Panama Voters Approve $5.25 Billion Canal Expansion
In a decision that changes some of the cruise industry's basic math, Panama voters went to the polls last Sunday and overwhelmingly approved a plan to widen and modernize the Panama Canal.
The canal, built with American funding between 1880 and 1914, was the first short-cut carved between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas and remains the only one today. The route is about 50 miles long and includes passage through three main locks, which, through gravity alone, raise ships over Central America and down again on the other side. Between the locks, ships pass through the massive, 164-square-mile Gatun Lake, an artificially created basin poised 85 feet above sea level in Panama's interior.
At its construction, the canal was able to easily accommodate the largest ships in the world, but today many passenger, cargo and tanker ships are far too large to pass. Those built to what's become known as Panamax specifications -- just small enough to squeeze through -- do literally that: The maximum beam (width) for a Panamax ship is 106 feet, and the canal's locks are only four feet wider in total. Sitting in a lower-deck lounge of such a ship and watching the walls go by just an arm's length out the windows to either side can be a very disorienting experience.
Panama's expansion plan calls for the digging of a new, 60 per cent wider channel that will parallel the existing canal along its narrowest sections on either side of Gatun Lake. It will effectively double the canal's capacity, and from a cruise perspective will allow the largest cruise lines greatly expanded flexibility. Royal Caribbean, for example, will be able to reposition its huge Voyager and Ultra-Voyager ships from the Caribbean to the Mexican Riviera and Alaska, if it so chooses, and Cunard will be able to sail Queen Mary 2 between the seas rather than making the trek around Cape Horn.
The expansion is expected to take until at least 2014 to complete, and will eventually be paid for by higher tariffs on vessels using the canal.
Seabourn to Build Two New Vessels for 2009-2010
Putting itself in the running for "Most Surprising Cruise Announcement of 2006," ultra-luxe Seabourn Cruise Line (tel. 800-929-9391; www.seabourn.com), announced last week that it had signed a letter of intent to build two new 450-passenger vessels for delivery in 2009 and 2010.
For the better part of a decade, executives of Carnival Corporation, Seabourn's parent company, have publicly stated that they intended to build no new vessels for the small-ship luxury brand, believing that revenues would not justify the construction costs associated with such relatively small ships. At last week's announcement, however, Carnival chairman and CEO Micky Arison noted that, "This order represents our confidence in the luxury segment of the cruising market, which has shown significant and consistent revenue growth in recent years, with robust future potential. Through our own and independent research, we know that the luxury consumer views the Seabourn brand as the absolute ultimate in leisure travel. This new generation of yacht-like ships will secure its position at the top of the cruise industry pyramid for many years to come."
Built to measurements of 32,000 gross registers tons, with a length of 650 feet and a beam of 84 feet -- more than double the size of Seabourn's three current sister-ships, Seabourn Pride, Legend, and Spirit -- the vessels will be built by T. Mariotti S.p.A. of Genoa, Italy. "When they were introduced," said Mariotti president Marco Bisagno, "the three existing Seabourn ships embodied a new class of cruising vessel, and they spawned an entirely new niche in the market. We are proud and excited that Seabourn has enlisted Mariotti to craft what will be the next generation of intimate, ultra luxury cruising vessels, to be built in Genoa by our skilled team."
The ships will be powered by diesel-generated electricity and operate with twin screw propellers, with a service speed of 19 knots. They will be equipped with two bow thrusters to enhance maneuverability, and two stabilizers. Seabourn also intends them to be "green ships," employing advanced wastewater treatment technology.
On a sad note, Seabourn president Deborah Natansohn, who made the announcement of the ship order on October 19, died just five days later following a massive heart attack. In 1998 she was named president of Orient Lines, becoming the first female cruise line president in the United States. Natansohn also served as president of Cunard Line from 2000 to 2004, and had been president of Seabourn for the past two years. A native New Yorker, Ms. Natansohn began her career as a journalist before becoming a marketing executive with Travellers International, the tour company Arthur Frommer International, Ocean Cruise Lines and Pearl Cruises. In 2006 she was honored with a Glass Ceiling Award by the Jewish Museum of Florida, and was named one of Florida's top 50 women business leaders by The Center for Leadership at Florida International University.
NCL Returns to the Big Easy, Floats Out Big Pearl
While New Orleans is far from the full recovery promised by federal officials in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (click here for a recent on-scene report by Frommer's author Mary Herczog), much tourist infrastructure is back in place and promising to bring needed cash to the local economy. Latest boon? Norwegian Cruise Line's (tel. 800/327-7030; www.ncl.com) 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun, which on October 15 became the first major cruise ship to resume a NOLA-based sailing schedule since the flood of 2005. The ship docked at the city's new $37 million Erato Street Terminal, which is designed to accommodate larger cruise ships.
