Majestic America Line Joins Cruise Lines International Association
Cruise Lines International Association has announced that Majestic America Line has joined its membership. Based in Seattle, Majestic America Line is America's
largest river and coastal cruise company.
The line operates seven U.S.-flagged vessels in three distinct regions of America - the Mississippi, Ohio and tributary rivers; Pacific Northwest's Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers; and Alaska's Inside Passage. "We are pleased to welcome Majestic America Line into our cruise line membership, further increasing the diversity of our member lines," said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. The cruise line membership of CLIA now totals 22 and represents more than 97 percent of the cruise
capacity marketed in North America.
Majestic America Line, formed through the combination of American West Steamboat Company and the vessels of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, is a division of Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ambassadors International, Inc. Together with Ambassadors International Cruise Group, Ambassadors Cruise Group operates both Majestic America Line and Windstar Cruises, a leader in luxury small ship cruising.

Celebrity Cruises Announces Fourth Solstice-Class Ship
Celebrity Cruises has confirmed its order for a fourth Solstice-class cruise ship. The new vessel will enter service in fall 2011, following sister ships Celebrity Solstice in fall 2008, Celebrity Equinox in summer 2009, and Celebrity Eclipse in summer 2010, bringing Celebrity’s total fleet to 11 ships. The contract is contingent on the completion of customary financing. Ordering a fourth Solstice-class ship is obviously a testament to the demand we’ve received from travel agent partners and travelers alike for more cruise vacation options with Celebrity,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman & CEO Richard Fain. “This expansion also is yet another vivid illustration of the incredibly exciting growth and momentum behind the Celebrity brand.” Celebrity estimates the all-in cost of the ship to be approximately $280,000 per berth, based on current exchange rates.
Like its sister ships, Celebrity’s fourth Solstice-class liner will have larger standard staterooms, 90 percent of which will be outside, and 85 percent of all staterooms will have verandas. The 2,850-guest vessels will have an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities, and will measure 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft will build the 122,000-ton ship.

‘Pacific Star’ Sold to Spanish Cruise Operator Pullmantur
P&O Cruises Australia announced the sale of Pacific Star as part of its rolling program to renew its fleet while continuing to grow its South Pacific cruise business. The 1,350-passenger Pacific Star has been sold to Spanish cruise operator, Pullmantur Cruises, and will leave the fleet in March 2008. The move comes as P&O Cruises prepares to welcome its first superliner, the 2050-passenger Pacific Dawn, in November this year, which will substantially increase its overall fleet capacity. “Following the sale of Pacific Star, P&O Cruises’ fleet capacity will still increase by 20 percent through the arrival of Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, later this year,” P&O Cruises President Gavin Smith said. “The sale of Pacific Star is part of our ongoing process of renewing our Australian fleet, while at the same time continuing to increase the capacity of P&O Cruises. She will be the largest and most modern cruise ship in P&O Cruises’ fleet and will bring affordable balcony cabins and your-choice dining to the Australian market for the first time.”
Designed by acclaimed international architect Renzo Piano, Pacific Dawn features 184 balcony staterooms and is known for its distinctive appearance, including its unique dolphin-like prow and a domed observation lounge that curves around the ship’s front.
Pacific Sun will operate the very popular 42-night Cherry Blossom cruise to Japan, originally scheduled for the smaller Pacific Star in March 2008.
Pullmantur, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, acquired another P&O Cruises Australia resident ship, the 46,000gt Pacific Sky, in 2006 and renamed her Sky Wonder.

MSC Cruises’ NewBuild ‘MSC Serenata’ Renamed ‘MSC Splendida’
MSC Cruises has changed the name of its second post-Panamax ship to MSC Splendida to reflect the ship’s beauty and elegance. The name had been changed from MSC Serenata in response to the enthusiastic reaction of Raphaela Aponte, wife of cruise line owner Gianluigi Aponte, to the designs prepared by architect De Jorio. Mrs. Aponte is responsible for all the ship’s interior design details. “This unique ship has many wonderful attributes, including the attention to detail, the choice of colors and perfect harmony of the spaces,” declared Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO for MSC Cruises. “There will also be displays of elegant works of art on board. This ship had to be named MSC Splendida, a ship that has been created to amaze and inspire its guests.”
The steel cutting ceremony for MSC Splendida, sister ship to MSC Fantasia, took place on April 12.  These two post-Panamax ships are each 133,000 gross tons and are the largest ships to be commissioned by a European ship owner. They will join the fleet in the autumn of 2008 and the spring of 2009, respectively. The length of each of the two ships will be six times that of the Tower of Pisa and will be almost 33 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower.
MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida will offer superb service and feature a three-dimensional cinema, a 16,146-square-foot spa, a Sport Bar and a Tex Mex restaurant that will be open 24 hours.

Seabourn Unveils Design Plans For Flagship
After months of detailed planning, on May 9 the first steel plates were cut for The Yachts of Seabourn's newest, largest vessel, the first addition to the ultra luxury segment of the cruise industry in six years. In all, more than 8,500 tons of steel will be cut and welded to form the sleek hull and graceful superstructure of the line's $250 million flagship, which is scheduled to enter service in mid-June 2009.
The yet-unnamed vessel is being designed by the renowned architecture firm of Yran & Storbraaten of Norway and constructed in Italy by T. Mariotti S.p.A., leaders in the construction of mega-yachts and intimate cruising vessels. The ship's designers have mirrored the distinctive silhouette of the existing Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend while adding additional facilities and amenities. Indeed, past guests will appreciate a familiar scheme to the general layout of public rooms and accommodations. "We've been careful to incorporate Seabourn's signature features while designing the next generation of ultra luxury ship to satisfy the desires of a new generation of luxury travelers," said Pamela C. Conover, the line's president and CEO.
Seabourn's grand, new yacht will offer more dining options, more types of suites, more verandas, more entertainment venues and enhanced spa and recreational facilities. Although three times the size of her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, the new vessel will carry just over twice as many guests (450 passengers), boasting among the highest space-per-guest ratio (71.1) in the cruise industry.
In response to feedback from past passengers, the new ship will offer a range of luxury accommodations. Seven of its 11 passenger decks will feature 225 ocean-view suites, measuring from 277 to over 1,300 square feet. Approximately 90 percent of the suites will include private verandas providing from 68 to 344 square feet of outdoor living space. Decks 9 and 10 are home to 22 penthouses with 450-square-foot interiors and verandas measuring nearly 100 square feet.
The most expansive guest quarters on board will be five Owners Suites that measure over 700 square feet (including veranda) and four, two-bedroom Grand Suites providing over 1300 square feet of private living space. All suites will feature granite bathrooms, with separate tub and shower, twin sinks and a stunning glass vanity.
There will be four dining venues and six open bars designed in a variety of styles.
Other enhanced features on the ship will include The Marina with a fold-down teak platform that provides a staging area for guests to enjoy complimentary water sports including waterskiing from the ship's own speed boat, banana boat rides, paddleboats and kayaks. Sun Terraces on Deck 11 forward with a glass windbreak wall and large sun beds. The Spa with a thallasso whirlpool as its focal point, will feature his and hers Finnish saunas, a selection of aromatic steam rooms, separate gym and aerobics areas and two outdoor decks, for exclusive use by spa guests.

