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April 30, 2007

A Surprise Mid-Atlantic Rendezvous

Mid-ocean rendez-vous
Transforming an otherwise calm day at sea to an unforgettable experience, Regent Seven Seas Cruises delighted guests this month with a surprise meeting of these two luxury cruise ships, 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator and 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (pictured). A noted special moment in the cruise tradition, passengers exchange welcome greeting to their partner ship amidst an unbroken horizon of ocean.
Carefully orchestrated by Captains Dag Dvergastein and Jarle Jensen, the event proved an ideal way to take advantage of a still day on the Atlantic before the Voyager continued on her way home toward Ft. Lauderdale and the Navigator headed east to kick off her European cruise season. The afternoon included a brief exchange of personalities on board and a bit of humor as Seven Seas Voyager cruise director Jamie Logan performed a water-skiing display - in elegant black tie - to the entertainment of all.

Oceania Cruises Closes A Transaction With Apollo Management
Oceania Cruises and Apollo Management, L.P. have completed the previously announced transaction, valued at $850 million, including the assumption of debt, in which Apollo purchased a majority of the capital stock of Oceania Cruises. Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, Oceania Cruises refinanced its existing $375 million bank arrangements. “We are extremely pleased to have closed the transaction with Apollo. The new bank agreements will allow the company to reduce its overall financing and carrying costs associated with the vessels, which should have a positive effect on earnings going forward,” stated Frank J. Del Rio, Chairman and CEO of Oceania Cruises.
Oceania Cruises remains a wholly independent brand, operating with the support of Apollo’s most recent private equity fund. Oceania Cruises’ founding management team, including Frank J. Del Rio, along with the line’s founding investors, remain stakeholders in Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with Italy’s Fincantieri Shipyard for two new 1256-guest ships to be delivered in 2010 and 2011 with an option for a third vessel to be delivered in 2012. The value of the agreement, including the option, is in excess of $1.5 billion. “Frank Del Rio and the entire team at Oceania Cruises have done a phenomenal job of building a dynamic and highly successful cruise line. We are delighted to have closed the transaction and look forward to building on the success of the brand and expanding the fleet with new vessels,” stated Steve Martinez, a partner with Apollo Management, L.P.
Apollo is a leading private equity and capital markets investor with more than 16 years of experience investing across the capital structure of leveraged companies. The firm employs more than 80 professionals and has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Singapore.

Princess Opens P&O Australia Cruises to North American Travelers
Princess is offering North American travelers an opportunity to expand their "down under" cruise options by sailing throughout the South Pacific with sister company P&O Cruises Australia. Offered primarily for sale in Australia and New Zealand, these voyages give North American passengers the chance to experience P&O's fun Australian-style cruising while traveling to an intriguing lineup of destinations, including idyllic islands and exotic ports of call such as Pago Pago, Bora Bora, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tonga, as well as the best of Australia. Onboard, passengers will enjoy P&O's casual "Aussie" atmosphere and traditional dining, featuring entertainment and food options geared to local down under tastes.
Voyages are available on three ships, Pacific Sun, Pacific Star and the new Pacific Dawn, which will sail on P&O Australia's largest program ever in 2007-08 as the line celebrates its 75th anniversary season. The schedule features 95 sailings to choose from on a wealth of itineraries departing from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

NCL to Convert to All-Electronic Cruise Documents
Beginning May 28, 2007, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and NCL America guests will receive travel documents earlier and more conveniently when the company converts to an electronic documentation process for all cruise bookings.  For reservations that are paid in full and finalized, e-documents will be available up to 60 days prior to sailing. In addition, guests will have 24/7 access to their cruise documents wherever and whenever they want. NCL is one of the first cruise lines in the industry to implement all-electronic cruise documents. “Our mission for our guests is to provide a great vacation experience from beginning to end,” said Andy Stuart, NCL’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services.  “E-docs offer increased flexibility and choice for all of our guests further supporting the freedom and flexibility offered by our signature Freestyle Cruising, in addition to significantly enhancing reliability and earlier delivery of cruise documents.”
Travel partners or guests with fully paid reservations after May 28 will begin receiving email messages from NCL that serve as notification that electronic documents are ready and can be accessed via an imbedded link in the e-mail. As an added convenience for travel partners, the subject line of all email notifications will contain the guest name, reservation number, and ship and sail date, allowing travel partners to easily organize incoming email messages. In addition, travel documents can be accessed from any computer with internet access by going to a designated section of NCL’s website.
Once the cruise documents are accessed, the travel partner or guest views HTML-based cruise documents that are easy to print or forward on to clients or traveling companions.  If they have not already done so, guests may also complete their online advance guest registration form up to four days prior to sailing, giving them 10 days longer than the current system allows.
NCL’s e-documents include a welcome aboard letter, cruise ticket, passenger terms and conditions, airline e-ticket if air travel arrangements have been made through NCL’s air/sea program, pre- or post-cruise hotel vouchers (if applicable), pre- or post-cruise transfer vouchers (if applicable) and electronic luggage tags which are printable online.
In advance of the e-documents, travel partners or guests with paid reservations will receive a new pre-documentation Freestyle Cruising Kit in the mail approximately 75 to 21 days prior to their scheduled sailing. This kit includes a personalized welcome letter, NCL’s welcome aboard booklet that answers questions they may have prior to their cruise, a shore excursion order form and booklet, personalized luggage tags and travel protection plan details, if applicable.
To prepare for the shift to e-documents, NCL’s travel partners are strongly encouraged to visit www.ncl.com/agencyupdate  between April 26 and May 28 to update their agency profile.

