Cruise News You Can Use! - December 22, 2008

AMAWATERWAYS Offers Spring FAMStraveltrade.com2008-12-22 11:00:13
AMAWATERWAYS is offering three travel agent FAMS this spring, timed to coincide with Europe's most colorful festivals, pageants and markets.

Oceania Cruises sails into a positive 2009etravelblackboard.com2008-12-22 10:45:58
Oceania Cruises hosted some 30 American Express Platinum and Centurion agents to a 'Tapas on the Terrace' themed pre-Christmas get together in Sydney last week.

PORT OF PORTIMÃO BOASTS NEW TOURIST ATTRACTIONcruiseindustrynews.com
2008-12-22 10:30:41
The facilities for tourists at southern Portugal's main cruise port have been further expanded by the opening of Portimão Museum.

EPA ALLOWS CRUISE SHIPS TO DUMP POLLUTED GRAYWATER 1 NAUTICAL MILE FROM U.S. SHOREScruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-22 10:29:06
The Environmental Protection Agency today published a permit that will allow cruise ships to dump unlimited quantities of untreated graywater-a harmful pollutant-into the ocean just a mile from U.S. shores.

COSTA CRUISES IS MORE THAN EVER 'JUST ONE CLICK AWAY'â?? A FIRST WITH ONLINE VIDEO FAQSPSA UK2008-12-22 10:26:42
Europe's favourite cruise line launches a new web-based tool providing easy and effective guidance with answers to the questions most frequently asked by its customers before they go on a cruise.

Ship, Not In Shapephiladelphiaweekly.com2008-12-22 10:22:11
A once-iconic vessel is rusting away in the shadow of big box stores (SS Unites States).

More than 80 cruise-ship visits booked this seasonstuff.co.nz2008-12-22 10:17:04
More than 150,000 cruise-ship passengers and crew will be coming ashore at Canterbury ports this summer, injecting more than $20 million into the province's economy.

UK - Discovery Cruise specialist offers sensational summer fares and honours existing bookings!Voyages of Discovery2008-12-22 10:07:14
Voyages of Discovery announces exceptional savings on its summer 2009 programme - increasing early booking discounts on ex-UK cruises from Harwich to at least 50% and offering huge savings of up to £900 pp on its fly cruises.

30 Per Cent Off Bookings On Board St Helena - The World's Last Working Royal Mail Shiptravmedia.com/uk2008-12-22 09:36:53
To celebrate 30 years of the world's last remaining Royal Mail Ship her owner St Helena Line (www.rms-st-helena.com) is offering a special 30 per cent discount on voyages between Portland, Dorset and St Helena in the South Atlantic.

The Adventure Concierge - One Ocean Expeditions To Launch Innovative New Service Programtravmedia.com/uk2008-12-22 09:20:03

Aboard the MV Plancius starting in the 2009/10 Antarctic season, One Ocean Expeditions will be launching a new and innovative approach towards achieving the highest level of customer service on its voyages.

UK - Go Barging's New Luxury Hotel Barge Cruising Brochuretravmedia.com/uk2008-12-22 09:14:54
Go Barging (a subsidiary of European Waterways) are pleased to announce the launch of their new brochure, featuring a fleet of seventeen luxury hotel barges cruising along the magical canals, rivers and lagoons of France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, Holland and Belgium.

UK - Save 25% On Galápagos Island Cruises With Journey Latin
Americatravmedia.com/uk2008-12-22 09:08:29
Specialist tour operator Journey Latin America is offering over 25% off selected cruises in the Galápagos Islands in 2009 to help travellers celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth.
New cruise ships even bigger, and so are bargainsSeattle Times Newspaper2008-12-21 07:32:21
The economy may be sailing slowly these days, but that hasn't stopped cruise lines, which are introducing a half-dozen new ships. Do these new superliners...

An over 2 million Euros investment - Longer quay for cruise liners at the Port of Valletta, Maltatraveldailynews.com2008-12-20 13:15:09
VISET Malta plc, operators of the Valletta Waterfront and the Valletta Sea Passenger Terminal is investing over 2 million Euros in a project to extend its primary quay. The extension of Pinto Quay 1-2 in Valletta's Grand Harbour will help in providing better facilities for large cruise liners.

HURTIGRUTEN INTRODUCES ROBUST ROSTER OF SAVINGS, INCLUDING TWO-FOR-ONE CRUISES, FREE STATEROOM UPGRADES AND SENIOR DISCOUNTS FOR BOOKINGS MADE BY JANUARY 31Hurtigruten2008-12-20 12:11:01
Hurtigruten is unveiling a broad spectrum of lucrative savings opportunities for travelers who book "Norwegian Coastal Voyage" cruises by January 31, 2009.

INDIAN OCEAN CRUISES INKS PACT WITH THOMAS COOKcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-19 13:25:40
Indian Ocean Cruises from Foresight Smart Ventures, the flagship company of the $500 million London based Foresight Shipping Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Europe's second largest travel firm Thomas Cook Group plc.

COSTA TO SETUP NEW JOINT VENTURE WITH SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL PORT GROUPcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-19 13:21:43Costa Crociere has signed a contract with the Shanghai International Port Group Co. Ltd (SIPG) to jointly invest and set up China's first customer service and consulting firm targeted at the Chinese cruise industry.

NCL Introduces Freestyle Resolution Sales Event With Unprecedented On-Board Credits Up To $500NCL2008-12-19 13:05:44
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has launched its biggest ever Freestyle Resolution Sales Event, three weeks ahead of the traditional start to Wave Season, the period from January through March when the majority of cruises are booked. The early release and enticing offer is another facet of NCL's Partnership 2.0, a company-wide initiative to further strengthen its relationship with travel partners.

Discovery Announces Its 2009 'Fed Up' Fares - Cruise Line Slashes Fares To Help Consumers Fed Up With The Economysunherald.com2008-12-19 12:02:01
Discovery Cruise Line, which offers ferry service with cruise line amenities between South Florida and Grand Bahama Island every day of the week except Wednesdays, announced substantially reduced fares for January and February.

