MSC Cruises introduced a new smoking policy that the company said is aimed at allowing both smokers and non-smokers to enjoy their voyage.On each ship, smoking is allowed only in the cigar room, the casino and in one dedicated lounge.

Passengers can also smoke outside, on one side of the sun deck, but smoking is prohibited in staterooms and on stateroom balconies.

Smoking has been eliminated in areas where non-smokers and smokers would have shared the same spaces, according to gm Emilio La Scala. ‘We assigned a few rooms where smokers are welcome, but the majority of indoor spaces are now non-smoking,’ he said.

MSC’s move follows similar policies recently announced by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

John Heald – Carnival Freedom’s senior cruise director whose blog has become a cruise industry sensation, with nearly 700,000 visitors since its debut in March – has been named “Sea Going Employee of the Year” by Seatrade Insider, a leading on-line source for cruise industry news and information.

The award, which was presented earlier today at the Seatrade Europe opening party held at the Schmidt’s Tivoli Theatre in Hamburg, recognizes the shipboard employee who has made a significant contribution to the cruise industry over the past year. The award was based on a survey of Seatrade Insider readers, with Heald receiving more votes among the six candidates vying for the honor.

“Thanks to everyone who voted for me – I am truly honoured (spelt correctly),” Heald said. “I would also like to thank my fellow nominees for their contributions to our industry, as well as all of my readers and the incredibly supportive Carnival staff both onboard and ashore. Most of all, I would like to thank my wife Heidi. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her and there is noting she wouldn’t do for me. That’s what makes us such a great team – we do nothing for each other,” he added.

Originally part of a micro-site created for the launch of the Carnival Freedom in March, Heald’s blog has taken on a life of its own and has become the most popular cruise-related blog on the Internet. The blog serves as a forum for Heald to share interesting and colorful tales of daily life aboard the Carnival Freedom during its inaugural European cruise season. The blog has even spawned its own cruise, the John Heald Bloggers Cruise, a seven-day Caribbean voyage from Miami on the Carnival Freedom in January 2008. ExpertCruiser will be onboard for the blog play-by-play.

For more about John read our “Journeys with John” feature.

For more about the Carnival Freedom click here.

You have to love the Internet. A mere 24-hours after Cuban refugees are rescued by the crew of the Carnival Valor passengers post video on the Web.

Silversea Cruises announced today that it has purchased the expedition ship World Discoverer. The company took delivery of the vessel in Singapore on September 17. The ship will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before it begins service in spring 2008.

ExpertCruiser first reported on August 27 that Silversea had been looking to acquire an expedition vessel.

With the addition of World Discoverer, Silversea’s fleet increases to five ships and to six in 2009, with the line’s new build vessel.  Additionally, the line will be one of the few cruise lines offering voyages to all seven continents. Silversea will be unveiling more details about World Discoverer, including the new name, in the coming weeks. The line’s executives did say that the vessel’s refurbishment will extend to virtually every area of the ship to bring World Discoverer in line with Silversea’s ultra-luxury standards.

After the planned refurbishment, World Discoverer will accommodate around 140 guests (reduced from current 175) in ocean-view staterooms, including Owner’s Suites, Grand Suites, and 12 yet-unnamed suites that will be similar to the line’s popular Silver Suites — offering an intimate club-like ambiance that will deliver an expedition cruise experience consistent with the line’s reputation for intimate yet spacious ships. Additionally the vessel’s crew complement of 106 will continue to ensure the highest level of service with a crew-to-guest ratio that will equal or exceed that of Silver Cloud and Silver Wind , thus being among the highest in this niche market.

World Discoverer will be equipped with state-of-the-art satellite communication systems, providing bow-to-stern wireless Internet access, enabling guests with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and PDAs to surf the Internet and check e-mails from the comfort of their suites as well as public areas. Cellular phone service will also allow guests to stay in touch using their own cell phones even when the ship is miles away from land. The vessel will also feature flat screen TVs in all suites and staterooms. In the ship’s lounges, the latest audio-visual equipment, complete with high-definition video screens, will display live lectures hosted by visiting destination experts.

The 6,072-ton vessel also boasts a strengthened hull with the highest Lloyd’s Register ice-class notation (1A), appropriate for navigating waters, without an escort, in some of the world’s most remote regions, including Antarctica.

Prior to being acquired by Silversea, World Discoverer was operated by Seattle-based Society Expeditions until the company went bankrupt in June 2004.

Click here to read more about Silversea Cruises.