Lloyd’s Register Publishes Its First ‘China Focus’
Lloyd’s Register has published its first issue of China Focus, a magazine covering developments in the rapidly growing shipbuilding industry in China. The publication is 24 pages long, and is in both English and Chinese. Topics covered include:
-- China’s five-year plan for the national shipbuilding industry
-- The continuing growth of Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd
-- The expansion of the China State Shipbuilding Corp group of yards
-- The information on the IMO Performance Standard for Protective Coatings
-- The value of marine training in China
-- Common Structural Rules ships on order in Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Hudong-Zhonghua
-- Seaspan Corporation CEO Gerry Wang’s view of private yards
-- HKSOA Chairman David Koo’s views on ship-source emissions.
Lloyd's Register is an independent risk management organization. Website: www.lr.org

Panama Canal Tolls For Cruise Ships To Rise In October
As of October, cruise ships, as well as all other water vessels transiting the Panama Canal, will be charged higher rates. Passenger vessels will be assessed respective tools based on maximum passenger capacity. In general, under this change, large vessels will be charged tolls on a per-berth basis, and smaller ships will continue under the Canal’s tonnage tolls system. industry. 
The cruise industry opposed the price hike during a public comment period preceding the decision on the grounds that passenger ships already pay high tolls and greatly contribute to Panama’s economy through port calls.

‘Ocean Village Two’ Gets Launched In Southampton
Ocean Village Two, the latest cruise ship from casual cruise company Ocean Village, became the UK’s first ship to boast two Godmothers when sisters Jodie and Jemma Kidd smashed the bottle 24 April, 2007) in Southampton.Supermodel Jodie and celebrity make-up artist Jemma made a dramatic entrance on stage after a hi-energy deck show to officially name the ship “Ocean Village Two” and set off a storm of flutterfetti and synchronized waterjets. The sisters join a very select band of Godmothers including members of the Royal family and Dames of the realm.
With the addition of its sister ship, the holiday company will double in size in the fast-growing UK cruise market. With its emphasis on informality and its blend of both relaxation and high adrenaline activities, Ocean Village has helped inspire the UK’s growing love affair with cruising. The numbers of Britons taking a cruise holiday has doubled in a decade, to 1.2m last year, and the Passenger Shipping Association predicts a further 8% growth this year, and 15% in 2008.
The huge popularity of cruising was evident at a packed Southampton port, with Tuesday 24 April also seeing the culmination of the port’s busiest ever passenger week. Queen Mary 2 joins Liberty of the Seas, Ocean Village Two and P&O’s Oriana, with over 20,000 passengers leaving and joining the ships in just one day.
 “The arrival of our second ship is testament to the shot of adrenaline and fresh sense of fun we’ve given the cruise industry since we launched in 2003, said Peter Shanks, Managing Director, Ocean Village. “Nearly 60 percent of our bookings are from cruise [first timers] with an average age at least ten years younger than the traditional cruiser. With the expansion of our fleet, Ocean Village offers the newest, largest and best-equipped ships in its class and an even wider choice of cruises for people who don’t do cruises.” See New Ships for more details.

Carnival Ecstasy Receives Crystal Eagle Award For Superior Guest Service
Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,052-passenger Ecstasy, which underwent an extensive refurbishment last year under the first phase of the line’s $250 million Evolutions of Fun initiative, has earned the company’s coveted Crystal Eagleaward for superior guest service. The award is presented annually by Carnival to the shipboard team that receives the highest ratings from the line’s comprehensive guest comment card system, in which guests are asked to rate their "Fun Ship" cruise experience in a wide range of categories, including crew service and friendliness, on-board cuisine and entertainment, and children’s programming.

