Seabourn Cruise Line unveiled its 2013 Europe itineraries, with more than 100 departures aboard the line’s six all-suite ships. The schedule features 180 port calls on voyages ranging from seven to 21 days. The voyages include a 21-day cruise beyond the Arctic Circle aboard Seabourn Pride, 10- and 11-day Mediterranean cruises departing roundtrip from Venice aboard Seabourn Spirit, and 10-day Mediterranean cruises from Athens, Monte Carlo and Barcelona aboard Seabourn Quest.

The program will also feature overnight stays in cities including St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Venice, Malta, Barcelona, Istanbul, Edinburgh and Dublin. The 10-day cruises can be combined for a 20-day vacation with different ports at extra savings, and Seabourn Quest’s 10-day cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Monte Carlo can be combined into longer voyages of up to 30 days without repeating ports of call. Seabourn Pride will offer a new 21-day North Cape cruise into the Arctic Ocean calling on Longyearbyen and Ny Aalesund in the Norwegian Spitsbergen islands.

MSC Cruises has announced two unique football themed cruises in partnership with world famous Italian football clubs AC Milan and SSC Napoli.

The Rossoneri Cruise dedicated to AC Milan fans and the Blue Cruise dedicated to SSC Napoli supporters are just two events in a series of initiatives based on MSC Cruises’ partnerships with the organizations.

As a top sponsor of AC Milan, MSC Cruises is committed to mutual promotion both domestically and locally. MSC Splendida will turn red and black, the colours of the AC Milan strip, for an eight-day/seven night Mediterranean cruise on board MSC Splendida, departing on 2 June 2012 from Genoa, Italy. With calls in Barcelona in Spain, Tunis in Tunisia, La Valletta in Malta, and Messina and Rome in Italy, each day will be filled with exciting new places, as well as wonderful events and unforgettable moments based on the beautiful game and AC Milan’s history.

MSC Cruises is equally proud to be an official sponsor of SSC Napoli, a partnership which started in July 2011 on board MSC Splendida. SSC Napoli’s eight-day/seven night Mediterranean Blue Cruise on board MSC Fantasia will depart on 28 May 2012 from Naples, Italy with calls in Palermo in Italy, Tunis in Tunisia, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France. Each day will be filled with exciting new places, as well as wonderful events and unforgettable moments based on SSC Napoli’s past and present.

These unique eight-day cruises will give fans from both teams the opportunity to spend some time with their favourite players and participate in workshops, as footballers and technical staff of the first team are expected on board. Guest will watch memorable matches of the past with fellow fans, learn more about the athletic preparation of footballers and developments in sports medicine, enjoy training sessions with the players of the first team and technical staff, and take part in tournaments for adults both adults and children.

Guests on board MSC Splendida will experience instant immersion into the amazing rossonero world of the AC Milan players and the technical staff. Milan Junior Camp will be one of the parts of the cruise dedicated to the younger fans. Girls and boys will be able to play on the ship’s pitches under the expert supervision of the club’s youth team coaches.

Jean Pierre Meersseman, celebrated chiropractor to AC Milan, will give demonstrations, while Milan Lab’s fitness instructors and physiotherapists, who provide technological support in decision making processes that aims to provide the best possible management of individual wellbeing and health, will demonstrate their work. Guests will even have the opportunity to follow tailored training sessions.

SSC Napoli fans will be similarly immersed in blue, with evening entertainment including events such as "A whole blue history, the history of the world's most beloved club." Participants will be given a "blue kit" and the book "Napoli 8.5", which summarizes an eighty year love story between the city of Naples and its team.

During the call at Barcelona, a visit to the legendary Camp Nou stadium, the historic "temple" of Spanish football which can host up to 98,787 football fans, is planned for both groups. These voyages will be a chance for the players to get to know some new cities as well as a once in a lifetime opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with some AC and SSC celebrities.

LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Gandhi, U.S. Generals, novelist Jeffrey Archer, and the casting genius behind Modern Family are just a few of the highly-esteemed enrichment speakers scheduled to appear aboard ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises in Europe this year. The top-caliber Special Interest, Destination and Celebrity Guest Speakers will provide insight into global topics, local culture or their own life and wisdom on individual Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony voyages from May through December.

