SeaDream Discounts 6/27/02


     SeaDream Yacht Club is offering savings of up to 50 percent on 2002 Mediterranean cruises through October, with rates starting at $1,995 per person/double occupancy to those who book by June 30. The SeaDream I and SeaDream II (formerly the Sea Goddess vessels) sail seven-day itineraries in France, Italy and Spain as well as 14-day trans-Atlantic voyages.

Call your travel agent or 1-800-707-4911 or visit www.seadreamyachtclub.com

Windstar Adds More Free Air 6/26/02

     While Windstar Cruises has already announced two promotions offering free and low cost airfare to Tahiti, in combination with the Wind Song’s cruises to the islands – the line is now offering free airfare to those sailing on any one of the ship’s cruises between July 5 and December 13, 2002.

     The free airfare promotion is available from the following 31 cities nationwide: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tucson, and Washington D.C.

     The promotion includes free roundtrip airfare on Air Tahiti Nui from the above cities to Papeete, Tahiti, all transfers and free dayroom at the Tahiti Sheraton.
The Wind Song sails every Friday from Tahiti to Raiatea, Huahine, Bora Bora, and Moorea.
 

More in Hawaii 6/25/02


     It looks like the newest cruise trend may be to position more ships in Hawaii. Last week CruiseReports announced that Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess will be offering a regular schedule of round-trip cruises to the Aloha state from Los Angeles, and today, we’re bringing you news on another line that has added more Hawaii cruises next year.

     Holland America Line is adding three new 16-day “Circle Hawaii” cruises in 2003, in addition to its 15-day sailings aboard the Statendam. The line will offer a total of seven Hawaii cruises in 2003, all sailing roundtrip from San Diego.

     On the new cruises, the ship will call at the lesser-visited port of Kaunakakai, Molokai, which will be introduced on the ship’s 15-day holiday cruise departing December 20, 2002. Other port calls on the new 16-day itinerary – which will depart on January 14, April 7 and November 19, 2003 – will include Hilo, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Lahaina, and Kona.

Kudos, Celebrity 6/24/02

     The Unites States Coast Guard has awarded Celebrity Cruises with a 2002 William M. Benkert Award For Environmental Excellence.

     What’s that, you ask?

     The award – named in honor of Rear Admiral William M. Benkert (1923-1989), a distinguished Coast Guard officer widely known for his leadership and vision in marine environmental excellence – has honored Celebrity for its “superior environmental operations.” The award, which is given out every two years, was established to recognize vessel and facility operators who have displayed marine environmental excellence through programs that exceed mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.

     Celebrity was acknowledged for being the first cruise line in the world to use gas-turbine powered cruise ships; having the first vessels to receive Lloyd's Register Environmental
Protection Certification, recognizing the company's commitment to strict environmental compliance; implementing fleetwide environmental protection programs; using waste- and pollution-reduction systems onboard; and more.

Aloha Regal Princess 6/23/02


     Princess Cruises will launch its first series of regular round-trip Hawaiian cruises next year aboard Regal Princess, featuring a 15-day itinerary from Los Angeles. The ship will offer seven sailings between November 22, 2003 and March 21, 2004, with visits to Hilo, Kona, Honolulu, Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Lahaina (Maui).

     “Year after year, Hawaii continues to be a ‘must see’ destination for vacation travelers,” said Dean Brown, Princess’ executive vice president of customer service and sales. “For the 2003-04 season, we have created a dedicated itinerary that provides an enriching island experience made convenient by the ship’s round-trip sailing from the mainland. Hawaii serves as a logical addition to our lineup of discovery destinations, combining the excitement of exploration with the comfort of Princess’ quality onboard service.”

“The Love Boat” Truths Revealed on E!

    Those interested in a little “Love Boat” history and entertainment might want to tune their boob tubes into the E! network this Sunday. The entertainment TV station is premiering “TV Tales: The Love Boat” on June 23 at 8 p.m. – a two hour edition on a below-the-decks look at the former Pacific Princess crew, including interviews with Gavin "Stubing" MacLeod, Fred "Gopher" Grandy, Bernie "Doc" Kopell, Lauren "Julie" Tewes, Ted "Isaac" Lange, and more.

    “TV Tales” will trace the wake of the nine-year 1980s hit series that took cruising to new levels, as well as it’s revivals – the TV movie “The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage,” and “The Love Boat: The Next Wave.”