HAL’s ‘Zaandam’ To Sail with Revolutionary Emissions Reduction Technology
When Holland America Line's ms Zaandam sets sail from Vancouver, B.C., on Earth Day, April 22, it will be unlike any other cruise ship at sea, featuring new cutting edge emission reduction technology recently installed during a two-week drydock. In cooperation with several United States and Canadian government and regulatory agencies, Holland America Line has launched a technology demonstration project, designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using sea water to "scrub," or reduce, engine emissions on oceangoing vessels. "This is a ship like no other in the cruise industry," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer, Holland America Line, "and after studies and modifications of the ship's new test emissions technology, it could dramatically change not only the cruise industry but the entire maritime industry by reducing ship engine emissions."
The sea water scrubber system, developed by Krystallon, a subsidiary of BP, uses the natural chemistry of seawater to remove virtually all sulfur oxide (SOx) as well as significantly reduce particulate matter emissions. The sea water is then treated to remove harmful components while the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in seawater renders the sulfur oxides harmless by conversions to sulfates and neutral salts.
The price tag tops more than $1.5 million and includes assistance of $300,000 from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/West Coast Collaborative grant and a $100,000 contribution from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Additional support for the project comes from the Port of Seattle, the Port of Vancouver, Environment Canada, British Columbia Ministry of the Environment and the B. C. Clean Air Research Fund, as well as Krystallon. Each government agency has representatives serving on a technical advisory committee that oversees the development of this project. "This project shows how Holland America Line focuses on new technologies and best practices to bolster our existing award-winning environmental programs," said Kruse. "We will continue to go above and beyond international requirements, as we have for many years, now in the operation of our vessels."
Holland America Line demonstrates its commitment to responsible environmental practices through a comprehensive fleetwide program that emphasizes compliance with all international environmental guidelines, waste reduction and recycling, and a history of embracing new environmental technologies such as state-of-the-art water treatment systems, shore power while ships are in port, and an internationally-recognized whale strike avoidance program. In June 2006, Holland America Line's Environmental Management System received the international ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating that the company conforms to higher standards than what is just required by the letter of the law. Holland America Line's ships currently meet or exceed all provisions of the international regulations governing the environmental management of marine operations. An environmental officer serves on each ship to oversee shipboard compliance and procedures.
Each ship in the Holland America Line fleet undergoes a strict port- and flag-state inspection annually and a mandatory environmental audit conducted both by an outside environmental auditing firm and by internal staff.
Krystallon is a joint venture between BP Marine, a worldwide supplier of bunker fuels and lubricants, and founding partner Kittiwake, which provides test, measurement and monitoring equipment for fuels, lubricants and water systems globally. The focus of Krystallon is to provide environmental control solutions to the marine industry, marketed through the majority partner BP Marine.

Website Highlights Carnival's Evolutions of Fun Product- Enhancement Program
Carnival Cruise Lines has created a special Web site showcasing the many features and highlights of its recently announced $250 million Evolutions of Fun" product-enhancement initiative. Located at www.carnival.com/evolutions , the new micro-site provides a comprehensive overview of the cruise industry's most ambitious ship refurbishment of the Fantasy-class ships—Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise.
Contained within the site are multiple images highlighting Evolutions of Fun features such as expansive facilities for children and teens—part of the line's popular "Camp Carnival" and "Club O2" programs, respectively—along with completely renovated health and fitness centers, atrium lobby bars, coffee bars, nine-hole miniature golf courses, and elaborate new production revues and updated sound and lighting systems in the main show lounges. Stateroom upgrades, which include new flat-screen televisions, the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system, and dozens of interconnecting cabins, are also highlighted.
The site also provides a preview of upcoming Evolutions of Fun upgrades which will include expansive children's water parks, the creation of the exclusive adults-only "Serenity" pool areas, and a new design style and feature for the ships' pool areas.
Other upgrades, incorporated fleetwide, such as cell phone service and Wi- Fi Internet access, are also included.
Many aspects of the "Evolutions of Fun" enhancements have already been completed on the Fantasy, Ecstasy and Fascination and partially executed on the Sensation, Elation and Paradise. The Imagination and Inspiration are next in line to receive the "Evolutions of Fun" upgrades during upcoming month-long dry docks this fall, with all Fantasy-class ships expected to be completed by 2009.

