Full steam ahead for cruisers

Cruise outfit Celebrity cruises has announced the launching of four new ships despite the current uncertain economic conditions. The ships are set to come online sometime in the next three years when hopefully the economy might look a little healthier. Royal Caribbean say that their financing can withstand the market changes and their liquidity will not be affected, pointing out that the new acquisitions will make them more efficient and profitable as a company.

QE2 runs aground

The world-famous liner named after Queen Elizabeth, the QE2 ran aground outside her home port of Southampton on what is to be her penultimate voyage before finding rest in Dubai.

Several tugs were sent to aid her and freed her just after 6am this morning. She was returning after a 15-night Mediterranean cruise to take part in a Remembrance Day ceremony before her final voyage. The liner will set sail for Dubai this evening after a final leaving party, arriving in her resting place on Nov 26th. She will become the property of the Nakheel company, the creators of the Palm Jumeirah, the largest man-made island in the world, taking up a permanent docking after extensive refurbishment.

Regarding the incident this morning, a spokesman has reported: "No-one on board has been injured. A lot of people will have been in bed when it happened and not have noticed."