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Q. My_question:

Here's a random question-- we are going on the Infinity in just 2 days-- 3/16-- and are booked in an ocean view stateroom on the continental deck (2131 I believe). We booked very early this year and upgraded from the inside to the ocean view room. In reading, I read that the lower level staterooms are significantly smaller than those on upper level decks-- have you found that to be the case? Also, have you found that Infinity is amenable to upgrading passengers on the day of voyage? We were hoping to get lucky and find an ocean view with a balcony open. Has the ship been very full?

A. Hi H.....,
First of all, I want to tell you that you are going to have an incredible next week! The Infinity is a gorgeous ship with some of the most unbelievable staff I've ever encountered.

     Judging from what you told me about your room location, it looks like your stateroom is a few doors down from the elevator on Deck 2, and is 170 feet according to the brochure. I haven't been in the room, so I don't know how big it looks, but I can tell you that it is right below the guest relations desk, which is a central location close to the main areas of the ship.
 
     However, the rooms with balconies do offer a nice experience. If you're interested in a stateroom with a balcony, then you should contact your travel agent or Celebrity Cruises (1-800-CELEBRITY) to see what's available as far as an upgrade.

     I just spoke with someone at the guest relations desk regarding your inquiry and he said that the ship is booked next week, but if you call Celebrity they can give you more details. The ship does offer upgrades onboard once you arrive if there is availability. Although he couldn't give me an exact rate, he did confirm that there is a charge for the upgrade.

     Hope this helps, and that you can get the upgrade! Either way, you'll have a blast on this cruise!

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Free Upgrades on Crystal 4/6/02
    
     Crystal Cruises is offering free upgrades through April 30, 2002.  Guests who book an outside stateroom with large window on the Crystal Harmony’s Alaska cruises will be upgraded to a veranda stateroom.  The offer applies to the ship’s 12-day round-trip San Francisco cruises departing August 21 and September 2.  The ship will call at Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vancouver and Victoria.

     Rates begin at $2,975 per person/double occupancy.  Call your travel agent or 1-800-446-6620 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

Albino Sea Lion Spotted 4/5/02

    Guests sailing onboard Lindblad Expedition’s Polaris cruise in the Galapagos this week made history. The adventure vacationers spotted the only albino sea lion of the Galapagos genus ever reported off Floreana Island, Galapagos on Monday. According to the line, albinism in sea lions is very rare with only two cases previously reported and none in the Galapagos Islands.

     The ship’s naturalist Carlos Romero sent the report with images via satellite to the Lindblad Expeditions homepage at www.expeditions.com. An excerpt from his report is featured below.

     “An extraordinary sighting made our day today. Early in the morning while cruising with the Zodiacs along the coast of a place known as “La Lobería” near Post office Bay, we observed an albino sea lion! Just at the moment I was answering a question about sea lions I noticed that something was very odd on the black volcanic lava. An unusual yellowish pup was resting close to its mother. Immediately I radioed my fellow Polaris naturalists. I felt a very strange mix of happiness, amazement and relief at the same time. I thought to myself, wow! The albino sea lion is still alive and well in Floreana.”

Cruises Make a Comeback 4/4/02

     According to a recent American Express poll conducted among its travel offices nationwide, since September 2001, consumer travel is steadily increasing with each passing month and cruises and tour packages are coming back much stronger than other travel options.

      The most popular destinations, according to the poll are the Caribbean, Disney resorts, Las Vegas, Hawaii and Mexico.

     The poll also found that more customers than ever are booking cruises this spring. The reason cited most often by customers is that "they feel that they will get more value for their money". Cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean are among the most popular choices.

     Overall, the poll results revealed that finding great deals and special discounts is a key factor in most vacation decisions.

     "Spring has always been a popular time for vacations," said Cynthia Valles, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Travel Network, American Express. "For consumers on the fence about whether to travel this spring, there are a variety of vacation packages and cruises available at great prices. And to sweeten the deal, many packages and cruises offer free night stays, gift checks, cabin or room upgrades and even discounts off of the vacation price."

     Poll results also revealed that customers find value in travel agents as they look to find the best deals, research destinations, comparison shop and book travel.
 

Bravo, Bravo! 4/3/02

      Crystal Cruises has announced the debut of new concept of entertainment at sea.
Now showing in the Galaxy Lounge on Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony, as well as Club 2100 on Crystal Harmony and in Starlite Club on Crystal Symphony is "Repertory Theatre at Sea."