MSC Cruises Enhances Agency Support By Expanding Its Sales Organization
To better support the travel agency community, MSC Cruises (USA) is expanding its sales organization with the launch of a new travel agent-dedicated Business Development team and educational webinar program.  The new Business Development team will be based in MSC’s North American headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale. The team will be responsible for further developing the sale of MSC Cruises among accounts not covered by the Field Sales team.  They also will contact agents on a continuous basis to educate them on MSC Cruises' promotions and marketing support systems. "This expansion is designed to help agents grow their sales of MSC Cruises," says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA). "We are committed to looking for new ways to help our travel agent partners increase their bookings and their commissions."
All agents will be able to participate in ongoing webinars designed to educate them on the MSC Cruises brand, commissions, itineraries, onboard guest experience and marketing/communications support. A schedule of webinars soon will be available on the cruise line's travel agent website, www.msccruisesagent.com.

Henry Hudson’s Voyage To North Pole Retraced On ‘Silver Cloud’

Travel writer Corey Sandler's new book, Henry Hudson:  Dreams and Obsession, offers an engrossing portrait of the life and travels of the 17th-century English ship captain and explorer.  One of the least understood explorers of the Age of Discovery, Hudson is probably best known for being the first European to sail up the New York river that now bears his name. 
In 1607, Hudson embarked on a mission to find a Northeast, all-water route from Europe to Asia by sailing to the top of the North Pole in a 40-ton, wooden ship, the Hopewell.   When Henry Hudson reached the northernmost point on his trek, he claimed a navigational position 80 degrees north of the equator (the North Pole lies at a latitude of 90 degrees), achieving a record "for the farthest north exploration by any captain, a mark that would not be broken for 166 years," according to Sandler.
To recreate the thrill of that journey for his readers, in July, 2005 Sandler booked passage on Silversea’s 16,800-ton Silver Cloud that is decidedly larger than the Hopewell, but small enough to navigate the inland waterways and channels that are inaccessible to most of today's mega-ships.
The author also introduces readers to Marco Sangiacomo, Silver Cloud's captain, and provides an engaging behind-the-scenes account of the preparations and excitement on the ship's bridge as the young Italian mariner positions his 21st-century ship in Hudson's historic waters for what would be Sangiacomo's first-ever visit to the polar ice barrier.  
World adventurers, history enthusiasts and those who appreciate luxury travel will have the opportunity to embark on a similar odyssey through the land of the midnight sun when Silver Cloud's sister ship, Silver Wind, sets sail July 21, 2008 on a 15-day, roundtrip cruise from Copenhagen to explore some of Norway's most majestic landscapes, fjords and glaciers in the Arctic Circle.  Destinations include Alesund, Gravdal, Honningsvag, Longyearbyen, Magdalene Bay, Tromso, Geiranger and Bergen.  Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $10,496 per person, double occupancy.
A website about the book is at www.hudsondreams.com.

NCL First Cruise Line To Join US Army's Partnership for Youth-Success Program
NCL Corporation is the first cruise line to participate in the US Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program.  Representatives of the US Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) and NCL signed an agreement at the company’s Miami headquarters to provide priority hiring status on the company’s U.S.-flagged NCL America ships to qualified soldiers participating in PaYS. “Our participation in this program allows us the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with quality candidates for our NCL America ships in Hawaii,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO.  “These men and women have the values, leadership qualities, discipline and other traits that will be an asset to our fleet.”
PaYS is a strategic partnership program between the Army and a cross section of approximately 500 U.S. corporations and public sector agencies across the country, including Pepsi, BellSouth, Citicorp, Dell and Sears. The program was developed to help the Army attract, train and deploy talented young people who want to serve their country, but also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.
Under terms of the agreement between USAREC and NCL Corporation, enlistees interested in gaining specific job training and qualifications will receive that training while in the U.S. Army. As part of the enlistment process, recruits sign a statement of understanding of intent to interview for one of approximately 50 positions on NCL America ships upon completion of their term of service.
To date, close to 30 enlisted soldiers have expressed interest in working for NCL America once they finish their terms beginning in 2009. They have applied for a variety of on-board positions including cook, bar manager, bell person, deck steward, provision master, manifest administrator, printer and youth counselor.

Lloyd’s Register And International Paint Join To Support Shipyards In China
Lloyd’s Register and International Paint have teamed up to offer shipyards in China step by-step advice on how to prepare to meet the requirements of the new Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) as the marine industry looks to increase vessel safety and lifecycle by preventing corrosion. This powerful new partnership, which joins the world’s first classification society with the world’s leading producer of marine and protective coatings, has been offering interested Chinese shipyards a free consultancy, or “gap analysis” survey, comparing their current processes for coating a ship’s water ballast tanks to those that will be required under the new PSPC regulations adopted late last year by International Maritime Organization (IMO).
To date, Lloyd’s Register and International Paint (IP) have completed “gap analyses” for four of China’s biggest private and state-owned shipyards and have agreements in place to extend this service to many other leading yards in the country. “The gap analysis we are jointly offering not only gives yards a clear strategy for meeting the challenges of this key regulatory development, it also gives them an idea of which areas need the greatest attention and, from there, the yards can start to calculate the extra costs involved before negotiating contracts with prospective buyers,” says Nick Brown, Lloyd’s Register’s general manager, business development China. “Chinese yards in general have been reluctant to sign PSPC contracts before fully understanding these extra costs and so have proven keen to fully understand the impact of new regulations as they look to maintain their international competitiveness.”
Many yards in Korea, for example, have already begun accepting PSPC-compliant contracts for new vessels. And while ships have yet to be built to the new PSPC regulations, some yard executives believe the process may add ten percent to construction costs.
Tripartite teams formed by Lloyd’s Register, IP and the shipyard spend two days in each yard assessing the gap between current coating practices and PSPC requirements, which targets extending the coating lifecycle of vessels to 15 years. Lloyd’s Register and International Paint then jointly deliver a presentation to yard senior management and departmental managers. This is a key aspect of the analysis. The main objective is to help the yard understand that, to maximize shipbuilding efficiency, all departments (e.g. design, procurement, quality, steelwork, outfitting and production) need to consider the requirements of the PSPC, not just the paint department.
Following the presentation, a “gap analysis” report is issued to the yard. A joint commitment to revisit the yard as they develop their procedures, infrastructure and resources is made by Lloyd’s Register and IP.

