Category Archives: High Seas

On her left upper arm, Allison Holmes has a tattoo of an octopus with pointy Vulcan ears wrapping its tentacles around a spaceship that resembles an elongated VW camper. The Spocktopus is a tribute to Leonard Nimoy, who played the half-Vulcan, half-human Mr.Spock on the originalStar Trektelevision series. It was inspired by old science fiction posters, says Holmes, 33, of SanAntonio. Holmes is a self-described Trekkie, though that probably goes without saying ifyoure showing off Spock-inspired body art. Especially if youre showing it off in a hot tub aboard theNorwegian Pearlas it sails through the Western Caribbean on the first-everStarTrek: The Cruise.

Joining Holmes in January were Trekkies from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, their suitcases full of costumes and body paint. Shorts and bathing suits were the favored daywear, but at night fans emerged from their cabins dressed as Vulcans, fierce-looking Klingons, antennaed blue Andorians, and green Orions. There were also several reptilian Gorn and YeomanRand look-alikes with beehive hairdos. Didnt get any of these references? Then this cruise was definitely not for you.

Star Trek screening in the central room.

Photographer:Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

You might not think of wannabe Klingons as people who leave their parents basements much, let alone as sun-and-fun types. But superfans such as Holmes make up one of the newest and most enthusiastic groups hitting the high seas. Music themes have dominated the industry for years, but cruises are increasingly embracing other forms of pop culture. In addition to theStar Trektrip, fans are filling ships for shows includingThe Walking DeadandProperty Brothers, where the Scott brothers held Q&A sessions about design, signed autographs, and sang karaoke. Oprah is going to attend anO, The Oprah Magazinecruise to Alaska in July, and the publication, with partner Holland America line, is running four additional theme cruises this fall and next year. There is a tremendous sense of camaraderie on these cruises, says Howard Moses, a travel agent who also runs the website Theme Cruise Finder. Its nice to know that people you meet at dinner share yourpassion.

Angela Vaughan (left)

Photographer:Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

Its also nice for the cruise lines, which see themed events as a way to draw new clientele. Third-party production companies book entire ships, usually during what would otherwise be cruisings fallow season; fans care more about the what of the experience than the when or where. And theyre willing to spend. The average fare paid by the 2,300passengers on the six-dayStar Trekcruise was $2,400 per person, more than double Norwegian Cruise Lines typical January rate.

Since the first theme cruises set sail about 30years ago, theyve become a bigger and bigger part of the industry. Moses site recorded 150 in 2012. Today there are 600-plus listings. Included are small group gatherings and shipwide takeovers. Music and superfan charters have become such an attractive business that in 2012 Norwegian bought Sixthman, a production company in Atlanta that began staging Festivals at Sea each year; the 2017 lineup includes cruises featuring Pitbull, Kid Rock, Kiss, acts from the Warped Tour, outlaw country musicians, and the funny men of the TruTV showImpractical Jokers. The purpose of a theme cruise is orange juice concentrate, says Michael Lazaroff, executive director of Entertainment Cruise Productions and the mastermind behind theStar Trekvoyage. We are providing fans with a chance to experience their passion in the most intense possible way.

Lazaroff and his team started talking with CBS, owner of theStar Trekfranchise, in the summer of 2015. As it happened, CBS had been looking for ways to celebrate the 50thanniversary of Gene Roddenberrys creation, which went on the air in 1966. We considered developing aStar Trekcruise for fans for some time, and the 50th anniversary seemed ideal, says Veronica Hart, senior vice president for CBSs consumer-products division. She adds that the stars aligned when William Shatner, 85, Captain James T. Kirk in the original series, signed on to host. He wasnt cheap, Lazaroff says.

That September, Lazaroff and his staff headed to the annual LasVegasStar Trekconvention to test fan reaction. The website we had wasnt ready to take reservations, he says. Interest was overwhelming, and his team cobbled together an online sign-up. We just threw it up, and next thing we knewboom!we were done. The cruise sold out in three weeks, although many who booked had never attended aStar Trekconvention, according to a precruise survey. Hart says the experiences arent mutually exclusive: The cruise is a completely unique, immersive experience.

Diane Ahlberg and Sherry Quinn.

Photographer:Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

The Pearl was tricked out with references to the showsthe original series,Next Generation,Deep Space Nine,Voyager,Enterprise, andDiscovery, which is set to premiere this Mayand films. Special signage transformed elevators into turbolifts. The ships specialty restaurants incorporated the names of characters into dishes such as Vic Fontaines chateaubriand, which was named forDeep Space Nines holographic lounge singer.

