NCL Welcomes New Billion Dollar Shareholder Apollo
NCL Corporation Ltd ("NCL"), parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line and NCL America, announced today that private equity group, Apollo Management, LP ("Apollo"), has agreed to make a $1 billion cash equity investment in NCL. The new investment, in the form of common stock alongside NCL's existing sole shareholder, Star Cruises ("Star"), is designed to strengthen NCL's balance sheet and its ability to continue to expand what is fast-becoming the youngest fleet in the industry, and to evolve further the company's successful Freestyle Cruising concept first introduced in 2000. "To have an investment on this scale by one of the very top names in the private equity world is a huge vote of confidence in the new NCL we have created since Star Cruises became the owner in 2000," said NCL Corporation's President and CEO Colin Veitch.
Steve Martinez, Partner at Apollo Management, added, "We are very excited to be forming this partnership with Star Cruises and the existing management team of NCL. Our investment will help NCL complete its transition into the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, with a truly original next generation product with its F3 concept ships. We believe the NCL brand has significant growth potential over many years to come."
Under the terms of the proposed investment, which includes an agreement for additional future distributions to be made directly by NCL to Star, Apollo will become 50 percent owner of NCL and will name a majority of the NCL board with certain consent rights retained by Star. Star will retain all of its existing stock in NCL and will, like Apollo, be 50 percent owner of the recapitalized company.
Star Cruises Chairman and CEO Tan Sri KT Lim, welcomed the new partner and remarked on the opportunities that lie ahead: "Apollo's significant financial commitment in NCL's common stock means we have an equal partner who believes in the business as much as we do. This is a powerful validation of what we have achieved so far and of our vision for the future. It is also truly the start of the next - and most exciting - chapter for this great company."
The proceeds of the Apollo investment will be used to repay existing NCL indebtedness, greatly increasing the liquidity available to fund a continuation of the dramatic new building program that has seen the introduction of eight purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships to the fleet in just six years. The NCL-owned fleet today (excluding four chartered ships) stands at 19,740 berths, with another 15,000 berths under construction and under option, including the new Norwegian Gem due for delivery at the start of October this year.
 As part of Apollo's investment in NCL, Apollo and Star have entered into a sub- agreement relating to NCL's US-flagged Hawaii operations under the NCL America brand ("NCLA") providing for deferred consideration to be paid to Star by NCL in the future. The sub-agreement is designed to support the business of NCLA in the near term and permit NCLA time to realize the benefits of various measures recently implemented to raise revenue yields and to lower crew turnover and payroll costs. Taken together with the pre-money valuation implied by Apollo's $1 billion payment for 50 percent of the expanded equity, this added element of the transaction implies a total enterprise valuation of NCL of approximately $4 billion.
Completion of the transaction is expected early in Q4 2007 and is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approval, Star Cruises shareholder approval, and Star and NCL lender consents.

New PR Agency & Ad Campaign For Celebrity/Azamara Cruises Announced
A new PR  agency—Emanate—has been picked to represent Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Based in New York (www.emanatepr.com ), Emanate was launched by Ketchum PR in April 2006, and is operated entirely separately, with clients including Embassy Suites, Bank of America, National Geographic Society and Panera Bread. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, Emanate prides itself on providing big-agency insights and resources together with a boutique level of service and ongoing senior staff involvement in every account. Emanate is part of the OmnicomGroup.
In addition a new TV, print and online advertising campaign, entitled “Starring You,” will be launched in September.  Each trade execution of the new campaign is designed to communicate in a bold new way the line’s goal to deliver Celebrity’s “Star Treatment” – award-winning cuisine with menus designed by famed Las Vegas restaurateur Elizabeth Blau & Associates; the exotic AquaSpa by Elemis; and above all, the line’s distinctive service with style – to every guest on every Celebrity ship.  “We’re extremely excited about ‘Starring You,’” said Celebrity’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Ellen Taaffe. “It powerfully delivers on our promise to deliver service with style to every guest who sails with us. While service has always been a Celebrity cornerstone, we filmed this campaign to distinctively convey the style and comfortable sophistication that accompany that service. And we think it very effectively illustrates how we place our guests at the center of everything we do.”
The new campaign was created by advertising agency Element 79, together with Celebrity’s Marketing organization. Celebrity Millennium served as the platform for the filming and still photography.

Cruise West & Pentax Partner For Photography Offerings On Six 2008 Cruises
Cruise West and PENTAX, a leader in digital photography, have created a partnership that will bring PENTAX photography experts and equipment onboard six Cruise West itineraries in 2008.  Guests will have the opportunity to participate in onboard presentations and special field events with PENTAX sponsored professional photographer and cruise co-host, Kerrick James.  Whether novice or seasoned photographers, and regardless of the camera brand used, guests will receive valuable, hands-on instruction on everything from equipment use and digital image management and composition to tips on how to the get the right shot.  Guests onboard these cruises also will enjoy access to a variety of the newest PENTAX products. We decided to partner with PENTAX because they really fit in with our philosophy of getting up close and personal with the destinations we cruise to,” said Cruise West President & CEO Jeff Krida. “Now, it will be easier for our guests to capture the many ‘Aha!’ moments they experience with the help of PENTAX professionals and equipment.”
Guests who book passage on the Whales & Wildlife itinerary through Mexico’s Sea of Cortés departing January 19, 2008 will be the first to benefit from the new partnership and the workshops with Kerrick James. 
To round out the partnership, PENTAX is sponsoring a photography contest to win a free 2008 Cruise West Photography cruise. To learn more about the contest and enter a favorite travel photo, visit: www.pentaxphotogallery.com/travelphotocontest  between October 15, 2007 and January 31, 2008.  Second and third place entrants will receive free PENTAX photo equipment. The contest is open to non-professional photographers and the winners will be announced in March 2008.

Cruise West To Refurbish ‘Spirit Of Yorktown’ With New Suites And Upgrades
Cruise West will refurbish and upgrade the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown in fall 2007. Four Balcony category cabins will be created that will include private teak-floored balconies with enough room for a café table and chairs for two. Numerous additional upgrades will be completed throughout the ship, including redecoration and renovation of public corridors, lobby areas, and the panoramic Observation Lounge, the ship’s Living Room. Updates will be completed in November and December, just in time for the first Sea of Cortés holiday cruise departing December 22, 2007.  The combined cost of all renovations is approximately $2 million. “The Spirit of Yorktown is a beautiful ship that will look better than ever,” said Dick West, chairman and managing director. “In addition to art from my family collection, we have commissioned pieces from local Alaskan communities that we visit,” said West. 
The five-week wetdock begins on October 23, 2007 in Alameda, California. The ship will welcome guests back on its December 22, 2007 Sea of Cortés Whales & Wildlife cruise round trip from Cabo San Lucas.
The Spirit of Yorktown is the first ship to receive new art and upgrades, and others in the Cruise West fleet will follow in the next two years. 

Carnival Expands Participation In Breast Cancer Research Fundraising Initiative
Following a highly successful pilot program aboard the Carnival Valor and Carnival Fascination, Carnival Cruise Lines will dramatically expand its involvement with the “On Deck for the Cure” breast cancer fundraising  initiative, adding one-kilometer walks and other activities to the majority of its fleet. Modeled after a program introduced by Holland America Line and launched earlier this year aboard five Carnival Corporation & plc brands, the innovative fundraising initiative benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the global leader of the breas-cancer movement. “On Deck for the Cure” has a goal of generating $1 million toward breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.
Carnival’s expansion of the program will encompass 14 ships and will include all vessels operating cruises of seven days or longer, including Alaska and Europe sailings, as well as four- and five-day voyages aboard the Carnival Elation from San Diego.
Guests participating in Carnival’s “On Deck for the Cure” activities are encouraged to make a minimum $10 donation and partake in a one-kilometer walk around the ships’ jogging tracks while wearing their custom-designed T-shirts and wristbands included with each donation. Additionally, pink lemonade – signifying the color associated with breast cancer awareness – will be served after the walk to all participants. “Through the tremendous generosity of our guests, the pilot program launched on Carnival Valor and Carnival Fascination has been an overwhelming success,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.  “We’re sure this success will continue as we roll out this innovative initiative to other ships in our fleet and raise much-needed funds for this truly worthwhile cause,” she added.
“On Deck for the Cure” activities are promoted via the line’s daily shipboard newsletter, “Carnival Capers,” as well as on in-cabin television programming.  Other Carnival Corporation & plc brands participating in the program include Holland America, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. 

