Needless to say, now is not the best time to be out at sea on a Caribbean cruise. Not all cruise lines have needed to alter their itineraries, but here are the ones who have:

     Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas canceled its scheduled port call in Cozumel yesterday and substituted it with Labadee, Hispaniola; and also canceled its Grand Cayman call for today. On September 24, the ship will make a port call in Ocho Rios from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enchantment of the Seas will cancel its scheduled port call in Costa Maya, Mexico, on September 25, replace it with a port call in Ocho Rios and adjust the date of that port call and its other port calls, in Key West, Cozumel, and Georgetown. Today the ship will make a port call in Ocho Rios from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On September 25, the ship will make a port call in Georgetown from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On September 26, the ship will make a port call in Cozumel from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On September 27 the ship will be at sea. On September 28, the ship will make a port call in Key West from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

     Carnival Cruise Line’s Imagination flip-flopped its calls at Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, by making the Ocho Rios call yesterday instead of today. The Sensation didn’t call in Grand Cayman yesterday and will no longer call in Cozumel on today. Instead the five-day cruise will visit Nassau. The Jubilee’s cruise from Galveston had to skip Mexico all together and instead will be docking over-night in New Orleans and spending the day there on the 24th.

     Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun remained at sea instead of calling at Georgetown yesterday and will call at Roatan, Honduras today.

Santa Cruz in San Cristóbal 9/23/02


     Metropolitan Touring has revised the Santa Cruz’s Galapagos Islands itinerary to include San Cristóbal. According to the company, using the San Cristóbal airport for flights to/from mainland Ecuador on Mondays gives visitors more time in port on its three-, four-, and seven-night cruises.

     Guests can explore San Cristóbal by a nature walk at Cerro Brujo to discover two endemic species, the Chatham mockingbird and Chatham lava lizard, and swimming at a white coralline beach; a boat ride past Kicker Rock, a rock formation rising almost 500 feet high from the ocean and nesting place for blue-footed boobies and frigate birds; and visits to Puerto Baquierizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos, and the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, which displays exhibits on the natural history, settlement and efforts to preserve the islands.

     Three-night Monday-to-Thursday sailings feature San Cristóbal, Bartolomé, Puerto Egas on James Island, Darwin Bay on Tower Island, North Seymour, and the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. Four-night Thursday-to-Monday expeditions, which start at the Baltra airport, include the Charles Darwin Research Station; Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay and Punta Moreno on Isabela Island; Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island; Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez on Hood Island; and San Cristóbal. Seven-night voyages of discovery to all these visitor sites start on Mondays and Thursdays.

No More Radiance-class Ships? 9/23/02

     Fans of Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance-class vessels may be in for a disappointment. The line’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., has deferred its options to purchase a fifth and sixth 2,501-passenger ship within the class with deliveries in 2005 and 2006 for Royal Caribbean International.

     Royal Caribbean and Meyer Werft shipyard of Papenburg, Germany, builder of the Radiance-class ships, agreed to extend the options to January 10, 2003. Both options were to have expired on September 20, 2002.

     The Radiance-class currently includes Radiance of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas, and will welcome Serenade of the Seas in 2003 and Jewel of the Seas in 2004.

Century Joins Galaxy in Caribbean 9/21/02


     Celebrity Cruises’ Century will join sister-ship Galaxy in the Caribbean next summer. Originally the ship was scheduled to sail in Europe for the summer season with the Constellation and Millennium. Instead, the Century will continue to offer its seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades year-round.

     By keeping Century in the Caribbean, Celebrity will cancel 17 of the ship's originally scheduled European sailings – a mix of seven, 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Rome or Barcelona and two transatlantic crossings.

     So what do you do if you’ve already booked a cruise on one of the Century’s Europe sailings? The line is, of course, encouraging guests to rebook on either of Celebrity's or sister-company Royal Caribbean International’s remaining European itineraries. Rebooked guests will receive a $100-per cabin-credit. Otherwise check with your travel agent or call 1-800-646-1456.

New Amenities and Routes for Silver Wind 9/20/02

     Silversea Cruises’ 296-passenger Silver Wind – which entered wet-dock last December – will emerge from its refurbishment next spring with a new look, and a new itinerary. Instead of flaunting its re-upholstered public areas and suites as well as its newly added Le Champagne room and Computer/Internet center to guests in Asia and Australia in 2003, the ship will sail into ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

     Due to increased passenger popularity of Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising and lower-than-expected demand for its Far East routes, Silversea will deploy the Silver Wind on fourteen new Mediterranean voyages – four Monte Carlo to London itineraries – and seven Caribbean voyages for 2003. Exact itineraries, ports of call, and pricing details for these new sailings will be announced soon.