From PBS to Fox, presenters' reputations are the cream of the crop in their fields, with such luminaries as:

• Arun Gandhi (May 9 Barcelona to London) – Peace activist, founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
  
• General Anthony Zinni (May 21 London to Hamburg) – Four-star U.S. Marine Corps General and former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
  
• Jeff Greenberg (May 24 London to Rome) – Emmy Award-winning Casting Director of Modern Family and Frasier.
  
• Lord Jeffrey Archer (Jun 19 Venice to Istanbul) – Bestselling author of fifteen novels such as Kane & Abel and the recent Clifton Chronicles series
  
• Joel Harper (Oct 12 Athens to Venice) – Celebrity trainer for Dr. Oz, Olympic medalists, and PBS's best-selling Firming After 50.
  
• Owen Ullman (Jul 23 Stockholm to Copenhagen) – News editor of USA Today.
  
• Dinesh D'Souza (Jul 13 Monte Carlo to Lisbon) – Top public policy-maker and political conservative author.
  
• Paula Pryke (Jul 25 Lisbon to Rome, "Floral Design" theme) – Celebrity floral designer from Britain
  
• Eric Burns (Nov 5 Istanbul to Barcelona) – Emmy Award-winning NBC News correspondent and former host of Fox News Watch.
  
• General Nick Halley (Aug 25 London Round-Trip) – Military commander during Vietnam, Grenada, and Desert Storm, and now leadership and terrorism expert.
  
• Jon Sigurdsson (May 8 NY to London) – Icelandic geologist who studies glaciers and volcanoes throughout Europe.
  

Other noteworthy names joining Crystal's European cruises include Astronaut Mark Kelly and wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and legendary football coach Don Shula and a host of other presenters, instructors, and entertainers. As part of a new "Local Insights" program this year, Crystal is also bringing aboard local European dignitaries and experts to share "insider" information on the region's life and customs.

"Our world travelers are not only adventure-seekers, they're knowledge-seekers, so our on-board presenters need to deliver smart, stimulating, and shrewdly entertaining enlightenment that not only provides food for thought, but also sparks lively discussion among guests throughout our voyages," says Chris Corrigall, manager, entertainment. "As the 'World's Best' cruise line, we bring nothing but the world's best minds aboard to enrich guests' overall vacation experiences."

Crystal sails through Europe on 35 7- to 14-day voyages from March to December 2012, offering intimate, luxury access to the eastern and western Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Black Sea, northwest Africa, western Europe, including Iceland and the British Isles, the Middle East, the western and eastern Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, and Arctic Circle. Several voyages offer themed activities and entertainment, such as "Wine and Food," "Golf," Big Band," and "Emerging Artists."

Until April 30, "Book Now" fares start at $1,945 per person/double occupancy for seven days in the Mediterranean, with additional savings available for combining select voyages. Attractive air add-ons are also available from more than 90 North American airports.

Crystal's award-winning, luxury cruises always include a diverse selection of thought-provoking, scholarly, and sophisticated enrichment activities that provide extensive onboard choices for cultured world travelers.

The Coast Guard dispatched a rescue helicopter from Belle Chasse Sunday deep into the Gulf of Mexico to evacuate a man aboard a cruise ship. The man reportedly was suffering stroke-like symptoms, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

Coast Guard MH-65C Doplhin helicopter like this was dispatched Sunday to a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, to evacuate a man suffering stroke-like symptoms.

The Coast Guard received a report at 11:20 p.m., Sunday, that the man was on the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

The agency sent a MH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, which is in Belle Chasse, to evacuate the man. The cruise ship was 132 miles southeast of South Pass, according to the Coast Guard.

The air crew flew the man to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, the Coast Guard said.

The man's name was not released, and the Coast Guard said his condition was not immediately known.

Oceania Cruises' 1,250-guest Riviera, scheduled to be christened in Barcelona on May 11, 2012, successfully completed her sea trials today, which included three days of sailing the Mediterranean.

During the sea trials, technicians and engineers from Fincantieri's Sestre shipyard along with Oceania Cruises' marine and technical teams performed a comprehensive evaluation of the vessel's functionality, including speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics, propulsion and safety systems.