Quark Expeditions Ship is Renamed ‘Ocean Nova”
Quark Expeditions recently renamed its vessel Sarpik Ittuk as the Ocean Nova.  The change is effective immediately. The ice-strengthened vessel will operate in Antarctica under its new name in the upcoming 2007-2008 season.
Built in 1992 for Arctic navigation, Ocean Nova carries 82 passengers in 42 outside cabins.  The ship underwent major engineering work in the winter of 1999/2000, which was followed by an extensive renovation in the spring of 2006.  The latest renovation involved customization work to enhance the ship’s expedition facilities, the addition of a glass-enclosed observation lounge, and the refitting of all passenger cabins with new beds, furniture, and fixtures.  On March 8, 2007, Ocean Nova concluded a successful inaugural Antarctic season, and will return to Antarctica in November 2007.

Costa Crociere & Air France Agree To Global Strategic Partnership
This month in Paris, Air France, member of the AIR FRANCE-KLM Group, and Costa Crociere, Europe’s leading cruise company, signed an agreement to boost commercial synergies generated by both companies internationally. During the 2004-2007 period, the number of Costa customers flying Air France is expected to triple. During the coming winter season, close to 28,000 Costa passengers will be flown by Air France to departure points for cruises operated by the Italian company.
Under this agreement, these two world leading transport companies will coordinate their schedules and capacities in order to provide their customers with additional benefits and services and allowing each partner to develop their growth. As a result, the number of seats on Air France flights reserved for Costa Guests boarding one of the Italian company’s twelve ships deployed at a number of ports worldwide (from America to Asia) will rise substantially. Air France and Costa Crociere are to implement long-term plans to guarantee greater flexibility in terms of bookings and flight availability for Costa Guests.
This partnership also aims to improve the services offered to Costa Guests traveling with Air France, notably by improving assistance for Costa Guests at Paris-CDG and by setting up joint operating procedures, such as finding ways of harmonizing schedules. “We are very proud to be able to collaborate with a prestigious market leader like Air France,” stated Costa Crociere chairman Pier Luigi Foschi. “Our objective is to improve the quality and quantity of the airline seats available to our Guests.  We are, in our own right, an innovative market leader and each year we offer new cruise destinations, from the Americas to the Far East, to our increasingly international clientele, who come from over 60 different countries.  So a partner like Air France is particularly important for us.”
Costa Crociere is currently Air France’s main customer in terms of “fly/cruise packages”, while Air France is Costa’s main airline with regard both to revenue and to the number of passengers carried. In 2007 Air France flights will account for more than 20% of Costa’s air transport budget.
During the 2004-2007 period, the number of Costa customers flying Air France is expected to triple, making the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub the main hub for Costa’s long-haul flights. In the winter 2007-2008 season, some 28,000 Costa Guests are expected to fly Air France en route to cruises operated by the Italian company out of Pointe à Pitre ( Guadeloupe), Dubai, Miami, Hong Kong, South America and Mauritius (the latter being a new feature in Costa’s program and the first time this destination will be served by the cruise industry). In 2007, Costa Crociere is expected to welcome one million Guests on board its ships, including 200,000 fly/cruise package customers, i.e. up more than 30 percent on last year.

