UK’s MAIB Issues Safety
Bulletin In Aftermath of March 23 Star Princess Fire
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch
(MAIB) issued a Safety Bulletin on April 27 in connection
with a fire that broke out on the Bermudan-registered cruise
ship Star Princess while it was on passage from Grand
Cayman to Montego Bay, Jamaica on March 23, 2006. There
were 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew on board.
The seat of the fire was on an external
balcony sited on deck 10 of the vessel's port side. The
fire spread rapidly along adjacent balconies and within
ten minutes had spread to decks above. It also spread internally.
One passenger died as the result of smoke inhalation and
13 others were treated for the effects of smoke.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined
and the MAIB is continuing its investigation on behalf of
the Bermuda Maritime Administration in cooperation with
the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the US National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). However, the investigation
has already identified serious shortcomings in fire protection
on ships' balconies which require urgent attention. The
MAIB and its partners, therefore, have worked with the cruise
industry world-wide to ensure that short-term measures are
immediately put in place to safeguard passengers. These
include
-- Increased vigilance on vessels with
balconies, with consideration given to dedicated lookouts
and additional fire patrols;
-- A review of crew onboard training
and response;
-- Advice to passengers and crew.
The industry has also agreed to implement
medium-term structural measures as soon as practical.
The UK's Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents,
Stephen Meyer, praised the industry for its speedy response.
He said: "Fires such as this are extremely rare and
I am confident that the cruise industry has identified measures
to ensure that a similar accident will not happen again.
In the meantime we will continue with our investigation
and to monitor the implementation of our recommendations."
MAIB website: www. http://www.maib.gov.uk
New Study Finds Cruising Attracting
More Affluent And Younger Guests
Leisure cruise vacations are reaching
new levels of popularity among American consumers while
also attracting younger and more affluent guests, according
to results from the Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) 2006 Market Profile Study,
conducted by TNS Travel & Transport
Group and released on April 10. Cruising continues to represent
a fast-growing travel segment with significant growth potential.
Over 51 million current vacationers have
ever taken a cruise, representing 17 percent of the total
US population, according to the CLIA study. The study identifies
the "core"
U.S. cruise market as adults 25 or older
with minimum household incomes
Click CLIA
for the full report.
Cruise3sixty 2007 Conference To Be
Held In Fort Lauderdale
The Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA)'s must-attend travel agent conference, cruise3sixty,
in 2007 will return to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward
County
Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale,
Fla. Core cruise3sixty conference
events will be held from March 30 through
April 1, 2007, with additional
agent workshops/ship inspections available
on March 29 and April 2.
cruise3sixty 2007, like the first two
CLIA conferences, will set new
standards for travel industry gatherings
by offering incisive commentary
from cruising's highest-level executives,
gold standard CLIA training
programs, cruise line product demonstrations,
a dynamic trade show and
one-on-one appointments with senior cruise
line management. "Greater Fort Lauderdale has done
a wonderful job as the host of the first two cruise3sixty
events. For this reason, we are delighted to return,"
said CLIA President and CEO Terry L. Dale. "Greater
Fort
Lauderdale's outstanding facilities and
services, and the conference center's proximity to Port
Everglades, have been instrumental in the enthusiastic response
the previous cruise3sixty conferences have earned from North
America's travel agents. We expect cruise3sixty 2007 to
be equally valuable for CLIA-member agency professionals."
cruise3sixty exhibitors were equally
enthusiastic. "Once again, the
CLIA's cruise3sixty 2007 will provide
attendees with cutting-edge education, timely industry information
and crucial marketing support. Attendees will also have
the opportunity to inspect CLIA-member line cruise ships
at Port Everglades and the Port of Miami. The program, details
and registration instructions for CLIA's
cruise3sixty 2007 will be available soon
at www.cruise3sixty.com.
American Cruise Lines Launches ‘American
Star’
The American Star, the newest
luxury cruise ship for American Cruise Lines, was launched
this month at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland.
The vessel after her seven-night maiden voyage on the Chesapeake
Bay will be operating cruises along the Maine Coast and
Harbors this summer and early fall. She will be the fourth
ACL vessel to cruise along the East Coast. Click New
Ships for more details.
Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery Of
‘Freedom of the Seas’ In Hamburg
The world's largest cruise ship, Freedom
of the Seas, was delivered April 25 to RCI at a ceremony
in Hamburg, Germany.
The world's largest cruise ship, Royal
Caribbean International's famed Freedom of the Seas,
was delivered at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, on April
29. The cruise line that revolutionized the industry with
rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and the Royal Promenade
entertainment boulevard is poised to unveil a range of new
industry-first attractions. The first in the Freedom-class
of ships, Freedom of the Seas debuts engineering marvels
such as a shipboard surf park and cantilevered whirlpools
suspended 112 feet above the ocean, in addition to unexpected
amenities like a full-size boxing ring and a 14-person family
suite. For more information, click New
Ships section of ShipsandCruises.
NCL Corporation Takes Delivery Of
Its Newest And Largest US Flagged Ship
On April 19 NCL Corporation welcomed
Pride of Hawaii as the newest member to the NCL America
fleet, with a handover ceremony in Eemshaven, Holland. At
the onboard ceremony, Star Cruises Chairman Tan Sri LIM
Kok Thay was joined by Colin Veitch, NCL President and CEO;
and Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft, the
shipyard that constructed the vessel. “Pride of Hawaii is
the ninth in a series of 11 such Freestyle Cruising ships
delivered as part of a U.S. $5 billion cruise ship building
program undertaken by Star Cruises and NCL since 1998,”
said Tan Sri
Pride of Hawaii is also the third in
a series of U.S. flag cruise ships, built for the Hawaii
market. At just over 93,500 gross registered tons, carrying
over 2,400 passengers, and costing over half a billion dollars,
Pride of Hawaii is by far the largest and most expensive
US flagged passenger ship ever built. Pride of Hawaii will
employ a crew of over 1000, bringing the total seagoing
workforce of NCL’s U.S. flagged fleet to some 4000, including
those on leave. “We are thrilled to complete our ambitious
plan of bringing three US-flagged ships to Hawaii by 2006,”
Colin Veitch said. “Pride of Hawaii, along with Pride of
America and Pride of Aloha, and our one international ship,
will bring around half a million passengers a year to the
Hawaii Islands and not only offer an unparalleled Hawaii
cruise experience but will also help create more than 20,000
U.S. jobs and generate more than $800 million of expenditures
in the U.S. economy by the end of 2007 including over a
quarter of that impact occurring in other parts of the U.S.
outside of Hawaii.”
