Latest news with #CrownPrincess
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump could have the future Queen of Belgium Elisabeth, 23, kicked out of Harvard under new ban
President Donald Trump 's ban on foreign students studying at Harvard could result in Princess Elisabeth of Belgium having to leave the ivy league university. The 23-year-old future queen just completed her first year of study and may not be able to return to its Boston campus after Trump revoked Harvard's ability to enroll international students on Thursday. 'Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of (the Trump administration's) decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation,' the Belgian Royal Palace's spokesperson Lore Vandoorne told Reuters. Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium on her first day at Harvard, where she is studying for a Masters degree in public policy Trump's ban is forcing foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status in the U.S. The president has threatened to expand the crackdown to other colleges. Harvard is suing to counter the order, calling it an illegal move and retaliation against the school. The Palace is waiting to see how things play out. 'We are analyzing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks,' the Palace's communication director, Xavier Baert, told the Associated Press. Elisabeth will spend the summer back in Belgium. 'And we´ll have to see what happens next year,' Baert said. Elisabeth will be Belgium's first reigning Queen when she ascends the throne. The eldest of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, she also has studied at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels. She speaks Dutch, French, German and English. At Harvard, the princess studying Public Policy, a two-year master's degree program that prepares students for a life of public service. Before studying in the United States, she earned a degree in history and politics from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accounting for more than a quarter of its student body. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries. The Harvard Kennedy School has almost half its student body from abroad and Harvard Business School is about one-third international students. The university has several notable alumni who are not American-born, including Canadian author Margaret Atwood, Indian billionaire philanthropists Ratan Tata and Anand Mahindra, and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In its lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government's action violates the First Amendment and will have an 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.' 'With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,' Harvard said in its suit. 'Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.' The threat to Harvard's international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Harvard is filing for a temporary restraining order while awaiting the formal court case. This case is separate from the Trump administration's attempt to ban federal funding from the school
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Princess Cruises suffers tragic loss at sea
With most cruise ships carrying thousands of people at any given time, cruise ship medical teams are well equipped to handle many types of medical emergencies that may occur on board. Each ship is typically staffed with full-time registered doctors and nurses, who are on-call 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency. Related: How cruise ship captains keep you safe in bad weather Usually, when emergencies happen, it's passengers who need medical assistance, and sometimes passengers will hear a medical emergency call over the ship's onboard PA system. Passengers on board Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess who heard one of these announcements in the very early hours of May 19 assumed that a passenger needed urgent medical care. But as they prepared to depart the ship for a port day in Keelung, Taiwan, later that morning, they were shocked to learn the devastating news that they had lost their beloved captain overnight. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Diamond Princess Captain Michele Bartolomei passed away on May 19 after a sudden medical emergency while the ship was in Taiwan during a 19-day Southern Islands Explorer voyage that departed from Yokohama, Japan. "It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Captain Michele Bartolomei, who died onboard Diamond Princess earlier of a sudden medical emergency," Princess Cruises wrote in a letter to passengers sailing aboard the ship. Related: Earthquake triggers travel concerns for top cruise destination "Our hearts are with Captain Bartolomei's family during this incredibly difficult time, and we extend our deepest condolences to them," the letter noted. "We also stand in support of the entire Diamond Princess crew and all employees across our company who had the honor of working alongside him." The Italian captain was approaching his 30th anniversary with Princess Cruises. