Back

 

Bermuda cut as stop on O'Donnell's gay family cruise over protest
A summer cruise for gay and lesbian families organized by talk show host Rosie O'Donnell has cut Bermuda from its planned itinerary because of possible protests by church groups in the British island territory.

O'Donnell's charter company said it wanted to avoid the type of protests that greeted passengers when one of its cruises stopped in Nassau, Bahamas in 2004.

The tour is scheduled to leave New York in July on a ship owned by Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line. But the charter company, R Family Vacations, said on its Web site that it would replace the Bermuda stop with two other ports of call in Florida.

In the statement, the company said Bermuda's prime minister had assured them they would be welcome as tourists and they had also received hundreds of supportive e-mails from people who live in the wealthy British enclave.

Still, the company said they could not be certain that there would be no protesters greeting them upon arrival.

``We feel that our cruise would be more enjoyable with an alternate itinerary to ports where we know we are welcome by everyone.''

In 2004, about 100 protesters chanting anti-gay slogans met the cruise when it arrived in Nassau, Bahamas, with about 1,150 passengers.
NCL Announces Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem for largest ever European Deployment.
  • Pride of Hawai`i to be re-named Norwegian Jade and sail a mix of European itineraries to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Baltic, British Isles and the North Cape.

  • Norwegian Jade joins sisters Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel for extended 2008 season.
NCL Corporation announced that it will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008 in response to increased consumer demand for European cruises. The company will re-flag Pride of Hawai`i into the Bahamas registry and re-name her Norwegian Jade after a short wet dock in Honolulu in February 2008. Norwegian Jade will join her sister ships Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe in 2008 offering NCL's largest and most varied European deployment ever. Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel itineraries will go on sale April 17 and Norwegian Jade's itineraries will go on sale April 24.

"The combination of our new and varied itineraries, the choice of three new sister ships, along with an extended season, will make for an unforgettable Freestyle Cruising experience for guests who explore Europe with us in 2008," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "In particular, Freestyle Cruising gives them the freedom and flexibility to explore and make the most of the culture-rich European destinations without worrying about returning to the ship for a set dining time."

Norwegian Jade will be the first to arrive in Europe at the end of March 2008, staying through the end of November. The ship will sail a unique mix of 12-, 13- and 14-day Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises, beginning with a number of 12-day cruises departing from Barcelona, Istanbul, and Athens (Piraeus) with a variety of ports including Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Ephesus, Turkey; Mykonos, Santorini, Iraklion, Crete, Corfu and Katakolon, Greece; and Alexandria, Egypt.

Norwegian Jade will then reposition from her spring Mediterranean base to Southampton in the UK for a series of cruises to the Mediterranean, North Cape, Western Europe and British Isles.

In an NCL first, Norwegian Jade will offer several sailings out of the UK designed specifically for the local UK market, departing roundtrip from London (Southampton). These include a pair of two-day sampler cruises and four 14-day Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from London (Southampton) with stops in Malaga (Cordoba), Spain; an overnight in Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Gibraltar; Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain.

Norwegian Jade's 12-day North Cape itinerary roundtrip from London (Southampton) will cruise the North Sea with several stops in Norway, cross the Arctic Circle and cruise by the Svartisen Glacier. The ship's 13-day Around the British Isles and Northern Europe itinerary roundtrip from London (Southampton) will visit France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Two 13-day Western Europe itineraries will depart from London (Southampton) to Barcelona or Barcelona to London (Southampton) and visit Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; Granada (Malaga), Spain; Gibraltar; Seville (Cadiz), Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain.

Norwegian Gem, NCL's newest ship, complete with bowling alley, arrives in Europe in early May after her winter season in New York and will sail seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Barcelona through November 9, 2008. The Western Mediterranean itinerary includes stops in Valletta, Malta; Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; and Nice (Villefranche), France.

Returning for her third season in Europe in early May, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Dream, sailing a Baltic Capitals itinerary roundtrip from London (Dover) through mid-September. The 12-day sailings will run from May 5 through August 23 with stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; two days in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden. On August 9, the ship will offer a two-day sampler cruise from London (Dover) specifically designed for the UK market. A final 13-day sailing departing on September 4 will include a stop in Oslo, Norway.

