Two European Lines Announce Return to Sailing Dates
Italian line Costa Cruises and German line AIDA Cruises have both announced their return to sailing dates.
Costa Smeralda is set to sail on March 27 to a variety of ports in Italy. From May 1st onward, she will then resume weeklong sailings to Italy, France, and Spain.
AIDAperla will resume cruises on March 20 in the Canary Islands, which is a popular “fly and cruise” destination for German travelers.
STORY: Two Carnival Cruise Brands Announce Restart Dates in Europe
Antigua Finishes Pier Project
In a press statement, the Antigua Cruise Port has announced that the construction of its fifth pier has been completed.
The pier construction was part of an $80 million agreement signed in 2019 to redevelop the cruise port area. Despite the pandemic, the construction team maintained its deadline and finished the project on time.
The new pier can accommodate much larger vessels, which the port says has drawn the interest of Royal Caribbean for its Oasis-class vessels.
Queen Mary Faces Uncertain Future
The future looks uncertain for the historic Queen Mary, which is docked as a permanent hotel in Long Beach, California.
The former Cunard ship is now managed by Singapore-based Eagle Hospitality Trust, which filed for bankruptcy in January.
Despite a long list of repairs that are needed, Long Beach officials are hopeful. The city says that if bankruptcy permanently disqualifies the ship from Eagle Hospitality Trust, they’re confident that someone else will take its place to continue maintaining the priceless vessel.
The Queen Mary has been moored in Long Beach since 1967.