Category Archives: High Seas

This morning the Jewel of the Seas returned to the ships home port of Limassol, Cyprus after a one week cruise around the Greek Isles. Yesterday, the ship conducted a routine test for the COVID-19 virus of all of the 1,100 or so guests on the ship. According to a crew member on the cruise ship who wishes to continue to remain anonymous, eleven passengers tested positive for the virus.

In addition to these guests, the whole team (nine) of the ships dancers are under quarantine on board.

Eleven (11) Guests Test Positive on Jewel of the Seas for #COVID19, Bringing Total to at Least Fifty (50) in Last Thirty Days https://t.co/nU5HEZVR0j @RoyalCaribbean #JeweloftheSeas #cruise ship. pic.twitter.com/TOFlUrfsuq

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 23, 2021

In the last thirty days, we have learned that there have been a total of around fifty positive COVID-19 cases of passengers on this same cruise ship. More specifically, on the cruise which departed from Limassol on September 25th, we reported that there was a total of twenty-one cases involving guests on the Royal Caribbean ship.

On October 2nd, we reported that there were twelve guests who tested positive on the next cruise on the Jewel.

There have been at least a handful of positive cases involving guests on each cruise on this ship this summer. The total does not include the number of crew members who tested positive for the virus over the past month.

Royal Caribbean is continuing to take aggressive steps to try and reduce the number of COVID-19 cases involving its crew members and guests on this ship after experiencing a higher than normal number of positive virus cases in the last several weeks.

Eighty percent of guests on the ship have been from UK which is still experiencing a high number of COVID-19 outbreaks. BBC News recently published an article titled Covid: Why are UK cases so high? which explained that COVID-19 cases in the U.K. have soared to to more than 50,000 cases a day, although it is less likely that the infected will end up in the hospital or die.

The Jewel of the Seas will be re-positioned in mid-November to South Florida where it will be sailing on a Western Caribbean itinerary of cruises from five to ten days long. The ship will sail from Miami until mid-May of 2022 when it will be repositioned and sail from Amsterdam. The company obviously wishes to reduce the number of positive virus cases it has been experiencing before it begins sailing out of U.S. waters where it will fall within the jurisdiction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There have been a number of sailings of Royal Caribbean crusie ships where at least a dozen or more passengers and crew became infected with COVID-19. Ten days ago, we reported that fifteen crew members on the Allure of the Seas tested positive for COVID-19.

Two days ago, a crew member on Royal Caribbeans Spectrum of the Seas tested positive after several tests. The ship wa scheduled to depart from Hong Kong but the local health department intervened and prohibited the ship from leaving port. Several thousands of guests had to depart the ship and the cruise was cancelled.

One RCCL crew member tests positive. Spectrum of the Seas' cruise scheduled for yesterday canceled. Compare that to the fifteen RCCL crew members on the Allure of the Seas who tested positive for COVID-19 ten days ago. Ship still sailed. https://t.co/xZ3daf8xba pic.twitter.com/2gr8gcbegS

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 22, 2021

Royal Caribbean, like most cruise lines, does not voluntarily disclose the number of guests and crew members who are infected during cruises on its ships, althought this basic information is vital to understanding the risk of infection which a consumer encounters while cruising.

This afternoon the Jewel of the Seas set sail with approximately 1,200 guests on another week-long cruise around the Greek Isles.

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October 26, 2021 Update: A guest on the Jewel of the Seas commented on Twitter that he was extremely disappointed with the standard of entertainment on Jewel of the Seas this week and that Royal Caribbean had the audacity to show a movie in the theatre . . . It appears that the quarantine of the ships dancers is having an effect on the type of entertainment which the ship is able to offer its guests?

Perhaps the fact that all of the #cruise ship's dancers were quarantined for #COVID19 had something to do with this? / @RoyalCaribbean Jewel of the Seas https://t.co/JygcsiJ6WO

James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 26, 2021

Image credit: Jewel of the Seas Royal Caribbean

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Eleven Guests Test Positive on Jewel of the Seas for COVID-19, Bringing Total to At Least 50 in Last Thirty Days - Cruise Law News

A stonemason in the UK who had ordered a container of rocks from India got the surprise of a lifetime when his package came along with one of the deadliest snakes in the world a saw-scaled viper.

