By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) - Rescue helicopters evacuated more than 150 people from a luxury cruise ship which suffered engine failure on Saturday in stormy weather off the west coast of Norway, police and rescue workers said.The maritime rescue service said the Viking Sky, with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, had sent out a mayday signal as it had been drifting toward land in the Norwegian Sea.The ship was carrying 915 passengers, of which "a large number" were from the United States and Britain, the rescue service said, although it declined to be more specific. The crew was able to restart one of the ship's four engines and the vessel was at anchor about 2 km (1.24 miles) from land and the passengers were considered safe although the evacuation was set to continue throughout the night.Some 155 people had been evacuated by 2140 GMT, rescue service spokesman Per Fjeld said. The sea was very rough and eight of those pulled from the ship had suffered injuries, … [Read more...] about Passengers airlifted from crippled cruise ship in storm off Norway
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Oasis of the Seas: Giant cruise ship to begin trips from New York area
Gene Sloan USA TODAY Published 1:09 PM EST Dec 12, 2018 The New York City area soon will be home to one of the world's biggest cruise ships. Royal Caribbean on Wednesday said its 18-deck-high, 1,181-foot-long Oasis of the Seas will begin sailing out of Bayonne, New Jersey, in May 2020. The 5,400-passenger vessel – just a tad smaller than the biggest cruise ship ever built – will operate seven-night voyages to the Bahamas from Bayonne through the summer of 2020. It'll also offer several shorter cruises north to New England and Canada. At 225,282 tons, Oasis is the fourth-largest cruise ship in the world and by far the largest vessel ever assigned to the New York area for a season. The only cruise vessels that are bigger are Oasis's three sister ships, all built after it debuted in 2009: Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas. Just unveiled earlier this year, Symphony is the world's largest cruise ship at … [Read more...] about Oasis of the Seas: Giant cruise ship to begin trips from New York area
Symphony of the Seas: Largest cruise ship ever begins trips from Miami
Gene Sloan USA TODAY Published 7:03 AM EST Nov 10, 2018 It's official: The new world's largest cruise ship is now sailing out of the world's largest cruise hub. Royal Caribbean's giant Symphony of the Seas late Friday departed from the Port of Miami for the first time on a four-night voyage to Mexico. The sailing began just 15 hours after the 228,081-ton vessel pulled into Miami for the first time. The departure was marked by celebrations both on and off Symphony, which soars 18 decks high and is nearly 1,200 feet long. Fireworks lit up the sky over Miami's waterfront and a fire boat sprayed water high into the air as the vessel glided down the Port of Miami's Main Channel toward the Atlantic Ocean. Royal Caribbean fans lined the ship's top decks, tweeting out photos and video. Unveiled earlier this year in Europe, Symphony is built on the same platform as Royal Caribbean's 2-year-old Harmony of the Seas, the … [Read more...] about Symphony of the Seas: Largest cruise ship ever begins trips from Miami
Symphony of the Seas: Giant Royal Caribbean ship arrives in Miami
Gene Sloan USA TODAY Published 6:09 AM EST Nov 9, 2018 The new giant of cruising, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, finally has reached its year-round home. Unveiled earlier this year in Europe, the much-awaited, 228,081-ton Royal Caribbean vessel pulled into the Port of Miami on Friday before dawn after a 12-night voyage from Barcelona. The arrival came a day after the 18-deck-high vessel made a brief stop at Port Canaveral, Florida — its first call in North America. Arriving in the vicinity of Miami's cruise port before 3 a.m. on Friday, Symphony was met by fire boats spraying water in the air in celebration. It made a turn in the basin in front of Miami's Museum Park before docking at the port's new Terminal A around 4 a.m. Symphony will be feted again late Friday with fireworks over the Miami harbor. But the ship's main coming out party in North America will take place next Thursday in Miami when it is … [Read more...] about Symphony of the Seas: Giant Royal Caribbean ship arrives in Miami
Symphony of the Seas: Giant Royal Caribbean cruise ship arrives in USA
Gene Sloan USA TODAY Published 7:21 AM EST Nov 8, 2018 It'll be a big day for cruise fans in North America as the largest passenger ship ever, Symphony of the Seas, finally arrives from Europe. Unveiled in March, the much-awaited, 228,081-ton Royal Caribbean vessel on Thursday is pulling into Port Canaveral, Florida after crossing the Atlantic from Barcelona. The ship is making a quick stop at the port on its way to its long-term home, Miami. Symphony only will remain in Port Canaveral for a day, and no major ceremony is planned to celebrate its arrival. The ship's main coming out party will take place next Thursday in Miami when it is christened by actors and mega-cruise fans Carlos and Alexa PenaVega, along with their 17-month-old son Ocean. Designed for vacationers who love big, bustling mega-resorts, Symphony is built on the same platform as Royal Caribbean's 2-year-old Harmony of the Seas, the previous size leader in cruising. But it … [Read more...] about Symphony of the Seas: Giant Royal Caribbean cruise ship arrives in USA