Black Sea Cruise Destination Major Topic At May MedCruise Meeting in Sochi
The Black Sea as a cruise destination came under the spotlight at the MedCruise General Assembly gathering held in the southern Russian port of Sochi this month.
Six countries are washed by the Black Sea with some well-established cruise ports of call such as Odessa, Yalta and Sevastopol in Ukraine, Constanza in Romania and Varna in Bulgaria collectively making up traditional itineraries. Turkey’s Istanbul, at the gateway to the Black Sea, is often the base port for such cruises which currently number 60 to 70 a year. However, a significant number of undiscovered ports t are hoping to attract more cruise business such as Russia’s Sochi, Batumi in Georgia and the Turkish port of Sinop.  ‘When many ports in the Med are experiencing congestion, the potential and importance of the Black Sea as an area for growth is significant,’ said Peter Cox, director of itinerary and land development for Seabourn Cruise Line. Seabourn Spirit is venturing there in 2008 and Seabourn will offer two dedicated Black Sea itineraries in 2009.
Holland America Line’s Prinsendam will undertake two Black Seas cruises this year and another two in 2008. Princess is returning to the Black Sea this year with Royal Princess and in 2008, two visits by Pacific Princess will include stops in Yalta, Odessa and Varna. Other lines sailing Black Sea itineraries in 2008 include Costa, P&O Cruises, Azamara Cruises and ResidenSea. This year Thomson is a new entrant with eight cruises on adults-only Calypso plus one on The Emerald, whilst Fred. Olsen’s Boudicca will sail a 28-night Pearls of the Black Sea cruise from Dover in September. Website: www.medcruise.com

Alaskan Seafood Gone Wild During Holland America Line 2007 Season
On the fins of last season’s wildly popular Alaskan salmon cuisine offered every night on its Alaska-bound cruise ships, Holland America Line has expanded the menu by offering a completely wild Alaskan seafood dinner three times a week throughout the Alaska cruise season, and wild Alaskan salmon every night. Key to Holland America Line’s “Wild” dinner menu is that all the prepared seafood comes only from Alaskan commercial fishermen; no farm-raised fish or bivalves are served.
Created by Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, the “Wild” dinner reflects the ongoing popularity of wild Alaskan seafood.  Appetizers might start with an Avocado and Tomato Dungeness Crab Salad, followed by Smoked Chowder featuring hot-smoked Ketchikan Salmon, then highlighted with Herb-Crusted Alaskan Weathervane Scallops or Ginger-glazed Alaska Black Cod.  Dinners are capped with Holland America Line’s famous Gold Rush Baked Alaska, complete with a dusting of real edible gold, offered each night with a revolving variety of tempting toppings.   
Two years ago, Holland America Line scored an industry first with Going Wild for Salmon, which featured an extensive menu rotation of Alaskan salmon dishes during each cruise. As the salmon season hits full stride, Holland America Line’s famous on-deck Salmon Bake will prepare an array of such flavors as Basted Honey Maple, Soy Garlic, and Holland America Line’s award-winning Dill, Sea Salt and Vodka, a salmon culinary treat.

International Sales Of New ‘Four Seasons’ Ocean Residences Now Open
Blending the best of oceanfront residential living with an ever-changing array of global travel opportunities and the renowned services and amenities of leading luxury hotel company Four Seasons, BV International Ocean Holdings Ltd. is now taking offers for units on Four Seasons, the 48,600-ton, 719-foot luxury vessel scheduled to debut in 2010.  "We are thrilled to be working with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts on
this distinct and exciting ocean residence that will deliver the caliber of luxury service that only Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts can bring," said Robert Oppenheim, Managing Director of BV International Ocean Holdings Ltd. "Four Seasons Ocean Residences will be the most grand and luxurious residential community at sea."
The residential vessel offers 112 wholly owned private residences providing one, two, three, or four bedrooms with the onboard benefits and amenities of the legendary service of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Elegant fully furnished residences and penthouses, designed by Tillberg Design U.S., ranging in size from 800 to over 7,000 square feet, include floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious living room areas with sea views, master
bedroom suites with walk-in dressing rooms and ensuite bathrooms, expansive
terraces, walk-in closets, a full-size gourmet kitchen, and a private entrance for staff. Each Four Seasons residence features a gracious entry hall that opens into an elegant living space highlighted by the celebrated attention to detail of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
BV International Ocean Holdings Ltd. is a joint venture between Bayview Financial(R), and Ocean Development Group, both Florida based companies. A selection of residences will be made available in limited numbers to specific regions throughout the world in order to offer a more diversified community on the Four Seasons.
Four Seasons can host its owners, their guests, and 220 crew members. The first journey is scheduled to depart in 2010, with the first two years following a fixed itinerary including Antarctica, the Amazon as well as the 2012 Olympics in London. More information at (US) 877-507-3393 or visit www.oceanresidences.com,

Locked-In Prices For Families Taking Cruises In Europe This Summer
Nearly 13 million Americans visited Europe in 2006, a 4 percent increase from the previous year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department's Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, and the European Travel Commission expects those numbers will increase another two or three percent this year.
With the plummeting value of the American dollar in Europe, families planning their summer vacation across the pond are turning to the high seas for an affordable, yet memorable, solution. A cruise is a convenient, relaxing, and value-added way to see a lot of Europe in a short amount of time. Families can unpack their bags once, and then spend the rest of their vacation enjoying their time. Prices for European cruising are more affordable than ever, with the all-inclusive US price covering daily accommodations, meals, and a diverse range of activities and amenities. Check with your local travel agent for family packages that stretches lock in prices while affording a memorable sea vacation.

Hotel Bel-Air And Crystal Cruises Announce New Luxury Partnership
Hotel Bel-Air and Crystal Cruises announce a new partnership, allowing guests to enjoy a seamless transition from one luxury experience to another. The Bel-Air invites travelers who are embarking or disembarking a Crystal cruise in Los Angeles to begin or conclude their vacation with a two- or three-night package in a Garden Suite.  Additionally, frequent hotel guests will receive special offers for Crystal Cruises through Leading Hotels of the World's loyalty program, while Crystal Cruises' repeat guests (Crystal Society members) will receive special rates at the Hotel Bel-Air even when they are not cruising.
The Crystal Cruises/Hotel Bel-Air package, available with its December 21 Christmas/New Year cruise and all of its 2008 cruises to and from Los Angeles, includes:
* Two or three nights in a Garden Suite
* Welcome bottle of champagne and strawberries
* Full American breakfast for two, daily
* Private car transfer to and from the hotel, airport and the ship
The 2007 package is available at $1,815 or $2,430 per person, double occupancy for two- or three-night programs, respectively. Crystal Society guests can also enjoy up to 23% off future deluxe guestroom and garden suite accommodations at the hotel, based on space availability.  Hotel Bel-Air guests are eligible for a $100 per person shipboard credit on any future Crystal cruise. 

New Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge Restaurant Offers Wild Alaska Seafood
Wild Alaska seafood takes the spotlight at Princess' new King Salmon restaurant opening today at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.  The new dining experience, which was developed after extensive customer research, focuses on the state's iconic wild salmon, plus other Alaskan seafood—such as the area's prized halibut and succulent king crab legs.
Designed to offer a memorable dining experience with an Alaskan atmosphere, the 250-seat restaurant adds a distinctive new dining option to the resort property, located at the gateway to Denali National Park and Preserve. "We're especially excited to open this restaurant because it allows us to deliver an experience our guests have been craving," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours.  "We surveyed more than 300 guests last year about what they wanted in a restaurant, and they overwhelmingly told us they wanted to sample Alaska's famous seafood.  So, we're proud to have turned that wish into reality by introducing a place dedicated to showcasing the incredible delicacy that is wild Alaskan seafood."
Diners at King Salmon will feast on a variety of types of salmon - such as king, silver or sockeye - with a varying daily catch featuring dishes such as Fresh Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Gilled with Lemon-Dill Butter Sauce or Potato Chip Crusted Sockeye Salmon with Herb Tomato Salad.  Salmon salads, pastas and burgers are also featured as are other local seafood, such as Alaskan Bristol Bay King Crab Legs and Asiago Crusted Alaskan Halibut "Scaloppini."  Additional menu options such as prime rib, the lodge's signature "brick" chicken, and Alaskan gourmet salads round out the menus.  Guests can compliment their meal with suggested pairings from the restaurant's extensive wine list.
King Salmon will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is a featured property on Princess' extensive Alaska cruisetour lineup, located just one mile from the entrance to Denali National Park.  Situated along the scenic Nenana River, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge offers 661 rooms plus a wide range of activities and modern comforts on the edge of the wilderness. 

 

Majestic America’s ‘Empress of the North’ Runs Aground In Alaska
The cruise vessel Empress of the North ran aground off Alaska May 14, forcing the evacuation of some 200 passengers when the vessel began to list. The Majestic America Line reported that all passengers and crew were safely transferred to Juneau following the incident in southeast Alaska. No injuries were reported.
Majestic America Line provided all passengers with local accommodations and is providing air travel out of Juneau. According to David Giersdorf, President of Majestic America Line, “the safety and comfort of our guests are our number one priority. We are continuing to take all measures to ensure that all of their needs are being met as a result of this situation and are working closely with all regulatory authorities to undertake a full investigation and assess the condition of the vessel.”
Empress of the North was on the second day of a seven day cruise of Alaska’s Inside
Passage roundtrip from Juneau that departed on Saturday, May 12.She returned to Juneau under her own power.
The company says that all passengers will have their travel costs reimbursed and receive a free future cruise.

‘MSC Orchestra’ Christened In Civitavechia May 14
Italian film legend Sophia Loren christened the new 92,400 gross ton MSC Orchestra in a gala naming ceremony held in Civitavecchia on May 14. This year she was joined by Maestro Ennio Morricone, a key figure in the world of music and film, who wrote and conducted a special musical tribute for the ceremony. An identical twin to the MSC Musica, which made her debut in 2006, the Orchestra is 964 feet long, has five restaurants (including a specialty Chinese restaurant and Italian upscale restaurant), 11 bars, a casino, a 12,400-square-foot-spacious spa and fitness area, 1,240-seat theater and carries 2,550 guests. She begins sailing seven-night Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip from Venice on June 2.

 

Royal Caribbean’s Newest Freedom-class Ship Arrives in New York

Sailing into New York Harbor
Royal Caribbean International welcomed the line's 21st ship, Liberty of the Seas, to the United States earlier this month. Sharing the title of world's largest cruise ship with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to roll out enhanced onboard programming in wellness, weddings, and family and teen activities. The new programming includes the Vitality wellness program, promoting a healthier lifestyle with new, well-balanced fitness, spa, shore excursions and culinary offerings; Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; and new family programming introducing Adventure Theater, Scratch DJ 101 classes, Chef's on Deck, and the Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program.
At 160,000 GRT with a capacity of 3,634 guests, double-occupancy, Liberty features cruise-industry innovations such as the FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard. The Presidential Family Suite, which sleeps up to 14 people, is another revolutionizing Freedom-class concept catering to multi-generational family-cruising. In addition, guests will enjoy more than 20 restaurants and lounges aboard Liberty, as well as the line's award-winning entertainment.
Godmother Donnalea Madeley will officially name the line's newest ship May 18, and Liberty's will sail her maiden voyage May 19 from her home port of Miami. Liberty will depart on Saturdays and alternate between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Liberty's Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Labadee, with a third day at sea to take advantage of all that the ship is offering.
The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008. Sailing from the United Kingdom, she will be the largest ship to be home-ported in Europe.

Three French Celebs To Light Up ‘Costa Serena’ Inaugural Festivities
Three popular French stars will light up inaugural festivities for the Costa Serena when she becomes the first ship to be inaugurated in Marseille on May 19. Participating in the new Costa flagship’s inaugural ceremony will be actress Marion Cotillard, who has been named the ship’s godmother; Gérard Holtz, one of France’s most highly-regarded television journalists, who will serve as the master of ceremonies; and Pascal Barbot, the French Michelin-starred chef who will create the inaugural dinner menu along with Chef Ettore Bocchia.  
The French actress Marion Cotillard, appearing in the  soon-to-be-released film La Vie en Rose on the life of Edith Piaf. will cut a ribbon to break a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull during the christening ceremony. Then, to bring the ceremony to a close, the Marseille Opera Chorus will seal the alliance between Italian-based Costa and France’s oldest city with “symbolic” opera arias of the two countries. For this event, the master of ceremonies will be Gérard Holtz, one of France’s most highly-regarded television journalists. Holtz will also provide a first-hand report during the inauguration of the Grand Prix race car driving simulator, one of the most exciting new features of the company’s latest flagship.
The inaugural festivities will be followed by a gala dinner for more than 1,200 guests, to be held in the ship’s two main dining venues, the Vesta restaurant and the Ceres restaurant. Pascal Barbot, one of the world’s most highly-esteemed young French chefs, will work with Ettore Bocchia, the renowned Italian Michelin-starred chef who will oversee the menus for both “a la carte” restaurants of Costa’s two newest flagships (the “Club Bacco” on the Costa Serena and the “Club Concordia” on the Costa Concordia).
Like her sister ship, the Costa Concordia, the 114,000-ton Costa Serena will be the largest vessel flying the Italian flag.  The ship is 290 meters in length with 1,500 cabins and a total guest capacity of 3,780.  She will also feature all of the main innovations offered on her sister ship, including the Samsara Spa—one of the largest spas at sea, two swimming pools with a retractable magrodome, and an authentic Grand Prix race car driving simulator. The interiors of the Costa Serena are designed by the ingenious American architect Joe Farcus, with a central theme of Greek and Roman mythology that was also applied to the ship’s 6,000 works of art.

