Disney Cruise Line to Implement Fuel Supplement

It should come as no surprise that Disney Cruise Lines has finally announced the unavoidable. Due to increasingly high fuel prices, the line will begin charging a fuel supplement on new bookings made on or after May 28th.

The charge will be $8 per passenger, per day for the first and second passengers in a cabin (up to a maximum of $112 per passenger per cruise) and additional passengers in the same cabin will be assessed $3 per passenger, per day (with a maximum of $42 per passenger for the cruise).

Take heart, though. Soft drinks are still complimentary at the beverage stations.

Two NCL Ships To Be Purchased By Louis Cruise Lines

Louis Cruise Lines reached an agreement last week to purchase two of Star Cruises' NCL ships, Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Majesty for a total of $380 million USD. You may not think you've ever heard of Louis, but if you remember Sea Diamond, the ship that sunk off the coast of Santorini last April, that was a Louis ship. The line, more widely recognized by Europeans than Americans, sails a diverse fleet of 13 cruise ships that operate from the ports of Genoa, Italy and Marseilles, France on Western Mediterranean, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries, and from Piraeus, Greece to the Greek Islands and Eastern and Western Mediterranean.

Don't panic if you have a cruise booked on one of those NCL ships--they won't be leaving the fleet just yet. Under terms of the purchase agreement, the ships will be chartered back to Star Cruises. Norwegian Dream will remain in the NCL fleet until Nov 2008 and Norwegian Majesty will remain until Dec 2009.

Throwing Cruisers a Curve, NCL Introduces NEW WAVE STATEROOMS

NCL has come up with what is arguably the cruise industry’s most innovative living space at sea. Dubbed New Wave Staterooms, they are designed for NCL's next generation of Freestyle Cruising ships, F3. The New Wave standard, New Wave balcony and New Wave deluxe staterooms, described and illustrated in artists' renderings at CruiseDiva.com, represent a giant leap forward in cruise ship accommodations with a completely fresh take on bathroom design, contemporary curved architecture, and open living space.

The most distinctive design element in New Wave staterooms is the curved walls and lines that create a chic and modern look. NCL has maximized the living space with a totally unique "pod" bathroom that features a separate shower stall, separate water closet, and a modern vanity top sink. While we like the idea of not playing dueling doors in most old-style cabin entry areas where both closet and bathroom are located, we're not entirely sure we want to step out of the shower to dry off right in front of the cabin's door to the hallway. You never know when your cabinmate (or steward) might open the door and... oops... there you are! Could be quite interesting.

We like the stateroom furnishings, which feature a sophisticated earth-tone palette accented with splashes of color and rich, dark wood. Concealed contour LED lighting and back-lit domed ceilings set a relaxing vibe. All the amenities and comforts of NCL’s Freestyle 2.0 enhancements are included with upgraded bedding, linens and towels, Euro pillows, Elemis bathroom products, and MP3 connectivity upon request. Balcony and deluxe staterooms have bathrobes, a customized fruit menu, a fresh-baked cookie at turn down on the last night of cruise, an escort to the stateroom on embarkation day, priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines and special color keycard for ship-wide recognition. We'd like to point out that cookies would be most appreciated every night, though.

Cruise Ship Passenger Missing

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching more than 1,100 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico by air and at sea for a missing cruise ship passenger. The as-yet unidentified man might have gone overboard from Carnival Victory when the ship was approximately 38 miles off the Mexican coast while approaching Cozumel. As reported by First Coast News, the man's wife reported him missing Tuesday evening. Oddly, no one had apparently seen the man since the wee hours of Tuesday morning before arriving in Cozumel, yet no one seemed to miss him until the ship was heading back to sea after having been berthed from 8am to 6pm in the Mexican port.

Carnival Victory is presently on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise that departed Miami last Sunday.

UPDATE: Sadly the missing passenger had not been found when the Coast Guard suspended the search, which ultimately covered over 1,500 square miles.

Oceania Cruises to Adjust Fuel Surcharge

In response to the continually escalating price of fuel, Oceania Cruises is increasing its fuel surcharge to $10 per guest per day for all new reservations effective May 1, 2008. The surcharge applies to all currently published sailings.

"The price of fuel continues to rise in price to levels that were previously unimaginable. We appreciate the continued understanding of our guests and travel agent partners as we make this necessary adjustment,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

The fuel surcharge of $10 per guest per day, regardless of voyage length, is effective for all new reservations as of May 1, 2008. The fuel surcharge applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and does not apply to third or fourth guests.

Cunard Queens Rendezvous in Southampton

In yet another historic Cunard occasion, the Line's three Queens - Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, and Queen Victoria - met yesterday in their homeport of Southampton for the first and last time.

QE2 and Queen Victoria arrived after completing milestone World Cruises: the final such voyage for the iconic "grande dame" QE2, set to leave Cunard's service in November, and the first World Cruise for Queen Victoria.

Queen Mary 2 arrived after concluding her first Transatlantic Crossing of the season and will transport the remaining World Cruisers from both QE2 and Queen Victoria back to New York, arriving April 28.

The three ships are the world's only passenger vessels that proudly display Southampton on their sterns.

The Cruise of a Lifetime: Antarctica Aboard Star Princess

"It has been the cruise of our lifetime!"

When I read that in an email from veteran cruisers Vincent and Mary Finelli, I knew this would be a very special cruise review of Star Princess in Antarctica.

The Finelli's reviews are always full of useful information about the ships they sail on and they are particularly respectful of the crewmembers and officers. I have to give them additional kudos for all they do because they do it with flair, despite having mobility challenges. Their observations are invaluable to anyone who faces similar obstacles. Vincent and Mary are, quite simply, an inspiration.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Revises Fuel Supplement

MIAMI -- In its ongoing efforts to deal with record fuel prices, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced an increase in the fuel supplement it charges guests. The revised fuel supplement will apply to bookings made throughout the world on or after May 1, 2008, onboard three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Cruises.

For first and second guests in a stateroom, the revised fuel supplement will be $8 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-day, and no more than $112 (U.S.D.) per person, per cruise. Additional guests in a stateroom will be charged $3 (U.S.D.) per person, per day, and no more than $42 (U.S.D.) per person, per cruise.

Costa Maya Rebounds

It was July 2007, less than a year ago when Hurricane Dean decimated Costa Maya, the made-for-cruisers stop on Mexico's Yucatan coast, and left the nearby fishing village of Majahual in ruins. Initial reports estimated it would take until early-2009 before repairs could be made.

The word at Seatrade last month was that reconstruction was ahead of schedule and it appeared that Costa Maya would beat its ambitious Sept 2008 target date for reopening. A press release this week confirmed that the port will be ready to welcome cruise ships in July. That's a display of ambition in a good way. Work on the pier will be complete enough in July to berth two ships and the third berthing spot will be ready in late-2008. The new piers will accommodate even the largest cruise ships--Royal Caribbean's Genesis-class and NCL's F-3 ships.

Reports are that all the major cruise lines are returning, so watch for Western Caribbean itineraries to begin including Costa Maya again soon. In the meantime, Cruise Diva's Carnival Glory, Grand Princess and Carnival Fantasy reviews offer looks at different ways to spend your day in Costa Maya.

'Bye 'Bye, Celebration

When bright and spiffy brand-new ships are launched, they get a lot of attention. That was the case when Celebration joined the Carnival fleet more than 20 years ago. Known then as a "superliner," the 47,000-ton Celebration--largely ignored in the recent past--has now quietly sailed on her last cruise to the Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida. She's still relatively "young" in cruise ship years, though, and will join Iberocruceros in Spain this summer after being buffed up and rejuvenated.

Those of us in the Southeast will miss the familiar Carnival funnel in Jacksonville for a few months until Carnival Fascination--a newer (launched in 1994) and larger (70,000-ton) Fantasy-class ship--will pick up where Celebration left off. Carnival Fascination will begin sailing year-round 4- and 5-night Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville in Sept 2008.

For a nostalgic look back on a Celebration "Fun Ship" sailing, these are Cruise Diva's Memories of The Elvis Cruise last fall. It was a whole lot of fun!

On the Dock at Labadee

So, you're wondering... has Cruise Diva lost her mind? There's no dock at Royal Caribbean's private island Labadee! Stick with me. This story is satisfying, but not long.