"Riviera exceeded all of my expectations. While underway the ship handled perfectly in all sea conditions and power settings" said Captain Luca Manzi, the ship's master. "Riviera cruised at more than 21 knots with ample reserve power."

Now that sea trials are concluded, the 66,084 ton ship will dock at the outfitting berth, where workers will put the finishing touches on her interiors as well as exterior.

"Riviera's sea trials were a resounding success," stated Robin Lindsay, the line's executive vice president of vessel operations, who was on board during the sea trials. "With the sea trials behind us, we will turn our undivided attention to the final details of the interior. Guests on our May 16 maiden voyage are certainly in for a treat."

AIDA Cruises has announced that it will be taking on the role of main sponsor of the world’s largest port festival for the next three years.

"This is a gift for Hamburg and its guests. Cruising is part of Hamburg and we are very happy that the cruise line with the pouting lips will be supporting our festival,” said Senator of Economic Affairs Frank Horch.

Senator Horch, was presented with the first ship’s model of the AIDAmar by Michael Ungerer, vice president, AIDA Cruises, at the press conference onboard the AIDAluna last Saturday.

Ungerer promised "that AIDA Cruises will offer visitors to the port festival a pouting lips parade which is unique the world over to mark the ship’s christening, with a total of four AIDA ships taking part."

Because this year, as a special highlight of the program of events, the spectacular christening of the AIDAmar will be taking place on the Elbe during the Port festival.

On the evening of May 12 Rostock-based cruise line AIDA Cruises will be welcoming the ninth member of its fleet with a parade of the club ships AIDAluna, AIDAblu and AIDAsol, the likes of which have never before been seen at the Port of Hamburg. For the first time in the history of cruising three identical sister ships will be accompanying their newest fleet member as her godparents.

Following this an impressive fireworks display over the port will provide the breath-taking finale to the christening celebrations.

The countdown is on until April 1, when P&O Cruises will launch its new loyalty program, the Peninsular Club, which will replace current program, The Portunus Club.

The new club, which will launch first onboard Ventura on April 1, has six distinct tiers; Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic and Ligurian, and significant new benefits.

Once launched on Ventura, the Peninsular Club will then be rolled out over the remainder of the fleet, launching on board Oceana on April 4, Adonia on April 9, Oriana on April 10, Aurora on April 12, Azura on April 15 and finally on board Arcadia on April 27.

Points from the previous loyalty program, which had three ‘tiers’ ruby, sapphire and gold, will be automatically transferred to the new P&O Cruises Peninsular Club.

The new club and tier names endorse the brand’s heritage and its world-wide footprint. In 1837 the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company won the mail contract from the British Admiralty and this is the time from which P&O Cruises can trace its roots. The tier names come from oceans and seas of the world - all sailed countless times by P&O Cruises ships. These are arranged in order of size with the smallest being Ligurian. This club tier is reserved exclusively for P&O Cruises most loyal and frequent cruisers.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “We are excited that the time has come to launch the new look loyalty club. The Peninsular Club has been shaped with our passengers in mind and we trust that the benefits they will reap will see them continuing to cruise with P&O Cruises time and time again”.

The wide range of benefits of the new club vary by tier, and include an on board discount ranging from 5 -10%, a complementary pressing service and discounted laundry, as well as early embarkation, an exclusive travel insurance offer, early booking offers and early cabin access.

In the new program, the Baltic and Ligurian tiers will be exclusive to the most loyal passengers who have a total points value of more than 2500. Entry to these tiers is not only reliant on points but also on a requirement for the passenger to have spent over 80 nights on board any P&O Cruises ship within the three years prior to the start of their cruise.

Viking River Cruises has been bragging that its new 190-passenger "Longships," all named for Norse gods and heroes, would revolutionize river cruising. In fact, the cruise line is so bullish on these vessels that it's ordered a dozen of them, all to be launched by the end of 2013 (six in 2012 and six in 2013).

Stepping onto Viking Odin which, along with Viking Idun is the first to debut, it's immediately clear the company has some reason to toot its own horn.

The reference to old Viking ships notwithstanding, the German-built Viking Odin and its sister ships represent a totally new take on river hospitality. Forget the old and stodgy; bring on the new.

