Latest news with #Cadiz
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The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The three Royal Caribbean mega cruise ships set for an upgrade in 2026
Three popular Royal Caribbean cruise ships are set for an upgrade next year to add features such as new suites, pools, bars and restaurants. The cruise line has announced that Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, which will be sailing from Southampton next summer, will enter dry dock for improvements in early 2026. The revamp follows upgrades – or what Royal Caribbean describes as 'amplifications' – made to Allure of the Seas earlier this year, which the brand said has proved popular with passengers. Here is what passengers can expect. Ovation of the Seas Launched in 2016, the 4,182-capacity Ovation will have a refit in Singapore from early March 2026. The vessel is set for a revamped pool deck with private casitas and a new whirlpool spa. Popular venues from other vessels, such as Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Izumi Teppanyaki, the tiki-themed Pesky Parrot bar, and a new nightlife venue called Sound Cellar, will also be added to the Quantum-class ship. A new Ultimate Family Suite and Panoramic Suite will also be added. The ship is due to operate Alaska sailings from spring 2026. Harmony of the Seas The 5,479-capacity Harmony will enter dry dock in Navantia, Cadiz, from early March 2026. Harmony, which launched in May 2016 and ranks among the largest cruise ships in the world, will also get a new Ultimate Family Suite and will welcome a Caribbean-inspired pool deck with tropical drinks available at the new The Lime & Coconut, as well as a refreshed adults-only Solarium. The Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Mexican restaurant El Loco Fresh and the new Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse are also being added. Royal Caribbean is also promising the largest Casino Royale on board. Harmony is due to return to service with sailings from Barcelona around the Mediterranean in May before heading to Port Canaveral for Caribbean cruises in winter 2026. Liberty of the Seas Liberty will be refurbished in Brest, France, from late April 2026. It is one of the oldest ships in the fleet, launched in 2007 with capacity for 3,798 passengers. The ship's last refit was in 2011. Changes will include a new pool deck with The Lime & Coconut and new casitas or wooden cabins by the pool. A Royal Escape Room is being added along with Japanese cuisine from Izumi Teppanyaki and tacos from El Loco Fresh. A Starbucks is also coming to the ship. Once complete, UK passengers will be able to enjoy the newly refurbished Liberty of the Seas during sailings from Southampton next summer. Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean, said: 'Royal Caribbean continues to raise the bar on delivering the best of every vacation with revolutionary ships and top-rated exclusive destinations. 'The 'Royal amplified' programme gives our guests the best of Royal Caribbean with new-to-class culinary options and experiences, entertainment and thrilling adventures, paired with the hospitality and service Royal Caribbean is known for. 'After seeing incredible success and guest satisfaction with the amplification of Allure of the Seas, we're excited to bring three new 'amplifications' to our fleet in 2026.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump admin eyes Mojave Desert groundwater as potential source for arid Arizona
The situation on the Colorado River — the water supply for 40 million Westerners and half of all Californians — is dire. The waterway's flows have shrunk 20 percent since the turn of the century and climate scientists say it's not unreasonable to think that another 20 percent could be lost in the coming decades. To cities, farmers, tribes and industries from Wyoming to Mexico — but especially in legally vulnerable Arizona — that looks like pain. To the Los Angeles-based water company Cadiz Inc., that looks like opportunity. After trying and failing for more than two decades to pump ancient groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert and sell it to Southern California water districts, the controversial company has set its sights on new customers over the border in the Grand Canyon State. 