The ship will arrive in Baltimore at
the end of the month and after a series of inaugural events
in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Pride of Hawaii begins
sailing in Hawaii on June 5.
Godfather Named For Pride of Hawaii
NCL Corporation announced the Honorable
Daniel K. Inouye, senior United States Senator from Hawaii,
will give the keynote address and officially name NCL America’s
newest U.S.-flag ship at her christening on May 20th in
Los Angeles, California. Pride of Hawaii is the third in
a series of U.S.-flag cruise ships sailing under the NCL
America brand and built for the Hawaii market in furtherance
of the “Hawaii Cruise Ship Initiative,” legislation sponsored
by Senator Inouye and passed by the United States Congress
in February 2003. “Senator Inouye is the father of this
project and its most steadfast supporter,” said Colin Veitch,
President and CEO of NCL and NCL America, “and the introduction
of Pride of Hawaii is its crowning event. So there can be
no one more fitting than he to name our newest U.S. flag
ship.”
Senator Inouye added, “I have always
believed in the potential of Hawaii as a major cruise destination
and I am very pleased that, thanks to NCL, at last this
has happened. This project has required a tremendous commitment
from this fine company, from its partners in organized maritime
labor, from the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration,
and many others. It will be my great pleasure to salute
their efforts and to name this wonderful ship.”
NCL’s US flag fleet, the first ship of
which began service in July 2004, and its one international
ship, will boost Hawaii cruise passenger carryings to in
excess of 650,000 a year by 2007. At these levels, Hawaii
as a cruise destination will be comparable in size and importance
to Alaska and, together with Alaska, will be one of the
top two domestic cruise destinations in North America.
Recent studies by the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA), the North American cruise industry’s
marketing and travel agent association, have revealed that
travel agents believe Hawaii will overtake Europe as the
third most in-demand worldwide destination for American
cruise passengers (after Caribbean and Alaska).
ICCL Releases Statement on Cruise
Ship Safety
In wake of the accidental fire that occurred
on board the Star Princess and the tragic bus crash
in Chile involving passengers from the Celebrity Millennium
in March, the International Council of Cruise Lines
(ICCL) released guidelines and information with regard to
cruise ship safety and land excursions.
The ICCL states that during the past
two decades, the 16-ICCL-member cruise lines have maintained
the best safety record in the travel industry while transporting
more than 90 million people throughout the world. Click
ICCL
to read the full statement.
NCL Corp. Appoints Claude Boudoux
As VP Of Food & Beverage
NCL Corporation this month announced
the appointment of Claude Boudoux as its new vice president,
food and beverage, effective immediately. Boudoux comes
to NCL with a distinguished and varied food & beverage
resume.
Most recently he served as the head of
F&B at the five-star Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly
Hills, California, where he oversaw all food and beverage
outlets including the renowned Polo Lounge Restaurant. Prior
to his post at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Boudoux worked in
various Las Vegas hotels serving as vice president of food
and beverage at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino and
then specializing in designing and opening F&B operations
in new resort hotels. He was deeply involved, for example,
in the opening of the ground breaking Bellagio Resort &
Casino. Before working in Las Vegas, Boudoux served as the
head F&B executive at several well known hotel companies
throughout the world, with an emphasis on Asia and Hawaii
including the Hilton Hotels Corporation, Regent International
Hotels and The Four Seasons.
Boudoux will be responsible for F&B
Operations for all three NCL Corporation brands—Norwegian
Cruise Line, NCL America, and Orient Lines—and will report
to Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Manfred Ursprunger.
Royal Caribbean Announces Name Of
2nd Freedom Class Vessel
Royal Caribbean has announced the name
of the cruise line’s second Freedom class ship as Liberty
of the Seas. The ship is expected to debut in May 2007.
She will be a sister ship to Freedom of the Seas,
which enters service in June.
Currently under construction at Aker
Finnyards in Turku, Liberty of the Seas will closely mirror
her prototype with signature class amenities such as the
FlowRider® surfing simulator and cantilevered whirlpools
suspended over 200 feet above the ocean but will also continue
the cruise line’s legacy of providing the unexpected with
her own unique features.
The 3,600-guest Liberty of the Seas will
sail alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries
year-round from Miami.
‘Dawn Princess’ Earns San Francisco's
Gold Level Ship Environmental Award
Dawn Princess' onboard programs
to reduce air and water pollution while operating in San
Francisco Bay have earned the ship the Port of San Francisco's
prestigious Gold level Cruise Ship Environmental Award for
2005. The annual award recognizes the vessel for demonstrating
"the strong commitment of Princess Cruises in the areas
of Air Emission Reduction, Wastewater Treatment, and Recycling
and Disposal Programs for Solid Waste." The award
was given by San Francisco's Cruise Terminal Environmental
Advisory Committee (CTEAC), which works with the city's
many maritime interests to address environmental issues.
The advisory committee operates an incentive program to
reward cruise lines that are committed to environmentally
responsible operations, including the deployment of ships
using reduced emission system technology or cleaner-burning
fuel.