Most passengers don’t select an itinerary based solely upon whether their chosen ship calls at a private island, established to provide a beach break on an island (or part of one) reserved for their exclusive use, but usually consider the stop a highlight of their cruise vacation. With the exception of Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay, where a dock was built to greet passengers from day one, all other private island destinations are reached by shore tender.

While researching updates for the 2009 edition of Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call, I came across an article on on the Haiti Innovation web site that discusses a deal between Royal Caribbean and the Haitian Government to significantly expand the cruise line's operations in Haiti--including the building of docking facilities. What's Haiti Innovation? They describe their organization as "a non profit and non-political consultancy committed to Haiti. Created by former Peace Corps Volunteers, the Haiti Innovation team offers both technical expertise and in depth knowledge of the developmental and humanitarian challenges facing Haiti."

After making inquiries at Royal Caribbean, I was told, "We are indeed building a dock at Labadee. It is estimated to be completed in September 2009."

That's great news for passengers, especially those with mobility issues and the thousands of passengers arriving on large ships where the waiting period to tender ashore can be drawn out. And, remember--you heard it confirmed here first.

For more private island information, see Your Caribbean Place In The Sun at CruiseDiva.com.

It's A Dog's Life At Sea

From online message board posts, it's a given that cruisers love their "furbabies" and are concerned with their welfare when they leave home for a cruise vacation. Cruisers on private vessels feel the same, but can usually take their pets with them. However, in Dec 2007, the Darla Jean, a private 48 ft. motor sailor washed up on Fanning Island after spending 95 days drifting across the Pacific. On board were the boat owners and their pet dog, an eight-month old cocker spaniel named Snickers. After spending two weeks on Fanning Island, the owners returned to their home in California on an interisland supply ship, but Snickers wasn’t able to accompany them and he was left behind. The forlorn pooch spent the last four months on the island.

After hearing Snickers’ story, Las Vegas, Nevada resident (and all-around nice guy) Jack Joslin called the Hawaiian Humane Society for help in getting the dog off Fanning Island. The Humane Society contacted NCL America and asked for assistance in rescuing Snickers.

The best part of this story is that NCL America’s Pride of Aloha returned to Honolulu yesterday from a 12-day Hawaii cruise with one extra guest: the adorable Snickers. Working with the Hawaiian Humane Society, NCL America officials made arrangements for the abandoned puppy to be picked up by the ship during its planned stop in Fanning Island on April 9, 2008.

“We are pleased that we could help bring Snickers back to the United States,” said Alan Yamamoto, NCL America’s vice president of Hawaii operations. Following a stop in Honolulu, Snickers will be flown to his new owner in Las Vegas. We love happy endings.

Photo of Snickers, Courtesy of NCL America

Take a Look at Royal Caribbean's "Project Genesis"

She'll be the largest cruise ship at sea when she launches late next year. As yet unnamed, Royal Caribbean's Project Genesis weighs in at 220,000 tons and will accommodate 5,400 passengers (double occupancy) in 2,700 staterooms.

While Royal Caribbean has been mum regarding her features, they broke the ice today by revealing that "Central Park" will be the focal point of the ship.

"Building such a large vessel allowed us to add even more of the choices and amenities that our guests value and Central Park is a dramatic addition to our already extensive array of exciting features," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Central Park is the first of many dynamic neighborhoods on Project Genesis which will enable each guest to find his or her own space and activity."

Get a look at the neighborhoods, including artists' renderings of the restaurants, interior-facing balconies, and other public spaces at CruiseDiva.com. We're particularly excited about the Rising Tide bar, a movable lounge that should excite even the most jaded cruisers. Rising Tide will span three decks and allow passengers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park and then descend back into the public spaces below.

Photo Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Carnival Introduces More Splendor

The 113,000-ton Carnival Splendor, set to debut in Europe this summer, is looking... well, we think she's just splendid.

Here at CruiseDiva.com we love new ships, especially when they represent an all-new class. The artist’s renderings below of Carnival Splendor’s atrium lobby, restaurant, and promenade (top to bottom) illustrate just a few of the ship’s main public areas. Created by ship architect Joe Farcus, the ship promises to be one of a kind: a larger, more fun-filled addition to the fleet with a dramtic vibe.

After a maiden sailing from Genoa on July 2nd, Carnival Splendor will reposition to London (Dover) July 10 for Carnival’s first-ever 12-day Northern Europe program, part of a diverse inaugural schedule that also includes Mediterranean, Caribbean, South American and Mexican Rivera voyages.



Photos Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Warning to Men: What Not To Pack For Your Cruise

In a recent email, Frank DeVault related an unfortunate packing experience:

I packed a Swiss Army knife on my last cruise.

My bags were held up in ships security for 4 hours, all the while I was frantically running around wondering where my bag was. Of course, the crew kept saying that it was not unusual for a bag not arrive with the other bags.

Finally the purser located it in security and asked me to go down into the bowels of the ship where the X-Ray machine was located. I arrived to find the bag with a large pieces of masking tape across it with the words KNIFE written on it. I was asked to open the bag and show them the knife. Well, when I pulled out the extremely dangerous Swiss Army knife (carried mainly for its corkscrew) everyone looked away in embarrassment and sputtered apologies. I was told not to carry it around on board, which I hadn't planned on doing anyway.

Of course, it was a great story at the dinner table to break the ice. Criminally, I carried it to the table to show off the offending KNIFE.

I've heard of cruise lines setting aside luggage that contained the ever-popular "smuggled" liquor, but never a simple Swiss Army knife. While Frank was able to take it in stride, and even make lighthearted comments to his dinner companions, the experience was unpleasant.

It ruined my embarkation activities while I searched for my bag. The cruise line should have informed me that there was a problem with my bag via a telephone message, note in the stateroom mail slot, or something.

I agree. If there's a question about the contents of a passenger's suitcase, they should be contacted and informed immediately. One of the items on Cruise Diva's Packing List For Men was a Swiss Army knife. My husband has carried one for years, so it's something that I just naturally assumed many other men would want to have with them. I've removed it from the Packing List For Men. Sadly, that's another blow to personal freedom in these days of heightened security.

Thank you for sharing, Frank! It's tips like yours that make life (and travel) easier for everyone. I might add that you can still pack a corkscrew in checked luggage and even small scissors will pass muster in a carry-on.

Carnival Splendor: California, Here I Come

If you were in Sicily yesterday, you might have spotted Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor undergoing sea trials in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy, the 3,006-passenger vessel–the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed–is slated to debut July 2, 2008, with an eight-day voyage from Genoa to London (Dover) after which it will begin a series of 12-day Northern Europe cruises July 13.

Representing a new (and unique) class of vessel, Carnival Splendor will offer a host of innovations, including a luxurious 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa. Adjacent to the facility will be 68 spa staterooms and suites–a first for Carnival. Its numerous family-friendly features will include an expansive two-level, 5,500-square-foot children’s play area and a water spray park.

After a season of Northern Europe cruises, Carnival Splendor will operate a schedule of 12-day cruises to the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 7-day Caribbean departures. Carnival Splendor will then sail a series of 14- to 18-day South America voyages before deploying to Long Beach, California, for year-round 7-day Mexican Riviera voyages beginning in March 2009.

Celebrity Cruises Revamps Smoking Policy

While Celebrity currently allows guests to smoke in staterooms, on stateroom verandas, and in a number of indoor and outdoor public spaces, that's about to change. The line has determined that cruise enthusiasts may praise the virtues of "sea air," but to many of them, what matters more is clean air. As more hotels and restaurants worldwide implement stricter smoking policies in order to promote healthier air, Celebrity Cruises also is taking action. Beginning October 1, 2008, guests on Celebrity's ships will enjoy fresher air as a result of a new policy that disallows smoking in Celebrity's staterooms or on stateroom verandas. The policy also will reduce the number of public areas in which guests can smoke on board.

"We are proud to be the first premium cruise line to set a new standard toward creating an environment of cleaner air on our ships," said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We pay careful attention to what our guests have to say, and approximately 90 percent of them have told us they are non-smokers. By increasing the number of smoke-free areas on board while still designating areas for those who smoke, our aim is to make the on board experience as pleasant as possible for all of our guests."

Created after Celebrity polled past guests, the new policy will result in a cleaner, fresher, and healthier environment on Celebrity's ships. Designated indoor areas where guests can smoke cigarettes include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each ship's casino. The new policy also designates outdoor areas where guests can smoke. These include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship, the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity's Millennium class of ships, and the port side aft outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury. Celebrity's new Solstice class of ships, launching with Celebrity Solstice late this year, will follow the new policy beginning with the first sailing. Celebrity Solstice's Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking.