Royal Caribbean Expands Oasis of the Seas Inaugural Seasonemediawire.com2008-12-19 09:03:51
Vacationers will now be able to experience the world's most highly-anticipated cruise ship even sooner. Royal Caribbean International today announced two additional sailings to Oasis of the Seas' inaugural season: a seven-night inaugural Eastern Caribbean itinerary, sailing on December 5, 2009; and a special four-night voyage - departing December 1, 2009 - to celebrate the launch of an all-new Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach paradise in Haiti.

More Cruise Visits For Hamilton and St. George's, Bermudacaribbeanpressreleases.com2008-12-19 09:03:48Holland America Line's previously announced schedule of ten cruise visits to Bermuda in 2010 is being increased to 24, Premier Dr. Ewart F. Brown has announced. Holland America's Veendam will call on Hamilton and St. George's from New York City beginning April 25, 2010.

Carnival Corp. Promotes Dofort, Israel to Senior VP Poststravelpulse.com2008-12-19 08:19:20
Carnival Corporation & plc has promoted two executives to senior vice president positions -- Rodney Dofort to senior vice president of corporate casino operations and Giora Israel to senior vice president of port and destination development.

CruiseOne is Sixth Most Popular Franchise for Veteranstravelpulse.com2008-12-19 08:17:17
CruiseOne has ranked sixth on the International Franchise Association's (IFA) "Top 10 Most Popular Franchises with Veterans" list.

Holland America Boosts 2010 Bermuda Cruises to 24travelpulse.com2008-12-19 08:15:28
Holland America Line said it will more than double the number of its previously announced Bermuda cruises in 2010 from 11 to 24, beginning April 25, 2010.

HOLLAND AMERICA MS ZUIDERDAM TO USE SHORE POWER IN VANCOUVER IN 2009cruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-19 08:10:12The ms Zuiderdam will become the fifth ship in Holland America Line's fleet to use shore power when it homeports in Vancouver, British Columbia, for its 2009 Alaska cruise season.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ROLLS OUT NEW NETWORK TV ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-19 08:07:46
Carnival Cruise Lines' new network TV advertising campaign kicks off December 25 with two :30 spots designed to evoke the kind of spontaneous and spirited fun that underlies the Carnival vacation experience.

Laurent Monsaingeon named Seatrade Mediterranean Cruise Personality of the YearMedCruise2008-12-19 07:56:53Laurent Monsaingeon, former president of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise) and French Riviera Ports managing director, was named Seatrade's Mediterranean Cruise Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Med in Venice.

Venue announced for Seatrade Med 2010MedCruise2008-12-19 07:54:29
On 10 December, it was formally announced that Seatrade Med will be held in Cannes at Palais des Festivals et des Congrés, hosted by French Riviera Cruise Club.

World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra Signed For Crystal's 2009 Transatlantic CruiseCrystal Cruises2008-12-19 07:39:16
Considered the most popular and sought after Big Band in the world today, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is set to get Crystal guests In the Mood for concerts and ballroom swing dancing on a 10-day Transatlantic Big Band cruise from Miami to Lisbon on May 23. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is regarded as one of the greatest dance bands of all time.

Aponte predicts positive year ahead for MSC Cruiseslloydslist.com2008-12-19 04:44:36
MSC supremo Gianluigi Aponte expects the group's cruise operation to turn in a banner performance next year, despite the economic waves now breaking over the industry.

Cruise operators gain on Carnival's 4Q resultsportfolio.com2008-12-18 18:01:55Cruise operators Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. both jumped on Thursday after Carnival reported better-than-expected results for its fiscal fourth quarter.

Save Now, Save Later With New Crystal Promotionprnewswire.com2008-12-18 15:02:03
With its most aggressive promotional offer to date, Crystal Cruises is introducing a compelling savings opportunity designed to reap travelers rich rewards in 2009 and 2010.

Carnival Named 'Best Domestic Cruise Line' in Travel Weeklyâ?™s Annual Readers Choice AwardsCarnival Cruise Line2008-12-18 14:21:50
Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines was named "Best Domestic Cruise Line" at Travel Weekly's annual Readers Choice awards, receiving more votes than any other cruise line in this category.

Costa Cruises Celebrates 50 Years of Cruising Italian Style From South Florida to the Caribbean earthtimes.org2008-12-18 12:02:58Arrival of Costa Fortuna in Port Everglades on December 21 Marks 50th Anniversary of Costa Bringing "Italy to the Tropics".

Acclaimed Chef and Author David Shalleck Joins Windstar's Signature Collection Host Series - Wind Surf's Mediterranean Sailing Departs May 10, 2009 from Romeprnewswire.com2008-12-18 12:02:54
Windstar Cruises offers guests a unique opportunity to travel with celebrated chef and author David Shalleck on a Mediterranean Summer sailing aboard Wind Surf, departing May 10, 2009, from Rome.

Pacific Delight Unveils 2009 Tour Programstravelpulse.com2008-12-18 11:24:42
Additionally, all Gold Exclusive travelers are now upgraded to higher room categories in hotels and on Yangtze River cruises aboard Victoria Cruises Premier Series Fleet.

Athena to return for 2009/10 Australian seasonetravelblackboard.com2008-12-18 11:16:06
Classic International Cruises has announced that due to the popularity of the maiden 2008/09 Australian summer program for its flagship, Athena, which begins this week, the 600-passenger liner will return in 2009/10 for the line's sixth successive season sailing from Australia, with Fremantle and Adelaide her bases.

PLAQUE EXCHANGES LAUNCHES SEASON IN ARUBAcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-18 11:11:00
Aruba's cruise season is underway with plaque exchanges celebrating the first calls of the season by NCL, P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen, Island Cruises, Oceania, Azamara Cruises, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.