     Featuring a selection of renowned comedic and light dramatic works performed by troupes of professional actors on every Crystal sailing the shows are comprised of excerpts, or selected scenes, from larger works.

     Shows scheduled this year include readings from "Love Letters," "Simply Simon," "Never Doubt I Love," and "Art." Other theatrical selections include tales from the age of Edgar Allen Poe and Henry James, and scenes from today's Broadway hits.

     "Many of Crystal Cruises' discerning guests are theater aficionados, and expect their luxury vacation to include a wide scope of stimulating and entertaining experiences," says Bret Bullock, vice president, entertainment. "The Repertory Theatre at Sea format gives us the flexibility to regularly present new material, which is particularly appreciated by our large number of repeat guests."

Two-For-One in Provence 4/2/02

     eWaterways.com is offering two-for-one rates on the Chardonnay's six-night Rhone River cruise in France departing on April 13, 2002. The river barge will sail from Aigues-Mortes and visit Saint Remy and Arles, Nimes, Avignon, Cote du Rhone and Andance. Two-for-one rates begin at $1,245 per person. Call your travel agent or 1-800-676-6613 or visit www.ewaterways.com.
 

New Ports, Low Rates 4/1/02

     MSC Italian Cruises is offering rates beginning at $699 per person, double occupancy on its new 2002 Mediterranean cruise itineraries. The company offers seven, 11, 12 and 14-night cruises aboard the Melody, Rhapsody and Monterey, which depart from Genoa or Venice, Italy.

     This year the company has added nine new port calls to its itineraries: Antalya, Turkey; Catania, Sicily; Istanbul, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; Lisbon, Portugal; St. Tropez, France; Volos, Greece; plus Odessa and Yalta in the Ukraine. The new itineraries are offered from March through November 22, 2002.
Call your travel agent or 1-800-666-9333 or visit www.msccruisesusa.com.

Spring Super Sale 3/29/02

     Regal Cruises has introduced a "Spring Super Sale" with discounts of up to 40 percent on select Regal Empress cruises departing Port Manatee, Florida between April 1 and June 30, 2002.

     A three-night Key West cruise, April 11, is priced from $249; and five-night sailings to Progreso/Merída and Cozumel, departing April 28 and May 19, and Key West, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel on June 16, are begin at $299. Seven-night cruises departing April 14, 21 and May 12, stop in Key West, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel. Rates start at $499.

     Participants must mention fare code SPR when booking. Call your travel agent or (800) 270-7245 or visit www.regalcruises.com.
 

Round the Clock Reservations 3/28/02

     Do you ever get the urge to book a cruise at three O'clock in the morning? Maybe, maybe not. But if you do feel like booking your vacation late night, or early in the morning, Carnival Cruise Lines gives you the means to do so.

     The line has announced that, following a two-month trial period, the company's individual reservations department will be permanently staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new reservations hours, which have been in effect since mid-January, apply to call centers at both the company's Miami headquarters and in Colorado Springs.

     Carnival's toll-free number for individual reservations is 1-800-327-9501.

Deep in Alaska 3/27/02

     Cruise West has introduced a new “Voyage to the Bering Sea” cruise for 2002, with calls at Alaskan and Siberian ports far removed from traditional Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska cruise routes.

     Sailing between Whittier on Prince William Sound and Nome on Alaska’s northwest sub-Arctic coast, the new 13-night itinerary aboard the Spirit of Oceanus calls at Homer on the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands, and the Eskimo villages Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Yanrakynnot in Siberia, and Little Diomede Island in the Bering Strait.
 
     Prices start at $6,719 per person and include one shore excursion in every port. The cruise departs on May 28.
 

Permanent Move 3/26/02

     It’s official! Norwegian Cruise Line has made the decision to permanently replace the Hawaiian port call Kona with Hilo on the Norwegian Star’s Hawaii itinerary.

     The ship first started calling at Hilo in January, when the line announced that rough waters and lack of shore tenders prevented the Norwegian Star from continuing to call at Kona. According to Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL, positive passenger feedback also contributed to the decision to make the port a permanent call.

     “Lack of sufficient shore side tender availability in Kona coupled with the extremely positive feedback from our passengers has prompted us to make this temporary move permanent,” said Veitch. “The benefit of being alongside has been significant, giving our passengers longer to enjoy the Big Island of Hawaii.”

