Latest news with #NorwegianGem
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise proves you can rock the boat
Imagine you're on a cruise ship for a four-day excursion to the Bahamas. You've got your swimsuit, an adult beverage, and you're ready to relax. As you make your way to the pool deck, you're hit with the sound of distorted guitars and in-your-face vocals as legendary L.A. punk band X rips through 'Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.' That was the scene on Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise, which set sail from Miami on May 9-13 on board Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Gem, and the 1,800 or so passengers were in punk rock heaven. The lineup featured an array of SoCal-based bands, including Social Distortion, L7, Rocket From the Crypt, the Lords of Altamont and the Dollyrots. They were joined by dozens of other performers across the rock 'n' roll spectrum, from the hard-stomping Fleshtones to the incorrigible Supersuckers, to Tommy Stinson's Bash & Pop, to the ageless Linda Gail Lewis — younger sister of music icon Jerry Lee Lewis. As John Doe of X said, 'bands you never thought you'd see on a boat.' The festival-at-sea concept isn't new. Sixthman, the company that ran the cruise, has been organizing festivals since 2001 and offers more than 25 curated cruise experiences. Upcoming sailings include Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska, Chef's Making Waves Boston, Rock the Bells Cruise and Headbangers Boat. In many ways, the first Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise is an offshoot of Sixthman's Outlaw Country Cruise, which completed its ninth sailing earlier this year. It was a somewhat somber celebration because both its architect, SiriusXM's Jeremy Tepper, and its ambassador, Mojo Nixon, died suddenly in 2024. That cruise drew an eclectic mix of performers such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Dave Alvin, who share musical DNA with many of the artists on the Underground Garage Cruise and vice versa. For example, Alvin's former band the Blasters played alongside X during L.A.'s first wave of punk, and Social Distortion's Mike Ness was often in the front row watching them play. 'Jeremy and Mojo were incredibly close,' Alvin said. 'They were like soulmates in a weird way. Cultural, artistic soulmates.' One surprise guest on the Outlaw Country Cruise was Jello Biafra, who released the album 'Prairie Home Invasion' with Mojo Nixon in 1994. He played with Nixon's backing band the Toadliquors during an emotional tribute to his late friend. 'It's hard,' Biafra said, 'because there is a little bit of a pall over this whole event, because Mojo isn't here, and everybody's got their memories bubbling up. I have plenty of that.' Many of the performers, including some who'd never taken a cruise before, had reservations about what the Underground Garage Cruise would be like. 'I thought there was going to be a lot of crazy drunkenness,' said Donita Sparks of L7. 'I was thinking it was a booze cruise, but I haven't seen a whole lot of that. I haven't seen a single fight. I've seen people laughing and hugging and rocking out to the music. I've just seen a lot of joyousness.' John Reis, vocalist and guitarist of Rocket From the Crypt, was concerned about seasickness and feeling 'trapped' but neither proved to be an issue, and he found it easy to 'succumb to the vibe.' 'We don't take certain things all that seriously,' Reis said of Rocket From the Crypt, 'and festivals can be very regimented. There's often a lot of stress involved, mainly with the people putting on the shows. The cruise isn't like that at all. It's way more casual.' Even Ness of Social Distortion was seemingly won over by the cruising lifestyle. 'Ease into the day, do what you want. No traffic, no hassles,' Ness said from the stage. Punks of a certain age are all too familiar with the phenomenon of looking forward to a show but, once it's time to actually leave the house, losing all enthusiasm to drive across town, find parking and wait for opening bands to wrap up their sets. On the Underground Garage Cruise, all shows are a short walk away and run from an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. No openers. No encores. Although some shows overlap, unlike most festivals, the bands play several times throughout the course of the cruise. So if you missed a band's performance on the spacious pool deck, you could catch them later at the 850-seat Stardust Theater or one of the more intimate lounges that provide a clublike setting. That means you can choose where and when you want to see the band — even early in the afternoon. 'We've been doing this a long time,' Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers told the crowd at the band's 1:15 p.m. gig. 'But never this early,' quipped bandmate 'Metal' Marty Chandler. Performers participated in events offstage as well: autograph signings, a wine tasting with the Dictators, a poker tournament with the Slim Jim Phantom Trio and interview sessions that will eventually make their way to the Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on SiriusXM. An interview with Mike Ness ended with a surprise short set by Social Distortion, accompanied by keyboardist Ben Alleman on the accordion. There are, of course, drawbacks to the cruise experience. If you're not having a good time at a festival, you can always leave and go home. Obviously, you can't do that on a cruise ship. There are also larger concerns with the cruise industry itself, from the impact these behemoth ships have on the environment to the low wages paid to foreign workers, who do the bulk of the cooking and cleaning. John Doe said he was conflicted about the gig. 