Royal Caribbean Reports First Quarter
2006 Earnings
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced
net income for the first quarter of 2006 of $119.5 million,
or $0.55 per share, compared to income before the cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle of $137.1 million,
or $0.64 per share, for the first quarter of 2005. Revenues
for the first quarter of 2006 decreased slightly to $1.1
billion from revenues of $1.2 billion in the first quarter
of 2005. The first quarter of 2006 includes a net gain of
$36 million, or $0.16 per share, related to the previously
disclosed partial settlement of a lawsuit.
The company's solid first quarter results
were at the high end of, or better than, previous guidance.
Net Yields increased 1.9% over the first quarter of 2005,
helped by strong onboard revenues. Net Cruise Costs, on
a per APCD basis, increased 11.4% compared to the first
quarter of 2005, driven by the following principal factors:
* Fuel accounted for 7.6 percentage points
of the increase in Net Cruise Costs. Our "at-the-pump"
fuel price averaged $418 per metric ton, compared to previous
guidance of $425 per metric ton, and $284 per metric ton
in the first quarter of 2005.
* Non-fuel costs accounted for the remaining
increase of 3.8 percentage points due to the following:
"We are very pleased with our first quarter results,"
said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer.
"All key elements of the business performed very well,
and we were able to exceed our previous expectations.’’
The full report can be found at http://www.rclinvestor.com.
Princess Issues Update On March 23
Fire Aboard ‘Star Princess’
This month Princess issued the following
statement regarding Star Princess’ fire.
We confirm that we are implementing the
recommendations contained in the safety notices recently
distributed to cruise lines by the United Kingdom's Marine
Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and the International
Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL).
Fires such as the one that happened aboard
Star Princess are extremely rare. We would like to stress
that Princess Cruises has been safely operating ships with
large numbers of balconies for over ten years, and this
is the first such incident that has occurred.
Nevertheless, after the fire we immediately
put in place on all our ships precautions designed to ensure
that, in the unlikely event of a similar situation arising,
we would be able to quickly detect and extinguish the fire.
To that end, we implemented a 24-hour
fire watch of our balconies, introduced specific training
and fire response procedures for our crew in handling fires
on balconies, enhanced communication to passengers regarding
fire safety, and changed certain crew housekeeping procedures
on balconies.
We want to assure our passengers that,
with these measures in place, they can feel confident that
their safety and well being aboard our ships is not compromised.
Furthermore we have moved quickly to
identify permanent fire protection solutions to replace
the recently introduced precautionary measures.
We are already well advanced with the
development of these permanent measures, which will include
the removal of combustible materials from the balconies,
and the introduction of fire detection and suppression systems.
Naturally, we will continue to adhere
to all requirements of the regulatory authorities in both
the United Kingdom and the United States and fully cooperate
with the MAIB.
We will provide additional information
as it becomes available.
New Crown Princess to Return to New
York for Summer 2007
The upcoming Crown Princess' first-ever
New York season has generated such interest from passengers
that the ship has been scheduled for a second season from
the Big Apple in summer 2007. The ship will reprise its
nine-day Eastern Caribbean including Bermuda run, plus will
add a new Eastern Caribbean route as well. In addition,
sister ship Caribbean Princess' summer will be full
in 2007 with alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean
voyages. "Crown Princess is debuting our first ever
summer Caribbean cruises from New York in just two months,
and already we've decided to bring her back for a second
season because of the enthusiastic response," said
Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer
service and sales. "Both Crown Princess and her sister
ship, Caribbean Princess, were designed with Caribbean cruising
in mind so they're the ideal ships for enjoying a wealth
of amenities perfect for the region, such as Movies Under
the Stars or the local flavors of Café Caribe."
Regent Concierge -Travel + Leisure
Partnership To Launch In Fall 2006
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the luxury
cruise line previously known as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises,
and Travel + Leisure magazine, are combining their powerful
brands to introduce the Regent Concierge -Travel + Leisure
Partnership scheduled to launch in conjunction with Regent’s
inaugural season in the Mediterranean this fall. Travel
+ Leisure is teaming up with Regent Seven Seas to take the
cruise line’s innovative concierge initiative to the next
level by adding T+L’s insider knowledge of destinations
around the globe. “Our guests have told us they want to
be provided with the inside track on what’s hot and new
based on their interests in Regent’s destinations. We launched
our Regent Travel Concierge and Circles of Interest programs
to satisfy this need. Now we’re thrilled to be working with
Travel + Leisure to provide our guests with an even more
personalized and authentic luxury travel experience”, said
Sophie Vlessing, vice president customer strategy and marketing
for Regent.
The Regent Concierge -Travel + Leisure
Partnership program has several main components:
-- Insider Lists. Specially created “Insider
Lists” will feature Travel + Leisure’s picks for the must-see
attractions in select locations, including lesser-known
spots and local favorites. The lists will highlight activities
and attractions for a range of interests, from history and
archeology to photography, shopping and food and wine.
-- Onboard Concierge. The onboard concierge
team has access to Travel + Leisure’s insider knowledge
on select ports and will guide guests who want to learn
more, advising them about the newest, hottest spots for
dining, shopping, arts and culture, and sites of interest.
The concierge can help personalize guests’ experiences by
creating customized itineraries.
-- Concierge Choice Tours. Select small
group adventures ashore have been designed by the Regent
Travel Concierge. T + L will focus on a selection of these
and add their touch and insider access to make their experience
even more unique.
-- Circles of Interest. Another innovative
program from Regent is the Circles of Interest initiative
which caters to their guests’ special interests and passions
featuring connected and personalized on board and on shore
activities. Here T + L will bring in partners to facilitate
and add another level of specialized knowledge.
-- Online Access. Guests will also have
special online access to the “Insider Lists” to allow them
to conduct their own searches to learn about their upcoming
travel destinations before and during their cruise.