Clyde Marine Plc Approves Name Change To Lewmar Marine Plc
Clyde Marine plc will change the company name to Lewmar Marine plc. The name change, announced by Peter O'Connell, newly promoted CEO, is expected to better reflect the true nature of the company's business to the financial market. 
Lewmar Marine plc is the holding company of Lewmar and Navtec whose principal business is the manufacture and distribution of deck equipment and rigging for leisure boats. The strength of Lewmar and Navtec products is centered on global brand leadership, product development and integrated relationships with customers and retail sectors. 
In July 2007, Navtec, the world leader in performance rigging for the marine industry, was integrated into Lewmar to become a branded division of the company. This simplified the group's channel to market and supply chain, increasing market reach and reducing overhead costs. Lewmar and Navtec combined have four factories and nine sales subsidiaries, offering customers significant manufacturing resources and technical support, according to Mr. O'Connell, who was promoted recently by the board of directors to chief executive officer, from his previous position as chief operating officer.
Lewmar is headquartered at Southmoore Lane, Havant, Hampshire P09 1JJ, England.

‘MV Columbus’ Not To Return To Great Lakes Cruising In 2008
According to a notice posted on the Great Lakes Cruises website, Hapag-Lloyd’s MV Columbus will not return to Great Lakes cruising next year nor for the near future. The vessel, a company source says, will be operating Mediterranean cruises in 2008.

American Canadian Caribbean Line Joins Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance
American Canadian Caribbean Line has joined the Niche Marketing Alliance. ACCL's niche is exploring some of America's most historic waterways in a style reminiscent of private yacht vacations of a bygone era. The line offers cruises to the Great Lakes, U.S. canals and rivers, the U.S. Intracoastal and bay waterways, the Northeast and Canadian Maritime Provinces and the Caribbean Islands and Central America. The line's two ships, the Grande Mariner and the Grand Caribe, each carry 100 passengers, and were commissioned in 1998 and 1997, respectively. Cruises range in length from five to 15 days.
The alliance provides educational programs, seminar content and trade show exposure for its members and this industry segment. In addition, its website, www.nichecruise.com , has been redesigned to allow consumers in the United States and Canada to locate certified Niche Cruise Specialist travel agents by zip code, postal code or city. NCMA recently added an online agent training program to its website as well that allows agents to become Certified Niche Cruise Specialists.
Other NCMA members include: American Cruise Lines, Fred. Olsen Cruises, Galapagos Explorer II (Canodros), Imperial River Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines, Majestic America Line, Norwegian Coastal Voyage, Orion Expedition Cruises, Pandaw Cruises, Peter Deilmann Cruises, RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Star Clippers and Voyages of Discovery.

 Carnival Unveils New ‘Serenity’ Adults-Only Outdoor Retreat
When the Carnival Inspiration emerges from its month long dry dock in early October, it will be the first Carnival ship to feature a brand new adults-only area called Serenity.        Designed as an ocean-going oasis for relaxation, tranquility and comfort, the new Serenity areas are part of Carnival’s $250 million Evolutions-of-Fun ship enhancement initiative which is resulting in a dramatic transformation of the line’s eight “Fantasy-class” vessels.    
The Serenity areas will be located in a secluded aft section of the ship that provides for spectacular ocean vistas.  The stunning new design will feature plush chaise lounges and chairs. Colorful oversized umbrellas and a separate relaxation area will also provide the opportunity for guests to enjoy this new area in shaded comfort. Two whirlpools will be available to offer the ultimate relaxing escape. Complete bar service will be provided by attentive waiters offering a tempting selection of icy cocktails and frozen concoctions. For guests interested in a snack or casual meal, the Lido Restaurant is conveniently located nearby. 
The Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination will be the first two Fantasy-class ships to include all of the “Evolutions of Fun” enhancements, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. By 2009, all Fantasy-class ships are expected to be completed, including the Serenity areas and fabulous new transformation of the open decks.
Additional components of the “Evolutions of Fun” program include fully remodeled staterooms and suites including new bathrooms, flat-screen televisions in staterooms and select public areas, atrium lobby bars, updated sound and lighting systems in various lounges and clubs, coffee bars, nine-hole miniature golf courses, new art and photo galleries, New York-style delis in the Lido restaurants, and purpose-built conference facilities. A number of family enhancements are also slated with new children’s play areas and new facilities for the “Club O2” teen program, custom-designed spaces geared toward 12- to 14-year olds, and 50 interconnecting staterooms.  The program also includes a complete overhaul of the 12,000-square-foot “Spa Carnival” facilities, with new private treatment rooms, state-of-the art exercise equipment and a host of cosmetic enhancements.

NCL Corporation Reports Second Quarter Loss
NCL Corporation Ltd. reported a net loss of $24.6 million on total revenues of $553.1 million for its second quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to a net loss of $35.1 million on total revenues of $502.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006.  Revenues for the second quarter of 2007 increased 10.0% on a 13.6% increase in Capacity Days partially offset by a 2.5% decrease in Net Yields.  The decrease in Net Yields continues to be primarily driven by weakness in ticket pricing for the Company’s Hawaii business, as well as lower onboard revenues.  Gross Yields decreased 3.1% from the second quarter of 2006.  Occupancy for the second quarter of 2007 was 107.5% compared to 107.3% in the same quarter of 2006.
Net Cruise Costs per Capacity Day for the second quarter of 2007 decreased 6.5% compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in these costs was primarily attributable to lower payroll and related costs, particularly related to the Company’s Hawaii operations, lower fuel costs, and the timing of dry-docks.  Also recorded in the second quarter of 2007 was $3.5 million of insurance proceeds related to a previous year’s claim.  During the quarter, average fuel prices, including the impact of fuel hedges, decreased 2.4% to $362 per metric ton from $371 per metric ton in the second quarter of 2006. Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day decreased 5.9% compared to the second quarter of 2006.
The Company continues to feel the effect of rising interest rates and the weakening of the US Dollar versus the Euro.  As a result of an increase in average outstanding borrowings following the deliveries of Pride of Hawaii and Norwegian Pearl, interest expense (net of interest income) increased approximately 25% to $40.8 million in the second quarter of 2007 from $32.5 million in the second quarter of 2006.  With the Dollar/Euro exchange rate weakening to 1.3542 as of June 30, 2007, the Company reported a non-cash foreign exchange translation loss primarily related to marking-to-market of the Company's Euro-denominated debt of $12.5 million.  During the second quarter of 2006, the Company reported non-cash foreign exchange losses of $22.3 million.
In the second half of the year the Company continues to experience pricing pressure in its Hawaii trade but the Caribbean trade has stabilized.  Demand for the summer has been strong, particularly in Europe. "Our second quarter results reflect the challenges we continue to face in Hawaii," said Colin Veitch, president and chief executive officer of NCL Corporation Ltd.
According to an Associated Press report, the company said it would consider in 2008 whether to discontinue Hawaii operations. That announcement comes a few months after the company said it will pull one of its three Hawaii-based ships—the Pride of Hawaii—from Hawaii in February. The ship will be renamed Norwegian Jade and sent to Europe for next summer.
Veitch said he's optimistic the company can turn a profit in the isles. New legislation has allowed NCL America to fill some jobs with foreign crew, which should cut labor costs and boost employee retention. "As we look out to 2008 we have positive indications that the measures we have implemented thus far are beginning to work,” adding that “these indications, the success of our newbuilding program and our new shareholder and related equity investment makes it a very exciting time at NCL Corporation."

Mariner Of The Seas Makes Epic Voyage Around Cape Horn In 2009
Royal Caribbean has announced that the line’s first Voyagerj-class ship, Mariner of the Seas, will chart a course around Cape Horn. Starting in January 2009, Mariner will take guests on one of three cruises, calling at some of the most spectacular destinations in South America, or a combined 46-night cruise for an extended South America adventure.
“Mariner will offer a remarkable experience for vacationers as they visit the must-see destinations of South America and enjoy the exceptional onboard amenities and service only found on a Royal Caribbean ship,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International.”
Mariner will begin the southerly ocean-crossover on January 4, 2009 from Port Canaveral on a 15-night voyage to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. A second 15-night sailing on January 19 to round the southern tip of South America departing from Rio to Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile follows, which includes calls at Montevideo, Uruguay and Ushuaia. Mariner will conclude her epic journey with a 16-night sailing from Valparaiso (Santiago) on February 3. Guests will enjoy calls at Arica, Chile; Lima (Callao), Peru; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; and Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, debuting in her new homeport of Los Angeles on February 19. Guests booking the 46-night voyage by December 15, 2007 receive a 50% reduced deposit and a $500 onboard credit.