Seatrade Europe 2007 rides the wave of the buoyant European cruise market
The cruise industry in Europe is booming, with passenger counts and cruise calls setting new records. Lines are now deploying more berths on the Continent than ever before, with the number of ships undertaking European itineraries growing. Next to the Caribbean, the regions of the North/Baltic and Mediterranean seas are already the world’s favorite cruise destinations.
The European ferry industry is far from lagging behind. Forecasters predict an increase in passenger volume of between two and three percent and three to four percent in freight volume. During the last year at least 20 ferry ships were delivered. Signs of growth are everywhere!
Seatrade Europe Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention in Hamburg takes place between September 25-27, 2007. Some 200 exhibitors are expected. And while almost three quarters of exhibitors are based in European countries, more non-European organizations will be participating than ever before. This is seen as clear evidence of the growing importance of Europe’s source markets overseas. Destinations such as Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador, Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Saigon Tours from Vietnam, Dubai Department of Tourism, Puerto Costa Maya and the Caribbean Village, to name but a few, will give the event a distinct international flavor. The Caribbean pavilion is also set to double in size!
From Europe, two leading shipyards have confirmed their attendance – Aker Yards and Meyer-Werft. Both yards are benefiting from the buoyant European market with order books bursting at the seams. Included in these order books are four cruise vessels for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, to be delivered between 2007 – 2010, and two 122,000gtt newbuilds for Disney Cruise Lines. Other confirmed exhibitors include a variety of marine equipment and technology suppliers, telecommunication providers, classification societies and interior and outfitting providers. Making their introductory visit will be the propulsion and engine supplier Rolls Royce, who is responsible for the propulsion system on the luxury liner Queen Mary 2.
European ports are thriving, more than 2.8 million passengers embarked on their cruises from a European port in 2005, with the most popular destinations being the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. The number of calls in Northern Europe is rising steadily, by about 10 to 15 percent per year. “Europe is the fastest growing source market for cruise passengers in the world right now, and 2007 will see more ships, more passengers and more brands visiting more European ports than ever before” said Christopher Hayman, Managing Director of Seatrade.
Spurred on by this huge growth more Cruise Europe members will be exhibiting than ever before, including - Cruise Sweden, Cruise Norway, Cruise Scotland, port of Cherbourg, Dover and Port of Tyne. Mediterranean ports will also be out in force including Civitavecchia, Olbia, Cagliari, Malaga, Vigo and Corsica.
Another highlight will be the inaugural presentation of the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards, which will be presented at the Schmidt’s Tivoli Theatre on Tuesday 25 September. Awards will be given out in the following categories: Port and/or Destination of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Environmental Initiative of the Year, Innovation in Food & Beverage/Hotel Operations, Sea-going Employee of the Year and Seatrade European Cruise Personality of the Year. Combine this with the Cruise Agent Training Forum, a free intensive two-day training programme for the travel agent community, makes Seatrade Europe 2007 a highlight in the cruise, ferry and river cruise calendar.
Seatrade Europe 2007 Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention takes place at CCH - Congress Center Hamburg. More information at www.seatrade-europe.com.

Royal Princess Debuts with Inaugural Voyage from Barcelona
Royal Princess, the newest ship to join the Princess fleet, welcomed its first passengers this month as she set sail on its maiden voyage from Barcelona, Spain under the command of the line's senior master, the recently appointed Commodore Michael Fatchen.
The intimate 710-passenger vessel, which takes the name of a much-beloved former Princess ship, debuts with a series of unique Elite Mediterranean cruises that feature a variety of new itineraries and unique ports.   Royal Princess' first "Mediterranean Interlude" voyage features calls in Marseille, Florence/Pisa, Elba, Palermo, and Mallorca.
Upcoming voyages include a number of interesting new explorer destinations, including four ports appearing for the first time in Princess routes: Ravenna, Italy; Split Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Canakkale (for Troy), Turkey - all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Royal Princess itineraries will also take travelers to such intriguing places as the Crimean coast, Egypt and the Holy Land.

Princess Moves Venues For Dual May Christenings after ship-sinking disaster 
Princess Cruises has altered the dates and locations of the christening ceremonies for the Emerald Princess and the Royal Princess, which were to take place in Santorini, Greece, on May 12, out of respect for the sinking of Louis Cruises' Sea Diamond off Santorini this month, Princess said.
The Emerald Princess will now be named on May 13 in Athens. The Royal Princess' christening will be held in Barcelona in May. “Given the great shock and sadness this incident has caused, and out of the respect for those affected, we have decided that it would not be appropriate to continue with the celebrations we had planned in Santorini," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "Our thoughts are with all those affected, especially the family of the two missing French passengers."
Buckelew added, "However we're quite pleased to continue with our original plans to reunite a pair of television's favorite mothers and daughters for the christening of Emerald Princess." Television icons Florence Henderson, best known as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch, and Marion Ross, aka "Marion Cunningham" of Happy Days fame and their TV daughters, Susan Olsen ("Cindy Brady") and Erin Moran ("Joanie Cunningham") will all be aboard Emerald Princess in Athens to officially welcome her into the Princess fleet.”

Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of Liberty of the Seas
Continuing on the successful track of creating revolutionary onboard offerings and innovative products, Royal Caribbean International took delivery of its newest Freedom-class ship, Liberty of the Seas, from Aker Yards during an April ceremony in Turku, Finland. Making her US debut on May 3, 2007, the ship will be the first in Royal Caribbean's fleet to showcase new and distinctive wellness, family and wedding programming, which will be rolled out fleet-wide. Liberty shares the title of world's largest cruise ship with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, which launched in May 2006.
From tots to teens to brides and wellness seekers, Royal Caribbean has kept all guests in mind when developing its original and enhanced programming. More about the ship in New Ships section.