Star Cruises Group Announces First Quarter Results For 2007
Star Cruises announced First Quarter results for 2007. Key points for the quarter in comparison with First Quarter 2006 include:
• Capacity increased by 17.5% from 2.4 million to 2.8 million capacity days
 • Net revenue increased by 9.8% but net revenue yield decreased by 6.5%
• Ship operating expenses per capacity day were up by 1.1%
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) per capacity day decreased by 2.8%
• Operating loss was US$10.1 million versus an operating profit of US$15.1 million • Non-cash foreign currency debts translation loss was US$9.3 million versus a translation loss of US$4.7 million
• Net loss was US$79.4 million compared to a net loss of US$35.1 million Star Cruises Group Net revenue for 1Q 2007 increased 9.8% from 1Q 2006 primarily due to a 17.5% capacity increase which was partially offset by a 6.5% decrease in net revenue yield.
The capacity increase in 1Q 2007 was mainly due to the addition of m.v. Pride of Hawaii and m.v. Norwegian Pearl, which entered service in May 2006 and November 2006, respectively. The overall Group occupancy remained relatively unchanged at 99%, for both quarters. The decrease in net revenue yield was primarily due to the downward pricing pressure on NCL Group’s inter-island cruises in Hawaii as well as lower onboard revenue in the Star Cruises Asia fleet. The 1Q 2007 ship operating expenses per capacity day increased 1.1% compared to 1Q 2006 primarily due to the charter hire fee for m.v. Norwegian Crown paid to the third party who purchased the vessel in September 2006 and chartered it back to Star Cruises until the delivery date in November 2007. In 1Q 2007, average fuel prices, including the impact of fuel hedges, decreased approximately 4.1% from 1Q 2006. Fuel costs accounted for approximately 18.3% of ship operating expenses in 1Q 2007 compared with 19.4% in 1Q 2006.

‘SeaDream I’ Re-Emerges From Two-Week Drydock In Barcelona
SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream I, returned from its scheduled two-week dry dock in Barcelona May 10, with a freshness matched only by a high profile movie actress beloved by its audience. Not only did she undergoing her regularly scheduled normal maintenance to keep her in tip-top shape, but she underwent both interior and exterior upgrading that included new carpeting in the public areas and staterooms; reupholstering of furniture and new color schemes in both the public and stateroom areas; new teak decking in the pool area and complete upgrading of the ship’s tenders. SeaDream I also underwent a series of upgrades to its sound systems in the Main Salon, Pool Bar area, Piano Bar and top of the Yacht Bar areas and to its satellite communications system.

Second Ship To Be Christened This Year At Hamburg Cruise Center

Christening of the MS Delphin Voyager“ at the Hamburg Cruise Center
On May 18, the MS Delphin Voyager will be christened in Hamburg. The new flag ship owned by Delphin Kreuzfahrten and Hansakreuzfahrten is a modern four-star  cruise vessel and has a length of 174 meters, a width of 24 meters and a passenger capacity of 650. The godmother is Katrin Hackmann, daughter of the Hamburg shipowner Heinz-Herbert Hey. The ship’s first Baltic cruise begins May 31. The Hamburg Cruise Center website is at www.hamburgcruisecenter.de.

Cayman Islands Reinstates Ban On Cruise Ship Dockings Near Coral Reefs
The Cayman government announced this month that it has once again banned cruise ships from anchoring near the island’s coral reefs. Extensive damage has been reported from vessel chains that scraped against the reefs when using the Spotts Dock facility during rough seas that prevent normal docking at the Georgetown dock facility. "Because cruise ships are the biggest vessels to use the area regularly, their chains tend to cause a lot of the damage," stated a research officer with the British Caribbean territory's environment department. “Cruise ship anchoring for one day can destroy nearly an acre of intact reef.”
Cruise ships capable of holding their position without anchoring will still be allowed to unload passengers in Spotts Bay, about 10 miles east of the capital.

First New Zealand Cruise Industry Statistics Show Kiwis Taking to Water
The International Cruise Council Australasia has released its first ever study of the New Zealand cruise industry, revealing that 26,510 New Zealanders took a cruise holiday in 2006. The study shows that 65 per cent of New Zealand passengers cruised in the Australia/New Zealand and South Pacific waters during the year.  Europe proved the second most popular region, attracting 13 percent of the market
while Asia accounted for seven percent and Alaska drew six per cent.
Cruise Council General Manager Linda Halliday said they provided the first insight into the popularity of cruising amongst New Zealanders. “Cruising is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global tourism industry and the strong interest in cruising among New Zealanders reflects this international trend,” Ms Halliday said.
Halliday said the inaugural figures, which come as New Zealand prepares for its biggest ever cruise season, would provide a benchmark to measure the future growth in New Zealand cruise passenger numbers and track changes in consumer cruise patterns.  “The coming summer (wintertime in North America)will be the busiest ever for New Zealand with the return of Pacific Star for another season and visits by newcomers such as Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, Celebrity’s Mercury, Cunard’s Queen Victoria and Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, to name a few. All this activity has really put cruising on New Zealanders’ holiday lists like never before,” she added.
The statistics showed the most popular month for cruising during 2006 was July, with more than 6000 passengers opting for a cruise holiday that month.  They also reveal that 66 per cent of passengers chose cruises of eight to 14 days, while 29 per cent opted for five to seven days.
The 2006 New Zealand Cruise Industry Statistics were compiled by InTouch Data Pty Ltd.

Carnival Cruise Lines Rolls Out ‘E-Doc’ Electronic Cruise Document System
Carnival Cruise Lines has rolled out a new electronic cruise document system, providing added convenience and efficiency for the line’s guests. Located within the line’s comprehensive website, www.carnival.com , the new “paperless” system provides guests with the same travel documentation and information typically available with traditional cruise documents, all in a secure, easy-to-navigate Internet portal accessible on a “24/7” basis.  Further, Carnival’s electronic document system is in “real time,” ensuring that all guest data is continually up-to-date.
Carnival’s electronic cruise documents are available to guests any time after final payment is made. If they prefer, guests can opt to have the traditional paper documents mailed to them or their travel agent approximately 30 days prior to their cruise.
The MyDocuments portal provides guests with on-demand access to their Carnival booking, enabling them to print boarding passes, luggage tags and other pertinent information regarding their “Fun Ship” cruise from any Internet-connected computer. Guests simply need to enter their booking number, last name, and ship and sailing date to gain access to the site. Data contained within the MyDocuments portal is specifically tailored to that guest’s Fun Ship cruise with information on embarkation and ground transfers specific to their voyage’s departure point, along with a day-by-day itinerary schedule and a listing of any shore excursions purchased by the guest. A new feature is the opportunity for guests who purchased FlyAweigh air/sea packages to view their air schedules within 75 days of their cruise departure date. This information will be available to all guests whether they choose electronic or paper documents. Also included is a printable booking summary listing guests’ ship, sailing date, and itinerary, along with Carnival’s popular “Things to Know Before You Go” section with helpful information on dining, tipping, attire and other aspects of the “Fun Ship” vacation experience.  
The new system is available in conjunction with any cruise aboard Carnival.

