South Africa Says "No" to QE2

Dubai World's QE2 won't end up in Cape Town, South Africa after all. That's the word this morning from an article in Maktoob Business, a Middle East news service.

Originally, the former Cunard "queen" was to have been berthed in Dubai where it would be retrofitted into a top-tier luxury hotel. When the bottom dropped out of Dubai's economy, Dubai World looked for other ways to monetize the ship. They considered sailing the ocean liner (without passengers) to Cape Town where she would welcome guests during this summer's 2010 World Cup.

South African authorities nixed the idea however when it was discovered that Dubai World actually wanted to leave the ship in country long after the end of the World Cup.

It will be interesting to see where QE2 ends up now. Stay tuned.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Nakheel

QE2 Saga Continues; Dubai World to Sell Off the Ship

Britain's Times is reporting today that Dubai World, current owner of the former Cunard QE2 will sell off the ship as part of its debt reorganization plan.

Dubai World had previously planned to turn the ship into a luxury hotel as part of its resort complex in Dubai. However, the company's $22 billion debt has put a kabosh on that plan.

There's no word yet on if potential buyers have already been lined up or not. Dubai World will also try to sell other assets, like the high-end clothing chain Barneys.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Return of the Pirates: History Channel

If you haven't yet seen this History Channel special, set your TV to record Return of the Pirates (Monday, April 27 at 8:00 am and 2:00 pm).

The 2005 pirate attack on the Seabourn Spirit is highlighted in the second hour of this program. The Calas, passengers during that cruise, are interviewed. The show is definitely worth watching and details were mentioned that I hadn't read in any of the newspaper reports at the time of incident.

—Andrea M. Rotondo

Photo courtesy of the Yachts of Seabourn



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Regent's Contigency Plan for Voyager

The Regent Seven Seas Voyager is still sailing toward Dubai, where she is expected early on March 31. As soon as she docks, repairs to her pod will begin.

As was reported in the Comments section of my March 26th post about Voyager, Le Tilleul—a member of the Cruise Critic community who is onboard the ship now—posted that the Captain announced that Regent will refund passengers the cost of the Singapore to Dubai segment.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises also has a contingency plan in place for travelers joining the ship in Dubai for the April 1 segment of the World Cruise.

Here's the information from Brown & Keene Travel owner, Ngaire Keene as posted to LuxuryCruiseTalk.com and CruiseCritic.com:

There are. . . . offers in writing to all those booked and boarding in Dubai. There are multiple choices from moving to the Mariner, to a full refund, to compensation if accepting a contemplated revised itinerary and details of additional compensation if this itinerary should change again. They [Regent] are also helping with any other costs such as air that may have been arranged. At this time, all our passengers [Brown & Keene Travel] have decided to continue with their cruise.

Sometimes in the end the passengers are very happy with the outcome of these events.

Ngaire added this information to her website this morning:

Mark Conroy [president of Regent Seven Seas] and Robin Lindsay [executive vp of vessel operations] are flying to Dubai to assist with the situation.

If the pod is not fixed in Dubai this is the proposed new itinerary.

Seven Seas Voyager—Proposed Revised Itinerary:
Date Day Port Country Arrive Depart
1-Apr-09 Wed DUBAI UAE 6 PM
2-Apr-09 Thu FUJAIRAH UAE 8 AM 6 PM
3-Apr-09 Fri MUSCAT OMAN 7 AM 5 PM
4-Apr-09 Sat AT SEA
5-Apr-09 Sun AT SEA (SALALAH)
6-Apr-09 Mon AT SEA
7-Apr-09 Tue AT SEA
8-Apr-09 Wed AT SEA
9-Apr-09 Thu AT SEA (SAFAGA)
10-Apr-09 Fri SAFAGA EGYPT 9 AM
11-Apr-09 Sat SAFAGA EGYPT 5 PM
12-Apr-09 Sun AQABA (SHARM EL SHEIK) JORDAN 7 AM 9 PM
13-Apr-09 Mon AT SEA (SUEZ CANAL)
14-Apr-09 Tue SUEZ CANAL TRANSIT
(ALEXANDRIA) EGYPT 3 AM 4 PM
15-Apr-09 Wed ALEXANDRIA (RHODES) EGYPT 7 AM 4 PM
16-Apr-09 Thu AT SEA (BODRUM)
17-Apr-09 Fri ISTANBUL (LATE ARRIVAL) TURKEY 7 PM
18-Apr-09 Sat ISTANBUL TURKEY Disembark

NOTE: Ports in Parentheses “( )”, refer to the original itinerary/schedule

Stay tuned for more news about Regent's Seven Seas Voyager.

Interested in luxury cruise news and unbiased reviews? Visit LuxuryCruiseBible.com.

Regent Voyager Heads to Dubai to Fix Pod

Yesterday the Regent Seven Seas Voyager was in Cochin, India, where engineers inspected the damage done to the Dolphin propulsion pod that snagged a fishing net several days ago.

The incident has caused kinks in the World Cruise itinerary. Since the damage couldn't be fixed in Cochin, the next two stops—Mumbia and Abu Dhabi—have been canceled. Voyager will sail on to Dubai, where the pod problem can be fixed before the next segment of the World Cruise embarks on April 1.

Cruisers are said to be in good spirits, despite the change in schedule. Regent is working on a compensation package for those affected on this itinerary.

For more information about Regent Seven Seas, talk with your travel agent or visit their website.


Interested in luxury cruise news and unbiased cruise reviews? Visit LuxuryCruiseBible.com.

Silversea Announces 2008 Silver Sailing Savings

Once again in 2008, Silversea will offer savings of up to 50% on the cruise fare of more than 55 voyages visiting Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Far East, South Pacific, Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Alaska, and the Pacific Coast. The dates have just been announced and are available for a limited time.

