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.

Australia’s SkyCity Darwin Resort Set to Open in July
5/17/2012
SkyCity Darwin’s $40 million tropical resort development is due to be unveiled this July. Announced in 2010 and taking almost 22 months to complete,

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.

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.

Kangaroo Island to Offer Helicopter Tours Beginning in September
5/17/2012
Heli Experiences will become the first permanent helicopter touring operation on Australia’s Kangaroo Island when they launch this September.

Australia’s Morningstar Peninsula Offers Gourmet Tour
5/17/2012
A new gourmet touring option has launched in Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, MP Experience. Offering private tours for groups of up to eight people, MP Experience offers a personalized journey led by an experienced local tour manager.

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....