Cruise expert Dr. Ross Klein reports on his website that a young Brazilian woman working as an assistant waiter on the Costa Magica has disappeared from the cruise ship in the Mediterranean. She was last seen on Friday, June 1 but authorities were not notified of her disappearance until yesterday, Saturday. The Magica had sailed
Italian Environmentalists Urge Sofia Loren to Stop “Monster of the Sea” from Attacking Venice
Italians concerned with the negative effects of air and water pollution have appealed to actress Sophia Loren to stop a cruise ship named in her honor from visiting Venice.
An environmental organization, the "No Big Ships Venice Committee," wrote an open letter to the star asking for her support in keeping the MCS Divina and…
Former NCL Assistant Cruise Director Pleads Guilty to Child Porn
The Tampa Bay Times reports that yesterday a former Norwegian Cruise Lines crew member formally pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. Earlier this month, the crew member agreed to make this plea.
The case involves former NCL Assistant Cruise Director Senad Djedovic, age 29, from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Djedovic engaged in sexual relations with a 16 year…
“New” Evidence in George Smith Case: “We Gave That Guy A Paragliding Lesson Without A Parachute”
CBS News aired an interesting program today where additional details of the incriminating statements by the "three Russians" about "missing honeymooner" George Smith were revealed.
CBS interviewed former Assistant FBI Director John Miller who explained that the day after Mr. Smith’s disappearance, the two Rozenberg men and "Rusty" Kofman were eating breakfast in the cruise…
The George Smith Cruise Disappearance Case Returns to Nancy Grace
The case of missing cruise honeymooner George Smith returned to cable news tonight. Nancy Grace hosted a one hour show filled with all types of legal and psychological "experts" who knew nothing about what happened on the ill fated cruise but nonetheless speculated wildly about what is now a seven year old case. I’m…
“Concerns Linger About Cruise Line Safety”
The Seattle Times published an article today raising the issue of whether cruising is really safer, and crime reporting more transparent, following the passage of the Cruise Vessel Safety & Security Act which came into effect this year. The article is Concerns Linger About Cruise Line Safety.
The article was written by Christopher Elliott.
Cruise Lobbyist Michael Crye to Leave CLIA
Fairplay reports today that Michael Crye, a lawyer and long time lobbyist for the cruise industry, will soon be leaving the cruise industry’s trade organization, the Cruise Lines International Association (“CLIA”). Fairplay does not mention where Mr. Crye is going.
Mr. Crye used to be the president of the old International Council of Cruise Lines…
Mexican Violence: Does Anyone Cruise to Acapulco Anymore?
"10 Murdered in Mexican Pacific Resort City" reads the headline in Acapulco today, with a photo below of a bloody body lying in from of a scenic beach resort. After such a horrific headline and photo, no one needs to read the actual article about the mutilated, dismembered and often decapitated bodies dumped…
New Clues Emerge in Case of “Missing Honeymooner” George Smith?
In the video below, MSNBC interviews the editor of the Greenwich Magazine which published an article this weekend about the death of George Smith. We mentioned the new article, written by Timothy Dumas, last week in our blog: "New Information in the Unsolved Murder of Cruise Honeymooner George Smith."
You will recall that…
Miami Lawyers Represent Cruise Passengers Sailing From Florida
The Miami Herald reports today that Florida’s cruise ports are booming.
A report from the Florida Ports Council shows that Florida leads the nation in cruise operations. 13.5 million passengers embarked on cruises leaving Florida in 2011. This figure accounts for 60 percent of all U.S. cruise embarkations.
The combination of the Port of Miami, Port…
Cruise Ship Whacks Bridge in China
And here’s some weird cruise news from China.
A new cruise ship under tow in China struck a passenger bridge in eastern China, causing damage to the vessel’s funnels.
According to the Xinhua News agency, the bizarre incident involved a newly constructed cruise ship, called the No. 7 Mingzhu Pearl cruise ship.
Four…
Stolen iPhone Adventures Aboard the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship
New York Magazine has a rather remarkable story about a cruise passenger who alleges that her cell phone was stolen during a cruise in April on the Disney Wonder. She was able to identify the alleged thief, a cruise ship employee, thanks to cloud technology after the photos from her iPhone were uploaded to…
Press Release: New Information in the Unsolved Murder of Cruise Honeymooner George Smith
A publishing company in Connecticut issued a press release today indicating that there is additional evidence to support the conclusion that George Smith was murdered during his honeymoon cruise in July of 2005.
Greenwich Magazine indicates that its June edition will contain "new information released for the first time" which will provide additional proof that…
Carnival Dream Turns Into Deadly Nightmare
Courthouse News reports today on a disturbing story regarding a cruise passenger’s death due to what is alleged to be delayed and inadequate shipboard medical care.
The story involves John and Victoria Showers who sailed from Miami on a Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Dream.
After leaving Miami, Ms. Showers complained of constipation. She went…
U.S. State Department: Crime In Nassau, Bahamas Is Critical
Bad news for our friends in the Bahamas and cruise passengers intending to vacation there.
The U.S. State Department’s 2012 "Crime and Safety Report" has labeled New Providence island’s (including Nassau) criminal threat level as "critical" with Grand Bahama’s island’s (including Freeport) level as "high."
"In previous years, most violent crimes involved mainly Bahamian…
Bogus Cruise Ship Accident Exposed
Closed circuit television (CCTV) video helped the Sun Cruz Casino defend a claim made by a passenger who staged a fake accident at the bottom of a stairwell on the ship.
The video shows an elderly man walking repeatedly up and down a stairwell, apparently rehearsing how the accident will unfold. When no one is…
Reefer Madness Continues: Bermuda Shakes Down Another Cruise Pot Head
Bermuda’s never ending war on cruise passengers continues with the Royal Gazette newspaper reporting today that "Tearful Cruise Passenger Fined for Drugs."
The newspaper reports that NCL cruise passenger Mr. Cruz (I’m not kidding) broke into tears today as he was charged with cannabis possession.
The case involves the familiar scheme where the…
Injured Seaman Wins Award Against Maersk Lines in Miami
Today a jury here in Miami returned a significant award against a major shipping company, Maersk Lines.
The case involved William Skye, a 57 year old Jones Act seaman (crewmember) from New Jersey, who worked for Maersk Lines Limited as a Chief Mate (the crewmember rank just under Master / Captain) aboard a Maersk container…