Here are few examples of the Silver Sailing savings (fares listed are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges):

Africa and Arabian Peninsula
Silver Cloud departs February 7, 2008 on a 9-day voyage (#1804) from Mombasa to Mahe with calls in Lamu, Kenya; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Dzaoudzi, Mayotte; and the Seychelles islands of Farquhar and Desroches. Silver Sailing fares start at $2,747 (50% savings).

Silver Cloud departs February 23, 2008 on a 14-day voyage (#1806) from Mahe to Dubai with calls in Oman's port cities of Salalah, Muscat and Khasab; Fujairah and Abu Dhabi in the UAE; the Seychelles island of Praslin; Doha, Qatar; and Bahrain. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,097 (40% savings).

Mediterranean and Atlantic Isles

Silver Wind departs May 4, 2008 on a 9-day voyage (#2814) from Las Palmas to Lisbon with calls in the Canary Islands, Azores, Funchal (Madeira) and Oporto. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,747 (50% savings).

Silver Whisper departs June 15, 2008 on a 7-day voyage (#4817) from Rome to Monte Carlo with calls in Tripoli, Malta, Sicily, Sorrento and Sardinia. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,657 (40% savings).

Northern Europe and Baltic

Silver Cloud departs July 26, 2008 on a 10-day voyage (#1822) from Stockholm to Copenhagen with calls in Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Rostock, and Arhus (Denmark), plus a three-day, two-night stopover in St. Petersburg. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,637 (40% savings).

Alaska and Pacific Coast

Silver Shadow departs September 5, 2008 on a 12-day voyage (#3822) from Vancouver to Los Angeles cruising Alaska's Inside Passage and port cities of Wrangell, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan; Victoria in British Colombia; and San Francisco. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,797 (40% savings).

Caribbean and Mexico

Silver Shadow departs May 16, 2008 on a 15-day Panama Canal crossing (#3811) from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles with calls in San Andres Island, Costa Rica, San Juan del Sur and the Mexican ports of Huatulco, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,917 (40% savings).

Silver Shadow departs December 3, 2008 on a 9-day voyage (#3829) from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados with calls in Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Bequia and Grenada. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,237 (40% savings).

Far East and South Pacific

Silver Whisper departs December 4, 2008 on a 16-day voyage (#4838) from Singapore to Sydney with calls in Kura Kura and Bali, Indonesia and the Australian ports of Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Whitsunday Islands and Brisbane. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,747 (50% savings).

South America

Silver Cloud departs December 11, 2008 on an 8-day voyage (#1835) from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires with calls in Paraty, Sao Paulo and Imbituba, Brazil and Uruguay's Punta del Este and Montevideo. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,477 (40% savings).

Additional Savings Programs from Silversea include:

• Early Booking Incentive (EBI)—up to 35% off the cruise fare
• Advance Payment Bonus (APB)—5% when paying the final balance six months prior to your sail date; combinable with eBI
• Venetian Society Savings—5 to 10% for past Silversea guests; combinable with EBI and APB
• Onboard Savings—save 5% when booking a future cruise while onboard a Silversea vessel
• Extended Cruise Savings—save 5% when booking back-to-back cruises

*Savings are capacity controlled and subject to availability.

Silversea cruise ships offer ocean-view accommodations, most with private veranda, fine dining, personalized service, Italian hospitality, and Silversea’s unique all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines, and spirits served throughout the ship; 24-hour room service; stocked in-suite beverage cabinet; and all gratuities.

For more information on Silversea Cruises, contact your travel agent. For a complimentary brochure, please call toll-free (877) 215-9986 or visit www.silversea.com.

Panama Canal photo courtesy of Silversea.

Cunard QE2 Sold to The Palm in Dubai

Sky News is reporting this morning that Cunard's QE2 has been sold to Istithmar/Dubai World for approximately $99 million. The ship will be converted into a luxury hotel and will be berthed at The Palm Jumeirah development. The Palm is a unique resort that consists of a man-made island in the shape of a Palm tree with each branch reaching out into the Persian Gulf.

Click here for the full story.

Broder, McFarlane & Schieffer on Seabourn

Three Washington insiders will cruise with Seabourn in 2007 as part of the Dress Circle enrichment program. They'll speak with guests and provide firsthand insights into the inner workings of public policy in Washington, as well as the news media.

David S. Broder is a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the Washington Post; a syndicated columnist whose insights are carried in over 300 newspapers nationwide, the author of half a dozen books on U.S. politics and a regular commentator on NBC’s Meet the Press; PBS’s Washington Week in Review and CNN’s Inside Politics. He will sail aboard Seabourn Pride’s 13-day cruise of “Rio & the Amazon” departing Rio de Janeiro on February 18, 2007.

Robert C. McFarlane is intimately familiar with the corridors of power, having served as national security advisor to President Reagan and in key White House posts in the Ford and Nixon administrations. As founder of Global Energy Systems and a director of the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, he is uniquely suited to join Seabourn Spirit’s 16-day voyage to “Arabia, India & Orchid Isles” departing Dubai on November 20, 2007.

Bob Schieffer was the popular anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2005 and 2006, but his exemplary career as a broadcast journalist includes 20 years as anchor of the Saturday CBS Evening News, 15 years as moderator of the network’s Sunday staple Face the Nation, and much more. As CBS chief Washington correspondent, he has covered presidential campaigns since 1972. He will be on board Seabourn Spirit’s 14-day cruise of “Asian Capitals & Vietnam” departing Singapore on December 6, 2007.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at (800) 929-9391 or Seabourn.com.

Photo courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line.