'We are hopeful that our projects can support the Bureau's efforts to manage Colorado River resources and Lake Mead,' Cadiz CEO Susan Kennedy (a former chief of staff to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) said on Wednesday. Her pitch: There's up to 2.5 million acre-feet of untapped water in the Mojave Desert her company can move and store across the arid Southwest. In California, the project is a perpetual political football, opposed by the likes of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was broadly a champion of water projects but was concerned it would harm the desert environment. One former state lawmaker compared the dispute to 'Hatfield and McCoy, Palestinians and the Jews.' Now, Trump is getting in the mix. On Monday, the Interior Department announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the latest incarnation of the project, called the Mojave Groundwater Bank, touting it as 'an important tool to improve drought resiliency in the Colorado River Basin' though recognizing that it is only in 'early development.' And on Tuesday, the Trump administration official leading Colorado River negotiations for the federal government suggested to water power players in Arizona that they consider the project. 'The Cadiz sponsors think they have a lot of groundwater that could go somewhere. If it turns out they are right, would Arizona want to have a conversation about that water?' Scott Cameron, an acting assistant secretary at the Interior Department, asked at a meeting of a state water committee. For the Trump administration, trumpeting Cadiz is a chance to show it's doing something about the Colorado River despite the seven Western states remaining sharply divided over how to divvy up water cuts after current rules expire in 2026. For Cadiz, the endorsement is a political lifeline after decades of in-state opposition — and a return to more favorable treatment under the Trump administration even after the company dumped a lobbying firm with powerful Trump ties, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, after Biden took office. Under the Biden administration, Cadiz rebranded itself as an environmental justice-focused company seeking to fill accessibility gaps in economically depressed regions of the state. Kennedy even expressed concern after the November election that a new Trump administration would push back on its plans to repurpose 80 miles of steel pipe it purchased from the terminated Keystone XL oil pipeline to transport water. Opponents of the project, including conservation groups who say it could harm sensitive desert ecosystems, still see it as the same old concept. 'It's not surprising that an administration that wasted over 2 billion gallons of water under the guise of wildfire response thinks it's a good idea to overdraft a desert aquifer that supports federally protected land,' said Neal Desai, the senior program director for the National Parks Conservation Association. It's likely the project will draw some interest within Arizona, especially among the lowest-priority water users who are desperate to protect their Colorado River supplies as the seven states that share the waterway negotiate over new rules to govern the river. The state has already committed to cutting more than a quarter of its use from the river, and any cuts beyond that will fall first on Central Arizona cities and tribes unless alternative deals can be reached. But it will take a lot more than interest to make a deal happen. Cadiz has run into opposition from California state lawmakers and the State Lands Commission, which after urging from state Sen. Monique Limón and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan told Kennedy in a letter last week not to start construction on the pipeline that would transfer water without agency buy-in, which could take a year to two years. Crucially, Cadiz would almost certainly need buy-in from the long-skeptical Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, because any deals with Arizona would likely include Metropolitan taking Cadiz's water and leaving a portion of its Colorado River water in Lake Mead in exchange. Many of the hurdles Metropolitan has cited in the past, from water quality concerns to operational challenges, remain — and the district's board of directors also includes two prominent California environmentalists. Cadiz has yet to formally approach Metropolitan about its new plan. 'Metropolitan's board does not currently have any pending items from Cadiz to consider and none are planned for the foreseeable future,' Metropolitan spokesperson Rebecca Kimitch said by email. The last time the board reviewed anything from Cadiz was in 2002, when it voted to reject the project, she said. But, amid high-stakes Colorado River negotiations, it might be hard for Metropolitan to say no to a request that could help ease the path to a deal for another state. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's California Climate newsletter.
Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Facing Colorado River crunch, Trump admin eyes SoCal groundwater
The situation on the Colorado River — the water supply for 40 million Westerners and half of all Californians — is dire. The waterway's flows have shrunk 20 percent since the turn of the century and climate scientists say it's not unreasonable to think that another 20 percent could be lost in the coming decades. To cities, farmers, tribes and industries from Wyoming to Mexico — but especially in legally vulnerable Arizona — that looks like pain. To the Los Angeles-based water company Cadiz Inc., that looks like opportunity. After trying and failing for more than two decades to pump ancient groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert and sell it to Southern California water districts, the controversial company has set its sights on new customers over the border in the Grand Canyon State. 'We are hopeful that our projects can support the Bureau's efforts to manage Colorado River resources and Lake Mead,' Cadiz CEO Susan Kennedy (a former chief of staff to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) said on Wednesday. Her pitch: There's up to 2.5 million acre-feet of untapped water in the Mojave Desert her company can move and store across the arid Southwest. In California, the project is a perpetual political football, opposed by the likes of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was broadly a champion of water projects but was concerned it would harm the desert environment. One former state lawmaker compared the dispute to 'Hatfield and McCoy, Palestinians and the Jews.' Now, Trump is getting in the mix. On Monday, the Interior Department announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the latest incarnation of the project, called the Mojave Groundwater Bank, touting it as 'an important tool to improve drought resiliency in the Colorado River Basin' though recognizing that it is only in 'early development.' And on Tuesday, the Trump administration official leading Colorado River negotiations for the federal government suggested to water power players in Arizona that they consider the project. 'The Cadiz sponsors think they have a lot of groundwater that could go somewhere. If it turns out they are right, would Arizona want to have a conversation about that water?' Scott Cameron, an acting assistant secretary at the Interior Department, asked at a meeting of a state water committee. For the Trump administration, trumpeting Cadiz is a chance to show it's doing something about the Colorado River despite the seven Western states remaining sharply divided over how to divvy up water cuts after current rules expire in 2026. For Cadiz, the endorsement is a political lifeline after decades of in-state opposition — and a return to more favorable treatment under the Trump administration even after the company dumped a lobbying firm with powerful Trump ties, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, after Biden took office. Under the Biden administration, Cadiz rebranded itself as an environmental justice-focused company seeking to fill accessibility gaps in economically depressed regions of the state. Kennedy even expressed concern after the November election that a new Trump administration would push back on its plans to repurpose 80 miles of steel pipe it purchased from the terminated Keystone XL oil pipeline to transport water. Opponents of the project, including conservation groups who say it could harm sensitive desert ecosystems, still see it as the same old concept. 'It's not surprising that an administration that wasted over 2 billion gallons of water under the guise of wildfire response thinks it's a good idea to overdraft a desert aquifer that supports federally protected land,' said Neal Desai, the senior program director for the National Parks Conservation Association. It's likely the project will draw some interest within Arizona, especially among the lowest-priority water users who are desperate to protect their Colorado River supplies as the seven states that share the waterway negotiate over new rules to govern the river. The state has already committed to cutting more than a quarter of its use from the river, and any cuts beyond that will fall first on Central Arizona cities and tribes unless alternative deals can be reached. But it will take a lot more than interest to make a deal happen. Cadiz has run into opposition from California state lawmakers and the State Lands Commission, which after urging from state Sen. Monique Limón and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan told Kennedy in a letter last week not to start construction on the pipeline that would transfer water without agency buy-in, which could take a year to two years. Crucially, Cadiz would almost certainly need buy-in from the long-skeptical Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, because any deals with Arizona would likely include Metropolitan taking Cadiz's water and leaving a portion of its Colorado River water in Lake Mead in exchange. Many of the hurdles Metropolitan has cited in the past, from water quality concerns to operational challenges, remain — and the district's board of directors also includes two prominent California environmentalists. Cadiz has yet to formally approach Metropolitan about its new plan. 'Metropolitan's board does not currently have any pending items from Cadiz to consider and none are planned for the foreseeable future,' Metropolitan spokesperson Rebecca Kimitch said by email. The last time the board reviewed anything from Cadiz was in 2002, when it voted to reject the project, she said. But, amid high-stakes Colorado River negotiations, it might be hard for Metropolitan to say no to a request that could help ease the path to a deal for another state. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's California Climate newsletter.