Programming included the Q&As and the autograph and photo sessions youd find at a convention; autographs cost $25 to $35, depending on the actor, and photos were $40. Klingon foreheads ran $45. Shatner, whose contract mandated that he pose for one photo per cabin, joked to the crowd about how cute Chris Pines portrayal of Captain Kirk is in the latestStar Trekmovies, talked physics and global warming, and attempted to answer fans requests for details about his experiences on set.

Debbie Fisher (left) and Stephanie and David Batchelder.

Photographer: Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

Passengers could also attend a no-fee yoga class hosted by Terry Farrell, aka Jadzia Dax,Deep Space Nines Starfleet science officer; play blackjack with Marina Sirtis, aka the half-human, half-Betazoid Deanna Troi onNext Generation; and attend a happy hour with Denise Crosby, aka Tasha Yar, briefly theUSS Enterprises chief of security onNext Generation. Special actor-led shore excursions to Cozumel and the Bahamas, which cost $75, up from the normal $50, sold out before the ship set sail. A lecture by theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, author ofThe Physics of Star Trek(1995), drew a standing-room-only crowd. FormerSaturday Night Livecast member Joe Piscopo, who guest-starred as a comic on an episode ofNext Generation, got multiple standing ovations for a nighttime set.

If thePearlwasnt quite a floatingEnterprisethe crew didnt wear Starfleet uniformsthere were constant references to boldly going and warp speed. The mood was friendly and accepting. Its nice to be among your people, says Holmes of the Spocktopus. You see a lot of cool costumes and a lot of people really, really geeking out. Her parents were also on board, and she and her husband, Allen, 33, have already booked a penthouse for the first of two moreStar Trekcruises that will take place next year, both hosted by George Takei, who played Sulu, the helmsman on KirksEnterprise.

Janyce and Mike Wright

Photographer: Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

The cruisers knew their stuff. At a trivia contest with Max Grodnchik, who played Rom, a large-eared Ferengi onDeep Space Nine, passengers rushed to call out answers to questions such as In the Enterprise Incident episode, the Romulan commander offers Spock what? (Answer: The Right of Statement.) During a $40pub crawl with Robert OReilly, Gowron fromDeep Space Nine, passengers showed off their Klingon language skills. One man pounded his feet as he sang the words to several Klingon battle songs. OReilly was impressed.

In one session, Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer, 57, and her husband Tom, 63, of Reno, Nev., renewed their wedding vows at a ceremony officiated byDeep Space Nines Farrell. Married 35years and wearing Starfleet uniforms, they repeated vows written by Jordan Hoffman, host ofEngage: The Official Star Trek Podcast. They referenced phasers and Tribbles and holodecks and, near the end, said, You are the bridge to myEnterprise, you are the captain to my starship.

Inside the ship's elevator.

Photographer:Eva OLeary for Bloomberg Businessweek

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To Boldly Cruise Where No Couple Has Cruised Before - Bloomberg

Sacramento Bee

Suspect in high-seas homicides hospitalized, putting case on hold Sacramento Bee Former Sacramento resident Silas Duane Boston, charged in the 1978 murder of two British tourists and suspected in the 1968 disappearance of his wife, has been hospitalized due to apparent complications from heart and liver disease, defense attorneys ...

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Suspect in high-seas homicides hospitalized, putting case on hold - Sacramento Bee

SAN FRANCISCOAs bad as the ransomware problem is right nowand its plenty badwere likely only at the beginning of what could become a crisis, experts say.

Lots of people are being infected and lots of people are paying. The bottom line its its getting worse and its going to continue to do so, Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy at SentinelOne, said during a talk on the ransomware epidemic at the RSA Conference here Monday.

Seven-figure ransoms have already been paid. When youre out of business, youll pay whatever you have to in order to stay in business. Youre dealing with an active, sentient adversary.

Ransomware gangs have sprung up all over the world within the last couple of years, and many of them have found success quite quickly. The barriers to entry for a ransomware attacker are incredibly low and once he has the infrastructure set up, an attacker can scale his operation almost infinitely. The only real limiting factor to financial success for these attackers is the number of users they can trick into infecting themselves. And that has not proven to be a real obstacle.

Podcast: Jeremiah Grossman on Ransomware

Grossman, who has been studying the economics of the ransomware problem, compared the model to that of maritime pirates who have tiered organizations with division of labor and financial backers who help them launder the profits when theyre successful.

The closest parallel Ive found is high-seas piracy, he said. They need intelligence on targets and a trusted financial system to launder the money. Ransomware is much less risky and it requires much less equipment and upfront costs. You dont have the risk of getting shot and you can do it from anywhere in the world. And attribution is incredibly difficult.

The ransomware market seems to be headed in the same direction as real-world kidnapping, where high-profile targets take out insurance policies to pay ransoms. Grossman said it probably wont be long before the insurance companies latch onto the ransomware game, too.

