NCL
Corporation (NCL) at a ceremony in Emsehaven, Holland, this
month, accepted delivery of its newest ship Norwegian Jewel.
The ship is a sister to the company’s popular Norwegian
Star and Norwegian Dawn and is the fifth new ship
that NCL Corporation has launched in four years.. “Modeled
after her sisters Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn,” NCL
CEO Colin Veitch said, “ Norwegian Jewel features the most
luxurious suite complex at sea plus extensive family facilities,
a new bar concept and itineraries to some of the world’s most
exciting destinations including the Eastern and Western Caribbean
and the Mediterranean.”
Shining
from bow to stern, Norwegian Jewel boasts a brand new style
of accommodations—ten Courtyard Villas—which along with the
ship’s two Garden Villas make up the biggest, most luxurious,
most innovative suite complex at sea. The suite complex features
a private courtyard and sundeck on deck 14 and both courtyard
and garden villa guests have a concierge lounge available
to them. Dedicated butlers offer continental breakfast, refreshments
all day and canapés and drinks before dinner.
Norwegian
Jewel also features the most versatile, family-friendly accommodations
afloat as well as an array of amenities including 10 restaurants,
three swimming pools, a contemporary spa and more. Additionally,
Norwegian Jewel features a new concept for NCL – a “Bar Central”
– featuring a martini bar, a champagne and wine bar, and a
beer and whisky pub all connected but with three distinct
personalities, plus 10 other bars and lounges for passengers
to enjoy.
Following
New York inaugural activities, on September 18, 2005, Norwegian
Jewel will begin a series of 11-day Canada/New England Cruises
roundtrip from New York. The itinerary features calls in Boston,
Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; cruise
Cabot Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Quebec City, Quebec;
cruise the Saguenay River, Sydney, Nova Scotia; cruise Bay
of Fundy and St. John, New Brunswick.
After
transitioning from New York to Miami, where the ship will
spend her winter season, Norwegian Jewel will begin her regularly
scheduled, seven-day itineraries to the Eastern and Western
Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean sailings call in San Juan, Puerto
Rico; St. John’s, Antigua; St. Thomas, USVI and NCL’s Private
Island, Great Stirrup Cay. Western Caribbean itineraries will
call at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown,
Grand Cayman and Roatan, Bay Islands.
Norwegian
Jewel will feature these itineraries each Sunday from November
4, 2005 through April 23, 2006. NCL will then deploy Norwegian
Jewel in Europe to sail Mediterranean and Egypt and Greek
Isles itineraries for the summer 2006 season.
Carnival
Corporation & plc will transfer AIDA Cruises' AIDAblu
cruise ship to its Ocean Village brand in spring 2007.
The transfer follows recent orders for three new 68,500-ton
cruise ships for the German brand to be delivered in spring
2007, 2008, and 2009.
"This
is an excellent opportunity not only to expand Ocean Village's
presence in the U.K. market but also enhance the brand identity
of AIDA Cruises. With the addition of these new 68,500-ton
cruise ships, AIDA Cruises will be comprised of six modern
'club ships' that cater exclusively to the German-speaking
market," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation &
plc's chairman and CEO.
Because
the AIDAblu and Ocean Village's current vessel are sister
ships and designed to provide an informal, contemporary cruise
experience, minimal modifications will be required to convert
the AIDAblu to reflect the characteristics of Ocean Village's
product. Peter Shanks, Managing Director of Ocean Village,
commented, "Ocean Village
has
been highly successful since its start-up two years ago and
is ready for
further
expansion. With this change, the Ocean Village ships will
remain the best in their class"
Additionally,
Princess Cruises' Regal Princess, which was originally
scheduled to be transferred to Ocean Village, will now remain
within the Princess Cruises fleet. Arison noted that retaining
the Regal Princess under the Princess Cruises umbrella will
enable the brand to maximize its earnings potential. "The
strength of the North American cruise market is a compelling
reason to keep the Regal Princess within Princess Cruises'
fleet. It is one of the world's most successful and recognizable
cruise brands and market conditions dictate a need for more
capacity, not less," he said.
