Liveboat USA cruises blog

COSTA CONCORDIA CAPSIZED!

2012-01-14T21:36:00.002-05:00

Fire brigade crews have found two people stranded alive on board the Costa Concordia. Rescuers have managed to speak to the man and woman but have not yet reached them as they are stranded two decks below on the half-submerged ship.

NEW ZEALANDER ON BOARD STRICKEN CRUISE SHIP

A New Zealander has been evacuated from the luxury cruise ship which ran aground off the coast of Tuscany yesterday.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said one New Zealander was aboard the Coast Concordia.

They are now safe and are being provided for by the New Zealand embassy, said the spokesperson.

'HAVE YOU SEEN THE TITANIC? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS'

The first course had just been served in the Costa Concordia's dining room when the wine glasses, forks and plates of cuttlefish and mushrooms smashed to the ground. At the magic show in the theater, the rubbish bins tipped over and the theater curtains turned on their side. Then the hallways turned upside down, and passengers crawled on bruised knees through the dark. Others jumped alone into the cold Mediterranean Sea.

The terrifying, chaotic escape from the luxury liner was straight out of a scene from Titanic for many of the 4000-plus passengers and crew on the cruise ship, which ran aground off the Italian coast late Friday and flipped on its side with a 50 meter gash in its hull.

At least three bodies had been recovered and divers searched the underwater belly of the boat for a few dozen more who remained unaccounted for. By late Saturday, the number of missing had dwindled to about 40.

The Friday the 13th grounding of the Concordia was one of the most dramatic cruise ship accidents in recent memory. It immediately raised a host of questions: Why did it hit a reef so close to the Tuscan island of Giglio? Did a power failure cause the crew to lose control? And why did crew members tell passengers they weren't in danger until the boast was listing perilously to the side?

The delay made lifeboat rescue eventually impossible for some of the passengers, some of whom jumped into the sea while others waited to be plucked to safety by helicopters. Some boats had to be cut down with an axe.

"We had to scream at the controllers to release the boats from the side," said Mike van Dijk, from Pretoria, South Africa. "It was a scramble, an absolute scramble."

Van Dijk said the boat he was on - on the upended port side - got stuck along the ship's wall as it came down.

"It was a hell of a sound, the crunching," he said.

Costa Crociera SpA, which is owned by the US-based cruise giant Carnival Corp., defended the actions of its crew and said it was cooperating with the investigation. The captain was detained for questioning by prosecutors, investigating him for suspected manslaughter, abandoning ship before all others, and causing a shipwreck, state TV and Sky TV said. Carnival Corp. issued a statement expressing sympathy that didn't address the allegations of delayed evacuation.

France said two of the victims were Frenchmen; a Peruvian diplomat identified the third victim as Tomas Alberto Costilla Mendoza, 42, a crewman from Peru. Some 30 people were injured, at least two seriously.

The ship began its lurch at the beginning of dinner service in the ship's two-story dining room, where passengers described a scene of frantic confusion.

Silverware, plates and glasses crashed down on them from the upper floor balcony, children wailed and darkened hallways upended themselves after the ship began its lurch. Panicked passengers slipped on broken glass as the lights went out while crew members insisted nothing serious was wrong.

"Have you seen Titanic? That's exactly what it was," said Valerie Ananias, 31, a teacher from Los Angeles who was traveling with her sister and parents. They all bore dark red bruises on their knees from the desperate crawl they endured along nearly vertical hallways and stairwells, trying to reach rescue boats.

"We were crawling up a hallway, in the dark, with only the light from the life vest strobe flashing," her mother, Georgia Ananias, 61 said.

"We could hear plates and dishes crashing, people slamming against walls."

She choked up as she remembered the moment when an Argentine couple handed her their three-year-old daughter, unable to keep their balance as the ship listed to the side.

"He said, 'Take my baby,'" Georgia Ananias said, covering her mouth with her hand. "I grabbed the baby. But then I was being pushed down. I didn't want the baby to fall down the stairs. I gave the baby back. I couldn't hold her."

Her daughter Valerie whispered: "I wonder where they are."

The Ananias family was among the last passengers off the ship, left standing on the upended port side. They were forced to exit from a still-attached lifeboat that became impossible to use once the ship began to tip over; so they climbed a ladder dropped too them off a deck and shimmied down a rope to a waiting rescue vessel.

"We thought we were dying four times," Valerie said, recounting the most terrifying moments in their escape.

A top Costa executive, Gianni Onorato, said the Concordia's captain had the liner on its regular, weekly route when it struck a reef. Italian coast guard officials said the circumstances were still unclear, but that the ship hit an unknown obstacle.

Despite some early reports that the captain was dining with passengers when his ship crashed into the reef, he was on the bridge, Onorato said.

"The ship was doing what it does 52 times a year, going along the route between Civitavecchia and Savona," a shaken-looking Onorato told reporters on Giglio, a popular vacation isle off Italy's central west coast.

He said the captain was an 11-year Costa veteran and that the cruise line was cooperating with Italian investigators to find out what went wrong.

Malcolm Latarche, editor of maritime magazine IHS Fairplay Solutions, said a loss of power coupled with a failure of backup systems could have caused the crew to lose control.

"I would say power failure caused by harmonic interference and then it can't propel straight or navigate and it hit rocks," Latarche said.

There were no firm indications that anyone was trapped. Rescuers carried out extensive searches of the waters near the ship for hours and "we would have seen bodies," said Coast Guard Captain Cosimo Nicastro.

Many passengers complained the crew didn't give them good directions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many to be released.

Several other passengers said crew members told passengers for 45 minutes that there was a simple "technical problem" that had caused the lights to go off.

Seasoned cruisers knew better and went to get their life jackets from their cabins and report to their "muster stations," the emergency stations each passenger is assigned to, they said.

Passengers said they had never participated in an evacuation drill, although one had been scheduled for Saturday.

Miriam Vitale, a hostess on the cruise liner who disembarked earlier this week in Palermo, told SkyTG24 the ship conducts a drill every 15 days. She said that since passengers on the Concordia embark or disembark every day, some passengers could miss it depending on which day they begin the trip.

