Join the Club For Free 6/05/03


     Celebrity Cruises has eliminated the $35 membership fee for its Captain’s Club. The program for repeat guest, which the line enhanced a year ago, offers pre-cruise privileges and onboard perks for passengers who have cruised one or more times with the Celebrity.

     “About 11 percent of Celebrity’s past guests are Captain’s Club members, who are extremely loyal to our brand,” said Celebrity's Senior Vice President of Marketing Steve Hancock. “But with 97 percent of all past guests -- members and non-members alike -- saying they plan to cruise with us again, we want them all to become Captain’s Club members, so they all can enjoy the many benefits of the program.”

     For those whose who already are a member of the program, Celebrity is sending each member household a $50 onboard credit certificate valid for any sailing up to December 31, 2004.

Biggie Out of NYC 6/4/03

     Royal Caribbean International’s first 3,114-guest ship will step outside of its boundaries next year. The 142,000-ton Voyager of the Seas, which has never been homeported outside of Florida or San Juan, will cruise out of New York next summer. The ship will sail alternating nine-night Caribbean and five-night Canada cruises from the Big Apple, from May 16 through October 22, 2004.

     Caribbean cruises will call at Labadee, Ocho Rios, George Town, and Freeport, while Canada itineraries will visit Halifax and Saint John.

Norway News 6/3/03

     Although Norwegian Cruise Line reported some good news on Thursday when two of its crewmembers injured in the boiler explosion on the Norway last week were discharged from the hospital, the line has announced some more bad news. A seventh crewmember from the accident -- Ramon Villarais, an engine room stoker from the Philippines who had worked with NCL on the Norway for eight years – died on Friday. NCL also stated that nine crewmembers remain hospitalized, one crewmember was taken off the critical list, and another crewmember remains on the critical list.

     Due to the accident and its investigation, the line additionally has cancelled the June 15 and June 22 sailings onboard the Norway, and is giving passengers full refunds. The number for guests to call for additional information is 1-800-327-7030.

Seabourn Gets Stylish 6/2/03


     Seabourn Cruise Line has teamed up exclusively with luggage designer Tumi to provide fashion travel document holders and luggage tags for guests. The custom designed travel accessories are crafted in Tumi's patented Fusion Z nylon fabric and leather details, and will be embossed with the Seabourn shield insignia and Tumi hallmark.

     “Beginning with their breakthrough garment bag in the 80s, Tumi has created a unique combination of substance and style that is the epitome of smart, casual elegance,” according to Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “They also believe in constantly making the best better, and that makes them a great match for Seabourn,” he continued.

     Tumi also will be lending some of its luggage to Seabourn to use as complimentary loaners for guests participating in the line’s “Personal Valet” luggage shipping service, which they can use for their journey home free of charge and then return the bag to Seabourn. The two companies plan to launch further promotions including savings certificates, joint sweepstakes and other gifts and awards.

Norway Crewmembers Released From Hospital 05/31/03

     On a light note for Norwegian Cruise Line, the line has announced that two of the crewmembers who were hospitalized and being treated for injuries in relation to the boiler explosion onboard the Norway were discharged yesterday. The line has put them up at local hotels near the hospital so the crewmembers can receive further treatment as needed.     Additionally, another crewmember was released from the Intensive Care Unit and is resting in serious but stable condition.

Going to the Extreme 05/30/03

 

    Bringing new varied entertainment aboard cruise ships has definitely proven to be a struggle for lines over the years, but Carnival is trying not to miss a beat. At the same time, the line is not shying away from Vegas-style revues and productions.

     Carnival has introduced two new shows on the Celebration, which sails year-round from Galveston. The first show – “X-Treme Country” – is a 50-minute tribute to popular country music artists, and opens up with a rendition of Toby Keith’s rodeo-inspired “Gimme Eight More Seconds,” complete with whips and mechanical bulls. Yeehaaw! “Orange Blossom Special” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” are also on the performance roster, as is a closing pyrotechnic display. Yikes!

     “SRO: Standing Room Only,” – the second newcomer – is an hour-long Broadway-hits production incorporating scenes from “Guys and Dolls,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Gypsy,” “Mama Mia,” “The Lion King,” “Hairspray,” and “West Side Story.” And no – you don’t have to stand during the show. There are plenty of seats in the Astoria Lounge.

Princess Caps Alaska 05/29/03


     Princess Cruises is boasting that it will offer more “Inside Passage” Alaska cruises in 2004 than ever before. Forty-eight sailings are on next year’s roster, more than double the line’s previous capacity on that route, according to Princess.

     Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will both offer cruises from Seattle next year, and Regal Princess will sail from San Francisco once again. The first two ships will sail on a seven-day round-trip voyages from Seattle to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. Diamond Princess will offer 19 voyages on this itinerary departing on Saturdays between May 8 and September 11, 2004, while Sapphire Princess will sail 18 cruises departing on Sundays, beginning May 16 through September 12.

     Regal Princess will offer 11 departures between May 6 and August 14 on a 10-day Inside Passage itinerary round-trip from the bay city that includes calls at Victoria, Ketchikan or Sitka, Skagway or Haines, and Juneau.

    The line also has a full roster of its other Alaska itinerary – Voyage of the Glaciers. Four ships will sail that Gulf of Alaska rote in 2004.

Tapping the Canal 05/28/03


    Royal Caribbean has added cruises to the Panama Canal and Hawaii to Legend of the Seas’ sailing roster this year and next. After spending the summer in Alaska, the ship will begin the extended itineraries in Hawaii on September 19, and sail in the region through May 2004, excluding November and February when the ship will be in the Panama Canal. The ship additionally will sail some Panama Canal routes in October and January.

    Legend’s 10- and 11-night Hawaiian itineraries depart alternatively from Honolulu and Ensenda, making calls in Hilo and Kailua Kona, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; and Lahaina, Maui. The ship’s 14-day Panama Canal cruises will depart from Miami and San Diego on alternating Sunday’s, with visits to Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Puntarenas/Caldera, Cristobal Pier or Fuerte Amador, and Oranjestad.

Norway Update  05/28/03

Sixth Crewmember Passes

     Norwegian Cruise Line today announced the death of a sixth crewmember as a result of the Norway’s boiler explosion that occurred this past Sunday, May 25. The deceased crewmember was Winston Lewis, a steward from Jamaica who had worked with NCL for 31 years.

     The line also has cancelled additional cruises of the vessel, including the June 1 and June 8 voyages and is currently contacting travel agents and passengers to notify them of the cancellation. June 1 passengers will receive a full refund plus a 50 percent future cruise credit certificate. June 8 passengers will receive a full refund plus a 25 percent future cruise credit certificate.

Norway Update  05/27/03

     Norwegian Cruise Line has reported the death of a fifth crewmember from the accident involving a boiler onboard the Norway this past Sunday, May 25, and that the explosion also has resulted in the injury of 20 other crewmembers – up from the original count of 13 – some of whom remain hospitalized.

     The line has expressed deep sympathy to the families of the injured and deceased, and also has set up an aid and memorial fund for them called the “S/S Norway Relief and Memorial Fund.”

     The line says it is working closely with the families and arrangements are being made for family members to come to Miami as soon as possible.

Norway Boom 05/27/03

     An explosion that took place on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norway early Sunday morning resulted in the death of four crew members and injured more than a dozen others. While none of the 2,135 passengers onboard were harmed during the boiler explosion in the engine room, the line has reported that 13 crewmembers were taken to local hospitals to be treated for injuries.

    The 41-year-old ship was at the port of Miami returning from an eastern Caribbean cruise when the disaster occurred. As a result, the May 25 cruise was cancelled, and the line has given guests full refunds and a future cruise-only credit certificate.

     The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating the cause of the boiler explosion and the line has yet to determine the long-term damages, if any.

Another Ship Moves to Miami 05/24/03


     Oceania Cruises has chosen Miami as the Regatta’s homeport. After its inaugural season in Europe and the Mediterranean this summer and fall, the ship will reposition to Miami where it will begin round-trip, 12- to 14-day cruises to Central America and the Caribbean on November 25, 2003, through March 4, 2004.

     The first voyage is a 14-day cruise to Port Antonio, the Panama Canal, San Blas, Puerto Limon, Roatan, Santo Tomas, Belize and Cozumel. Twelve-day cruises will depart on December 9 and 21, February 20, and March 4, and visit Tortola, Nevis, Roseau, St. John’s, St. Barts, Virgin Gorda and La Romana. Fourteen-day sailings between Miami and Puerto Caldera to Tortola, Nevis, St. Barts, St. John’s, Castries, Oranjestad, San Blas and the Panama Canal depart on January 2 and February 6.

Reserve Your Tour First 10/23/03


     Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is getting with the program. The line is now giving guests sailing on the Seven Seas Mariner in Alaska this summer the opportunity to pre-request shore excursions in the 48th state – a perk other lines have been offering for some time.