FRED. OLSEN ELIMINATES FUEL SURCHARGEScruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-18 11:08:06
In line with the falling price of oil in recent weeks, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will eliminate all fuel cost surcharges on bookings made on or after today.

Higher ticket prices of North American brands and cheaper fuel lifted Carnivalcruisebusiness.com2008-12-18 11:06:16
Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison indicated that operating results in the fourth quarter were better than the company's September guidance primarily due to lower fuel costs, and stronger than expected revenue yields on close-in bookings.

MSC Fantasia named in Naplescruisebusiness.com2008-12-18 10:55:10
Naples plays host to naming ceremony for MSC Cruises' new flagship, the 133,500 gross ton MSC Fantasia today, 18 December.

ORIENT-EXPRESS TRAINS & CRUISES OFFERS FREE NIGHT AFTER TRAIN AND BOAT JOURNEYSOrient-Express Trains & Cruises2008-12-18 10:26:23
Orient-Express Trains & Cruises is offering a free night's stay at some of the world's best hotels before or after any of its overnight train or boat journeys, if travelers book before March 31, 2009.The all-new Road To Mandalay returns to service in August 2009 following massive renovations and redesign. Make the trip last longer with a night at The Governor's Residence in Yangon. Guests cruising on board the Afloat in France barge, Alouette, in the Canal du Midi can round off their voyage with a night at the castle-like Hotel de la Cit&ecute; in Carcassonne.

Star Cruises Invests US$550,000 For The World's First Onboard Stainless Steel Water Slide On Superstar VirgoStar Cruises2008-12-18 10:13:55
Star Cruises, the third largest cruise operator in the world is proud to present the world's first stainless steel water slide on a cruise ship on SuperStar Virgo. Costing a whopping US$550,000, the superstructure will be installed on the luxurious liner during her dry dock in January 2009.

NCL and STX Europe Reach Agreement On F3 Project - F3 to debut in late May 2010NCL2008-12-18 10:00:27
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and STX France Cruise SA, STX Europe's French shipyard, announced today that they have reached an agreement and are moving forward with the construction of the F3 cruise ship project.

Norwegian Pearl Recognized By Travel Channel As One Of The "Great Cruises"NCL2008-12-18 09:58:35
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sets sail in the Travel Channel's one-hour special entitled Great Cruises: Norwegian Pearl, hosted by Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1998.

Carnival's 4th-qtr earnings rise 4 percent, beating Wall Street's expectationsstartribune.com2008-12-18 09:03:22
Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise operator, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 4 percent, beating Wall Street's expectations, as the company held down costs and benefited from higher prices on some cruise lines.

Princess Ships Will Connect to Shore Power at Port of Vancouver in 2009Princess Cruises2008-12-18 08:35:52
Ships to Turn Off Engines While Docked at Canada Place to Reduce Air Emissions. Environmental Initiative Result of Partnership with Government Agencies and Sister Cruise Line.

Australians addicted to cruisingTravel Daily News2008-12-18 07:58:20
Of 20.5 million Australians, 263,435 took a sea cruise holiday last year - or almost one in every 80 men, women and children. Another 11,761 Australians bobbed along the rivers and canals of Europe. The 2007 total is a 116 per cent jump over a five-year period, according to an umbrella body, International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA).

Continued Greek Unrest May Impact Cruises cruisecritic.com2008-12-17 18:23:57
Violent unrest -- which has already forced P&O Cruises to cancel a scheduled call in Piraeus -- continues in Greece and may further impact cruise travel.

Celebrate Love With Romantic Cruise Vacations From eCruises.com Value-Added Dealsemediaworld.com2008-12-17 18:23:52
eCruises.com (www.eCruises.com) offers couples romantic cruise vacations onboard the industry's most popular cruise ships, while affording cruising couples value-added cruise deals.

Doubts over mv DOULOS' future. Compliance with regulations prove difficult for oldest passenger liner...shippingtimes.co.uk2008-12-17 14:31:50
She's the oldest ocean-going passenger ship in active service, built in the same year as the beginning of the Great War, she has visited over 100 countries and drawn admiration from almost 20 million visitors.

Cruise Ships = Pirate Baitblog.wired.com2008-12-17 09:03:28
But pirates and Somali tuna fishermen are one and the same, according to Captain Edward Kalendaro, skipper of a Kenya-based coastal freighter dedicated to the dangerous Mogadishu humanitarian run.

How to find the best deals on cruises in 2009ajc.com2008-12-17 09:03:27
Cruise lines have built, built, built, renovated, updated and revamped itineraries over the last 24 months - more so than ever before.

Cruise.com Has Double Digit Sales Growth; Begins Hiring Nationwideearthtimes.org2008-12-17 09:03:22
Cruise.com, one of the largest internet cruise sellers, reported today that 4th quarter sales are on track to be their best in over 10 years.

PULLMANTUR TO CALL IN ANTIGUAcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-17 08:48:18
Antigua and Barbuda has announced that Holland America started making calls to Antigua December 14 and will continue every two weeks thereafter, and that Pullmantur, Spain's largest cruise line has requested berth space for the Holiday Dream to dock in Antigua.

Cruise West's Panama & Costa Rica Itineraries Sail Into 2009 With Vessel Improvements to the Pacific Explorercruisetalk.org2008-12-17 08:36:28
Guests sailing on leading small-ship cruise line Cruise West's Between Two Seas itinerary in Panama & Costa Rica are now doing so in the comfort of the newly refurbished Pacific Explorer.

Port of Miami and NCL sign 10-year berthing agreementcruisebusiness.com2008-12-17 08:24:50
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners today approved a 10-year berthing agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). This represents the first long-term agreement between the Port of Miami and NCL since the company began operating from the Port as the first Caribbean cruise line 42 years ago.

SILVERSEA POPS THE CORK WITH 11 NEW "WINE SERIES" VOYAGES FOR 2009Silversea Cruises2008-12-17 08:21:57
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is toasting the New Year with an enticing new collection of 11 Wine Series voyages for 2009.