Rapid Growth In Australian Cruise Market
The Australian cruise market has experienced another strong year of growth, with the latest industry statistics showing a record 221,033 Australians took a cruise in 2006. The figure represents an impressive 18 percent increase in passenger numbers since 2005  – more than double the global cruise industry growth rate of 8.4 per cent.
Announcing the results, International Cruise Council Australasia Chairman John Molinaro said the figures confirmed the cruise industry’s position as one of the fastest growing sectors of the Australian tourism industry.

Costa’s Newest Flagship is First Ship to be Inaugurated in France’s Oldest City
The Costa Serena, which is the twelfth ship in the Costa fleet, will be the first ship to be inaugurated in the Port of Marseille. In accordance with maritime tradition, the yet-to-be-announced godmother will cut the ribbon that breaks a bottle of Champagne against the hull of the ship. The celebrated French Champagne purveyor, Piper-Heidsieck, will create a special edition magnum of Champagne, whose label will be specially designed for the occasion and dedicated to the Costa Serena. Afterwards, the Choir of the Opéra de Marseille will bring the ceremony to a close for the estimated 1,000 guests in attendance.
From there, the anticipated inaugural show entitled “Mediterranean Serenade” will begin with the Costa Serena and the great monuments of Marseille taking center stage. Some of the city’s great landmarks including Notre Dame de la Garde, the Pharo Cove and Palace, Satine Marie Majeure Cathedral, the Entrecasteaux Castle and Fort Saint-Jean will join together in a show of lights and images, with the Costa Serena becoming the “sixth monument of Marseille.” “The Costa Serena inaugural is an act of gratitude towards the splendid city of Marseille, where our ships have been calling on since the 1980s, and towards France as a whole, which accounts for 14% of our worldwide guests,” said Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Crociere. “This is why we have decided to produce this spectacular show for the entire city and for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike on May 19.”
The “Mediterranean Serenade” show will be dedicated to the people of Marseille and feature 70 light projectors (each one with the power equivalent to a lighthouse), 2,500 pyrotechnics, five days of preparation and 90 technicians for a show spanning nearly one and a half miles.
“Without a doubt, Marseille has the greatest potential of any port in the Mediterranean and we’re delighted a company like Costa has given us this vote of confidence,” said Jean-Claude Gaudin, Mayor of Marseille and Vice President of the Senate. “Marseille is not only France’s main commercial port, but it has also now become a cruise port recognized worldwide—in 2006 we had 400,000 cruise passengers and we expect to have 800,000 to one million by 2010.”

Louis Cruises Charters Vessel As Temporary Replacement For ‘Sea Diamond’
Louis Hellenic Cruises has chartered an additional vessel as a temporary replacement for the M/V Sea Diamond, which went aground off the coast of Santorini earlier this month. today that the cruise line has leased the M/V Oceanic from April 30 through May 28, 2007. The new vessel will be performing three and four-day cruises to the Greek Islands and Turkey during that time period.
The 790-passenger vessel has 397 spacious cabins (292 outside, 105 inside) all equipped with televisions, safe boxes, hair dryers and all other amenities of a modern cruise ship. In addition, 68 of the cabins also have refrigerators. The maximum capacity utilizing upper and lower berths is 994.
The 28,891 gross registered tonnage ship is 660 feet long and features eight passenger decks, four passenger elevators, two outdoor and one indoor swimming pools, a sauna and a massage parlor. The M/V Oceanic II has three restaurants, four lounges, four indoor bars, one outdoor bar and a 300-passenger capacity theater. There is also a full-service fitness center, hair salon and a fully equipped hospital. The vessel is equipped with Denny Brown stabilizers, can cruise at a maximum speed of 21 knots and has 417 crew members. The vessel meets all updated SOLAS requirements. "The M/V Oceanic II is a handsome and classic style ship, yet still modern in design," Stathopoulos said. “She offers spacious public rooms and cabins with beautiful wood paneling, emphasizing her Scandinavian heritage. "Within a couple of weeks, we plan to announce a new addition to our fleet,” Stathopoulos said.

