Cruise News You Can Use...
Here's the latest from Carnival: (from Alicia Steuart) Good Morning Travel Partners, I wanted to communicate with you as to the status of our Galveston sailings. As I am sure you are aware, both the cities of Galveston and Houston have been tremendously affected by Hurricane Ike. In regards to our cruises, we had to redirect both the Conquest and the Ecstasy to New Orleans as that was the closest port to get our guests safely off the ships and to try and get them back home as soon as possible. Below, I have attached the communication that was provided for our guests letting them know we would assist in helping them get transportation back home via the airlines and car companies OR they could remain on board the ship until we were able to get back to the port of Galveston if that became a viable option quickly. Furthermore, for those of you that had guests booked to sail on either the Conquest 9/14 sailing or the Ecstasy 9/15 sailing, your customers will be getting a full refund. This should take about 3 weeks to process. In regards to the sailings that follow, we will continue to survey the damage & communicate with you and our guests as soon as we learn more. Furthermore, you can continue getting information on www.carnival.com On a personal note, my family along with my Carnival family, Shannon McElroy & Laurie Mason, Business Development Directors in Houston, have been victims of Hurricane Ike as all of Galveston and 99% of Houstonian's are without power and could be for another 1-2 weeks so this truly does hit home! Please keep all of the residents of Galveston & Houston in your thoughts and prayers. United to charge extra for second bags United Airlines announced a big change in its checked baggage policy. Travelers flying on many discounted tickets will be required to pay $25 each way when they check a second bag (a third bag will be an extra $100 each way). Until now, the major domestic U.S. carriers have always allowed two checked bags free of charge. These new fees start May 5. If your clients are elite members of United’s frequent flyer program or if they’re holding certain full-fare tickets, they may not be required to pay the fee. Also, United identified almost two dozen airports in North America where customers checking bags must now arrive at least 45 minutes before departure, not the usual 30 minutes. Just In...... American Airlines will also have a baggage fee. American will charge $15 each way for the first bag and $25 for the second. Who really pays?Passengers with tickets purchased on or after June 15, 2008 for American mainline or American Eagle flights in the U.S., Canada, and territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Who's Exempt?Full fare passengers in first, business, and economy classes and high mileage AAdvantage members with Gold, Platinum, or Executive Platinum status. An Air Industry spokesperson said, "These are our most desperate times since 9/11. Fuel is up 217% since 2000; the price of a ticket is down .5%" Silversea announced its Silver Links golf program for 2008. Texas Cruise Company clients can set up tee times on 35 courses in 16 different destinations during 12 selected cruises aboard the “Silver Shadow” and “Silver Whisper.” On the ships, they can take part in putting contests, personalized instruction, and group clinics led by PGA-certified pros. Some activities are free of charge, while private lessons will require a fee. Carnival gathers more awards Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, raked in a record number of awards during the past year, capping off the final weeks of 2007 with several additional accolades from a variety of esteemed organizations. Readers of Ocean & Cruise News -- the publication of the World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society, an organization comprised of highly experienced cruise enthusiasts -- named Carnival "Best Cruise Value" in the superior four star category for the 14th consecutive year. The line also took home top honors in the "Short Cruise" category.
During the ninth annual Reader's Choice Awards conducted by Travel Weekly magazine, Carnival was named "Best Domestic Cruise Line," while the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit was named "Best Overall Individual Ship." Also, for the third consecutive year, Carnival's business development managerswere recognized for providing the cruise industry's "Best Sales and Service." Carnival also received the prestigious "Best Cruise Line" honor from highly popular Southern Living Magazine, within that publication's 2008 Readers Choice Awards. Carnival's incentive programs were recognized by the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE), receiving one of the organization's "Most Outstanding Travel Reward Program" awards. Among a wide variety of other accolades received throughout the year, Carnival was honored with nine Readers Choice Awards from Porthole magazine, including "Best Children's Program," "Best Entertainment" and "Most Value-for- the-Money." Meanwhile, Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald was named "Sea Going Employee of the Year" by Seatrade Insider. Carnival was also honored by readers of TravelAge West magazine during the magazine's annual WAVE (Western Agents Votes of Excellence) Awards, which named Kirk Neal, Carnival Cruise Lines' business development director for the Sacramento region, "Favorite Individual Cruise Line SalesRepresentative," while Harry's Supper Club aboard the 110,000-ton CarnivalLiberty was named "Best Alternative Dining Facility." Cruise One/Cruises Inc. named Carnival "Most Improved Cruise Line" for its efforts to continue to offer its guests an exciting, value-packed vacation experience and particularly for recent initiatives such as the new $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" ship refurbishment program for its Fantasy-class vessels, currently completed on the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination. Also, Carnival Cruise Lines' parent company, Carnival Corporation was honored at the recent World Travel Awards with the "Leading Cruise Brand" designation for 2008, as voted by travel agents in more than 190 countries around the world. "Carnival strives to exceed guests' expectations in all areas of the cruising experience -- from our relationship with the travel agent community to our onboard services and programs -- and receiving these various recognitions is truly gratifying," said Vicki Freed, Carnival senior vice president of sales and guest services. Carnival Cruise Lines released an updated version of its popular book that teaches passengers how to make those towel animals that cabin stewards typically leave in the evenings. The original book sold more than 100,000 copies. The new “Carnival Towel Creations with Freddy” can be bought for $14.95 in the gift shops aboard Carnival’s 22 ships. Go to www.carnivaltowelpals.com. Carnival Corp. signed a deal with officials in St. Maarten to provide $34.5 million in funding for a new two-berth cruise ship docking facility. After the structure is built, St. Maarten will offer six berths and become one of the Caribbean’s largest cruise ports. The new pier can handle two post-Panamax ships at the same time. Carnival will be given preference in berthing for the first 20 years as part of the deal. The facility should be finished by 2009.
