Cruising News

Cruise Guide, April 21, 2008

Apr 21, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Corp. raised its fuel surcharge on six of its brands from $5 per person per day to $7 on all new bookings effective April 21, citing the icontinued rapid escalation of fuel prices. NCL noted the same. "With crude oil and refined product prices at record highs, our fuel bill stands at a level that was unimaginable two years ago," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. iIt is unfortunate, but necessary, that we now have to pass some of the increase in our fuel bill on to our customers, just as many other businesses are being forced to do.i Apr 19, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Line has made the move to raise its fuel surcharge to $7 per person, per day. (Carnival Corp. was the first to implement a fuel surcharge back in November with other cruise lines then following suit.) In a letter that went out last week to travel agents, Carnival Corp. explained it was raising by $2 the amount of its per person, per day fuel surcharge, which before stood at $5, for six of its brands, citing the continued rapid escalation of fuel prices. In addition, the brands Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn will implement a fuel supplement charge of $2 per person, per day on third, fourth and fifth passengers (before the surcharge was only levied on first and second passengers). The letter, signed by Carnival's director of corporate marketing, Bill Harber, states that the new fuel supplement outline will apply to bookings made on or after April 21, 2008, and will not exceed $98 per person, per voyage for the first and second guests and $28 for the third, fourth and fifth guests. The original $5 fuel surcharge will remain intact for bookings made up to the 21st. Apr 15, 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines' travel agent portal will feature a series of webisodes with company executives starting April 23. Hosted by Lynn Torrent, Carnival's new senior vice president of sales and guest services, the webisodes -- entitled "Onboard with Carnival" -- will feature interviews with a different executive each month, beginning with Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill. The webisodes were created to provide travel agents with an overview of Carnival, including new ships and itineraries, the continued evolution of the "Fun Ship" vacation experience and sales tips for increasing group business. Visit www.bookccl.com Apr 14, 2008

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises will operate five ships in Europe in 2009, including its two new Solstice-class ships, the largest fleet deployment ever for the line. Itineraries will visit 76 ports in 26 countries, five of which are brand new to Celebrity. The season will also include six homeports, a first, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Harwich, Southampton, Rome and Venice. "Our guests have told us repeatedly that Europe is where they want to be, and they want to be there in style," said Celebrity Cruises' President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. " Joining the two Solstice-class ships-Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox-will be Celebrity Century, which completed a $66-million refurbishment in 2006, Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Summit. Celebrity has planned more overnight stays in such cities as Alexandria, Istanbul and Copenhagen and visits to five new ports: Antwerp, Belgium; Ashdod and Haifa in Israel; La Spezia and Portofino in Italy. Visit www.celebritycruises.com Apr 14, 2008

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises, citing stricter smoking policies worldwide, is toughening its stance by prohibiting smoking in staterooms and on verandas, a decision that will go into effect on October 1. Additionally, the new policy will reduce the number of onboard public areas where guests can smoke. Dan Hanrahan, Celebrityis president, says Celebrity is the first premium line to enact such a new standard on smoking. He adds that 90 percent of Celebrityis clientele are non-smokers. Designated indoor areas where smoking is permitted include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each shipis casino. There will also be designated areas outdoors where guests can smoke. Violations can incur a $250 cleaning fee charged to the guestis onboard account. The new policy will first go live on October 3 sailings on Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Infinity and Celebrity Mercury. Visit www.celebritycruises.com Apr 14, 2008

Cruise West

Cruise West is offering a new promotion called "2-4-6-8 Who Do We Appreciate? Our Travel Partners!" This promotion is open to all travel sellers for new bookings of 2008 "Alaska's Inside Passage" and "Glacier Bay Highlights" cruises made from April 21 through May 31. For every two bookings made, the incentive increases. Individual travel sellers will receive a $100 American Express gift card for making two bookings, a $250 gift card for four bookings, a $500 card for six bookings, and a $1,000 card for eight new bookings. Apr 14, 2008

Cruise West

Cruise West[sup.1]s eight-night "Alaska's Inside Passage" cruises between Ketchikan and Juneau visits the Tsimshian community of Metlakatla as well as Petersburg, Skagway, Haines, Frederick Sound, Sitka, and Glacier Bay National Park. This itinerary is operated by the newly refurbished 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown, 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour and 96-guest Spirit of '98. The three and four-night "Glacier Bay Highlights" by the newly named 102-guest Spirit of Glacier Bay cruise round-trip from Juneau and explores Glacier Bay National Park and visits Haines on the four-night voyage. For more information, call 800-689-1783 or visit www.cruisewest.com Apr 14, 2008