     Radisson will send guests the pre-request forms with their cruise documents 30 days prior to sailing. After marking their choices, passengers need to fax (or have their travel agent do it) the completed forms to the company at (954) 940-7431. All the faxes go through the line’s computer system and are kept on record and processed. Guests and travel agents need to make sure their machines are set up to confirm the transaction on their end, because Radisson won’t be sending a follow-up confirmation from their offices prior to the cruise.

     Seven Seas Mariner’s tour desk will process the excursion requests, and if the tour is available, will put the shore excursion tickets in guests’ suite upon embarkation and add the charge to their onboard accounts. If the tours chosen are waitlisted, guests also will be notified after they board the ship.

     This season – from June 5 through September 10 – the ship will offer a total of 58 shore excursions in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka, with 12 new choices including an Alaska Crabbing Experience, Mendenhall Glacier Native Canoe Adventure, Back Country Glacier Flightseeing Tour and Sea Life Discovery Tour.

      Radisson has added some “adventurer” tours to the roster this summer, for guests who want a bit of a physical challenge. Options are a Klondike Rock Climbing & Rappelling Adventure, While Pass Railway & Heli-Hike, Advanced Bike Trip, Helicopter Glacier Hike and Sawtooth Mountain
Nature Hike.

     Kids under the age of 12 have their own tours, including a Lighthouse Boat trip, Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, Historic Juneau Gold Mine Tour, and visits to Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Hatchery and Russian America & Raptor Center.

Serenade’n New York 10/22/03


     Royal Caribbean will put its newest 2,100-guest Radiance-class ship in New York this summer when it debuts in August. Serenade of the Seas will be the first in the fleet to sail an inaugural season from the Big Apple, as well as the first to offer Canada itineraries from the port. The ship will sail a series of four- and five-night itineraries to Canada from September 1 through October 27.

     The cruises will visit Halifax and Saint John, with fares starting at $499 per person/double occupancy.

     After its big-city debut, Serenade will head over to San Juan, where it will sail weekly seven-night southern Caribbean itineraries to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados.

NCL’s Pride 11/21/03


     Norwegian Cruise Line has chosen the names Pride of America and Pride of Aloha for its two American-flagged ships sailing Hawaii inter-island cruises next year under the line’s NCL America brand. Both ships will be crewed with U.S. officers and crew.

     As reported in the May issue of CruiseReports, the first ship to enter service is the first Project America ship which NCL recovered from the defunct American Classic Voyages. The second ship – aptly named Pride of Aloha – will be the re-flagged and completely refurbished Norwegian Sky and is slated to start sailing three- and four-night cruises round-trip from Honolulu in October 2004.

     Pride of America will begin service in Hawaii in July 2004, offering seven-night cruises round trip from Honolulu. When the ship debuts it will have a “Best of America” theme with eight restaurants, over 660 balcony staterooms, three pools, extensive children’s facilities, and the largest dedicated meeting facilities at sea, according to the line -- all inspired by regions of America.

     The ship also will introduce some new firsts for NCL, including a Conservatory with a tropical landscaped garden and live exotic birds; a new category of Family Suites; Tennis Court; and a Soho Art Gallery. In addition to two American-themed main restaurants, the Pride of America will have a Lone Star Steak House with a Texan décor, an Asian venue similar to that on Norwegian Dawn, a French restaurant with cuisine inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello, a 24-hour 1950’s style diner with an oldies Rock ‘n Roll theme, and an Italian eatery.

     The Mardi Gras Cabaret, Napa Wine Bar, John Adams Coffee Bar, Gold Rush Pub, Key West Bar & Grill and the Waikiki Bar are a handful of the ship’s bars and lounges.

     Detailed plans of the Pride of Aloha’s design will be announced within the next few months, according to NCL.

From the East 5/20/03


     Norwegian Cruise Line has added some east coast departures to its sailing roster next year and beyond.

     A series of four 10- and 11-day “Exotic Southern Caribbean” itineraries have been added to the Norwegian Dawn’s year-round sailing roster from New York during January and part of February in 2004 and 2005.

     On January 4 and 25, 2004 (and on January 2 and 23, 2005) Norwegian Dawn will set sail on an 11-day cruise from New York calling at St. Thomas, St. John’s, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, and Tortola. On January 15, 2004, Norwegian Dawn will depart for a 10-day voyage to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. John’s, Antigua, Dominica and St. Maarten. On February 5, 2004 (and on January 13 and February 3, 2005) the ship will set sail on a 10-day route to St. Thomas, St. John’s, Antigua, Barbados, St. Maarten and Tortola.

     The new itineraries go on sale Tuesday, May 20th with prices starting from $1,099 per person.