    Other highlights include the truth behind on how Dr. Adam Bricker got his name, which star experienced a fiery brush with death, and what the guest stars wore under their bathing suits.
 

     E! says, if you thought you knew “The Love Boat,” then hold on to your cute little white short-shorts and matching tube socks! You’re in for a real sail away party!

    The station also has an “extra-special Love Boat section” on their Web site, www.eonline.com, featuring crew and guest profiles, recipes for fruity cruise cocktails, and other factoids about the prime-time show.

     So check your local cable station guide for the E! listing, then grab your frozen daiquiri and a good seat on the coach – it’s Showtime!

Going Digital 6/21/02

     Next time you get your picture taken on one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships, you’ll be able have the image put on a key chain in no time. The line has partnered with Showtime Pictures to provide onboard digital photography services for passengers – which means no more waiting the next day to find your formal pictures in the onboard photo gallery.

     In addition to having your embarkation gangway picture put on a key chain – buttons, mugs, and traditional photo albums are available. Guests also will have more choice variety when choosing background designs.

      “We are delighted with this new relationship, and believe this partnership will further illustrate Freestyle Cruising by offering passengers more choices in how they want their vacation memories to be captured,” said Andy Stuart, senior vice president of marketing and sales for NCL.

     You know what else this means?

     You can e-mail your cruise pictures to your family and friends back home from the ship!

     Say cheese!

New Ships for MSC 6/20/02

     The MSC Lirica and the MSC Opera will be the names of MSC Italian Cruises’ new sister ships to be launched in the spring of 2003 and spring of 2004, respectively.

      The 1,590-guest flagships will feature a fitness center, two swimming pools, a “Mini Club” for children, a shopping gallery, and a disco and theater hosting new shows nightly. The vessels also will have a Virtual Reality Center and an Internet Café with 16 terminals. Other amenities include satellite TV; a mini bar, safe, radio and 24-hour room service in all 795 cabins, as well as 132 verandah staterooms.

      According to the line, the new flagships will have an ambiance of elegance, cordiality and joy of living Italian style onboard each vessel.

      “MSC Italian Cruises brings together a unique combination of old world grace and contemporary technologies in the design of these new ships,” said Nicola Arena, president of MSC Italian Cruises. “Both the MSC Lirica and MSC Opera will express the true Italian ambiance and service that have become the hallmark of our cruise line.”

      In keeping with MSC’s Italian gastronomic heritage, the ships’ two main restaurants, a grill area and a pizzeria onboard will serve authentic Italian dishes.

      Look out for more details of these new vessels in the next issue of CruiseReports.

Royal Princess Breaks the Ice 6/19/02

     Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess will ply new waters in December 2003, when it offers the line’s first Antarctic itinerary. The 24-day South Atlantic/Antarctica/South America cruise departs December 19 and travels between Cape Town and Santiago, with two days of cruising among the islands and channels of the continent.

     The itinerary begins with an overnight in Cape Town, followed by a cruise around the Cape of Good Hope. In the South Atlantic, the ship will call at Tristan da Cunha, and will then sail among the islands and channels surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula, including Elephant Island, Esperanza Station, Deception Island, Intercurrence Island and Sigma Island.

     Royal Princess will then head north to Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands, and to Cape Horn and Ushuaia in Argentina. Other calls, as the ship heads along the Chilean coast to Santiago, include cruising the Beagle Channel, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, and cruising Seno Eyre Fjord.

back to the top

New Web Site in Play 06/18/02


     Visitors to Cunard Line’s web site, www.cunard.com, will notice a new look. The line has just launched a completely new website that features new navigational tools and interactive content.

     Greeted by music, visitors will be able to take a tour of the Queen Elizabeth 2 as well as a 360-degree narrated video tour deck by deck and get a panoramic view of public rooms and cabins.

     The home page also has a section entitled "Featured Voyages," which uses flash animation to promote selected sailings. "In the News" provides a summary of current Cunard news items as well as link to an archive of press releases. "Sign up for SailMail" lets visitors register to receive special offers and information via e-mail.

     The site's new "Voyage Planner" leads to a search engine of all 2002 and 2003 Cunard itineraries by date, destination or ship. Visitors also have the option of scrolling through the calendar with departures listed by date. Selecting any departure brings up a day-to-day itinerary with an added button for special savings offers.

     There is an interactive world map and each sailing region has a page of menus linked to cruise schedules, descriptions of the ports of call, shore excursions, land extensions and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays. An accommodation guide, a specifications chart and a section with frequently asked questions and a travel agent locator also is available on the new site.

