February 26, 2004 -- A sunken vessel prevents others from leaving New Orleans, the world's largest retailer gets in the travel game, D-Day memorial itineraries and more in issue's new roundup.
NCL Raises Pride of America
On January 14, a storm in Germany partially sank the half-built Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Pride of America, which was moored at a construction dock at the Lloyd Weft shipyard. The vessel flooded up to deck 3, forcing NCL (tel. 800/327-7030, www.ncl.com) to reshuffle its fleet to meet demand for her inaugural season in Hawaii.
Last week, the company announced that Pride of America has been refloated and moved to dry dock at Lloyd Werft, where the extend of damage was being assessed. The yard's managing director, Werner Lueken, confirmed that no damage had been done to the ship's hull, but extensive work will be required to repair and replace equipment and interior fixtures that have been submerged for more than a month. A survey is currently taking place to determine the extent of that work, following which a new launch date for the ship should be available.
SeaDream Courts Celebs with Oscar Giveaway
The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the famous sail for free. On February 29, when Hollywood gathers for the 76th annual Academy Awards ceremony, celebrity presenters and performers will find a little something extra in their gift baskets: An invitation for a free cruise for two on one of SeaDream Yacht Club's ultra-luxe 110-passenger vessels, SeaDream I and SeaDream II.
The Oscar gift baskets, a tradition at the Academy Awards presentations, typically contain a variety of high-end products and services. Fame has its perks. More on the line at tel. 800/707-4911; online at www.seadreamyachtclub.com.
Cruise Lines Reroute Vessels from Haiti, New Orleans
In the past two weeks, events have forced a number of ships off their charted course. In Haiti, fighting between supporters and opponents of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide forced Royal Caribbean to cancel scheduled port calls at its private beach peninsula, Labadee, on the island's northern coast. Although the peninsula is isolated from the rest of the island, Royal Caribbean officials felt it prudent to reroute Voyager, Mariner, Navigator, and Radiance of the Seas, either to RCI's private Bahamian island, CocoCay, or to a day at sea.
Labadee, 270 acres of beaches, kids' water parks, and thatched pavilions, is usually one of the best of the cruise lines' private beaches, with music and dance imparting a cultural vibe missing from most others.
In New Orleans, salvage efforts following the February 21 collision between a cargo ship and an oil-rig supply vessel forced closure of the Mississippi River at its entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The river closure affected not only some 102 cargo vessels that were unable to enter or leave the river, but also several cruise ships that were scheduled to dock for Mardi Gras celebrations. Carnival's Conquest and Holiday, NCL's Norwegian Dream, and Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas were all rerouted to alternate docks, and their passengers transported by motor coach. Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas had worse luck: Scheduled to depart on the day of the incident, the ship was stranded in port. At this writing, the Coast Guard's salvage operation was expected to conclude before its next scheduled departure.
Princess Christens New Vessel in Japanese Ceremony
Cunard may have had Queen Elizabeth to christen their new Queen Mary 2, but Princess has. .. the wife of the president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Yoshiko Tsukuda, wife of Kazuo Tsukuda, christens the new Diamond Princess today at a downtown Nagasaki pier, near the site of the vessel's construction. The 116,000-ton, 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess is the first vessel the company has had built in Japan, and the first large cruise ship built in Japan in more than a decade.
The ceremony features traditional Japanese dance, music, and dress, with the theme of the festivities designed to ensure the ship's good fortune. Diamond begins her inaugural season on March 11, sailing to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. In May she'll reposition to Seattle for the summer Alaska season. You can learn more by calling 800-PRINCESS; online at www.princess.com
Sam's Club: Lawn Furniture, a Phone Card, and One Caribbean Cruise, Please
They sell everything else, so why not cruise vacations? Earlier this month, Sam's Club and travel-seller NLG announced a partnership that enables Sam's Club members to book cruises, flights, hotels, resorts, rental cars, and theme park tickets online at www.samsclubvacations.com or through a live travel agent at 800/955-7267.
The samsclub.com website is set up clearly, with several search options and well-organized results. Prices parallel those available through other online sellers, though Sam's Club members avoid service fees, which generally run only to a few dollars. Sam's memberships start at $35.
Clipper to Offer D-Day Remembrance Cruises
Small-ship line Clipper (tel. 800/325-0010, www.clippercruise.com) recently announced three voyages honoring the sixtieth anniversary of D-Day, the invasion that led to the eventual defeat of Germany in WWII. Cruising Europe's Atlantic coast from Bordeaux to Calais, the 122-passenger expedition ship Clipper Adventurer will visit the historic battlefields at Omaha and Utah beaches, as well as other memorials along France's Normandy coast and Churchill's cabinet war rooms and the Imperial War Museum in London. Rates for the 11-night sea/land "Liberating Europe" cruise begin at $4,840 per person, including all shore excursions and three nights at The Churchill InterContinental in London. Trip departs on May 23, May 30 (with a full day in Caen and Honfleur for the landing beaches on June 6), and June 6, 2004.
Crystal Adds Adventure Excursions to Summer Alaska Cruises
This summer, passengers sailing Alaska aboard Crystal's ultra-luxe Crystal Harmony will have the option of trading their comfortable suite for a "spacious private sleeping tent" at the Mendenhall Glacier base camp. Rough luxe? Something like that. The overnight excursion, which also includes helicopter and airplane flightseeing and trans-glacial hiking, is part of Crystal's new slate of Alaska adventure experiences, offered aboard Harmony's 12-night May-September sailings from San Francisco. Other adventure options include snorkeling in Ketchikan's Mountain Point (in quarter-inch wetsuits!), hiking and rafting in the Chilkat Valley and rainforest, several fishing excursions, dog-sledding, and a horseback ride in the Yukon.
Harmony's rates start at a surprisingly low $2,595 per person, with children under 12 sailing free when sharing the same stateroom with two adults. Excursions are extra. For more information, call 800/820-6663 or go online to www.crystalcruises.com.
Seabourn Dresses Up with New Linens and China
On a more traditional luxury note, Seabourn (tel. 800/929-9391, www.seabourn.com) has added new luxe touches to its three 208-passenger ships, Seabourn Pride, Spirit, and Legend. Beds in all of the 277-square foot staterooms are being made with new sheets, pillowcases, and duvets from the prestigious 140-year-old Italian company, Frette, which has provided linens for the Orient Express, Italy's Queen Margherita, and even the Titanic. Meanwhile, patrons at the ships' indoor/outdoor Veranda Cafés will dine off new porcelain tableware designed and manufactured by the German company Rosenthal. The two companies are just the latest additions to Seabourn's "Signature Delights" amenities, which also include document portfolios and luggage tags by Tumi, champagne by Heidsieck, Bose Wave cabin audio systems, and designer soaps by Chanel, Bijan, Herm? and Bronnley. It's like the Robb Report of cruising.