In another example of protest by Argentina for the British occupation of The Falkland Islands and the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the conflict, Argentina denied entry of  the Princess Cruises ship Star Princess and the P & O ship the Adonia en-route to Ushuaia after calling on Port Stanley, The Falklands. Prior to the arrival of Prince William, who transferred to The Falklands as part of his routine military training, the MERCOSUR countries of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina threatened to close their ports to ships coming from the The Falklands. The denial of entry to Ushuaia was the first time the threat was fulfilled by Argentina.

This article just appeared in the UK paper The Independent:

British cruise ships denied entry to Argentinian port
Peter Woodman

Two British cruise ships were refused entry to an Argentinian port yesterday as tension mounted between the UK and the South American country over the Falkland Islands.The P&0 Cruises ship Adonia and the Princess Cruises vessel Star Princess were not allowed to dock at Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina. Both vessels, part of the Carnival company fleet, had called at the Falklands on Saturday.

Argentina is known to be upset at the deployment of the Duke of Cambridge on the Falklands as the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands war approaches.

The Adonia is now sailing towards Punta Arenas in Chile – the next port of call on its 87-night South American cruise. The Star Princess is on a 14-night South American cruise which started from Rio de Janeiro on 18 February.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are very concerned to hear the Adonia and Star Princess have been refused access to the port of Ushuaia.

“British diplomats in Argentina are urgently seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding this incident, and we are in contact with the company concerned.”

A spokesman for Argentina’s Naval Prefecture said the ships had decided to change their destination and denied they had been refused permission to dock at Ushuaia.

“There were no problems with the port authority and there are no problems on board the ships,” he said.

But Argentinian press reported that the incident marked the first time the authorities had enforced a law passed last August that prohibits British ships or vessels partly belonging to British companies docking in Argentina.

The decision was made by provincial governor Fabiana Rios, an ally of President Cristina Fernandez, a month after the Falklands government turned away the Star Princess, citing health-and-safety reasons, after it had stopped in Argentina.

It is with great sadness that I share the news that our dear friend and colleague Philippe Periou died in France this week. Philippe was one of the original Radisson team joining the company as Bar Manager and working his way to General Manager. He is survived by his wife Claudia Gomes-Periou.

Great progress is being made as the city prepares for the widely anticipated 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janiero.

The downtown is undergoing the most dramatic transformation including the new project for the improvement of the port area called Porto Maravilha. During the games it is expected that up to ten cruise ships could be used as floating hotels, expanding the hotel occupancy. The need for an attractive, efficient port to handle the increase in traffic has resulted in a new public park, a new museum and the demolition of the old unsightly viaduct. Traffic will now be diverted by way of proposed tunnels under the downtown; a light rail system extending to the port will also connect up outlying areas where various events will be held.

The long term plan is that all these improvements will be permanent and add to the betterment of the city and the neighborhoods. Already construction has started for the Olympic village housing which will revert back to public housing housing after the games.

Walking the streets of the Old City it was so encouraging to see even more buildings under restoration. One of the classic old buildings that I often use in my presentations as an example of the crumbling state of these elegant old buildings is now also under contract! So I was very excited to check out my place and the immediate neighborhood.

Just out the front door of my building is a historic old buildings that now has been renovated and will house an architectural firm. On the corner the construction on the proposed “W” style hotel is complete and the detail work has begun. In my building the front apartment on my floor (we are just two units on the top floor) has been purchased and the new owner, a young executive, fast-tracked the renovation which was finished last month.

My place looks amazing. I had proposed that the doorway between the entry and the living room be enlarged and that one wall be removed to open the kitchen. To my surprise and delight, the walls in the living room were all removed making the place one spacious loft-like room. The ceiling is sixteen feet which adds to the spaciousness of the feel. The original hardwood floors were rotten around the old leaking windows so it all was pulled up and will be replaced with something similar. The bathroom has been re plumbed and tiled with travertine tiles. All the windows are new and I have new roof. During our brief visit Elda Pauluzzi came with me to buy a stove, refrigerator, two water heaters, a washer/dryer and a snazzy stove hood with fan.

The photos really do not show the full extend of the work. The place is small. We expect the work to be done by mid-March but there is no rush. Without a deadline the workers can take their time which translates better price for me, so it’s all good!

I will be disembarking after South America and re-boarding the Navigator for the entire Alaska season. I hope that if you are planning on joining us for a cruise in the Great Land, you will pick up a copy of my book, “The Cruiser Friendly Guide to Alaska’s Inside Passage,” which (if I do say so myself) really does help you prepare for and enhances your cruise. Check it out! www.cruiserfriendly.com!