     The website's "Did You Know" area features special programs, guest testimonials and historical tidbits. Members of the Cunard World Club for past passengers are able to access a restricted area where they can review the benefits and privileges of membership, find out about the latest exclusive offers and register to receive regular e-mail updates.

     In the not-too-distant future, Cunard's new Queen Mary 2, scheduled to debut in 2003, will be featured on an independent site accessed via a portal on the Cunard home page.

back to the top

Cruising Around on QM2 6/15/02

     Now that you’re aware of all of the goodies that Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (QM2) will have when it debuts in January 2004, don’t you want to know where the 150,000-ton liner will be sailing?

     In addition to offering six-day trans-Atlantic journeys between New York and Southampton from April through October, the QM2 will ply the waters of the Caribbean, South America, Canada/New England, and Europe with speeds of up to almost 30 knots. The vessel’s 14-day inaugural voyage will depart Southampton for Ft. Lauderdale on January 12, 2004, and call at Madiera, Tenerife and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Barbados and St. Thomas – a trip which Deborah Natansohn, the line’s senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing said already has a waitlist of 2,000 people.

     After sailing an 11-day Caribbean cruise to San Juan, St. Kitts, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Thomas on January 31, QM2 will offer two 12-day one-way cruises between Ft. Lauderdale and Rio de Janeiro on February 11 and 23, with overnight shipboard stays in Rio for Carnival. The cruise from Ft. Lauderdale will call at St. Thomas and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, while the sailing from Rio will visit Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten and St. Thomas – a cruise option that is “brand new for Cunard,” said Natansohn.

     QM2 will use both Ft. Lauderdale and New York as U.S. bases for a series of Caribbean cruises ranging in length from eight to 14 days - offered in March, November and December - with visits to San Juan, St. Kitts, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Aruba, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

     On March 26, the ship will set sail from Ft. Lauderdale to Southampton on a “Three Continents Trans-Atlantic” cruise calling at ports in Barbados, Senegal, Canary Islands, Madeira, and Portugal. On April 16, 2004, QM2 will depart from Southampton on its first westbound trans-Atlantic crossing to New York. April 25 will mark a historic day for Cunard when the QM2 sails its inaugural eastbound crossing to Southampton in tandem with its sister ship Queen Elizabeth 2, as it makes a final eastbound crossing. QE2 lovers shouldn’t fret though, because the ship will continue to operate her annual world cruise and will offer a variety of cruises from Southampton, and still will be marketed in the U.S.

     Five summer Europe cruises from Southampton will take QM2’s guests to ports in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Iberian Peninsula. Three 12-day cruises call at Vigo, Mallorca, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Marseille, and Lisbon. A 14-day cruise includes additional calls at Civitavecchia and Livorno; and on July 11, QM2 sails round-trip from Southampton to Norway's fjords will calls at Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Aalesund, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Hamburg, and Rotterdam.

     In September, the ship will cruise along the east coast of Canada and New England on two 12-day cruises round-trip from New York. Ports include Portland, Sydney, Halifax, Corner Brook, Quebec City, Newport, and Charlottetown.

     Those looking for cruises to nowhere on the QM2 will be able to board the ship in New York for a three-day Mother's Day celebration departing May 7, and a four-day Fourth of July cruise leaving on July 1.

     Now that you know where the ship will sail, you’ll have to figure out which one of the ship’s 1,310 fully equipped staterooms and suites to stay in. Of course, if you pay more, you’ll get more amenities – but all of the accommodations will feature a full bathroom with tub and/or shower as well as an interactive television – which can be used to order services onboard as well as pay bills. “There’s really not going to be any need to stand online on the QM2,” said Natansohn.

     More than 800 of the staterooms also have “very beautiful, spacious balconies,” added Natansohn.

     For those who want extra luxury out of their stay onboard the QM2, the vessel has two Grand Duplex apartments measuring 2,249 square feet, with living quarters, an expansive downstairs balcony, two marble baths and private exercise equipment; three Duplex apartments measuring 1,471 square feet with similar amenities and smaller balconies; 1,194 square-foot Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth suites with private elevator access; 796 square-foot Royal Suites with views of the bow of the ship, living and dining area, a master bedroom and two full bathrooms; six Penthouse suites measuring 758 square feet, with large balconies, a living room and dining room and more; and 82 regular suites measure 506 square feet, complete with balconies, spacious living area, dressing room and more. All of these Queens Gill accommodations feature marble bathrooms and whirlpool tubs, walk-in closets, stocked in-suite bars and butler and concierge service. Early booking cruise rates for these accommodations range between $2,799 and $29,999 per person.