Discovery
Cruise Line, the largest tour operator from South Florida
to Grand Bahama Island, announced that the $99.99 per person
rate previously charged only for Wednesday departures of its
same-day roundtrip passengers will be extended to all other
weekdays as well. Previously, the rate for other weekday same-day
roundtrip cruises was $119.99 per person. The new rate becomes
effective August 15, 2005. The price for weekend cruises remains
higher than the weekday rate. According to Hanns J. Hahn,
General Manager of Discovery, "The change reflects our
effort to bring more visitors to Grand Bahama who are not
able to spend one or more nights there, by reducing the rate
for same-day roundtrip cruises thereby making the experience
more affordable. The $99.99 includes the cruise, three meals
on the roundtrip cruise and all the entertainment."
Prices
do not include port parking fees, transfers, or shipboard
gratuities. A $10 security surcharge and immigration user
fee is collected at pier side, and a $25 per person Bahamian
departure fee and fuel surcharge is added to the purchase
price for all junior and adult fares. Rates, facilities and
services are subject to change without notice.
Website:
http://www.discoverycruiseline.com
SeaDream
Yacht Club has introduced an elegant and highly functional
new website, identifying it by the distinctive title “It’s
Yachting, Not Cruising”---the mantra that reinforces its well-known
commitment to the yachting concept it introduced. The website
may be accessed at www.seadreamyachtclub.com. Commenting
on the internet project, Larry Pimentel, CTC, President and
CEO of SeaDream, said “The technology of websites as a marketing
tool has come a long way since we began operations in the
fall of 2001. After a thorough study of the website art, we
decided to overhaul and revise ours and to bring it up-to-the-minute,
so it reflects the style and elegance of our total product.
The name of the game when dealing with the technology of the
internet is to keep it simple. Those who check our website
will find we have done just that.”
Highlights
of the new SeaDream website are:
--
Video Clips depicting SeaDream I and II at sea and
in various ports-of-call and show activities such as water
sports and the much-heralded Champagne and Caviar Splash.
--
360 Degree Virtual Tour of SeaDream’s Mega-Yachts including
accommodations, public rooms and on-deck features.
--
Schedules, Itineraries and Shore Excursions with information
through 2006.
---Viewers
are able to access up-to-date information on the SeaDream
Experience as it ----- Pricing—the surefire source for current
pricing which is subject to change on a daily basis as voyages
are booked. Complete details on SeaDream’s “Book Now and Save”
program also are found in this section of the website.
--Color
Photos of Accommodations as well as Deck and Stateroom Plans.
Other
functions found in the main section of SeaDream’s website
are a Boutique Shopper for luxurious, logo wear and various
gift items, a complete SeaDream Fact Sheet, News Releases
issued by the company as well as comments by press, public
and travel industry executives, the necessary Terms and Conditions
of Passage and a special Journalists’ Section that includes
high resolution photographs that may be downloaded.
A
highly important section of the website is a section called
Charters. SeaDream, in addition to operating regularly-schedule
voyages for individual bookings, charters more than 70 percent
of its total inventory to corporations, smaller companies
and even private families for special holidays. This section
provides viewers with a step-by-step account of Full Yacht
Chartering and Group Booking. The section includes what’s
included in charters, what’s not included, payment policy---even
sample menus.
Carnival
Cruise Lines has extended its contract with the City of Mobile,
Alabama for one year. As a result, the 1,452-passenger Holiday
will continue to operate year-round four- and five-day
cruises from the Alabama Cruise Terminal.
Carnival
originally signed a one-year contract with the City of Mobile
for the Holiday to launch the first year-round cruise program
from Mobile in October 2004. “Response to Mobile’s first
cruise program has been nothing short of sensational, exceeding
our already high expectations. In addition to providing one
of the finest terminal facilities in the cruise industry,
the Mobile community has demonstrated incredible enthusiasm
and support for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising and contributed greatly
to the success of this program,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival
president and CEO.