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Travel + Leisure
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This Luxury Ship Feels Like a Stunning Mediterranean Resort, With a Gorgeous Pool Deck and Top-notch Cuisine
The ship's overall light and airy ambience, which puts the focus on what's happening outdoors. Top-end suites equipped with wraparound balconies and private whirlpools. A culinary program that brings local tastes and libations on board, through menus, cooking classes, and themed cocktails. Sustainability features include the use of cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas, or LNG. With the Spanish city of Cadiz in full view, I was gleefully dancing around an expansive, resort-like pool deck like it was the 1980s. A live British band was playing George Michael, the Eurythmics, Tears for Fears, and even David Bowie. I only wished I had packed bigger shoulder pads. When I took a break, it was for sips of complimentary Champagne because this was no high-end night club but rather a luxury cruise ship—one that offers all its amenities as part of the package. Want your butler to deliver caviar with all the trimmings? You got it. In fact, my butler thoughtfully added a bottle of Champagne. Or you might ask for a trendy cocktail to sip with endless views. Or you could ask for the surf and turf, embellished with foie gras—or get some fantastic vegan cuisine. Whatever your version of excess and decadence might be, odds are good you can find it on the over-the-top Silver Ray , a 364-cabin ship with a crew of 544. Like its sibling vessel, Silver Nova , which debuted in 2023, Silver Ray is one of the largest operated by Silversea, the luxury line. Still, it's comparatively small by cruise standards, with a distinctive design that emphasizes views of the gorgeous coastlines this ship tends to frequent. My take? The Ray is big enough to not feel crowded, with places to get away and pretend you're on your own yacht. There is also beauty at every turn: a stunning pool on one side of the ship, open-air dining areas, plush fabrics that make you mushy with delight. While on board for a four-day preview cruise in Portugal and Spain, I relished in the niceties and appreciated the less-formal atmosphere on board. Opportunities to indulge aside, this ship is a more comfortable approach to luxury cruising. Like DeBarge sang in the 1980s: 'I Like It.' You really can't go wrong: every suite on Silver Ray has a veranda and butler service. Entry-level accommodations start at 301 square feet, large enough to feel like a nice hotel room, with a table and chairs on the veranda, a walk-in closet, and a marble bathroom with either a large glass shower with a sitting bench or a glass shower and separate tub. The minibar is stocked, the Egyptian cotton bedding is from Milan's Rivolta Carmignani, and the pillow menu has several choices, including hypoallergenic options. If money is no object, the best digs are two aft-facing Otium Suites, which clock in at 1,324 square feet, each with a 421-square-foot wraparound veranda with private whirlpool. La Terrazza. Courtesy of Silversea Cruises Food is part of the pampering, and so are free drinks. There are eight restaurants on board, and while many are free, reservations are recommended. I was a fan of the Italian restaurant, La Terrazza, which introduced a new menu of contemporary Italian cuisine while I was on board. The S.A.L.T. Restaurant, named for Silversea's culinary program Sea and Land Taste, has an ever-changing approach that tailors menus to the destinations the ship is visiting. I was impressed by the Cadiz menu on offer when we were visiting that Spanish city. The Marquee is a pergola-topped, open-air casual venue serving things like pizza and salads. For me, one highlight was the S.A.L.T. Chef's Table, a tasting-menu experience that was limited to 18 guests. Mine was 11 courses of exquisite bites such as a confit of piquillo peppers and salt cod topped with burnt onion, accompanied by the stories of João Sá, who has garnered a Michelin star for his Lisbon restaurant, Sála. Though Chef's Table comes at a hefty additional charge, I thought it was well worth it. The S.A.L.T. Chef's Table. Courtesy of Silversea Cruises Also at extra cost are a Japanese restaurant, Kaiseki, and La Dame, which offers both a classic French menu and a new tasting menu by French chef Jean-Luc Rabanel, who is known for vegetable-forward, Michelin-star gastronomy. (I found it odd, then, that the ship-board menu was heavy on meat.) The S.A.L.T. Bar, with indoor and outdoor seating, was serving Spanish gin and other local beverages on our sailing and became my go-to among several lounge choices. The outdoor terrace of the Panorama Lounge is another good option. For a pick-me-up or quick meal, I really enjoyed Arts Café, which has perfectly foamy lattes and vegan tofu breakfast sandwiches, among other selections. Silver Ray is sailing in the Mediterranean for much of 2025, with trips that range