The snake travelled across the high seas and into the UK in a shipping container from India. The stunned stonemason called the authorities as soon as he discovered the deadly, venomous snake among the rocks.

The snake wasnt active which could have been due to the cold temperatures it may have encountered on its travel from India to the UK. Veterinarians from the South Essex Wildlife Hospital rescued the viper from the container.

One of the rescuers, the founder of a charity told a British news network that the fact that the reptile was not active meant that the people who had opened the container were very lucky to be alive.

Her charity said, We are glad not to have to deal with venomous creatures too often but feel sad for the snake that we cant give it is freedom and get it back home.

The deadly viper is now contained in a room with the door taped up with the help of warning signs.

A highly poisonous snake, the saw-scaled viper is native to south Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and is found near inhabited areas.

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One of the worlds deadliest snakes, a saw-scaled viper ships itself from India to the UK - DNA India

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Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This story is part of a CBC News initiative entitled "Our Changing Planet" to show and explain the effects of climate change and what is being done about it.

Canadian scientists have used virtual reality to take people under the seas, in an attempt to foster empathy for the oceans and make sure they aren't forgotten in the climate change fight.

The oceans are "very much ... out of sight and out of mind" for those not living along the coast, said Jessica Blythe, assistant professor at the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University.

That's compounded by the enormity of climate change, which can leave people disillusioned and withdrawn, she told The Current's Matt Galloway.

"Scientists, I think, have rightly argued that figuring out how to foster empathy for the planet, but also for each other, is one of the most important things we can do."

With a team from Brock University and UBC, Blythe helped to create underwater virtual worlds that gave people the experience of the ocean, and gauged how that affected their empathy towards it.

She told Galloway about the experiment, and its results. Here is part of their conversation.

Tell me about this experiment that you ran. What were you testing?

I was really fortunate to be working with Colette Wabnitz from UBC and solutions on what the high seas might look like in the year 2050, so future scenarios for the high seas. And at the same time, I was working with Gary Pickering at Brock University, who is a psychologist who works on how to inspire pro-environmental behaviour [with the use of virtual reality]. So we wondered what if we combined future scenarios for the high seas with VR? And specifically, could we make people care more about this really remote, kind of magical, but elusive place.

How did you plug VR into the scenarios?

We were so fortunate to work with a company of Brock alumni, called Expert VR. And they created, based on a written narrative, these worlds that you put on a VR headset.

You would be standing on the deck of a ship and you could look around you could see fishing vessels, you could hear the sounds. And then you would transition to an underwater scenario. You can look up at the surface and see the sun coming through. There were fish swimming around you, really inspiring marine life.

[You could] sort of feel that environment, which most of us, you know 99 per cent of us, will never actually be able to visit.

Did it feel real?

Yes, absolutely. When we were developing the scenarios and I would go over to test it, I would ask the VR team if I could just stay, because I loved being underwater so much.

I'm a scuba diver and it evokes that feeling just the same way it did to me when I was underwater in real life.

WATCH |The High Seas in 2050: Imagining a Better Future

So you run this experiment.What did you find?

We found that it worked. We tested people before and after, asked them questions about how much they cared and were concerned about the oceans. And after they were immersed in those scenarios, their scores were much higher, significantly higher on empathy across all of the scenarios that we tried.

We tried both a good news, sort of optimistic scenario, and a pessimistic scenario. And we found both those actually increased empathy as well.

What was the pessimistic scenario?

In the pessimistic ones, global negotiations have broken down. Countries are not co-operating on governance of the high seas. We have not taken any action for climate. We see conflicts between nations, we see marine biodiversity plummeting. It's sort of the worst-case scenario based on what could happen if we follow business as usual.

WATCH |The High Seas in 2050: A Plausible Dystopian Future

Were you surprised that this worked, that you were able to connect people to the oceans in a way that was not possible without something like virtual reality?