MSC CRUISES ENDS FUEL SURCHARGE ON NEW 2009 BOOKINGScruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-17 08:14:45
MSC Cruises has eliminated the fuel surcharge for all new bookings for 2009 voyages beginning today.

MSC FANTASIA -- FIRST SHIP TO EARN 'SIX GOLDEN PEARLS' AWARDcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-17 08:09:36
MSC Fantasia was awarded the prestigious 'Six Golden Pearls' award December 10 by the international classification society Bureau Veritas.

AAPA 2009 Cruise Seminar To Focus On Trends, Best Practices - Program Slated For Mazatlán, México, Feb. 18-20AAPA2008-12-17 08:05:37
Western Hemisphere cruise market trends, challenges, issues, opportunities and best practices are all on tap Feb. 18-20, 2009, in Mazatlán, México, when the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) hosts its 11th annual Cruise Seminar.

Cruise With Olympic Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson on Windstarprnewswire.com2008-12-16 15:02:19
Windstar Cruises offers guests a unique opportunity to cruise with Olympian Rafer Johnson aboard a Barcelona to Rome cruise on Wind Surf, departing April 26, 2009.

Baltic Christmas success at Seatrade MedCruise Baltic2008-12-16 10:15:16
The whole cruise industry was represented at Cruise Baltic's Christmas event at Seatrade Med - and they were captivated by the Baltic atmosphere.

GRAND CIRCLE SMALL SHIP CRUISES WINS #1 WORLD TRAVEL AWARD FOR "WORLD'S LEADING RIVER CRUISES"Grand Circle Corporation2008-12-16 10:03:38
Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises has been named the "World's Leading River Cruise Operator" by the 2008 World Travel Awards.

Viking River Sponsors Terracotta Warriors Exhibit in Atlantatravelpulse.com2008-12-16 10:00:52
Viking River Cruises is supporting the efforts of Atlanta's High Museum of Art to bring a display of Chinese terracotta warriors and related artifacts to Atlanta.

Celebrate Darwin Centennial and Save $2300 on Eco-Friendly Adventure Cruise in the GalapagosAbercrombie & Kent Inc.2008-12-16 09:53:57
Mark the beginning of the Charles Darwin anniversary year with unprecedented savings of $2,300 per person on select Galápagos departures between January 8 - February 5, 2009 including Wonders of the Galápagos, Wonders of Peru & the Galápagos and Signature Peru & the Galápagos journeys.

Hapag-Lloyd's Bremen Visits Deepest Point on Earth Published on: December 16, 2008 travelpulse.com2008-12-16 09:51:18
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' expedition ship Bremen called at the Pacific Mariana Islands for the first time and stopped its engines over the deepest point on earth, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, on Nov. 7.

Special Needs At Sea Sets Commission Programtravelpulse.com2008-12-16 09:42:24
Special Needs at Sea, a source for special-needs equipment for travelers, is paying 10 percent commission on rentals of special-needs equipment.

INTERCRUISES WELCOMES THE ALL4SHIPS NETWORK ON BOARDcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-16 09:32:58
Intercruises welcomes the all4ships network of agencies to its portfolio, after the merger of tourism division of TUI AG and First Choice PLC last year to form TUI Travel PLC.

MSC CRUISES SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR CRUISE VESSEL QHSEcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-16 09:04:30
With the entry into service on December 18th of the 3950-passenger MSC Fantasia, MSC Cruises has raised the Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) bar for all cruise operators.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN TO OPEN TWO NEW CHINA OFFICES - IN BEIJING AND GUANGZHOUcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-16 09:02:05
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it is opening two new offices in China, in the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou.

COSTA LAUNCES NEW TV CAMPAIGNcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-16 08:59:16
Costa Cruises, the Italian Group and number one cruise line both domestically and across Europe, is set to present its new advertising campaign devised by McCann Erickson.

Blue Lagoon extends 15 per cent discount plus free cabin upgrade offerExpedition and Adventure Cruising2008-12-16 08:48:53
Fiji's Blue Lagoon Cruises is offering a 15 per cent discount plus a free cabin upgrade on all 'Club' and 'Gold Club' Yasawa Island cruises booked from now until 28 February 2009.

ELEGANT CRUISES & TOURS TO SUSPEND FUEL SURCHARGES - Effective beginning April 1, 2009 - the start of the 2009 cruise season in EuropeElegant Cruises & Tours2008-12-16 08:21:43
Elegant Cruises & Tours will suspend all fuel surcharges, beginning with April 1, 2009 sailings, the start of the company's spring and summer cruise season in Europe with the m/s Andrea and m/s Monet.

Ambassadors CEO Voluntarily Foregoes Compensationtravelpulse.com2008-12-16 08:03:29
Ambassadors International Inc. said Joseph J. Ueberroth, chairman and CEO, will voluntarily forego compensation entitled to him under his employment agreement.

UK - Four plead guilty to cocaine smuggling after haul from cruise shiptimesonline.co.uk2008-12-15 15:26:59
Four people pleaded guilty today to trying to smuggling £1.7 million worth of cocaine into the UK while posing as passengers on a cruise ship.

Cruise ship cancellations add to woes of Mumbaiindiatimes.com2008-12-15 15:25:15
Increasing cancellation of scheduled trips of cruise vessels is proving to be double whammy for Mumbai Port which, like all other ports across the country, is also experiencing decline in cargo traffic due the financial turmoil-induced recession in shipping activities.

Cunard to host spectacular Alex Perry Fashion Show onboard QM2etravelblackboard.com2008-12-15 12:37:49
Cunard Line has revealed that Australia's designer to the stars, Alex Perry, will be showcasing his 2009 Autumn/Winter Collection onboard Queen Mary 2 when she visits Sydney on February 26, 2009.

Travel Weekly recognizes Royal Caribbean with four awardsbymnews.com2008-12-15 12:03:01Royal Caribbean International received honors in four award categories at the sixth annual Travel Weekly Readers Choice awards Thursday night in New York City.