NCL’s ‘Norwegian Gem’ Leaves Drydock At Meyer Werft
Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) newest “It” Girl—Norwegian Gem—left drydock at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on Sunday, August 12.  Prior to leaving drydock, the 93,500-ton ship underwent a series of tests and engine trials, all of which went smoothly.  She will be berthed at the outfitting pier in Papenburg while outstanding work is completed. The ship is scheduled to make the River Ems passage to Eemshaven/Netherlands for sea trials in mid-September.  “The introduction of Norwegian Gem not only marks the completion of our Jewel-class series of ships, but also solidifies NCL’s status as the youngest and most modern fleet in the industry,” said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. 
Custom built for Freestyle Cruising, Norwegian Gem defines what it is to be an ‘It’ Girl: from her extravagant suites and villas, to her ten A-list dining options.  With a crew of more than 1,000, Norwegian Gem can accommodate 2,400 guests (double occupancy) and has all the top-of-the-line amenities guests have come to expect from NCL, including a four-lane ten-pin bowling alley, rock climbing wall, two top-of-the-ship Deluxe Owner’s Suites and the ultra-hot Wii™ video game system by Nintendo.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises Introduce The ZipRider In Alaska
Vacationers exploring Alaska at bear-level height with Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, now can soar over the majestic wilderness from the perspective of an eagle on North America’s longest and highest zip-line —the ZipRider.  Traveling a distance of 5,330 feet from a mountaintop 1,330 feet in elevation to the beach below, guests can experience the exhilarating shore excursion at Icy Strait Point during their Alaskan cruise or cruisetour adventure. “We are thrilled to provide this extraordinary experience to our guests looking for a unique and active vacation,” said Craig Milan, president, Royal Celebrity Tours. “The Icy Strait Point ZipRider is an exciting addition to the many diverse shore excursions and cruisetours we offer around the world to ensure a memorable vacation for our guests.”
The ZipRider features six individual cables allowing six riders to launch simultaneously or independently while buckled in and seated in a secure harness. Guests can enjoy magnificent vistas of the awe-inspiring mountains and ocean, reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour. Riders begin and end their ride on a launch tower and landing platform, respectively, never having to touch the ground and therefore, minimally impacting the pristine surroundings of Icy Strait Point.

Festive Fun With DFDS Seaways    
DFDS Seaways offers an alternative choice from the UK to visit the the Christmas markets of Northern Europe, a Boxing Day short break to Amsterdam and the ultimate New Year experience. Combined with a wonderful journey across the North Sea on board one of its cruise ferries, a selection of these breaks come with the option of an overnight hotel stay. You are truly spoilt for choice with some fantastic cities to choose from, including Amsterdam, Bergen and Copenhagen. Sailings depart from either Newcastle or Harwich and prices start from just £165 per person for a four night Christmas markets break to Bruges.
For more information or to make a booking go to www.dfds.co.uk/festive  or call 0871 882 0885 in the UK

Cyprus Emerging As Cruise Capital Of Eastern Mediterranean;
Cyprus’ strategic location, modern infrastructure and numerous historic attractions are spurring a growing number of US cruise lines to return to Limassol (Lemesos), the major port of Cyprus, on itineraries combining visits in Mediterranean, North Africa and Europe, according to Cyprus tourism officials, who say that increasing cruise departures are transforming the island republic into a major cruise hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Holland America, Celebrity, Oceania and Silversea are some of the major cruise lines that sailed to the port of Limassol in 2007.
In addition to the above cruise lines Royal Caribbean Cruises included Cyprus in its itineraries for 2007, 2008 and 2009 with two of its ships—Legend of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas. Monarch Cruises based in Greece also included Cyprus in its itineraries with 16 sailings in 2008, with a 14-day cruise “Voyage into Antiquity” starting March 2008 and 19  sailings with a seven-day cruise “3 Continents, 5 Countries” also starting March 2008.

Overnight Cruising On Lake Champlain Launches In 2008
Lake Champlain Shore Cruises based in Burlington Vermont is introducing a new vessel to its fleet that will sail overnight cruises on the lake.
The Moonlight Lady, reminiscent of a 1920's-style inland waterways yacht, will offer eight state rooms with private baths designed to wrap you in comfort as the gentle waters lull you to sleep under a canopy of stars and moonlight in Vermont at its finest. Fresh Vermont foods, prepared by the on-board chef, will satisfy your appetite from morning until night.
Itineraries include visits to Montreal. On-shore excursions will offer kayak journeys, country bicycle trails, and prestigious golf courses. More information at www.VermontMoonLightLady.com.

Ocean Village Spices Up Caribbean Sales This Winter
In support of Ocean Village’s brand new Latin American itineraries, the casual cruise company is launching a major agent promotion in the first week of September to give agents more of a sense of what these brand new ports of call will bring to the party. From November 2007 the original Ocean Village ship will offer its first ever season of 14-night sailings from Montego Bay to the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America. 
Information packs are being dispatched to 3,000 agents with a combination of rackable postcards with latest price deals, a tactical window piece and a ‘what’s hot in the Caribbean’ wall poster that looks at which celebrities have been spotted around the new destinations as well as what’s fun to see and do at each place. Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing Communications at Ocean Village comments: “The new Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America sailings are a new departure for us and we felt they might be unfamiliar to a number of agents too. 
As well as the postcards, an eight-page mailpiece for posting on to agent customers is also being supplied, with both being overbranded for selected agents.  Both items feature newly-launched fares for the 14 night sailings from Montego Bay which now start from only £1,029pp including flights and tips, (50 percent off the full brochure price of £2,163).  
Ocean Village’s brand new 14 night sailings from Montego Bay depart every week between  November 27, 2007 and March 18, 2008.

Carnival Finalizes Agreement For New Two-Berth Cruise-Ship Pier In St. Maarten
Carnival Corporation & plc finalized an agreement in August with the government of St. Maarten and the Port of St. Maarten to provide funding to support the construction of a new two-berth cruise ship pier on the island of St. Maarten. The new docking facility, combined with the island’s existing four-berth pier, will make St. Maarten one of the largest cruise ports in the Caribbean, with six dedicated cruise berths.
Under the agreement, Carnival Corp. has provided financing of $34.5 million for construction of a new pier and has guaranteed a certain number of passengers to the island. The new pier will be able to accommodate two post-Panamax cruise ships.  Carnival will enjoy preferential berthing rights at the new facility for the 20-year period of the agreement. Eight of Carnival Corporation & plc’s ten cruise brands, including three of its European brands, will call on St. Maarten.
Construction on the new pier is scheduled to begin in December and completed by 2009.

Carnival Freedom Cruise Director's Blog Now ‘On Carnival Corp. Website
Carnival Cruise Lines’ Senior Cruise Director John Heald has gone corporate. His popular blog, which until now has been featured within the cruise line’s website www.carnival.com  has now been linked to the website of its parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc.
In his first blog with the new corporate link, Heald previews Cunard Line’s new Queen Victoria, currently under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy and scheduled to enter service in December. The link is located at www.carnivalcorp.com.
The British-born Heald toured the Queen Victoria earlier this month and, through his most recent post, offers his own unique perspective on the many innovative features aboard the new 2,104-passenger vessel, which is in the final stages of construction.
 “While John’s blog focuses on his own experiences as Carnival Freedom’s senior cruise director, recently he has begun to highlight some of the other brands under the Carnival Corporation & plc umbrella,” said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO. Recent blogs have included interviews with the presidents and CEOs of Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, Stein Kruse and Alan Buckelew, respectively
Since its debut in March, Heald’s blog has generated more than 550,000 hits and consistently ranks among the top 100 hosted by Wordpress, a leading blog-hosting service. 