Travel + Leisure, published monthly
by American Express Publishing Corporation, has a circulation
of almost one million. A global brand, Travel + Leisure
currently publishes five international editions—Travel +
Leisure en Espanol, Travel + Leisure Russia, Travel + Leisure
Turkey, Travel + Leisure China and Travel + Leisure Australia.
Cruise Association Says Mexican Riviera
Itineraries On The Rise
As more travelers become experienced
Caribbean cruisers, they are discovering a new tropical
paradise, the Mexican Riviera, which offers sensational
scenery, some of the best beaches in the world and a formidable
array of cultural attractions. According to the Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA), the Mexican Riviera has
grown into one of the top five cruise destinations in the
last five years, and for good reason. Typically, CLIA (www.cruising.org)
member line ships call at such destinations as California's
Monterey and Catalina Island, and the Mexican ports of Acapulco,
Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa/Zihautanjeo, Manzanillo
and Mazatlan. Cruises from seven to 11 days set sail from
Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco. "It's
no wonder that Mexican Riviera cruises continue to grow
in popularity," said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO
of CLIA, the chief marketing organization for 20 premier
cruise lines and nearly 17,000 North American travel agencies.
"These cruises have it all - charming villages, bustling
cities, fabulous food and culture and miles and miles of
flawless beaches." (Click www.cruising.org
for cruise lines visiting Mexican ports.)
Gleanings from the Web
-- Costa Cruises To Begin Cruises
From Dubai in December
According to an April 21 article posted
on the Miami Herald website, Costa Cruises will deploy two
ships to Dubai for a series of seven-day sailings through
the winter. Stops will include Fujairah and Abu Dhabi in
the United Arab Emirates. Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky
Arison said he expects Dubai to appeal to Europeans who
already are discovering it as a luxury vacation destination.
(Carnival is the parent company of Costa.)
In March, Carnival announced plans to
offer cruises from China aboard another Costa cruise ship,
the Costa Allegra,, becoming the first North American
cruise company to market exclusively to Chinese consumers.
The Costa Allegra will begin a series of 24 five-day sailings
from China in July, with stops in Japan and Korea.
Costa Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi
described Dubai as ''very safe and secure'' despite the
war in Iraq and threat of terrorism. Arison added that fast-growing
Dubai already is popular among Europeans, and Carnival is
``in effect piggybacking on all the interest.''
-- New Fee Hike Proposed By US
Public Health For Sanitary Ratings of Vessels
Seatrade’s Insider Community reports
that a higher Vessel Sanitation Program fee for ships larger
than 120,000 gross tons is being considered for 2007. The
proposal would affect eight vessels. Under the new rates,
seven Royal Caribbean International ships and Cunard Line’s
Queen Mary 2 would pay a new rate of $15,600 per
U.S. Public Health Service inspection.
Reportedly, the largest ships now pay
$10,400 per inspection. Under the proposal, that rate in
2007 would apply to vessels of more than 60,000 gross tons
up to 120,000 gross tons. If the
industry rejects the plan to hike fees for ships in excess
of 120,000 gross tons, there is speculation that an across-the-board
increase for all vessels will be implemented. Each ship
undergoes two inspections per year.
To read the most recent sanitary ratings
of cruise vessels, visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/vsp/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/
InspectionGreenSheetRpt.aspx.
Brooklyn’s Cruise Terminal
Officially Opens
On
Saturday, April 15, the world's largest ocean liner, Queen
Mary 2, made the new $56 million Brooklyn Cruise
Terminal her home port for transatlantic sailings. New
York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spoke at the opening
ceremony of the terminal with Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz and Cunard Line President and Managing Director
Carol Marlow looking on. Click ShipsandCruises’ Cruise Ports/Terminals
to learn more about the new cruise terminal.
Special
Report: 2006 cruise3Sixty Conference
Princess Issues Update on ‘Star Princess
‘Fire
On April 13, Princess issued a preliminary
update on the shipboard fire March 23 on the Star Princess.
The statement reads:
“Although no definitive cause of the
fire has yet been determined, we can confirm that the fire
did start on one of the ship's balconies, and spread to
other balconies. We believe the fire is an isolated incident,
and would like to stress that our company has been safely
operating ships with large numbers of balconies for over
ten years. This is the first such incident that has occurred.
Nevertheless, after the fire we immediately
put in place on all our ships precautions designed to ensure
that, in the unlikely event of a similar situation happening
again, we would be able to quickly detect and extinguish
the fire. To that end, we implemented a 24-hour fire watch
of our balconies, introduced specific training and fire
response procedures for our crew in handling fires on balconies,
enhanced communication to passengers regarding fire safety,
and changed certain crew housekeeping procedures on balconies.
We want to assure our passengers that
with these measures in place, they should not be concerned,
and can feel confident that their safety and well being
aboard our ships is not compromised.
Further to the immediate precautionary
measures already in place, we are moving quickly to provide
long-term and permanent measures to improve fire safety
on our balconies. We are well advanced with the development
of these permanent measures and, naturally, will be taking
fully into account the requirements of the regulatory authorities
in both the United Kingdom and the United States. We will
provide additional information as it becomes available.”
NCL America’s ‘Pride Of Hawaii’ Delivery
Delayed
Delivery of newbuild Pride of Hawaii
to NCL America has been delayed as a result of faults detected
in the ship’s ABB azipods. Bearings were replaced last
weekend following the original sea trial of the vessel and
a fault has now been detected in these replacement bearings.
The ship is being moved to Lloyd Werft
in Bremerhaven, Germany and will arrive on April 15, where
she will be docked for approximately four days for the bearings
to be replaced.
NCL America will take delivery of the
ship once everything is resolved to the company’s complete
satisfaction. Pride of Hawaii will then sail to Baltimore
for scheduled Coast Guard inspections. Inaugural events
scheduled on the West Coast for the middle of May will proceed
as planned.