The new restricted smoking policy will go into effect on the rest of Celebrity's fleet on the first day of each ship's first sailing following October 1. Check Cruise Diva's Cruise News for the exact dates and read Smoke On The Water for all cruise lines' smoking policies.

Violations to Celebrity's smoking policy may result in a $250 cleaning fee charged to the guest's on board account and may also be addressed through the line's guest conduct policy. It should be noted that Celebrity Xpedition, the 92-person mega-yacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands, which operates under a stricter policy than the rest of the fleet, allows smoking only in designated areas of the ship's outer decks.

NCL to Passengers: Tell Us What's On Your Mind

Cruise lines want to know what you liked, what you didn't, and how they can improve your cruise experience. That's why they ask each passenger to complete a Comment Card before the end of the cruise and they stress how important the comments are to them. However, as good as your intentions are to fill it in, you might be rushed with packing and other details before disembarkation and overlook the Comment Card. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has a solution for that--a new comprehensive passenger feedback process. The NCL Guest Experience & Loyalty Scorecard is the new online system to collect, analyze, and report guest feedback about the entire cruise experience.

“We are committed to exceeding our guests’ expectations while delivering a superior cruise experience, so having this new guest feedback tool in place is of the utmost importance to our success,” said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. “Guest feedback helped NCL shape the new Freestyle 2.0 cruise experience and we will continue to listen to our guests to measure the delivery and impact of those enhancements, as well as guide future product innovations within Freestyle Cruising.”

Once you return home from your NCL cruise, you'll receive an email invitation allowing you to conveniently provide feedback on your entire cruise experience via a post-cruise online survey. The web-based format, which takes the place of the on-board guest comment card, allows NCL to continuously listen to their passengers' voices and integrate that insight into further development of their product and customer strategy.

The scorecard, which will be in place fleet-wide by mid-April, will help measure the impact of the new Freestyle 2.0 enhancements which include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for guests of all ages; and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests. Norwegian Jade is the first ship to feature Freestyle 2.0. Additional ships will launch Freestyle 2.0 within the following weeks, with fleet-wide roll out implemented by June 1, 2008.

Carnival Corp Announces Revised Fuel Supplement

Because of the continuing rapid escalation of fuel prices, the North American brands of Carnival Corporation, including Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, and Seabourn, have announced an increase to the current fuel supplement from $5.00 to $7.00 per passenger, per day. The lines will also implement a fuel supplement on third, fourth and fifth passengers of $2 per person per day. The new fuel supplements will apply to all new bookings effective April 21, 2008. The fuel supplements will not exceed $98 per person per voyage for the first and second guests and $28 per person per voyage for the third, fourth and fifth guests in a stateroom.

This fuel supplement adjustment is necessitated by significant rises in fuel prices which have dramatically increased Carnival Corporation's operating costs. The company relates, "We regret having to take this action, but fuel price increases have continued, and we now find it necessary to implement a modest increase in the supplement to partially offset a portion of soaring fuel costs. We hope that our guests will understand that this is a necessary step in today’s challenging economic environment."

For bookings made from Nov 7, 2007 to April, 20, 2008, the original fuel supplement of $5 per person per day will apply.

On a related note, Carnival Corporation previously announced a voluntary refund of the fuel supplement for bookings that were made prior to Nov 7, 2007, under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General's Office. For details, see Cruise Diva's March 31st blog entry.

Cruise Travel: A Real Groaner

Every once in a while someone very seriously shares a cruise travel story with me. Unfortunately, often what they relate as honest to goodness this really happened, is...well, let's just say I've often heard it before. The latest anecdote making the rounds is one that was not only sent to me in email, but I've read it several other places online as well. It's becoming an urban legend of the seas. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Here you go...

A guy went to the dentist and while making conversation with the dental hygienist he mentioned the cruise he was going on soon.

The hygienist got very excited and said she and her husband had gone on a cruise and loved it.

“As a matter of fact,” she said, “one of the drinks we had on the ship was so fantastic that we asked what was in it, and we make it at home all the time.”

So he asked, “What's the name of the drink?”

“Drink of the Day! That’s what they called it,” she answered.

“That was the name of it?” he asked.

“Yes, Drink of the Day, and we love them.”

Substitute “blonde” for “dental hygienist” and imagine a cruise director telling that story. Like I said, groaner.

Princess Cruises Adding "The Sanctuary" to All Ships

Prompted by enthusiastic response from its passengers, Princess Cruises' ground-breaking "pocket of tranquility"--The Sanctuary--has become such a popular haven for passengers who want to escape to a serene hideaway, that it will be added to the entire fleet of Princess ships. Beginning this summer, the line's trademark retreat will be added to Island Princess, followed by Grand Princess and Star Princess by the end of the year. Additional ships will have The Sanctuary added through 2010. Depending on the ship, The Sanctuaries will be created in different areas onboard, such as the sports courts atop the "Grand-class" vessels, which will be relocated.

The Sanctuary, which debuted in 2006 aboard Crown Princess, was an instant success as it gave passengers the perfect place to take a break and indulge in a private getaway with a plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting, complete with massage cabanas, signature beverages, light meals, attentive service and relaxing personal entertainment. The exclusive adults-only retreat enjoyed continued popularity on sister ship Emerald Princess, and will also be available on Ruby Princess, debuting in November.

Sanctuary guests lounge amidst lush greenery, with the presence of gentle breezes, ocean waves, and softly piped-in spa music combining to further insulate the area with relaxation sounds. Guests can relax on plush outdoor furniture including double loungers for couples, as well as deluxe chaise lounges and chairs. Passengers also enjoy the personal attention of Serenity Stewards in The Sanctuary, who are on hand to provide everything from a chilled face towel and Evian water atomizers, to a menu of healthy beverages and fare. Serenity Stewards also have personal MP3 players with noise canceling headphones available loaded with themed playlists focused on relaxation for those who want to escape with music.

Guests can also refresh with a variety of special drinks and snacks created exclusively for The Sanctuary. Each day Serenity Stewards will be on hand to offer guests an array of drinks and snacks. Signature Sanctuary beverages include healthy smoothies, energy drinks, iced flavored waters and freshly made lemonade. A menu featuring a selection of light bites such as refreshing fruit skewers, lettuce wrapped spring rolls, and spicy tuna pâté with baked pita wedges will also be available through the Serenity Stewards.

In addition, The Sanctuary features two outdoor private cabanas where guests can also take advantage of the exclusive Lotus Spa Services at The Sanctuary, including sybaritic favorites such as a Deep Tissue Muscle Massage, a relaxing Swedish Massage or a Full Body Lotus Massage especially for couples. Half-day passes for The Sanctuary are available for $10 per person, for 8 am to 12:30 pm or 1 pm to 5 pm. Passengers choosing to indulge with an outdoor massage may also enjoy an hour's use of The Sanctuary area after their treatment.
For a first-hand look at the original Sanctuary, check out CruiseDiva's Crown Princess Review.

Photo: The Sanctuary aboard Crown Princess, copyright CruiseDiva.com

French Ship Seized by Pirates

Thankfully there were no passengers on board when pirates seized control of Le Ponant on Friday, April 4th. However, its 30 crew members were taken hostage when the 288-ft, French luxury sailing yacht was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's coast. After completing a cruise of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, the ship was returning to the Mediterranean where it was scheduled to embark passengers for a cruise on April 19th.

Violence-torn Somalia doesn't have its own navy and has been assisted in the area by international patrols in an effort to deter piracy. According the the Associated Press, "The International Maritime Bureau, which tracks piracy, said in its annual report earlier this year that global pirate attacks rose 10 percent in 2007, marking the first increase in three years." Pirates off the coast of Somalia are reported to have seized more than two dozen ships last year, most of them commercial vessels.

The three-masted Le Ponant, owned by Compagnie des Iles du Ponant, features four decks, two restaurants, indoor and outdoor lounges, and can carry up to 64 passengers.

Snorkeling in ALASKA? Yes, Alaska Cruises Are Full of Surprises

Whale watching and dog sledding in Alaska, yes; but rainforests and snorkeling? Aren't these activities for the tropics? Have the experts who plan innovative shore excursions in Alaska for member lines of Cruise Lines Intl Assn (CLIA) misread the map? It turns out that North America's most majestic northern wilderness is only one great reason to cruise to Alaska. For thousands of vacationers, the biggest surprise may be how many different ways there are to experience that magnificent landscape, including underwater in a wetsuit. If you're looking for a terrific guidebook, with cruising chapters by yours truly, I'd like to suggest Fodor's Alaska Ports of Call 2008.