Cruise West to Bring Guests on Overnight Stays in Glacier Bay National Park
The small-ship cruise line Cruise West, with more than 60 years of providing tours in Alaska, will be adding even more adventure opportunities to explore the vast wilderness, geography and cultures of America’s last frontier for the 2007 season. Guests will now be able to spend two nights in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and choose from four new shore excursions added to the already long list of adventures on land.
Cruise West has the distinct advantage of possessing more permits than any other cruise line to enter Glacier Bay National Park, a 3.3-million-acre wonderland. Six of the line’s itineraries in Alaska visit this majestic gem, and this year guests can extend their stay in the park to two nights on the Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary. During this added time, guests will explore the birds and sea lions of South Marble Island, the 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather, and massive glaciers of all varieties, all while under the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger and Native Cultural Interpreter. Cruise West will also offer more departures on this itinerary with two ships rather than one: the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery and the 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour. Yet another advantage with this itinerary is the line’s steadfast Whale Sighting Guarantee; should whales not be spotted on a sailing, the line will refund $250 to each guest – a price that the line has never had to pay.

In addition to the included activity or excursion in all of the ports that Cruise West’s seven Alaska-sailing ships visit, guests can choose from an extensive array of add-on adventures. For the 2007 season, Cruise West has announced four new shore excursions:

While spending two nights in Glacier Bay on the Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary, guests can also explore the park, on shore, with a guided hike through the vast terrain.
In the capital city of Juneau, guests can take their adventures to new heights with the Rainforest Canopy and Zipline Adventure, an eco-tour combining the thrill of gliding above the treetops in a rich rainforest on more than 6,000 feet of dual zip lines, suspension bridges, and a ground-based trail network. Participants will cross the Gastineau Channel aboard an expedition craft, mountain ascent in an off-road vehicle, and explore hidden relics of a world-famous gold mine.
A new component of the popular tour of Jewell Gardens in Skagway is a hands-on tour of the only public glass-blowing studio in Alaska. Visitors will observe professionals at work and have the opportunity to blow or mold their own piece as a special memento of their visit to southeast Alaska.
Guests can visit the Saxman Native Village, known for its Totem poles, in Ketchikan and experience the rich living culture of Southeast Alaska’s Native Americans on an exclusive tour with Native Tlingit and Mayor of Saxman, Joe Williams. Stop at the carving shed to see totem poles in their making and visit a traditional Tribal House.

Cruise West travels in Alaska from May through early-September. The line’s flagship, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, offers three Grand Voyages, which sail from Vancouver to the Russian Far East. Four itineraries are offered in Alaska’s Inside Passage, including a shorter getaway, Glacier Bay Highlights. An itinerary is also offered in Prince William Sound, a 3,500-mile shoreline filled with hidden islands and enfolded fjords that are only accessible by small ships.
Hotel Cipriani Headlines Crystal Cruises' Expanded Portfolio
Of European Pre- And Post-Cruise Hotel Options

Venice's venerable Hotel Cipriani and Hotel Danieli, Istanbul's Ritz-Carlton and Athens' Hotel Grande Bretagne are the grand new additions to Crystal Cruises' 2007 European Crystal Adventures Hotel Program. The four new hotels join an expanded collection of Europe's most prestigious properties - 15 in all - offering savvy travelers luxurious options to extend their Crystal vacations with a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay.

Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity offer 29 European itineraries from April through November. In several of the cruise departure and arrival cities, guests may choose from more than one hotel including:


Venice, Italy:

Hotel Cipriani (new)

Hotel Danieli (new);

Hotel Bauer; Il Palazzo at the Hotel Bauer
Monte Carlo, Monaco:

Hotel Hermitage
Rome, Italy:

Grand Hotel Parco Dei Principi;

St. Regis Grand

Lisbon, Portugal:

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Istanbul, Turkey:

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul (new)
Stockholm, Sweden:

The Grand Hotel
London, England:

Renaissance Chancery Court London;

The Berkeley Hotel
Copenhagen, Denmark:

Copenhagen Marriott
Athens, Greece

Hotel Grande Bretagne (new)

Athenaeum InterContinental Hotel

The Crystal Adventures Hotel Program is offered on each cruise in all nine departure and arrival cities, which include Athens, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Monte Carlo, Rome, Stockholm and Venice. For the two Crystal Serenity cruises that end or begin in Toulon, France, guests may extend their travels to Monte Carlo or Venice.