On
its Mobile-based cruises, the 46,052-ton Holiday departs from
the Alabama Cruise Terminal Thursdays on four-day cruises
to Cozumel, and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day cruises
to Cozumel and Calica/Playa del Carmen or Costa Maya.
Providing
a significant benefit to the travel agent community, Cunard
debuts POLAR Online today, a powerful real-time booking engine
that gives agents the ability to make a booking 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. The new tool is accessible through
the company's website www.cunard.com
and is directly linked to Cunard's own reservation system.
POLAR
Online's valuable features for agents include global booking
access, option extensions, ability to search voyages by price,
ability to make changes and see rates before confirming a
reservation, access to all past passenger fares, list of bookings
by voyage, the ability to create and modify all bookings including
those made by phone or other tools, a view to commission details,
and a greater ease in booking groups and "cloning"
multiple bookings.
POLAR
Online is the same booking tool used by Princess Cruises.
Debuting less than a year ago, it has become travel agents'
#1 choice for making online Princess cruise reservations.
If agents are currently using POLAR Online, they can use their
existing username and password to access Cunard.
Agents
can register by going to www.cunard.com/agen t.
Through
a new promotion from Carnival Cruise Lines, complimentary
“best available stateroom upgrades” and special discounted
fares are available on Fun Ship bookings made in the month
of August. The month-long promotion is offered in conjunction
with new individual bookings made between July 31 and September
2, 2005, and valid on virtually all three- to eight-day Fun
Ship departures between August 1, 2005, and April 2, 2006.
Rates begin at $249 per person double occupancy for three-
and four-day Bahamas/Caribbean cruises; $299 for four- and
five-day Caribbean voyages; and $499 for six- to eight-day
Caribbean departures.
The
promotion is capacity controlled and not applicable with any
other discount offer. Minimum purchase of category 4A stateroom
required and upgrades are available within like stateroom
categories (interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view,
balcony to balcony). Fare code CPBA must be requested to be
eligible for this promotion.
Due
to the high interest in sailing the Great Lakes on a luxury
cruise ship, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has added another bilingual
trip to its schedule of four bilingual trips this fall on
MS C. Columbus. The number of U.S. passengers booked on C.
Columbus has tripled since 2004. In 2004, Hapag-Lloyd offered
three bilingual Great Lakes trips out of five trips, and in
2005, there are four bilingual trips out of four.
The
C.Columbus is the largest and most luxurious full ship that
travels along the world’s largest body of fresh water. “Word
of mouth has spread about the special qualities of C. Columbus.
As part of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, it enjoys a reputation for
providing the highest quality of accommodations, food and
services,” says Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd
Cruises.
There
is still availability on C. Columbus’ Great Lakes Cruises
for September 12, 21 and October 1. For ticket information
contact: www.greatlakescruising.com.
Nippon
Yusen Kaisha (NYK) will replace its cruise ship Asuka with
the luxury cruise ship Crystal Harmony from spring
2006. The Crystal Harmony will be renamed Asuka II
and fly the Japanese flag.
The
Asuka (Gross tonnage 28,856 tons, flag of registry: Japanese)
is currently in operation under management of Yusen Cruises
Co. Ltd., a 100 percent subsidiary company of NYK. Crystal
Harmony (Gross tonnage 48,621 tons, flag of registry: Panamanian)
is currently operated and managed by Crystal Cruises Inc.,
a NYK affiliate in the United States.
The
decision to replace the Asuka took into account a desire to
increase guest capacity in response to an over-demand for
places on the Asuka, particularly during summer. In the summer
season, the Asuka, which has a capacity of 592 guests, is
often fully occupied, meaning many potential customers miss
out on the cruises they desire. Replacing the ship with the
Crystal Harmony will increase guest capacity to 720.