In 2008, CLIA member lines will offer a wide variety of Alaska cruises, from small ships carrying nearly 200 passengers to the newest mega liners. There are 7-day roundtrips and 14-day one-way voyages with ports of embarkation all along the Pacific, from Los Angeles to Seward, with many from Vancouver, Seattle and Juneau. Each line offers its own distinctive character and all feature the immense natural treasures, such as Glacier Bay, that attract visitors from around the world. These sites are also highlighted through an amazing variety of shore excursions and land tours ranging from crab fishing and zip-lining to private whaling adventures and multi-day journeys throughout British Columbia.

Here is a sampling of 2008 Alaska cruises:

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES: Carnival's 2008 Alaska offerings consist of 16 seven-day Glacier Route cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit. The series of voyages, which begin on May 21, are one-way between Vancouver and Whittier/Anchorage and call on Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka and cruise the College Fjord, the Island Passage and Prince William Sound. Three departures will be roundtrip from Vancouver, visiting Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
CELEBRITY CRUISES: Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Infinity will be in Alaska this summer and passengers will have the option of a "Frasier Discovery" tour featuring Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Quesnell, Whistler and Vancouver. Other Celebrity highlights in Alaska include an "Alpine Zipline and Rainforest Eco-tour and a "Golden Glassblowing Experience."
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE: Holland America will have eight ships in Alaska, offering more than 250 varied shore excursions. In Haines, a new tour called "Guides Choice Photo Discovery" focuses on photographing the wildlife and stunning scenery of the Chilkat Valley. And, in Sitka and Ketchikan guests will be able to don a wetsuit and explore the usually unseen underwater wilderness with snorkeling gear. Another new excursion is the "Exclusive Mountaintop Flightseeing and Crab Feast."
MAJESTIC AMERICA LINE: Majestic America Line, which offers coastal and river cruises in North America, features seven-night Juneau roundtrip sailings and 12-night one-way voyages between Seattle to Juneau. With just 112 staterooms and suites, most with private verandahs, Empress of the North's intimate, small ship experience provides unique access to the vast wilderness and waterways of Alaska's Inside Passage. Guests enjoy five-star comfort, luxurious amenities, enrichment programs, award-winning service and included shore excursions in selected ports.
PRINCESS CRUISES: Princess Cruises' 2008 Alaska season features eight ships, including five sailing the Gulf of Alaska. New for this year is the Tahitian Princess' 14-day Connoisseur itinerary featuring less visited ports such as Kodiak, Valdez and Seward. The line is also introducing 37 new tour options in its Adventures Ashore program, including private whale watching, zip-lining, a Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's tour, and an "Alaskan Chef's Table." Princess will carry more passengers to Glacier Bay than any other line this year.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE: Three NCL Freestyle Cruising vessels will return to Alaska for the 2008 season. Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will sail seven-day roundtrip cruises from Seattle while Norwegian Sun departs from Vancouver. Itineraries include the Inside Passage and feature either Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier, with calls in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria and Prince Rupert Island. NCL offers more than 130 adventurous shore excursions, including gold mining, river rafting and whale watching. And as of June 1, Freestyle 2.0, NCL's enhanced guest experience initiative-will be implemented fleet-wide. Enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgraded stateroom amenities; and new, wide-ranging on-board activities for guests of all ages.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES: Regent will feature numerous new tour programs on its Seven Seas Mariner cruises in Alaska this year. In Juneau, there is a "Wild Coast Exploration" by catamaran along glacier-carved fjords and rugged stretches of coast. Guests may also opt for salmon fishing by traditional 14-foot rowboat on the Campbell River in British Columbia, a Ketchikan biking and zip-line combo and, in Sitka, an "Advanced Volcano Hike" on the remote Kruzof Island. Along the way, whales, sea lions, sea otters and eagles provide outstanding photo opportunities.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTL: Royal Caribbean will have three ships in Alaska in 2008, including Rhapsody of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. The 7- to 14-night voyages feature more than 140 tours in the five southeast Alaska ports of Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Icy Strait Point. The tours include dog sledding, crab feeds and salmon bakes, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, semi-submersibles and snorkeling, whale watching and more.
SILVERSEA CRUISES: Silversea's all-suite, 382-guest Silver Shadow will be the only ultra-luxury ship sailing Alaskan waters this year, offering ten itineraries ranging from nine to 12 days. Several sailings feature convenient roundtrip departures from Vancouver, with open-jaw voyages also available from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seward. The Alaska voyages feature a diverse enrichment program, with such noted authorities as marine biologist John Palmisano, chef Anne Desjardins, wine expert John Shafer and author Sabin Robbins.

For more information about Alaska, check out the sights to see and things to do when Cruise Diva Goes Ashore in ALASKA.

Princess Cruises Circle The Globe

Continuing its long tradition of bringing passengers to some of the world's most intriguing places, Princess Cruises has released its 2009-10 schedule of exotic itineraries which include long-time passenger favorites along with some new, emerging destinations.

Also announced today is that Tahitian Princess, one of the small ships in the Princess fleet, will be renamed in 2009, becoming Ocean Princess. The new name is intended to reflect the ship's new deployment on worldwide itineraries. The renaming will take place while the ship is out of service during a routine maintenance period in Singapore in Nov 2009. The 670-passenger Tahitian Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2002, and has been primarily deployed on sailings in the South Pacific, particularly French Polynesia and Hawaii. Beginning this summer, the ship sets off on new worldwide deployments, featuring a Connoisseur's cruise in Alaska, a world cruise in early 2009 and a season of unique Northern Europe sailings next summer. Following the 2009 renaming, Ocean Princess will sail on a series of Asia voyages to be announced separately.

"Tahitian Princess, along with our other two small ships, has developed a loyal following of passengers who enjoy a more intimate cruise experience, and also the opportunity to visit some off-the-beaten-path destinations. As this ship is now sailing on itineraries around the world, we felt its name should reflect a more global theme," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales.

During next year's fall season, Pacific Princess, another of the line's small vessels, will provide cruises from Papeete, Tahiti, where the Tahitian Princess has been based. For full details on Princess Cruises' 2009 itineraries, see CruiseDiva.com's Cruise News.

The Grand Princess Non-Fire Story

Reports from Jamaica yesterday sounded dire. As Grand Princess sailed from Ochos Rios, residents reported seeing the ship engulfed in smoke and the local media ran with it. It should come as no surprise that Internet message boards were all a-buzz as well. In reality, what was reported as an unverified and mysterious fire, was an engine problem. Smoke was being vented through the funnel, which caused alarm ashore and online.

Grand Princess sailed to her next scheduled port of call at reduced speed. While they arrived the next day a bit late in Grand Cayman, neither the vessel nor passengers and crewmembers were in danger.

Full repairs will be completed between cruises when the ship returns to Fort Lauderdale.

Ship of (April) Fools

Every cruise line tries very hard to fulfill their passengers' expectations, so when "oh ship" happens, there can be frustration all around. Bad weather, mechanical problems, political unrest, and a timing glitch can set the most well-made arrangements adrift. That timing thing appears to be what happened during a recent Silversea Panama Canal crossing. At least one passenger couple was so upset with the inability of the ship to transit the length of the Canal in daylight that they alerted Britain's Telegraph to share their displeasure.

While the cruise line expressed their regret and offered the couple a sincere apology and discount on a future cruise, it appears there were circumstances in play beyond their control. Ships cannot enter the Panama Canal without a pilot and there's nothing a ship's captain can do except wait until one arrives on board. The Canal is a marvel of engineering, but it's also operated by humans and sometimes even the most precise schedules can be thrown out of whack.

Take this advise from Cruise Diva to heart: when you decide to take a cruise, any cruise, remember... occasionally, Ship Happens.

Carnival Corp Announces Fuel Supplement Refund

Carnival Corp has announced a voluntary refund of the company’s fuel supplement for applicable U.S. bookings that were made prior to Nov 7, 2007, under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The fuel supplement, announced Nov 7, 2007, was applied to all U.S. bookings for voyages departing on or after Feb 1, 2008, regardless of when the booking was made, for cruises on the Carnival Corp brands Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. However, this effective date allowed guests already booked at the time of the announcement the opportunity to cancel and receive a full refund.