MHA ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A EUROPEAN CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW EVENT IN NOVEMBER 2010cruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-15 11:55:43
The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) has announced its plan to launch a bi-annual European conference and trade show event, the first of which will take place in Barcelona, from November 3-5, 2010.

AMERICAN CRUISE PASSENGERS TO LISBON JUMP 80% IN 2008cruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-15 11:50:45
The number of American travelers aboard cruise ships visiting Lisbon grew by 80% in the first half of 2008, compared to 2007, according the the Port of Lisbon.

CRUISE DOWN UNDER PART OF 2030 LONG TERM AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PLANcruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-15 11:48:12
The chairman of CDU, Richard Doyle and General Manager, Jill Abel participated in this weeks Federal Government reference group for the national long term tourism strategy.

MEDCRUISE ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORScruiseindustrynews.com2008-12-15 11:45:05
Giovanni Spadoni was elected president of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise) at the 33rd MedCruise General Assembly in Venice, Italy.

Seatrade Insider Presents Cruise Award Winnerstravelpulse.com2008-12-15 11:39:56
Industry publisher Seatrade Insider announced the winners of its second annual cruise awards.

Crystal Cruises Eliminates Fuel Surcharge For 2009 CruisesCrystal Cruises2008-12-15 11:35:08As a result of the continuing drop in oil prices, effective immediately, Crystal Cruises is eliminating its fuel surcharge for 2009 cruises.

Uniworld Reintroduces Generous Pay-In-Full Savings On 2009 Europe Boutique River Cruisestravmedia.com/uk2008-12-15 10:04:20
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection announced they are reintroducing their Pay-In-Full Savings program so couples can save up to $2,000 on 2009 itineraries throughout Europe.

Cruising Over The Crunch: EBH Announce Exciting 2009 Seasontravmedia.com/uk2008-12-15 09:55:02
A boating holiday is not just a form of transport but your passport to the real history and culture of your chosen destination and with a brand new fleet for 2009, European Boating Holidays are cruising ahead with development plans despite the current economic downturn.

Viking River Eliminates Fuel Surcharges for 2009travelpulse.com2008-12-15 07:50:33
Viking River Cruises has suspended its daily fuel surcharge for all voyages departing on or after Jan. 1.

Great PACKING Web Site!

Through the years there have been many great web sites developed to provide first time and experienced cruises with necessary information to improve the cruise experience, examples are http://www.cruisecritic.com/ , http://www.tripadvisor.com/ , etc. Some of these sites have been so successful they have been purchased by some of the top online travel companies to promote their products & services.

However, one web site has caught my interest because it focuses on one of the major headaches of traveling, and that is PACKING!

If packing is a nightmare for you, and it is usually the most dreaded part of any travel experience (right behind the airlines) I strongly recommend that you visit:

http://www.dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com/

The site is simple — sign in with a user name and password, choose the type of trip (cruise) you're taking and then start checking off the appropriate to-do items, like "pack medicine," "put luggage tags on bags," and "Review documents." You can print out the list and carry it with you, or have email reminders sent to you before your trip. The site also includes handy links to websites where you can take care of chores like renting cars, booking a hotel, and getting a new passport.

This is a great site, I strongly recommend that you check it out.

GW

Oil Ante - Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azmara Cruise lines Increase Fuel Surcharges

Get ready to pay more for a cruise on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara, the latest lines to hike fuel surcharges.

The three brands, all owned by Royal Caribbean, unveiled plans late Tuesday to boost their fuel surcharge on ships from $5 to $8 per person per day for the first and second passengers in a cabin. The line also is adding a new fee of $3 per person, per day for "third" and "fourth" passengers in cabins.

The change will apply for new bookings that come in on or after May 1.

The increase in fuel surcharges at Royal Caribbean brands comes just five days after Norwegian Cruise Line raised its fuel surcharge by $2 to $9 per per person, per day. Rival Carnival Corp. also recently announced that it will hike fuel surcharges by $2 to $7 per person, per day at six lines that it owns, including Carnival, Princess, Cunard and Holland America.Cruise lines began adding fuel surcharges last November as oil prices approached $100 a barrel, and industry executives say they have no choice but to raise the fees again as oil prices push even higher. Fuel is one of the biggest costs at cruise lines, and the soaring cost of oil is having a notable impact on industry earnings.

In a recent conference call with Wall Street analysts, Carnival noted that its cruise ship brands alone are paying more than $500 million more for fuel this year than in 2007. Royal Caribbean announces their earnings today.

New Itinerary from New York on the Carnival "Miracle"

Carnival plans to expand its New York operation a bit in 2009 with a new Caribbean itinerary that includes a stop in the Turks & Caicos.

The eight-night voyages, on the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle, will include stops in Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private island of Half Moon Cay; and Nassau in the Bahamas.

Carnival has offered eight-night cruises from New York to the eastern Caribbean since 2003, first on the Carnival Legend and then on the Miracle. Until now the trips have stuck to the ports of San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Carnival says the Miracle will follow the new itinerary about once a month between May and September of 2009. The rest of the time it will continue to offer the ship's traditional itinerary.

What's behind the new routing? In a statement accompanying the announcement, Carnival said the Turks -- a relatively new port for the major lines -- has quickly become a popular destination with its customers.

Another reason the line may be eager to switch to the new itinerary is that it will require less fuel than the Miracle's existing route. Oil prices have been soaring in recent months, forcing Carnival and other lines to pay millions of dollars more in fuel costs.

Port of Costa Maya to Reopen in July

The popular port of Costa Maya will be back on cruise itineraries starting this summer.

The storm-ravaged Mexican destination announced plans today to reopen in July with two fully functional berthing spaces, and it also said all the major lines that have called there in the past have committed to return.