Surviving passengers huddled under woolen or aluminum blankets in a middle school on the Italian mainland of Porto Santo Stefano, where passengers were ferried early Saturday from Giglio. Some wore their life preservers, their shoeless feet were covered with aluminum foil.

Costa Cruises said about 1000 Italian passengers were onboard, as well as more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and about 1000 crew members. New Zealand officals said there was no Kiwis on board.

Coast guard Commander Francesco Paolillo said the exact circumstances of the accident were still unclear, but that the first alarm aboard went off about 10:30 pm, about three hours after the Concordia had begun its voyage from the port of Civitavecchia to Savona, in northwestern Italy. No SOS was sent, he said.

The vessel "hit an obstacle," that tore the side of the ship and started taking on water, Paolillo said. It wasn't clear if the obstacle was a jagged, rocky reef or something else, he said.

The captain, Paolillo said, he then tried to steer his ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio's small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier.

Five helicopters from the coast guard, navy and air force took turns airlifting survivors still aboard and ferrying them to safely.

Costa Cruises said the Costa Concordia was sailing on a weeklong cruise across the Mediterranean Sea in Savona, setting off on January 7 with stops at Civitavecchia, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo.

The Concordia had a previous accident in Italian waters, ANSA reported. In 2008, when strong winds buffeted Palermo, the cruise ship banged against the Sicilian port's dock, and suffered damage but no one was injured, ANSA said.

What the passengers said:

"The lifeboats were all full. We wanted to give him [her 15-month-old son, Filippo] to someone because we couldn't get on. No one would take him. They told us to go to the next boat, the next boat. It was Titanic. Identical." - Anna Veroni finally found a lifeboat that would take her whole family.

"It was so unorganized, our evacuation drill was scheduled for 5pm. We had joked 'What if something had happened today? I will never go on a boat again. We didn't even get to see Italy, nor do we know how we're going to get home." - Melissa Goduti, 28, Connecticut.

"Have you seen Titanic? That's exactly what it was." - Valerie Ananias, 31, Los Angeles.

"We were crawling up a hallway, in the dark, with only the light from the life vest strobe flashing. We could hear plates and dishes crashing, people slamming against walls" - Georgia Ananias, 61, Los Angeles.

"We had to scream at the controllers to release the boats from the side. We were standing in the corridors and they weren't allowing us to get onto the boats. It was a scramble, an absolute scramble." - Mike van Dijk, 54, Pretoria, South Africa.

"No one counted us, neither in the life boats nor on land." - Ophelie Gondelle, 28, Marseille, France. She said there had been no evacuation drill since she boarded in Marseille, France on January 8.

Norwegian Jewel Departs New York 12/10/2011

2011-12-11T12:46:00.002-05:00

Sunrise over the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

2011-12-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

MSC Poesia departs Manhattan 10/11/2011

2011-12-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

MV Columbus and Silver Whisper New York Arrival 10/11/11

2011-12-05T14:59:00.000-05:00

Silversea Cruises Silver Whisper and MS Columbus docked in New York

2011-12-05T14:57:00.000-05:00

Guy Feri Announces Guys Burger Joint for Carnival Cruise Lines

2011-10-05T20:28:00.000-04:00

Carnival Cruise Lines Fun Ship 2.0 Press conference PT 1

2011-10-05T14:06:00.000-04:00

George Lopez LIVE! at the Carnival Cruise Lines Fun Ship 2.0 Press confe...

2011-10-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

Carnival Cruise lines Fun Ship 2.0 BBQ with George Lopez and Guy Fieri

2011-10-04T17:53:00.000-04:00

Video album Marina Oceania Cruises

2011-09-24T00:13:00.000-04:00

USS New York LPD 21 anchored off Staten Island 9/10/2011

2011-09-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

10th Anniversary of September 11th Stroll with BETTINA WERNER

2011-09-21T18:11:00.001-04:00

This is a video I was featured in as I was conducting my coverage of 9/11 ,

there I meet Miss Bettina Werner as we both observed the events taking place on that fateful and solemn day , America's time of Mourning and remembrance to those who perished.

The video features the raw cuts of footage taken that day.

Special thanks to Bettina Werner.

Info :

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a quotation from William Shakespeare meant to say that the names of things do not matter, only what things really are.

BETTINA WERNER, a.k.a. The Salt Queen
http://www.bettina-werner.com
For Inquiries:: thesaltqueenfoundation@gmail.com

Internationally acclaimed artist BettinaWerner pioneered, in the early 1980' s a complex textured colorized technique of creating art using vibrantly pigmented salt crystals, and established the Salt Queen Foundation to encourage other artists working with innovative techniques.

Born in Milan, Italy in 1965 she is now a new American citizen residing in The Financial District of New York City. She is a driving force in Lower Manhattan with her radiant, unique artwork. Her breathtaking loft overlooks the New York Stock Exchange, in the newly renovated Philippe Starck Building

She studied at the prestigious Brera Academy of Fine Art in Milan. Bettina Werner started showing her artwork in the early 90's with Marisa Del Re Gallery in the Fuller Building, in Manhattan.

She celebrated her 25th anniversary of her creative Art journey, with a Retrospective at 7 WORLD TRADE CENTER. View the spectacular video of the Art Exhibition here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RWn76QLCL8

Bettina Werner's artwork has been exhibited in Museums, galleries and public spaces extensively throughout Europe, Russia and the United States, including: the Whitney Museum, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the Detroit Institute of Art, Portofino Museum, Italy, Triennale Museum in Milan, Las Vegas Art Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, the collection of Herbert and Dorothy Vogel , the collection of Martin Margulies of Miami and Nicos Vernicos of Athens, Greece.