Crystal Cruises Launches 2008 Europe Crystal Collection Brochure
Citing earlier booking patterns, Crystal Cruises has published its 2008 Europe Crystal Collection brochure several months ahead of schedule. Released earlier than ever, the 57-page, full color catalogue details the 29 European itineraries to 84 ports and 30 countries aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity from late April through November 2008.
The brochure illustrates the "Crystal Experience" with new photography and 110 bullet points highlighting the luxury line's distinctive dining, space, entertainment and enrichment. Featuring 19 cruises in the Mediterranean, eight in Northern European and two Trans-Atlantics, the 2008 Europe Crystal Collection compendium outlines each cruise with easy-to-read maps, day-by-day itineraries, cruise fares, special values, themes, Crystal Visions® Enrichment programming and a summary of optional Crystal Adventure shore excursions. The brochure also provides deck plans and information on Crystal Cruises' expanded European pre- and post-cruise hotel options.
Cruise highlights include:
* Seven new ports of call highlighted with a special footnote, including Sarande, Albania; Valencia, Spain; and Olden, Norway
* Eleven theme cruises, each identified with a special footnote, featuring a new Arts & Antiquities and new Classical Music theme
* Former White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater highlighted as the celebrity guest lecturer on Crystal Serenity's July 7 voyage from Venice to Athens
* Five cruises that provide Value Collection savings opportunities of up to 51% off 
* Crystal Adventures® shore excursions that offer, among others, a volcano and glacier flightseeing adventure in Reykjavik, Iceland; a master class for instruction on how to paint a piece of porcelain at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg; or a three-island yacht cruise in Dubrovnik
Most itineraries feature shipboard overnight stays in some of Europe's most fascinating cities such as Monte Carlo, Bordeaux, Sorrento, Venice, Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, Lisbon, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Edinburgh.
For a brochure, please contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625 (US).

NCL Named Official Cruise Line Of The PGA Tour
NCL Corporation and the PGA TOUR today announced an official marketing partnership naming Norwegian Cruise Line as the “Official Cruise Line of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.” The three-year agreement also provides NCL the right to use the TOUR marks in advertising, as well as promotional and tournament hospitality opportunities built around both Tours. The PGA TOUR and NCL will work together on promoting the line’s current Golf Hawaii and Golf Bermuda programs, as well as on expanding the golf experience, exploring executions that include tournaments and TOUR members. “The PGA TOUR is a very well respected organization with more than 105 million fans and the demographic of these fans aligns well with NCL’s target audience,” said Scott Rogers, NCL’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “In our continuing effort to embrace new and innovative marketing programs, we expect that this partnership with the PGA TOUR will let golfers around the world know that you can combine a great cruise vacation with top golf experiences at the best courses in the world on NCL.”

Carnival To Offer New ‘Fun Ship’ Cruise Vacation Options From Miami
Carnival Cruise Lines will expand its short cruise offerings from Miami with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination and 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny operating new itineraries beginning next fall.
The 70,000-ton Carnival Imagination – which will become the first Carnival ship to be completely remodeled under the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” enhancement program this fall – will sail on year-round three- and four-day cruises from Miami beginning Sept. 22, 2008.
Additionally, the Carnival Destiny will be the industry’s only 100,000-plus-ton-cruise ship to offer year-round four- and five-day cruises when it launches this program from Miami September 27, 2008.  This 101,353-ton Fun Ship will offer a one-of-a-kind vacation experience that will include four-day weekend cruises and five-day trips to exciting destinations.  These new deployments represent the latest enhancements to Carnival’s highly popular three- to five-day cruise programs which comprise roughly half of the line’s departures. Carnival is the industry leader in three- to five-day vacations, with 25 different itineraries departing from 10 different U.S. homeports.

Cunard Line Adds New Voyage to ‘QE2's Farewell Season
Cunard Line has announced an additional voyage to Queen Elizabeth 2's 2008 Farewell Season.  The company announced in June that the vessel would leave the fleet in November 2008 and begin a new life as a first-class hotel and entertainment destination in Dubai.
The new eight-day Iberia in Bloom voyage will depart Southampton on April 27, 2008 and call in France at La Rochelle (for Cognac) and Le Verdon (for Bordeaux), in Spain at Bilbao and La Coruna (for Santiago de Compostela) and in Lisbon, Portugal.  Fares start from $1,315 per person for an inside M6 grade stateroom and range up to $7,795 per person for a Grand Suite. "The demand for QE2's 2008 voyages has been phenomenal since we announced she was leaving the fleet," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.  "While we still have space on some sailings next year, the introduction of this new voyage means we can give people a further opportunity to experience the most famous ship in the world before she ceases her role as an ocean-going passenger vessel."

Costa Gives Diamond Necklaces To Travel Agents Who Book Groups In Europe
To celebrate 60 years of “Cruising Italian Style,” Costa is giving away diamond necklaces from Diamonds International to travel-agent partners who book groups on Europe 2008 sailings over the next 60 days. To qualify, travel agents simply need to reserve and deposit a group of 10 cabins or more on any seven-night Europe sailing in 2008. The promotion will run from August 15 though October 15, 2007.
Travel Agents who qualify will receive a six-stone diamond, made exclusively for Costa by Diamonds International and valued at $1,000. Perfect for travel agents to enjoy as a gift for themselves or to give as a gift to others, the necklaces feature six individual diamonds cascading in a row, each diamond representing a decade of Costa’s history. Travel agents who qualify for the promotion must reserve and deposit a group on any seven-night Europe 2008 cruise, totaling 10 cabins or more, based on double occupancy. In addition, in order for agents to earn their diamond necklace, all cabins in the allotted group must sail. The promotion is also combinable with Costa’s early booking discount for groups.
Over the years, Costa has become known as “the group experts.” From groups ranging from 16 to 1600 passengers, travel agents can rest assured their experience will be easy and enjoyable thanks to a team of highly-skilled Sales Development Managers who work with travel agents on finding the perfect fit for their group on one of the brand’s 12 beautiful Italian ships. From there, a dedicated Account Executive (AE) Team assists travel agents with friendly and prompt service every step of the way to ensure a flawless experience for their group. In addition, travel agents who book with Costa may earn commissions of up to 17%.
For more information on booking groups with Costa and for complete rules regarding the “Diamond Necklace” promotion, travel agents may visit www.costalovesgroups.com or contact their Sales Development Manager.

Princess Announces Series of West Coast Sampler Sailings in 2008-09
One of the seasonal cruise opportunities on Princess' worldwide calendar each year is the chance to experience the Princess product with a short West Coast sailing.  Ranging from overnight to as long as a week, these "coastal" sailings offer a great way for travelers to sample Princess' amenity-filled vessels and renowned service while exploring the Pacific coastline of North America.
For the 2008-09 season, passengers can choose from one-, two-, three- and four-night escapes in the spring and fall.  Two special week-long coastal sailings on Sapphire Princess include a Coastal Wine Region cruise with special wine-related tours, programs and special guests; and a British Columbia and West Coast cruise. "Coastal voyages are a great way to sample what Princess offers from shipboard amenities, dining and entertainment, to our acclaimed service," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales.  "And next season our longer sampler sailings also offer the opportunity to explore the West Coast and many of the area's wonderful wine regions."

Carnival, Jaxport To Expand Cruise Operations From Jacksonville
Carnival Cruise Lines and the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) announced a significant increase in capacity for Jacksonville’s cruise operations when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination replaces the 1,486-passenger Celebration on four- and five-day cruises year-round from Jacksonville beginning Sept. 20, 2008.  
Carnival is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from Jacksonville and the Carnival Fascination represents a 38 percent increase in capacity over the Celebration. With the deployment of the Carnival Fascination—the newest and largest ship ever homeported in Jacksonville on a year-round basis—Carnival is expected to carry 170,000 guests annually from JAXPORT. “Jacksonville has proven to be a very successful homeport based on the convenient and affordable cruise options that it offers to consumers from across the Southeastern U.S.,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.   “
In conjunction with the redeployment of the Carnival Fascination to Jacksonville, the ship will offer a new five-day itinerary departing Saturdays and featuring daylong calls to award-winning Half Moon Cay, a private Bahamian island, and Nassau, The Bahamas.  The five-day cruises departing Mondays will visit Key West and Nassau and the four-day weekend voyages departing Thursdays will call at Freeport and Nassau.  
Carnival Fascination currently operates three- and four-day cruises from Miami and will continue that program through Sept. 15, 2008.  The Celebration will remain in Jacksonville through its departure date of April 14, 2008. Future deployment plans for that vessel will be announced at a later date.