The company will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced. Refunds for affected guests will be implemented based on cruise departure date according to the following schedule:

• For cruises departing on or prior to April 4, 2008, guests will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise.
• For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, guests will receive an on-board credit.
• For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, guests’ bookings will be adjusted to remove the supplement.

The fuel supplement remains in effect for all bookings made on or after Nov 7, 2007. The $5 per person per day fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in a stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person per voyage.

This announcement will have no impact on the company’s previously reported 2008 first quarter financial results or its March 20, 2008, guidance for the second quarter and full year 2008 since the company did not recognize fuel supplement revenues associated with bookings made prior to Nov 7, 2007, while the Florida Attorney General’s Office was conducting its review.

Carnival Corp is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia. Together, these brands operate 85 ships totaling more than 160,000 lower berths with 21 new ships scheduled to enter service between April 2008 and June 2012.

Days Ashore in Alaska Could Become Shorter

Oops. Somebody goofed. As the Anchorage Daily News has reported, "Starting this year, large cruise ships transiting Alaska waters will be the first in the country required to obtain a permit to discharge their waste in state waters."

The problem? Cruise lines can't apply for the permit because there isn't a shipboard technology available that would enable their ships to comply with the new rule. Thus, as the newspaper says, "An easier solution for the cruise lines is simply not to apply for a permit. The ships could instead discharge their treated wastewater in federal waters. One cruise line, Royal Caribbean, already does that to avoid any possible concerns with its dumping in state waters."

However, not all ships have enough capacity in their tanks to store treated wastewater for their entire itinerary and might need to detour out to the open ocean mid-voyage to dump it. Thus, their passengers may end up spending less time in ports. Despite the fact that cruise lines "have installed new sewage treatment systems on the ships traveling to Alaska to meet state and federal requirements" that's not good enough for Alaska. Those systems treat sewage and the new rules concentrate on trace metals, such as zinc, nickel, and copper, or ammonia. Allowable levels of those contaminants are the ones that cruise ships will have difficulty meeting under the new regulations. "Though the ships have a two-year grace period before they must meet stringent new requirements, it might not be sufficient," said John Binkley, the head of the Alaska Cruise Association.

"State regulators say the stricter standards are required by the cruise ship ballot initiative passed in 2006." We wonder, did the voters of Alaska really understand the initiative? If the goal of Alaska's state environmental regulators is to kill cruise tourism in their state, they are certainly headed in the right direction.

Want to Cruise? Get a Passport Before the Rush

It's official. The Dept of Homeland Security has stopped dithering with dates and announced that travelers will be required to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and SEA travel into the United States effective June 1, 2009. The final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), announced March 27, applies to previously exempt travelers, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda.

Dept of Homeland Security offers the details on their website, but the bottom line is that if you have a cruise planned for next year, get in line now to apply for a passport. Processing times at present are within four weeks from the time of application; however, that could all change.

Remember last year? As applications flooded in, passport processing centers were "overwhelmed" by the "unprecedented" demand. Previously announced passport requirements resulted in millions of applications and the State Department was unprepared to process them in a timely fashion. From personal experience, the anxiety isn't worth waiting to apply. You could find yourself in Passport Purgatory if you do.

Can You Guess “Whodunit” On Your Mystery Cruise?

If you've ever wanted to play the part of a Crime Scene Investigator, here's your chance...

Carnival Cruise Lines and Whodunit Productions, the leading organizer of mystery cruises at sea, are partners in crime for a series of “Whodunit Cruises” aboard the 2,052-passenger “Fun Ship” Carnival Paradise from Long Beach, Calif., in 2008 and 2009. Eight different 3-day “Mystery Cruises” will be offered, the first of which will depart, appropriately enough, on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2008. Other departure dates include Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, May 1, July 17, Oct. 30, and Dec. 4, 2009.

“Whodunit Cruises” on board Carnival Paradise will encompass a variety of puzzling activities set to take place throughout the public rooms and areas aboard the 70,000-ton ship, all with the objective of solving the mystery at the end of the voyage. Upon embarkation, participants are given their own role to play and are encouraged to utilize the traits of their character to find out “whodunit.” “Mystery Cruise” participants will also interact with professional actors hired specifically to set the tone for the mystery by creating an unforgettable atmosphere of suspense and intrigue. A variety of top-secret clues, everything from notes slipped discreetly under stateroom doors to instructions for various clandestine missions, are provided throughout the cruise. As the clues unravel, participants have to solve the mystery – before it’s too late! In addition to the opportunity to put their crime-solving skills to the test, “Mystery Cruise” participants can enjoy a special Super Sleuth cocktail party at the end of the cruise to announce the Whodunit winner.

While aboard Carnival Paradise, “Mystery Cruise” participants can enjoy the ship’s wide range of “resort-style” facilities and features – 12 lounges and bars with dramatic interiors that celebrate the great ships of yesteryear, three swimming pools – one with a 115-foot-long water slide – along with a 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival facility, full casino gambling and on-board duty-free shopping. Dining options include two formal restaurants with extensive menus and wine lists, a casual poolside eatery featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie offering specialty coffees and sweets, and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service. Wi-Fi access and cellular phone service are also available. Additionally, each of the Carnival Paradise’s 1,026 staterooms features the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Sign up now for the Carnival Paradise “Whodunit Cruises” by contacting Carnival’s special “Mystery Cruise” toll-free reservations number at 1-866-857-7080. Fare code CPMM/FPMM must be requested for individual bookings or CPMG/FPMG for group bookings. Participants must visit http://www.whodunitmystery.com/ after making their booking to register for the various on-board activities. Information on the Carnival “Fun Ship” vacation experience is also available by contacting any travel agent, calling 1-800-CARNIVAL or visiting http://www.carnival.com/.

MSC Cruises: As American as Apple Pie & BASEBALL

MSC Cruises will kick off a new series of baseball greats theme cruises on the Dec. 13 sailing of MSC Lirica. The seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale provides unique insight into the world of Major League Baseball as seen through the eyes of some of the greats of the game. Special guests on this itinerary will be Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller, Dave Campbell, Tommy Davis, Jeff Torborg, and Stan Bahnsen.

The baseball theme cruise features complimentary interactive guest/player activities, including a player-hosted trivia game in which guests can test their baseball knowledge, question-and-answer sessions with the players, a passenger pitching contest, and a lively story-telling session during which the players share some candid revelations about some of the “characters” of the game. Players will also host pitching, hitting, fielding and base running clinics. Perhaps the most popular activity is the autograph session at the end of the cruise.

“Guests have repeatedly told us how much they enjoyed meeting and interacting with the players during past seasons’ baseball theme cruises so it was a natural for us to continue this program for our guests,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA.

While in port, guests can take a “seventh-inning stretch” from talking baseball to explore ports of call – Key West, Florida; Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic. In addition to experiencing the different cultures and shore excursions, guests can visit the line’s private paradise on Cayo Levantado, where they will have the option to explore the waters around the island and view humpback whales as they arrive in the warmer Caribbean waters off the coast of the Dominican Republic to mate and enjoy their newborns.

MSC Cruises also has a full slate of baseball theme cruises scheduled for winter 2009 Caribbean season. MSC Orchestra, one of the line’s newest ships, will host baseball greats on its Jan. 24 Western Caribbean itinerary, and its Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 Eastern Caribbean itineraries.For more information about MSC Cruises and its Baseball Greats theme cruises, visit www.msccruisesusa.com or your local travel professional.

Carnival Offers All-Inclusive Cruise/Air Packages to Europe

Are you looking for a more affordable way to see Europe this summer? Carnival Cruise Lines is offering special cruise/air packages for its 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” cruises aboard the 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, with special rates available in conjunction with nearly 40 different North American gateway cities and eight different “Grand Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” voyages departing June through August. Both itineraries operate round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia).

• The special cruise/air packages are available when booking Carnival Freedom’s 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” cruises departing June 3 and 27, July 9 and 21 and Aug. 2 and 26, 2008. These voyages visit seven ports: Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice (two-day call), Italy; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. On those cruises, guests can visit Capri, Taormina, Monte Carlo, Florence and Pisa, home to centuries-old landmarks and celebrated museums. The two-day Venice call offers myriad opportunities to view that city’s stunning architecture and visit magnificent museums and cathedrals.
• Cruise/air packages are also available in conjunction with Carnival Freedom’s 12-day “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” voyages departing June 15 and Aug. 14. These voyages feature eight ports: Naples, Italy; Marmaris, Turkey; Izmir (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; scenic cruising of the Dardanelles; Athens (Piraeus) and Katakolon, Greece; and Livorno, Italy; and an overnight call in Rome (Civitavecchia). Highlights include Greece’s legendary Acropolis and the ancient settlements of Olympia, Priere, Didyma, and Miletus. Guests can also visit Istanbul’s fabled Blue Mosque, and tour the Coliseum or Vatican City during the overnight call in Civitavecchia.