The
new cruise ship will also improve customer service. Crystal
Harmony will be remodeled to meet the needs of the Japanese
market. In particular, a new public space will be added in
the form of an observation bathroom, similar to the highly
regarded bathroom in the original Asuka. When remodeled and
introduced from spring 2006, the Asuka II will be a luxury
cruise ship meeting Japanese specifications and the highest
international standards. The ship, which was originally constructed
in Japan and has an elegant body, will provide an environment
in which customers will experience the Japanese hospitality
and service that has become synonymous with the Asuka.
NYK Group is a global maritime service provider, which
employs 33,000 staff and operates 660 ships in the container,
car transport, LNG, tanker, dry cargo, specialized cargo and
cruise industry worldwide. NYK Group carries out its cruising
business operations in Japan, North America and Australia
and is placed near the top of the rankings worldwide for its
cruise ship fleet, with a high rate of passenger satisfaction.
Among
those paying tribute to Crystal Harmony during her
final season this fall will be the luxury ship's Godmother,
seven-time Emmy Award-winner Mary Tyler Moore. The star of
television, stage and film will join the award-winning ship
on October 22 for a ten-day Mexican Riviera cruise, one of
Crystal Harmony's last voyages as part of the Crystal Cruises
fleet. Moore is one of a distinguished group of legendary
women who hold the honor of Godmother of a Crystal Cruises
ship. Ms. Moore christened Crystal Harmony in 1990; Angela
Lansbury launched Crystal Symphony in 1995 and Dame
Julie Andrews became Godmother of Crystal Serenity
in 2003.
From
September through October, the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal
Harmony will spend her final season sailing on seven-day and
ten-day Mexican Riviera itineraries round-trip from Los Angeles.
The ten-day October 22 cruise features calls in San Diego,
Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Hapag-Lloyd
Cruises has created a new website for Americans dedicated
to its Antarctic cruises at www.expedition-antarctic.com .
Its twin “expedition” ships, MS Hanseatic and MS
Bremen, uniquely offer truly authentic and bilingual cruises
through the Antarctic region. Its ships have a high-tech
outer skin that protects them from dangers below the water’s
surface to make it possible to reach places that remain off
limits to other ships in Antarctic waters.
The
Hanseatic has advanced high-tech navigation equipment, an
ice-hardened hull, and the highest possible passenger vessel
ice classification 1A1 Super (E4). As it cruises some of the
untainted areas of the world, it reinforces Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’
impassioned commitment to the environment with its zero-discharge,
non-polluting waste disposal system that includes a pollution-filtrated
incinerator and its own biological sewage treatment plant.
It is ISPS certified. “You often see Antarctic cruises on
less well-equipped ships that can only skirt around the periphery
of the region,” comments Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director,
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “Both MS Hanseatic and MS Bremen have
already sailed the Ross Sea, and the Australian and New Zealand
side of the Antarctic. On some journeys, the ships have even
crossed the Polar Circle, and some continue to do so.”
The
Hanseatic is the world’s only Five-Star exploration cruise
vessel, according to Berlitz Publishing’s Ocean Cruising &
Cruise Ships 2005, and the Bremen boasts similar features.
Because guests on expedition ships are sophisticated travelers
with a strong interest in learning, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has
arranged for a variety of notable experts to educate passengers
on Antarctica and its specific characteristics, flora and
fauna, and natural phenomena.
Depending
on weather and ice conditions, the captain decides when and
where it is safe to go ashore. At that time, the crew prepare
the zodiacs (smaller boats that can navigate easily) and disembark
the guests. The twin ships, orchestrating the ideal small
group experience, ensure that guests need not stay behind.
An expert accompanies the group from the ship, so that passengers
receive live commentary and background about what they are
seeing, as they are seeing it. Landings in Antarctica are
always free of charge, unlike excursions on any other itinerary,
due to the nature of the trips.