UK Cruise Industry Grows by 12 Percent in 2006
More Brits then ever are taking to the seas, according to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), who announced today in their annual Cruise Report that 1.2 million Brits took an ocean cruise in 2006 – 12 percent more than the 1.07 million who cruised in 2005 and double the number who took cruise holidays just a decade ago. The UK cruise market showed the biggest growth rate of all European source market countries and, with the British taking longer cruises than in 2005, there was an impressive 19 percent increase in the overall number of cruise nights booked.
This year the PSA has also conducted research into why people choose to cruise and what they look for when booking a holiday afloat.  The most important factors for an enjoyable cruise are good food and drink (35%) followed by the itinerary (27%), standards of accommodation, and then value for money and price.  Good private and public facilities are also important, as is the range and quality of entertainment available on board.  
Interestingly the research also found that whilst 11% of those questioned have been on a cruise in the last five years, 33% is considering a cruise in the next five years, which demonstrates the huge potential for further growth. For the
Click UK Passenger Shipping Agency for the key findings from the Annual Cruise Review.

Silversea Expands Wi-Fi Coverage Throughout Its Entire Fleet
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises announced today it has expanded wireless Internet access to 100 percent coverage throughout its four ships, 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.
Through Silversea's global satellite system, guests have access to over 270 daily newspapers from a host of U.S. and international cities, offered at a nominal fee, and BBC, CNN, Fox News and ESPN (sports news and entertainment) are on the roster of complimentary in-suite TV channels available to keep guests up to speed with developments around the world and at home.
Each Silversea ship also features Internet centers with state-of-the-art desktop computers and 17-inch flat screen monitors.  Pricing for Internet use on the ship's computers is the same as for using personal laptops and includes a variety of convenient rate plans.  

Royal Princess To Be Named On June 14 In Portofino
The christening ceremony for the newest addition to Princess' fleet, Royal Princess, has been re-scheduled for June 14 in the picturesque port of Portofino, Italy.  Originally to have been held in Santorini in a double naming ceremony with Emerald Princess on May 12, the event was changed out of respect for the tragic sinking of a Greek cruise ship in that location.
Royal Princess' relocated christening celebration will take place during the ship's first port of call on a voyage that begins in Rome the previous day. 
Princess' most-traveled passenger, Lorraine Arzt, will become the godmother of the line's new Royal Princess.  Arzt, who last year reached a milestone 4,000 days at sea with Princess, will christen the ship at its upcoming official naming ceremony in Portofino, Italy on June 14. Her impressive sailing record equals more than 10 years at sea aboard Princess ships.  Typically spending as long as 10 months each year on board, Arzt moved into her suite aboard Royal Princess for the ship's first sailing on April 19.  Royal Princess will now become her "home away from home" as she plans to cruise exclusively aboard this intimately sized vessel. "Lorraine is a wonderful representative of our many long-time passengers who mean so much to us, and in bestowing this honor we hope also to recognize in some way all of our loyal Captain's Circle members," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises
A sister ship to the line's popular Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess, the 30,200-ton Royal Princess offers passengers a boutique version of Princess' acclaimed onboard options -- including a variety of dining and entertainment choices and a large number of cabins with private balconies - all offered in intimate surroundings.   The 710-passenger vessel and her sisters have become popular choices for vacationers looking for a "off the beaten path" itineraries and a small-ship experience.
The Royal Princess naming in Portofino will be the first for Princess in this picturesque Italian Riviera port.  The naming ceremony will be held onboard in the afternoon before the ship sails for its next port of call.
The 30,200-ton Royal Princess is a sister ship to the line's popular Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess

Carnival To Re-Brand Its Fantasy-Class Ships
In conjunction with its recently announced $250 million Evolutions of Fun ship-refurbishment program, Carnival will re-brand its eight Fantasy-class ships by introducing an updated version of each ship’s name as it appears on the vessel’s hull, as well as in various marketing and collateral materials. As each ship goes into drydock for refurbishment, the name ‘Carnival’ and the company’s logo will be combined with the vessel’s name to provide an updated look and feel.  “The names of the majority of Carnival’s ships which entered service starting in the latter 1990’s begin with ‘Carnival,’ and those ships have become synonymous with expansive, high quality amenities and features,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.  “As each of our Fantasy-class ships undergoes transformation to incorporate the wide-ranging enhancements under the ‘Evolutions of Fun’ initiative, it is only fitting that those vessels be re-branded to better align them with our other ships.”
All marketing materials going forward will feature the new ship names Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation.
As each ship goes into drydock to receive the “Evolutions of Fun” upgrades, signage on the ships’ bow, stern and upper deck areas will be modified.  Among the planned “Evolutions of Fun” enhancements are expansive children’s water parks, a new design style and features for the pool areas, and the creation of the Serenity adults-only deck area.
Also being phased in and already in place on some ships are fully remodeled staterooms and suites, including new bathrooms, along with flat-screen televisions in staterooms and select public areas, atrium lobby bars, updated sound and lighting systems in various lounges and clubs, coffee bars, nine-hole miniature golf courses, new art and photo galleries, New York-style delis in the Lido restaurants, and purpose-built conference facilities.  By 2009, upgrades to the entire Fantasy-class will be completed. For additional information on the “Evolutions of Fun” initiative, visit www.carnival.com/evolutions.

Emerald Princess; Christened on May 13 In Athens, Greece
Princess Cruises officially christened its newest ship, Emerald Princess. In celebration of Mother's Day, Princess united some of television's most famous mothers and daughters to serve as the christeners and chose Greece, the birthplace of  the American holiday–Mother's Day—as the site for the naming festivities.

Godmothers Susan Olsen, Florence Henderson, Marion Ross and Erin Moran celebrate after officially naming the ship in Athens.
The ship's godmothers are Florence Henderson, best known as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch, and her TV daughter, Susan Olsen, aka "Cindy Brady," as well as Marion Ross, the beloved "Marion Cunningham" from the international hit, Happy Days, and her TV daughter, Erin Moran, aka "Joanie Cunningham." The christeners were joined by Gavin MacLeod, former captain of The Love Boat and Princess spokesperson, who emceed the naming ceremony, as well as Princess Cruises and Greek officials. Traditional Greek dancers performed as part of the festivities.
The 113,000-ton Emerald Princess, a sister ship to the Crown Princess, currently sailing to the most sought-after ports in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles, was line's first ship to begin its life cruising from Rome's seaport, the town of Civitavecchia on April 11. The ship will continue cruising in Europe throughout the summer before repositioning to Ft. Lauderdale for Caribbean sailings in the fall.