Carnival Cruise Lines “Carnival Splendor” The 3,006-passenger vessel will debut in July 2008. “Firsts” on the ship will include 68 “spa staterooms” arranged around the ship’s 21,000-square-foot health club and spa (the fleet’s largest spa facility), with exclusive spa access and other perks like priority spa appointments and free fitness classes. The spa will also feature Carnival’s first-ever thermal suite and thalassotherapy pool (covered by a glass dome). The ship will also operate Carnival’s first sailings in northern Europe, with 12-day voyages (July 13-Aug. 30, 2008) stopping in Copenhangen, Warnemunde (Berlin), Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and Amsterdam. The ship will then offer one 12-night Med/Greek Isles cruises before shifting to Fort Lauderdale to operate week long eastern Caribbean sailings for the 2008-2009 winter season. Two new Disney Ships Disney Cruise Line issued a statement recently saying it’s signed the contract officially for two new 124,000-ton ships. The new vessels (due in 2011 and 2012) will more than double the cruise line’s capacity, since they’re much larger than Disney’s two current 83,000-ton ships like the “Disney Wonder.”
It’s now official The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will not proceed with plans to consider allowing airline passengers to use cellphones during flights. The current rules requiring cellphones to be turned off when an airplane takes off will remain in place. FCC officials said there’s not enough information yet on how airborne cellphone calls might affect cellular networks on the ground. Did You Know? Fort Lauderdale's Port Evergladesis a major cruise port known for its convention center, dozens of hotels, miles of famous beaches and is close to the airport. The port has 11, count 'em, 11 cruise terminals and plans to open a 12th in 2008. It is quite an impressive sight to look at the terminal from a vantage point in the distance to see all the cruise ships in port. IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR TEXAS DEPARTURES… Carnival is the ONLY CRUISE LINE offering 4 & 5 day cruises our of Galveston so it is that much more important to have Texas Cruise Company block your group space NOW, but also so you can secure better rates in the Summer & Fall on the Carnival Conquest & Ecstasy. BTW: Carnival Ecstasy has undergone a major renovation and it looks fabulous!! PLUS, the Carnival Conquest will be THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN offering 7 day cruises from Texas from the end of August to mid December! Again, this makes it VERY IMPORTANT & VERY WISE to block your group space NOW so that you have an advantage by securing lower rates. Whoops, not so fast there....as of 1/15/2008 Royal Caribbean sent its ship “Voyager of the Seas” to Galveston, Texas, this week. It’s the largest cruise ship that’s ever been based in the Gulf Coast, and it’s the first time a Voyager-class ship has been deployed in Texas. “Voyager of the Seas” will operate seven-night roundtrip sailings through April with three routes: Cozumel/Costa Maya/Yucatan; Roatan/Montego Bay; and George Town/Grand Cayman. The vessel sported a pair of longhorns (140 feet in length) as it arrived in the harbor. Call Texas Cruise Company to get on board this fabulous cruise ship that sails right out of Texas waters. Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed contracts with a French shipyard for two new 4,200-passenger ships (with an option for a third). NCL says the new vessels will be delivered in 2009 and 2010, with the third one coming in 2011 if needed. Those deliveries will give NCL the youngest fleet in the global cruise industry by 2010. Carnival Cruise Lines ....has a new policy banning passengers from bringing non-alcoholic drinks (including bottled water, sodas, and juice) onboard its ships. Passengers who carry specific beverages for medical reasons can present a note from their doctor to be exempted from this rule. Royal Caribbean enforces a similar policy already, and many cruise lines prohibit passengers from carrying their own alcoholic beverages on board as well. Guess what they like to sell you......... Carnival Cruise Lines just finished installing new cell phone services across its 21-ship fleet. Now, your clients can make and receive calls (and send text and multimedia messages) from their cell phones and wireless devices while at sea. The service works with almost any device (international roaming charges apply in most cases). Also, the ships now have numerous WiFi “hotspots” that offer Internet access for passengers’ wireless-equipped laptop computers. Royal Caribbean plans to launch a French cruise line next year. With the name CDF Croisieres de France, the new line will operate the 752-passenger “Holiday Dream” (now part of the Pullmantur fleet) as the “Blue de France.” (This ship began its life as the “Europa” for Hapag-Lloyd.) The vessel will undergo a $42 million renovation before its maiden voyage with the new company next May. The line’s initial itinerary will be the Mediterranean from Marseilles through next spring