Carnival
Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, and The
Coca-Cola Company, the world’s largest soft drink manufacturer,
have teamed up to create “Club O2,” a new teen program aboard
the line’s 21 Fun Ships. “Club O2,” which is targeted at teens
in the 15-to-17 age group, encompasses a variety of new and
expanded programming fleetwide, as well as new teen directors
aboard each ship and spacious teen clubs offering a memorable
setting for activities or just hanging out. The teen centers
are currently featured on 12 of 21 Carnival ships with the
majority of the other ships scheduled to be retrofitted by
the end of the year.
The
1,000- to 1,800-square-foot teen clubs include a dance floor
with a DJ, a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and
large-screen plasma TVs displaying the latest movies and music
videos. Select teen clubs also feature a library with popular
teen-oriented books and magazines, video game units, 16-monitor
“video walls,” and “listening stations” where teens can plug
in and hear the latest tunes.
This spring, the US Department of State proposed the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative. If enacted by Congress, both
US and Canadian citizens will be required to carry a passport*
for travel to or from certain countries/areas that were previously
exempt.
This
is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect
all United States citizens entering the United States from
countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently
possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect
certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to
present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian
citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda,
and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected
by the implementation of this requirement.
*Although
other valid documentation may be sufficient in some circumstances,
the United States Department of Homeland Security has not
yet made a final determination as to which forms of documentation
may serve as a valid alternative to a passport. For more information,
please see http://pull.xmr3.com/p/19798-02BB/32593141/clickto5_te.gov-passport-passport_1738.html
which is the United States Department of State's website
for passport information, and follow the links to "New
Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the
Western Hemisphere."
The
proposed implementation dates are:
*
Beginning December 31, 2005, a passport or other accepted
document* will be required for all air and sea travel to or
from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
*
Beginning December 31, 2006, a passport or other accepted
document* will be required for all air and sea travel to or
from Mexico and Canada.
*
Beginning December 31, 2007, a passport or other accepted
document* will be required for all air, sea and land border
crossings.
Passport
applicants should allow six weeks for processing of a new
passport under normal conditions. One can, however, expedite
the processing by paying a hefty fee on top of the application
fee.
--
To Obtaining a Passport in the US, visit
http://pull.xmr3.com/p/19798-A178/32593124/clickto1_te.gov-passport-passport_1738.htm
l
--
To obtain a passport in Canada, visit In Canada, check the
government website http://www.ppt.gc.ca/
--
For Visa Requirements for U.S. and Canadian Citizens
http://pull.xmr3.com/p/19798-917A/32593154/http-www.zvs.com.html
Peter
Deilmann Cruises’ five-star MS Deutschland will begin 2006
cruising to Indian Ocean islands and southern Africa and end
the year in the Caribbean. On the sailing schedule of the
513-passenger luxury liner are ports of call on the Arabian
Peninsula, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Western Europe, Norwegian
Fjords, British Isles, Baltic and North Seas, South Atlantic
and Caribbean. Following the successful introduction of special
interest cruises this year, Deilmann will offer them again
in 2006 with golf and garden cruise programs available throughout
the year, an onboard musical gala celebrating Mozart’s 250th
anniversary in October and new equestrian riding programs
in May, August and September. The musical tribute to Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, Oct. 4-17, will celebrate the composer’s birth
on a two-week cruise on the Mediterranean from Malaga to Piraeus
(Athens).
Travelers
from the U.S. who book any of the three Indian Ocean/South
Africa sailings from Port Louis, Mauritius and Cape Town,
South Africa, in January and February can take advantage of
a special offer of free air, ten percent reduced rates on
cabins, 50 percent discount on English-language shore excursion
packages and free airport/ship transfers. Website: www.deilmann-cruises.com
Oceania
Cruises will extensively renovate and upgrade its third ship
in a two-month, multimillion-dollar project, as reported in
the press. New features will include a cabana deck, a glamorous
outdoor lounge and more lavish Owner’s and Vista Suites.
Nautica
(the former R Five) is currently on subcharter to Pullmantur.
In late September, the ship heads to Genoa for her drydock
and technical maintenance before moving to Marseille for the
interior outfitting. Nautica’s naming festivities are scheduled
for November 22 in Istanbul.
