The official naming ceremony for Carnival Cruise Lines’ new Carnival Breeze took place Dec. 8 at PortMiami. Serving as the ship’s godmother was Tracy Wilson Mourning, founder of the Miami-based Honey Shine mentoring program, who initiated the breaking of the traditional bottle of champagne on the ship’s hull during the event. Following its inaugural season in Europe, the Carnival Breeze began sailing year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami Nov. 24, becoming the largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship based in South Florida. Carnival Breeze operates year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami, offering six-day sailings including Grand Turk, Ocho Rios and Nassau.
The first block of the Costa Diadema's hull was laid at Fincantieri's Marghera, Italy, shipyard forming the central part of Costa Diadema, the future flagship of Costa Cruises. The ceremony was attended by Costa Crociere S.p.A. CEO Michael Thamm and president Gianni Onorato, with Fincantieri represented by its CEO Giuseppe Bono.
During the ceremony, the block was lifted by a crane and laid in the dry dock where the ship will be built. Construction and fitting out will continue until Oct. 30, 2014, the scheduled date of delivery. Construction of Costa Diadema will employ approximately 1,000 shipyard workers plus another 2,500 employees of allied industries.
Abercrombie & Kent is reviving its cruises to Japan. Next spring, Abercrombie & Kent will take guests on a 12-night journey aboard the ‘Clipper Odyssey’: Wonders of Japan (May 24-June 7, 2013) stopping at remote islands in Japan and Korea in the company of A&K expedition staff, natural experts and cultural specialists. Clipper Odyssey’s small size makes it possible to visit remote islands and ports, many of which are not accessible by land or larger cruise ships, such as the island of Miyajima, home to the Sacred Shinto Shrine and the Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, a World Heritage Site dedicated to three sea goddesses.