     Those occupying the 76 Junior Suites measuring 291 square feet – which are all located on Deck 10 – will dine in the Princess Grill. These suites feature large balconies, bathrooms with tub and shower, sitting area with full size sofa, walk-in closets and concierge service. Per person early booking rates start at $2,299.

     For those of us who may not be able to afford such lavish accommodations at sea, the QM2 offers 782 deluxe and premium balcony staterooms measuring 252 square feet; 138 ocean view staterooms, 12 interior staterooms with an atrium view, and 281 inside cabins – all measuring 194 square feet. Early booking rates for the inside staterooms start at $599 and rates for outside staterooms with balconies begin at $1,074 per person.
So when can you start booking your vacation on the QM2?

     If you’ve sailed on Cunard's QE2 or Caronia in 2001 or on QE2's 2002 World Cruise, you can start booking on July 1, which is 30 days earlier than everyone else. The line’s top 100 travel agents also will have this advantage. For the rest of the population – books officially open on August 1.

back to the top

QM2 on Track 6/14/02


       In January 2004, Cunard Line’s 150,000-ton Queen Mary 2 (QM2) will enter service and take over the Queen Elizabeth 2’s trans-Atlantic voyages between New York and Southampton. But that’s not all passengers of the 2,600-guest mega-liner can expect of Cunard’s new flagship.

     In addition to being the largest, widest, longest, tallest and most expensive ($800 million) passenger vessel ever to be built – the QM2 will offer a number of choices and amenities geared toward the “baby-boomer” market that the line is aiming to target. After all, with six straight days at sea, guests will need this liner to be their destination.

     The ship’s 2,620 guests can enjoy constellation shows and movie screenings in Illusions, the first planetarium at sea; indulge in the latest health club and spa services at the 20,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub; admire the $5 million art collection throughout or take an audio tour of the maritime exhibit; and pop in the well-stocked library to ask one of the full-time librarians for a best-seller recommendation.

     Feel like learning some French or taking up oil-paint classes? ConneXions – the ship’s seven-classroom “university at sea” – will provide cruisers with ample space to take the line’s enrichment classes as well as send e-mails and access the Internet.

     British nannies and play zone areas will occupy children, including a “kids-only” pool – one of five pools onboard the QM2. And a video arcade room is located adjacent to the casino.

     Dining options will be plentiful onboard, including specialty restaurants and three main dining rooms – Queens Grill will seat those occupying the top suites and the five duplex apartments, Princess Grill will be for guests staying in the Junior Suites, and the three-story Britannia Restaurant will serve passengers staying in all of the ship’s other categories. World-famous chef Todd English – who also was named one of “People” magazine’s 2001 “50 Most Beautiful People,” will have a 216-seat namesake dining venue onboard featuring “rustic, contemporary Mediterranean cuisine,” revealed Deborah Natansohn, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for the line, which will be open for lunch and dinner. Guests who make reservations at Todd English’s also will have the option of dining inside or poolside – at no extra charge.

     A traditional British-themed Golden Lion Pub will serve up traditional “pub grub” of burgers and sandwiches and tap beers while guests watch televised sporting events, and the Boardwalk Grill will pose as the QM2’s “fast food” type eatery offering soups, salads, hot dogs and other grilled selections. By day the lido Kings Court will feature breakfast and lunch buffets, and at night it will be transformed into four dining venues, including an Italian trattoria, an Asian restaurant, a carvery and a Chef’s Galley exhibiting cooking demonstrations. And of course, “tea time” will be held daily in the elegant Winter Garden.

     Nightlife onboard the QM2 certainly won’t be a yawn. The G32 nightclub – named after the vessel’s number in the shipyard – will feature cocktail waiters and bar tenders in overalls and hard hats inviting guests to groove to rock and hip-hop. Ballroom dancers will feel at home in the Queens Room – where an orchestra and dance floor will greet them. Want a little intimacy? The champagne bar, cigar lounge and Sir Samuel’s wine bar will provide softer atmospheres.

     In addition to the state-of-the art Royal Court Theatre main show lounge where West End and Broadway caliber shows will hit the stage, other entertainment venues onboard will feature jazz bands, piano music, comedians and cabaret singers.

