Destination News - Cruise.

Mar 17, 2008

Cruising was ranked number two in the recent ASTA travel agent survey, with 11.6 percent share of the total response. Respondents routinely book cruises for second honeymooners because this type of vacation offers variety, convenience and, on-shore excursions, dining and shopping excluded, an all-inclusive package. The third most popular second honeymoon destination, the Caribbean, also offers travelers endless options due to the number of islands that comprise this tourist-friendly oasis. Mar 14, 2008

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has unveiled the Allied Membership program, designed to offer certain benefits to travel suppliers and connect them with CLIA's robust roster of travel agents and agencies. The new program is reflective of CLIA's focus to ingratiate the full spectrum of businesses, organizations and individuals operating within the cruise industry. Benefits of allied membership include a listing in CLIA's new online Allied Member Center, more opportunities to network with CLIA's member agents and agencies, the right to display the CLIA Allied Member insignia on company or organization websites and preferred rates. Those eligible for membership include North American and international ports, destinations and convention and visitor bureaus, along with GDS, technology and travel agency service providers. Visit www.cruising.org. Mar 11, 2008

Avis Budget

Car rental supplier Avis Budget Group officials today said the company by 2013 plans to double the revenue of Carey International, the chauffeured transportation supplier it invested in last year, and increase the amount of cars in its fleet for which it assumes responsibility for resale. Avis Budget acquired a 45 percent interest in Carey last October, with an option to increase it to 80 percent within one year. Carey reported $332 million in 2006 systemwide revenue. Mar 10, 2008

Carnival Cruise

Carnival Cruise Lines on Tuesday showed off Carnival Imagination's new digs, part of the $250 million Evolutions of Fun initiative for its eight Fantasy-class ships. The first Fantasy-class ship was built back in 1990 and, anecdotally, the blueprint for this line of ships was first drafted on a piece of paper by Carnival architect, Joe Farcus in 1987 in the office of Ted Arison, Carnival's founder. But after 18 years and eight ships, retouches were needed to keep the ships fresh and relevant. In Carnival Imagination's case, most areas onboard were remodeled with new carpeting, furniture and other soft goods. Staterooms were redone and installed with flat-screen TV's and upgraded bedding as were public corridors and bathrooms. A new club for tweens, Circle C, is also in the process of being added. Mar 12, 2008

Holland America Line

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will preside over the naming of Holland America Line's Eurodam, which debuts in Rotterdam on July 1. The Queen's mother similarly named ms Rotterdam V 50 years ago and, in total, nine Holland America ships have been named by members of the Dutch Royal Family. The 2,104-passenger Eurodam, whose inaugural season will be in Europe followed by Canada/New England sailings in the fall, then Caribbean itineraries to finish 2008, will also expand its dining choices to include restaurants featuring Asia and Italian cuisine as well as a French-themed terrace grill. Launching onboard are three venues: Tamarind, the Asian restaurant, which is reservations required and has capacity for 144 guests; Canaletto, the Italian restaurant; and a pizza outlet called Slice. The ship will too feature private cabanas on the top deck that may carry an extra charge. Other smaller cabanas around Lido deck would be free to use. Visit www.hollandamerica.com Mar 13, 2008

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Miami Herald has reported that Norwegian Cruise Line has cut staff citing its troubled Hawaii business and overall fleet reduction. The paper reported last week that a memo was circulated to employees at NCL, which read due to the downsizing of NCL America and capacity reduction for 2008, NCL was eliminating certain positions. NCL declined to comment on specifics. NCL reported heavy financial losses in 2007 and in February pulled Pride of Hawaii and redeployed it to Europe under the new name Norwegian Jade. A second ship, Pride of Aloha, subsequently will be removed from the Hawaii rotation in May and sent to Asia. Now one ship, Pride of America, remains in Hawaii. Mar 11, 2008

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line known for its expedition voyages, announced Friday at CLIA's cruise3sixty conference a new 41-day Antarctica itinerary, which will depart for the first time from Port Canaveral in Florida on October 18. The voyage on Hurtigruten's less-than-year old MS Fram will visit Key West and such countries as Columbia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and Chile before making its way across the Drake Passage to Antarctica. Cruise pricing begins at $11,999 per person for an inside room. The line is offering second-passenger savings of 50 percent if booked by April 30. The cruise is just one segment of MS Fram's 67-day world cruise, which is priced from $17,499 per person. Rolf Logan, Hurtigruten's director of national sales, said the line is marketing segments of the world cruise this year as opposed to last year, when it only marketed the world cruise as a whole. Visit www.hurtigruten.us. Mar 10, 2008

Norwegian Majesty

Norwegian Majesty will sail a new seven-day Bahamas and Florida itinerary from Charleston beginning this fall through April 2009. The voyage will include four different ports, in place of the existing three ports in Western Caribbean Majesty now serves. The 1,462-passenger ship will depart Charleston on Saturdays with the first cruise slated to leave November 15. The four ports of call are Grand Bahama Island, Nassau, NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay and Orlando. The new itinerary is now on sale and existing reservations on Norwegian Majesty's current itinerary will be moved to the new itinerary, or passengers can opt to cancel. Guests on Norwegian Majesty will be introduced to many new enhancements that are part of NCL's new Freestyle 2.0 program, including new food and beverage options. Visit www.ncl.com Mar 12, 2008

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises has reached an agreement with the Florida's Attorney General office whereby it will refund the $5 per-day fuel supplement customers were forced to pay on cruises booked before November 16, the day the initial fuel supplement charge was implemented. The total refund amounts to $20 million. Those who have already paid the fee and taken their cruise will receive a refund, while those who booked trips before November 16 but have yet to cruise will receive their refunds in the form of an onboard credit. The fuel surcharge is still in effect for North American bookings made on or after November 16 for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises and cannot exceed $70 per person. It is also only applied to first and second passengers in a stateroom. Mar 12, 2008

Sabre Cruises

Sabre Cruises gives travel agents direct access to 12 cruise lines, representing 85 percent of Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) cruise cabins in a single source. It is available to all travel professionals in North America, including those that are not Sabre subscribers, through VacationStudio powered by MySabre. Westbrook said that Sabre is committed to innovation - many a direct result of travel agents input. With new lead-in pricing functionality, agents can better match their customer's needs with each sailing without having to click around the display options while Sabre Cruises integrates CRM functions by supporting the Live Connect feature available on TRAMS' ClientBase CRM tool. Westbrook believes the new features will increase agents repeat business and increase productivity. Mar 10, 2008

Silversea Cruises

Silver Spirit is the name being bestowed on Silversea Cruises' newest 540-passenger luxury ship debuting in December 2009. Silver Spirit will weigh 36,000 tons and have a mix of contemporary and classic decor. In addition, it will have the largest suites in Silversea's fleet and more of the "quick-to-sell-out" Silver Suites, with a total of 26. There will also be a total of 222 verandah suites. All but 12 suites will have balconies. Fitness and wellness will be a big component with a spa that is almost 400 square meters bigger than ones on Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. "We wanted to invest more," said Amerigo Perasso, president and CEO of Silversea. Mar 12, 2008

Silversea Cruises

Silversea announced November refits of Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, its two oldest ships. The one-month drydocks will include upgrades to bathrooms and staterooms and new carpeting. Additionally, the spa and fitness centers will be moved from deck 7 to deck 9 to make way for the addition of more suites. Mar 12, 2008

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