The insurance companies are going to see a large profit potential in this. Kidnapping and ransom insurance is still very boutique. This economic model will probably apply equally well to ransomware, he said.

And, as in physical abductions, the bad guys have all of the leverage.

Time is on the adversarys side. Theyll wait you out. Theyll leverage fear and anxiety, Grossman said. Do we know how to fix ransomware? Probably. We need to start thinking of this as an economic model.

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Ransomware Gangs Have Become the High-Seas Pirates of the Internet - On the Wire (blog)

A crew worker on a ship has demonstrated the frustrating realities of sea life when you neglect to secure your stuff

For some reason, people romanticise a life on the open water.

People think it's all Titanic before that whole iceberg thing went down and mucked things up.

But life on the water isn't all steamy window handprints and being drawn like a French girl.

As this video proves, it's a little less epic romance a little more poltergeist-y.

With the rolling of the ocean, your stuff gets knocked around like you're being haunted by an 11-year-old ghost who thinks it's funny to chuck stuff on the floor.

We know what you're thinking.

"Why didn't old mate just break out the duct tape?," you shout at your screen through a mouthful of cereal.

And we hear you.

This crew member clearly didn't toe the line when it came to securing his stuff to exaggerate the effects of the rocking ship for the video.

And we know that duct tape and zip ties can fix anything, but this poses the question about the lesser of two evils: having your fridge fly open all the time, or having to go through all the effort of un-taping the door every time you want a treat.

This is why you should stay on dry land people that and icebergs.

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Cabin cam shows the hilarious frustration of rolling on the high seas - Pickle

The Diplomat

Conflict and Diplomacy on the High Seas Focus News Welcome to the South China Sea, the geographic commons of Southeast Asia's navigable rimland. Its 3.5 million square kilometers of underlying bedrock contain oil and natural gas deposits that, by official U.S. estimates, are at least equal to Mexico's ... More FONOPs Coming Soon to the South China Sea?The Diplomat all 41 news articles »

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Conflict and Diplomacy on the High Seas - Focus News

Sail the Bay and enjoy and enjoy a selection of exquisite sweet and savoury treats as the magical scenery slides by.

Indulge in a bespoke menu designed by our Head Chef and made with regional produce from both the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, including a glass of sparkling wine, tea or coffee.

Served on a tiered platter, the relaxed High tea on the High Seas is served in the Lounge aboard Searoad Ferries, with stunning views along the coast. Cruise the Bay on a return 2 hour sailing.

High Tea on the High Seas package is $45.00 per person and includes immediate return travel on the same ferry for a leisurely experience.

Group bookings available any day of the week, subject to availability.

*We aim to cater for all dietary needs, however please be aware some dietary changes to menus may result in an additional fee.

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High Tea on the High Sea by Searoad Ferries Services

The Nigerian Navy has rescued an oil tanker from pirates near Bonny Island, even as the number of high-seas hijackers is at an 18-year low, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Nigerian Navy Captain Sulieman Dahun said the naval forces rescued the MT Gas Providence oil tanker, which came under pirate attack on Wednesday in River State, just off Bonny Island.

The vessels 21 crew members were rescued after sending off a distress signal received by the Navy.

It was the second failed hijacking attempt in the area this week. A Nigerian naval vessel also thwarted at a pirate attack on a second oil tanker, MT Rio Spirit.

In 2016, there were 36 recorded incidences of high-seas piracy in Nigeriamore than double the number of incidences the year before. There has also been an increase of high-seas kidnappings in Nigeria.

That said, from a global perspective, the new attacks come at a time of dwindling piracy on the high seas, with the number of pirates at a low not seen in nearly two decades, according to the IMB. Related:Time Bomb In Oil Markets: Goldman Sachs Issues Warning

At the same time, the number of kidnappings for ransom on the high seas has increased as pirates change their modus operandi. Globally, 62 people were kidnapped from vessels and held for ransom last year, which represents a three-fold increase from 2015.

For all of last year, the IMB recorded a total of 191 incidences of high-seas piracy, down from 246 incidences the previous year. The last time the number of high-seas attacks has been this low was in 1998.

In late January, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Ki-Tack Lim told the American Media Institute that globally, high-seas piracy in on a downward trend thanks to improved coordination of security efforts, including the NATO-led anti-piracy effort off the Horn of AfricaOperation Ocean Shield.

By Damir Kaletovic for Oilprice.com

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Nigeria Rescues Oil Tanker From High-Seas Pirates - OilPrice.com

The iconic ocean liner Queen Mary 2 is hosting a high fashion experience on the high seas with celebrity guest Iris Apfel. The trans-Atlantic voyage will feature the 95-year-old fashion icon and design diva, who owned the textile firm Old World Weavers for 44 years and contributed to design restorations at the White House for nine presidents.

