On a cold, drizzly day at Tilbury (near London), U.K., crews aboard two white cruise ships were busy readying each for her new career venture. At Berth 39, the 1992-built, 19,093 gross ton, 966 passenger GEMINI (ex CROWN JEWEL, CUNARD CROWN JEWEL, SUPERSTAR GEMINI, VISION STAR), was being prepped for…
Shawn Dake reports on the latest developments with the steamboat AMERICAN QUEEN in the days prior to her much-anticipated return to service. It has been nearly four years since an overnight steamboat has graced the waters of the Mississippi River. The return of the largest paddlewheel steamboat ever built took…
As workers demolish the 1940-built PACIFIC STAR (ex DEL ORLEANS, USS CRESCENT CITY, GOLDEN BEAR, ARTSHIP) at the ESCO Shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, Oakland, California-based Charles Jennings has launched a noble campaign to save the tip of the bow of this extremely historic ship but needs help from the likes…
M.V. SAN DIEGO 1931 – 2012 Scrapped in Northern California By Shawn J. Dake A historic ferry that was a fixture in Southern California for many years is no more. The diesel-electric powered m.v. SAN DIEGO was scrapped in the Northern California city of Alameda, not far from where she…
In an extremely rare bit of good news on the classic steamship front, a report has surfaced that ALAS International Holdings, Inc./PV Enterprises (VDSC) has announced its purchase of the 1958-built SS THE EMERALD from Louis Cruise Lines. The ship will be chartered to Yeosu Expo Cruise Corporation of South…
Charles Greco, President & CEO of Universal Event Management (Macau) Ltd. announced yesterday in a press release, “that Universal Event Management has received the rights to represent the QE2 in a number of locations, two of which include the SAR Macau and Atlantic City New Jersey.” The release goes on to…
MIRAGE I (ex BOLERO, SCANDINAVICA, BOLERO, JUPITER, CRUCERO EXPRESS, SEMINOLE EMPRESS, MAGIC I), the 1973-built former BOLERO was beached yesterday for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey. The 14,264 gross ton, 800 passenger ship last operated for Yannay Cruises of Israel but had a long and varied career as a cruise ship…
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. confirmed that its 1991-built MONARCH OF THE SEAS, second of three SOVEREIGN class vessels, will join her 1988-built near sister, the SOVEREIGN (ex SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS) as Pullmantur Cruises’ MONARCH in April of 2013. RCI President and CEO Adam Goldstein stated, “We are very proud…
Monaco-based Silversea Cruises’ MV SILVER SHADOW has collided with another ship in thick fog near Vietnam. The 2000-built, 28,258 gt SILVER SHADOW was about five miles off the coast in Ha Long Bay when the accident occurred on Friday morning. The ultra deluxe cruise ship reportedly slammed into the side…
Continuing Shawn J. Dake’s Cruise Ships 2011, The Year In Review: Disney Disney Cruise Line showcased their latest addition, the DISNEY DREAM with a gala arrival at Port Canaveral, Florida on January 4th. The new 128,000 gross ton ship has a capacity of over 4,000 passengers, the majority being families…