'As you grow up, you do things for love or money, right? This is for money. But I love the band X.' Then there's the elephant in the room: the perception that cruises aren't for kids; they're for elderly people. A lot of these old punks are, well, old. And if you were in the pit with bands like X, Social Distortion and L7 when they were first making waves, then so are you. That's not necessarily a bad thing. 'Rock 'n' roll is like jazz now,' said Eddie Spaghetti. 'Essentially, it's become a niche art form for older people because most kids don't like rock 'n' roll anymore.' As fans age, their bodies may break down but their passion for the music of their youth remains the same. But a lot of music fans, this writer included, deal with disability, health and/or mobility issues that can put a damper on the typical festival experience. Sixthman, however, excelled at making sure every passenger felt welcome. For instance, all of the venues on the Underground Garage Cruise had an abundance of ADA seating, with staff designated to assist those who requested it. One staff member I spoke with told me she scans the crowds during the shows and looks for people who might benefit from extra assistance. That kind of personal attention goes a long way toward explaining why fans, performers and staff members alike think of these cruises as a community. There's a camaraderie on these trips that you won't find at your typical festival. The people you meet at the show aren't just festivalgoers; they're your neighbors and sometimes your breakfast companions. The intimidating-looking punk rocker covered in tattoos is a lot more approachable when eating pancakes with his partner at the buffet. This camaraderie isn't what leads most fans to sail on a music cruise, but it's one of the reasons they return year after year. During the Outlaw Country Cruise in February, passengers assembled for a group photo for those who'd sailed on all nine Outlaw Country Cruises. That camaraderie is important to the musicians too. Everyone I talked to raved about the shows they'd seen. Jonny Two Bags of Social Distortion told me that when he received the schedule, he highlighted the bands he wanted to see — just like any fan. He was especially excited to see Bash & Pop, who he'd played with in the early '90s. Donita Sparks of L7 had fond memories of playing with the Supersuckers in the early '90s. 'We used to sleep on the Supersuckers' floor in Seattle,' Sparks said, 'and we would have a dance party every night.' That excitement for what L7's Jennifer Finch called 'the buffet of bands' is infectious. It's also why Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise will sail again next April, to Cozumel, Mexico. 'We're all alive,' Sparks said. 'We're here and we're still rocking.' Jim Ruland is the L.A. Times bestselling author of 'Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records' and of the novel 'Make It Stop.'
NZ Herald
21-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Discover top travel deals: Japan tour, Mediterranean cruise, Canada, Australia, and Bangkok
Cruise through Italy, Croatia, and Greece Get 50% off this seven-night Mediterranean cruise onboard Norwegian Gem, cruising from Rome to Venice with stops in Italy, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. Book now to get four More at Sea bonuses including premium beverages, specialty dining package, shore excursion credits and a Wi-Fi package. Upgrade to a balcony stateroom for just $325pp per night. From $3309pp, this deal is on sale until April 30, 2025. Departs Rome May 31, 2026. Airfares and transfers are additional. Subject to availability. Visit or call 0800 427 555 to book. Fly and stay in Vancouver and Whistler Fly return via Air New Zealand, arrive in Vancouver and spend three nights at the five-star Shangri La Vancouver in an Executive Room with Balcony. With daily breakfast, also included is a three-hour Gastronomic Gastown tour. Then take return transfers from Vancouver Downtown to Whistler and spend two nights at the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa in a Hilton Superior Room. This elegant resort combines alpine charm with modern amenities and easy access to world-class skiing and outdoor adventures. From $5149 per person, this package is on sale until May 2, 2025. Travel between October 15 to December 10, 2025. Flights departing from Auckland. Subject to availability. Book via Call 0800 951 655 for more information. Escape to Hamilton Island Explore paradise at Beach Club, Hamilton Island, with transfers, unmissable experiences, breakfast daily and $1500 Bonus Value! This three-night holiday package includes three nights in a Beach Club Room, a la carte breakfast daily at Beach Club Restaurant, VIP return Hamilton Island airport and marina transfers, VIP Point to Point Chauffeur, use of water sport equipment and resort facilities, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Bonus inclusions are a twilight sail for two, a three-course set dinner at Romano's, Mariners or Beach