Mardi Gras Godmother Named
Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship Mardi Gras officially has a godmother.
Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez was named as godmother of the ship during the live broadcast of the MISS UNIVERSE competition, where she also received the Spirit of Carnival award for embodying the cruise line’s values of fun, friendship, diversity, and inclusion.
As godmother, Jimenez will preside over Mardi Gras’ naming ceremony, and be among the first to sail on the new ship.
Mardi Gras is scheduled to make her inaugural sailing from Port Canaveral this summer.
STORY: Carnival Cruise Line Names Upcoming Mardi Gras’ Godmother
Odyssey of the Seas Pulled From Israel
Due to political unrest, Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas will no longer be sailing from Israel this spring.
The company said in a statement that given this and the uncertainty of when things will return to normal, the industry’s newest ship will now spend her inaugural season in Florida. Royal Caribbean said they will continue to monitor the situation in Israel.
Details on the new sailings from the U.S. will be detailed soon.
STORY: Royal Caribbean Pulls Odyssey Out Of Israel As Violence Increases
The Senate Passes Alaska Tourism Recovery Act
The U.S. Senate has passed the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, a bill that would temporarily waive the requirement for foreign-flagged ships to stop in a foreign port.
The bill could potentially salvage part of the Alaska cruising season, as ships sailing there traditionally stop in Victoria or Vancouver, Canada to satisfy the law.
Now, the bill will have to pass in the House and be signed into law by the president to save what little bit of a season Alaska has left.
STORY: Hope Floats For Alaska Cruise Season As Senate Passes Bill
