Photo courtesy of Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten Completes Refits for Kong Harald and Polarlys Hurtigruten is half way through redesigning four of its eleven coastal ships and has its new Spitsbergen on the way as well. ADVERTISING

CLIA Joins Stakeholders in Urging Congress to Boost CBP Budget Cruise Lines International Association and 30 others have issued a letter for the funding of the US Customs and Border Protection staff request in the budget. Source: Seatrade Cruise News

Windstar Cruises Names First Female Captain Belinda Bennett Windstar Cruises has promoted Belinda Bennett as the line's first female and first black captain.

Ritz Tours Contracts Victoria Jenna for China Tours After Victoria Cruises Renovates Six-Year-Old Ship Ritz Tours has booked the 2009-launched Victoria Jenna from Victoria Cruises for Chinese sailings after the ship's winter refurbishment.

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The Port of Galveston Director Michael Mierzwa indicates that the Texan cruise market is doing very well, with almost one-million travelers expected from Texas in 2016, up 30 percent since 2014.

The Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board and Michelet High School are teaming up to have students greet and help cruise guests while practicing their foreign language skills. Source: Seatrade Cruise News

Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth will reprise its February call in Newcastle with a return to the harbor in March 2018 after the prior visit generated $500,000 for the city.

In partnership with Ben Fogle, Celebrity Cruises is introducing new culinary tours wherein an onboard chef takes guests on local market and food producer excursions and treats them to a dinner featuring the day's ingredients.

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