Surprised and just thrilled, to be honest. We tested this primarily with undergraduate students at Brock University, many of whom have grown up in central Canada and haven't experienced the ocean.

The anecdotal things which people told us when they took off the headset were things like, "It was incredible. I felt like I was there. It was a really magical experience." And so we were thrilled to hear that, but also to find the results that it did actually shift and increase empathy.

Do we know whether that empathy then translates into action?

That's the most important question. So we did ask intent for action, so "After the experience, do you have more intention to perhaps get involved with the marine conservation organization or to take climate action in your life?" And those metrics did increase.

The trick, then, is trying to understand and hopefully it's the start of the next phase of research does intent for action actually translate into behavioural change. So that's something we hope to continue to do research on.

What else do you want to study when it comes to virtual reality?

One of the first things I'm hoping to do is take this research on the road. This was done just before COVID and I was hoping that we could test it with actual policymakers. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that over the next few months to see if people who are deciding about the future of the high seas right now, if they experience those scenarios, does it shift their empathy and does that have any impact on how we decide to govern the high seas.

Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Alison Masemann.Q&A edited for length and clarity.

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Under the CGI? Scientists use virtual reality to get people to care more about oceans - CBC.ca

One of Sestra System's Connected Taps Onboard The Scarlet Lady

STERLING, Va. (PRWEB) October 19, 2021

Virgin Voyages, the new lifestyle travel brand focused on delivering irresistible cruise vacations, and Sestra Systems, the industry leader in smart dispensing, welcome Sailors back to sea with a beverage experience as innovative as Scarlet Lady.

Sestras unique IoT-connected dispensing solutions and sophisticated analytics platform are essential on-board systems and a key component of Virgin Voyages beverage strategy and sustainability initiatives. Working together, the companies are driving their shared vision of creating positive change for people and for the planet.

Virgin Voyages has committed to integrating sustainability into every part of the Sailor experience. Scarlet Lady has been outfitted with the latest state-of-the-art equipment and innovative food concepts throughout. Virgin Voyages eliminated buffets, serves sustainable seafood and direct trade coffee, and uses many techniques and technologies to source responsibly and reduce waste, a key benefit of Sestras technology. Additionally, Virgin has banned single-use plastic, and Sestras TapWise draft solution enables the use of recyclable and reusable materials across the ship.

Virgin Voyages created the first cruise line that is carbon neutral for its direct emissions footprint. In addition to shaking up how drinks are served, the Crew on-board Scarlet Lady use data directly from Sestras platform to transform their entire beverage operation. Sestras impressive solution keeps beverage taps cloud connected, even when out at sea, delivering actionable data and providing significant value to Virgin Voyages Sailors and Crew. This value includes:

Charles Steadman, Senior Manager of Virgin Voyages Beverage and Bar Development and Operations said, Sestra's innovative dispensing solution is unlike anything else in the industry. Working with their team and their solution helps us deliver on our promises of sustainability and Sailor experience in a smart way. And, we use Sestras analytics and insights to pinpoint inventory needs of every bar, and drive faster turnarounds. They are a true partner in every sense of the word, we couldn't be more excited to work with them."

Scarlet Lady arrived in the United States from London in mid-September and set sail on her MerMaiden voyage from her home port of Miami on October 6th.

When two companies that are re-imagining their respective industries come together, the process is fun, and the outcome is sure to turn heads. This is not your average cruise, and were proud to sail with Scarlett Lady and her sisters, said Lev Volftsun, CEO of Sestra Systems.

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Virgin Voyages and Sestra Systems Hit The High Seas With Innovative Beverage Program - PR Web

A Colombian man who was interdicted at sea in a semi-submersible vessel loaded with cocaine was sentenced in San Diego federal court earlier this week to more than 16 years in prison.

It was the second time in less than five years that Jose Rosario Segura Balentierra, 35, had been sentenced for nearly the same crime.

The Coast Guard, which has increasingly patrolled the Eastern Pacific for cocaine traffickers, found the vessel on Aug. 14, 2020, more than 500 nautical miles from Central America, according to court records.