     "We consistently monitor the feedback that we receive from past and future guests. As a result, we have decided to change itineraries on Silver Wind to voyages that more closely reflect current passenger demands and desires," said Silversea's Chief Executive Officer, Albert Peter. "To many travelers, Europeans as well as Americans, Mediterranean and Caribbean voyages hold tremendous appeal."

     All guests affected by the itinerary changes will be contacted and offered alternative arrangements.

     Other enhancements the Silver Wind will present in 2003 include a tranquility room in the spa and a re-located gym, which will be positioned in the observation lounge onboard.

Sharks, Science and Seabourn in South American 9/19/02


     If you’re planning to sail on any of Seabourn Cruise Line’s cruises circumnavigating South America next year aboard Seabourn Pride, then you’re in for some lessons. The line has put together a roster of lecturers who are experts in history, biology, cultural anthropology, archeology, geographic exploration and the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

     During the ship's Treasures of the Inca Coast cruise, January 4 to 22, 2003, guests will learn about the myths, legends and artwork of Panama's Cuña Indians and the ancient history and tribal lore of the Mayan and Inca civilizations in Ecuador, Peru and Chile from Patrick Goodness, an expert in comparative mythologies worldwide.

     John McMichan, recently retired from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, will lend advice on healthy traveling, based on his years as a ship's surgeon in Asia.

     Dr. John Billingham, who will be on board until February 9, will explore another topic. After a scientific career with NASA and America's space program, Dr. Billingham continues to look skyward as a Board Member for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, now privately funded.
 

     Sailing from January 22 to February 9 will be Professor Roy Willis, who took his Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. He has received grants from the Ford, Rockefeller and Guggenheim Foundations, and taught at Stanford, the University of Washington and the University of California, Davis. Professor Willis' textbook writing gradually led him from European history to an overview of World Civilizations exploring the role of cities in civilizations worldwide.

     Dr. Stanley Spielman, sailing from January 22 until March 1, is a Fellow of The Explorer's Club and the Royal Geographical Society of England. His expeditions combine contacting and documenting endangered tribal peoples with delivery of medical treatment and rendering their unspoiled likenesses in superb oil paintings. He is also an expert on sharks, having surveyed populations in scuba gear and ultralight aircraft, and performed operations on full-grown sharks in the water.

     Lyman Johnson, on board from January 22 to February 9 is a professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has taught in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cardiff, Wales as a Senior Fulbright-Wales Fellow.

     British explorer John Harrison, sailing from February 16 until March 1, is the author of "Up the Creek: An Amazon Adventure." In 1991, the National Geographic Society made a film, entitled "John Harrison: Explorer," about Harrison's exploits.

Viking Raises the Rivers 9/18/02

     Viking River Cruises has added four new itineraries for 2003 – totaling 13 all-inclusive European and Russian river cruises. The line also has lengthened its sailing season, encompassing the months from the end of March through December.

     “The niche of river cruising is one of the fastest growing segments in vacation options for American travelers,” comments Jeff Dash, president, Viking River Cruises, Inc., the company’s U.S. subsidiary. “We have created programs that will not only be unique and rewarding, but will exceed the expectations of our discerning passengers.”

     Highlighting Viking River Cruises’ 2003 program is Eastern European Odyssey, a 17-night adventure along the lower Danube River, sailing roundtrip from Vienna to the Black Sea. The Rhine River is featured on two additional new itineraries: the five-night A Rhine Getaway sailing Basel to Amsterdam and the 12-night Rhine & Moselle Explorations, stopping at select ports in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. The two French cruise programs can be combined back-to-back, for 14-night France’s Finest itinerary.

     Other Viking River Cruises’ 2003 European and Russian itineraries include:

A Dutch Journey (seven nights), roundtrip Amsterdam
Tulips & Windmills (nine nights), roundtrip Amsterdam
A European Adventure (12 nights), Vienna to Amsterdam (or reverse)
Grand European Tour (14 nights), Amsterdam to Budapest (or reverse)
Romantic Danube (seven nights), Budapest to Nuremberg (or reverse)
Danube Explorer (seven nights), Vienna to Nuremberg (or reverse)
Berlin to Prague and the Mystic Elbe River (10 nights), Berlin to Prague, including hotels
French Vineyards & Vistas (seven nights), Chalon to Avignon (or reverse)
Paris & the Heart of Normandy (seven nights), Paris to Honfleur (or reverse)
Waterways of the Czars (10 and 11 nights), Moscow to St. Petersburg (or reverse)

     All-inclusive Cruisetour rates, including sightseeing excursions and roundtrip air, start at $1,399.