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.

American Airlines Seeks to Add Additional Flights to Brazil
5/17/2012
American Airlines is applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the right to fly 17 additional U.S.-Brazil weekly frequencies later this year. American said that it would add service from its Miami and New York JFK hubs to cities in Brazil.

Abercrombie & Kent Adds Departures for Egypt Tours
5/17/2012
According to Abercrombie & Kent, visitors are returning to Egypt. Many of A&K's Egypt journeys are sold out, so two new dates have been added to the Splendors

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.

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,

Switzerland’s Alpina Gstaad to Open Six Senses Spa
5/17/2012
The Alpina Gstaad, the newest luxury hotel to open in this Swiss Alpine village in 100 years, will feature a Six Senses Spa. Melding Swiss Alpine architecture with an Asian sensibility

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.