Norwegian Sun will call New Orleans home throughout the winter season, sailing 7-night Western Caribbean cruises that include stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), Santo Tomas de Castilla (Guatemala), Belize City (Belize).
"The cruise passengers returning to New Orleans will see that the city's historic beauty and charm is still alive and thriving," said Gary LaGrange, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans. "With the addition of the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage, the Port is poised to continue to create new cruising opportunities for cruise lines and passengers."
The same day, but half a world away, NCL's new Norwegian Pearl was floated out of the covered building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, signaling the end of major construction and the beginning of the ship's fitting-out period. The 93,500-ton vessel is scheduled to transit the Ems River to Eemshaven, Netherlands, on November 4 for sea trials, after which she'll sail transatlantic to Miami for a December 16 inaugural cruise. Her initial season will consist of alternating 9-night Southern Caribbean and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises round-trip from Miami, through April. From there, she'll reposition to Seattle, from which she'll sail 7-night Alaska itineraries through the summer.
Majestic America Acquires Columbia Queen, Plans New 2007 Alaska Voyages
Travel and event-planning company Ambassadors International was already well on its way to cornering the U.S. sternwheeler market earlier this year when it acquired both Delta Queen Steamboat Company and American West Steamboat Company, merging them under the banner of Majestic America Line (tel. 800-434-1232; www.majesticamericaline.com). Now comes word that the company has also acquired the 150-passenger sternwheel river ship Columbia Queen, originally built in 2000 and most recently operated by Great American River Journeys. Beginning April 28, the vessel will join Majestic America's Queen of the West in exploring the Pacific Northwest's mighty Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers from its homeport in Portland, Oregon, sailing weekly through October.
David Giersdorf, president of Ambassadors Cruise Group, stated, "The Columbia Queen is one of the most beautiful ships cruising the rivers of the United States today and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Majestic America Line fleet."
In related news, Majestic America also announced itineraries for its last acquisition, the 48-passener, catamaran-style Contessa. Formerly the Executive Explorer of Glacier Bay Cruiseline, she's the only non-sternwheeler in the Majestic fleet, and will be positioned in summer 2007 in Southeast Alaska, where her capacity to sail at unusually high speeds will allow her to offer 7-night cruises that concentrate on small ports and natural areas, including Misty Fjords National Monument, the Behm Canal, Wrangell, the Le Conte Glacier, Le Conte Bay, Thomas Bay, Endicott Arm, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Elfin Cove, the Alaska Native village of Hoonah, Tenakee Springs, and Glacier Bay (the latter on select itineraries only). The vessel will sail north- or southbound between Ketchikan and Sitka May 13 through September 20, with fares starting at $2,966 per person, double occupancy (fares good for bookings made before December 15, 2006).
Celebrity Cuts Steel for New Ship Solstice
Celebrity Cruises (tel. 800-437-3111; www.celebritycruises.com) hasn't built a new ship since 2002, but now they're on their way: On Oct. 11, company president Dan Hanrahan ceremoniously pressed an "on" button that activated a plasma cutter at Papenburg, Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard, which then created the first steel plate for Solstice, a 118,000-ton, 2,850-passenger vessel that's set to debut in 2008, followed by sister-ship Equinox in 2009 and a third unnamed sister in 2010.
"This is a very exciting day for the Celebrity brand, as we take the first tangible step toward making Celebrity Solstice a reality," said Hanrahan. "While it's too soon to reveal any details, I'm convinced our travel agent partners and guests are going to find this ship to be the perfect manifestation of what they appreciate most about Celebrity."
While we wait for Solstice to come 'round, shall we, oh, I dunno, renew our vows? Recently, Celebrity upgraded its vow-renewal program to include two new package options. The True Love Knot Renewal package includes a ceremony officiated by the ship's captain; commemorative vow renewal certificate signed by the captain; recorded ceremony music; a floral bouquet for the bride and matching boutonniere for the groom; photography service; one 8x10 photo of the couple with the captain, signed by the captain; one 8x10 photo of the ship; a bottle of champagne; two engraved champagne flutes; cake for two; and breakfast designed by Celebrity master chef Michel Roux, delivered to the couple's stateroom. The Aisle to Isle Renewal Ceremony includes a ceremony led by a designated officiant; recorded ceremony music; a bottle of champagne; a cake for two; commemorative vow renewal certificate; a long-stemmed rose for the bride and matching boutonniere for the groom; and photography service. Packages can be arranged by calling 866-535-2352.