CLIA's Second-Annual Cruise3sixty
Sets New Standards
The second annual Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) cruise3sixty travel agent conference
was a resounding triumph, exceeding the expectations of
agents, cruise line executives and exhibitors alike. cruise3sixty
drew a total of 1,600 attendees -
including 1,150 travel agents - with
a compelling combination of incisive commentary from the
industry's highest-level executives, the most gold standard
CLIA training programs ever offered at one event, cruise
line product demonstrations, a dynamic trade show and timely
press conferences hosted by several CLIA-member cruise lines.
"CLIA couldn't be more pleased by
the overwhelming response to the
second cruise3sixty," said Terry
L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, the
chief marketing organization for 20 premier
cruise lines and nearly
17,000 North American travel agencies.
"The event attracted agents from
across North America and beyond."
Among cruise3sixty's many highlights
were the three "Cruise Visionary" chats at which
Dale discussed key industry issues with the chief executives
of three major cruise lines: Micky Arison, chairman and
CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc; Gregg Michel, president
and COO of Crystal Cruises; and Richard Fain, chairman and
CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. All three expressed
their optimism regarding the future of leisure
cruising and the continuation of cruise
shipbuilding. Most importantly,
each stressed their dedication to and
reliance on the travel agency
distribution system.
cruise3sixty also featured CLIA's second
Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which honored three inductees:
Bob Dickinson, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines;
the late Fred Kassner, founder, GoGo Vacations/Liberty Travel;
and The Love Boat television series. The Love Boat award
was accepted by Gavin MacLeod, who portrayed Captain Stubing
on the landmark program. (Click CLIA
for more news about Cruise3sixty’s conference.)
Silversea's New "Wellness Program"
Pampers Mind, Body And Soul
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is catering
to today's health-conscious travelers with a new "Wellness
Program" that fully integrates classes in nutrition
and exercise, fitness activities, spa therapies and healthy
dining options to create the opportunity for a complete
rejuvenation of mind, body and soul while at sea.
Every day of every voyage, Silversea's
privileged guests receive a schedule in their suite of the
day's Wellness Program—activities and seminars developed
by the fitness experts of its award-winning Mandara Spa,
which includes popular workout programs such as aerobics
(including aqua and step), Pilates, circuit training, and
yoga, is perfectly paired with a daily collection of light
and low-carb menu selections designed by Silversea's master
chefs. "To accommodate the growing popularity of our
fitness programs, we're also expanding the fitness centers
aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, adding
nearly 300 additional square feet for new cardiovascular
training equipment said David Morris, Silversea's senior
vice president of sales for North America. Silver Shadow
had the work done in drydock last month in Singapore, and
we'll do the same with Silver Whisper during a scheduled
drydock next year."
Royal Caribbean Announces Name Of
2nd Freedom Class Vessel
Royal Caribbean has announced the name
of the cruise line’s second Freedom class ship—Liberty
of the Seas—and is expected to debut in May 2007. She
will be a sister ship to Freedom of the Seas, which
enters service in June. With Liberty’s debut in May 2007
as well as exciting new itineraries, new departure cities
and exotic ports of call on the horizon, Royal Caribbean
is setting a bold precedent for the 2007-2008 season.
Currently under construction at Aker
Finnyards in Turku, Liberty of the Seas will closely mirror
her prototype with signature class amenities such as the
FlowRider® surfing simulator and cantilevered whirlpools
suspended over 200 feet above the ocean but will also continue
the cruise line’s legacy of providing the unexpected with
her own unique features.
The 3,600-guest Liberty of the Seas will
sail alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries
year-round from Miami, calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Labadee, Haiti in the east
and in Labadee; Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand
Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico in the west. Liberty will depart
Miami on Saturdays while Freedom of the Seas also sailing
alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries
out of Miami, will depart Sundays.
Royal Caribbean Announces New Ship
Deployments
Explorer of the Seas to Make Northeast
New Home Year-Round
Explorer of the Seas returns to
Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., on May 6, 2007, where she
will sail alternating five-night Bermuda and 9-night Caribbean
sailings. In time for the fall foliage, this popular Voyager-class
ship will head north for four nine-night Canada/New England
sailings. And for the first time ever, Explorer will remain
in the Northeast for the remainder of the year, offering
various 2007-08 winter escapes from Cape Liberty including
9-night Eastern Caribbean sailings calling on Labadee, Haiti;
Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St.
Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico; as well as an exotic 12-night
Southern Caribbean itinerary calling on Philipsburg, St.
Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown,
Barbados; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Charlotte Amalie and San
Juan.
New 2007 Summer Sailings from the
Northeast
-- Empress of the Seas will venture
into new waters, when she splits her time between Philadelphia
and her new drive-to homeport of Norfolk, Virginia. Empress
is Bermuda-bound from both historic cities starting in April
2007.
-- On May 13, 2007, Baltimore favorite
Grandeur of the Seas will embark on a series of summer
sailings, bringing more options to the mid-Atlantic market
than ever before. Spanning the summer and fall seasons,
Grandeur will alternate new 9-night Canada/New England sailings
– calling on Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John’s,
New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia and Boston – with sunny
5-night Bermuda itineraries and 9-night Eastern Caribbean
itineraries.
Shorter Cruising on Voyager Class
Ships from Florida
Meetings and incentive groups will have
more convenient short-cruising options when Navigator of
the Seas returns to the U.S. after a summer spent overseas,
offering a combination of 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean
sailings out of Miami including Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George
Town, Grand Cayman; Key West, Florida; Cozumel, Mexico;
and Belize City, Belize. The newly-lengthened Enchantment
of the Seas will sail similar Western Caribbean itineraries
from Ft. Lauderdale and then from Tampa in the winter months
of 2007.
Gulf Coast to Get More Adventurous
Cruise Options
In fall 2007, the ship that revolutionized
the cruise industry, Voyager of the Seas, will replace
Rhapsody of the Seas in Galveston, Texas, marking
the first time that a Voyager-class ship will sail from
the Lone Star State. Next winter, Voyager will offer alternating
seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries, calling one week
on Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town and Cozumel; and the
next on Cozumel; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico and
Progreso, Mexico.