First Choice Sells Clipper Odyssey & Clipper Adventurer
First Choice Expeditions, parent company of INTRAV, today announced the sale of the Clipper Odyssey and Clipper Adventurer expedition ships to International Shipping Partners,  a move “that reflects the development of our business and growing number of experientially minded travelers who are the mainstay of INTRAV,” said Randy Durband, INTRAV’S president.
Since the 1995 merger of INTRAV and Clipper Cruise Line, the two companies have operated together. Now, with the sale of the Clipper ships, the two companies will diverge, “allowing INTRAV to focus all of our energies on the immersive travel experiences and products which are increasingly popular among our clientele,” Durband noted.  While INTRAV will go on operating deluxe small-ship cruises worldwide, “the sale of the ships frees us to focus on our acclaimed luxury river voyages, our land and safari journeys, our newly expanded ‘Wings Over’ series and our customized ‘Inventing’ travel desk programs.  This new strategy more closely reflects INTRAV’s pedigree and essential DNA – the very qualities and in-depth destination programs that truly distinguish us in the marketplace,” Durband said.
With the sale, INTRAV will operate its scheduled Clipper Adventurer departures through February 2008, and will charter the vessel for Antarctica expeditions for the next five years.  INTRAV will operate its Clipper Odyssey sailings through September 2007. 
INTRAV’s new focus includes small-ship cruising to Antarctica aboard 122-guest Clipper Adventurer plus other worldwide voyages such as the 62-guest Monet sailing the Dalmatian Coast.  New itineraries will also be on offer in 2008 and beyond. It also includes European river cruising featuring the exclusive charter of the Sound of Music, among the most luxurious vessels sailing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers.  The longest running US operator of European river cruises also has additional deluxe voyages in the offing including Russia and Portugal’s Douro Valley. The company also offers land and safari journeys to exotic destinations including Africa, India, China, and Morocco.

Royal Caribbean Names First Female Captain of a Major Cruise Ship

Stahre-Janson on the Bridge

Royal Caribbean International has named Swedish mariner, Karin Stahre-Janson, captain of Monarch of the Seas, making her the first female captain in the line's 21-ship fleet and the first woman in the industry to command a major cruise ship. As the Captain of Monarch of the Seas, Captain Stahre-Janson is responsible for the safe navigation of a ship that is 880 feet long, 106 feet wide, has 14 guest decks and routinely carries 2,400 guests and 850 crew members.
Captain Stahre-Janson recently completed her first tour of duty as captain of the Los Angeles-based ship, which sails three- and four-night cruises to San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico. She resumes her command in August.
Captain Stahre-Janson has been an officer on Royal Caribbean's ships since 1997, when she joined the company. Starting out as First Officer on Viking Serenade and Nordic Empress, she became Chief Officer while on Vision of the Seas and continued that role on Radiance of the Seas. Adding still another stripe, she was named Staff Captain on Brilliance of the Seas, and also served in that capacity on Serenade of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas. "We are tremendously proud and pleased by Captain Stahre-Janson's promotion," said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International. "This is historic news - for our company and the entire cruise industry - and a tremendous inspiration for women in any line of work, particularly a maritime career."
A lifelong sailor, Captain Stahre-Janson graduated from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden with a bachelor's degree in Nautical Science. She subsequently obtained her Unlimited Masters License enabling her to command virtually any ship of any size.

Celebrity Cruises Presents New, Deluxe Cruise Line: Azamara Cruises

Azamara Journey
A new luxe-class cruise line—Azamara Cruises–was recently introduced by Celebrity Cruises. Designed to offer exotic destination-driven travel experiences, Azamara Cruises currently consists of Azamara Journey, and in October Azamara Quest, which will present a more intimate onboard experience, while allowing access to the less-traveled ports of call experienced travelers want to visit. The name "Azamara" is a coined term, rooted in Romance language references to blue (aza), the sea (ma"), and a lesser-known word, acamar, which, in Classical times, was the southernmost bright star that could be seen from the latitude of Greece.
"We created Azamara Cruises to target an area of the market that we believe is underserved, and an area this product is ideally suited to fill," said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, parent company of Azamara Cruises. "This new line falls into what we consider the deluxe category—a category between premium and luxury."
Complementing the exotic Caribbean and Europe itineraries for Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, previously announced under the former "Celebrity Expeditions" banner, Azamara Cruises' itineraries will not only take travelers to some of the most desirable locations in the Caribbean, but will immerse them in Asia, and even transport them around the world. Itinerary details for Azamara Cruises' Asia and world cruises are yet to be announced, but once finalized, the line expects to visit more than 200 ports—most of them new to cruise travelers—in over 70 countries.
While delving deep into the history and culture of remote destinations larger ships can't reach, guests sailing with Azamara Cruises also will enjoy a more exclusive guest experience. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will offer butler service in every stateroom and suite, as well as concierge-style amenities. The ships will not require formal attire for dining, and will feature open seating in the main dining room.
Just prior to setting sail on its maiden voyage May 6, Azamara Journey completed a four-week, approximately $19-million makeover, highlighted by the conversion of 48 staterooms into 32 suites, a complete refurbishment of the dining areas to create the two new specialty restaurants, an expansion of the spa area to include an aesthetics suite, a new Sunset Bar on the aft deck, a new art collection, Cova Cafe, entirely new carpets and flooring throughout, new exterior decking, new paint schemes, new walls, and entirely new "soft goods," ranging from plush European bedding to cushions, drapes and table linens.

SeaDream Announces First Quarter 2007 Revenues
The SeaDream Yacht Club has announced increased earnings for the first quarter of 2007. In the first quarter of 2007 revenue increased by 19 percent over the same period in 2006.In the first quarter of 2007 yield from that revenue was up 24 percent over the same period in 2006.
In the first quarter of 2007 utilization of staterooms was 101 percent compared to 97 percent over the same period in 2006. This is based on two guests per stateroom. Year end utilization is expected to be between 99 and 100 percent full based on current booking trends.
In the first quarter of 2007 there were nine voyages fully chartered for business meetings or by private families compared to seven in the same period in 2006. Family charters were at an all-time high with five weeks of the first quarter’s inventory utilized for this purpose.
SeaDream’s new Caribbean schedules are showing highly active booking patterns on voyages that are shorter (five nights) or longer (nine nights), exploring islands and ports-of-call larger vessels cannot engage.

