April 22, 2004 -- Ports keep growing to contend with swelling numbers of passengers, itineraries are reconfigured and new health trends continue to enliven the cruise industry. We report on it all in this cruise news round-up.
Carnival Holiday to Sail from Mobile
The list of U.S. homeports just keeps getting bigger. This week, Carnival (888/CARNIVAL, www.carnival.com) announced that it would be positioning its 1,452-passenger Holiday in Mobile, Alabama, year-round beginning October 16.
After completing her current deployment in New Orleans, Holiday (built in 1985 and currently the oldest ship in the Carnival's fleet) will move to Mobile and begin offering three different western Caribbean itineraries: a 4-night Cozumel (departing every other Thursday), 5-night Cozumel and Calica (every other Monday), and 5-night Cozumel and Costa Maya (every other Saturday).
Carnival is currently offering fares starting at $279. Special rates for third and fourth guests sharing a cabin with two other passengers are also available.
NCL to Stay Home, Skip Northern Europe in 2005
In announcing its 2005 itineraries, Norwegian Cruise Line (800/327-7030, www.ncl.com) has taken its "Homeland Cruising" concept to the next logical step, redeploying its ships to more U.S.-based itineraries and skipping Europe entirely.
"Homeland Cruising is a core business strategy for the company both today and as we plan for the future," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "Our aim is to be the leader in popular cruise destinations as Hawaii, Alaska's Inside Passage, and Bermuda, and to offer the widest possible variety of innovative itineraries in the Caribbean."
Toward that end, NCL will be putting four ships in Alaska (offering 7-, 10-, and 11-night cruises from Seattle and Vancouver) and three in Hawaii (including Pride of America, currently under construction in Germany) and offer Bermuda sailings from three different U.S. ports (New York, Boston, and Philadelphia) and Caribbean sailings from five (Charleston, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, and New York). Following her Alaska season, Norwegian Star homeport in L.A. rather than returning to Honolulu, and will make weekly runs to Acapulco. In a nod to internationalism, Norwegian Crown will sail a series of 14-night Chilean Fjords/Strait of Magellan cruises and two Panama Canal cruises.
The repositioning of Norwegian Star means Hawaii's strict no-onboard-casinos rule no longer apply, so in May the ship will go into dry dock for a multi-million dollar refurbishment that will add a 10,000-square foot gambling den, a steakhouse, and the bright, celebratory hull artwork that's becoming a trademark of NCL's latest vessels. The burst of colorful stars and streamers running back from the bow is intended as an homage to the old steamship tradition of passengers throwing streamers from the deck as they the ship pulls away from the dock.
Adieu, First European?
All indications are that First European Cruises (aka Festival Cruises) is kaput. The line, which until recently was one of the largest players in the European cruise market and also operated ships in the Caribbean, ceased operations in January after creditors charged it with failing to meet its financial obligations. A month later it formally dropped its three oldest ships -- Flamenco, Azur, and Bolero -- and last week the line's three-year-old, 1,500-passenger European Vision was auctioned off in Barbados, where it was stranded when the troubles began in January. At press time, phones were not being answered at the company's New York offices.
Princess Moves to Migrate Movie Magic to Its Megaships
The new Caribbean Princess's giant "Movies Under the Stars" movie screen has been such a hit in its first weeks that Princess has decided to add them to Caribbean's (800/PRINCESS, www.princess.com) three Grand-class sisters, Grand Princess, Golden Princess, and Star Princess.
Caribbean Princess's giant, 300-square-foot LED screen was designed to be used during the day as well as when the lights go down, broadcasting feature films, family entertainment, sporting events, and other programming. Lounge chairs can be reserved for optimally relaxed viewing, and a 69,000-watt sound system assures you won't miss any dialog. And yes, there's popcorn.
Clipper Cruise Line Adds Easter & Pitcairn Islands to South Pacific Cruises
You can't get much more off the beaten path than Easter Island, home of the mysterious moai stone heads, and Pitcairn Island, where Fletcher Christian and company settled after their mutiny aboard the HMS Bounty. But that's exactly where Clipper's 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey (800/325-0010, www.clippercruise.com) is going this fall on four 15- to 17-night South Pacific voyages.
- Polynesian Paradises of the South Pacific (16 nights, departing September 15, 2004) follows a route originally traveled by ancient Polynesian traders, sailing from Hilo, Hawaii, to Tahiti, visiting Christmas Island, Kiribati, and Huahine, Bora-Bora, and Moorea in the Society Islands. Rates start at $6,890 per person, double occupancy, and include all shore excursions and an overnight at the Naniloa Resort in Hilo.
- French Polynesia to Easter Island (16 nights, departing September 30) starts in Tahiti and sails along the Tuamotu Archipelago to Easter Island. Among the trip's highlights is a full day visiting Pitcairn Island, which strictly controls the number of visitors allowed ashore. Descendents of the Bounty's crew inhabit the island to this day. Rates start at $6,830 per person, double occupancy, and include all shore excursions and an overnight at the Taha Tai Hotel on Easter Island.
- Exploring the Pristine Corners of the South Pacific (15 nights, departing November 13) explores the western South Pacific, traveling from Fiji to New Caledonia and visiting the remote Republic of Vanuatu, a collection of more than 80 islands boasting lush forests, white-sand beaches, and turquoise waters. Specially designed excursions at each destination focus on the islands' abundant bird life. Rates start at $5,820 per person, double occupancy, and include all shore excursions and two nights at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.
- Exploring New Caledonia and New Zealand (14 nights, departing November 24) connects New Caledonia's French culture with New Zealand's native Maori and English influences. Rates start at $5,250 per person, double occupancy and include an overnight at Le Meridien Noumea.
Guests Demand to Be Stuck Full of Pins, Celebrity Complies
Last October, Celebrity Cruises (800/437-3111, www.celebrity.com) introduced an "Acupuncture at Sea" series aboard Infinity's Hawaii and Panama Canal cruises, offering acupuncture treatments and lectures about related Asian disciplines like feng shui, herbal healing, and general nutrition. This week, citing "overwhelming guest demand," the line announced it was expanding its acupuncture program to five ships.
"The satisfaction rates among the guests who experienced Acupuncture at Sea onboard Infinity have been tremendous," said Dr. Philippe Manicom, one of the professionals offering the service onboard. "Even beyond what we normally see in regular clinical settings."
This year, the program will be available on Millennium from April 25 to November 21, on Constellation from April 24 October 24, on Infinity from April 25 to May 28 and September 26 to December 31, on Summit from April 30 to June 2 and September 17 to December 31, and on Galaxy from May 7 to December 31.
Carnival Goes Atkins, Introduces Low-Carb Menu Items Fleetwide
Starting this week, passengers on Carnival's ships (888/CARNIVAL, www.carnival.com) will have an easier time following their low-carb diet of choice, as the line introduces a low-carb appetizer, salad, and entr?on all dinner menus, with the carb count listed. Heavy on vegetables, meat, and fish, the low-carb selections will be designed to complement each other, and a reduced-carbohydrate bread selection will be available each evening on request.
"The low-carb phenomenon has been building for years and has recently evolved to such an extraordinary degree that there is tremendous consumer demand," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival's president and CEO.
The new low-carb selections are being introduced this week aboard Victory and will be rolled out across the line's fleet over the next month.
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