Light fills the beautiful two-story atrium -- so much sunlight there are real daffodils growing. With backlit marble panels rising above a terrazzo floor and grand wooden staircase, and comfortable furnishings in pale shades, the space has magnetic appeal. If the ambience reminds some of Seabourn's Odyssey class, that's not a coincidence -- the vessels share the same lead designer, Norwegian firm Yran & Storbraaten.

The atrium previews the smart use of glass, light and subtle colors throughout Viking Odin, but beyond that are a whole bunch of features new to river cruising in Europe, including the two largest real suites (each with separate living room and bedroom) on a riverboat in Europe and a larger number of cabins with full and French balconies.

Deserving the biggest buzz is Aquavit Terrace, a lovely open-air cafe on the ship's bow, providing somewhat of a river rarity: an alternative casual dining venue.

The designers' creation of such new spaces required a lot of rethinking about the basic structure of river ships. To fit under the bridges and through the locks of Europe's inland waterways, riverboats have to meet specific size requirements. You can't expand length or depth.

Instead, Yran & Storbraaten changed the traditional pointy-nosed bows to snub-nosed ones to provide more space for Aquavit. It also positioned interior corridors off-center to accommodate cabins -- full balconies on one side and narrower cabins, some elevated to suites with separate sleeping and living areas, placed sideways on the other side.

Less visible but no less cutting-edge are the ship's "green" advances, including hybrid engines, making Odin cleaner and quieter than its competitors. There are even solar panels on the sun deck that help fuel the engines.

The ride is slow and smooth -- a wonderful thing about river ships in general since there is no reason to worry about seasickness -- while you pass by scenery that includes castles and vineyards.

Viking Odin godmother Joanna Lumley, who played Patsy on the BBC series "Absolutely Fabulous," eloquently described the river cruise experience at Viking Odin's christening this way: "It's like the world is on a cloth and being dragged past you by captains sent from paradise."

Viking Odin Fellow Passengers

Viking River passengers tend to be 60 and older (sometimes much older). But the "Longships," with their contemporary design, are expected to bring the demographic down, the goal being to appeal to 40- and 50-somethings in addition to Viking River's traditional passengers.

Viking Odin Dress Code

Casual, comfortable attire is encouraged for both ship and shore. The must-have item is a comfortable pair of walking shoes or sneakers for tours (which may involve cobblestones and other uneven surfaces). Some passengers dress up slightly at night -- think the kind of attire you'd wear to dinner at a country club. Others don't bother to change at all. Save your best outfits (maybe casual dresses for women and collared shirts and blazers for men) for the Captain's Welcome Party and Farewell Dinner

Viking Odin Gratuity

Tips are not included in the cruise fare. They are paid at the end of the cruise in cash or by credit card. (Euros are the onboard currency, but dollars are also accepted for gratuities.) The recommended amount on Viking's Europe cruises is 12 euros per passenger, per day, which is divided up among the crew.

The Great American Steamboat Company announces Priscilla Presley as the godmother of the steamboat American Queen. Presley, who is synonymous with Graceland in the steamboat’s homeport of Memphis, will name her in a christening ceremony at the revitalized Beale Street Landing on April 27. Highlights of the festivities will include performances by local musicians, a bottle of champagne crashing against the stern and the sounds of the American Queen Calliope as she steams off up the Mississippi River.

The Great American Steamboat Company has also entered into an exclusive partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises. This collaboration will present the first Elvis Cruise on the American Queen from Memphis to New Orleans this December, as well as signature Graceland experiences for guests.

A daughter of an Air Force officer, Priscilla Presley attended high school in Germany, where she met her future husband, Elvis Presley. In 1979 she became co-executor of the Presley Estate growing it from a burgeoning entity into a phenomenally successful organization consisting of the famous Graceland Mansion, a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, television and video projects

.

In addition to being a savvy businesswoman, producer and actress, Presley is an ambassador of the Dream Foundation, helping to fulfill the dreams of adults battling terminal illnesses. She became aware of the organization after helping to grant recipients’ wishes to visit Graceland. The organization is the only one of its kind working with adults as well as helping to create lasting memories for their family and friends. Priscilla has also joined Hollywood celebrities in an important fight against the overmedication of children. She is an advocate for Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights and a percentage of all purchases on PriscillaPresley.com are donated to support these two worthy charities.