A “floating resort” in every sense, Carnival Freedom features 22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, a 13,300-square-foot spa, 100 percent “bow-to-stern” wireless Internet access, cell phone service, and “Carnival’s Seaside Theatre,” a 270-square-foot LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming. A wide variety of formal and casual dining options – including twin two-level main dining rooms, a reservations-only supper club and a 1,400-seat casual eatery with 24-hour pizza and ice cream – are also available. Organized activities for kids in three age groups, including “Camp Carnival” for kids 2-11, “Circle C” for 12- to 14-year olds, and “Club O2” for older teens – are among the ship’s numerous family-friendly amenities. Also featured is a wide selection of spacious staterooms, including hundreds with private balconies – ideal for scenic European cruising. All Carnival Freedom staterooms include the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Carnival is accepting reservations on all of the Carnival Freedom’s various 2008 European departures. Cruise/air packages are for select departure dates and subject to change without notice. Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, as well as pre- and post-cruise land stays in Rome are also available. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.

To get a closer glimpse of Carnival Freedom, check out CruiseDiva.com's report from the Inaugural Caribbean Cruise.

Royal Caribbean Hunts for First-Ever British Godmother for 'Independence of the Seas'

Royal Caribbean Intl has launched a nationwide search for a British Godmother to reign over the cruise line's newest and largest ship, Independence of the Seas, when she launches in Southampton, next month (April 2008). Sir Steve Redgrave, five-time Olympic gold medallist and figure head of the Steve Redgrave Fund, will front the cruise line's search for Independence of the Seas' Godmother. Royal Caribbean Intl began its nationwide call for Godmother nominations on Monday, March 24, 2008, working in conjunction with ITV, the UK's biggest commercial television station.

The role of a Godmother is typically reserved for dignitaries or celebrities. Past Royal Caribbean Godmothers have included Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway, Lauren Bacall, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Estefan, Steffi Graff and champion wheelchair marathoner Jean Driscoll. Unusually, Royal Caribbean Intl is calling for an ordinary British woman who has done extraordinary things to become Godmother to the new Independence of the Seas this April. This special Godmother will demonstrate how she has gone above and beyond the call of duty and dedicated incredible time and effort to improve the well-being and future of young people under 18 years old in her community.

"Independence of the Seas is part of a family of the largest and most innovative ships in the industry, enjoyed by families and young people on holiday around the world. As our commitment to the UK and Europe grows in line with demand for our cruises, and to mark the arrival of Independence of the Seas into Southampton, we wanted to create an extra-ordinary inaugural celebration to showcase our commitment to the UK market. Our search for a British Godmother who demonstrates an extraordinary passion for young people is just that," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Intl.

All potential Godmothers must be nominated via a dedicated SearchForGodmother website. To enter, applicants must explain in 250 words or less why they, or someone they know, would be the ideal Godmother for Independence of the Seas. A special panel of judges including Royal Caribbean Intl executives, guest judges and Sir Steve Redgrave, will select the ships' Godmother. In addition to being godmother to Independence of the Seas, where she will have a formal portrait of herself displayed onboard the new ship, the woman selected will receive an honorary role in the official ship naming ceremonies, including participation in the ribbon-cutting and a VIP experience onboard Independence of the Seas' inaugural voyage. She also will receive a decade of cruising for two with Royal Caribbean Intl.

Independence of the Seas will launch in Southampton April 2008 weighing in at 160,000 GRT, with a capacity of 3,634 guests. The third in Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class of ships, and part of the family of the largest cruise ships in the world, Independence of the Seas feature some of the distinctive features the global cruise line is known for including: a FlowRider surf simulator; an ice-skating rink; an interactive H20 Zone water park for families; cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 ft. above the ocean; a rock-climbing wall; and the Royal Promenade, an entertainment boulevard stretching across the length of the ship.

Exploration Cruising Silversea-style on Prince Albert II

Mention "Monaco" and most people probably remember American-born Princess Grace or envision a yacht-strewn harbor, the legendary Monte Carlo Casino, or well-dressed spectators sipping champagne while Grand Prix race cars whiz past. What they might not think of is its superb Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I.

Aside from being a world hub of wealth and indulgence, the Principality of Monaco has long been recognized as a leader in marine environment research. In addition to founding the museum, Prince Albert I, a pioneer in oceanographic science and exploration, first explored the Arctic's Svalbard archipelago in the early part of the last century. In an effort to add to the scientific body of work started by his ancestor, the principality's current ruler, Prince Albert II plotted a similar course during part of his 2006 journey to the North Pole. As a result, the Prince is the first incumbent head of state to have reached the northern most point on Earth.

It comes as no surprise that Silversea Cruises chose to name their latest vessel—an exploration ship—for Prince Albert II of Monaco. Known worldwide for ultra luxurious cruises, Silversea's Prince Albert II will set an adventurous course on June 12, following a naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. Launching at the same time is the introduction of a new mode in exploration cruising—where a luxurious ambiance is just as important as the eye-opening educational experiences it will provide.

Take a preview tour of the 6,072-ton Prince Albert II with CruiseDiva.com.

Get More Europe in 2009 Aboard Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International

Offering travelers more choices to experience multiple destinations throughout Europe, Royal Caribbean has announced the planned deployment of a record eight ships to the region for the 2009 summer and fall seasons. Itineraries ranging from four to 14 nights are available aboard Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings in 2009.

With its largest European deployment ever slated for 2009, Celebrity Cruises is offering guests the opportunity to chart their idea of the perfect cruise vacation. Five Celebrity Cruises ships will sail in Europe in 2009, including two ships currently under construction, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Joining them are Celebrity Century, which underwent a $55-million makeover in 2006, Celebrity Constellation, built in 2002, and Celebrity Summit, which launched in 2001. The line will visit 76 ports in 29 countries, five of which are brand-new to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity's 2009 Europe season includes six homeports, overnight stays in eight different ports, and five unique cruisetour options. Celebrity also will offer nine transatlantic sailings in 2009.

Bookings are available immediately for Celebrity Cruises' and Royal Caribbean's 2009 Europe cruises and cruisetours aboard all ships except for Vision of the Seas, which will be opened in April 2008. For more details, see CruiseDiva.com's Cruise News.

Disney Cruise Line Extend Its Agreement with Port Canaveral

Disney Cruise Line announced it has finalized an agreement with Port Canaveral to extend the company’s current contract 15 years through 2022. In addition, as part of its continuing commitment to the Central Florida area, the company will home port its two new ships in Port Canaveral. The new agreement between Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral was ratified by Port Authority Commissioners.

As part of the new agreement, the Canaveral Port Authority will expand and modify the Disney Cruise Line port facility including an extension of the dock and enlargements and enhancements to the terminal building to allow for additional luggage and passenger capacity. A multi-level parking structure, scheduled to be completed by 2011, will also be built for Disney Cruise Line.

“We are very excited to call Port Canaveral our home and look forward to bringing our new ships here,” said Tom McAlpin, President of Disney Cruise Line. “The new enhancements being made to our terminal will provide guests an even more seamless transition from land to sea.”

Once completed, the enhancements to the already unique Disney terminal will provide for improved passenger flow and additional guest conveniences that together will contribute to the overall boarding experience. Disney Cruise Line will work with Port Canaveral to create a state of the art facility, which will contain several Disney touches that are certain to delight guests.
The terminal and dock enlargements are necessary to accommodate the new and larger Disney Cruise Line ships. Scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, they will be significantly larger than the existing Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

Port Canaveral continues to be one of the world’s busiest cruise ports. More than 3.5 million Disney Cruise Line guests have sailed from Port Canaveral since the line’s beginning in 1998, adding to the economic and tourism growth of Brevard County. Future itinerary information for Disney Cruise Line ships beyond 2009 will be released at a later date.

Personalize Your Holland America Dining Experience

We hadn't intended to do it, but during a recent cruise aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam, we never ate in the dining room. To foodies—indeed to most cruise passengers—the thought is, well, unthinkable. For us, though, it made a lot of sense to have meals our way.