Reviews and features on her work have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Art in America, Elle, Architectural Digest,The Chicago Tribune,The Miami Herald, ArtNews, Elle Decor, GQ, Flash Art, Hamptons Magazine, New York Post,'Espresso, Il Corriere della Sera, and many more publications. Read press here:
http://www.bettina-werner.com/press.html

Bettina Werner has been featured in art textbooks throughout Europe such as "Arte del Novecento by Mirolla-Zucconi, through the prestigious Italian publishing house Mondadori Universita' 2002 and "Arte Moderna", by Giulio Carlo Argan, an art textbook used throughout Italy's Schools.

Photo Credit: Byron Huart, Gordon Erikson, Mimmo Attademo, Giobarto,

VIDEO BY: Byron Huart

Explorer of the Seas morning arrival to Bayonne.

2011-09-19T14:50:00.000-04:00

Carnival Glory , Caribbean Princess , Explorer of The Seas arrive to New...

2011-09-18T21:37:00.001-04:00

In this feature of cruise arrivals in New York we feature a grand view of which no one has seen.

The Carnival Glory , Caribbean Princess , Norwegian Jewel , Explorer of The Seas arriving and a special surprise encounter as we see the USS New York stationed in the harbor off Staten Island.

An amazing sight to see all these ships come in and the USS New York as the sun rose over the harbor and the timing and the views from the ferry were priceless!

Enjoy everyone this is the video that is a must see for anyone.

Behold!

USS New York anchored off the WTC 9/11/2011

2011-09-14T23:26:00.000-04:00

President Obama arriving to Manhattan on 9/11/2011

2011-09-14T23:24:00.000-04:00

9/11/2011 The Arrival

2011-09-14T23:23:00.000-04:00

Tour of the Carnival Miracle June 16 2011

2011-09-03T21:25:00.000-04:00

Tour of the Carnival Miracle 6/15/2011

2011-08-29T10:47:00.000-04:00

Curriculum di Liveboat sito sulle crociere

2011-08-29T10:46:00.000-04:00

TOUR OF OCEANIA CRUISES MV MARINA DOCKED IN MIAMI

2011-08-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

Celebrity Summit Arrives to New York harbor.

2011-08-22T18:40:00.000-04:00

Norwegian Jewel and MS Veendam arrive to New York 8/21/2011

2011-08-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

S.S Norway Anthology PT 2

2011-08-22T18:38:00.000-04:00

LIVEBOAT FEATURED ON John Heald's Blog

2011-08-18T08:03:00.001-04:00

ATTENTION ALL CRUISE LINE EXECUTIVES….PLEASE READ THIS! « John Heald's Blog

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

S.S Norway Anthology PT 1

2011-08-16T05:41:00.000-04:00

Tour of the Celebrity Silhouette: Cruise from Civitavecchia

2011-08-05T17:04:00.000-04:00

Birth of the Celebrity Silhouette

2011-07-31T15:11:00.000-04:00

Video & slideshow of the newly launched Celebrity Silhouette ,

the Silhouette is now on her maiden cruise.

Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage!

Remembering the 1967 USS Forrestal fire 44 years later.

2011-07-29T23:47:00.047-04:00

This post is In memory of those whom perished aboard the USS Forrestal 44 years ago today on July 29th back in 1967 while the Forrestal was conducting combat operations which included hundreds airstrikes and bombing runs on North Vietnam from "Yankee Station" in the Gulf of Tonkin as part of Task force 77.

About 10:50 hours (local time) on 29 July, while preparations for the second strike of the day were being made, an unguided Mk-32 "Zuni" rocket, one of four contained in a LAU-10 underwing rocket pod mounted on a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, was accidentally fired due to an electrical power surge during the switch from external power to internal power.

The rocket flew across the flight deck, striking a wing-mounted external fuel tank on a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk awaiting launch, aircraft No. 405, piloted by LCDR Fred D. White,^] The warhead's safety mechanism prevented it from detonating, but the impact tore the tank off the wing and ignited the resulting spray of escaping JP-5 fuel, causing an instantaneous conflagration. Other external fuel tanks overheated and ruptured, releasing more jet fuel to feed the flames which spread along the flight deck, leaving pilots in their aircraft with the options of being incinerated in their cockpits or running through the flames to escape. LCDR White leaped from his burning aircraft but was killed instantly, along with many firefighters, when the first bomb cooked off and exploded.

With his aircraft surrounded by flames, LCDR John McCain, pilot of A-4 Skyhawk side No. 416, escaped by climbing out of the cockpit, walking down the nose and jumping off the refueling probe.

The impact of the Zuni dislodged two of the 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs (World War II-vintage AN-M65s ), which lay in the burning fuel. The fire team's chief, Gerald Farrier (without benefit of protective clothing) immediately smothered the bombs with a PKP fire extinguisher in an effort to knock down the fuel fire long enough to allow the pilots to escape. According to their training, the fire team normally had almost three minutes to reduce the temperature of the bombs to a safe level, but Farrier did not realize the "Comp. B" bombs were already critically close to cooking-off until one split open due to the older bombs low cook off time compared to the modern bombs. Farrier , knowing a lethal explosion was imminent, shouted for the fire team to withdraw but the bomb exploded seconds later - only one and a half minutes after the start of the fire.

The detonation destroyed McCain's A-4 Skyhawk (along with its remaining fuel and armament), blew a crater in the armored flight deck, and sprayed the deck and crew with shrapnel and burning jet fuel. It killed the on-deck firefighting contingent along with Farrier , with the exception of three men who survived with critical injuries. The two bomb-laden A-4s in line ahead of McCain's were riddled with shrapnel and engulfed in the flaming jet fuel still spreading over the deck, causing more bombs to detonate and more fuel to spill.

134 sailors were killed and injured 161 in what is remembered as the deadliest carrier fire in United States Navy history since WWII.

It was also the most documented , for the disaster was captured in gritty detail as the carriers on board camera's captured the horrors unfolding as the fire raged out of control on the flight deck as the sailors of the Forrestal fought valiantly for hours to extinguish the fire and save the ship from total destruction as bombs , planes and ammunition exploded on the flight deck wiping out 2 fire teams and inflicting heavy damage to the ship and flaming jet fuel engulfing everything in it's path.