Segura and three others failed to stop for the Coast Guard cutter, prompting the Coast Guard to fire warning shots, then disabling shots to stop the engines. When that didnt work, an officer jumped on board the moving vessel and was able to gain control of the engines, authorities said. The officer removed the fuel lines, ultimately stopping the semi-submersible.

Officers discovered about 4,400 pounds of cocaine on board, worth over $35 million, prosecutors said.

Bundles of cocaine are seen stacked inside a semi-submersible that the Coast Guard seized off the coast of Central America in 2020.

(Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office)

The semi-submersible was also filled with a few feet of water at the bottom, indicating the crew tried to sink the vessel to avoid seizure, prosecutors said.

Segura pleaded guilty in July to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on board a vessel and operation of a semi-submersible vessel without nationality.

He had been convicted for offenses involving a semi-submersible in Florida in 2016, after the Coast Guard found him on a similar vessel about 300 nautical miles from Mexico. That vessel sank, and no drugs were recovered.

He was sentenced to 41 months in custody. After serving his term he was deported to Colombia, then arrested 18 months later.

He was sentenced Tuesday to 182 months in the San Diego case and another 18 months for violating the terms of his supervised release in the Florida case.

Also Tuesday, his three co-defendants were each sentenced to 100 months in prison.

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Colombian sentenced for second time in drug-trafficking exploit on the high seas - The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Spanish thriller series remake of the British series Liar is coming to Netflix globally in November 2021. First released on ATRESplayer Premium in April 2020, all six episodes of Lies and Deceit season 1 hit Netflix on November 15th, 2021.

The Spanish mystery series which is based on the book by Harry and Jack Williams first released at the beginning of the pandemic on the premium Spanish SVOD service which as of December 2020 has just shy of 500,000 subscribers. It was released under the name of Mentiras but will be called Lies and Deceit on Netflix around the globe.

Curro Novallas is behind the series and serves as the writer and director. Novallas is no stranger to Netflix having worked on Netflixs High Seas (Alta Mar) and is currently hard as work as an executive producer on the TV mini-series Los Protegidos: El regreso which is destined for Atresplayer Premium.

The series is headlined by ngela Cremonte who plays Laura Munar who wakes up one morning and suspects that she had been drugged and raped by a well-respected surgeon (played by Javier Rey). The series looks back at the event during the ongoing legal case the literature teacher brings against him.

Given the series seeks to tell both sides of the story, youll be left questioning throughout as to whether Laura or Xavier is lying.

Also among the cast for the series includes Manuela Velasco (REC), Paco Tous (Money Heist), Clara Segura (The Sea Inside), Miquel Fernndez (All I See Is You) and Eva Llorach (Quin te cantar).

Reviews for the series were generally good with Bluper, an entertainment column within a Spanish newspaper, saying that the series is necessary and praises the cinematography throughout and is light on filler.

On IMDb, the series sits at a 6.9 out of 10.

Will you be checking out Lies and Deceit when it hits Netflix on November 15th? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Lies and Deceit: Spanish Thriller Series Coming to Netflix in November 2021 - What's on Netflix

Officers then extinguished the fire and discovered a large number of incendiary items in the hull storage area. There were two boxes of fireworks, branded BLOW EM UP BRO, and 16 full jerry cans intermingled with the cocaine packages.

In court on Friday, Precas barrister Ertun zen said the ignition was a last ditch panicked attempt to avoid apprehension by setting fire to what was in the hold as police approached.

The raid was carried out on the vessel after the Air Force, using radar and infrared technology, observed it meeting with the Chinese mothership that had entered Australian waters.

On the morning of the raid, the seas were described by police as very rough with swells of 3.5 metres. During the boarding of the boat, an officer fell overboard and had to be rescued.

The cocaine on board had an estimated wholesale value of at least $300 million and a potential street value of $850 million.

The attempted shipment was disrupted by a joint operation involving the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Border Force.

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In the sentencing hearing, the mens barristers sought to downplay how senior their clients were in the drug importation scheme, saying they required supervision during the plot and were little more than hired labour or couriers for superiors who would receive and sell the drugs.

