January 28, 2004 - We've got seven snapshots of events currently taking shape across the industry including confiscated ships, new construction, port renovations and more.
Festival/First European Ships Detained by Creditors
In a bit of Royal Olympia redux, three Festival Cruises vessels -- European Stars, Mistral, and European Vision -- have been detained at the request of creditors, who claim the line has not met its financial obligations. European Stars was halted in mid-cruise in Barcelona, while Mistral was in Marseilles and European Vision was in Barbados. The line's creditors, French shipbuilding giant Alstom (which was responsible for construction of Queen Mary 2) and the bank Credit Agricole, claim Festival got behind on payments that were intended to make it the sole owner of all three vessels, in which several parties currently hold an interest. As a result of these actions, the cruise line has cancelled several upcoming sailings. Discussions continue.
Festival is marketed under the name First European Cruises (888/983-8767, www.first-european.com) in the U.S.
Costa Announces Construction of Its Biggest Ship Yet
On January 19, Carnival-owned Costa Cruises (800/462-6782, www.costacruise.com) announced it had signed a letter of intent with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to construct a 112,000- ton vessel for delivery in summer 2006. Able to carry 3,800 passengers, the new vessel will be the largest passenger ship ever operated by an Italian company, easily eclipsing the two ships Costa launched in the past year: the 85,000-ton, 2,112-passenger CostaMediterranea and the 105,000-ton, 2,720-passenger CostaFortuna. CostaMagica, a sister ship to Fortuna, is currently under construction at Fincantieri and is expected to enter service in November 2004.
A new class of vessel for the line, the as-yet-unnamed 112,000-ton ship will reportedly offer one of the largest health and wellness centers at sea, plus a state-of-the-art telecommunications system that will enable guests to use their cell phones while at sea. Ringers off, please.
New York Announces Improvements to Passenger Ship Terminal
Just a few weeks after Royal Caribbean's decision to homeport its New York ships across the Hudson in Bayonne, New Jersey, the New York Economic Development Corporation announced a $50 million initiative to significantly improve Manhattan's historic but congested west side passenger terminal. More than 887,000 passengers passed through the terminal in 2003, up from 425,000 ten years ago.
"The cruise industry has grown dramatically in the last 10 years," says EDC President Andrew M. Alper, "and our existing facilities no longer have the capability to meet the increasing demand. To keep NYC's cruise industry strong, it's clear we must invest in ways to increase capacity and improve the customer experience."
Proposed upgrades will, says the agency, improve passenger circulation, reduce roadway congestion (a major problem on busy weekends) , stabilize facility infrastructure, and improve passenger service and comfort.
Holland America Announces Sale of Noordam
In a long-anticipated decision, Holland America (877/724-5425, www.hollandamerica.com) has announced that the upcoming European summer season of Noordam will be its last with the line. Built in 1984, the ship is the oldest in Holland America's fleet. Following her farewell sailing on November 3, she'll be transferred to UK-based Thomson Holidays on long-term charter with an option to buy. Thomson also operates Noordam's sister ship, the former Nieuw Amsterdam.
In a related announcement, HAL said that a new vessel, the fourth in its Vista-class series, will pick up the name Noordam to complete the Dutch "four points of the compass" motif of those vessels: Zuiderdam (south), Oosterdam (east), Westerdam (west), and Noordam (north).
Carnival to Offer Advanced Digital Photo Options
Carnival (800/327-9501, www.carnival.com) is getting set to debut an onboard digital photography program that may spell doom for those walls of posed dinner photos that are such a staple of the industry. In addition to having its photographers go digital fleetwide -- no great news in itself, except environmentally (it saves on developing chemicals) -- the line will be testing a new photo kiosk aboard Carnival Miracle this spring. Using advanced facial-recognition technology, the kiosk will scan a passenger's face and then retrieve all matching photos in its archive. Passengers wishing to buy any of these photos will be able to customize them with colorful borders and backgrounds.
Oceania Announces 2004-2005 South America Sailings
Only six months after offering its very first cruise, new line Oceania (800/531-5658, www.oceaniacruises.com) has just announced a schedule of South America sailings for winter 2004-2005 aboard the 684-passenger Insignia. Debuting in April, the ship is a sister to the line's sole current vessel, Regatta. Both ships sailed previously in the Renaissance Cruises fleet.
Ranging from 12 to 17 nights, Insignia's South America itineraries sail from various ports, including Valparaiso (Chile), Rio and Manaus (Brazil), and Buenos Aires (Argentina). For a limited time, inaugural-season fares are being discounted on a 2-for-1 basis, with free airfare offered from select North American gateways, holiday sailings excluded. Fares start at $2,499 per passenger for 12-night cruises, including port charges. Fares for deluxe staterooms with private teak verandas start at $3,299 per passenger, while suites with butler service start at $4,199.
New Owners Stay the Course at Glacier Bay Cruiseline
Glacier Bay Cruiseline (800/451-5952, www.glacierbaycruiseline.com) gained a small reputation in the 1990s as Alaska's only Native-owned cruise outfit, and also as the state's most outdoors-oriented line. This week, the first half of that equation goes by the wayside as new owners take the reins, but the kayaking, hiking, and wildlife watching are still A-1 priorities.
"Once we experienced the product for ourselves, we were hooked," states new company president Bob Brennan, a 35-year travel industry veteran who's held executive positions with Holland America-Westours, Princess Tours, and other Alaska tourism companies. "We were so impressed with the itineraries, the ships' captains and crew, and most importantly, the concept of combining small ship cruising and sea kayaking."
Brennan bought the line along with two partners, Doug Toms and Don Simplot. This summer, they'll offer 6- to 9-night cruises May through September, with prices starting at $1,390 per person. Guests can save up to $300 per couple if they book by February 28. The company also offers a new 7-night adventure cruise on Oregon's Columbia, Willamette, and Snake Rivers, sailing in April-May and September-October, with prices starting at $1,200 per person.
Personal testimonial here: The two cruises I've taken with Glacier Bay were among best I've ever experienced. Their ships -- three small vessels originally built and operated by Luther Blount's American Canadian Caribbean Line, and carrying only 31, 69, and 87 passengers -- are as spartan as ships come, but as is the case with all adventure lines, it's what's outside that counts. On this line, breakfast might be followed by three hours in a top-quality sea kayak, paddling among icebergs in Tracy Arm Fjord. After lunch, it might be a hike deep into the Alaskan rainforest, or up a boardwalked trail to a natural hot spring. On one of my cruises, the largest town we visited had 30 year-round residents, and they were almost the only other people we saw all week. It was the best experience of Alaska's wilderness I've ever had from a ship.
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