Rhapsody of the Seas will resume these
same itineraries from Galveston in the summer months. However,
the winter months will welcome Rhapsody to New Orleans,
where she will offer 7-night Western Caribbean sailings.
In a similar move, Grandeur of the Seas will reposition
to Tampa during the winter season offering 7-night Western
Caribbean itineraries to George Town, Grand Cayman; Costa
Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.
New Homeports
From December 2007 through March 2008,
Splendour of the Seas will sail from a brand new
homeport in the Dominican Republic. Offering a wide range
of options, Splendour will embark on two seven-night Southern
Caribbean itineraries, calling in at such ports as Philipsburg,
St. Maarten; Roseau, Dominica; St. George’s, Grenada; Margarita
Island, Venezuela and Oranjestad, Aruba or in Basseterre,
St. Kitts; Pointe- á -Pitre, Guadeloupe; Fort De France,
Martinique; Bridgetown, Barbados and Castries, St. Lucia.
Vision of the Seas will return
to Seattle in May 2007 to offer a series of seven-night
roundtrip Alaska sailings until September 2007. Vision will
be adding a brand new port of call to her roster—Prince
Rupert in British Columbia—as well as sailing through the
breathtaking Tracy Arm Fjord.
Ship Deployments in Europe
The first Voyager-class ship to serve
Southampton, Navigator of the Seas will make her
European debut on April 26, 2007. This family favorite will
circle the continent, embarking on a number of exciting
new itineraries throughout the Mediterranean, Canary Islands,
Scandinavia/ Baltics and the United Kingdom, available until
November 2007.
One of the most innovative ships at sea,
Navigator is sure to make waves with families, featuring
a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, in-line skating
track, Royal Promenade and over 22,000 square feet of Adventure
Ocean Youth programming space.
Following her first European season in
2006, Voyager of the Seas will sail two 3-night itineraries
in May 2007 from Barcelona to the bustling French Riviera.
Due to increased demand, the legendary ship also will make
more stops in Malta and the Mediterranean. On November 17,
Voyager will kick off two exotic itineraries featuring the
Canary Islands and a new port of call, Casablanca, Morocco.
Jewel of the Seas will be offering
guests new options when she sails a series of short 3- and
4-night sailings from the historic ports of Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Hamburg, Germany and Oslo, Norway. On May 25, 2007, she
will set sail for Scandinavia and Russia on her regularly
scheduled 12-night itineraries from Harwich, England. Splendour
of the Seas, too, will undergo minor itinerary modifications,
adding calls in Dubrovnik, Croatia and a new port of call,
Split, Croatia to her glamorous 7-night Greek Isles &
Turkey sailings.
New exotic ports planned for 200720/08
For those guests who think they’ve seen
and sailed it all, Royal Caribbean promises to offer diversity
in 2007-08 with several exotic new ports of call. Other
than Casablanca, Morocco; Fort De France, Martinique and
Split, Croatia mentioned in the itineraries above, some
of the other exciting destinations guests can explore include
La Coruna, Spain; Pointe-á-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Samana, Dominican
Republic and Kingstown, St. Vincent.
CLIA Launches New 'Allied Membership'
Program For Travel Partners
The Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) is launching a new membership category for valued
colleagues who have long supported the cruise industry and
the travel agent distribution system. CLIA's new Allied
Membership Program provides allied member organizations
with a dynamic link to CLIA's nearly 17,000 North American
member travel agencies and 20 member cruise lines, creating
an effective partnership based on mutual communication and
support. CLIA President and CEO Terry L. Dale made the announcement
during his President's Report presentation at the association's
second annual cruise3sixty, held from April 8 to 11 at the
Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
Companies eligible for Allied Membership
should be engaged in providing information, products or
services of interest to travel agents and must be supportive
of the cruise industry, including port authorities, tourism
boards, convention and visitors bureaus, technology and
GDS companies; and other travel agency service providers.
"CLIA is opening its doors to allied travel organizations
who have long requested their own membership category to
demonstrate their support of the travel agency distribution
system," said Terry L. Dale, CLIA's president and CEO.
"Allied Membership provides a direct connection to
CLIA's travel agency community and its 20 diverse cruise
lines, with an array of positive benefits for all involved."
(Click CLIA
for more information.)
Royal Caribbean Continues to Support
Travel Agents
In continuation of Royal Caribbean’s
Travel Agent Appreciation program, throughout the new season,
the cruise line has announced that it will offer a series
of exciting promotions and incentives for travel agents
to recognize their every day efforts and dedication to promoting
the brand.
Royal Caribbean to Hold Conference
Call on First Quarter Earnings
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has scheduled
a conference call with analysts for 10 a.m. Eastern time,
Friday, April 21, 2006, to discuss the company's first quarter
financial results. The call can be listened to by all interested
parties at the company's investor relations web site, http://www.rclinvestor.com. To listen to
the call, please dial (877) 874-9961 in the US and Canada.
International phone calls should be made to (706) 634-0610.
There is no pass code or meeting number. Visual aids relating
to the call will also be available at the web site. A replay
of the webcast will be available at the same site for a
month following the call. /
Holland America Line Introduces Signature
Master Chef's Dinner
Dancing waiters! A napkin ballet! Flying
pepper grinders and a plate-spinning kick-line! "Dinner
theater" takes on a whole new meaning on Holland America
Line with the debut of the entertaining and innovative Signature
Master Chef's Dinner which combines the premium line's award-winning
cuisine, service and entertainment into an engaging new
fine dining concept at sea. We are well-known for our outstanding
service, excellent food and innovative entertainment,"
said Richard D. Meadows, vice president of marketing and
sales. "Our new Signature Master Chef's Dinner builds
on these strengths while creating an unforgettable dining
experience."
