May 12, 2004 -- In this issue, we report on Disneyland's 50th anniversary cruises, new and refurbished ships, stand-up comedy competitions, golf, whales and more.
Disney Magic to Sail from Los Angeles in 2005
In celebration of Disneyland's 50th birthday, Disney Cruise Line (888/DCL-2500; www.disneycruise.com) has announced that it will position the 83,000-ton, 2,600-passenger Disney Magic in Los Angeles for summer of 2005, offering seven 7-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. It's the first time a Disney ship has sailed anywhere but the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Sailings will be offered between May 28 and August 19, 2005, and will visit Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas. At press time, prices had not yet been announced. Two-night pre- and post-cruise stays will be offered at Disneyland Resort, and 14-night sailings will also be available on the ship's west- and eastbound repositioning cruises between Port Canaveral, FL, and L.A. in May and early September. Sister-ship Disney Wonder will continue to offer her usual alternating 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises during this period.
Holland America Takes Delivery of New Westerdam
On April 25, Holland America (877/SAIL HAL; www.hollandamerica.com) celebrated the christening of its newest vessel, the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Westerdam. The third HAL vessels to bear that name, it's also the third in the line's Vista-class, which debuted in 2002 with Zuiderdam. Intended to help HAL shake off its image as your grandmother's cruise line, the ship just came off unnatural, like a 60-something banker trading in his Mercedes and suits for a little red Corvette and tight jeans. Décor and overall presentation were improved on sister-ship Oosterdam, which debuted in 2003, and reports are that Westerdam is the best of the bunch, with a more traditional HAL look.
Built on a similar design as Carnival's Spirit-class ships, Zuiderdam (named for the southern point of the Dutch compass, and with a first syllable that rhymes with "eye"), Oosterdam (eastern, and pronounced "OH-sterdam"), and Westerdam are Holland America's biggest ships to date, though compared to today's true behemoths they're still manageably small. Inside, all three ships are extraordinarily spacious, with large standard cabins, stylish two-level dining rooms, and distinctive specialty restaurants. Westerdam is the first ship delivered complete with HAL's new Signature of Excellence cabin amenities, including plush Euro-top mattresses, cotton bedsheets, waffle and terry-cloth bathrobes, premium massage showerheads, 5x magnifying makeup mirrors, and salon-quality hair dryers. Other ships in the fleet are being retrofitted with these features over the next two years.
Westerdam sails European itineraries from various homeports until November, when she repositions to Fort Lauderdale to sail eastern and western Caribbean routes through the winter season.
The previous Westerdam, a dignified vessel that began its life as Home Lines' Homeric (1988), retired from the HAL fleet at the end of the 2002 season and now sails as Costa's CostaEuropa.
MSC Cruises Raises Profile with New Execs, New Ships
MSC Cruises -- née Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, née MSC Italian Cruises -- has announced the hiring of Richard Sasso, former president of Celebrity Cruises, to head its North American division. In short order, Sasso announced the appointment of a whole slate of former Celebrity, Holland America, Renaissance, Silversea, and Royal Olympic execs to fill the company's top spots.
The move is the latest in a string of indications that MSC (800/666-9333; www.msccruises.com) -- the cruise branch of Mediterranean Shipping Company, one of the world's largest container ship operations -- intends to increase its presence in the North American market. Until now, the line has been a minor player here, concentrating mostly on Mediterranean cruises, but this year it will have two vessels in the Caribbean for the winter season: midsize 58,600-ton, 1,590-passenger sister-ships Lirica and Opera, the latter scheduled to launch this June. Two other new MSC vessels are currently on order with France's Alstom Marine shipyards for delivery in 2006 and 2007, and the line also recently won the auction for First European Cruises' European Vision, which it has renamed Armonia. The vessel -- a near-sister to Lirica and Opera, all three having been built by Alstom in the past three years -- will operate 7-night eastern Mediterranean cruises from Venice and Bari, Italy, beginning May 30.
Everybody's a Comedian: "Carnival Comedy Challenge" Seeks New Stars
Some people dream of finding the cure for cancer or climbing Mount Everest, others dream of doing a comedy act on a cruise ship. If you're in the latter category, Carnival's holding a competition for budding comedians, with joke-offs in three southern cities leading to the grand prize: an all-expenses-paid comedy performance slot aboard a Carnival "Fun Ship," including roundtrip transportation.