“It is quite a thrill for Memphis as steamboating returns once again with the arrival of the American Queen,” explains Presley. “I look forward to her guests visiting Graceland and experiencing true Southern hospitality, which is why this city holds such a special place in my heart.”

“Priscilla Presley’s efforts leading Elvis Presley Enterprises exemplify both grace and dignity, two adjectives befitting the American Queen,” explains Great American Steamboat Company CEO Jeff Krida. “Both are stunning ambassadors to Memphis and we are humbled to bring our steamboat family and the Presley family together.”

The Great American Steamboat Company shares a common passion with Presley, which is its homeport of Memphis. Earlier this month the company hosted a job fair at the Memphis Cook Convention Center hiring 300+ new employees to work onboard the American Queen or at its downtown headquarters. An annual economic impact of $89 million for the region is expected with the largest and most opulent steamboat ever built returning to the heartland’s iconic rivers.

After a sunset christening, the American Queen will depart for her inaugural voyage up the Mississippi River to the Ohio River with stops in Henderson, Ky., Louisville, Ky., and Madison, Ind., before arriving in her disembarkation city of Cincinnati. In Louisville she will take part in the wonderful tradition of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Steamboat Race with the Belle of Louisville and Belle of Cincinnati.

The American Queen will offer an unrivaled All-American hospitality experience from its elegant staterooms to its palatial public spaces and celebrated Southern cuisine of famed Chef Regina Charboneau, the line’s Culinary Director.

A variety of voyage lengths, ranging from three nights to ten nights, and fares beginning at $995 per guest. Pre- or post-cruise luxury hotel stay, all bottled water and soft drinks, wine and beer at diner and complimentary shore adventures are included in each port of call.

“The Queen of the Mississippi sets a new standard in river cruising and raises the bar for grand travel on the Mississippi River,” said Charles A. Robertson, President of American Cruise Lines. Robertson also revealed that the new riverboat is slightly faster than expected and is now nine weeks ahead of schedule.

The Queen of the Mississippi will be completed in May, with its inaugural cruise scheduled for August 11, 2012 from New Orleans to Memphis. Currently, the interior is well underway with carpeting being installed throughout the ship and furniture beginning to go on board. All sliding glass doors leading to the private balconies are in place and painting is nearly complete.

"Silver Shadow was involved in a minor incident on March 16, 2012 at around 4:20 GMT as it was approaching the pilot station in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. There was contact between Silver Shadow and a local commercial vessel. Silver Shadow incurred limited minor dents and guests' safety was never compromised. The ship is fully operational and continued on its course to Ha Long Bay where all shore tours operated normally.

Silversea will carry out a full investigation into the incident."

Crown Cruise Vacations has organized a cruise on the American Queen with experts from PBS history documentaries. The cruise will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and premiere the documentary “This Republic of Suffering.” The 12-night voyage begins on Aug. 9 and visits New Orleans; Vicksburg, Miss.; Helena, Ark.; Memphis and Ashport Landing, Tenn.; Paducah, Ky.; Savannah, Tenn.; Decatur, Ala.; and Chattanooga, Tenn.

The cruise will premiere “This Republic of Suffering,” the latest production by American Experience, weeks ahead of its national debut on PBS stations across the country. Based on the best-selling book “This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War” by historian and Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust, the documentary examines how the unprecedented death toll of the Civil War challenged American cultural attitudes about death and changed federal government policies regarding soldiers.

On the cruise will be Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns and producer Mark Samels. Burns, Samels and other guests will discuss the production with passengers aboard. Also appearing will be historians Brian Still Wills and James I. “Bud” Robertson Jr.; Barry Meadows, a Gen. Ulysses S. Grant tribute artist; Al Stone, a Gen. Robert E. Lee tribute artist; Cathy Barton and Dave Para, Civil War era musicians; and Bobby Horton, a Civil War historian and musician.

Fares range from $2,895 to $8,495, depending on the cabin category and number of guests, and include a one-night hotel stay both before and after sailing, shore adventures, and complimentary wine, beer and spirits.

STX Europe said this morning that they have entered into a contract with MSC Cruises to continue construction of the ship originally ordered by GNMTC, the start-up Libyan cruise line.