NCL Announces Jade, Jewel And Gem For Largest Ever European Deployment
NCL Corporation will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008 in response to increased consumer demand for European cruises. The company will re-flag Pride of Hawaii into the Bahamas registry and re-name her Norwegian Jade after a short wet dock in Honolulu in February 2008. Norwegian Jade will join her sister ships Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe in 2008 offering NCL's largest and most varied European deployment ever.  Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Jade's itineraries are now on sale. "The combination of our new and varied itineraries, the choice of three new sister ships, along with an extended season, will make for an unforgettable Freestyle Cruising experience for guests who explore Europe with us in 2008," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "In particular, Freestyle Cruising gives them the freedom and flexibility to explore and make the most of the culture-rich European destinations without worrying about returning to the ship for a set dining time."
Pride of Hawaii` will continue her seven-day roundtrip Honolulu cruises through the January 28, 2008 cruise. The ship will enter wet dock on February 6 where she will receive modifications including the addition of a casino and new hull artwork. The ship will be re-named Norwegian Jade and will be showcased during inaugural events in both Los Angeles and Miami. After a series of repositioning cruises, the ship will arrive in Barcelona for her first 12-day cruise beginning on March 30, 2008.

Ocean Village Predicts Rise In ‘Friendly Cruising’
With new research revealing that 60 percent of Brits now supplement, and at times even replace, typical couple or family holidays with getaways with friends, Ocean Village, the casual cruise company, is launching a campaign to target groups of friends and encourage them to hop onboard to spend quality time together.
The ‘Friendship report,’ commissioned by Ocean Village to celebrate the launch of the cruise line’s brand new ship mate, Ocean Village Two, reveals a quarter (25%) of people in the UK see their very closest friends less than once a month and to compensate for lost time, a vast proportion of holidaymakers are embarking on ‘mates escapes.’: “Cruises have traditionally been sold as holidays for couples and families but agents should increasingly think laterally about selling to groups of friends,” commented Peter Shanks, Managing Director of Ocean Village. “Today’s cruise companies have a wealth of on-shore and on-ship activities and entertainment which have much wider appeal than just to the family sector.  For example, the spa facilities and evening entertainment on board most ships would certainly appeal to a group of girlfriends.  By the same token, being able to play golf on three or four different courses in a week, and in different countries, would appeal to groups of blokes.  What makes the cruise sector perfect for a ‘Mates Escape’ is that it really can cater for everyone.”
The ‘Friendship Report’ reveals that more than half of all British couples (54 percent) recognize the importance of regular holidays in maintaining strong friendships, and argue that their holidays away from their family/ partners are the only time of year that they get to spend quality time with their friends. The report also reveals that:
-- 40 percent of married Brits take same sex holidays away from their partners
-- One in five Brits enjoy going away on holidays with their single friends
-- 20 percent of UK couples do ‘double couple’ vacations
-- Holidays with two families are becoming increasingly common with almost a quarter of Brits inviting their friends and their families on holiday with their own.

Cunard’s ‘Queen Mary 2’ Presents "Stars For A Cause"
A collection of original one-of-a-kind portraits of Hollywood mega-stars painted for the charity fundraiser Stars For A Cause, boarded Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 along with their creator, pop-artist Nicolosi on April 30 for a European tour with exhibits planned at the 60th Cannes Film Festival and then to London where they will be sold during a worldwide live and online auction in early June. Auction proceeds will benefit amFAR, Prince’s Trust (U.K.) and The Hollywood Museum.
More than sixty portraits of the most famous faces in Hollywood have been completed for the Stars For A Cause campaign including; Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Helen Mirren, Lisa Kudrow, Meryl Streep, Beyonce, Debra Messing, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Hudson, Peter Krause, Sasha Baron Cohen, America Ferrera, Eddie Murphy, Mariska Hargitay, Jack Nicholson, Kyra Sedgwick, Geena Davis, Jon Voight, Steve Carell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Annette Bening, Conan O’Brien, Tony Shalhoub, Penelope Cruz, Forest Whitaker, Candice Bergen, Edward Norton.
The newest addition to the Stars for a Cause celebrity collection is a signature Queen Mary 2 portrait that will serve as the center piece for the exhibit at Century Cannes, an exclusive destination venue active during the film festival for dining and parties located at Vegaluna Beach in front of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France.