The Forrestal was finally decommissioned on September 11 1993 at Pier 6E in Philadelphia, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. After being stricken, ex-Forrestal was heavily stripped to support the rest of the carrier fleet. In 1999, the USS Forrestal Museum Inc. began a campaign to obtain the ship from the Navy via donation, for use as a museum, to be located in Baltimore, but this plan was not successful. The Navy removed the ship from donation hold in 2004 and redesignated it for disposal. According to the NVR, her final status is "donated for use as fishing reef." As of 2007, the ship was being environmentally prepared for sinking as an artificial reef as was USS Oriskany. Due to elements of the Forrestal design having led directly to current aircraft carrier design, the ship will be donated to a state and sunk to become a deep water reef, for fishery propagation and so that it will be accessible to divers.

The date for the sinking has not yet been announced.

On 15 June 2010, Forrestal departed Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island, where she had been mothballed since 1998, under tow for the inactive ship storage facility in Philadelphia.

Today the USS Forrestal is docked at pier 4 along side the USS John F Kennedy at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia awaiting her final fate.

Back in May when I was on assignment in Philadelphia , I visited the inactive ship storage facility located south of Penn's landing where the SS United States is , my mission was to photograph the 2 leviathans docked there for I would never get another chance like this.

When I arrived , it was the early morning , 6am to be exact on a Sunday as I walked past the vast armada of decommissioned relics from the 60's & 70s as I ventured off to the edge of the base I saw in the distance the Forrestal & the JFK I walked up to the 2 massive carriers both tied up at the piers amid the peaceful surroundings of the Delaware river.

The 2 ships , one which was the first super carrier of her time the 2nd a marvel of a new modern age of carriers , symbols of American might and freedom that lay in waiting as the sun rose over them.

It was a beautiful morning as the morning sun rose over the 2 ships ,
I took as many photographs as I could to capture the peaceful atmosphere ,
I then departed the base and bid the 2 carriers farewell.

LIVEBOAT USA FACEBOOK PAGE LIVE!

2011-07-27T13:20:00.001-04:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Liveboat-USA/149011851841894?ref=ts

Check it out!

SS United States Conservancy Celebrates "Summer Gala 2011": Relive an Evening Aboard the SS United States"

2011-07-18T23:51:00.000-04:00

On June 24, 2011, the SS United States Conservancy, friends and supporters celebrated its 2011 Summer Gala at the Corinthian Yacht Club on the Delaware River in Essington, PA, just south of Philadelphia.

Over 150 supporters of the Nation's Flagship assembled to show their support and to help raise funds for her renovation and redevelopment.

Participants included:

Cadets from Valley Forge Military Academy

First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry

John Reynolds, Atlantic Logistics

Susan Gibbs

Mark L. Byers, Wilmington Trust

Dan McSweeney

Matt Schulte, The Steamship Historical Society of America

George McNeeley, Christie's

A PSA video by John Johnson - "Save the SS United States"

Song written and performed by Skip Denenberg & Andy Kravitz, produced by Andy Kravitz

Still Photography Courtesy of:

Phillip Buehler, "Modern Ruins"

Kyle Ober

Elizabeth Robertson, Philadelphia Inquirer

The Mark Perry Collection

Graphics by Greg Shutters

Music by The Albert Oehrle Orchestra

Support the effort to save the SS United States at ssunitedstatesconservancy.org

QE2's anchor arrives in Southampton.

2011-07-17T12:00:00.004-04:00

QE2's Anchor after being bolted down to it's final location.

Photo credit : Carl Stephens

The QE2's anchor is installed outside Southampton's Holy Rood church to become part of the

QE2 heritage mile.

The Anchor given to Southampton City Council as a gift from Cunard Line, was lifted into place by crane yesterday onto the footpath in front of Holy Rood Church in High Street.

The steel anchor, which is 4.3m high and 2.7m wide, is one of two that were hung below the great ship’s bow rail on each side of the ship.

The church, which was dedicated as a memorial to the sailors of the Merchant Navy in 1957, forms part of the QE2 Mile, a pedestrian route of historic sites, such as the Titanic Memorial, that runs through the heart of the city from the Cenotaph down to Town Quay.

The anchor and the designated QE2 Mile will ensure that the ships legacy in Southampton will endure for decades to come.

As we all know the QE2 has been since docked in Mina Rashid , Dubai since her decommissioning in November of 2008 to become a floating hotel at Palm Jeremiah , a plan that has been grounded due to the economic depression .

Today QE2 is currently maintained by a small crew aboard her whom constantly run routine checks , repairs and maintenance to keep QE2 in seaworthy and pristine condition until finalized plans for her are decided.

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks New York City 2011

2011-07-16T13:37:00.001-04:00

Carnival Triumph , Freedom of The Seas & Carnival Valor depart Miami

2011-07-16T13:37:00.000-04:00

Port of Miami : Morning Arrival

2011-07-16T13:36:00.000-04:00

Rhythm & Blues Jazz Night on East Houston Street : Navy night!

2011-07-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

Armada of US & Canadian Navy Ships : Fleet Week 2009

2011-07-16T13:32:00.000-04:00

This is the first in our series of archive stories from the year Liveboat was founded in 2009 , remastered in HD.

Enjoy!

Costa Favolosa : New Photos!

2011-07-12T11:34:00.002-04:00

Photos of the new Costa cruises flagship Favolosa ,
from her sea trials to delivery to Costa Cruises.

Enjoy!

Christening of the Costa Favolosa July 2 , 2011 LIVE! from Trieste , Italy

2011-07-11T06:24:00.003-04:00

This our video of the ceremony of the baptism ceremony in the beautiful square of Costa Favolosa in Trieste , Italy, you will find the event more 'expected year in a TV broadcast on TV channel 575 of the Leip Liveboat TV Channel.
This is a video of 40 minutes with the entire program and the exciting evening festivities.

This is our exclusive coverage of the Christening of the Costa Favolosa ,
Costa Cruises newest flagship.
Launched by Italian actress , Margareth Madè in Trieste , Italy.

Press Conference aboard the MSC Fantasia

2011-07-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

Press Conference aboard the MSC Fantasia.

