area with a ropes course, mini-golf, an outdoor fitness area and more.

Exclusive to Carnival Breeze is Bonsai Sushi, the line’s first full-service sushi restaurant, and Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, an open-air dining venue featuring a variety of grilled barbecue favorites and traditional sides.

Carnival Breeze sets sail for Mediterranean cruises out of Barcelona after completing it's inaugural sailing from Venice.  Those cruises will run through October 25th at which time it will complete a 15-day repositioning cruise to Miami where it will take up its new homeport of Miami.  The ship will sail six and eight day Caribbean cruises on a year-round basis starting November 24th.



Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus |   Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | Photos

---

Related Blog Posts:

Carnival Corp. Places Orders With Fincantieri Shipbuilders

Iron Chef Christens New Ship

Photo courtesy Oceania Cruises

Oceania Riviera

Christened in Spain

by Iron Chef Cat Cora

Barcelona, Spain was the site Friday for the traditional Christening Ceremony for Oceania Riviera. Iron Chef Cat Cora, Godmother of the new ship, arrived onboard the ship Wednesday, where she was presented with a gift of a stunning diamond necklace and earrings during a luncheon attended by executives of Oceania Cruises.

In keeping with the nautical traditions, Godmother Cora reached for the jewel-studded lever and released a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne, declaring...

“I name this ship Riviera. May God bless her and all who sail with her.”

Chef Cora was beaming as she approached the stage. “I want to say as the mother of four boys – finally I have a girl! And isn’t she a beauty!”

She went on to say how honored she was to be joining the Oceania Cruises family. “I couldn’t be more thrilled. With the Oceania family I feel like I share so many of their values: loyalty, friendship, and excellence as well as the best of travel, food and wine. I want to thank Frank, Bob and Kunal as well as…all of the hundreds of crew members that are the soul of this ship and that will be making me proud as it sails around the world.”

This naming ceremony had a Spanish flare with the port decked in the vibrant reds and yellows of Catalonia. Flamenco dancers and Spanish guitarists were on hand to entertain those fortunate to be present for the event.  See Oceania Cruises photo album, #Riviera's Christening in Barcelona, for more pictures of the Christening.   Congratulations on the launch of another beautiful luxury ship.

Ship Specifications

---

Riviera: Debuts in 2012 Tonnage: 66,084 Length: 785 feet Beam: 106 feet Maximum Draught: 24 feet Stabilizers: Yes Cruising Speed: 20 knots Guest Decks: 11

Total Decks: 15 Electric Power or Voltage: 110, 220 AC Guest Capacity: 1,250 (Double Occupancy) Staff Size: 800 Guest to Staff Ratio: 1.57 to 1 Nationality of Officers: European Nationality of Staff: International Country of Registry: Marshall Island

Norwegian Breakaway Keel Laying

Photo courtesy Meyer Werft

Norwegian Breakaway

Officially Under Construction

Papenbug, Germany - Meyer Werft Shipyard

The keel laying of the cruise ship with the yard number S.678 was celebrated at the MEYER WERFT shipyard on Friday, May 4. The first of 73 blocks of the 144,000 GT vessel was lifted into the covered building dock II. 

In the dock, Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO, laid the traditional "lucky coin", before the block was put down by the 800-ton crane.

The ship's first block that weighs more than 350 tons marks the start of the ship's construction in the yard's building dock. 

Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled for delivery in spring 2013. It is the first of two new ships to be built for Norwegian Cruise Line.  The ship will accommodate 4000 passengers and more than 1500 crew members. 

The shipyard also cut the first piece of steel for the construction of sister ship Norwegian Getaway, which is set for delivery in spring 2014.

Traditional Keel Laying Ceremony

The maritime industry is one that is filled with traditions that live on today.   One of those traditions is the laying of the keel ceremony, which is marked by a celebration that includes the placement of a ceremonial coin under the new ship's keel for good luck.   In modern times,  laying down of the keel is when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock.  This marks the initial step in construction of a ship, so by shipbuilding tradition, the construction is dated from this event. 

 Related Blog Posts:

Introducing Norwegian Breakaway

India Airport on High Terror Alert

High Alert in India

Airports are on high alert across India following a circular sent out by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security warning of a possible terror strike involving human bombs. Human bombs are surgically implanted, which means they are harder to detect.

The CISF and NSG teams have been alerted. Sources say the threat is not specific but general in nature. More security personnel have been deployed at the airports.

Previous significant threats mean that the cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bangalore are being particularly vigilant and the move could mean more rigorous checks for passengers.

Please allow additional time and be vigilant if you are flying in India.

Costa Fascinosa Delivered

Costa Fascinosa 

A New Beginning 

Click for Video & Images

It has been a tough year for Costa Cruises and their passengers, but as the line launched its latest flagship over the weekend, officials hoped the 3,800-passenger Costa Fascinosa will mark a new chapter for the line following the Concordia disaster. They have released a video (click image above) that reflects on Costa's history since 1948 marking various milestones - primarily new ship launches.

"The delivery of Costa Fascinosa is an important stepping stone on our company's road to recovery," said Costa Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi during a ceremony marking the formal delivery of the new ship.  He continued "It is confirmation that the long-term fundamentals of our business remain strong, and we will continue to work for our customers, offering them even better cruises on fantastic ships like Costa Fascinosa."

Shipbuilder Fincantieri officially handed Costa Fascinosa over to Costa Cruises at the Venice Passenger Terminal. Along with sister ship Costa Favolosa, it is the largest Italian-flagged cruise ship afloat.  The delivery ceremony was attended by Italy’s Minister of Tourism Piero Gnudi, and his daughter Elsa served as godmother of the new 114,500-ton, 3,800-guest flagship.

Costa Cruises invested US$668.8 million (510 million euros) in Costa Fascinosa. Construction of the ship at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard involved the labor of approximately 3,000 yard workers plus 7,000 more people employed by about 500 contracted suppliers, most of them Italian firms.

“Costa Fascinosa is the living proof of the progress and the results achieved by two great
Italian industries jointly contributing to spread a positive image of ‘Made in Italy’ around the
world,” said Giuseppe Bono, chief executive officer of Fincantieri. “We are most pleased to
have contributed to the success of Costa, an Italian company which proudly flies the Italian flag.”

Costa Fascinosa sets sail from Venice on a preview cruise May 6, bound for Slovenia, Trieste, Italy, and Croatia, and will host the 19th edition of the “Champions of the Sea,” an annual event celebrating Costa Cruises’ best travel agent partners from around the world. On May 11 the ship departs Venice on its inaugural cruise, a 10-day itinerary to Greece, Israel and Turkey. 

For the 2012 summer season until the end of November, Costa Fascinosa will operate seven-day cruises from Venice and Bari, It flagship will be in South America on cruises calling at Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

For summer 2013 the ship will return to the eastern Mediterranean, sailing weeklong vacations to Greece and Turkey with departures from Venice and Bari.

We'll bring you more information about the new flagship in futures articles.  We wish Costa Cruises well as this new ship takes to the seas.  We hope that it can be a new beginning following the tragic events earlier this year.