The Signature Master Chef's Dinner will
be featured in the elegant two- tiered main dining room
once on every Holland America Line cruise by fall of 2006.
The event has debuted on the ms Volendam and will
be rolled out on the ms Amsterdam in May. By early
July, the dinner theater show will be on the ms Rotterdam,
ms Zaandam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam and
ms Veendam. The dinner show debuts on the ms Prinsendam
in late July and will be on board the Vista-class ms
Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam and ms Zuiderdam
in the fall.
The event is the creation of Master Chef
Rudi Sodamin, who serves as culinary consultant for Holland
America Line's fleet of five-star ships. Sodamin, a driving
force behind the enhancement of Holland America Line's already
superb dining offerings has developed a fresh line of full-concept
dining "experiences" for Holland America Line
guests. One of the hospitality industry's most accomplished
chefs, Sodamin brings excitement, innovation, and unparalleled
quality standards to menus at sea. Together with the Holland
America Line Culinary Arts Team, Sodamin continues to whip
up more cruise line and food industry firsts, such as the
new Signature Master Chef's Dinner. (More details on Cruise
Itinerary News/Offers.)
Silversea Teams Up With National Geographic
Traveler
Silversea Cruises and National Geographic
Traveler magazine have joined forces to offer an innovative
package of amenities and enrichment presentations aboard
Silver Shadow's World Cruise 2007. Headlining the program
is award-winning photojournalist Steve McCurry, whose haunting
photograph of an Afghan refugee girl has been described
by many as the most recognizable photograph in the world
today. McCurry is slated to host a series of presentations
aboard Silver Shadow as the 382-guest, ultra-luxury
cruise ship journeys on its first segment, The Empire of
Time. This 16-day voyage from January 15 to 27, 2007, cruises
through the Panama Canal, taking guests from Fort Lauderdale
to Santiago to explore the beauty and wonders of South America.
Carnival Switches Itineraries For
‘Fantasy’ And ‘Sensation’
Effective April 6, 2006, Carnival Cruise
Lines swapped the itineraries operated by its cruise ships
Fantasy and Sensation. Both ships are based
at Port Canaveral, Florida. The Fantasy will take over
the Sensation’s four- and five-day Bahamas/Grand Turk cruise
program and the Sensation will, in turn, operate the Fantasy’s
three- and four-day Bahamas program. The two vessels are
virtually identical sister ships with the same features,
amenities, accommodations and layout.
The change is being made as the result
of a technical issue on the Sensation which is limiting
the ship’s maximum cruising speed. The ship cannot sail
at a speed that enables it to operate its current five-day
itinerary but it does have sufficient speed to operate the
Fantasy’s existing three and four-day Bahamas program.
The technical issue, which relates to the Sensation’s propulsion
system, is only impacting the ship’s maximum speed. All
hotel systems and services are functioning normally.
Reservations have been automatically
switched from one ship to the other and booking numbers
and stateroom assignments will remain the same. For guests
who have already received cruise documents, new ones will
not be issued. Guests may use their existing documents.
Air transportation purchased through Carnival remains intact
and previously received e-ticket receipt coupons will continue
to be valid.
For guests who have already registered
through Carnival’s Fun Pass pre-cruise online check-in system,
it is not necessary to re-register. Advance shore excursion
purchases will remain in place, as well.
The year-round three and four-day Bahamas
program, to now be operated on Sensation, features three-day
voyages departing Thursdays to Nassau, The Bahamas. Four-day
cruises, departing Sundays, visit Nassau and Freeport, The
Bahamas.
The year-round four and five-day Bahamas/Grand
Turk program will operate from April 6 through Oct. 19,
2006 on the Fantasy and then be assumed by the Elation,
effective Oct. 23, 2006, as previously announced. Four-day
cruises visit Nassau and either Freeport or Half Moon Cay,
The Bahamas, while five-day cruises visit Grand Turk, in
the Turks & Caicos Islands, Half Moon Cay and Nassau
throughout 2006 and from May to Sept. 2007. From Jan. to
April 2007 and from Oct. to Dec. 2007, the five-day itinerary
will feature Key West and Cozumel, as previously announced.
In October 2006, the Fantasy will reposition
to New Orleans to resume a four- and five-day cruise program
previously operated prior to Hurricane Katrina. (Originally,
the program was to be resumed on Sensation but will now
be operated on the Fantasy.) Four-day cruises will visit
Cozumel, Mexico while five-day voyages will call at Cozumel,
as well as either Calica or Costa Maya, Mexico.
SeaDream Offers Ferrari Program
SeaDream Yacht Club voyages in the Mediterranean,
beginning or ending in Rome this summer from July1 to September
3, will offer Walter Mitty-like dreamers a pre- or post-sailing,
four-day, three-night Ferrari adventure from Rome to Florence.
Drive a Ferrari F430 Spider F1, an F360 Spider FI, or perhaps
a 575M Maranello F1.
The Tuscany by Ferrari experience is
strictly limited to six fantasists sailing with SeaDream
II on the following voyages: #2627, #2628, #2629, #2633,
#2634, #2635 and #2636. The Ferrari adventure costs US$
5,590 per person, based on double occupancy aboard one of
the selected SeaDream II voyages.
Details are available on SeaDream’s website
www.seadreamyachtclub.com.
Star Cruises To Position ‘SuperStar
Libra’ In Malta This Summer
Star Cruises says it will reposition
a ship in Europe for the first time. It plans to base the
1,480-capacity SuperStar Libra in Malta in eary June
and operate seven-day eastern Mediterranean cruises. Star,
which owns Norwegian Cruise Lines and Orient Lines, will
retain the ship's Far East flavor and feature a 24-hour
restaurant offering Asian specialties. Its main restaurants
and buffet will also be heavily Asia-influenced.