Tour of MSC Fantasia.

2011-07-08T23:27:00.001-04:00

This is our tour of the MSC Fantasia in Genoa , Italy.

Costa Serena Tour.

2011-07-08T15:51:00.001-04:00

Navigator of the Seas Tour PT 1

2011-07-08T15:48:00.001-04:00

Carnival Magic docked in Savona , Italy

2011-07-08T15:29:00.001-04:00

Video of the Carnival Magic's maiden call to Savona , Italy.

She then departs on her maiden cruise season in the Med.

S.S United States being towed 1996

2011-07-06T02:26:00.000-04:00

Rare photo of the SS United States while under Tow overseas.

Preview of the Costa Favolosa : LIVE! from Venice , Italy! PT 2

2011-07-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

FEATURE ARTICLE / REVIEW.

As Oscar Wilde teaches, a right name gives vibration and its sound warms the heart.
This is valid for the humans and, especially, for the ships.

They know it very well in Costa Cruises headquarter where the needing to give importance to one unit, in the way to differentiate one ship to others apparently similar, push to the research of particular names in order to give the vibration to the potential clients and to address them to choose that particular ship.

The last born, "Costa Favolosa", has an inviting name, especially for childrens, and is a ship full of expectations.

But above all, this name, "Favolosa", notes the inspirations regarding the internal furbishment where you can breath the same magic atmosphere of the fairy tales.

Costa Favolosa is really particular.
Even if is a derivation of other Costa Ships (as Pacifica, Concordia, Serena in a strict sense) and other Costa Ships (as Fortuna and Magica, in a wide sense) because is similar to them in such elements; it differs in several others factors.

First element, the aft Lido, "Lido di Porpora", enterely open and enriched of two splendid panoramic Jacuzzies positioned really above the sea, is dedicated to the Imperial Palace in Beijing, better known as the "Purple City", and the name is in honor of the Polar Star, the Chinese Purple Myth. It costs on an innovative area of more than 1,000 square metres wide (one of the largest ever built on a cruise ship).

Afterwards another difference is the presence of a series of Samsara Verandah Suites where is possible to find a private Jacuzzi in the private verandah, not a balcony! This is a very total innovative experience on board a Costa Ship.

Third, is impossible to forget the new ambient esclusively studied for the babies, for them the ship has a Games Room and an outside area named "Acqua Park" dominated by a pirate ship in miniature, where is possible to play as a real pirate!

Business card and witness to the opulence and magnificence of this unit, the lobby "Diamond" built on the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles (to which is dedicated the Deck4) is predominated by flooring base decorated with geometric shapes, and diamond-shaped plates embedded in the balconies of which ranges from light blue, yellow and bright white color recalling the precious stones such as, respectively, the sapphire, topaz, diamond.
Developed on Deck 3, 4 and 5, on Deck 3 it has a small dance floor and two desks dedicated to helping passengers regarding ports of call and excursions. On Deck 4 and 5, shops and galleries along both sides takes place, from them you can see the dance floor below. The vertical split along which flow the four panoramic elevators ends with a beautiful skylight through which the natural light can illuminate the lobby during the day. From the atrium, each of the three decks lead to the theater "Hortensia", where the roundness of the stage and its columns are the same as the "Casina Valadier" of Villa Borghese in Rome, which in fact, represented only fairy tales that are as you can understand the dominant theme of this ship.

Decks 3, 4 and 5, in addition to the hall and theater, have several areas dedicated to the passengers, each of them inspirated on an ambient related to the magical atmosphere of the traditional fairy tales.

For example we can find the "Library of the Roses" inspired to the "Roses Hall" of the Pavlovsk Palace in St. Peterburg which is a small and intimate local enriched with a variety of volumes translated to the principle languages on board.
Its cream colored walls and its particular and circular mirrors with original light blue frame posted at the walls complete the furnishment featured by precious leather sofas and armchairs in cobalt blue cloth, original chandeliers and appliques in the same color green and blue.

The classic Bar "Montespan", featured by a imitation of a marble fireplace and violet sofas is the ideal place where is possible to smoke a cigar in an intimate atmosphere: the warm of the walnut predominates in this local.

The "Palatino Grand Bar" is the most huge local on the ship being 1,000 square metres wide.
On the other Carnival Ships, from which the Favolosa is derived, this area is dedicated to the Casino because of the passion of the American people, but, because Italian people like dancing, it was important, on this ship, to dedicate this area to the entertainment. In the Palatino Area dominates the color of the amber and oak and the dance floor has a floor decorated with geometric patterns featured by alternating light and dark wood and original shell-shaped lights colored in light blue.

Another Local, the cafè "Porta d'Oro" is inspired to the cafès of Villa d'Este in Tivoli, is featured by dark brown sofas and original shaped lilac armchairs. In between the external windows there are colored oblos and as points of light it is featured by ceiling lights.

The local "Molière" inspired to the Fest Hall of Fontainebleau, commissioned by Madame de Pompadour , lover of Louis XVI of France, is fully decorated with Swarovski crystal drops.

The Casino "El Dorado" named as the legendary place just because, as the Eldorado is enriched of precious stones, the same way the slot machines on the casino are full of coins. Regarding the ambient, it is decorated by emerald green colomns and green points of lights.

In the particular Disco "Etoile" is impossible not to note the eccentric taste because of its original sofa and enriched by shining tables.

The architects paid attention also in the design and construction of the interior of this unit regarding the restaurant service and outlook. The main Restaurant "Duke of Orleans" and "Duke of Burgundy", characterized by warm colors of gold and a very special lighting system, is a reminiscent of the Grand Trianon at Versailles, the residence of Philippe d'Orleans.

The Restaurant Samsara is the smallest of the restaurants of this ship. The intimate atmosphere is enhanced by prints of flowers and is inspired by the charm of the Orient. The club was inspired by a Fabulous corner of the Luxembourg Palace, decorated with pastel pink hues and marble and granite, is illuminated by a series of threads of light on the ceiling and decorated with authentic Murano glass.