EasyCruise Auctions Cruises on ebay; Opening Bid, $1.88
Never accuse easyCruise founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou (the brains behind easyJet, easyHotel, easyCar, and a dozen other "easy" companies) of not pushing the envelope. Last week, the innovative entrepreneur forged a deal with eBay that will post cruises for sale on the site, purchasable either at regular auction (with a starting bid of $1.88) or through the "Buy It Now" function, with two-night European cruises going for $58 and three-nighters going for $73.
Unlike a traditional cruise company, easyCruise doesn't sell all-inclusive cruises. The up-front fare merely covers your transportation and cabin. Everything else -- including food -- is extra. Itineraries are flexible too: As long as you stay aboard at least two nights, you can embark and debark whenever you want, at almost any port on the line's three itineraries in the French and Italian Riviera, Dutch and Belgian rivers, and the Caribbean.
Haji-Ioannou comments that "easyCruise is an innovative brand which consistently fights against the norm in the cruise industry both in terms of our offering and our prices, so to be the first to offer this service on eBay is a natural continuation of the brand for us. Our primary business has always come via our internet site, www.easycruise.com, so to link with the world's online market place is obviously a perfect fit."
Visit www.ebay.com and search "Riviera Cruise" for further information. If you don't come up with an ad for a 1963 Buick Riviera Cruise control set up, you'll probably be in the right place. Dutch/Belgian and Caribbean cruise auctions are expected to be posted to the site soon.
MSC Introduces Northeast Air/Sea Packages
Coming from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont or Washington, DC? Going to Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise? MSC Cruises (tel. 800/666-9333; www.msccruises.com) has a new air/sea package that bundles an 11-night Caribbean cruise aboard the 58,600-ton, 1,586-passenger Lirica or sister-ship Opera with round-trip airfare and transfers, all starting at $1,095 per person for an interior stateroom or $1,195 for an oceanview, airport facility charges, government fees, and taxes additional.
Lirica's Deep Caribbean and Panama itineraries departs Fort Lauderdale Nov. 26; Dec. 7; Jan. 20 and 31; Feb. 22; March 5, 16 and 27; and April 7 and 18. Opera's sailings depart Jan. 14; Feb. 5 and 27; March 10 and 21; and April 1.
Oceania Plots Pepin Cruise for April '07
Premium line Oceania Cruises (tel. 800/531-5658; www.oceaniacruises.com) intends to start its 2007 European season with a bang, combining culinary ooomph with maiden visits to four new ports aboard the 684-passenger Regatta's 10-night "Epicurean Odyssey" cruise, sailing from Barcelona April 17.
Aboard for the ride are well-known chef (and Oceania's executive culinary director) Jacques Pépin and famed pastry chef Jean-Claude Szurdak, who will present special signature menus in the ship's four gourmet dining rooms in the evenings and offer culinary demonstrations and Q&A sessions by day. "Epicurean Excursions" will also be offered in various ports, highlighting the region's culinary and wine-making traditions. Ports visited include Mahon (Minorca, Spain), Porto Cervo, La Spezia/Cinque Terre, Rome, Amalfi/Positano, and Taormina (Italy), Katakolon and Monemvasia (Greece), with debarkation in Athens.
Fares start at $2,299 per person, double occupancy, including free air from 20 North American gateway cities.
Norwegian Coastal Voyage Website Adds Virtual Ship Tours
Virtual, 360-degree ship tours are nothing new, but they are at Norwegian Coastal Voyage (tel. 800/323-7436; www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us), the "Hurtigruten" coastal express that plies the fjord-indented coast of Norway, stopping at dozens of small towns and providing transportation and cargo for the locals and an unusual and superbly scenic vacation for visitors.
So go look. In the right-hand navigation column of the line's homepage, the "Virtual Ship Tours" link will bring you to an index page listing the line's ten ships. Click on one and you'll get eight to twelve 360-degree images of restaurants, public rooms, and cabins.
What did we ever do before the Internet?
Model Turned Lifestyle Designer Kathy Ireland to Christen Carnival's Freedom
She started as a supermodel and moved on to create Kathy Ireland Worldwide, a "lifestyle design" firm that sells $1.4 billion in home and office furnishings, apparel, and jewelry. So what's a successful career woman to do next? Christen a megaship, of course.
That's why on March 4, 2007, you'll see Ireland out in Venice, wielding a bottle of champagne as only a former supermodel can and christening Carnival's latest, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom. "Kathy Ireland is an excellent choice for the godmother of this magnificent new ship," says Carnival president and CEO Bob Dickinson. "Not only is she extremely successful as both a model and businesswoman, but she lends her support to a wide variety of charitable causes and philanthropic organizations."
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