What we discovered was that between dinners in the Pinnacle Grill and the Lido Restaurant's evening table service, we were on our own schedule and more relaxed all week. We enjoyed our cruise even more than usual and are looking forward to sailing again when Holland America Line's As You Wish™ dining program, which affords passengers the selection of either a traditional seating and dining time or a flexible/open seating dining schedule, is in place across the fleet.

Come along for A Taste of Excellence with CruiseDiva.com.

Don't Stop the Music! Celebrate the MSC Orchestra's Introduction

MSC Cruises, the world's fastest growing cruise line, invites you to join in their year-long celebration leading to the arrival of one of MSC Cruises' newest ships, MSC Orchestra, in America.

"We're excited to welcome this beautiful ship, one of the newest in our fleet, to Fort Lauderdale," says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA). "To share our excitement and introduce American and Canadian travelers to this magnificent ship, we have launched www.theorchestraiscomingtotown.com."

The new website features:

• Win Instantly--site visitors can register and enter daily for the chance to win a free 7-night Caribbean cruise on MSC Orchestra
• Ship information--including an extensive slide show and flash presentation complete with factoids
• Fun & Free Stuff--including free downloadable wallpaper, e-cards, shuffle picture puzzles and memory games
• Offers--special promotions on MSC Orchestra itineraries, including the line's "Kids Sail Free" offer (youngsters under age 17 sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults)

With more than 236,800 square feet of public areas, 5 restaurants (including the only dedicated Chinese restaurant at sea), 10 bars, a 21-foot by 12-foot outdoor LED screen, and a 16,146 square-foot spa, MSC Orchestra represents the perfect combination of grace, style, and Italian ambiance.

Following MSC Orchestra's Jan. 2, 2009 arrival in Fort Lauderdale, the ship will sail alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through April 25, 2009. A special 7-night roundtrip Bermuda sailing departs Fort Lauderdale April 25, 2009 and includes three days in King's Wharf, Bermuda and a day in Nassau, Bahamas.

The new web site will change frequently until the ship's Jan. 2, 2009 arrival in Fort Lauderdale, so you'll want to visit the site often. For more information on how you can celebrate MSC Orchestra's arrival and enter to win a free cruise, visit www.theorchestraiscomingtotown.com.

Seatrade Summary, The State of the Industry

In many ways, my colleagues and I agree that Seatrade marks the beginning of the cruise year, even though it's held in March. If I were forced to describe this year's 24th annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in two words or less, they would be international and ambitious.

The convention brings together cruise industry leaders, suppliers, and naturally the press. To get a full perspective about what's new and what's hot in the cruise industry, read Seatrade 2008, The State of the Industry on CruiseDiva.com.

Second Annual 'Elvis Cruise' to Set Sail on Carnival Fantasy From New Orleans

Following the tremendous success of the inaugural "Elvis Cruise" last year, Carnival Cruise Lines and The Elvis Cruise, LLC, have announced the second "Elvis Cruise," a 4-day voyage aboard the Carnival Fantasy to sail in August 2008. Dedicated to the life, times and music of Elvis Presley, the inaugural sailing of The Elvis Cruise was in August 2007 from Jacksonville, FL and the Cruise Diva was on board. Our lasting memories and details about the cruise are shared on CruiseDiva.com. If you're an Elvis fan and missed it last year, you will want to be aboard this year!

The only authentic, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc-licensed specialty cruise that celebrates the music and life of the legendary Elvis Presley, "The Elvis Cruise" will sail round-trip New Orleans and visit Cozumel, Mexico, departing Thursday, August 28, and returning Monday, September 1, 2008. The one-of-a-kind voyage will be hosted by Jerry Schilling, longtime friend and confidante of the late Elvis Presley, and author of the book, Me and a Guy Named Elvis. Entertainment during the cruise will include live shows from artists who performed with Elvis and have been recognized for continuing his musical legacy, including the TCB Band, the Imperials, the Dempseys, Ronnie McDowell, Terry Mike Jeffrey & Band, Andy Childs, Ruby Wilson, and others. Famed conductor Joe Guercio will serve as musical director. Best known and admired for his work with Elvis Presley, Guercio has had a prolific career. He was musical director and conductor for Elvis' concert shows from the summer of 1970 to the summer of 1977, when Elvis made his last concert appearance.

The Elvis Cruise is unique in that the nightly Vegas-style shows celebrate the various phases of Elvis' musical life and career. "And with the voyage departing from the historic Port of New Orleans, we are introducing a new show featuring the sights and sounds from Elvis' most dramatic role in his memorable film, King Creole," said Guercio. A number of themed events also will be featured, including an on-board Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, which will award $12,500 in prize money. Other activities will range from autograph and Q&A sessions with the musicians and hosts, to the Elvis Cruise T-shirt Party, Elvis-themed bingo, an afternoon at the movies with host Jerry Schilling, and more.

"Having the opportunity to participate in the only licensed Elvis cruise is particularly special and the fact that the voyage sails from New Orleans only adds to the excitement," said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival's executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. "This cruise provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Elvis fans to come together and enjoy the exceptional music and memories of one of the world's most celebrated performing artists, all combined with a truly outstanding 'Fun Ship' vacation experience," he added.

The "Fun Ship" Carnival Fantasy features a diverse selection of lounges, bars and nightspots, along with a health and fitness center, Wi-Fi Internet access, cellular phone service, and three pools, one of which features the line's signature "Twister Waterslide." The 2,056-passenger vessel also has three restaurants, including two main dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists, and a poolside eatery offering a wide variety of cuisine and 24-hour pizza and self-serve ice cream/frozen yogurt. A sushi bar and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service are also available. Reservations are currently being accepted for the upcoming "Elvis Cruise" aboard Carnival Fantasy. Fares include all "Elvis Cruise" activities. Pre- and post-cruise New Orleans land stays are also available. For additional information or to book, call The Elvis Cruise, LLC at 1-800-704-3034 or visit www.theelviscruise.com.

Cruise Travel: It's International

News from Seatrade...

Miami Beach -- Well, actually, I'm home now. However, if there's one thing I learned at Seatrade 2008 it's the importance of international cruising. The main entrance to the convention floor is quite different than it was just eight years ago. The exhibits at the entrance then were focused on US embarkation ports and Caribbean ports of call; now they are mainly International ports. Just to the right of the main entrance was Dubai, just to the left were Sweden, China, Korea, and Taiwan.

Yesterday's highlights for me were a late-afternoon performance by Korean dancers and a reception at the Taiwan booth featuring "bubble tea"--a cool concoction of tea and tapioca.

There's a lot more to share, which I will on CruiseDiva.com in the coming days. For now, it's good to be home.

NCL Offers A Peek at Freestyle 2.0 and "F3" Ships

News from Seatrade…

Miami, March 12 -- This morning members of the media got a glimpse of Norwegian Cruise Line’s next step in the evolution of Freestyle Cruising when we arrived for a briefing and breakfast. Flutes of champagne were handed out at the door, just like the “bubbly welcome” embarking passengers will receive when they step aboard NCL’s ships, and we faced a choice of lobster selections and a chocolate fountain. Yes, that was a unique breakfast, but it served to introduce us to NCL's upgrades that will feature lobster every night in at least one restaurant and a chocolate fountain in the Action Station buffets. For the complete list of Freestyle 2.0 upgrades, see Cruise Diva’s Cruise News.

We also were given a peek at Freestyle 3.0 and the upcoming “F3” ships that NCL will launch in March and October 2010. Adding a total of 8,400 lower berths to the youngest fleet at sea, the new vessels will offer even more flexibility and further the deconstruction of a cruise vacation as we know it. “F3” ships will feature non-traditional accommodations that promise to be like nothing we’ve seen on a cruise ship before, as well as an expansion of the courtyard villa concept. While NCL’s president and CEO Colin Veitch wouldn’t elaborate on what other features the ships will have, he did tease us with what will be missing... they will be ships with NO main dining rooms, theaters, and lido cafes. We’re intrigued and can’t wait to hear more.

Holland America Line Plans a Royal Christening

News from Seatrade...

Miami, March 11 -- It was announced at Seatrade today that Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will name Holland America Line's new 2,104-passenger Signature-class ship ms Eurodam. The ceremony will take place in Rotterdam on July 1, 2008 before a prelude cruise departs for Copenhagen the following day.

"The upcoming naming ceremony of ms Eurodam will be a very special moment in our company's proud 135-year history," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Holland America Line.

