The latest ultra-luxury Seabourn cruise ship, Seabourn Encore was damaged yesterday, February 12, after collided with another vessel docked in the port of Timaru, New Zealand. Due to strong winds mooring lines failed and the cruise ship started to move away from the harbor and finally collided with a cement carrier vessel. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. Tug boats held the two ships in position to prevent further damage.

Costa Group announced the appointment of CEO Michael Thamm as chief executive of Carnival Asia. Mr. Thamm will oversee operations in China and the region as part of his expanded role. He will be CEO of Carnival Asia in the future, assuming responsibility for the Asian business of Carnival Corp.

The Oprah Magazine O, have announced an exclusive partnership with Holland America Line to share the adventure cruises to Alaska. The inaugural cruise is set to sail this July together with the Oprah Magazine editor at large Gayle King. Oprah will also join the cruise and additional cruises with O Magazine-inspired activities are scheduled aboard select HAL ships through 2018.

A crew member of the cruise ship Emerald Princess passed away in an explosion of a nitrogen cylinder while the ship was at Port Chalmers, the main port of Dunedin, New Zealand. According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred in the afternoon during maintenance work on the hydraulic system for launching the tender boat. Local residents say that the explosion was so loud that it was heard 2 kilometers from the port.

Celebrity’s Solstice-class ship Celebrity Eclipse will sail through South America during the summer 2018 and 2019 season. The ship will visit Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, with itineraries departing from Buenos Aires.

This year, Holland America Line will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its award-winning private island, Half Moon Cay. For 20 years, this private island has been a favorite stop to almost every Holland America Line Caribbean voyages.

Around 90 passengers onboard Princess Cruises ship Sun Princess, were affected by gastrointestinal symptoms. The 2000 passengers on board docked in Brisbane, Australia yesterday morning, having completed a 12-day trip to Papua New Guinea. According to Princess Cruises, "only a small number" of the vacationers and crew were affected by the stomach bug. People on board started contracting Norovirus at the final days of the journey.

Costa Cruises has announced the deployment for the summer season 2017 - 2018 of their cruise ship Costa Fascinosa to Montevideo as a home port of embarkation. Costa Cruises inaugurated the summer season 2016-2017 in Argentina with the arrival of Costa Pacifica, with 11 departures from the port of Montevideo, marking an important presence and commitment in the cruise market in Uruguayan.

The Juneau Empire reports that a 40-year-old Celebrity Millennium crew member from Honduras was sentenced last month maximum penalty of five years in prison by the Juneau Superior Court.

After three years sailing through the German and Austrian rivers, the Milka ship named "Muhboot" has sunk this morning. The sweet ship with a giant purple cow, used as a promotional vessel by the world famous chocolate brand, started taking on water this morning in Hamburg district of Harburg, Germany.