The contract with GNMTC was canceled by STX in June 2011 when the Libyan company failed to make a scheduled payment. STX continued construction after the cancellation in anticipation that the hull would be purchased, and it was generally assumed that MSC would be the buyer.

The ship is nearly identical to MSC's Fantasia class and will be a sister to MSC Divina which is still under construction and will enter service in May 2012. (Both ships are under construction at the STX France yard at Saint Nazaire, and MSC Preziosa is shown in the yard in the photo below). MSC said this morning the 140,000-vessel will be named MSC Preziosa (treasure). The 333-meter ship will have 1,751 passenger staterooms on 14 decks (18 decks overall). The ship will also feature 69 suites in MSC's luxurious Yacht Club in the private ship-within-a-ship area.

Right now, total construction is 45% complete, and the mechanical zones are 70% complete. Interior fittings will begin shortly, and delivery of MSC Preziosa is scheduled for March 2013.

MSC Preziosa will become the 13th ship in the MSC fleet, and the fourth in the Fantasia class, when it is delivered next year. The complete story will appear in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

How about kicking off the New Year with a seafood safari across the Great Australian Bight?

Revel in a sumptuous lunch at one of the McLaren's finest wineries, sample the many delights of famed Kangaroo Island and wash down oysters with champagne in beautiful Coffin Bay. Then mix-in some cage diving with great white sharks, close encounters with charismatic seals, swimming with giant tuna and, some of Australia's most reliable fishing action and you've got a safari with a difference

Experience all this and much, much more aboard the revered TRUE NORTH.

North Star Cruises' Southern Safari cruise departs Adelaide on January 14 and the company is now offering Standby Rates. Prices start from just $5196 and include the 8 night cruise, all activities and a return flight from Ceduna to Adelaide.

The coast between Adelaide and the Eyre Peninsular is one of Australia's best kept secrets – not only do you get to tick-off bucket list items like visiting Kangaroo Island and cage diving with white sharks – you also get to visit a part of Australia that has a very special flavour. Sometimes it's typically Australian – rugged and isolated, then at other times you encounter rolling hills and farmland but the one constant seems to be the region's unique sense of community

Apparently the crew of the TRUE NORTH taste this unique flavour every year and they can't wait to do it all again

So don't miss-out – wrap-up this very different cruise as the ultimate Christmas gift

THE operators of a Cairns-based cruise ship on which a crew member died three years ago say it was an unfortunate accident.

They say the recommendations in a maritime report about the death on Oceanic Discoverer at the Port of Napier on February 19, 2009 had or would be met.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission report said that a hydraulic fire door, which closed at twice the allowable speed, trapping the 34-year-old man, was named as a contributor to the death of the vessel's chief engineer.

The report said the crew was conducting a fire and emergency drill and closing and testing the hydraulic water-tight doors.

The master closed the doors remotely from the bridge and some minutes later the chief engineer opened the doors to the engine room.

"The chief engineer was trapped in the door for more than eight minutes before he was found and the crew was able to free him," the report said.

"He was resuscitated but never regained consciousness and later died in hospital."

The chief engineer, a Brisbane-based Australian of Sri Lankan descent, possibly tried to pass through the door before it was fully opened and "for some reason it began closing and trapped him".

The commission's investigation found the water-tight door did not comply with the minimum requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The safety management systems on board did not ensure the doors were maintained in line with regulations or good marine engineering standards.

The commission recommended Maritime New Zealand and the International Marine Organisation "address" the issue of water-tight door safety.

It also wants the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to address issues with the safety management system on board the Oceanic Discoverer.

Coral Princess Cruises general manager Mark Fifield said all the issues raised in the report had been fixed before the report was published late last week.

"Two months before the incident we had a full safety system audit and review and the comment was how good our systems were and they were beyond the required standards," Mr Fifield said.

"It was an unfortunate accident."

Deteriorating electrical machinery led to an explosion last year on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, safety officials have concluded.

In a final report on the incident issued today, the U.K.'s Marine Accident Investigation Branch says deterioration in capacitors that store energy on the 2,620-passenger Cunard flagship triggered the blast, which took place Sept. 23, 2010 as the vessel was approaching Barcelona.