Costa Maya, the Western Caribbean’s first port designed exclusively for the cruise ship industry, is strategically located just hours from Cancun on Mexico’s southern Yucatan Peninsula. Resembling an ancient Mayan city, Costa Maya is able to accommodate three ships at once and entertain visitors to a destination that showcases the ancient and colonial heritage of the Mexican Caribbean with all of today’s conveniences. Set against the deep turquoise sea, Costa Maya is comprised of three grand pavilions, artisan and luxury shopping areas, a beach club, saltwater pools, fine restaurants and bars, and all the resources necessary to explore the surrounding jungle and coral reefs.It is the region’s most complete and diverse port of call providing cultural, natural and archeological excursions. Costa Maya is one of only six ports in the Western Caribbean to receive over one million passengers per year.

Hurricane Dean almost totally destroyed Costa Maya last August, causing extensive damage to its pier and facilities. At first it looked like the destination wouldn't reopen until this coming September, but by January officials were confident that they could reopen by summer. Today's announcement sets a specific month and confirms that major lines will return.

Among the lines that Costa Mayan officials say have agreed to return are Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America, Disney and Cunard. Officials say the rebuilt piers will be capable of handing the industry's biggest cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean's record-setting, 5,400-passenger Genesis vessels debuting in 2009.

Officials also announced that a third berth would open at Costa Maya by November.

Celebrity Announces Los Angeles to Alaska Cruises for 2009!

Hubbard Glacier is the reigning beauty in Celebrity Cruises’ Alaska, where the breathtakingly rugged splendor of the natural world meets the comfortable sophistication of a top-notch cruise. Guests on all three Celebrity ships that will sail in the region in 2009 will have the opportunity to gaze at the glacier, which is the only advancing glacier in Alaska. Hubbard Glacier is but one of countless must-see sights in the region, and much of Alaska’s coastal magnificence is featured in Celebrity’s 2009 season there. Unique cruisetours will afford guests the opportunity to experience inland Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, and Whistler, British Columbia. Celebrity Cruises’ 2009 Alaska sailings opened for sale last week.

Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury, and Celebrity Millennium will sail Alaska in 2009, from a total of five ports. The season’s cruise highlights include the following:

•Celebrity is offering the industry’s first roundtrip Alaska cruise out of Los Angeles, with a 14-night roundtrip “Ultimate Alaska” sailing on Celebrity Mercury. The voyage includes visits to five Alaska ports as well as Seattle, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia, on April 27. Immediately following that cruise, the ship will sail a 13-night “Ultimate Alaska” voyage from Los Angeles to Vancouver, also visiting five Alaska ports, among others.

•Celebrity Millennium will sail the line’s first 10-night roundtrip-from-Vancouver sailing with an “Ultimate Alaska” voyage on September 18, visiting six Alaska ports and one Canadian port.

•At the core of Celebrity’s 2009 Alaska season is a series of seven-night sailings between May and September that include stunning views of Hubbard Glacier, with the itineraries varying between the three ships.

•Celebrity Infinity will depart Fridays roundtrip from Seattle, visiting Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. Nearly all of these sailings also feature a call at Icy Strait Point, giving guests the opportunity to experience Alaska’s only wilderness port.

•Adjacent to the largest Tlingit Indian settlement and home to the historic salmon cannery and carefully restored museum, Icy Strait Point offers numerous shore excursions, including flightseeing, whale watching, sport fishing, biking, kayaking, and rides on the world’s longest zip line, which measures 5,330 feet in length and includes a 1,300-foot vertical drop.

•Celebrity Mercury will depart Sundays roundtrip from Vancouver, calling at Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, and cruising the famed Inside Passage, one of National Geographic Traveler’s highly rated destinations.

•In Juneau, the “Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Feast” excursion lets guests board a floatplane and enjoy 50 minutes of flightseeing over five glaciers before landing at the historic Taku Lodge for a King salmon feast.

•Celebrity Millennium will cruise between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia, departing on Fridays, calling at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and cruising the Inside Passage.•In Ketchikan, guests can taste local seafood in an intimate setting with the “Alaskan Chef’s Table” excursion.•Celebrity Mercury will reprise its popular 2007 and 2008 wine cruise with an 11-night sailing from Vancouver to San Diego, California on October 12, 2009.

•Celebrity Mercury will continue to alternate between three- and four-night Pacific Northwest sailings out of Seattle in September and October, with calls at Nanaimo and Victoria, British Columbia.•In Victoria, the “Butchart Gardens, Wine and Chocolate” shore excursion gives guests an introduction to the city’s charms, including the renowned Butchart Gardens and a unique wine-and-chocolate-pairing experience at a local winery.

Combining a cruise with a multi-night, land-based journey enhances the Alaska experience. In 2009, Celebrity is increasing its cruisetour offerings. Highlights include the following:

•A total of 21 Alaska cruisetours are available to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Millennium out of Seward and Vancouver.•In 2009, these offerings include a new seven-night post-cruise tour through Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, Alaska.

•Three Canadian cruisetour journeys (two Canadian Rockies and one Whistler) are available to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Mercury out of Vancouver.

•A five-night Canadian Rockies package featuring rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ RedLeaf will visit Calgary, Banff and Vancouver.•A three-night Whistler package features rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ Whistler Mountaineer Coast Classic and visits the 2010 Winter Olympics sites of Vancouver and Whistler.

NEW! - Passports NOT Required for Cruises (Mexico/Canada/Caribbean) Until June 1, 2009

Starting June 1, 2009, travelers entering the United States on a cruise will be required to present a passport or other recognized identification document.

The new requirement was outlined today by the U.S. government during a final ruling on travel documents for land and sea borders. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative calls for travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the country.

HOWEVER, we strongly recommend that you obtain your passport as soon as possible, even though it is not required until June 1, 2009.

Think as a passport as a Travelers license; it is good for 10 years and anyone leaving the United States should have one for the following reasons:

1. In the event another 9/11 type terrorist attack occurs while you are outside the U.S., a passport will definitely expedite your re-entry into the U.S.