Silversea Launches The Viking Cooking School
Silversea Cruises is expanding its enrichment palette this month with the official launch of the Viking Cooking School aboard Silversea. Developed through the company's unique partnership with Viking Range Corporation, whose ultra-premium appliances grace the luxury kitchens of those who truly enjoy the finer things in life, the Viking Cooking School on each Silversea ship features a custom-designed demonstration culinary theater equipped with state-of-the-art induction stove, sophisticated convection-microwave oven and Viking professional-caliber cookware, cutlery and countertop appliances -- plus a large rear projection screen so guests can easily view different cooking techniques and utensils.
A cornerstone of the alliance between the two luxury brands is the exclusive Viking Cooking School culinary curriculum presented to Silversea guests on select voyages hosted by Viking chefs.  The curriculum for each cruise is carefully designed to echo the cultural flavor of the ship's itinerary.  Highlights include cooking demonstrations with wine pairings and interactive Q&A sessions; a "Lunch and Learn" event giving groups of 12-16 guests a chance to sample a delicious meal of specially prepared dishes; and a "Market to the Plate" experience (offered on certain voyages when the itinerary permits) that provides an escorted tour of a local market followed by a cooking class. "This alliance was a natural one for us and we are thrilled to be the only cruise line to partner with this renowned luxury company," said Erling Frydenberg, Silversea's chief operations officer.  "There are land-based Viking Cooking Schools in select cities, but our ships are the first in the cruise industry to present the exclusive Viking curriculum in custom-designed culinary theaters at sea."
All Viking instructors are accomplished chefs and culinary industry leaders who bring many years of expertise and knowledge to the classroom.  When Viking chefs are not on board, the culinary theaters serve as venues for the international guest chefs of Relais & Chateaux to show off their extraordinary talents on select Culinary Arts cruises.  On all other voyages, Silversea's own master chefs take the stage to host cooking demonstrations and dynamic competitions.
Viking Cooking School is a creation of Viking Range Corporation, the originator of commercial-type appliances for the home.  Internationally, Viking products are distributed in more than 40 countries. 

NCV Announces New Discover-Winter Norway Brochure
Norwegian Coastal Voyage continues to expand its Discover Winter Norway program with a new theme cruise for Bridge Players joining three other popular ones —Winter Digital Photography, Harmony At Sea and Watercolors And Art; special voyages and extended stays in the northern most areas of Norway to catch the magic of the Northern Lights far removed from the interference caused by artificial light; Arctic theme adventures ranging from ice hotel stays to killer whale safaris; and land explorations on the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen.  All of these trips are detailed in a new 36-page brochure entitled “In Search of the Northern Lights,” downloadable at www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us or sent by mail.
Known for sailing the spectacular fjord-filled west coast of Norway year-round for more than 100 years as well as expedition cruises to the remote destinations of Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, Norwegian Coastal Voyage, also known as Hurtigruten, is making it easier for Americans to discover the unique scenic beauty of Norway during the winter season by offering the most extensive array of travel possibilities. 

Carnival To Carry A Record 2.9 Million Guests On Caribbean Cruises In 2007
When the new Carnival Freedom begins its winter schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises from Miami in November, it will further bolster Carnival Cruise Lines’ industry-leading and record-breaking 2007 Caribbean cruise season during which the line will carry an unprecedented 2.9 million passengers within the region – the most in its 35-year history.
In 2007, Carnival will deploy 18 ships in the Caribbean with 14 of those offering year-round service. Overall, upwards of 1,150 three- to eight-day cruises will be operated by Carnival, which is the only cruise line to offer the option of departing from 12 convenient U.S. homeports.
        “The Caribbean offers everything that consumers want in a vacation – picture perfect weather, gracious hospitality, unique sightseeing experiences, great shopping and, of course, gorgeous beaches,” said “But there’s more to the Caribbean than great beaches – this is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world, with a rich history dating back centuries, magnificent architecture, and historical attractions and landmarks,” she added.
According to Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing,   while Caribbean demand the past year or so has been impacted by unfavorable economic factors affecting consumers’ discretionary purchasing, it was clearly part of a cyclical trend that the industry has seen many times in the past.  “Bookings for the second half of 2007 and early 2008 have shown much stronger fundamental demand and the trend we were previously observing clearly was not a reflection of the Caribbean’s popularity or desirability,” said Freed.  “Consumers are unquestionably responding well to the strong value appeal inherent in a cruise vacation versus other vacation options,” she added. 
Carnival has also been working with destination partners to enhance and expand shore excursion programming to cater to today’s active lifestyles, offering more choices than ever for consumers to immerse themselves in this fascinating destination.  In 2007 alone, Carnival will offer approximately 900 landside tour choices in the region.

Cunard Line Appoints ‘Queen Victoria's Senior Officers
Cunard Line has announced the appointment of three senior officers who will serve aboard its newest ocean liner, Queen Victoria, when she enters service in December 2007.  The veteran trio joins Captain Paul Wright, whose appointment as Master of Queen Victoria was announced in October 2006.  Together, they boast more than 85 years of seagoing experience, gleaned most recently aboard Queen Victoria's majestic sister ships, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2. "Our guests will be delighted to find 'old friends' aboard Cunard's newest ship," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.  "One of our distinguishing characteristics is the number and frequency of our repeat guests and they will truly appreciate 'coming home' to these familiar faces."
-- William Robinson, Chief Engineer—With Cunard for nearly 20 years, William Robinson currently serves as Chief Engineer aboard Queen Elizabeth 2.  Joining Queen Victoria in the same position, he will be responsible for all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the ship's technical equipment, which is considered among the most advanced in the industry.  Robinson joined Cunard's "grande dame of the seas" as a Junior Engineer and quickly earned his Combined 1st Class Certificate, working his way up the engineering ranks.  His first seafaring experience, over 30 years ago, was sailing oil tankers and gas carriers for Shell. Accepting the post as Chief Engineer aboard Queen Victoria, he says, is the realization of a lifelong ambition.
-- Robert Howie, Hotel Manager—Robert Howie brings more than 21 years of experience - on land and at sea - to his new post as Hotel Manager aboard Queen Victoria.  Howie held the position of Food & Beverage Manager aboard Queen Mary 2 in the ocean liner's inaugural year and was then promoted to the prestigious position of Hotel Manager to Cunard's flagship in 2005.  In charge of all onboard operations re housekeeping, food and beverage, entertainment and personnel, he was at the helm during some of the ship's most iconic voyages including her 2006 inaugural South America voyages, first World Cruise earlier this year including the ship's phenomenally successful Royal RendezvousTM with QE2 in Sydney and maiden call into San Francisco, as well as Carly Simon's DVD concert special in 2005.  Prior to joining Cunard, Howie served in senior managerial Food & Beverage positions and new build projects for Princess Cruises - both shoreside and onboard - since 1990.
-- Alastair Greener, Entertainment Director—Alastair Greener combines his love of stage and sea, characteristics that will serve him well as he prepares to join Queen Victoria as Entertainment Director.  The quintessential English gentleman has served as Cruise Director on both Queen Mary 2 and QE2, and in addition to being a vivacious host for the onboard production shows, he is an enthusiastic thespian himself, having been a presenter for training videos for Cunard's famous White Star ServiceSM. Greener is a member of the British Actors Union and has appeared in a wide range of film, theater and television productions, including the BBC's "House of Cards" and Warner Brothers' "Black Beauty."  Prior to Cunard, Greener joined Princess Cruises in 1997 and has served on eight ships within the fleet.
The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will debut in December. As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history (she joins the world's grandest liner, Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous and best-loved liner, QE2).

 

August 1, 2007

‘Black Watch’ Cleared As Source of Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak
During a Fred.Olsen Cruises’ Black Watch cruise to the Baltics in late July, passengers were taken ill. Seven people complained of flu-like symptoms and were taken to hospital in Stockholm. Of these, four tested negative and were released while the two other passengers tested positive and are expected to fully recover to return to the UK shortly.
The Black Watch had been taking 756 passengers on a 17-night cruise to the Baltics that departed Dover, England July 15. The illness outbreak brought the ship back to Dover two days earlier. The mostly British passengers had stopped at ports in Russia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden before their voyage was cut short. Investigations are under way to determine where the infection may have been contracted
According to a Fred.Olsen Cruises spokesperson, the cruise liner was not the source of the infection. The Swedish authorities took water samples from on-board showers, jacuzzis and pools.
The UK Health Protection Authority is now carrying out cleansing and super-chlorination of the ship in the Kent port that involves full chlorination of the water system, and the sanitizing of the ship's shower heads, saunas and swimming pools.
According to a BBC report, Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, from the Kent Health Protection Unit, had been on board the Black Watch while it is berthed at Dover. "They've taken all the necessary steps on our advice and I'm satisfied everything is being done," he said.
The Black Watch was scheduled to sail August 1 on a ten-night cruise to Morocco.