NCL America Debuts New Luau on Kauai
NCL America (NCLA), in partnership with Kilohana Plantation and NH Productions, hosted a grand opening of its brand New Luau and dinner show for the community on April 27.  Luau Kalamaku will offer traditional Hawaiian games, arts and craft lessons, a hula show and a theatrical production.  Guests will also have the opportunity to sample popular island favorite's lomi lomi salmon, poi, taro bread and k?lua pig catered by Gaylord’s Restaurant.  A train ride on Kauai Plantation Railway or a vintage Clydesdale carriage ride through the plantation’s 35-acre estate will also be available as additional featured activities. "Hawaii is a very special place and passengers cruising NCL America ships are here to experience Hawaiian culture and learn about Hawaii’s heritage," said Robert Kritzman NCL America Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Hawaii Operations. "Luau Kalamaku tells a tale about Hawaiian culture and values through a one-of-a-kind theatrical performance which weaves in ancient and modern dances from the Tahitian, Hawaiian and American traditions."
NCLA renovated and upgraded the existing carriage house at Kilohana Plantation which now includes a new pavilion structure that spans the back lawn and will have the capacity to accommodate 1,000 guests.  The structure ensures the show will go on even during inclement weather.
The shows for passengers will run Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings when NCLA ships overnight in Kauai.  Incentive groups, other visitors and residents of Kauai will have the opportunity to book the show on alternative nights at a later date.  NCLA began running the show for its cruise guests on April 5, 2007.

NCL Unveils New Suites and Villas Interactive Online Resource
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has launched a new Suites and Villas online resource for consumers and travel partners.  From Garden and Courtyard Villas to Owner's Suites, Penthouses and Suites, the site features an in-depth look at NCL's high-end accommodations, which include the biggest, most luxurious, innovative suite complexes at sea.
On NCL's Jewel-class ships—Norwegian Jewel, Pride of Hawaii/Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, and soon Norwegian Gem—the Courtyard Villas, Garden Villas, Owner's and Deluxe Owner's Suites located on the top two private decks comprise NCL's exclusive "ship within a ship" complex.  Here, guests can enjoy an exclusive private haven while still experiencing all the amenities, and Freestyle flexibility, of a big ship, including the opportunity to duck in and out of a Broadway show, bowl a few games or have dinner in one of 10 restaurants, among many other things.
The Suites and Villas online resource offers vibrant and colorful visuals, 360-degree tours of a sampling of the villas and suites, details on specific room features and VIP amenities, floor plans and more.  The travel partners' section also provides helpful sales tips and showcases a wealth of additional sales information - all in one convenient place.
The consumer micro page can be found at www.nclsuitesandvillas.com  and also linked from www.ncl.com .  The travel partner version can be found on the Travel Partner-designated section of www.ncl.com. The easy-to-navigate consumer and travel partner resources feature detailed information such as:

NCL Announces Largest Bermuda Deployment Ever in 2008
NCL Corporation has announced the largest deployment to Bermuda in the company’s history with itineraries from five East Coast cities. The Bermuda itineraries include: Norwegian Dawn sailing from New York, featuring  the city’s only seven-day cruise to Bermuda; Norwegian Dream replacing Norwegian Majesty sailing from Boston offering Boston’s only Bermuda cruise; and Norwegian Majesty sailing to Bermuda from three cities: Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charleston. Bermuda itineraries are on sale now. “By adding ships and more departure points, we will continue to meet the strong demand for cruising to Bermuda from the East Coast," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO.  “And now, for the first time, we have positioned Norwegian Dawn, one of our panamax ships that is purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising, on a New York to Bermuda seven-day itinerary offering three full days in Bermuda.”

Top 10 Caribbean Adventures, According To Crystal Cruises Guests
Crystal Cruises has released the survey results of its Top 10 rated Crystal Adventures shore excursions in the Caribbean.  Based on surveys of guests on the luxury line's 2006 and early 2007 Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises, more than half of the excursions on the list were rated a perfect 10.
Water excursions dominated, with shark feeding a unanimous favorite.  Parasailing, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and racing adventures placed in the Top 10. Thrill-seekers who like their kicks on land also highly rated Crystal's ATV Adventure in St. Barts for the chance to motor to secluded villages and beaches and to climb into the hills for stunning panoramic views. Other notable mentions include a kayaking adventure in St. Kitts and a 100-foot submarine plunge under the sea to explore coral reefs in Grand Cayman.

Quark Expeditions Joins The First Choice Family
Patrick Shaw, President of Quark Expeditions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the company by UK-based First Choice Holidays PLC, a growing international collection of adventure travel businesses. When making the announcement, Shaw paid tribute to exiting Chairman Lars Wikander, a co-founder of Quark Expeditions. “Lars’ vision will continue to inspire us” stated Shaw. Shaw will continue to lead the professional management team and staff that have been growing Quark Expeditions over the past years.
Headquartered in Crawley, West Sussex, England, First Choice is the market leader in activity adventure holidays. Founded in 1973, the company operates in 17 countries. Additional information on First Choice is available at www.firstchoiceholidaysplc.com.

Louis Cruise Lines Acquires ‘M/V Opera’
Louis Cruise Lines has acquired the M/V Opera (soon to be renamed) at a cost of $49 million. This new addition to the Louis fleet follows the charter of the M/V Ruby operating three- and four-day cruises ex Piraeus until July 2007. Thereafter, from July 2007 onwards M/V Opera, as the permanent replacement of the Sea Diamond, will perform three- and four-day cruises ex Piraeus, along with M/V Perla.
These two new additions to the Louis fleet raise the number of the Group's operated cruise ships to fourteen.
The Opera formerly operated under the name Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line in the US from 1995 to 1999. With a cruising speed of 19 knots, she can carry 1.278 passengers in 483 spacious staterooms and suites. Her 318 outside staterooms, most with large windows and some with balconies, and 165 inside spacious staterooms, all above sea level, are fitted with attractive furnishings, individually controlled air-conditioning, ample closet space, shower or bath tub, toilet, TV, telephone and hair dryers, amongst other amenities. Most outside staterooms are fitted with mini bars and several cabins are two room suites offering in-room meeting facilities for 6-8 persons. Additionally, M/V Opera features various restaurants and dining areas, a large double-tiered show lounge, a large number of bars, spa facilities, beauty salon, outdoor swimming pool with a retractable glass cover, casino and large duty free shop area. Meeting and conference facilities are also available for groups of up to approximately 100 people.
This technologically advanced cruise ship was built to comply with the US Coast Guard requirements and sanitation standards of US Public Health.

MSC Cruises Renames ‘MSC Serenata’
The Aker Yard/ St. Nazaire shipyard has announced that MSC Cruises’ 133,000 gross ton MSC Serenata will be renamed MSC Splendida. The name change was made to avoid any confusion with the name of Costa Cruises’ newest ship Costa Serena. The MSC Splendida, scheduled to make her debut in 2009 will have 1,650 cabins and carry nearly 3,300 passengers.