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. "Captain Bartolomei was a respected leader, whose decades of service at sea exemplified professionalism, dedication, and care for both guests and crew," Princess Cruises wrote in its letter to passengers. In online tributes, passengers and crew members also remembered him fondly as a respected captain and great man who was loved by many. Early this year, Princess Cruises shared a heartwarming moment with Captain Bartolomei and Captain Mario Consentino from the Crown Princess as the two Italian captains and longtime friends enjoyed an espresso overlooking Sydney Harbour when their "Love Boats" met there for the first time ever. It was also the first time the two friends had seen each other in nearly a decade. Related: Princess Cruises shares sneak peek of its brand-new ship As the Diamond Princess continues on its voyage, which is scheduled to return to Yokohama on May 25, Staff Captain Salvatore Macera has taken over command of the ship. "Please be assured that our commitment to your safety and the smooth operation of this voyage remains our utmost priority. Our highly experienced and professional bridge team is fully capable and will ensure the remainder of our journey continues as planned," Princess Cruises assured passengers. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Cruise ship season 2025 wraps up with 20,000 tourists visiting the Port of Albany in seven months
Albany's 2024-25 cruise season has drawn to a close with tens of thousands of visitors deposited in the port city since October and a special few leaving with a thoughtful gift from the Men's Shed. The departure of the Insignia last Wednesday represented the last of the region's boat-bound tourists, with almost 20,000 visitors landing in the Great Southern from 18 vessels in the seven months since the season's October beginning. The captain of each cruise vessel making its maiden voyage to the Port of Albany was presented with a plaque made by the Albany Men's Shed made with timber from the port's former deep-water jetty. Southern Ports chief executive Keith Wilks said the majority of the ships were visiting for the first time. 'Sixty per cent of our cruise ship visits this season were the first time those vessels had come into our ports, which shows just how popular our regions are becoming,' he said. 'Every cruise visit is another chance to showcase our spectacular regions to new groups of visitors and we're proud of the role we play in that. 'Cruise visits result in money being spent in local economies and many passengers come back for longer visits after getting a first taste of the region. 'There is so much for tourists to discover and see throughout the Great Southern, Goldfields-Esperance and South West regions that it is impossible to do it all during just one visit.' Significant numbers of tourists explored the Great Southern on their cruise ship maiden voyage to the region, with the Crown Princess delivering 3000 in November, the MSC Magnifica offering more than 2000 in March and 1800 embarking from the Westerdam in December. 'Having so many new vessels include Albany on their itineraries is a reflection on the fact it is one of WA's premier cruise destinations and the industry is continuing to bounce back strongly,' Mr Wilks said. 'Because cruise visits often lead to visitors returning at a later date it's difficult to measure their full impact on our regional economies, but it's certainly overwhelmingly positive.' The 2023-24 cruise season made a $385m economic impact throughout WA, according to data from the Australian Cruise Association.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tauranga wraps up cruise season with 91 ships, boosts local economy
Tourism Bay of Plenty said Tauranga has had a strong 2024/25 cruise season, with 91 ship arrivals bringing thousands of passengers and crew into the region, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said. 'These visits provide a significant boost to our local economy, supporting hospitality, retail, tourism operators, and transport providers.' Nathan said Tauranga was consistently rated the best port experience in Tauranga by visiting cruise lines. 'The vibrancy that cruise visitors bring is felt right across the city, from our waterfront to our town centres, and we're proud to be a key gateway for cruise travel in New Zealand.' Final tallies for ship visits and the full economic impact were still being confirmed, but Nathan said as of March 18, the 2024/25 season brought an estimated 143,279 passengers and 62,804 crew to our shores - more than 206,000 people. 'These provisional figures are in line with recent seasons and represent a significant contribution to our local visitor economy,' Nathan said. 'There were a few itinerary changes due to weather, such as a cancelled berth from the Westerdam and adjusted schedules for the Crown Princess and MSC Magnifica, but the season remained strong overall. 'Throughout the season, ambassadors and staff were proud to showcase the best of the coastal Bay of Plenty to guests from around the world.' The Insignia will make a late-season call on May 27 ahead of winter.