No one was injured by the explosion, which occurred in a main switchboard room, but it caused all four of the ship's propulsion motors to shut down, leaving the vessel adrift for at least half an hour. The explosion also resulted in a brief shipwide blackout.

"As the vessel was well away from traffic and not in congested or shallow waters, the loss of power for 30 minutes did not cause any navigational difficulties," the report notes. "However, losing control of a large cruise liner due to an electrical blackout, with 3,823 people on board (including crew), is a serious concern."

RELATED: Safety officials issue warning after ship explosion

PHOTO TOUR: A look inside the Queen Mary 2

The 77-page report was critical of a protection system that could have provided an early warning before the explosion but was not functioning and may not have been functioning for several years.

"Protection systems of critical equipment, especially when there are no alternative or back-up systems, must fail safe," the report concluded. "They should also be tested at regular intervals to verify that all the sub-components in the system are functional."

Noting that the Queen Mary 2 had experienced multiple capacitor failures since its debut in 2004, the report also suggested crew members need to be more aware of patterns of problems with machinery.

"The failure to identify the trend of high consumption of capacitors on board QM2 was a major contributory factor in this accident," the report says. "Component failure can often be a symptom of an underlying problem with an equipment or system. Ship managers and crew should be more alert to this."

The report notes Cunard has made procedural changes on the ship since the incident.

Few travellers to Antarctica see Emperor Penguins, the largest in the penguin family. Emperors tend to stay further south than most Antarctic passenger cruises reach.

However, vessel Le boreal was recently able to make its way South in the Weddell Sea to Snow Hill Island where there is a colony of Emperor Penguins.

This is an extremely rare event, one that has not been achieved in over 10 years and a few seasons ago, another vessel was was ice-bound for days in the same spot.

This opportunity was the result of expedition leader Larry Hobbs having reviewed the ice-charts in advance. Mr Hobbs had also received input that the forecast was that ice was likely to shift further south than is normal. Due to the speed and stability of Le Boreal (and aided by very good weather) the ship was able to arrive at Snow Hill early enough on December 12 to accomplish this amazing landing.

With its vast expanses of ice untouched by civilisation, Antarctica remains one of the most beautiful places in the world. Combining adventure and the wonder of nature, Antarctica is the perfect destination for the enthusiastic voyager.

For the past 20 years, Abercrombie & Kent have been offering award winning cruises to Antarctica. A&K's new cruiser vessel, Le Boreal, boasts the highest standards in comfort, design and safety and journeys are accompanied by an expert group of lecturers and researchers.

Abercrombie & Kent's Antarctic cruises take travellers to the heart of this pristine wilderness, bringing you face-to-face with nature at its best.

ROSS SEA Exploratory voyage aboard vessel m/v "Ortelius" (formerly Marina Svetaeva)

The latest most recently designed Oceanwide voyage is a unique Discovery Voyage. It is the only expedition that includes the southern Antarctic Peninsula, the rarely visited volcanic Peter I Island, the outer fringes of the pack-ice in the Amundsen Sea, Ross Sea and Macquarie Island. We will furthermore visit the landing site of Roald Amundsen, from where he gained access to the ice-shelf and finally reached the South Pole in 1911 and have the rare privilege to enter the huts of British explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott.

Oceanwide offers two back-to-back Ross Sea voyages with m/v "Ortelius". The first 30-night voyage will be carried out from 16 January till 15 February, 2013. We start in Ushuaia, Argentina and end in Invercargill, New Zealand. The second expedition (in reverse) takes place from 15 February till 17 March 2013.

M/v "Ortelius" is an excellent expedition vessel and has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) "Ortelius" is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers.

Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises has launched its complete 2013 worldwide cruise collection -- becoming the first of the luxury cruise lines to release its entire 2013 calendar and fares, as well as open all cruises for bookings. For travelers who like to plan ahead, '13 is a lucky number as "Book Now" fares offer guests the best prices for early bookings made by February 28 or June 30, 2012 (depending on cruise departure).

Significant changes, such as many more shorter cruises distinguish 2013 Crystal's repertoire of 64 itineraries visiting 62 countries and 226 ports-of-call worldwide. Due to the overwhelming popularity of its Northern Europe itineraries in 2012, Crystal has opted to switch its initially scheduled vessel deployment: Crystal Serenity will summer in the Baltic, North Cape and British Isles (in addition to spring and summer Mediterranean seasons), while Crystal Symphony will spend her summer in the Mediterranean.

