FRS Acquires Clipper, Plans North American Expansion
FRS has acquired a majority interest in Clipper. FRS is a global ferry and shipping group, currently operating 60 vessels in 12 countries, and carrier of more than 7 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles last year on national and international ferry lines. Clipper, operator of Clipper Vacations, is a recognized company in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, offering unique regional travel experiences, including high speed Victoria Clipper ferry services from Seattle to Victoria, and Seattle to San Juan Island.
Cruise Line Agrees to $500K Settlement for Disguising Sales Calls
Caribbean Cruise Line Inc. has agreed to a $7.73 million settlement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 10 state attorney generals sued the Fort Lauderdale-based company for disguising illegal sales calls as legal political survey robocalls. The company will pay $500,000 of the fine and the rest will be partially suspended. Political survey robocalls to landline phones are exempt from the FTC's do-not-call and robocall rules because they aren't used to sell anything. The FTC said that Caribbean Cruise Line Inc. made billions of robocalls to sell cruise packages between October 2011 and June 2012, which included between 12 and 15 million calls per day.
USMMA Golf Fundraisers Set 2013 Competition Dates
The Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics are fundraisers for the U.S Merchant Marine Academy and its Department of Athletics. The tour nets over $400,000 annually and is attended by USMMA alumni, parents, friends and members of the international maritime community. In 2012, the tour saw 1,274 golfers which is the third-highest total of all time. Final 2012 proceeds are predicted to be near record numbers as the tour continues to grow in scope and size. The tour will stop in 11 cities next year and attract over 1,200 golfers nationally.
Royal Caribbean to Purchase Pullmantur
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced its agreement to purchase Pullmantur S.A., a Madrid-based cruise and tour operator. Royal Caribbean expects the acquisition to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory approvals. Pullmantur, formed in 1971, is the largest cruise operator in Spain. It has two primary business interests: cruises and tour operations. Its cruise division consists of five ships operating in Europe and Latin America. Its tour operations sells travel packages to Spanish guests - including hotel and flights - primarily to Caribbean resorts, and sells travel packages to Europe aimed at Latin American customers. Pullmantur also has a small air business that operates three aircraft in support of its cruise and tour.