The "Carnival Comedy Challenge" is the brainchild of Al Ernst, one of the most popular comedians performing aboard Carnival's ships, and is being sponsored by Georgia-based travel agency Abracadabra! Cruises and North Carolina-based Cruise Masters. Ernst, who got his start by winning the guest talent show aboard a Carnival ship, will serve as emcee for the events, which will be held at Charlotte, NC's Comedy Zone club on May 25-26 and at Sarasota, FL's McCurdy's Comedy Theater June 29-30. The first of the challenges was held at Atlanta's Punchline Comedy Club on April 27-28.
Winners will have several opportunities to perform during their prize cruise, including a spot during the line's popular "Midnight Special" comedy show. The winner of the Atlanta event will perform on Inspiration's four-night Caribbean cruise from Tampa Nov. 4, 2004; the Charlotte winner will perform on Celebration's four-night Bahamas voyage from Jacksonville Dec. 9, 2004; and the Sarasota winner will perform on the Imagination's five-night sailing from Miami on Oct. 26, 2004.
For more information, call Carnival at 800/327-9501or go online to www.carnival.com.
See No Whales, Win a Cupie Doll: Cruise West Guarantees Sightings
Small-ship operator Cruise West (800/888/9378, www.cruisewest.com) used to have a great ad that showed two images of a bear, one a tiny black spot in the distance (captioned "their bear"), the other so close-up you could count its whiskers (captioned "our bear"). The line's confidence in its ability to bring guests close to Alaska's wildlife has prompted it to offer a new guarantee on its 8-night Wilderness Waterways Inside Passage cruises: Guests on any sailing that doesn't experience whale sightings will each receive a $250 refund. Double-occupancy rates start at $2,999.
The line's 78-passenger Spirit of Columbia and 84-passenger Spirit of Discovery sail the itinerary roundtrip from Juneau June 7 through August 30, focusing on the northern half of Alaska's 1,000-island Alexander Archipelago. The package (7 nights on the ship, one at a Juneau hotel) highlights the coastline of Admiralty Island National Monument (a tremendous habitat for bears), a visit to the Tlingit village of Kake on Kupreanof Island, whale watching in Frederick Sound, visits to the tiny towns of Elfin Cove or Pelican (pop. 50 or fewer), a stop in historic Sitka, and exploration of the glaciers at Tracy and Endicott arms.Norwegian Goes Golfing in Hawaii
As part of its new Hawaii venture, which already dominates the Hawaii cruise market before it's even been launched, Norwegian Cruise Line (800/327-7030, www.ncl.com) has announced a comprehensive program of golf excursions to some of the islands' best courses.
Beginning with Pride of Aloha's July 4 inaugural voyage, passengers can tee up at Ko`olau on Oahu, Poipu Bay and the Prince Course on Kauai, Mauna Lani Resort and Hapuna Golf Course on the Big Island, and Kapalua and Wailea on Maui. Additionally, Pride of Aloha will feature the cruise industry's first dedicated onboard pro shop, with Callaway clubs and Adidas shoes for rent, NCL Golf Hawaii logo items for purchase (including Callaway apparel and Top-Flite and Callaway balls, gloves, and hats), onboard clinics with local golf pros, three practice nets, and guaranteed tee times at the excursion courses. Fees for golf excursions start at $95 per person, and include transportation.
Pride of Aloha begins year-round inter-island Hawaii cruises July 4, sailing roundtrip from Honolulu.
American West Steamboats & Amtrak Team for Sail-Rail Program
Talk about Americana. Last week, American West Steamboat Company (800/434-1232, www.americanweststeamboat.com), which offers cruises aboard two 19th-century-style sternwheelers, began offering guests 25% off the cost of Amtrak's California-to-Oregon Coast Starlight en route to cruises of the Columbia, Willamette, and Snake Rivers.
Passengers can hop aboard the Coast Starlight at any one of its regular stops between San Diego and Sacramento, booking either one-way or roundtrip passage for the route past snow-covered mountains, dense northwest forests, and long stretches of Pacific shoreline. Cruises aboard the 235-passenger Empress of the North or 163-passenger Queen of the West both depart from Portland, taking in more than 1,000 miles of river cruising, with highlights that include eight locks and dams, a close-up view of 620-foot high Multnomah Falls, an excursion to the Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, a jet-boat ride into Hells Canyon, Lewis & Clark's Fort Clatsop, and excursions to Astoria, Oregon, and Long Beach, Washington.
Seven-night cruise rates aboard Empress of the North start at $1,859 per person, double-occupancy, including a pre-cruise overnight in Portland. Seven-night rates for Queen of the West start at $1,239; when combined with rail travel, an extra pre-cruise overnight in Portland is required at additional cost. Rail fares vary by embarkation point.