Royal Caribbean To Offer Southern Caribbean Itineraries From Colón, Panama
Marking the first time that the cruise line has established a homeport at the mouth of the Panama Canal, Royal Caribbean today announced 17 sailings from December 2008 through April 2009 aboard Enchantment of the Seas. The seven-night voyages will visit spectacular ports-of-call in Colombia and the Dutch Antilles. “Colón is a spectacular Central American city and sailing from Panama not only offers our guests an exciting itinerary, but also allows more travelers more convenient opportunities to enjoy a Royal Caribbean cruise,” said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International, at a July 30 press conference in Panama. “We are pleased to bring our signature style of cruising to Panama as we extend our brand globally, and we thank the government for their enthusiastic support.”
Ports of call on Enchantment’s Southern Caribbean cruises from Colón include Cartagena and Santa Marta, Colombia; Aruba; Bonaire and Curacao. Travelers also can choose from two eight-night repositioning voyages aboard Enchantment sailing on November 29, 2008 and April 5, 2009. In addition to visiting Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia, guests will enjoy two more days in the Caribbean Sea and a call at Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, as the ship cruises to and from Colón and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

Celebrity Cruises and Riedel Crystal Raise a Glass to the Fine Art of Wine Tasting
Celebrity Cruises is pairing with Riedel, the crystal manufacturer known worldwide for designing the most finely tuned drinking instruments for every level of wine sophistication. By mid-August, guests on seven Celebrity Cruises vessels will have the opportunity to experience official Riedel comparative wine workshops while at sea. Celebrity is the first company that Riedel has sanctioned to conduct its seminars. "Wine appreciation seminars have become increasingly popular among our guests, and the Riedel comparative wine workshops give us the ability to offer them a new level of our extraordinary Celebrity style," said Celebrity Cruises' Vice President of Entertainment Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.
Earlier this year, 16 Celebrity Cruises sommeliers traveled to Riedel's headquarters in Austria for intensive training on the company's history, philosophy, and products. They will lead glass tastings on Celebrity Century, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit.
The hour-long workshops will be offered once per sailing for a fee. During tastings, guests will sample and compare multiple fine wines in Riedel's Vinum glass collection and depart with a set of four glasses. Guests can carry the glasses home, or, if they live in the United States, Canada or Europe, they may choose to utilize http://www.celebrityvineyards.com to have the glasses shipped to them. The website also sells a variety of Riedel products.

Royal Caribbean Reports Higher Second Quarter 2007 Earnings
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced net income for the second quarter 2007 of $128.7 million, or $0.60 per share, compared to net income of $122.4 million, or $0.57 per share in 2006. The results were consistent with previous guidance of $0.58 to $0.63 per share. Revenues for the second quarter 2007 increased to $1.5 billion from revenues of $1.3 billion in the second quarter 2006.
The company also announced that the full year earnings guidance is substantially unchanged except for the impact of higher fuel prices. The company does not forecast fuel prices, and, adjusting for current spot pricing, full year 2007 earnings are expected to be $2.75 to $2.85 per share. "Despite continuing pressure from high fuel prices, our second quarter results were consistent with our expectations," said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "The revenue environment has stabilized versus the first quarter, and our cost control initiatives are working well."
Including Pullmantur, the company's Net Yields increased 0.9% and Net Cruise Costs per APCD increased 1.1%. Pullmantur's operating income fell slightly below expectations due to weaker than expected demand for its land tour business during the spring season.
As previously disclosed, Celebrity Cruises cancelled two 12-night Mediterranean sailings onboard Celebrity Millennium due to damage to the ship's propellers. The cancelled cruises are expected to have a negative impact on earnings of approximately $0.14 per share, which is reflected in third quarter 2007 guidance.
Collectively, the company will have a 12.0% increase in capacity in 2007, driven by Pullmantur, the April delivery of Liberty of the Seas, and a full year of Freedom of the Seas. "After a relatively slow start to the year, we are encouraged by the stabilized Caribbean pricing environment and the sound demand for our summer seasonal products," Fain said.

Crystal Cruises Adds Third Berths In Time For Summer And Fall Holidays
To accommodate increased demand, Crystal Cruises has added to Crystal Serenity 20 third-berth accommodations, representing a 15 percent increase.   Crystal is introducing new in-room sofas that fold out to single beds in the sitting areas of several categories of staterooms. The changes reflect current trends and expand flexible travel options for future sailings, including Crystal Serenity's upcoming Thanksgiving voyage in which kids sail free.
Crystal Serenity now features 157 flexible third-berth travel options in every category and on every passenger deck, including all Penthouse Suites and many Deluxe Staterooms with private verandas and picture windows.  Every passenger deck also offers a variety of staterooms and suites with connecting capabilities, including a number with third berth capacity, expanding the options for extended groups of families and friends traveling together. "The popularity of family and multi-generational travel is one of the year's top travel trends," says Bill Smith, Crystal's senior vice president, sales and marketing.  "Families seeking great style and service, especially in overseas travel, appreciate our spacious ships and destination-rich itineraries.  In the luxury sector, Crystal offers an attractive mix of activities, amenities, and shoreside adventures for every age, with the chance to introduce children and grandchildren to the world's great cities and sites while sharing valuable time together."

UK Cruise Lines Get Guide On Preventing Norovirus
The Health Protection Agency working closely with the cruise industry through the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) and with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Association of Port Health Authorities has published Guidance for the Management of Norovirus Infection in Cruise Ships.
Norovirus infects between 600,000 and one million people in the community in the United Kingdom every year. This guidance has been produced to help prevent and control outbreaks on the comparatively rare occasions when they occur on board cruise ships. Norovirus is highly infectious and causes a very unpleasant but generally short-lived infection lasting 1-2 days from which people will usually recover without treatment. The symptoms are vomiting, which is often sudden and “projectile”, diarrhea and sometimes both. Some people may have a raised temperature, headaches and aching limbs. There is no specific treatment for norovirus apart from letting the illness run its course. It is important for those affected to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
The newly produced Guidance for the Management of Norovirus Infection in Cruise Ships provides guidance for health professionals, port health and other agency staff and ships' crews on how to prevent, identify and manage norovirus outbreaks on the rare occasions that they do occur on board cruise ships. Professor Pat Troop, the Health Protection Agency's Chief Executive, said: “The aim was to produce straightforward and practical advice to discourage the introduction of infection to cruise ships in the first instance and to help the industry and public health authorities manage outbreaks in a consistent manner when they do occur.”
Mr. William Gibbons, Director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said: “We worked closely with the Health Protection Agency and with a range of other partners in the development of the guidance and we are delighted that the published document is now available on the HPA website. It means that all parties who are required to deal with an outbreak of infection will have immediate access to sound and practical advice that will minimize the impact for passengers and crew alike.”
The guidance covers risk assessment and management, pre cruise actions, the on board incident team, outbreak control group, cleaning procedures, hand hygiene and management of the vessel whilst in port. Website: http://www.hpa.org.uk

Seatrade Europe 2007 Annual Conference Opens September 25 In Hamburg
This year Seatrade Europe 2007—the Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention takes place September 25 to 27 at the Congress Center Hamburg. 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 are 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.
The cruise lines, therefore, cannot help but view Europe as the market that offers the greatest growth potential for the foreseeable future. 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. Not to be outdone by their northern European counterparts, Mediterranean ports will also be out in force including Civitavecchia, Olbia, Cagliari, Malaga, Vigo and Corsica.
Two segments, which are set to flourish at this year’s event, are the Food & Beverage/Hotel & Catering and Entertainment Technology/Sound & Light sectors, which will provide companies outside the industry the opportunity to open up their products to the cruise and ferry market.
Another highlight will be the inaugural presentation of the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards, which will be presented at the Schmidt’s Tivoli Theatre on September 25. 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.
The conference venue is open on September 25 and 26 from 10 am to 6 pm; and on September 27, from 10 am to 2pm. More information at www.seatrade-europe.com.  

