Holland America Line Launches View & Verandah Sale With Top Savings On Ocean-View & Verandah Staterooms

SEATTLE, Dec 16, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Holland America Line has launched its annual View and Verandah Sale that features extraordinary fares on ocean-view and verandah staterooms for hundreds of departures in the coming year. Cruisers can enjoy savings of up to 45 percent off ocean-view and verandah accommodations.

"Cruising provides the best vacation value today," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest relations. "Holland America Line already stands out for providing a premium vacation and now is the best time to book with these great cruise fares." 

Cruisers also enjoy reduced deposits, third and fourth guest savings, and 25 percent savings on select hotels for pre- or post-cruise stays. Fares for the View and Verandah Sale start at $499 for 7-day Alaska cruises, $599 for 7-day Caribbean sailings, and $1,199 for 12-day Europe and Panama Canal voyages.

Holland America Line Sails to All Seven Continents 

Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages, a Grand World Voyage, and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet on July 4, 2010. 

The fleet features more than $525 million in Signature of Excellence enhancements that showcase new staterooms and public areas on Statendam- and Rotterdam-class ships. Highlights also include the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine -- a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes -- Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities of flat-panel televisions and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.

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Sailors’ Society honours IMO Year of the Seafarer

Sailors’ Society honours IMO Year of the Seafarer

More here

Global charity embraces International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) initiative to offer greater support to the world’s invisible workforce

International maritime welfare charity the Sailors’ Society is backing the IMO Year of the Seafarer campaign with a new fundraising drive asking for just £1 for every seafarer the charity aims to support in 2010 – that’s 375,000 seafarers.

In announcing 2010 as the Year of the Seafarer, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos - himself a former seafarer - stated:
“Seafarers deserve respect and recognition: let us resolve, during 2010, to ensure that this message is trumpeted loud and clear.”

The Sailors’ Society aims to provide the international maritime community with the opportunity to pay tribute to the world's seafarers for the vital role they play in the facilitation of global trade as well as recognition of the risks they shoulder in the execution of their duties in an often hostile environment.

The charity will honour this aim, with all donations contributing to the international support network it has developed to enrich and enhance the lives of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, offering practical help, emotional and spiritual support as well as financial assistance and family liaison. The initiative provides a valuable opportunity for maritime organisations to show their solidarity with seafarers and support by donating to the cause.

Jan Webber, the Sailors’ Society Director of Fundraising said:
“We are delighted that the IMO has designated 2010 as the year of the seafarer, as it shines the spotlight on the dangers and hardships that seafarers can face. Our Port Chaplains visit thousands of ships every year, and we understand just how vital this work is.

We are asking people and companies to help us raise just £1 for every seafarer we aim to help annually, in recognition of the Year of the Seafarer. Funds raised will enable us to sustain our vital services in ports where there are few or no services.”

For more information about how the Sailors’ Society provides support for seafarers across the world, please log on to www.sailors-society.org or follow the charity on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SailorsSociety .

Somalia pirates free Greek cargo vessel

Piracy has made Somali waters among the world's most dangerous
Somali pirates have freed a Greek-owned cargo ship and its crew of 19 after a ransom was paid, officials say. The Navios Apollon was seized north of the Seychelles
on 28 December as it headed from the US to India with a cargo of fertiliser. The Greek captain and 18 Filipino crewmen were all safe and the vessel was heading to Oman and then India.

The ransom - an unspecified amount - was airdropped onto the vessel on Saturday, a Greek official said. An international naval force patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean has been
unable to stop attacks on commercial vessels from pirates based in Somalia. Most vessels are released once a ransom is paid.

Correspondents say the upsurge in piracy in the region is a consequence of the failure to find a solution to Somalia's continuing political disarray.

BBC News
edited by darylwilkes on 01/03/2010

Egypt cruise ship crash kills three sailors

The Costa Europa was on an 18-day cruise from Dubai to Savona
A luxury cruise liner has crashed into a dock at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh, killing three members of the crew,
officials say. At least four other people were hurt when the Costa Europa, carrying 1,473 passengers, came into the harbour during
bad weather at 0445 (0145 GMT).



The dead sailors were an Indian, a Honduran and a Brazilian, the General Authority for Red Sea Ports said. The injured reportedly
include three British women and an Italian man. They were in a stable condition in hospital, officials told the AFP news agency.
The guests have been disembarked and are being accommodated in local hotels

Costa Cruises
In a statement, Costa Cruises confirmed that the Costa Europa had damaged the starboard side of the hull, but said it was "now
safely docked in port". "We sadly have to confirm the deaths of three crew members," the Italian company said. "The guests have
been disembarked and are being accommodated in local hotels," it added. Witnesses said Sharm al-Sheikh had been hit by fierce
winds overnight and that the crash had left a 2m-wide hole in the hull. The Costa Europa was on an 18-day cruise from Dubai to
Savona, and had arrived in Sharm al-Sheikh from the Egyptian port of Safaga.

BBC