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Telegraph
We went on 53 luxury cruises back-to-back
To say Marty and Jessica Ansen are keen on cruising is an understatement. Having recently completed 53 back-to-back voyages, racking up more than 800 days at sea, they're back on board again and planning more adventures. The Australian couple, both 78, embarked on Coral Princess in their local port of Brisbane on June 16, 2022, and sailed all the ship's itineraries – including two round-the-world routes – until returning home in August 2024. Three months later, they joined Crown Princess and will remain on board until November 13 this year. 'If the ship wasn't going into dry dock in Singapore we'd stay on,' laughs Marty. 'We will rejoin Crown Princess on her return to Brisbane on January 4, 2026, and we have now booked Princess cruises right through to September 2, 2027.' What's the attraction? For the Ansens, who have two daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, it's a sense of community. Speaking from the ship, Jessica says: 'Over the years we have met many crew members and have been blessed to be included as part of their family while on board. The crew continue to cross our paths on different voyages which gives us a sense of belonging – it is like having continual family reunions. 'Many passengers have also become close friends. Some we met on their first voyage and others we see time and time again. We enjoy the get-togethers and the reminiscing of past adventures and we plan for future cruises together. The time we spend with other guests – sometimes for three months or more – is truly wonderful.' Marty adds: 'When our ship is in Australia, we visit the ports where our children live to spend precious time with them, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 'When our ship is visiting other countries we catch up with family and the friends we have met at sea in places such as Ireland, Canada, Netherlands, Alaska and New Zealand.' Favourite spots include the Greek Islands, Greenland, the Norwegian fjords and Alaska. Marty says: 'Cobh in Ireland is a special place because, when the ship docks there, the town welcomes us all warmly – they make it Australia Day and flags and memorabilia are displayed all over town. They have barbecues and markets, entertainment in the park and also great pubs with Irish music and singing.' The couple, who celebrate 55 years of marriage in July, have no qualms about spending so long at sea. 'It's living the dream,' says Jessica. 'Our beds are made, the dining options are endless and the entertainment is world-class. We never feel too far away from the news back home – we can keep track of what is happening via the stateroom TV or the internet.' But they must miss something? 'Being able to drive wherever you want to go whenever you like,' says Marty. 'Life administration is sometimes hard to do when we are away for such long periods. Travelling through different time zones can also sometimes make it difficult to keep a track of the hours.' For another long-time cruiser, Tim Hockey, residential ship The World has become such a home from home that he decided to continue living on board even after the heartache of losing his wife to cancer last year. The 61-year-old retired financial MD says: 'Lana and I enjoyed many lovely years on the ship and made wonderful friends. When we found out she was terminal, I told her I couldn't imagine going back without her. 'She told me, 'Give your head a shake, it's the best possible place you can be – surrounded by our friends. And if you don't go back on board, I'll come back and haunt you!'.' Now five years into his 'residency', Hockey divides his time almost equally between his floating home and being on land, catching up with friends and family, including his two sons in their thirties. Hockey, from Toronto, says of his life at sea: 'I love being part of an amazing community of like-minded adventure seekers. We get to socialise and embark on incredible journeys together in the most remote parts of the world.' Asked for his advice to others considering living on a ship, he answers: 'Jump in with both feet. See the world in the best way possible to travel – without schlepping luggage through airports, and packing and unpacking in hotels.' The World has pioneered a trend, with other residential ships being planned to carry the super-rich in style, but the only other one to launch so far is the more affordable Villa Vie Odyssey, which set off on a world voyage from Belfast last October. Speaking from the latest stop in Rio de Janeiro, passenger Steve Theriac, 53, says: 'There's nothing better than waking up in a new town or country every few days. Sure, we miss 'home' and certain home-made foods, but the trade-off is well worth it.' His 54-year-old wife Angela adds: 'Even with all the bumps along the way, we wouldn't trade this lifestyle for anything.' However, the Theriacs, originally from Florida but now at home – when not on the ship – in Nicaragua, aren't intending to live permanently on Odyssey forever. Angela says: 'After the first three-and-a-half-year circumnavigation we will most likely come and go, and rent out our room while away.' Another keen cruiser who followed his dream is 33-year-old Fraser Porteous, from the Midlands, who took a sabbatical from his corporate job in IT to spend 10 months at sea. In 2023, the vlogger behind YouTube channel Fraser At Sea sailed on 17 ships from nine cruise lines, with only a few nights in between on shore. He says: 'I found the transition back to 'land life' so difficult initially. It felt strange to be at work again and suddenly my 10 months 'at sea' felt like a dream. 'While I was cruising, I did occasionally feel homesick, but then I was on a beautiful ship visiting new ports almost every day – it was so worth it.'