Crystal Doubles Its Luxury Hotel Partnerships Worldwide
From the venerable Hotel Hassler atop Rome's Spanish Steps to the secluded oasis of Hotel Bel-Air in Beverly Hills, luxury travel specialist Crystal Cruises has doubled its number of luxury-hotel partnerships for 2008 for guests wishing to extend their travels with pre- and post-cruise stays. The expanded Crystal Adventures® Hotel Program welcomes 14 new hotels in 2008, rounding out a record collection of 37 renowned properties in 22 cities around the world. 
Among the new hotels for 2008 are the Dorchester Hotel (London); Hotel Hassler (Rome); Hotel Bel-Air (Beverly Hills); Molino Stucky Hilton (Venice); Taj Mahal Palace and Tower (Mumbai); Hôtel Le St-James (Montréal); Mandarin Oriental  in Hong Kong and Singapore; Hotel Majestic and Hotel Casa Fuster in Barcelona and the Westin Hotel (Auckland)
Other choices of pre- or post-cruise hotel stays include the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, The Grand Hotel in Stockholm and the Mandarin Oriental in New York. 
The Crystal "Classic" Hotel Program includes meet and assist arrangements at the airport; transfers from the airport to the hotel; all hotel tax and porterage; a Crystal hospitality desk at the hotel; and transfers from the hotel to the ship for special priority embarkation.  Crystal's "Classic Plus" Hotel Program also offers upgraded accommodations, full breakfast daily, and private car transfers between the airport and hotel.
The Crystal Adventures Hotel Program is available in 22 of the line's embarkation and debarkation cities worldwide with packages ranging from one to three nights immediately before and after each cruise.  Pricing begins at $244 per person, double occupancy, for the first night of stay, depending on city and property selected, with reduced rates available for second and third nights.

Holland America Line Introduces As You Wish Dining
Holland America Line has launched As You Wish dining, an innovative program that allows guests to choose from the best of both worlds: either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a completely flexible dining schedule. One level of the two-tiered restaurant will offer a flexible/open dining service from 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and the other will host two seatings, an early and main seating. "Providing more options for our guests has been a hallmark of our Signature of Excellence initiative," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "Since flexible dining options have become more desirable by many of our guests, we will roll As You Wish dining out across the fleet to provide the most flexibility, choice and service to our guests.”
Prior to their cruise, during the booking phase, guests will choose flexible/open dining or Holland America Line's traditional pre-set dining time (early or main). Guests with flexible seating may make reservations daily during a cruise up to 4 p.m. or simply walk up anytime during dining hours. Holland America Line manages reservations and guest preferences through a unique computer system ensuring the same efficient and high quality service for the flexible/open dining as with the traditional pre-set format.
As You Wish dining will be introduced on all Holland America Line ships by July 2008.

New Smoking Policy Onboard Royal Caribbean Ships Announced
Royal Caribbean International has announced a new smoking policy onboard its ships, effective January 2008. To bolster the cruise line's new Vitality wellness program, recently debuted on Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is increasing smoke-free zones by designating all staterooms and one lounge on each ship in its fleet as non-smoking areas. The new policy will go into effect aboard 18 of the line's 21 ships initially, with Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas following suit with the 2008 summer season. "Feedback from our guests was a driving force behind the new Vitality program and our focus on wellness," said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "Results from online polls as well as input from all of our international offices worldwide, show very strong support of the new smoking policy. These changes reflect a more contemporary approach to healthier lifestyles and will significantly improve the cruise vacation experience for our guests."
Currently, smoking is prohibited in guest hallways and corridors, restaurants, entertainment venues and most of the ship's interior public spaces except for designated areas in bars and lounges. The new policy will add all guest staterooms and suites, and one bar or lounge on every Royal Caribbean ship onto the roster of smoke-free spaces. Guests wishing to smoke may still do so from starboard outer decks, in designated areas in bars and lounges, and on stateroom and suite balconies. Ashtrays are available in designated smoking areas or by request through stateroom attendants. Violations of the smoking policy will result in cleaning charges to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through the line's Guest Conduct Policy, details of which are available both online and in all staterooms.

Discovery’s Antarctica's Image is Updated By New Website
Destination cruise line, Voyages of Discovery has created a new website, www.antarcticadiscovery.com , dedicated to Antarctica. The site responds to the increasing popularity of user generated websites and networking whilst updating the image of Antarctica and how it is perceived as a destination by those who visit.
Passengers, crew and onboard lecturers are able to upload their own photos, video clips and journals detailing their unique experiences. There is a strong focus on people, landscapes and wildlife and the vast array of original and previously unseen images portray a vivid and contemporary image of the continent as it exists today, not hundreds of years ago.
One of the site's useful innovations is the ability for places, journals and photos to be pinpointed onto an interactive Antarctica satellite map. This provides an even greater depth of understanding and illustration to the content provided, where users can not only read a journal, but also see the exact place it was written. "It's all too easy for travel companies to portray Antarctica as the last great pioneering destination on earth, with obvious connections to past explorers used to make a common link,” says Voyages of Discovery Managing Director, David Yellow. “We feel as a company that it is time to update this image. The truth is that Antarctica is ‘on the radar’ of many more people than even five years ago. The continent has a high profile in the west and it is not just viewed as a pioneering destination anymore. However, the Antarctica we see today is still the most beautiful place on the planet. This website has been built to allow our passengers, crew, lecturers and other people involved with us to tell their story and present an updated image of this beautiful continent."
The website has a number of other features which demonstrate Voyages of Discovery's fresh approach to promoting destinations. These include detailed location summaries, biographies of contributors, photo and caption galleries, video players, and tools for sending images and page links to other people that may be interested, enhancing the community feeling. Website: http://www.antarcticadiscovery.com/

Queen Victoria's Inaugural European Itineraries Announced
In port cities throughout the world, Cunard's newest liner is already generating anticipation and excitement.  Set to debut in December, Queen Victoria follows in the footsteps of her liner predecessors, offering a collection of compelling inaugural itineraries that underscore her well-traveled passengers' quest for genuinely intriguing travel experiences.  Highlights of the ship's 2008 schedule are an eclectic variety of Mediterranean itineraries offering departures from Rome, Barcelona, Venice, Athens and Southampton - allowing guests a more in-depth experience into the ancient cities and renowned ports of this popular region.  In addition, Queen Victoria's voyages to the Baltic mark Cunard's much-anticipated return to this intriguing part of the world.
"In Queen Victoria's inaugural year, we've planned a compelling around-the-world schedule that affords travelers an opportunity to experience the next generation of Cunard style, complete with festive welcomes in every port," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.  "In addition to joining Cunard's exciting heritage of maiden call fanfare, guests traveling on Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern European voyages will be able to enjoy a more in-depth experience in each of these fascinating ports."
Throughout her first year, Queen Victoria will chart a far-reaching course through Europe stretching as far south as the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria; as far east as Yalta, Ukraine, once an ancient Greek colony on the northern coast of the Black Sea; and west to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.  Likewise, rare overnight stays in Venice, Istanbul and St. Petersburg will afford Queen Victoria's guests the opportunity to explore these captivating cities at a more leisurely pace. "Covering the northernmost ports, then south to Egypt, east into the Black Sea and west to the Canary Islands, the breadth of her dazzling itinerary really sets her apart as she will sail a significant percentage of the globe in her first year," Marlow added.

Ocean Village Launches New July 2007 – October 2008 Brochure
Ocean Village—the cruise for people who don’t do cruises—launches its brand new July 2007-October  2008 first edition brochure on July 16 featuring Caribbean cruises for winter 07/08, including its new 14 night sailing option from Montego Bay. This is a great ‘beach plus’ holiday for people who want gorgeous Caribbean beaches plus adventures to lost Mayan cities, the lakes and locks of the Panama Canal and the rainforest of Costa Rica. Also included are the new summer 2008 Mediterranean cruise itineraries and offers of up to 45 percent off full brochure prices. Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing Communications at Ocean Village comments: “The new brochure maps a very exciting year ahead for us, with our original ship moving to a brand new base in Montego Bay and Ocean Village Two sailing to Barbados for the very first time, new transatlantic cruises, and confirmation of our four wide reaching 2008 Mediterranean itineraries.”
Ocean Village has also just launched a new Ocean Village Two virtual tour, complete with stunning 360-degree images of the ship and all its facilities including the 14,000 sq ft Karma Sp the new SEGA entertainment village for kids, and the ships wealth of bars and restaurants at www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk.

Storm Severely Damages P&O’s ‘Pacific Star’ In July
P&Os Pacific Star was severely damaged in a storm on July 17 while sailing from Auckland Australia to the Pacific Islands. The cruise had to be aborted and the ship was docked in Port Vila, Vanuatu. All 1000 passengers were flown home.
Thirty-two foot high waves smashed windows, doors and satellite equipment and damaged  the hull.
After a slow three-day crossing from Port Vila to Brisbane for repairs, the ship’s upper section of her bow and steel framework were replaced as was a new external staircase at the forward part of the ship washed away by the storm. New steel plates were fitted to reinforce two small sections of the hull. Twenty new windows are being manufactured to replace the smashed ones. During the ship’s current ten-night cruise in the South Pacific that departed July 28, the holes will be covered.