     NCL has also signed a four-year deal with the Delaware River Port Authority to sail at least 29 cruises from Philadelphia to Bermuda beginning this fall. In September and October, NCL’s Norwegian Sea will sail five cruises from the Philadelphia; and the line will offer eight cruises each year from 2004 through 2006. Next year, NCL’s Norwegian Crown will sail weekly from Philadelphia to Bermuda from mid-April to late May.

     The seven-day cruises will overnight in St. George’s, Hamilton, and King’s Wharf in Bermuda.

Flexibility Costs Money 5/19/03


     Silversea Cruises has added more flexibility to its ships’ embarkation and debarkation process, but guests have to pay a price for their early arrival and late departure.

      Each guest who wants to board the ship earlier than the scheduled embarkation time (usually 3:00 p.m.), has to pay $100, and register before the cruise. They can embark as early as 10:30 a.m., after guests of the previous cruise have been cleared to leave, and will have access to their suites and free reign of the ship.

     Guests wishing to hang out aboard ship and store their luggage up until 5:00 p.m. need to arrange plans through the concierge onboard, and also will have to fork up $100 per person. For those who want to hold on to their suites, if available, the cost is $150 per guest. Late-disembarking guests are issued a pass that enables them to come and go from the ship as they please.

Premier of The Next Destination 5/17/03


     Tune into CNBC at 9 p.m. tomorrow night (May 17) if you want to get a close look at Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’ new Seven Seas Voyager. A documentary on the ship will be featured on Travel & Leisure’s first television special – the hour-long premier of “The Next Destination” – on CNBC, and will air again at midnight and on May 18 in the same time slots, and May 26 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

     The editors of CruiseReports had a chance to preview the show aboard the line’s Seven Seas Navigator in New York the other day. Host Liz Claman and Travel & Leisure’s Managing Editor Mark Orwoll give viewers an insiders look into the construction of the ship as well as a below-the-decks view of the ship’s onboard operations, such as the crew quarters, the galley and laundry room facilities. While Liz’s shots actually were filmed aboard the Seven Seas Navigator, Mark met up with the Voyager to bring viewers interviews with crew members and passengers on the ship’s “shakedown” cruises and discussions with Radisson’s President and CEO Mark Conroy.

Silversea Refreshes Spas 5/15/03

       Silversea Cruises’ Steiner-owned Mandara Spa is expanding its hours and staff, adding poolside cabana treatments and rolling out a selection of new Spa Therapies by Elemis.

     “We’re very excited about adding the new Elemis products and poolside cabanas,” said Helen McCabe-Young, Silversea's Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. “In keeping true to Mandara's Eastern philosophy, we’re adding holistic products that feature the finest essential oils and seeking out natural venues that provide the serene surroundings that are so important to the therapeutic process.”

     The poolside massage cabanas ($50 for 25 minutes) and the new Elemis spa products, which have been used by Steiner-owned spas for years, will debut this month aboard Silver Wind and will be aboard the line’s other ships next month. Elemis aromatherapy products (our editor’s are hooked on them) will bring essential oils and plant extracts to the table. The products are made out of the purest extracts of essential oils and absolutes allowed.

     The line will add three hours to the spa’s current 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule, keeping it open until 11 p.m. on select nights of its cruises. According to a spokesperson for Silversea, the price structure of the menu will basically remain unchanged, as many of the traditional Mandara treatments will stay the same price and the new Elemis therapies are generally in the same price range. Treatments range up to $290 per person.

     Silversea also has plans to refresh the Balinese décor in the treatment rooms.

Exotic Princess 5/14/03


     Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2004-05 Exotics season, which the line is touting as its longest ever offered, making next summer the first one to cruise to Asia and the South Pacific. The line-up includes longer sailings, dubbed “Connoisseur Adventure Voyages,” and three ships sailing in Asia.

     In total, five ships – Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess, Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Sapphire Princess – will sail 80 cruises on nearly 30 itineraries 10 to 30 days in length, including seven new itineraries to the line. Orinoco River/Southern Caribbean, Southeast Asia/Far East, and five new Connoisseur Adventure Voyages are new on the roster, as well as new destinations of Puerto Ordaz in Venezuela, Reunion, and Pitcairn Island.

     Pacific Princess will sail through the South Pacific islands, Australia, Asia, Hawaii, Tahiti, West Africa, South America and the Indian Ocean from April 21 and October 20, 2004. New choices include a 16-day Southeast Asia/Far East itinerary, a 24-day South Pacific Explorer, a 28-day West Africa/South America and a 28-day Indian Ocean/Australia.