Other new highlights include:

• 16 maiden calls: Baie-Comeau and Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec; Canakkale, Turkey; Castellon de la Plana, Spain; La Spezia, Italy; Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; Natal, Brazil; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England; Santa Marta, Colombia; and Skiathos, Greece; Manta, Equador; Salaverry, Peru; Chacabuco and Cape Horn, Chile; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Langkawi, Malaysia

•More shorter/7- to 10-day sailings (29 overall) -- more than 250% increase in shorter cruise offerings in Europe

• 74-day World Cruise with a comprehensive focus on South America

• 9-7-12-day cruise-length rotation in Europe for choice of shorter or longer back-to-back options without repeating ports, plus Saturday departures for most 7-day sailings

• 98-day/eight segment Australasian Grand Cruise from Auckland to LA

• Cruises beginning and ending in Reyjkavik, Bali, Brisbane, Dublin, and Kobe

• 25% more port days, including cruises without any days at sea

• Strategic scheduling around local events: Monte Carlo Grand Prix, Seville's La Fiera de Abril, and Tuscany's Il Palio di Siena

• More than 85% of voyages with two or more days in port

• Three-day, complimentary pre- or post-cruise Beijing land package with two cruises (one of which also includes three days in Shanghai)

• Increase of 10-day New England/Canada itineraries

• More than 50% increase in shipboard overnight stays in port on embarkation day

• Antarctica for the holidays -- Crystal is absorbing the extra cost and planning efforts to meet the new environmental requirements

• Returns to ports less-frequented by Crystal: Murmansk, Russia; the Shetland Islands; Izmir, Turkey; Isle of Man; Cartagena, Spain; Newcastle, Australia; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe; General San Martin/Pisco, Peru; Pusan, Korea; Agadir, Morocco; Trogir, Croatia; Savannah and Baltimore, U.S.

• 15 renowned waterways, including New Zealand's Millford, Doubtful, and Duskey Sounds; Norway's North Cape and Svartisen Glacier; Glacier Bay, Alaska; the Chilean Fjords; Halong Bay, Vietnam; the Amazon and Saguenay Rivers; and Panama Canal

In all, Crystal Symphony kicks off 2013 with a super-VIP New Year's fireworks gala in Sydney, then remains in the region, exploring Australia, New Zealand and Asia prior to a European/Mediterranean-focused summer, North American fall, and Central/South American/Antarctic holiday season ending in Chile. Crystal Serenity's 2013 routing begins in the Caribbean before heading to a South American World Cruise, then Europe for most of the year before returning to the Caribbean/Central America for the holidays.

Early bookings offer maximum savings on 2013 itineraries, including:

• $4,000/person full World Cruise savings

• $700 or $1,000/person savings for seven- to 24-day sailings

• "Save Now, Save Later" -- 20% savings on 2014's World Cruise for booking the 2013 World Cruise (or segments thereof)

Two-for-1 fares begin at $2,595/person, including "Book Now Savings," free round-trip air transportation (or generous air credit), airport/ship transfers, and all-inclusive amenities such as complimentary gratuities, fine wines and spirits, specialty restaurants (including the lauded cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa), Open Dining by Reservation®, and stimulating onboard entertainment and enrichment.

Crystal's passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more "World's Best" awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history.

New itineraries have been announced for boutique yacht cruise line Variety Cruises in addition to the launch of two new ships in 2012.

The 223-foot Variety Voyager will launch in the northern hemisphere spring next year offering 36 cabins and a maximum capacity of 72 passengers.

Featuring a sleek, modern design and generous deck space, 28 crew members will attend to passenger's needs during voyages from the Middle East to the Mediterranean.

The new mega yacht will sail the French and Italian Mediterranean coasts as part of the 'Romantic Rivieras' itinerary in June 2012 before heading off on the 'Treasures of South Italy and Malta' voyage taking in ports including Salerno, Sicily and Capri.

'Arabian Journeys' will offer Variety Voyager passengers the chance to explore the Arabian Gulf and Omani Coast in November 2012 sailing from Abu Dhabi to Muscat.