"With the increased demand for our hotel programs, we've expanded our selection of 5-star properties to be able to offer more variety and more availability where possible," says John Stoll, Crystal's director of land programs. "That said, we are still encouraging guests to book early, as the programs are selling very well. Our guests appreciate the value of these programs priced in US dollars and are, most importantly, seeking the ease, comfort and luxury of a seamless Crystal experience from ship to shore."

Properties included in the Crystal's "Classic" and "Classic-Plus" Hotel Programs are carefully selected for their location, ambience, level of service and attention to detail. Each property chosen is individually regarded for its stellar reputation, and many are recognized by noted publications such as Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure as some of the finest hotels in the world.

The Crystal "Classic" program includes luxurious hotel accommodations, meet and assist arrangements, transfers between airport and hotel, direct transfer from hotel to ship, priority embarkation for pre-cruise guests, hotel tax and porterage, and a Hospitality Desk staffed by a Crystal representative providing valuable insights into each city's main attractions. In most locations, a Crystal "Classic-Plus" upgrade option is available offering additional services and amenities.

Depending on the hotel selected, per person, double occupancy rates begin at $225 for the first night, with a reduced rate available for second and third nights.

With their cruise, guests can also customize their European shoreside experience with individualized Crystal Private Adventures and choice of more than 600 boutique tours

Swing through the Caribbean, Mexico with Silversea’s “Silver Links” Golf Program
A golfer’s dream come true, Silversea’s 2007 Silver Links program offers golf enthusiasts the chance to combine their love of luxury travel with their passion for golf on 15 diverse itineraries aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, featuring over 45 challenging courses in more than 25 countries and islands throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.

On each of these voyages rich in golf destinations, guests will also have the opportunity to improve their game aboard ship with the help of the line’s onboard PGA-classed golf professional, who will organize complimentary lessons, contests and clinics.

The Silver Links voyages offer optional golfing excursions arranged and escorted by the ship’s golf pro. From the gently rolling fairways at the elegant Fairmont Pierre Marques Golf Club on Acapulco’s Revocadero Beach to the hairpin turns and swirling mountain winds of Montego Bay’s White Witch Golf Club, guests will have a chance to perfect their game at some of the world’s most challenging and revered courses.

“Our golf cruises are perfectly tuned to the passions and tastes of the high-end luxury traveler looking to score a perfect round on the finest international links and fairways,” said David Morris, Silversea’s executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.

The escorted, optional golfing excursions vary in price from course to course and include all transfers to and from the select golf courses, pull or power-drive carts, green and any applicable caddy fees. Should guests choose to leave their clubs at home, the finest Nike clubs, shoes and golf essentials are available for rental, demo or purchase.

Golfers have the option to further improve their game aboard ship with private swing analysis utilizing the most advanced V1 digital coaching system, the same system selected by PGA.com as their preferred instructional technology.

Guests aboard Silver Links voyages will also enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodations, most with private veranda, award-winning gourmet cuisine, personalized service, warm Italian hospitality, and Silversea’s unmatched selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet and all gratuities. 

Jamaican Cruise Shipping Poised for Sustained Growth

State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment & Culture (MTEC) Wykeham McNeill is upbeat about the future of cruise shipping as a vital component of Jamaica’s tourist market. Speaking at an internal meeting at MTEC this morning, Dr. McNeill expressed great pleasure at what he described as the sustained positive growth in the number of cruise ship passenger arrivals over the past five (5) years.

“Save for a slight wobble in 2004 after a particularly active hurricane season, we have registered significant growth every single year, with our record-breaking performance of over a million arrivals in 2006,” he said.

Mr. McNeill cited the performance of the leading national cruise ship Port of Ocho Rios to support his assertion. The State Minister informed the year 2006 ended up with 327 cruise call with a total number of 840,923 passengers.

When asked what the Government of Jamaica was doing to ensure that the destination sustains its current growth path, Minister McNeill said the Port Authority of Jamaica has earmarked a sum of $ 1 million to upgrade the Port of Ocho Rios to make ready for the May 15 inaugural call of the Freedom of the Seas.

Minister McNeill disclosed that the Port of Montego Bay is also making ready to up the ante in terms of the number of calls, as the Liberty of the Seas will begin a regular calling schedule in May 2007.

According to international shipping sources, there are more than 30 ships under construction worth over $21 billion, within a global cruise industry that has grown on average by 8 percent per annum since 1980.

The Port Authority of Jamaica has often stated its commitment to continue exploring relations with Jamaica’s cruise partners as to how best to grow the cruise business in the existing ports as well as those under consideration.

 

.