2. If an emergency occurs while cruising (family death, medical injury or illness etc.) requiring you to fly back to the U.S. from a foreign port you MUST have a valid U.S. passport to return via air.


3. If something occurs in a foreign country that requires interaction with police, customs, or other foreign officials a passport is considered offical identification known by most authorities, whereas a birth certificate or state issued identification may be suspect.


4. When contacting a U.S. consulate or embassy in a foreign country a passport is considered the primary, and best form of identification.

For more information and requirements about applying for a passport visit the U.S. Department of State's website.

Hurricane Season Is Coming - Why the Safest Place to be is on a Cruise Ship

The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and although hurricanes are generally unpredictable, conventional wisdom has dictated that peak season varies by geography. In the Eastern Caribbean and the east coast of the U.S., the busiest time of the season tends to occur in the mid-August to mid-September time frame. In the Western Caribbean, it runs later, picking up in mid-September and stretching into early November. Early and late-season hurricanes (June, mid- to late-November) are rare but not unprecedented.An "average" hurricane season means we can expect 8 to 11 tropical storms; of these 5 to 7 could develop into full-fledged hurricanes.

How Safe Are Cruise Ships During Hurricanes? The cruise lines have two major considerations during the hurricane season; first, safety and security of their passengers, and the protection of theirs assets (ships, property & personnel).

Cruise lines have been operating in the Caribbean for years and have, by virtue of experience, specific hurricane/tropical storm emergency response plans in effect. These cover everything from designating a bridge officer as the weather monitor during the season, to outfitting ships with state-of-the-art satellites, to backing up on board efforts with expanded staff at headquarters. The trickiest situation for cruise lines whose ships' scheduled ports of call are threatened is finding alternate places to dock or anchor (those ports not already booked up with regular cruise visitors, not to mention other ships looking for a quiet port in a storm). Most common is that cruise lines whose Eastern Caribbean itinerary appears to be in flux will simply switch over to a Western Caribbean port schedule (and vice versa). Can't find a port?

The schedule may include a couple of extra sea days (in calmer waters, naturally).Do you get a refund for missed ports? Alas, no. The fine print in your cruise contract, also known as your ticket, gives lines the right to substitute ports if and when they feel like it.Even Ships Outrunning a Storm Can Encounter Rough WatersWhen the threat of a storm occurs, cruise ships can "outrun" them -- storms tend to move at about 8 to 10 knots, while ships can attain speeds of up to 22 knots and beyond.While improved technology can help ships to evade storms, they can't avoid them entirely -- and you may run into rough waters. You can even experience storm remnants in far away places, such as on one of the seasonal north Atlantic repositioning cruises coming out of Europe.

While they may be tropical storms or even lesser turbulance by the time they reach Iceland, the waters can still be rough. Be prepared -- even the stalwart should pack their favorite seasickness remedy.Can't Get to the Ship?Sometimes hurricane-related problems don't have anything to do with the ship, and everything to do with conditions at the port of embarkation. As we said before, plan ahead. This is a good time of year to build a day or two into your vacation. Aim to arrive in port a couple of days early in case difficulties arise.

Prepare for the possibility -- and it happens -- that you might actually arrive home a day or two late. And bottom line: If you're having trouble getting into your port of embarkation make sure you contact the cruise line. Most will do everything possible, even if they are not obligated, to help you get to the ship, but there's no guarantee.Canceled CruisesThe cruise lines rarely cancel sailings. They will simply deviate itineraries. If a cruise is actually canceled you will, obviously, get a refund. You might also receive a discount on a future cruise. Pretty much the only thing that gets cruises canceled outright (and not even regularly) is when a storm is aiming for major ports of embarkation, such as Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades or Miami.

To check the status on a hurricane we have provided the following link:

National Hurricane Center

In the event of a hurricane that is active when you are scheduled to sail, contact the Cruise Center for information of visit the web site of the cruise line for posted information.

Guarantee vs. Assigned Cabin

Guarantee Cabins

Guarantee simply means that your are “guaranteed” to receive a cabin equal to or at a higher category than you purchased anywhere on the ship.

The cruise lines make an effort to provide upgrades to“guarantee” bookings, however, it does not guarantee that if you booked an inside cabin you will receive a ocean view or balcony cabin. It means that you may simply be upgraded within the category you booked, such as Category 4A to 4C. The bottom line it is the luck of the draw and if there is space available it makes since for the cruise line to upgrade a “guarantee” cabin as a marketing tool in an effort to get repeat business from the delighted cruiser who feels that he/she has received special attention. Your cabin assignment may be made prior to going to the pier.

Check online a week or so prior to departure and you may learn your cabin assignment, however, you may not get assigned your cabin until you get to the pier, especially if you booked your cruise within 30 days of sailing.If you book a guarantee in a certain category and that category is full, you might get upgraded. On the other hand, someone else (perhaps a member of the past-passenger program with higher status) might get upgraded and you might get their cabin in your category. There's no way to tell.

Thus, the cardinal rule of booking guarantees:

Don't book a guarantee in any given category unless you would be happy with a cabin in that category! In other words, if you will not be happy with anything less than a suite, don't book an inside guarantee.

If you do not care where you are assigned a cabin I think the “guarantee” option is a good one.

However, if you have issues with sea sickness, noise, and are traveling with other family members or friends that want to be in cabins within close proximity I do not recommend this option. I believe “guarantee” is a poor choice of words to use for this option because people wrongly believe they are “guaranteed” an upgrade and they are not. Here are the general guarantee policies of some of the cruise lines:

Carnival Cruise Line passengers may either book a generic cabin type (e.g. Inside, Outside, Balcony) at a lower fare than for the lowest specific category within that type, or book a guarantee within a specific category at the normal fare for that category. Carnival begins assigning guaranteed cabins about eight weeks prior to sailing and the majority of passengers are notified of their cabin assignment when they receive their cruise documents.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises passengers may either book a generic cabin type at a lower fare than for the lowest specific category within that type, or opt to choose a guarantee rather than an assigned cabin within a specific category at the normal fare for that category. Guarantee cabins are typically assigned six weeks prior to departure.