The Buffet Restaurant "Ca' d'Oro" is dominated by the warm colors of wood.
Noble materials are used such as marble, granite, travertine, onyx, alabaster, or woods such as mahogany, pear, rosewood, high-sounding names (each deck is a masterpiece dedicated to palaces, museums, royal residences), furniture sparkling.

The ship is a fairy tale: a story born from the imagination of a genius.
And Farcus, the designer of this and many other Carnival Olympians ships, he is a genius.
And if the ship is a fairy tale, a cruise on board this ship is a dream coming true, or rather, a door through which a dream becomes real. Whoever goes beyond this door realize a dream. And do it on a ship named "Costa Favolosa" makes it more attractive. So this is the importance on naming Costa Favolosa.

Preview of the Costa Favolosa : LIVE! from Venice , Italy!

2011-07-04T01:13:00.000-04:00

The trailer for the christening of the Costa Favolosa Trieste , Italy, July 2, 2011.

Special Thanks to:

Costa Cruises & Staff for everything.

The first photos of the new flagship Costa Favolosa.

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium : Message from Tom Spina

2011-06-25T13:20:00.000-04:00

Brunch & Tour of the U.S.S Intrepid 6/16/2011

2011-06-25T13:03:00.000-04:00

Final Video from the 2011 Symposium here in New York.

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium docks in New York City PT 1

2011-06-23T14:34:00.006-04:00

June 14-16 was a very historical moment in history for the North American cruise industry as New York City hosted the Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium.

Over 13 years have passed since New York has hosted a Symposium , the events return to New York symbolizes New York's status as the capital home port of the North East.

Hosted at Pier 88 , it was a stunning sight as I walked up the terminal to the the NY cruise banner inside the newly renovated Pier 88.

Day 1 consisted of an event hosted by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association )

where reporters , journalists and fellow attendees & delegates could talk with the CEO's , PR reps and presidents of a few of the major lines.

Present were

Crystal cruises , NCL , CUNARD , Holland America , Oceania cruises , AMA Waterways.

Jerrol Golden of Holland America Line

Peter Shanks of Cunard Line

During the visit I saw Tim Rubacky from Oceania , Jerrol Golden from Holland American Line , and lastly Mr. Peter Shanks from Cunard Line.

We also meet Mr. Rick Sasso from MSC cruises America.

Later in the day we boarded Circle Lines capital ship the Zephyr for the grand opening ceremony.

"The Symposium sets sail."

Supported by Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc and Circleline Downtown

The Zephyr.

The trip consisted of all the attendees , delegates and Intercruises staff setting Sail from Pier 88 in Manhattan to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, with Mark Robinson, Managing Director Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, and Thomas Spina, Director of Cruise Operations, NYCruise, welcoming everyone to Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium.

VIDEO:

As we cast off from Pier 88 it was a majestic sight , a sight seen by millions of sea travelers as they sailed from New York to distant lands , reminiscent of the golden age of Ocean Liners .

We sailed down the Hudson , as we were sailing at 15-21 knots cruising speed, we passed the Intrepid , Circle Line Pier and the forgotten bit still active United States Lines Pier now used by the NYPD.

The Facade Unchanged since the 40s , made me think of the S.S United States docked in Philly at Penns Landing awaiting a new future.

During the voyage we passed many landmarks , the beautiful weather holding off the imminent rain shower and many small craft tailing us as we gracefully sailed down the Hudson river to our destination on calm seas.

Rick Sasso , President of MSC Cruises USA on the top deck.

Reporter Byron Huart aboard the Zephyr cruising the Hudson.

I went down to the lower decks to grab a drink & a few photographs then I stumbled upon Peter Shanks on the promenade deck , looking at the stunning New York skyline as he sat in joy.

President of Cunard Line Peter Shanks aboard the Zephyr.

We then passed by the World Financial center were we could see World Trade center one rising from the site & the newly developed lower Manhattan with North Cove Marina.

Lower Manhattan , World Financial Center & the new World Trade Center 1 rising.

As we were nearing the Brooklyn Passenger ship terminal ,

Tom Spina & Mark Robinson welcomed everyone on the top deck and the lower decks on the intercom.

Everyone Gathered on the top deck to hear the announcement as we were docking at the Brooklyn Terminal.

After the announcement we docked at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal where guest were greeted with joy as Jazz music filled the terminal as the LIVE band was rocking the stage. The guests had an array of products to try out from the various vendors , Including genuine Brooklyn lager from the Brooklyn Brewery , Republic Vodka & other fine Brooklyn products and specialty items.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy as the guests got to see a taste of Brooklyn culture and cuisine as well as see the marvelous passenger ship terminal.

As you cruisers already know the Brooklyn Terminal first opened in 2006 with the Queen Mary 2 as it's landmark visitor along with the Caribbean Princess.

Brooklyn Republic Vodka.

Cool Jazz Band.

During the festivities at the Brooklyn Terminal

Marty Markowitz, President of Brooklyn Borough, and Steve Nielsen, VP Shore Operations, Caribbean/Atlantic Region, Princess Cruise Lines, greeted delegates at the reinvigorated Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, before a tour of the facilities that now service many lines en route to a variety of destinations.

Mural

VIDEO:

Then Peter Shanks came on stage to say a few words to everyone present.

After the festivities ended at the Brooklyn terminal ,

guests again boarded the Zephyr to sail to Battery Park to dine at the Battery Gardens restaurant where the main event of the evening , Lobsterfest was being hosted.

The stunning & sleek Zephyr docked at the Brooklyn cruise terminal.

During the final stretch of the cruise as we cruised in the harbor as the sun set over the Modern & ever changing New York skyline , we could see the rising World Trade Center 1 taking shape.

The mood reminiscent of the 1930s & 50s like a classic Humphrey Bogart film as the sun set over the harbor and the clouds & fog covered the city as we passed the Statue of Liberty briefly , as guests lined the decks to take photos and pose in front of Lady Liberty.

The Atlantica Yacht passing us.

Me & the Avid Cruiser.