     NCL’s Norwegian Wind, which also operates Hawaii cruises, will call at Kona as scheduled.

Greenland and Spitsbergen Expedition Cruises 3/25/02

     In June Norwegian Coastal Voyage is introducing NCV Expedition Cruises to two Arctic islands – Greenland, on the Brand Polaris, and Spitsbergen, an island in the Svalbard archipelago midway between Norway and the North Pole, on the Polar Star.

     The eight-day cruises, which feature naturalist guides, lectures and Zodiac landings, are being offered as air-inclusive programs.

     Expedition cruises on the Brand Polaris focus on nature and the Inuit culture of Greenland. From Kangerlussuaq Fjord the ship sails along the west coast to Inuit fishing and hunting settlements – Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Ukkusissat, Saqqaq and Ilulissat. Other highlights are the Eqip Sermia Glacier, the Jakobshavn Fjord, Qqertarsuaq Island, and icebergs in Disko Bay. The 12-day packages have departures from June 3 to August 5 with flights to Greenland via Copenhagen. The cost is $3,810 to $6,250 per person, double occupancy.

     The Polar Star will sail from Longyearbyen and visit Ny-Alesund, Magdalenefjord, the Kongsfjord and Forland Strait and a Dutch whaling site. The cruise also includes a Zodiac crossing of the sound at Danskoya; and, if ice conditions permit, across 80° N.L. to eastern Spitsbergen's fjords, the Monaco Glacier and glacier-covered Nordaustlandet Island. The ten-day packages, scheduled from June 12 to September 14, cost $4,995 to $6,100.

     Call your travel agent or 1-800-323-7436 or visit www.coastalvoyage.com.

Top Cruise Destinations 3/22/02

     Where are most cruise vacationers visiting?

     According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the most popular destinations historically – including the Caribbean/Bahamas, the Mediterranean, Alaska and Europe – are upholding their reputation. But of the four most popular cruising areas, the Caribbean region, Europe and Alaska have increased their share of the market, while cruises in the Mediterranean, especially the eastern Med, have decreased.

    Mainly, this is because of the dramatic changes in ship deployment this year, as cruise lines have moved their vessels in response to world events and to find attractive new itineraries for their newbuilds.

   CLIA's annual destination analysis shows that the Caribbean/Bahamas captures 46.6 percent of the market in 2002 (compared with 44.5 percent in 2001); as usual, this area was the top destination for capacity placement. In second place is Europe, with nearly 11 percent of the market, compared with 8 percent in 2001. Popular European regions will include the Baltic, the Norwegian coast and the Spanish and French Rivieras.

    The Mediterranean has dropped to the number three cruise destination for the first time since 1995. Last year, the cruise region scored a 12.7 percent share, which represented the second most popular destination. More than 10 percent of cruise bed days* will be dedicated to the Mediterranean this year.

     In fourth place is Alaska, which inches up its share to 7.95 percent in 2002, compared with 7.89 percent in 2001.

     Some other destinations are seeing a dramatic jump in their cruise capacity this year, according to CLIA. For example: Western Mexico nearly tripled in number of bed days (jumping to 5.3 percent of the market from just under 2 percent in 2001); bed days on trans-Pacific cruises more than doubled, as did the market share (from .11 percent in 2001 to .22 percent in 2002); cruises along the East Coast jumped 83 percent over a year ago (nearly doubling its market share to .23 percent); Antarctica tips the scales at 50 percent more bed days than last year (.12 percent market share, up from .08 percent last year); capacity in the Far East increased by 67 percent (commanding a .57 percent share versus a .36 percent share a year ago); and bed days in Hawaii increased by 22 percent (earning 2.99 percent of the market, up from 2.61 percent).

     Another interesting trend indicated by CLIA's destination analysis is the growth of smaller, regional ports of embarkation. While the analysis does not specify each port of call beyond such major embarkation points as Miami and other ports in Florida, New York, Los Angeles and a few more, the number of embarkations at "Miscellaneous U.S. ports" has grown in the last five years from 136 cruises to 439.

     “Events have opened up new cruise opportunities for travelers. Redeployments have taken ships to destinations they may not previously have visited," said Mark Conroy, chairman of CLIA, the non-profit marketing organization representing the major North American cruise lines.

     "The result is an increase in the variety of destination experiences that complement the variety of onboard experiences that are available to cruisers this year."

     For more information on the cruise industry, visit CLIA's website, www.cruising.org.