Giles-Adams barrister Peter Lange urged Judge Penelope Hock to consider that his client had good prospects of rehabilitation, was unlikely to reoffend, was relatively young, was of prior good character and had expressed remorse about his offending.

Mr zen said Preca had only been involved in the scheme because he lost job in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and got into debt because of a drug habit.

He was in the hands of those to whom he owed money and to pay it off he gets involved in this enterprise, Mr zen said.

Had he not been laid off as a result of the pandemic, it is highly unlikely that he would have been involved in this offending behaviour.

Judge Hock will sentence Giles-Adams and Preca on October 29.

Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.

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Blow em up bro: Cops confronted explosive scene in high seas raid of drug boat - Sydney Morning Herald

Dream Cruises is inviting cruise lovers to celebrate its fifth birthday in November with a variety of special offers and promotions across its fleet in the region, entitled Hi 5 on the High Seas." Guests whose birthday falls in November will also be treated to a complimentary birthday package onboard Dream Cruises as part of the festivities, the cruise line said.

We are truly thrilled to be celebrating Dream Cruises fifth birthday! It really feels like only yesterday that we welcomed our first ship, Genting Dream, to Asia in 2016 and we couldnt be prouder of how quickly the brand has established itself in the region, said Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises. In five short years, Dream Cruises has expanded to a fleet of three ships, soon to be joined by our new Global Class currently being built in Germany, and have been honored with numerous awards, highlighted by Genting Dream and World Dreams inclusion in the worlds top ten Large Resort Ships in the Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Guide 2020.

Goh said that Dream Cruises was extremely proud to have been the first cruise company to restart cruising in Asia since the COVID-19 pandemic.

(C)ollectively across our fleet, Dream Cruises has welcomed close to 330,000 guests to date. I would like to specifically recognize the resilience of the brand and the hard work of our crew and staff to make cruises possible again during these challenging times, he noted.

To celebrate this occasion and to thank Dream Cruises guests, the cruise line has prepared a selection of deals and promotions in November.

According to a press release, Dream Cruises will kick off the celebrations with a Hi 5 on the High Seas 50-percent-off flash sale for Genting Dream sailings in Hong Kong and fares starting at $205 for itineraries on World Dream in Singapore. Onboard, a special celebration will also be held, the cruise line said.

For people born in November, Dream Cruises is offering five lucky guests on every cruise across the fleet during November the chance to celebrate their birthdays with a free birthday package filled with surprises and goodies.

If your birthday falls in the month of November, simply be one of the first five guests to register on the official Dream Cruises website at least seven days before your particular cruise departure in November for a festive experience including birthday decorations in your cabin, a personalized birthday cake and a bottle of sparkling wine, Dream Cruises wrote.

Throughout November, guests can also enjoy discounts and offers onboard the fleet with retail savings of up to 75 percent on selected designer goods and merchandise at The Dream Boutiques. The Crystal Life Spa will also offer a five-hour 5-Step Journey of Dreams treatment combining a Himalayan Salt Stone Massage with a selection of beauty therapies.

Additionally, on select sailings in November, special events and activities onboard Dream Cruises will "boost the party atmosphere" for guests.

On the Nov. 3-6 cruise on the Genting Dream and November cruise on the World Dream, guests can enjoy complimentary birthday cookies in their cabins, a "special birthday celebration ceremony" with cake cutting, upgraded menus, set dinners and up to 50 percent off at various food and beverage outlets, games and arts and crafts workshops.

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Dream Cruises Celebrates 5th Birthday With Special Offers - Cruise Industry News

ALTON The Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is getting somewhat back to normal, just like the rest of the world, as it opens its 2021-2022 season on stage and in person, albeit with a few safety restrictions in place.

Newly elected ASO president Jessica Poddig said the orchestra is feeling energetic about connecting with the audience again.

Its been a year and a half since the orchestra and the audience have seen each other, and we are ready to fill the community with music again, Poddig said. Its very important to us that we are not only playing music that the community wants to hear, but also music that the orchestra members want to perform.

