Princess Cruises cancelled Coral Princess' call to Cabo San Lucas on Friday, Sept. 26, due to damage done as a result of Hurricane Odile. The itinerary was shifted to include a call to Puerto Vallarta on the same day.
Hurricane Odile was a Category 3 storm that swept through the Pacific last week, damaging Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. More than 135 people were injured due to the hurricane, and cruise lines including Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian and Princess have calls to the port over the next few weeks.
CroisiEurope began the assembly of the MS Loire Princesse, the line’s newest 295-foot ship, in Dry Dock B at STX France. The keel-laying took place early last week as the ship’s two central blocks were put in position. The bow and stern blocks are still under construction at MECASOUD and will soon be transferred for assembly. The engines will be installed at the end of September and the aluminum superstructures and paddles will be installed in October. The ship will be transferred to the launching dock during the first weeks of November, where the MS Loire Princesse’s 48-cabin outfitting will begin.
The MS Loire Princesse will accommodate six to eight-day cruises on the Loire River beginning in 2015, visiting numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites including, Saint-Nazaire, Ancenis, Angers, the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, Saumur, Bouchemaine and Nantes.
Costa Cruises' Costa Diadema is set to debut in the Mediterranean this fall. New shows, new venues and high-tech games will be available onboard.
The ship's three-level Emerald Theater will offer four new productions, including "Flavors of Italy," while the new Country Rock Club bar and lounge will offer tribute concerts, country line dancing and a dance floor. The ship will also have the Star Laser area, which hosts parties, and private events.
The 132,500-ton, 3,724-guest Costa Diadema will be christened at a Nov. 7 ceremony in Genoa, Italy.