Oceania Cruises Introduces Its 2008-2009 Winter Collection
Oceania Cruises announced that its 2008-2009 Winter Collection of sailings to Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and South America will open for reservations on August 1, 2007. In the tradition of offering discerning travelers an extraordinary introductory offer, all 2008-2009 Winter Collection itineraries will offer Free Round-trip Economy Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares through December 31, 2007. “Our new Winter Collection of sailings adds a new dimension to the destination experience through more overnight port stays and enticing new ports. We’re delighted to be able to offer our guests and travel partners unique and enriching journeys to the most spectacular destinations worldwide,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.
Highlights of the 2008-2009 Winter Collection include:
An unrivaled roster of overnight port stays in Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Luxor, Dubai, Yangon, Bali, Bangkok, Hanoi, Saigon, Itajaí, São Paulo, Kyoto, and Taipei. Nautica returns to Australia and Asia with eight unique voyages ranging from 15 to 35 days. And Insignia sails an enchanting array of 12- to 19-day voyages to the verdant coastal villages of Brazil and the mesmerizing Chilean fjords.
A wide array of longer voyages is also being offered such as a 32-day Rome to Singapore cruise aboard Nautica visiting Capri, Messina, Cairo, Luxor, Salalah, Muscat, Dubai, Cochin, Yangon and Phuket; two 19-day voyages between Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso visiting São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Port Stanley, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt; and a 26-day Amazon Adventure aboard Regatta.
New Ports of Call include Yangon, Myanmar (Burma); Puerto Chiapas and Huatulco in Mexico.

Norwegian Cruise Line to Expand International Sales and Marketing Team
NCL Corporation announced the promotion of Francis Riley to the newly created position of Vice President of International Business Development.  Riley has served as the General Manager of NCL's UK office since 2005 and has overseen the launch of three new Freestyle Cruising ships in the UK. During his tenure, he has been responsible for doubling the number of UK guests for NCL.  Riley, who joined NCL in 2004 as sales director, will report to Andy Stuart, NCL's Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Passenger Services.
In his new role, Riley will relocate to NCL's headquarters in Miami, where he will be responsible for business development outside of the United States and Canada, including responsibility for the company's offices in the UK and Continental Europe.  His position has been created to continue NCL's rapid expansion outside of North America that will accelerate in 2008 with the first ever dedicated sailings for the UK market out of Southampton aboard Norwegian Jade and the largest NCL European deployment ever.
Stephen Park will return to NCL as the UK General Manager on September 3, 2007. Park was formerly with NCL as the head of the UK business.  He spent the last two years as Senior Vice President of European Sales for Kerzner International Ltd., where he gained valuable experience.  He will report to Francis Riley in his new capacity in Miami.
NCL Names Travel Industry Veteran to New VP Post
NCL Corporation has appointed Michael Dauberman into the newly created position of vice president of e-commerce and customer relationship management (CRM). He reports directly to Scott Rogers, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
In this new role, Dauberman is responsible for directing and overseeing all aspects of NCL's online initiatives including all consumer and travel agent website development plans. He is charged with positioning NCL's e-commerce and CRM channels for effective long-term growth.
Dauberman comes to NCL with 19 years of experience in the travel industry in various executive management positions. Prior to joining the company, he was the vice president of cruises at Travelocity in San Francisco.  There, he was responsible for overseeing all cruise operations for the company. 

Celebrity Cruises Launches Museum-Quality, Self-Guided Art Tours
Celebrity Cruises' guests now can enjoy museum-quality audio equipment and commentary while viewing the fleet's permanent onboard art collection. Seven of the line's ships now offer complimentary use of handheld audio devices featuring self-guided art tours that provide education and insight into the works. "We're thrilled to be the only cruise line to offer equipment of such high quality to guests interested in art," Celebrity Vice President of Entertainment Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said. "Whether someone is new to the world of art or an art historian, our self-guided art tour will give them new insight into the works on display, ultimately enhancing their cruise experience."
To take an audio tour, a guest can simply visit the Guest Relations desk and sign out an audio-tour device. The easy-to-use devices—the same equipment used in the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art—allow guests to explore works of art at their own pace and in whatever order they choose. Each device offers the highest available sound quality.
Written by an art historian, each tour has been created to appeal to a broad range of tastes. Featuring points of interest that will appeal to the novice art enthusiast or an art historian, the tours offer a combination of academic information and lighter knowledge as they introduce the listener to thought-provoking concepts such as what the artist may have been thinking when he or she created the piece, or whether an artist's intent is more important than a viewer's perception.
The line implemented the new self-guided audio art tour on Celebrity Century in April. By the end of October 2007, Celebrity will complete installation on Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit.

Star Cruises Opens New Crew Training Facility In Port Klang Terminal
Star Cruises has invested heavily in crew-training and has constructed its own fully fledged simulation centre at its headquarters in Port Klang terminal, Malaysia. The US$5 million Star Cruises Ship Simulator (SCSS) is the only one of its kind in the world owned by a cruise company providing training on all aspects of handling and bridge management, including advanced onboard emergency and safety procedures.

Since its inception in 1993, the cruise line has strived to provide the best possible cruise experiences for its guests not only in terms of service and a rich cultural diversity of experiences from cuisine to international performances to the crew’s nationalities (close to 40 different nationalities) but also in the area of onboard safety which has and continues to be an integral part in ensuring the safe operation of our ships. "The simulator has played a vital role in achieving the high standards of bridge operation and safety procedures," says Captain Gustaf Gronberg, Star Cruises' Senior Vice-President of Marine Operations.
Rather than opting for a standard, off-the-shelf simulator, Star Cruises' training facility has been custom built to the design of the bridge on the cruise line's own ships. Star Cruises has been rolling out its brand of customized training to others in the industry. On completion of training the crew also then sail onboard the SuperStar Virgo to observe Star Cruises' own bridge team management in action. Six months later, Star Cruises carries out an audit of the crews that it has trained. "This has been very positively received," states Captain Gronberg.
The Star Cruises' Port Klang, Malaysia's simulation centre also trains harbor pilots from around the region, including many from different ports in Malaysia. Through use of the simulator Star Cruises has also become involved in port development projects, including studies of approaches and channels, and the company has carried out this type of work in China, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Its simulator has also helped the company to be able to assist other cruise liner's ships to determine the maximum conditions in which it is safe to bring ships into the terminal.
Star Cruises' fleet subscribes to the International Safety Management Code (ISM) regulated by the International Maritime Organization outlining superior safety, technology and skills. Star Cruises won the 'Innovation in Marine Technology and Machinery, Safety and Environment' - Lloyd's List, SMM Awards. Star Cruises also provides regular refresher trainings for all Captains and Officers to ensure the high standards are maintained as well as continuously improved on.

American MaritimeSafety Announces Annual Safety Awards Recipients
American Maritime Safety, Inc is a non-profit trade association that was established in 1988 to facilitate the maritime industry's compliance with US Coast Guard regulations and international protocols. The AMS consortium administers a chemical testing program for over 400 deep-sea, Great Lake and tug and barge operators as well as a significant number of international flag vessel companies. The AMS program has been reviewed by the US Coast Guard and "judged to be in compliance with the US Coast Guard's chemical testing regulations found in Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations."
 AMS  is pleased to announce that representatives from the following member companies will receive maritime safety awards set forth below during the annual membership luncheon on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at the Yale University Club in New York. 
-- Responsible Vessel Carrier Award: General Dynamics / American Overseas Marine Corp. (AMSEA)
-- Tanker Vessel Safety Award: Seacor / Seabulk
-- Quality Ship Management Award: Matson Navigation Company
-- American Maritime Safety Award: Sealift, Inc.
-- Maritime Safe Working Practices Award: Pacific Gulf Marine, Inc.
-- Tug & Barge Safety Award: Penn Maritime, Inc.
-- Passenger Vessel Safety Award: Circle Line Harbor Cruises / Circle Line Statue of Liberty Cruises
American Maritime Safety, Inc., ("AMS") is a non-profit and tax exempt maritime trade association established in 1988 in Manhattan, New York, to facilitate the maritime industry's compliance with international shipping protocols and US Coast Guard regulations.  To learn more about AMS, visit www.maritimesafety.org.