Tourism

• Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:59 UTC

  Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica in 'Sea Spirit' 2015/16 expedition cruises

  

  Poseidon Expeditions has chartered the 114-passenger Sea Spirit for polar operations starting in May 2015. Built as Renaissance V in 1991, the 4,200 gt ship currently operates on charter to Quark Expeditions and is managed by FleetPro Ocean. For the 2015/16 season Poseidon will offer expeditions to Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia.

• Wednesday, February 26th 2014 - 06:58 UTC

  Gibraltar announces discount on passenger dues to attract more cruise vessels

  

  In a bid to attract more cruise ships to Gibraltar, the Minister for the Port, Neil Costa, has announced changes to the Port Rules, which regulate the amount of discount on passenger dues. The amendment allows ‘repositioning’ calls from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean or vice-versa to benefit from a 100% markdown on passenger dues.

• Friday, February 14th 2014 - 07:24 UTC

  Live Antarctic Search and Rescue Exercise by IAATO in conjunction with Ushuaia

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and two IAATO Member Operators, Aurora Expeditions and Oceanwide Expeditions, took part in a live Search and Rescue Communications Exercise in collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Ushuaia, Argentina.

• Friday, February 14th 2014 - 07:02 UTC

  Argentina says 'Queen Victoria' alleged incident was nonexistent, “just rumors”

  

  The Argentine Foreign Ministry denied in a statement released on Thursday that Buenos Aires sea port authorities threatened Bermuda registered 'Queen Victoria' Cunard cruise ship with hefty fines if it did not lower its “red duster” flag, the ensign for the United Kingdom merchant vessels.

• Thursday, February 13th 2014 - 21:50 UTC

  Incident with British flagged cruise vessel in Buenos Aires: 'unacceptable example of intimidation'

  

  According to reports in the British media, Cunard's 'Queen Victoria' was warned it faced hefty fines if the cruise continued to fly the red ensign while in the port of Buenos Aires. This has led to a strong reaction from the Foreign Office which described the incident as an 'unacceptable example of harassment and intimidation” and anticipated it will be raising the incident with the Argentine authorities.

• Thursday, January 30th 2014 - 06:12 UTC

  Gastro-bug exhausted passengers cheer as 'Explorer of the Seas' returns to home port

  

  Passengers staggered off a Royal Caribbean ship reeking of vomit and diarrhea at its home port on Wednesday after their cruise was cut short by an apparent stomach bug that felled nearly 700 vacationers and crew. Cheers erupted from the Explorer of the Seas as the vessel pulled into Bayonne, New Jersey, in New York Harbor.

• Wednesday, January 29th 2014 - 06:46 UTC

  Noravirus hits 'Explorer of the Seas' in the Caribbean; 10-day trip cancelled

  

  The Royal Caribbean cruise 'Explorer of the Seas” has ended the 10-day trip in the Caribbean early after hundreds of passengers and crew members were sickened with a gastrointestinal illness. It is believed the incident is a new case of the noravirus which has been attacking large cruise vessels.

• Tuesday, January 28th 2014 - 05:00 UTC

  Brazil current account deficit ended 2013 at its widest in twelve years

  

  Brazil's current account ended 2013 at its widest deficit in 12 years amid a weakened foreign trade balance, heavy outgoing service payments, overseas profit remittances and an overall lack of confidence in the country's economic policies.

• Sunday, January 26th 2014 - 09:27 UTC

  Uruguay, Ecuador and Malta boast best climates in the world

  

  Uruguay, Ecuador and Malta were named as the best three countries in the world when it comes to climate.

• Friday, January 24th 2014 - 03:33 UTC

  Ecuador airline suspends flights to Venezuela because of tickets' debts

  

  Ecuadorean airline Tame has suspended flights to Venezuela, demanding 43m dollars in overdue payments for tickets. Some 80 passengers were left stranded on Thursday at the airport in the Ecuadorean capital, Quito. Tame says the Venezuelan Central Bank has not transferred any money to its account in Ecuador since April 2013.