     Sapphire Princess will sail six Australia/New Zealand voyages, as well as Asia routes and a 30-day Hawaii/Tahiti/South Pacific cruise. Royal Princess will spend the winter in South America again on a Santiago/Buenos Aires itinerary. The ship also will launch a new route for Princess -- a 16-day Orinoco River/Southern Caribbean voyage round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale and a new port of call for the line, Puerto Ordaz.

     Regal Princess will offer a second season of 15-day round-trip Hawaii cruises from Los Angeles, with 10 departures between December 9, 2004 and April 23, 2005. The itinerary will visit Hilo, Kona, Honolulu, Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Lahaina (Maui).

     Tahitian Princess will continue to sail in Tahiti year-round, through April 12, 2005. The ship will sail on two 10-day itineraries “Polynesia & the Cook Islands” and “Polynesia & the Marquesas Islands.” Both routes will call at Moorea, Reiatea and Bora Bora, with options to visit Rarotonga in the Cook Islands or the Marquesas with scenic cruising through the atolls of the Tuamoto Archipelago.
 

Pinnacle Dining 5/13/03


     A typical evening’s menu in Holland America Line’s reservations-only Pinnacle Grill alternative restaurant consists of Dungeness Crab Cakes with Spiral Shaved Cucumber & Sweet Chili Sauce, Seared Duck Breast and Grande Wilde Mushroom Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce, or Lamb Rack Chops with Drizzled Mint Sauce.

     Yum!

     No wonder why the line is putting it on nine of its ships this year.

     Holland America Line debuted the Pacific Northwest-style venue – which has a $20-per-person surcharge – onboard Statendam and Ryndam last October, and has since put it on the Volendam, Rotterdam, Zaandam and Amsterdam.

     “Based on the overwhelming feedback from our guests about the Pinnacle Grill, it made sense to add this restaurant to more of our ships,” said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. “This alternative dining venue features the best of Pacific Northwest cuisine and style, high-quality ingredients, fine wines and elegant presentation, offering our guests even more options in Holland America’s premium cruise experience.”

     The 1,800-square-foot restaurant will be added to the Prinsendam in May, the Maasdam in October, and the Veendam in spring of 2004, and is already aboard the new Zuiderdam. The venue also will be onboard the Oosterdam, which is set to debut at the end of this summer.

Antarctica in Style 5/10/03

     Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has teamed-up with Abercrombie & Kent to operate four itineraries to the  aboard the Explorer II. In November and December 2003, the Explorer II will sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 14- and 15-night voyages to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia, and in January 2004, the vessel will offer two 11-night round-trip Ushuaia expeditions.

     The expedition ship usually carries 394, but the companies have limited the amount of guests onboard to 198 passengers per sailing. All four voyages include Zodiac explorations from the ship, complimentary hotel in Santiago or Buenos Aires, and travelers on the two January sailings will receive free round-trip economy air.

     Abercrombie & Kent will staff the ship with expedition specialists and lecturers to brief guests about the wildlife, geology and history of the continent, escort each shore excursion, and recap each day onboard.

     Fares start at $6,835 per person/double occupancy.

Jacksonville Debuts 5/10/03


      Jacksonville will soon be on the map for cruise vacationers. In addition to launching a series of 11 short cruises from the northern Florida port when the new Carnival Miracle debuts in March 2004, Carnival Cruise Lines plans to move its oldest vessel to Jacksonville for year-round departures next year.

     The 1,452-passenger Holiday will launch Jacksonville’s first year-round cruise program with four- and five-day voyages when it begins sailing from the port in October 2004. The 18-year-old ship will operate four-day Bahamas and five-day western Caribbean cruises, beginning at $299 per person. Four-day sailings will depart on Thursdays, calling at Freeport and Nassau, while five-day cruises will set sail on Mondays and Saturdays and visit Key West and Nassau.

     Prior to the Holiday’s departures, Carnival Miracle will set sail on a series of three-day Bahamas, and five- and six-day Caribbean cruises from March 1 through April 17, 2004. Three-day cruises will visit Freeport; five-day sailings will call at Key West and Nassau; and six-day voyages will head to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Freeport.

Slip & Slide


     Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have teamed up with The Coca-Cola Company to sponsor a new 20,000-square-foot aqua adventure park on CocoCay, the lines’ private island.

     The new Caylana's Castle Cove – situated offshore in the waters around the island – is designed for both adults and kids, and has activities such as two 14-foot castles with one side for climbing and the other for sliding; two 25-foot floating trampolines; several “slidewalks” and aqua logs; and two water teeter totters. The separate children’s section has smaller versions of the apparatuses. Adults pay $15 and children under 12 pay $10 for 50 minutes in the aqua park. Lifeguards will be on duty.