     “We’re still working on the entertainment,” said Natansohn, “but we feel like it’s going to be very diverse.”

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s CruiseLog, which will discuss the QM2’s accommodations, inaugural itineraries and booking information.

back to the top

Celebs to Travel the World with Guests 6/13/02


    Conservative commentator William F. Buckley, Jr., business innovator John Sculley, former national security advisor Robert C. McFarlane and Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint will be onboard segments of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner's 108-night world voyage departing January 21, 2003, to share anecdotes and perspectives on the political and cultural events of the U.S.

     The speakers will be onboard for three of four 21 to 34-night segments as the ship sails the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia, the islands of the Coral Sea, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, India, South Africa, South America and the Caribbean Islands, en route to Fort Lauderdale.

     The January 21, 31-night Los Angeles to Sydney cruise will feature William F.
Buckley, Jr., founder of conservative journal National Review in 1955 and of Firing Line from 1966 to 1999, where he hosted many of the world's leaders, politicians and intellectuals. Robert C. McFarlane, national security advisor to President Reagan, and White House staff member under the administrations of Presidents Ford and Nixon, will join the cruise in Auckland on February 9.

     John Sculley, internationally recognized business leader and former CEO of Apple Computer and PepsiCo will be onboard the February 21, 34-night Sydney to Singapore cruise. Seven Seas Mariner’s April 17, 22-night Cape Town to Ft. Lauderdale cruise will host Eva Marie Saint -- the screen, stage and television actress whose triumphs include On the Waterfront, for which she won an Academy Award, A Hatful of Rain, Raintree County, Exodus, North by Northwest and more.

back to the top

American-Caribbean Celebration  6/12/02

     Taking a Caribbean cruise with a stop at St. John, UVI this month? If so, you may want to attend the island’s 48th annual Fourth of July Festival, which runs through July 5, 2002.

     "This annual event provides visitors the perfect opportunity to enjoy the local culture of St. John, sample a few of the territory’s local delicacies and enjoy the USVI’s unmatched local talent," said Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards. "With an unforgettable scenic Caribbean backdrop, the residents of St. John will salute our nation with an unmatched display of patriotism this year."

      The theme for this year’s festival, "A Salute to America, with a Cultural Strumoo, for Festival 2002," will highlight the best of St. John’s unique culture while celebrating the American heritage of the island. This year’s celebration will begin with a "Pan-O-Rama" concert in Cruz Bay Park on Saturday, June 1, at 6 p.m. Additional activities of the month-long celebration include: a salsa night at Winston Wells Ball Park in Cruz Bay (June 14); a morning bike race that departs from the National Park Ball Field (June 15); a calypso and reggae show at Winston Wells Ball Park (June 15); the crowning of Miss St. John (June 22); a food fair in Cruz Bay Park, honoring David Ferguson (June 23); boat races (June 23); the festival village, honoring Cleone Creque (June 28 - July 5); amateur boxing competitions at Winston Wells Ball Park (June 29); and a cultural day at Cruz Bay Park (July 3).

     The festivities will conclude on July 4, as the "J’ouvert" procession fills the streets and segues into the annual Fourth of July parade. The festivities will come to an end on July 5, with an international reggae show at the Winston Wells Ball Field.

back to the top

Sur-vey Says. . . .Americans Will Buy Trips 6/11/02

     Although Americans held off on spending money on travel in the wake of September 11th, economic concerns will not keep them from returning to the vacation trail this summer, according to a national survey sponsored by AmeriCredit Corp.

     The survey shows that Americans are back in the market for vacations in 2002, as 23% of the respondents said a vacation will be their first major purchase this year. The independent study examined the impact of recent economic trends on consumer attitudes and behavior and revealed that 28% of the respondents had deferred vacation spending in the last year. In the fourth quarter of 2001, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis said that seasonally adjusted direct tourism expenditures declined $16 billion, or 4%, from the prior quarter. The September 11 tragedies were a significant factor in the fourth quarter decline, the organization said.

     Respondents also said they are ready to start spending again, despite lingering economic concerns. More than four out of five indicated they will resume normal spending habits within a year – and nearly half already have.

     “These findings suggest that Americans believe we have weathered the storm, and they are ready to vote with their pocketbooks,” said Michael R. Barrington, chief executive officer of AmeriCredit Corp. “The survey shows there will be strong consumer spending this year in the travel, home improvement, home electronics and automotive industries—all leading indicators of an economic recovery.”

back to the top