Apfels fathers family owned a business designing and selling glass and mirrors, and her mother owned a fashion boutique.

Apfel is known for her unique and often irreverent style of mixing high fashion with oversized costume jewelry, topped with her large round signature eyeglasses. She recently told reporters, Everyone should find their own way. Im a great one for individuality. I dont like trends. If you get to learn who you are and what you look like and what you can handle, youll know what to do.

During the crossing, passengers can enjoy Q&A sessions with Apfel. There will also be runway shows with fashion models, and a screening of the documentary film Iris, directed by Albert Maysles. Also in attendance on the voyage will be other fashion celebs including designer Julien Macdonald, historian Colin McDowell, and industry consultant Gail Sackloff.

When asked about her secrets for a long and happy life, Apfel stated, I have no secrets. I have no advice except to love life and not give in to yourself. At a certain age, you have to push a bit to be honest. Once you do, youll find theres a lot out there and you wont think of yourself. Get out there and help somebody. There are so many people that need a hand. Life is there, and its wonderful, she concluded.

Apfel continues to remain active, appearing in a Citron commercial, lecturing about style, and collaborating with WiseWear and Smart Jewelry. Her distinct style has inspired museum exhibits at the Met (NYC), Nassau County Museum of Art (NY), Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (Boynton Beach, FL) and the Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, MA). The latter two venues are building collections and dedicated galleries of Apfels clothing, accessories and furnishings collected over the last 70 years.

The humorous New Yorker once called herself a geriatric starlet. She said, Someone once told me, You are not pretty, and you never will be. But it doesnt matter. You have something else you have style.

The Queen Mary 2 fashion voyage will leave from Southampton, England on August 31 and arrive in New York City on September 7 to coincide with New York Fashion Week.

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Queen Mary 2 to Host High Fashion on the High Seas - Cruise Hive - Cruise Hive

American Media Institute

Pirates Face Push Back On The High Seas American Media Institute Pirates still roam the seas, but their numbers are at an 18-year-low, according to a new report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). The report recorded 191 incidences of piracy or armed robbery on the high seas in 2016. This is down from 246 ...

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Pirates Face Push Back On The High Seas - American Media Institute

Reverend Geoff Redmayne, Jill Whittick of Kinnes Shipping Ltd, Sandra Welch and Peter Donald of Sailors Society.

Seafarers visiting the port of Montrose will arrive to a warm welcome following the opening of a new centre for seafarers.

Run by maritime welfare charity Sailors Society, the quayside centre will offer ships crews a place to find help while on long contracts away from home.

Affectionately known as The Cabin, it will provide its visitors with 24-hour secure access to free internet facilities, local information, magazines, books and warm clothing for those unprepared for the cooler Scottish climes.

Sailors Societys local chaplain, Peter Donald and volunteer ship visitor Mike Burleigh, who reached out to to more than 7,000 seafarers arriving in Dundee and Montrose ports last year, are also on hand to offer transport, personal help and counsel.

The Cabin replaces Montrose Seafarers Centre (MSC) at The Haven, a combined venture between local churches and several maritime welfare charities, which has ceased to run after eight years supporting thousands of seafarers.

Sailors Societys deputy CEO, Sandra Welch, who officially opened the centre, said: The Cabin will provide a secure and comfortable environment for seafarers to take respite, receive welfare support and make that all-important call home after months away at sea.

Thousands of seafarers benefited from this service in the past and we are really pleased to continue to offer this support in our great new port location.

The opening ceremony included a prayer and blessing for the ongoing work by local minister Rev Geoff Redmayne and was followed by a reception at the Links Hotel, sponsored by vessel agents Kinnes Shipping Ltd.

Sandra spoke about developments being introduced by Sailors Society around the world for the welfare of seafarers and their families and the Societys ongoing commitment to maintain and expand the care offered at ports like Montrose.

She expressed her appreciation of the invaluable support that Peter and his team have enjoyed from the local community, which she hoped will continue into the new phase of the work.

Michael Wheat, chairman of the Montrose Seafarers Centre (MSC) committee, conveyed the best wishes and prayers of his committee for the future and presented a cheque on behalf of MSC to the Society.

Peter Donald said: We really appreciate the way in which the Montrose community has taken strangers to its heart.

Ive been told many stories by seafarers of the kindness and hospitality they have received here in comparison to some of the bigger ports where they often feel lonely and unsafe in strange surroundings.

Peter said they would welcome donations of warm clothing, books, CDs, and woolly hats to enhance the ministry of Sailors Society in Montrose and he can be contacted via enquiries@sailors-society.org

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New centre for high seas visitors in Angus - The Courier - The Courier