Holland America Line has a long and proud relationship with the Dutch Royal Family--nine vessels have been launched by members of the Royal Family.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Voluntarily Revises Fuel Supplement

News from Seatrade...

MIAMI, March 10 -- After working closely with the Florida Attorney General's office, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it has voluntarily agreed to eliminate its fuel supplement on any bookings made prior to the announcement of the fuel supplement on Nov 16, 2007.

Royal Caribbean will eliminate the fuel supplement for any guests who had a booking made prior to November 16. Guests booked before November 16 who paid the fuel supplement and have taken their cruise will receive a refund through the form of payment used to purchase their sailing. Guests booked before November 16 who paid the fuel supplement and have not taken their cruise will receive their refund as an onboard credit during their sailing.

As originally announced, the company did not charge the fuel supplement to guests with bookings made and paid in full before Nov 16. It will now eliminate the fuel supplement for guests with bookings made but not paid in full before that date. These latter guests were also provided with a three- week period in which to cancel their sailing without penalty.
The company has been in discussions with the Florida Attorney General's office to ensure the fuel supplement was implemented in a fair and reasonable manner.

The fuel supplement, which remains in place for North American bookings made on or after Nov 16, 2007, involves three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean Intl, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. The fuel supplement consists of a $5 per-guest, per-day charge for sailings that depart on or after Feb 1, 2008. The fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in each stateroom and does not exceed $70 per person per sailing.

Today's announcement will have no impact on the company's revenue projections and the company reaffirms its previous yield guidance.

The Florida Attorney General's office is expected to issue a press release regarding this matter Tuesday morning.

How long before other cruise lines with similar fuel supplement policies follow Royal Caribbean's lead? We'll be watching closely.

Time Marches On

It's time to wish Carnival Cruise Lines a happy 36th birthday. The world's largest cruise line was born when Carnival’s first ship the Mardi Gras sailed on her maiden voyage in March 1972.

Cruise Diva is on her way to Miami Beach for the annual Seatrade convention and will be reporting in from there this week. I hope the weather warms up!

The Love Boat Sails Again

Did you first yearn to take a cruise after seeing The Love Boat on television? Then the big news for you is that THE LOVE BOAT™ Season One, Volume One set sail on DVD for the first time ever this week.

For fans, the iconic television show is like a cruise travel time capsule. Each Love Boat episode began at embarkation and was a fashion show of late-'70s style without a rollaboard in sight. Personally, I was interested in the evening wear when the passenger guest stars wore the latest in gowns and tuxedoes. I don't know when I've ever seen so many ruffles. And that was just the men! Cruise Director Julie was a woman after my own heart—the wardrobe budget for her character must have been rather slim and she wore the same gowns week after week. Just like me today. Some things are timeless.

If you're old enough to have watched the program with your friends, or young enough to have watched it with your parents, you'll want to sail back to when it never rained on the Pacific Princess, no one aboard except Charo got seasick, and love conquered all. Join CruiseDiva for a nostalgic look back at her favorite Love Boat memories and highlights from the 10-hour, three-disc set.

Released by CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, The Love Boat™ Season One, Volume One includes the first 12 episodes from the inaugural season and is available from Amazon.com.

Cruise Travel: Elderly Man Put Ashore For His Own Good

You'd think by reading news accounts that big, bad Carnival Cruise Lines carelessly dumped 89-year old Jack Clevenger of Ruskin, Florida ashore for almost no reason. Okay, they did make him disembark their cruise ship on the Caribbean island of Roatan, but they had his health in mind, not cruelty.

It was during his birthday cruise that the elderly Clevenger reported to the ship's infirmary complaining of blood in his mouth and in his stool. The ship's doctor concluded he might be suffering from internal bleeding--a condition for which the medical facility onboard was not equipped. Rather than have him remain aboard and at risk of getting worse during two subequent sea days after the ship called at Roatan, the cruise ship doctor felt he would be better off seeking treatment at a facility ashore. Once in port, and without even examining Roatan's medical center for its suitability, the man and his son made arrangements to return to Florida.

Was he better off doing so or should he have been allowed to stay on the cruise ship with only a slim possibility of being evacuated quickly if his bleeding condition worsened? Clevenger apparently doesn't see his situation that way and is pretty mad about being sent elsewhere for medical treatment. He told the media, "It's a dirty, lousy trick to put us off like that." However, his life could have depended on the decision made by the ship's doctor.

Clevenger says he's feeling fine, and claims he was improving before leaving the ship, but a photo accompanying the Tampa Bay Online story shows him with an IV line and several ominous wrist tags after three days in a Bradenton, Florida hospital. We think it's a worse trick to take a cruise at age 89 without travel insurance. Clevenger might not be nearly so angry had he purchased it.

Cruising South America & Antarctica on Azamara Journey

Patrick and Harriette Regan wanted to see penguins and cruise through Antarctica and around Cape Horn. They did all that and more on this 6,000 mile, 18-day, Azamara Journey voyage.

Don't miss their cruise review. It's one of the best you'll ever read. That's a promise!

Photo Copyright © 2008 by Patrick & Harriette Regan

Cruise Travel: Spring Break at Sea

Spring Break trips are a long-standing tradition in colleges across America. Even Cruise Diva escaped a frigid university campus in the 60s and headed for Daytona Beach during her youth. It's a rite of passage for most and there was a time when spring breakers were looked upon as simply fun-loving college kids out to have a good time. News stories, and even a movie Where the Boys Are, have chronicled the antics of students indulging in Spring Break rituals for decades. Unfortunately, news of sudent escapades has become increasingly outrageous in recent years. Girls Gone Wild, anyone?

While it's uncertain exactly when students discovered cruises as an alternative to beach resorts, it didn't take long to wear out their welcome. Some took the good times a bit too far and cruise lines responded by rolling up the red carpet. Not unlike car rental agencies that won't lease vehicles to "younger" drivers, cruise lines simply won't take the risk of damage to their ships, not to mention their reputations, by booking passage to underage travelers without adult supervision.

Before you consider booking a spring break cruise, there's more to think about than how you'll look in a new bikini. Take the time to investigate whether you and your companions meet the minimum age requirements set out by the cruise lines. Get the facts in For Cruise Travel, Age Matters.

Here's a thought ... you could invite your parents to sail with you. Or maybe not.

Photo Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Book A Carnival "Funtennial Celebration" Cruise

It's March and Carnival's “Funtennial Celebration” has begun. Each week this month,
one lucky guest -- who books any Carnival cruise -- will automatically be entered to win the Grand Prize of a cruise for two in the Owner’s Suite aboard either the Carnival Inspiration or Carnival Imagination. Ten second place winners will receive Fuji digital cameras to capture the wonderful memories of their cruises.

To view official contest rules, visit www.carnival.com/funtennial. You don't have to book a cruise to enter, so go ahead and have some fun.

Marshals Capture Murder Suspect at Sea

When you're being sought for allegedly murdering someone with your car, who are you going to call? Apparently one Atlanta, Georgia man thought it was a good idea to call a travel agent and attempt a getaway by cruise ship.

Last Thursday, Feb 28th, U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Coast Guard nabbed Derron Williams as he attempted to flee to the Bahamas aboard Carnival Celebration. Earlier in the week, the Atlanta Police Dept. and U.S. Marshals Service began working together to hunt down Williams, who was wanted for intentionally using his vehicle as a weapon to assault a man in Atlanta on Feb 9th. The victim died and Williams was on the run.

The investigators tracked their man to to Jacksonville, Florida and that's where the fun began. Williams and a girlfriend had just embarked on Carnival Celebration, bound for Freeport, Grand Bahama. Quick work by the Marshals and the Coast Guard halted the ship about five miles offshore before it entered international waters. Williams' cruise ended about 7pm when he was taken into custody and transferred to the Coast Guard cutter.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes James Ergas, a Supervisory Inspector for the U.S. Marshals Service in Atlanta as saying, "We were a step behind him all day. We missed him at the Atlanta airport. We missed him at his hotel in Jacksonville. By the time we found out where he was, he was already on the cruise ship. We do not know if he was planning to return to the country. But we do know it's a lot easier to leave the country by cruise ship than airplane."

So, the first question that comes to mind is how a fugitive wanted for murder was allowed to board an airplane, let alone a cruise ship. Williams was traveling under an alias, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution report.

There's no word on whether Williams' girlfriend is enjoying her cruise.