Cruise Fuel Surcharge Update
November 20, 2007
THE LATEST CRUISE COMPANIES to implement a fuel surcharge are Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Silversea Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Crystal Cruises and NCL Corp.
• RCCL’s $5 per passenger, per day charge, capped at $70 per person per voyage, applies to bookings not paid in full by Nov. 16 on sailings on or after Feb. 1 on its three U.S. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.
• Silversea implemented a $10 per person, per day surcharge for new bookings made on or after Nov. 14.
• NCL Corp. said passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line and NCL America ships will be levied $7 per person, per day for bookings made on or after Dec. 1. A $3 per person, per day surcharge will apply to third and fourth passengers in a cabin.
• Windstar will levy a $8.50 per passenger per day fuel surcharge on bookings not paid in full by Dec. 14 on cruises through March 2009.
• Crystal Cruises, which had set a $5 per passenger, per day fuel surcharge for its 2007 sailings, will implement a $7 per passenger surcharge on 2008 sailings not paid in full by Jan 1.
Cruise West renames ship for Alaska itineraries
July 17, 2007
Following the announcement that the Spirit of Nantucket will be repositioned to Alaska in 2008, the small-ship cruise line Cruise West has renamed it to befit its new home. Next year, the 102-guest ship will ply the waters of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and, given this itinerary, the name will be officially changed to Spirit of Glacier Bay. A rechristening will occur in Seattle spring 2008 before the ship sails to Alaska. The ship is currently sailing East Coast itineraries through 2007.
“The name Spirit of Glacier Bay not only reflects the itinerary this ship will be sailing, but also celebrates the history of Cruise West and Glacier Bay. Cruise West was one of the pioneers to take guests by ship into this magnificent park,” said Dick West, chairman and managing director. “In 1990, we introduced the 52-guest Spirit of Glacier Bay that sailed a similar itinerary, and this ship was retired in 2001. It just makes sense to reintroduce this name and get back to our roots.”
For the 2008 Alaska season, the Spirit of Glacier Bay will sail three-and four-night Glacier Bay Highlights cruises that will feature two days in Glacier Bay, cruising roundtrip from Juneau. The 4-night cruise also makes a port call at Haines or Skagway. This cruise was previously offered on the 78-guest Spirit of Alaska that will sail the Alaska`s Whales & Wilderness cruise in 2008.
Holland America Line Features Latest Ship and New Itineraries for 2008 - 2009 Caribbean Cruises
July 17, 2007
In the next two years, Holland America Line plans its most diverse offering of Caribbean cruise options with new ports, back-to-back itineraries, and the introduction of its newest ship, ms Eurodam, in late 2008. Holland America Line has increased its presence in the region due primarily to the addition of the new 2,104-passenger Eurodam and has planned more 10-day and longer journeys along with some gateway changes to introduce in-depth itineraries.
Beginning in 2008, Holland America Line also will embark on a full season of a southern Caribbean itinerary that proved to be a popular change-of-pace to traditional eastern and western sailings. The seven-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale visits Aruba, Curacao and the premium line’s private island experience of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
“Next year we are thrilled to introduce our new Signature-class Eurodam to the Caribbean and know our guests will enjoy sailing on her,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “With our greatest selection of cruises and our push to lead the industry with longer, in-depth itineraries, Holland America Line stands out in the region as offering something very unique for cruisers.
“Our on-board product, the amount of time we spend in port, and our private island experience that is regularly lauded as the quintessential Caribbean experience all add to the premium cruise experience our guests receive,” added Meadows.
Holland America Line will have ten ships sailing the Caribbean in 2008 and through April 2009, offering 189 sailings. In 2008, ships depart from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and New York; in 2009, gateways feature Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. The Noordam, which will sail out of New York in 2008, moves to Ft Lauderdale to offer the popular Seafarer/Wayfarer itineraries.
Caribbean ships include three Vista-class ships — ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Westerdam — and the ms Maasdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Statendam, and ms Eurodam.
Cruises will range from three-day Bahamas getaways to exotic 14-day adventures in the Southern Caribbean, some including the Panama Canal or South American ports. Many sailings are designed as combination cruises; for example, guests can combine a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise with a seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailing to experience more of the region.
Most cruises also plan a day at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s acclaimed private island. With its horseback riding and swimming excursion, guided AquaTrax watercraft tour, stingray adventure, and fun-filled family aqua park, Half Moon Cay continues to be the line’s highest rated Caribbean port of call.
Cruise fares begin at $749 per person for a seven-day Eastern or Western Caribbean itinerary, $1,099 for a Sunfarer Caribbean/Panama Canal cruise, and $1,799 for a 14-day Southern Caribbean adventure. For More Information, contact HollandAmerica.net toll-free: 800-925-8572
Keel laid for new Seabourn Odyssey flagship
July 17, 2007
In a ceremony steeped in age old tradition, principles from The Yachts of Seabourn and T. Mariotti S.p.A., performed a keel-laying ceremony on July 11 for the line’s 32,000-ton Seabourn Odyssey, due to enter service in June 2009.
Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s president and CEO, placed an un-circulated 2007 U.S. Silver Eagle dollar coin in the keel as the first section of the hull was joined to it. Marco Bisagno, president of T. Mariotti S.p.A., contributed a newly minted Italian one Euro coin to complete the ceremony, which traditionally solicits good fortune for the vessel during its construction and throughout its seagoing life.
