Destination News - Cruise

Airguide Online, Feb 11, 2008

Feb 11, 2008

Cruise Lines Offer Discounts for Wave Season. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported many of its member lines are offering special rates, onboard credits, deposit waivers and other incentives during the middle of the Wave Season. Here's a sampling of offers (unless otherwise noted, offers extend through Feb. 29): Azamara Cruises is offering onboard credits of $300 to $800 on any 2008 Europe sailings booked at an ocean-view or higher category of stateroom. Carnival Cruise Lines has special rates of $249 to $339 per person on select departure dates for three- to five-day voyages on Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration. Celebrity Cruises offers onboard credits of $50 to $200 per stateroom, based on the length of voyage, on cruises in Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe. Costa Cruises is offering savings of up to 60 percent on 423 sailings throughout the world in honor of the line's Diamond Anniversary. Crystal Cruises is offering 10 percent savings on new bookings of all verandah and non-verandah staterooms and 5 percent savings for penthouse accommodations. The savings apply to virtually all of Crystal Serenity's Mediterranean cruises this summer. This offer has been extended to bookings made through March 31. Feb 6, 2008

Alaska

Cruise Lines Reel Back Funding for Alaska Travel Association. The Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is lobbying the state legislature for at least $2 million in marketing assistance after cruise lines that serve Alaska cut off voluntary contributions in light of a cruise ship head tax initiative, which was passed in 2006. The $50 per-passenger tax is estimated to have cost the cruise lines $46 million in 2007. The head tax was part of a cruise ship initiative that also requires "ocean rangers" to be watchdogs on cruise ships and help prevent illegal dumping of waste and toxins into Alaska waters. ATIA now says the state should step in and help. "The real rationale for us requesting a change in the funding model is because we know we will not be able to reach that 50/50 match [public versus private funding]," said Ron Peck, ATIA's president. "When this program started, there were no taxes on the cruise industry." Alaska's Senate Finance Committee will rule on the matter this month. Feb 5, 2008

American Safari Cruises

American Safari Cruises To Give Lucky Agent A Free Cruise. In anticipation of the debut of American Safari Cruises' newly renovated 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht, the line is offering travel agents the chance to win a free cruise for two in Hawaii. The ship will enter service May 30 in Alaska after undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation. For each Alaska booking, agents will receive one entry to win a free cruise in Hawaii in 2009, airfare not included. Agents must complete 2008 Alaska bookings before May 15 to qualify. The drawing will take place during Safari Explorer's christening ceremonies May 21 in Seattle. Feb 7, 2008

Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean

Cruise Fuel Surcharges Come Under Florida Scrutiny. Florida's attorney general's office may adjudicate in consumer complaints about fuel surcharges that have been implemented by many lines, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean, in response to skyrocketing fuel prices. Attorney General Bill McCollum has received 150 complaints from customers regarding the surcharges, according to a spokeswoman from his office, Sandi Copes. Many complaints stemmed from consumers not receiving adequate notification or disclosure of the fuel surcharges, which amount to $5 per day per person on Carnival brands and are higher on some other lines. Customers also voiced concern over fuel surcharges on cruises that had already been paid for in full. "We are reviewing complaints about whether cruise lines can retroactively impose a fuel supplement/fuel surcharge to passengers," Copes told the Associated Press. Tim Gallagher, a spokesperson for Carnival Corp., told the AP: "We believe that our fuel supplement complies with all applicable laws." In most cases, when cruise lines announced fuel surcharges, they established dates of booking or travel when they would become effective. Feb 5, 2008

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Dishes on Solstice Restaurants. When Celebrity Solstice debuts in December, cruisers will be treated to a total of 10 restaurants, all with different themes and cuisine. The restaurants, and a taste of each one, were unveiled Tuesday night in New York at yet another Celebrity Solstice "reveal." To shape Solstice's dining experience, Celebrity has partnered with the well-known restaurant development company Elizabeth Blau and Associates and restaurant and hotel designer Adam Tihany, who designed NYC's Per Se (where Tuesday's event was held) as well as restaurants at such Las Vegas hotels as Wynn and Bellagio. Feb 6, 2008

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Offers Mediterranean Family Incentives. Crystal Cruises is unveiling a "Mediterranean Memories" family package, which features amenities including one complimentary berth for every 10 paid berths. The program, which is available on virtually all Crystal Serenity itineraries from May 19 to Oct. 30, includes pre-paid gratuities for the group, $100-per-person shipboard credits, one group portrait per stateroom, free third berths for guests aged 17 and under; and a $500 credit toward a Crystal Private Adventure of $2,500 or more. As an additional incentive, for new bookings made by March 31, the line is offering 10 percent off all verandah and non-verandah staterooms and 5 percent off Penthouse accommodations for virtually all of Crystal Serenity's European cruises departing May 19 through Sept. 5. Feb 6, 2008