Midway through the season orchestra member suggestions are gathered and posted on social media asking the audience what they would like to hear. All those suggestions are formulated and given to the Music Selection Committee that is composed of orchestra members, who create an idea for each concert in the season. That list is then given to Maestro Shane Williams, who uses that as a guide to choose pieces to help make the orchestra and the communitys program come alive.

The upcoming Adventures on the Water is at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Hatheway Cultural Center, at Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey. ASO adheres LCCCs guidelines, requiring masks for all people on campus, including visitors and concert goers, regardless of vaccination status. Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $5 for those 18 and younger at http://www.altonsymphonyorchestra.org. They can be picked up at will call the day of the concert.

Adventures on the Water journeys from the sea caves of the Hebrides to pirate ships on the high seas, taking the audience through an experience of emotional beauty and vigorous excitement of being on the water with ASO. Pieces will include Hebrides Overture, songs from Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Blue Danube Waltz, among others. Concerts always begin with The Star Spangled Banner, sung by Rachel Harrah. And 15 minutes before the concert, Maestro Minutes features Williams sharing miscellaneous facts and themes about the pieces the orchestra will be playing. Ballerina Molly Cook will also appear with the symphony.

Poddig has been playing the French horn with the orchestra since 2014, and been a board member since 2015. She was previously ASO vice president.

I hope as president I can expand ASO to become a greater part of the community, she said. I want our organization to take a greater part in music education, collaborate more with local fine arts groups, and reach all parts of the greater Alton community to truly Make Music Come Alive For All.

Making the Music Come Alive for All has been ASOs motto since Williams came aboard as the conductor eight years ago. He believes to enjoy music is to enjoy beauty. It soothes the soul, brings joy to the heart, makes our bodies want to move, he said.

Last years ASO offerings were a bit unusual with all concerts presented virtually, but Williams said the response was good, and many patrons expressed their appreciation for still providing concerts throughout the extraordinary time.

And though the concerts are once again live, this years Marie Stillwell Concerto Competition will again be held virtually. Submissions will be accepted online, along with recordings of each competitors performance. The competition will be administered by the new chair of the education committee, Casey Hansen.

There are currently more than 40 members in the orchestra with plans to add a few new members. In addition to Poddig, new officers are vice president Sydney Reynolds; treasurer, Melissa Bock; and secretary, Casey Hansen. ASO is also starting the new season with a newly elected executive board of directors. ASO is always looking for more community members to be involved on the board. If interested in joining, send an email to http://www.altonsympyhony@gmail.com.

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ASO returns to live performances with October concert - Alton Telegraph

Russia claims it prevented a U.S. Navy destroyer from entering its waters in the Sea of Japan on Friday.

The large anti-submarine ship of the Pacific Fleet Admiral Tributs did not allow the US Navy destroyer to violate the national border of Russia, the Russian Defense Ministrysaid in a statement regarding the incident.

The ministry said U.S. Navy destroyer Chafee approached Russias waters with anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs warning the U.S. destroyer against the actions.

The statement also claims the destroyer was in an area that was closed due to naval exercises Russia and China were conducting from Oct. 14 to Oct. 17.

After receiving a warning, the USS Chafee, instead of changing its course to leave the closed area, raised color flags indicating preparation for takeoff from the helicopter deck, which means that it was impossible to change course and speed, and took action to violate the national border of the Russian Federation in Peter the Great Bay, the statement says.

The Russian ship went toward the U.S. destroyer to prevent it from going further with the U.S. ship turning around when there were less than 60 meters between the two ships.

The actions of the crew of the US Navy destroyer Chafee are a flagrant violation of the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea and the Russian-American intergovernmental agreement on the prevention of incidents on the high seas and in the airspace above it in 1972, Russian claims.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement the U.S. destroyers actions were safe and professional."

At all times, USS Chafee conducted operations in accordance with international law and custom, the U.S. statement said. "The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate where international law allows.

The Russian ship did come within 65 yards of the U.S. destroyer as it was preparing flight operations, the U.S. statement said.

The U.S. said Russias warning to avoid the area due to naval exercises was not in effect until later in the day.

Updated at 10:49 p.m.

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Russia claims it prevented US Navy destroyer from entering its waters in Sea of Japan | TheHill - The Hill