Club restaurant, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, and a My Queensland Experience Pass. This exclusive package is valued at $2549 per person and costs from just $1799 per person. Book by April 30, 2025 via for travel on select dates now through March 31, 2026. Call 0800 654 175 for more information. Voyage from Bangkok to Bali Visit Asian arts and culture capitals on Viking's 13-day Bangkok, Bali, and Beyond Voyage from Bangkok to Bali or vice versa. Witness the fascinating juxtapositions of Southeast Asia, where long-held traditions infuse bustling capitals. See the floating markets of Bangkok with a Thai guide. Marvel at Kuala Lumpur's soaring Petronas Towers. Absorb the vast cultural diversity of Singapore with a resident by your side. And gain unmatched insight into the spiritual and arts culture of Java, from the enormous temple of Borobudur to the historic riches of Jakarta and Surabaya. Priced from $7195 per person in a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom with savings of up to $6600 per couple on select November 2025 sailings. Viking's inclusive value includes a guided excursion in every port, all onboard meals including alternative dining venues, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, unlimited Wi-Fi, 24-hour speciality tea, coffee, and bottled water, access to the Nordic spa, self-service laundry and all tipping. Ships also have no kids, no casinos, fewer than 1000 guests, and all veranda stateroom. Available to book now through June 30, 2025, or until sold out. Visit to book.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular US port to add new fee for cruise passengers
Ports in Mexico and Greece are not the only cruise destinations planning to impose new fees on cruise ship passengers soon. One popular cruise port on the U.S. East Coast just approved a new passenger fee that will eventually add an extra $15 to the cost of visiting the city on a cruise East Coast port is following in the footsteps of Haines, Alaska, which recently approved a $9 per-passenger charge for 2025 to fund port improvements. The Haines cruise passenger fee will increase to $12 in 2027 and then to $13 in 2029. Juneau also charges a similar head tax on cruise ship passengers. Now, one of America's oldest cities will implement a cruise passenger fee to support its in-demand cruise port as it welcomes larger ships and more Feb. 13, Massachusetts Port Authority officials approved a new port improvement project for Flynn Cruiseport Boston and new fees charged to cruise passengers will help fund it. Beginning in 2026, a $3 per-passenger fee will apply to cruise ships arriving in the port. According to local media reports, the fee will increase by $3 annually until it reaches $15 per passenger in 2030. The $105 million infrastructure project is designed to equip Flynn Cruiseport Boston to handle increased demand for cruises to and from the city. The port welcomed just over 480,000 passengers on 167 cruise ships in 2024, a 29 percent passenger increase over 2023. Along with enhancing port facilities to accommodate more passengers and larger ships, the new project will support sustainable maritime practices. The project includes installing ship-to-shore electrical power so cruise ships will not have to keep their diesel engines running while at berth.'Upgrades to the terminal include pier upgrades to support an additional Passenger Boarding Bridge, new escalator, and an expanded queueing area with increased seating, which will allow for better passenger flow. We want our passengers to have the best experience possible when they use the Flynn Cruiseport – either embarking on their dream vacation or visiting Boston for the day,' Massport said in a recent press release. Massport officials are also considering increases to rideshare and taxi pickup fees at Boston Logan International Airport that could raise costs for travelers flying to and from the city for a cruise season runs from March through November with many cruise passengers visiting the city on Canada and New England cruise itineraries. In 2024, the port also supported itineraries to the Caribbean, Central America, and Iceland/Greenland from 24 different cruise lines and celebrated 12 three-ship days. As the new fee takes effect in 2026, Flynn Cruiseport Boston will welcome its largest homeport vessel yet, Norwegian Breakaway. The large Norwegian Cruise Line vessel will replace the smaller Norwegian Gem, which currently homeports in Boston. Beginning in April 2026, Norwegian Breakaway will sail cruises from Boston to Bermuda, Halifax and Bermuda, and Canada and New addition to Norwegian, cruise lines that regularly sail to and from Boston include Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises. 'We were thrilled to see the strong demand for cruising in 2024, supporting the City of Boston and the Commonwealth's travel and tourism industries,' said Massport CEO Rich Davey. 'Our investment in shore power will dramatically reduce emissions, improve air quality, and reinforce Boston's position as a leader in sustainable maritime practices. We're also committed to continuously enhancing our facilities to accommodate the growing demand for cruising, the increase in larger ships like the Breakaway, and to ensure a seamless experience for both passengers and ships.' Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one?