The U.S. coin is decorated with an allegorical image called “Walking Liberty,” depicted as a female form striding across the earth in flowing raiment. The Italian Euro coin depicts Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Vitruvian Man,” symbolically fitting an ideal human form into a well-ordered and geometric universe.
Conover noted that “Seabourn’s Odyssey Class vessels are being born of a time-honored Italian legacy, whereby innovative designers and skilled craftsmen team to create objects of beauty that inspire and bring delight to people over many years.”
According to Bisagno, “Mariotti is honored to build the first of two ultra-luxury yachts for Seabourn, which will no doubt set a new international standard for world-class cruise vessels.”
The sleek hull of Seabourn Odyssey is being constructed at CI.MAR, which is a new alliance between Mariotti and Cimolai Group, a premier firm specializing in sophisticated steel fabrication. Once completed, it will be transferred to Mariotti’s shipyard at Genoa, where they will fabricate the ship’s graceful superstructure. Mariotti is a leader in the construction of intimate cruising vessels and ultra-luxury mega yachts
New World Cruise Options on Princess
June 26, 2007
PRINCESS CRUISES will offer two similar World Cruises in 2009 on two sister ships, the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and 710-passenger Royal Princess. The ships will visit 40 destinations on six continents, the line said, and will depart within a week of each other from Fort Lauderdale: the Tahitian Princess embarks on Jan. 14, 2009, and ends in Dover, and the Royal Princess sets sail on Jan. 20, 2009, and finishes in Rome. The ships will make a maiden call for the cruise line at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. For More Information, call Princess Cruise Deals at 800-925-8572
Princess Passengers Choose Best Hawaii Tours
June 22, 2007
Princess Cruises has presented its top tour operators in the Hawaiian Islands with the company’s annual C.R.U.I.S.E. service awards. These awards, which honor passenger choices for best tours of the season, expand Princess’ customer service recognition program, which previously honored companies in Alaska and the Caribbean. Winners include tour companies from Princess’ lineup of more than 105 shore excursion options throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Recipients receive their awards at ceremonies held aboard the line’s ships. Winners include Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden Secrets of Puna, Kapohokine Adventures in Hilo; USS Arizona Memorial and “Mighty Mo,” Robert’s Hawaii in Honolulu; Princeville Waterfall Hike, Atlantis Adventures in Kauai; Captain Zodiac Rafting & Snorkeling Adventure, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions and “Learn the Sport of Kings” surfing by Atlantis Adventures, both in Kona; and “West Maui & Molokai Helicopter” by Blue Hawaiian and Haleakala Zipline by Atlantis Adventures, both in Lahaina.
To Book These Amazing tours, call 800-925-8572 today!
Princess to Offer Two World Cruises in 2009
June 20, 2007
Princess Cruises will offer two World Cruises in 2009 by the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and 710-passenger Royal Princess. The ships will visit more than 40 destinations on six continents. The two global itineraries are offered for the first time by Princess because of “the enthusiastic response for Princess’ return to world cruising,” the company said. The Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess will offer similar 107-day itineraries that set sail from Ft. Lauderdale in January 2009. The Tahitian Princess leaves on Jan. 14, ending in Dover, while Royal Princess sails on Jan. 20 and winds up in Rome. In addition, passengers can choose from two extensions to Dover, Rome, Stockholm or New York for the Tahitian Princess voyage.
Both itineraries feature travel to South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, India and Egypt, with differing European segments. Each voyage will call at a brand new port for Princess — Port Blair in the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. Both itineraries begin with a visit to Grand Cayman and a transit of the Panama Canal on the way to Quito (Manta), Ecuador. There is an overnight stay in Lima (Callao), Peru, where passengers can visit Machu Picchu. A visit to Easter Island follows. Then the ships visit Papeete, Tahiti, and Rarotonga before heading to Auckland and the Australian ports of Burnie (Tasmania), Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns (for visits to the Great Barrier Reef). Next up are Rabaul (Papua/New Guinea) and Guam, followed by calls to Osaka (for Kyoto), Hiroshima, Seoul (Inchon), Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Sihanoukville (Cambodia) Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang) in Malaysia. The ships then visit Port Blair and cruise the Indian Ocean to Mumbai, India, Dubai, Salalah in Oman, and two ports in Egypt.
Once the ships transit the Suez Canal, each itinerary heads in a different direction. The Tahitian Princess visits Athens, Sorrento/Capri, Rome, Cannes, Barcelona, Gibraltar and Lisbon before heading north to Ireland for a call at Cork, followed by Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), and then Dover. The Royal Princess will instead head to the Holy Land to visit Jerusalem (Ashdod), and then call at Istanbul, Athens, Sicily, Barcelona, Cannes, and Pisa/Florence (Livorno), before the final stop in Rome. Tahitian Princess passengers can also extend their voyage 10 days to include northern Europe, Scandinavia and a call in St. Petersburg before ending in Stockholm. They can also choose to combine their cruise with a six-day transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York aboard the Queen Mary 2, for a 113-day voyage. Early booking fares for Princess’ world cruises begin at $21,495 per person, based on double occupancy.