It was starting to Drizzle as we stopped near The Statue of Liberty & the seas were getting rough for the ship was rocking as we turned 30 degrees and proceeded full speed to Battery Park.

Once we docked , guests proceeded to the Battery Gardens restaurant for a genuine New England Lobster feast.

The evening entertainment was delivered by the Don Campbell Band, an authentic American Rock & Country group from Maine , boy did they rock the house!

Dynamite music & tunes cranking through the evening.

The Lobster cuisine was served with genuine New England Clam Chowder , roasted potatoes and dessert was fine New York Cheese Cake.

VIDEO:

The food was delicious , made with such love and craft.

New England Lobster fresh off the boat.

Lobster Galore!

The Don Campbell band.

The night lasted til the we hours as the Don Campbell band continued to churn out tunes and popular cover songs like " The Ring of Fire."

The night had officially ended as day one of the Symposium came to a close , tomorrows celebrations would be even more marvelous.

Day 2 of the Symposium:

Lunch & Tour aboard the Carnival Miracle & an Evening at the Eventi.

I arrived at Pier 88 at 10:30 am est to pick up my boarding pass , I then zipped down to Pier 90 where the Miracle was docked.

As I boarded the Miracle with all the guests on the main deck , I was awed at the interiors and the glitzy signature Joe Farcus architecture.

The Main atrium and the style of the room looked similar to the interiors of the Costa Atlantica I visited in October of last year.

On this visit , I was accompanied by my fellow reporter Mr. Navin Das .

Reporter Navin Das

Guests & delegates then proceeded to the Bacchus Dining Room ( named after the Greek god of wine)

where the luncheon was taking place.

The event was Sponsored by Port of Halifax and Nova Scotia.

During the event we had announcements from Captain Rocco Lubrano of the Miracle , Thomas M. Dow , Vice President of Public affairs at Carnival North America LLC & Tom Spina of NY Cruise.

VIDEO:

Floor tile of dining room.

The biggest news announced by Captain Lubrano was that the Carnival Miracle will be sailing from the New York on a year-round basis beginning in April 2012, a first for the line.

The 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle will be homeported in New York doing eight-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Reporter Navin Das & Tom Spina

From April to October, 2012, the Spirit-class vessel will cruise from New York to San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk; alternating with a Bahamas itinerary that calls at the private Bahamas island of Half Moon Cay (operated by sister line Holland America), Grand Turk and Nassau.

Our waiter Ricky.

The cuisine was phenomenal ,

here's the menu.

Cured Salmon and Candied Tomato

Dill cream , Stewed Apples and Grapes in Lemon Vinaigrette.

Peppered Cheese Ravioli in Truffle Cream

Served with Feta Crumbles , Tomato & Basil Jus.

Duet of Petite Filet Mignon and Short-Rib Confit

(Oven roasted Potatoes , Red Burgundy wine sauce)

Lastly for dessert we were served

Genuine Warm Melting Chocolate Cake

served with a choice of Vanilla , Strawberry butter scotch or chocolate ice cream.

After the Luncheon was finished we meet the Captain of the Miracle Rocco Lubrano & shared a few words on everything and congratulated him on the news of the Miracle being homported in New York.

Reporter Byron Huart with Captain Rocco Lubrano of the Carnival Miracle.

We then embarked on a short tour of the Miracle's main public spaces and her upper decks , we only had one hour due to our limited time aboard before she set sail on her 8 night Eastern Caribbean cruise.

Promenade deck

Happy Passengers

After the one hour tour aboard we departed the Miracle to the Intrepid Pier to watch her depart from Pier 90 , in style with a signature tug boat escort.

Later in the evening , we arrived at the Eventi Hotel.

Sponsored by Port of Québec, Québec City and Cruise the Saint Lawrence

The Don Campbell band rocking the Eventi Hotel.

VIDEO:

During the night the special announcement was made that next years Symposium would be held in Québec City for 2012 , looking forward to it indeed.

Thats the end of this blog entry ,

stay tuned for our coverage of the Symposium's final event aboard the Intrepid!

Special Thanks to Everyone for making this coverage possible :

Tom Spina , Intercruises staff & everyone.

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium : Evening at the Eventi

2011-06-23T11:29:00.000-04:00

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium :Tour & Brunch aboard the Carni...

2011-06-20T23:54:00.000-04:00

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium : Lobsterfest at Battery Gardens

2011-06-20T23:53:00.000-04:00

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium : PT 2

2011-06-19T20:15:00.000-04:00

Cruise Canada New England 2011 Symposium : PT 1

2011-06-19T02:35:00.000-04:00

Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2010 PT 1

2011-06-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Tour of the USS Olympia at the Independence Seaport Museum

2011-06-12T15:47:00.000-04:00

Tour of the USS Olympia at the Independence Seaport Museum

2011-06-11T18:56:00.000-04:00

Navy Band Northeast performs in Times Square Fleet Week 2011 PT2

2011-06-02T14:36:00.001-04:00

U.S. Navy Band Northeast Performs in Times Square Fleet Week 2011 PT1

2011-06-02T14:36:00.000-04:00

Tour of the USS Kauffman (FFG-59) docked in Staten Island , Memorial Day...

2011-06-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

Tour of the USS New York LPD , Memorial Day 2011

2011-06-01T11:25:00.001-04:00

This is Liveboat USA here , reporting from Staten Island New York where the fleet is docked along with the USS New York for Fleet Week 2011.

It was a sunny & very hot Memorial day here in Staten Island as thousands waited in the hot sun to take tours of the Navy vessels.

This trip marked a very special visit to the USS New York where hundreds of people gathered at the city's flagship to visit her.
It was the first time the New York had been to Manhattan since her commissioning in Nov of 2009.

Our tour started as we looked at the cargo bays and the flight deck & finally to the bridge , there we got an exclusive view of what its like on the bridge of the Navy's finest ship & a million dollar view on the bridge wings of the New York skyline , in the distance we can see the new World Trade Center 1 rising downtown.

The bow of the USS New York.

The Bridge.

Manhattan Skyline.

