Ports & Itineraries

 

Orion Offers Cruises to Australia’s Northern Territory
Orion Expedition Cruises spends four months each year in Australia’s Northern Territory -- the area where much of the movie “Australia” was filmed. The movie is scheduled for a Nov. 26 release. From April through August, those inspired by the movie can actually live it via an Orion Voyage. Choices include seven- to 11-day voyages. The 10-day “Kimberley Expedition” voyages through the Northern Territory from Darwin and travels southwest along the coast to Broome, or vice versa. Guests visit sites rich in Aboriginal culture and explore the Kimberley Coast. During August departures, guests can also enjoy Opera Under the Stars, world-class operatic performances at the new Cable Beach Amphitheatre. The seven-night “Art of Arnhem Land” departs from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. This voyage is hosted by Australia’s collectors of indigenous art who introduce guests to the remote art communities of the Arnhem Land coast. The Orion is a 106-guest luxury expedition vessel operating year-round from Australia. For more information, visit - Orion - contact Worldwide

Port Everglades to Cut Ribbon on Terminal Renovation

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale will cut the ribbon on the first phase of Passenger Terminal 18 today, just in time for the launch of Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Solstice.

It is the first phase of a two-part terminal renovation that will transform Terminal 18 into the largest cruise terminal in the world dedicated to servicing a single ship. Once the entire expansion project is complete in fall 2009, the terminal will be home to the largest cruise ships in the world -  Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

The Port Everglades Department is a self-supporting Enterprise Fund of Broward County government with operating revenues of approximately $112.5 million. It does not rely on local tax dollars for operations or capital improvements.

The total value of economic activity at Port Everglades surpasses $18 billion. And, approximately 200,000 Florida jobs are impacted by the Port, including 11,000 people who work for companies that provide direct services to Port Everglades.

Gulf Cruise Sector is expected to double by 2010
DUBAI - The cruise sector of the shipping industry continues to grow, as the popularity of cruising holidays increases in the Gulf region and expects to handle 400,000 passengers by 2010.

The Middle East as a source market for outbound cruises has seen significant growth in the past decade, and more ships coming in to Dubai offers an opportunity for the trade to touch and feel the product with ship inspection trips.

The sixth Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) Cruise Conference, the region’s premier maritime forum, which takes place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 14-16, has attracted top-flight delegation of international, regional and local cruise executives.

During the conference delegates will investigate the potential to homeport in the Gulf, interest in cruising as a vacation is expected to benefit too from the focus at SMEM, according to a Press release.

Interest by several cruise lines has prompted Dubai to announce a new cruise terminal development based in Port Rashid, as part of the major Nakheel waterfront project there that will be fast-tracked to accommodate the new business at the port.

Overall, more than 82 ships are scheduled to visit Dubai in 2009. A figure that should be significantly increased by the 2010 cruise season and its new entrants to the market. The growth in the cruise sector comes about with better port infrastructure around the Gulf with tourist enjoying an opportunity to more land excursions and with the increased hospitality developments.
 Independence of the Seas, arrives at Port Everglades

Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Independence of the Seas, arrives at Port Everglades  becoming the first Freedom-class vessel to sail from the port.

The ship was introduced in the spring and has been operating from Southampton.

Independence of the Seas will now embark on alternating eight-night Eastern Caribbean and six-night Western Caribbean itineraries.

The Eastern route includes San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Labadee. The Western route visits Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Silversea cancels Tahiti program & expands UK itinerary
Silversea Cruises has cancelled plans to position its 132-passenger expedition ship Prince Albert II in Tahiti in 2009.

The former World Discoverer II was due to sail from Santiago next March on a repositioning voyage to Papeete via Easter Island for her inaugural Tahiti programme. On October 8 she was to depart Papeete on a 16-day ‘In the Wake of the Bounty’ voyage to Easter Island on her way back to Santiago.

A statement issued by Silversea president and ceo Amerigo Perasso said the ship will now make 'an exclusive journey through the Channel Islands, with select stopovers in Cornwall, Brittany and Normandy and another itinerary to some remote parts of Scotland and Ireland‘ before undertaking an Arctic programme from June 1.

‘I am confident that Prince Albert II’s revised 2009 deployment will be a great success, given the extremely positive response from our 2008 Arctic cruisers and the strong market demand for this type of product,’ Perasso said.

‘With her ice-strengthened hull, Prince Albert II is quite naturally associated with polar sea-ice regions, rather than other attractive, exotic destinations.’

Regional director Australia and New Zealand Karen Christensen advises that people with bookings for the cancelled Tahitian itineraries will receive 100% refunds if they do not choose to transfer to any other 2009 Silversea sailing.

Christensen said she believes many of them will want to make the Papeete to Lautoka leg of Silver Shadow’s Grand Pacific Voyage which departs Los Angeles on March 7.

Royal Caribbean International include Colon, Panama round trip itinerary
Royal Caribbean International have recently included an interesting itinerary which starts and ends in Colon, Panama.  This is not a Panama Canal cruise but rather a cruise that takes in some of the more interesting ports in Central America and the lower Caribbean.

Day 1 - Board in Colon, Panama

Day 2 - Cartegena, Columbia - this is a great spot and as safe as it gets in Central America.

Day 3 Santa Marta, Columbia - another really great spot with a beautiful beach.

Day 4 Oranjestad, Aruba - this first of the three ABC island call.

Day 5 Willemstad, Curacao

Day 6 Kralendijk, Bonaire

Day 7 At sea

Day 8 Colon, Panama

Call us for pricing on thus unusual and interesting cruise.

 

 

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