Cruise ship staffer goes on stabbing rampage

When you get onboard a cruise ship the last thing on your mind is that you might be stabbed by a crew member.

Except that is what happened when a staffer on the Norwegian Encore allegedly went beserk.

Ntando Sogoni, 35, a South Africa national, is in FBI custody after allegedly attacking several people with a pair of scissors during an Alaska cruise this week, Travel Mole reported.

He was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and could face up to 10 years in jail..

Sogoni was taken to the on-board medical centre for evaluation after he was spotted by other crew members trying to deploy a life raft.

While there, he reportedly attacked a security guard and a nurse in an examination room.

He then went into another room, grabbed scissors and stabbed a guest and two other security officers.

FBI Public Affairs Officer Chloe Martin said there were no life-threatening injuries.

“This was an isolated incident, and no threat to other passengers,” she said.

Sogoni was handed over to the FBI in Juneau, Alaska.

A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, the US Justice Department said in a statement.

Long-awaited cruise ship debut pushed back

The official launch of a much-anticipated luxury cruise ship has been pushed back.

The debut of Cunard’s Queen Anne has been delayed several months due to energy shortages and global supply chain constraints, Travel Mole reports.

The Queen Anne will now make her maiden voyage from Southampton on May 3, 2024 after the date was pushed back from January 2024.

The new vessel will visit La Coruna in Spain on May 5, Lisbon on May 7 and then return to Southampton on May 10.

Cunard said it has automatically transferred guests to the new seven-night maiden voyage.

Queen Anne’s first season voyages will include sailings from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian fjords.

Those voyages will go on sale from December 7.

The Queen Anne will be the 249th Cunard ship, joining a quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth.

QE2 to become a luxury floating hotel

The famous Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship is to be converted to a floating hotel based in Dubai. 

Accor, a leading hospitality group with over 400 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, is adding the world-renowned cruise ship, to its portfolio. 

The cruise ship will undergo upgrades and renovations prior to joining the MGallery Hotel Collection.

Accor is collaborating with the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) Investments LLC, a private equity firm under the Dubai government banner.

“We are very excited to partner with Accor on this project. We trust the group’s expertise will elevate the QE2 to a new era of operations” said Saeed Al-Bannai, CEO of PCFC investment. 

“The Queen Elizabeth as we know her, has made history and we are confident that Accor will keep her legacy alive while her strong heritage and notoriety {sic} will remain a destination in itself, where guests and visitors alike can enjoy a unique experience.”

Situated in Dubai’s Port Rashid, the QE2’s location is in close proximity to Sheikh Zayed Road, providing easy connection to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and La Mer Beach, all of which are all located less than 20 minutes away. 

“This is a great opportunity for Accor to expand its footprint in the UAE with the introduction of a unique project which brings diversity to the portfolio, while expanding the MGallery brand presence in the city,” says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey (hell of a job title).

“Not only are we in charge of the only floating hotel in Dubai, but we are also contributing the Dubai Urban Master plan 2049, with the aim to map out the path for a sustainable urban development while increasing the city attractiveness as a global destination.”

Once the renovation is completed, the new MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will feature 447 hotel rooms, nine food and beverage outlets, 10 meeting rooms, 5,620sqm area for outdoor events, six retail outlets, a swimming pool and a gym. 

“We are confident that once finalised, the MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will become a true must-visit attraction, sharing her own stories with her guests while offering a truly unforgettable experience on-board”, added Willis.

Accor currently operates 62 properties in the UAE with 20 more properties in the pipeline.