Grand Prix Race Car Driving Simulator Installed On New ‘Costa Serena’
Guests seeking more fast-paced thrills than the turquoise tranquility of the Mediterranean Sea may test their need for speed aboard the Costa Serena’s Grand Prix race car driving simulator—the most accurate representation of Formula One driving available. The driving simulator has been installed on the ship, which will be officially inaugurated in Marseille on May 19 and sail from Venice to Greece, Turkey and Croatia in her first season.
Installed on Deck 12 of the ship, nearly 100 feet above the sea, the simulator was produced from an original Grand Prix race car and is the result of advanced real-time vehicle modeling – the same software and technology used by Grand Prix champion drivers themselves in training.
This new addition to the Costa racing stable follows the success of the driving simulator on the Costa Concordia, the Costa Serena’s sister ship, which entered service in June 2006.  The simulator onboard the Costa Serena will go even faster than the one on the Costa Concordia, with virtual speeds of up to 217 miles per hour.  In addition, the racing circuit awaiting Guests on the Costa Serena, called the “Costa Serena Grand Prix,” will blend the world’s best racing circuits such as “Zandvoort" (Holland), “Suzuka” (Japan) and “Interlagos” (Brazil) and be almost over a half a mile longer than the one on the Costa Concordia, making it even more challenging.
As on the Costa Concordia, the Grand Prix race car driving simulator will have four levels of difficulty:
-- Test Mode: Three minutes of racing on a national track to obtain the Test Driver certificate (without other drivers on the track.)
--  Rookie Mode: One qualification lap and three racing laps on an international track for a maximum of 10 minutes, to obtain the “Rookie” certification.
--- Professional Driver Mode: One qualification lap and five racing laps on an international track, for a maximum of 10 minutes, to obtain the “Professional Driver” certification.
--Championship Mode: One qualification lap and seven racing laps on an international track, for a maximum of 13 minutes, to obtain the “Champion” certification.
As part of the inaugural celebrations for the Costa Serena in Marseille on May 19, the Grand Prix race car driving simulator will be inaugurated by a special guest, Pierre Combot, one of the most promising French Grand Prix drivers. Combot will have the honor of completing the first lap in the Costa cockpit and setting a record time for all the ship’s Guests to beat.

‘Carnival Splendor’ To Offer Line’s Northern Europe Cruise Program In 2008
Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor—representing a new class of vessel with a host of innovations including exclusive new “spa staterooms” that surround a luxurious 21,000-square-foot health and wellness center—will debut in July 2008 operating the line’s first-ever Northern European cruise program. These 12-day Northern Europe voyages, which will operate July 13 – Aug. 30, 2008, will offer guests a diversity of shoreside experiences with visits to historic, centuries-old cities in Denmark, Germany, Finland, Russia, Estonia, and The Netherlands. 
Following the Northern European voyages, Carnival Splendor will operate a unique 12-day London-to-Rome cruise Sept. 11, 2008, then sail on a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages September 23 to October 17, 2008.
Carnival Splendor will be the second Carnival ship deployed in Europe next year, joining the Carnival Freedom which will operate a program of 12-day Mediterranean cruises May-October 2008. “Consumers are discovering that cruising is the best way to see Europe as it provides the opportunity to experience and explore multiple destinations while enjoying the comfort and convenience of a modern ‘floating resort,’” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. “Carnival Splendor represents a new class of ‘Fun Ship’ offering a number of innovative facilities and features and, for its inaugural season, we’ve assembled a truly diverse schedule that showcases the fascinating cultures, history and architecture that has made Europe such a sought-after cruise destination,” he added. Dickinson also noted that with its all-inclusive amenities and diverse itineraries, a “Fun Ship” cruise is already the most affordable way to see Europe and the high dollar/euro ratio makes this value even greater. He added that in addition to experiencing an all-new class of “Fun Ship,” Carnival Splendor’s Northern Europe cruises also offer an exciting new option for those guests who have sailed on the line’s Mediterranean program in the past. Click Cruise Itinerary News/Offers for more information.

Two New Ships For MSC Cruises In 2008
MSC Cruises will add two new ships to its fleet in 2008, including the newest in its Musica class of Panamax vessels and its largest ship ever. Plus, one of the line’s newest ships, MSC Orchestra, will join MSC Lirica sailing Caribbean waters during the 2008-09 Caribbean season.
Sister ship to MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia is slated for spring delivery. The ship is 89,600 gross registered tons, 961 feet long and 108 feet wide and can host 2,550 guests (double occupancy). Like its sister ships, MSC Poesia will have more than 236,800 square feet of public space and 80% of the outside staterooms will have balconies.
The line’s largest ship ever, MSC Fantasia, is scheduled to be delivered in the latter part of 2008. She will sail alternating Canary Island and Egypt itineraries. MSC Fantasia is first of two post-Panamax ships on order by the cruise line. MSC Fantasia and sister ship MSC Serenata (scheduled to debut in 2009) will be the largest ships commissioned by a European ship owner to date. At 133,500 gross registered tons, 1,093 feet long, and 125 feet wide, each will have a passenger capacity of 3,900 and 1,313 staff members.
All of the fleet’s ten ships will be in the Mediterranean at some time in 2008. As a result of MSC Cruises’ extensive presence in the region, guests can depart on their MSC Cruises experience from almost any Mediterranean port the line visits.