All restaurants will operate the Freestyle
Cruising concept enabling passengers to dine where, when
and with whom they like.
The cruises will depart Valetta and call
at Rome (Civitavecchia), La Spezia (Florence and Pisa),
Olbia and Naples.
‘Emerald Princess’ Will Be Princess'
First Ship to Launch in Rome
Princess Cruises' next new ship will
set sail on her first voyage from the Eternal City of Rome
in April 2007. The 113,000-ton Emerald Princess is currently
under construction at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone
and will be the line's first ship to begin its life cruising
from Rome's seaport, the town of Civitavecchia. "Emerald
Princess represents another great addition to our fleet,
offering our passengers a bounty of choice while sailing
through storied waters to some of the region's most important
ports," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president
of customer service and sales. "Rome is such a wonderfully
dramatic city from which to begin a cruise - and to debut
a fantastic ship."
Emerald Princess' first cruise, a 12-day
Greek Isles itinerary, is scheduled to set sail on April
11 on a voyage to Venice that will take passengers to some
of the most scenic spots in the Mediterranean and Aegean,
including Naples/Capri, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi (for
Ephesus), Mykonos, Athens (Piraeus), Katakolon (for Olympia),
Corfu and Dubrovnik. Thereafter the ship will offer a series
of Greek Isles and Grand Mediterranean cruises before crossing
the Atlantic to Ft. Lauderdale in October.
Sea-web™ – Lloyd’s Register of Ships
Website Enhanced
Lloyd’s Register – Fairplay’s online
database of ships, known as Sea-web™, has been significantly
enhanced to meet the advancing needs of its subscribers.
The web-based service provides access to comprehensive ships,
companies and shipbuilders information; the difference now
is that subscribers can export the information for their
own requirements. Richard Silk, Joint Managing Director
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay is clearly delighted with the
new release of Sea-web™ stating "The release of this
version of Sea-web™ provides our customers with a powerful
system with which to view the extensive information which
we have available. While the earlier versions of Sea-web™
provided comprehensive and timely information, it was not
always easy to get to the information needed. We have taken
a fresh approach to both selecting and displaying information
and early feedback from customers indicates this is extremely
welcome." Silk added, "Further enhancements to
Sea-web™ are planned over the coming months to ensure that
the service continues to offer the increased information
and functionality requested by our customers."
Sea-web™ provides a range of search capabilities,
from simple look-ups through to complex database queries.
It has an extensive search capability, displaying results
in an extremely powerful grid facility which includes sort,
group and find features, with the option to export data.
The individual ship, company and shipbuilder information
is displayed as summary text or in tabular form.
New features include the AIS Module that
provides real-time vessel movement’s data, enabling users
to view a ship’s current position, or last reported position
where known. Further modules include Fixtures and Casualty
data. Nonsubscribers can apply for a free trial to appraise
the service for themselves. Website: www.sea-web.com
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises
Award Grant to World Wildlife Fund
The Royal Caribbean International and
Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund today awarded $100,000 to World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) in support of its Smart Gear initiative,
which aims to reduce the bycatch of endangered marine species
by encouraging the development of innovative, practical
and cost-effective fishing technologies. Fisheries bycatch
is the leading threat to many endangered marine mammals,
cetaceans, sharks, sea turtles, sea birds and non-target
fish species around the world. WWF launched the International
Smart Gear Competition in 2004 to inspire and reward the
development of fishing gear that reduces the accidental
catch and related deaths of marine species in nets and longlines.
The Smart Gear Competition, which awards
a $25,000 grand prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes each
year, is open to anyone, including fishermen, professional
gear manufacturers, teachers, students, engineers, scientists
and backyard inventors. "Bycatch is a major threat
to healthy marine ecosystems and results in large economic
losses to fishermen," said Richard Fain, chairman and
CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We applaud WWF
and our 10 other 2006 Ocean Fund grant recipients for their
efforts to educate the public about the benefits of, and
threats to, our marine environments."
Almost $8 million has been awarded to
49 organizations since the fund's inception in 1996.
Cruise Guide Expert Comments On ‘Star
Princess’ Fire And Smoking
Douglas Ward, author of Berlitz Publishing's
"Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006,"
commented that now may be the time for cruise lines to begin
the elimination of smoking in cabins, restricting smokers
to designated public areas and ship's decks. His comment
came after the March 23 fire on Star Princess carrying approximately
2,689 passengers and 1,123 crew members during a Caribbean
trip. As a result, one passenger died (of cardiac arrest,
probably not as a direct result of the fire), 11 people
suffered from smoke inhalation, and it is estimated that
100-150 cabins endured fire or water damage. In the immediate
aftermath of the fire, suspicion pointed to a smoldering
cigarette as the cause of the blaze. To this date, no conclusion
of the federal investigation into the cause of the fire
has been yet announced by Princess. (See statement above.)
Author Ward says, "Carnival Cruise
Lines had one ship, Paradise, which was nonsmoking,
while the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises was a totally
non-smoking cruise line. Perhaps it's time to consider banning
smoking in cruise ship cabins, and to allow smoking only
on outside decks (but not cabin balconies). However, this
would undoubtedly upset the many smokers that take cruises.
In the days of ocean liner travel, special smoking lounges
were the place to see and be seen, but today's ships are
different, and infinitely more complicated."
It is unfortunate, Ward adds, that “the
vacations of 2,689 passengers were terminated, not to mention
the difficulties they must have faced while the fire was
in progress. I am, however, delighted that the situation
was brought under control with the ship's own safety systems,
procedures, and the efforts of the crew without any significant
loss of life."
Mr. Ward lauds the crew aboard Star Princess
that put out the fire by themselves."
Throughout the Berlitz Guide Ward comments
on ships with a heavy percentage of passengers who smoke.
This book delivers detailed analyses and ratings for 269
cruise ships on today's seas with dispassionate and clever
information.