Costa Cruises guarantee passengers are offered a generic cabin type at a lower fare than the lowest specific category within that type. Cabin assignments are generally made around 30 days prior to departure.

Crystal Cruises offers guarantees in all categories, except Crystal Penthouse. Passengers book guarantees at the same fare as an assigned cabin in that same category. Cabin assignments may be made as early as one month prior to departure, or as late as the day prior to departure. Most cabins are usually assigned one week before sailing.

Cunard Line offers guarantees both for generic cabin types at special lower fares and for specific categories at the normal fare within that category. Cabin assignments may be made at least 30 days prior to departure.

Disney Cruise Line offers guarantees in any given category at the normal fare for that category, depending on availability. Cabin assignments generally take place within 30 days of departure.

Holland America Line guarantees are offered in specific cabin categories on an as-needed basis, at the normal fare for that category. Assignments are made between 30 days and one week before sailing.

MSC Cruises offers guarantee cabins selectively based on inventory management restrictions. Guarantees are not available for all categories on all sailings. Guarantees are offered by category and type (single, double, triple or quad). The time frame for assignment of guarantees can vary according to the sailing, category and type of guarantee. In general, guarantees are assigned within two weeks of sailing and in some instances may not be assigned until embarkation.

Norwegian Cruise Line guarantees may be offered for a generic cabin type at a lower fare than for a specific category, or within categories at the normal fare for that category. Assignments are typically made no later than 60 days before sailing, assuming passengers have booked more than 60 days before sailing.

Princess Cruise Line offers guarantees within specific categories as an alternative to an assigned cabin. Cabin assignments may be made at any time between the time of booking and several days before departure.Remember, the cruise line has no obligation to give you a cabin in a higher category than you booked! When booking a guarantee, do exactly what you would do when booking an assigned cabin -- book the least expensive category that you will be happy with. An upgrade is a nice surprise, but not something you should count on.

Assigned Cabins

If you are assigned a cabin (not a “guarantee") there is a remote possibility you may be offered an upgrade by the cruise line. This is a great marketing tool for the cruise lines and it makes no difference to them who occupies which category of cabin once the ship sails. There goal is to get you to return to there cruise lines in the future. Prior to sailing, if you have been selected for an “upgrade” the cruise line will notify your travel agent that you have been selected for an upgrade and request the travel agent contact you to confirm that you would accept the upgrade.

There are cases where many cruisers turn down an upgrade because they are happy with the location and category of cabin they were assigned, there reservation may not be cross referenced with other friends that may be in a cabin nearby, or if returning to that ship from a previous sailing, sentimental reasons. I have learned there are different policies dictated by the cruise lines for selection of upgrades.

Those policies include:

1. Cabin/Category availability
2. Account status of travel agency that booked your cruise (key accounts)
3. Past sailing history with the cruise line (frequent or past guest)
4. Operational necessity (ship maintenance)
5. Customer good will - marketing opportunity/convenience
6. Cabin allocations made by the cruise line revenue department

IMPORTANT!

ALL cabin assignments are at the discretion of the cruise line and they have the right to change cabin assignments at any time for both assigned and guarantee cabins based upon the terms and conditions of the cruise contract.

Royal Caribbean Revises Fuel Surcharges

One of the issues raised in yesterdays blog "Cruise Prices 2008" concerned fuel surcharges implemented for 2008 by the cruise lines.

Yesterday, Royal Caribbean issued a press release stating the following revision to the policy due to numerous complaints filed with the Florida Attorney General. The release read as follows:


For Immediate Release

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. VOLUNTARILY
REVISES FUEL SUPPLEMENT

MIAMI – March 10, 2008 – After working closely with the Florida Attorney General’s office, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it has voluntarily agreed to eliminate its fuelsupplement on any bookings made prior to the announcement of the fuel supplement on November 16, 2007.

Royal Caribbean will eliminate the fuel supplement for any guests who had a booking made priorto 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 November 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 November 16, 2007, involves three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. The fuel supplement consists of a $5 per-guest, per-day charge for sailings that depart on or after February 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.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The company has a combined total of 37 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, http://www.celebrity.com.www.pullmantur.es/, www.azamaracruises.com, or http://www.rclinvestor.com/.

COMMENT: Lets hope the other cruise lines follow RCIs lead.

Cruise Pricing 2008

Cruise pricing for 2008 has risen significantly, although some bargains can still be found if you are flexible with mid-week sailings and don't mind cruising on older ships that are less port intensive.

Cruise rates this year average from (*per passenger/per day) $95-115 for an inside cabin, $115-135 per day for an ocean view cabin, and $135-175 per day for a balcony cabin.

*based upon double occupancy, 1st & 2nd passenger, includes port charges, government fees & taxes, and fuel surcharges (implemented in 2008).

Also, 3rd/4th/5th passenger rates have also risen.

Cruise lines have also raised the prices of shore excursions, souvenirs, specialty dining, and other goods and services purchased onboard ship to increase their onboard revenues. The higher oil prices have increased the cost of goods (food, paper products, supplies) the cruise lines must pay in addition to the added cost of fuel.

A recent article published at Kiplinger.com outlines the financial burdens that cruise lines are facing that has affected cruise line stock prices.

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/picks/archive/2008/pick0307.htm

Also, because of the increase in pricing, online travel agencies are becoming much more competitive with pricing.

BUYER BEWARE: Be sure to get the total price (cruise fare/port charges, government fees and taxes/fuel surcharges) for the cruise quoted by an agent. Also, ask if there are any booking "fees" being charges, which can vary from $15 to $75 per booking.

Cruising is still a great bargain, especially for families. Just remember to shop, shop, shop to get the best pricing and if possible be flexible to get the best deal.