"Norwegian Sky" Sold, Cruises Cancelled

Above, Norwegian Sky docked at Nassau, Bahamas last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a cruise to the Bahamas aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky.

It was a nice, comfortable ship and we enjoyed its facilities.

It has just been announced that the Norwegian Sky is leaving NCL's fleet and cruises have been cancelled. It has been a part of the fleet since 1999.

According to TheStreet:

Norwegian Sky will soon leave the cruise line's fleet, according to a letter sent to passengers.

"Dear Valued Guests and Travel Partners: We're writing to you today with the news that one of our renowned ships from the acclaimed Sun-class series, Norwegian Sky, will leave Norwegian Cruise Line's award-winning fleet to embark toward new horizons," the cruise line said.

This, of course, does impact passengers.

"Unfortunately, this means that your upcoming cruise on Norwegian Sky has been canceled. Cordelia Cruises, India's leading premium cruise line, has agreed to a long-term charter of Norwegian Sky beginning September 30, 2026, in Dubai, UAE. While we are excited for her new chapter, it does mean, sadly, that to accommodate her timely arrival in Dubai, UAE, on September 30, 2026, all Norwegian Sky sailings embarking on or after August 20, 2026, will be canceled," it added.

This is the third cruise ship that I have been on whose futures changed not long after I cruised on them. The Celebrity Mercury was sold after taking a cruise to Alaska in 2001. Happily, it is still sailing under a different name and owner. The Majesty of the Seas of Royal Caribbean was sold and is in limbo in Greece after taking a cruise to Havana, Cuba in 2019. There is speculation that it will be scrapped.

To read more, go here.

Travel Ordeal of Flights To Cruises

Above, cruise ship departure from Miami cruise terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, a friend and I booked a flight out of Albuquerque to Miami to take a cruise to the Bahamas.

We booked a flight that arrived in Miami in the wee hours of the morning of our cruise departure date. We had no problems getting to Miami, but the flight was a long one as we had to catch a transfer flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Miami.

Getting to the cruise terminal from the Miami airport was a different matter. We pre-paid for a shuttle service, but that never arrived. We called them several times and got no response. Ultimately, we took Uber to the terminal.

TheStreet posted an article on the pitfalls of airline flights to reach a cruise departure port. 

They start with:

Sometimes, even when you think you’re playing it safe with your travel plans, what can go wrong does go wrong.

Even if you’re an experienced cruiser with plenty of smooth sailings under your belt, your streak of good luck can easily be broken by circumstances outside of your control.

If you’re flying to your cruise departure port, your chances of a flight delay impacting your arrival at the port are pretty significant. On average, more than 20% of flights experience some kind of delay, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation statistics.

Booking a flight that arrives on the same day as your cruise is risky and generally not recommended due to the unpredictability of air travel. Most expert cruisers recommend always flying in the day before your cruise departure. But sometimes, even that isn’t enough.

Frankly, flying is no longer enjoyable for me. Too many flight problems have cropped up over recent years. I am now avoiding airlines and just going to travel with my motorhome. At least I have more control traveling that way.

To read more, go here. 

Phone Use On Cruise Ships Now Easier

Above, the meter I followed during last year's Bahamas cruise.

Last summer, a friend and I took a cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Norwegian Sky to the Bahamas.

It was an enjoyable trip, but we found that NCL's cell phone plan was too pricey. The Norwegian Sky Wi-Fi charged $5.99/minute. When out to sea, Norwegian Cruise Lines charges that amount after 75 minutes of free Wi-Fi.

Thankfully, I knew ahead of time to keep my phone on Airplane Mode so that I would not run up any charges. I only used their "free plan" of 75 minutes. 

Two wireless companies, AT & T and Verizon, have announced plans to making cell phone usage much easier (I am with T-Mobile, by the way).

TheStreet posted:

It’s a well-known fact that using your mobile phone on a cruise ship can be a big – and costly – mistake.

Of course, modern smartphones and satellite internet packages have made it easier to keep in touch while remaining in airplane mode. For example, when I’m cruising solo, I stay in touch with my family by calling through Facebook Messenger, and my phone gives me the ability to make and receive calls via WiFi.

However, simply leaving your phone connected to the network while on a cruise can be a costly error. Rates for Cellular at Sea plans can vary, but roaming and data charges can be massive. 

It’s not uncommon to hear horror stories of first-time cruisers who neglected to put their phones in airplane mode, only to come home to hundreds of dollars (or more) in various charges. And that’s not to mention the costs of using your phone in ports when you aren’t connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.

Fortunately, things may be about to change for the better. Two of the largest wireless carriers recently announced new ways to stay connected while at sea.

To read more, go here.

Runway Cracks Closed Kona International Airport

Above, a gate at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Hawaii's Big Island had to be closed due to cracks in the main runway. The closure lasted 24 hours.

TheStreet reported:

While common fears such as the plane missing the runway or running out of fuel keep many from flying, few think of a cracked runway as their nightmare scenario — even if, in the case of a plane, this can seriously imperil it from landing safely.

A number of runway cracks kept Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Hawaii’s Big Island closed for more than 24 hours. The large crack caused by a few days of heavy rains led to an airport emergency closure, a number canceled flights and over a thousand stranded people over Jan. 15 and 16. 

I flew in and out of the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in May 2016. Nice airport.

To read more, go here.