from 6 to 16 nights, many of them hitting the big cruise cities of Barcelona, Civitavecchia (near Rome), Lisbon, and Monte Carlo. The ship heads to Fort Lauderdale in mid-November for the 2026 Caribbean season, before returning to Europe in late March. Fares include a shore excursion in every port, though they tend to be straightforward: a visit to a famous palace, a guided stroll through a city center. I opted for a couple of the at-extra-cost offerings that are part of the S.A.L.T. program. One was a tour of the westernmost vineyard in Europe, Casal de Santa Maria, where I found myself sipping wine and slurping oysters with Baron Nicholas von Bruemmer, whose Latvian grandfather founded the place. The Silver Ray pool deck. Courtesy of Silversea Cruises The chic pool deck is a focal point for the whole ship, surrounded by two decks of open space with fabulous views. There's a cushy lounge chair for everyone and, as I mentioned, room to dance too. Elsewhere, at the ship's Roman-inspired Otium Spa, I indulged in a soothing and energizing four-technique massage. In between treatments and dips in the spa's small hydrotherapy pool, you can sip champagne. At a cooking class in the S.A.L.T. Lab, I learned to make Portuguese cream tarts (though not, alas, Lisbon's famous pastéis de nata ). Otium Spa. Courtesy of Silversea Cruises A lively group fills the ship's small casino. Jazz fans head to the supper club for small bites served with a dose of Cole Porter. And those who find shopping for vintage Hermes and Chanel bags a form of entertainment will find that option onboard, too. In the impressive, two-story show lounge, singers and dancers perform and you can also catch a lecture. Silversea says kids are welcome as long as they're older than 6 months, but the vibe on board is pretty adult: there's no kids' pool, no kids' club, no babysitting offered. That being said, the ship has an assortment of connecting suites, including a two-bedroom Master Suite that connects for up to six guests. Silver Ray has four wheelchair accessible Premium Veranda Suites and two, larger wheelchair accessible Silver Suites. Public areas of the ship are accessible, and crew can provide assistance on the rare occasions that ports require stairs (rather than ramps) to disembark. I also noticed braille signage in public rooms, staterooms, and in elevators—which is something not all cruise ships have.
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Michelle Keegan looks incredible as new mum shows off her post baby body in figure-hugging dresses
MICHELLE Keegan looks incredible and ready for summer after showing off her newest dress collection. The Brassic star, who gave birth to her first child in March, has used her trip to Cadíz in Spain to her full advantage by showing off a string of figure-higging crochet looks. 7 7 Titled: "The fits & the details 💛🤎🩵" Michelle showed off her slender fame in a series of crochet outfits. One yellow strapless number looked stunning as Michelle posed against a sunset, with the intricate looping pattern giving the outfit a pop of character. The second outfit was a chocolate brown maxi dress perfect for a holiday dinner, with a plunging neckline and metal looping on the chest displaying gold seashells. The third pic was a turquoise blue, with the star showing off frilled detailing as she leaned against a tree, and looked out over a sprawling garden and swimming pool. All of the dresses are part of Michelle's thriving Very collection. The new photos come just three months after Michelle gave birth to her baby girl, Palma, with husband Mark Wright. Fans praised the star for "getting her figure back so quickly" begging for secrets on how she did it. "You look absolutely stunning…I am still trying to get my post baby figure back and my baby is 17 this year!" joked one. "How does anyone look 👀 that amazing after just having a baby 🔥" wrote a second. "@michkeegan firstly wow 😯 you looking stunning 😍 motherhood is clearly suited for you ❤️…" wrote a third. Michelle is currently enjoying a family holiday with her little girl, with other photos declaring her little girl "Princess P". This year is proving a massive change for the family, with Michelle saying goodbye to her beloved Sky series Brassic. The final season airs later this year, with filming wrapping in May and Michelle bidding an emotional farewell to her troublemaking sweetheart, Erin. Michelle said alongside behind-the-scene pictures: 'So finally the Brassic journey has come to an end (feels so strange saying that) and what an unbelievable 7 years it's been. I feel so privileged to have been a small part of such a mighty show.' The couple's trip to comes after Mark dropped a huge hint on social media that he might be heading back to the states for work. Mark took to his Instagram story as he took a selfie outside of the impressive US Embassy building in Nine Elms, London. The former ITV reality star captioned his snap: "Visa renewal," alongside an emoji of the US flag. 7
