Category Archives: cruise ship

Vintage Cruiser Marco Polo 

One of the last from the Golden age of transatlantic Liner service, The Marco Polo was built as Aleksandr Pushkin in East Germany in 1964 for the Soviet Baltic Shipping Company. She ran transatlantic service until 1980.

Her visit to Halifax is part of a 29 day cruise beginning in Glasgow, sailing to Montreal, and returning to Liverpool.

AKADEMIK IOFFE for Maritimes and Arctic cruises.

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The Akademik Ioffe put into to pier 27 to ready for a maritimes cruise. As an adventure oriented cruise, the itinerary of the 9 night cruise begins and ends in Louisbourg, stopping at Sable Is, Magdalen Is, Ile Bonaventure (off the Gaspe) Anticosti Is, Gros Morne, Francois (nf) and St. Pierre et Miquelon. The trip runs July 16-25. The Ship will then spend August cruising in the arctic, with charter flights departing Ottawa, and returning to Edmonton.  – cruises cover Baffin Island, the North West Passage, and a Franklin themed cruise.

Balmoral Passengers Contract Norovirus

Passengers aboard the Cruise Ship Balmoral have contracted the Norovirus. The Ship is Tied up in Saint John NB today, and is Due in Halifax Wednesday.

The ship is on a 34day transatlantic Cruise. It departed Southampton, England on April 16 and will stop in Ponta Delgada, Azores (20 Apr Early AM-Late PM); Hamilton, Bermuda (26 Apr Early AM-Late Night); St George, Bermuda (27 Apr Early AM-Early PM); Norfolk, Virginia (29 Apr Early PM-Late PM); Baltimore, Maryland (30 Apr Early AM); Baltimore, Maryland (01 May Late PM); New York City, New York (03 May Early AM); New York City, New York (04 May Late PM); Newport, Rhode Island (05 May Early AM-Late Night); Boston, Massachusetts (06 May Early PM); Boston, Massachusetts (07 May Late Night); Portland, Maine (08 May Early AM-Late PM); Saint John, New Brunswick (09 May Early AM-Late Night); Halifax, Nova Scotia (11 May Early AM-Late PM); St Johns, Newfoundland (13 May Early AM-Early PM); Cork, Ireland (18 May Early PM-Late Night); Southampton, England (20 May Early AM)

Cruise Schedule is Out

The 2016 cruise schedule is out. Looks to be another Good Year. Veendam Kicks things off April 30, and is back every 10 days or so. AidaMar wraps things up October 28.

Highlights include Eight inaugural calls.

Anthem of the Seas is notable, as she (And her classmates) are the largest Cruise Ships in Existence. Carrying 4905 passengers + crew . Norwegian Breakaway also makes several appearances – her construction was the subject of a 2 part episode of Mighty Ships

There may be 2 more however – I have no record of Carnival Sunshine (Glory and Splendor have been the past carnival Ships) Appearing in Halifax also Serina Changed hands and was refurbished, She has previously called as Ocean Princess.

Disney Magic is back in the fall, after an inaugural run in 2014, and then not appearing in 2015.

Todays Cruise Ships

 (Above) the Pearl Mist  at pier 24. She was built at Halifax shipyards, and after much wrngling in the courts delivered to her owners and put into service. She now makes regular stops to Halifax.
(Below)The Saga Sapphire, built in 1981 is a good looking ship. shes tied up stern to stern with pearl mist at Pier 24.