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Surging Fuel Prices prompt lines to change itinerary patterns |
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A look at two telling moves by Carnival this week
illustrates the timetable. First was the decision to place the
Carnival Pride in Baltimore for the first year-round sailings from
that port. But it's not rushed. The move doesn't take effect until
September 2009. Then, instead of returning to Europe next summer as planned, Carnival Freedom will stay in the Caribbean next year once again, giving the market plenty of time to absorb the change. At this stage, it's not clear if other lines will follow Carnival's move to eventually change itinerary patterns. For instance, we asked Princess Senior VP Jan Swartz what she sees as the biggest deployment change for Princess looking ahead, and she mentioned Panama Canal sailings. "We made a modification to the Canal itineraries," reports Swartz. "Most of the Canal itineraries allow our passengers to spend two days in the Canal, complementing that with a land-based excursion." Swartz explained that the basic strategy remains unchanged. "Gallup research shows that we are the leader in destination cruising," she says. "Travel agents rank us as number one in Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand. Those exotic itineraries are critical to us as we focus on selling to experienced cruisers looking for a variety of itineraries and destinations." |
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EasyCruise's new ship - EasyCruise Life now
cruising the Greek Islands
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EasyCruise's new vessel,
EASYCRUISE LIFE (ex LEV TOLSTOY, NATASHA,
PALMIRA, THE JASMINE, FARAH) due for Delivery in
April but was delayed due to Greek labor actions.
Her maiden voyage in May saw the the 600-passenger
EASYCRUISE LIFE call at five Greek islands
(Syros, Kalymnos, Kos, Paros and Mykonos) and
Turkey's Bodrum.
UPDATE -The Maltese-flagged
EasyCruise vessel EASYCRUISE LIFE (ex LEV TOLSTOY,
NATASHA, PALMIRA, THE JASMINE, FARAH) ran aground at
the Aegean island of Syros today with 353 passengers
and 105 crew on board. A tug towed the 12,711 gt
ship, which has been in service since May 17, off
the sandbar with no damage and the vessel,which
remained in the port for a full damage inspection,
is expected to complete her seven-day Aegean island
cruise. No injuries or damage were reported.
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Silversea's Prince Albert II Starts Inaugural Voyage |
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A new era in expedition cruising
began this morning when Silversea Cruises' eagerly
anticipated Prince Albert II sailed under the
landmark Tower Bridge to welcome her first guests
aboard. In a display of the importance of this special event, all officers and crew stood on the bow of the vessel as she glided through the opened bridge at 9:30 a.m. (local time) with crowds of onlookers cheering and welcoming them to the English capital. The ship sailed directly from the naming ceremony held in the port of Monte Carlo last week, which was presided over by her namesake, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Along with many onlookers and well-wishers, Silversea Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre and President and CEO Amerigo Perasso were both present on the pier to see the company's latest innovative venture take up her challenge to be the world's first ultra-luxury expedition ship. "It is indeed a wonderful sight to see this morning, our Prince Albert II sailing under Tower Bridge, with all the crew proudly escorting her into London to welcome their first guests," said Lefebvre. "It is our aim that this ship will not only offer guests the highest level of comfort and service, but also enlighten them to the rarity and beauty of the most remote places on earth." Added Perasso, "In keeping with the environmental work of our ship's namesake, we are delighted to announce that Silversea has signed an agreement to support the Prince Albert II Foundation, whose aim is to highlight and take tangible action to protect and preserve the most vulnerable inhabitants and landscapes on Earth." Fresh from a multimillion dollar renovation, the Lloyd's Register 1A ice-rated Prince Albert II weighs just 6,072 gross tons and will accommodate a maximum of 132 guests with a 1:1.2 crew-to-guest ratio, compared to the mass-market ships weighing in at over 150,000 gross tons with up to 5,000 passengers and a crew-to-passenger ratio of 1:3. Despite her small size, the Prince Albert II boasts the largest average size accommodations of any expedition ship. All 66 ocean-view accommodations feature luxurious living space and private marble bathrooms with bathtubs. Select suites offer double private French balconies or large private verandas, and additional elite amenities including butler service. Silversea is a provisional member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), dedicated to managing respectable, environmentally friendly and safe expedition cruising in the Arctic. The company has also joined the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). This important organization promotes and practices safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica. In addition, Silversea plans to voluntarily adopt and apply similar operating procedures in all other destinations where the Prince Albert II will operate. The Prince Albert II welcomes her first guests on Thursday, June 12, as she sets sail from London at 5:00 p.m. to embark upon an Inaugural Season of voyages of 10 to 22 days focusing on polar adventures. Sailing first to the Arctic Circle, Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland for the summer, the ship will then reposition to South America and Antarctica for autumn and winter voyages. |
