The Beatles Tribute Cruise 2010

 

Picture yourself in a boat on a river...
Do you want to know a secret? Your mother should know you won't see me because I'll get back to follow the sun after I'm back in the USSR because Doctor Robert's fixing a hole where the rain gets in. So hold me tight. With a little help from my friends I'll call your name because I want to tell you this boy should have known better if I fell for Penny Lane on a magical mystery tour.

Interested?

The Beatles Tribute Cruise is ready to set sail on March the 28th, 2010 with an amazing list of special guests!

More info

Somali pirates hijack 2 ships off the East African coast

The year is closing as it started off, with news of more Somali Pirate hijackings.

In the first instance a UK-flagged chemical tanker, the St James Park fell victim. The vessel was reportedly captured in the much feared Gulf of Aden on 28.12.09 as it was en-route to Thailand from Spain. The 26 strong crew originates from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Georgia, India, Turkey and the Philippines.

Secondly the Navios Apollon, a Panamanian-flagged Greek cargo ship with 19 crew also fell afoul to the hijacking tactics of the Somali Pirates north of the Seychelles. The 50,000 tonne carrier, which was actually sailing from the US state of Florida to India, was apparently boarded also on 28.12.09 by 10 pirates in the usual speedboats, according to the Greek coastguard.

Somali Pirate attacks have been common off the Somali coast trhoughout 2009 and international navies have been deployed to counter them, although to little effect.

Unquestionably the Somali Pirates are breeding fear to the Cruise Industry also and in 2009 there were a number of near misses on a notable scale. If the trend continues it is only a matter of time before there is a major incident with cruise passengers involved. Whilst the Cruise Lines themselves have stepped up security and general awareness, the traffic in the region is still relatively high considering the escalation of the situation in balance with th ineffectiveness of the international navies largely due to the scope of the region and basic logistics.

The waters surrounding the Seychelles seem to be the latest target area, hence all Cruise ships navigating these waters need to be on high alert.

The Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships now on sale!

The Berlitz Guide  to Cruising & Cruise Ships is now on sale!

Unquestionably this Guide is considered by many Industry experts as the “bible of the cruise industry” and has been for around 25 years. More specifically the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships rates in detail over 270 ships cruising throughout the world’s oceans and waterways.

The book is reported to be used by some 35,000 North American travel agents. It is meticulous in detail and illustration to guide cruisers how to benefit from their cruise adventure. The author of this authoritative book is the infamous Douglas Ward, who has designed the Guide to pre-empt all of your FAQ's, whether its your first cruise or your fiftieth.

The special 2010 25th anniversary edition includes:
- Special anniversary edition “Then and Now” section compares today’s cruises and facilities with those of 25 years ago.
- In-depth reviews of more than 270 cruise ships.
- The top cruise lines: strenghts and weaknesses.
- Expert advice that saves you money.
- What to look for in a ship and crew.
- At-a-glance charts comparing the major cruise lines for cabin facilities, food and service.
- Expert advice for singles, honeymooners, families and the physically challenged.
- Green Cruising: safety and environmental regulations and carbon footprint details.
- Vibrant full-color photos that bring the cruise experience to life.
- 13 full-color maps, including new Middle East ports-of-call map.
- Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships is the most insightful, thorough resource for cruising information, written by Douglas Ward, "the most feared critic in the business" (The London Times), and president of the Maritime Evaluations Group.

Miami Seatrade Cruise Shipping registration already open

Online registration for Cruise Shipping Miami has been open at www.cruiseshippingmiami.com and organizers have released the first tentative conference program. The 4 day conference and 3 day exhibition is scheduled for March 15-18, 2010, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Exhibitor, delegate, visitor and press registration currently are available online.

Conference schedule as of middle December 2009...

EEC Shipping (A Seatrade guide)