Royal Caribbean SVP-Marketing Betsy O’Rourke Resigns
5/18/2012
Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of marketing for Royal Caribbean International, has resigned from the company. She had held that position since April 2009 and was responsible for brand strategy and positioning, consumer and trade advertising, web and loyalty marketing, research, brand development,...

Seabourn Takes Firm Stand on Lifeboat Safety Drill
5/18/2012
If you thought cruise lines were just paying lip service to strict new safety procedures, think again. Luxury line Seabourn is stressing that it will not make any exceptions to the rule that all passengers must attend lifeboat drills at the beginning of every cruise.

Costa Concordia Removal to Start Soon, Could Take a Year
5/18/2012
Costa Crociere unveiled the plan to remove the wreck of the Costa Concordia, which is expected to take about a year. Costa is working with an Italian-American consortium Titan-Micoperi to remove the hull from the coast of Giglio Island. The companies plan to refloat the hull in one piece in an...

Norwegian Offers Shipboard Credit on Alaska Cruise Bookings
5/18/2012
Indicating softness in the Alaska market, Norwegian Cruise Line’s is offering $100-per-stateroom shipboard credit to those who book May 18-20. Norwegian Pearl is sailing in Alaska through Sept. 16, and Norwegian Jewel will sail there from May 26 through Sept. 8.

American Airlines Seeks to Add Additional Flights to Brazil
5/17/2012
American Airlines is applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the right to fly 17 additional U.S.-Brazil weekly frequencies later this year. American said that it would add service from its Miami and New York JFK hubs to cities in Brazil.

Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment to Sail from Port Canaveral in 2013
5/17/2012
Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas will replace the departing Monarch of the Seas to homeport at Port Canaveral in 2013. Enchantment will undergo a renovation in December.

Switzerland’s Alpina Gstaad to Open Six Senses Spa
5/17/2012
The Alpina Gstaad, the newest luxury hotel to open in this Swiss Alpine village in 100 years, will feature a Six Senses Spa. Melding Swiss Alpine architecture with an Asian sensibility

Mexico’s Governor of Quintana Roo Tours Texas
5/17/2012
Roberto Borge, the governor of the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, just completed a two-day visit to Texas where his top objective was to strengthen bonds with local authorities, businessmen and opinion leaders.

CRN’s Darlings Danama Available for Charter in Med, Caribbean
5/17/2012
The recently launched luxury mega yacht CRN’s Darlings Danama will be available to charter for the first time this summer. CRN, a brand of the Ferretti Group, has recently launched the new 60-meter mega yacht Darlings Danama which will be available to charter from Mayfair-based Camper & Nicholsons....

Royal Caribbean Reduces Europe Fleet to Nine for 2013
5/17/2012
Royal Caribbean International, which is operating 12 ships in Europe this year, will reduce that number to nine for the 2013 season. The line announced today that Legend of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will complete the Europe 2013 deployment, joining U.K.-based Independence of the Seas, Adventure...