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Celebrity Cruises Announces Third Season in Australia/New
Zealand, Hawaii and the South Pacific
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Sydney, Samoa, Surfing and Scenery: Cruise
enthusiasts seeking a vacation experience that pairs the delights of
a "downunder" vacation with outstanding onboard service need look no
further than Celebrity Cruises' third season of Australia/New
Zealand, Hawaii and South Pacific sailings. In the winter of
2009-2010, Celebrity will offer 14 sailings in the region, visiting
a total of 33 ports in eight countries. Guests wishing to extend
their vacation also may take advantage of a five-night pre- or
post-voyage cruisetour in Australia. Celebrity's 2009-10
Australia/New Zealand/Hawaii/South Pacific sailings opened for sale
today. Departing from Vancouver, British Columbia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Auckland, New Zealand; and Sydney, Australia, all of Celebrity's 2009-10 Australia/New Zealand sailings are scheduled to take place on the 2,038-guest Celebrity Millennium, the same ship that will sail there later this year. The 2009-10 season also includes the brand's only Hawaii departures. The season's highlights include: • Calls at five ports new to Celebrity Cruises: Vila, Vanuatu; Apia, Samoa; Pago Pago, American Samoa; Noumea, New Caledonia; and Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand • Itineraries ranging from 11 to 19 nights • Ten Australia/New Zealand cruises ranging from 12 to 16 nights, sailing between Auckland and Sydney • A special 16-night Christmas and New Year's sailing from Auckland to Sydney, departing December 20, 2009, which includes Celebrity's first passage through the Marlborough Sounds • Overnight, in-port stays in Sydney or Melbourne on most sailings, including a two-night in-port stay at the start of the February 27, 2010 sailing • A five-night pre- or post-voyage cruise tour option in Australia, including one night in Sydney, two nights in Ayers Rock, including a "Sounds of Silence" dinner and a tour of Olgas, and two nights in Port Douglas, including a Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Hartley's Croc Adventure; the package includes deluxe hotel accommodations, all transfers, intra-Australia flights, breakfasts and several other meals, and is 100% escorted • Two South Pacific sailings, both of which spend three days in French Polynesia's Papeete, Moorea and Bora Bora • A 19-night sailing from Sydney to Honolulu, featuring Celebrity's first visits to Vila, Apia, Pago Pago and Noumea • A 15-night repositioning cruise from Honolulu to Vancouver on April 9, 2010, that features visits to six Hawaiian ports, including an overnight, in-port stay in Lahaina, Maui, as well as visits to San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, and Victoria, British Columbia. Celebrity's shore excursions. These in-port experiences include offerings such as the following: • Wine, Cheese and Oysters" in Hobart, Tasmania, where guests visit the Coal Valley Vineyard for a tasting and an informative session on oyster farming and tasting before traveling to Meadowbank Wines for a wine and cheese tasting • "Sydney Bridgeclimb and The Rocks" in Sydney, where guests make a once-in-a-lifetime climb up Sydney Bridge and enjoy the view before visiting "The Rocks," Sydney's oldest village known for its pioneering settlers • "Deluxe Tranz Alpine Tour" in Christchurch, New Zealand, where guests board the Tranz Alpine Express and experience views of mountain peaks, rain forests and gorges where traveling, with tea service, to the alpine village of Arthur's Pass, the highest point on the road in the Southern Alps before enjoying lunch and traveling back through rich farmland and visiting several other attractions • "Leading Wineries of Hawkes Bay" in Napier, New Zealand, which gives guests a tour through New Zealand's leading wine-producing region, including visits at three wineries • "Volcano, Lavender, Wine and Cheese Sensation" in Lahaina, which takes guests on an interactive adventure aboard a limo-van that visits Haleakala rater, Ali'I Kula Lavender Garden, Tedeschi Vineyards and Surfing Goat Dairy • "Pearl Harbor VIP Military Base Tour" in Honolulu, which takes guests to the USS Arizona Memorial, Wheeler Field, the "Pineapple Pentagon," Fort Shaffer, and the Home of the Brave Museum. |
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American Safari Cruises offers air credit on new Hawaii itinerary |
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The
145-foot, 36-guest
Safari Explorer, the company's new flagship, is sailing
roundtrip from Juneau in Alaska for the summer season. In November
it will relocate to Hawaii and on Dec. 19 begin eight-day,
seven-night cruises between the Big Island and Maui. While seeking
out wildlife, the Explorer will also visit Molokai, Lanai and
snorkel/dive sites. On shore, a helicopter tour over waterfalls and
lava flows on the Big Island is among the included excursions. |
To
help ease the crunch of fuel-induced airfare increases and
checked-luggage fees, American Safari Cruises is offering a $150 per
person air credit on its new inter-island luxury yacht cruises in
Hawaii. July 18 is the air-credit booking deadline for inaugural
season cruises December 2008 through early May 2009.