Reporter Byron Huart on the Bridge of the USS New York.

Later in the day as I was aboard , I sketched a drawing of the New York along side the cityscape.
I then presented it Commander William Herrmann of the USS New York as a token of friendship and good luck to the many sailors and marines who serve aboard her.

Reporter Byron Huart with Commander William Herrmann

Commander William Herrmann holding Mr. Huart's token of friendship
presented to him & the crew.

At the end of the day , I departed Staten Island and as we sailed aboard the Staten Island ferry we caught our last glimpse of the New York as the summer sun set over the harbor.

Special thanks to the crew of the USS New York.

A Liveboat USA production.

Video & Photographs by :
Byron Huart

USS Forrestal & USS John F. Kennedy Docked in Philadelphia 5/1/2011

2011-05-15T11:11:00.000-04:00

Tour of Explorer of The Seas : Slideshow 4/9/2011

2011-04-26T11:21:00.000-04:00

FONTAINEBLEAU Hotel Miami 3/2011

2011-04-26T11:20:00.000-04:00

Tour of Explorer of the Seas : Highlights and interviews.

2011-04-15T09:45:00.000-04:00

Princess Cruises Announces the new Royal Princess / CRUISE SHIPPING MIAM...

2011-04-08T20:13:00.000-04:00

Cruise Shipping MIAMI 2011 : DAY 1 & 3 highlights.

2011-04-08T20:12:00.000-04:00

Tour of MV Marina : 3/15/2011 MIAMI PT 2

2011-04-08T20:11:00.000-04:00

Tour of MV MARINA : 3/15/2011 MIAMI PT 1

2011-04-08T20:10:00.000-04:00

Norwegian Sky , Celebrity Century & Majesty of the Seas depart Miami 3/1...

2011-03-25T12:43:00.000-04:00

S.S UNITED STATES NATIONAL CELEBRATION: The Unseen archives 7/1/2010 PT1

2011-03-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

S.S UNITED STATES NATIONAL CELEBRATION: The Unseen archives 7/1/2010 PT2

2011-03-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

QE2 IN DUBAI 2010 : NEW VIDEO

2011-02-16T13:50:00.001-05:00

This is exclusive video LIVE! From Dubai where we see the QE2 docked in her berth awaiting her uncertain fate.

Yes the QE2 has been a visible Icon among the alien landscape of Dubai ,
un-noticed and forgotten by many since she was decommissioned in November of 2008.

Maintained by a small crew daily ,
she's under the heaviest of Security ,no visitors are allowed to tour her.

Luckily one of our reporters was lucky enough to get close to her and take this video of her pier side.

The QE2 exterior wise is in good condition ,
she had a close call when her moorings broke & she almost hit another ship ,
thanks to the valiant and heroic efforts of the tugs she narrowly avoided a collision with the other ship.

SS France / Norway Memorial PT 1

2011-02-16T11:10:00.002-05:00

This is a memorial of the grand liner SS France / Norway .

This month as we celebrate the saving of the SS United States from the hands of NCL / Star cruises , we remember the great fallen liners who could not share the same fate as those that are now saved for future generations to enjoy and look upon.

The SS France was the last ship of state for the Nation of France , at a time when the great liners were fading into history.

She was reborn into the SS Norway and thus she not only was the last of her kind but was reborn as the forerunner of today's modern super cruise liners.

This slide show contains rare photographs from her first years of service to her final years of service ,
including her Dry docking at Newport News Shipyard .

She was a marvel to look upon by all ,
now she is gone forever , a crime it was for her to die at the godforsaken beaches of Alang , India where many fine liners have meet their un-dignified end.

Let us remember her in her days of glory so we may save what surviving liners are left in the world and rebuild our lost era of stream lined and majestic wonders of the shipping industry.

Flashback : SS Norway / France : Final Caribbean Cruise 2003

2011-02-08T14:03:00.000-05:00

This is archive video taken by a passenger aboard the SS Norway in 2003 ,
this was her final Caribbean cruise under her own power before her infamous boiler explosion shortly after she returned to Miami.

She was then taken out of service and ultimately decommissioned from the NCL fleet.
This video is a memorial to the final days of the SS Norway owned by NCL the company infamously known for her sale and destruction along with the SS Independence in 2010.

The SS United States thankfully has been saved from the same undignified fate as the 2 storied ships had in their final years.

Shame they could not had been preserved for future generations ,
let us remember them and fight to save what remains of the golden era of cruise travel.

New York Harbor Arrival : Summer 2010

2011-02-03T12:20:00.000-05:00

Carnival Glory , Caribbean princess, Norwegian dawn arrivals to New York Harbor Summer 2010.

QE2 Avoids disaster in Dubai!

2011-02-02T14:52:00.001-05:00

Apparently was a vicious sand storm this morning in Dubai and the once great liner MS Queen Elizabeth 2 broke loose from her moorings and drifted out into the channel, she came perilously close to colliding with another ship when two brave pilots managed to get her under control with all the tugs they could muster.

It seems that she is OK, but I was told that “If she'd hit another ship or the key, her owner's probably would have written her off rather than repair the damage as Nakeel are in so much debt anyway. So it really was a close one for the old dame.” This news update came from a supporter based in Dubai.

This is grave news for all of us QE2 lover for we all know , had the QE2 had collided with the other vessel it would have accelerated the process of disposing of the vessel, which is always denied by the current owners, but still more urgently to echo among the more experienced fans of the old lady.
It's sad to know that the QE2 , once the pride of the Cunard Line sits abandoned in Dubai awaiting an uncertain future.

Our founder Ms.Rosalba saw the QE2 three times at the port of Dubai, each time
only getting worse ,
we now have a new lady in waiting halfway around the world.

The SS United States , which was decommissioned the same year QE2 came into service has now been saved by a philanthropic organization after many
years of abuse and neglect.

Will anyone stand up and fight to save the QE2 from further decay or will she suffer the same fate as many grand liners have at the hands of the scrappers in Alang , India ?

No one knows which is why we must keep the word out and unite to save our 2nd lady in waiting.