and summer, switching to the Caribbean (from La Romana, Dominican Republic) for the 2008-2009 winter season. French will be the language used on the ship. Also, Royal Caribbean will send the “Rhapsody of the Seas” Down Under for the 2008-2009 winter season. The ship will offer 14 cruises in Australia, with two trans-Pacific voyages to and from the region that can be sold in segments. These sailings will range from seven to 15 nights. MSC Cruises plans a golf-themed voyage aboard the “MSC Sinfonia” next month. Chuck Cook, a well-known golf academy director who’s rated one of the top 10 golf instructors in the world, will offer seminars and lessons for passengers from the beginning to advanced levels. The ship will offer a golf cage with a putting green and golf simulators. Fares start from $995 ppdo. And it's not even in Texas! A Japanese company has requested a proposal from the Aker shipyards in Finland for a truly enormous vessel – 370,000 tons, or more than half again as large as the planned Royal Caribbean Genesis-class ship that’s in the works. Called “Princess Kaguya,” the ship would offer three independent “hotels” on board serving 8,400 passengers, with the ability to serve another 10,000 people boarding the ship in ports to use its onboard attractions. Other features would include a 65,000-square-foot hall for trade shows and concerts, 55 different restaurants, and a “cruising amusement park.” There’s no word yet on whether Aker will submit a bid on the project, which would be paid for by a Japanese company that builds golf courses. You can take a sneak peek at www.princesskaguya.com. Once again: Texas Cruise Company.com advises: "If you don’t have a passport...get one now and it will make your future travels all that much easier!" There are several changes that the U.S. government will be implementing in the coming months that will impact your cruise clients. Please review the following information and communicate these messages with them. In order for the ship to be able to depart port on time (and for clients to be on board and not waving to the ship from the pier), following these suggested travel tips will ensure an on-time departure for all: Each passenger should submit their full and accurate identification information** to the cruise line as soon as possible but at a minimum prior to arriving at the departure port. Many cruise lines have online check-in available for guests that reduces the time they have to wait for their final boarding documents at the pier. Texas Cruise Company encourages our clients to check-in online or offer to provide passengers’ information to the cruise line with final booking. To avoid last-minute boardings (and possible denial of boarding), ensure your passengers’ travel arrangements leave plenty of time to make it to the ship. Cruise lines outline suggested arrival times at the pier on their Web sites and/or their cruise documents. Encouraging cruise guests to arrive the day or evening before and enjoy the port city is the best recommendation for a stress-free start to their cruise. *Check with the individual cruise line for final boarding times (some are requiring guests to be on board 90 minutes prior to departure to meet this new government requirement). If a passenger does not make it aboard the ship in the allotted hour-before-departure timeframe, they may be denied boarding because their name has not been vetted by U.S. government databases. ** These fields include: Last Name First Name Middle Name (if there is one) Date of birth Gender Nationality Country of Residence ID Type ID Number ID Country ID Expiration Date Destination addressEffective January 31, 2008 - Oral declaration of citizenship will no longer be accepted Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that effective January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, entering the United States through all ports of entry (including land and sea ports) will no longer have the option of orally declaring their citizenship. This previously accepted, but rare, practice of proving citizenship through oral declaration will no longer be sufficient. Cruise passengers must present the appropriate identification or risk being denied boarding. What does the January 31, 2008 discontinuation of the oral citizenship declaration option mean to you? Currently, cruise lines generally require proof of citizenship and a government-issued ID for boarding. This typically means a driver’s license along with proof of citizenship in the form of either a: Passport Original or certified copy of birth certificate Naturalization papers (for U.S. Naturalized citizens) Other forms of Identification recognized by CBP see them at: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/whtibasics.shtm#3 These requirements have been industry standards, but will now be required by regulation and enforced as of January 31, 2008. Cruise passengers on international voyages who do not have proper citizenship and identification documentation will not be allowed to board their cruise after January 31, 2008. Please spread the word and advise everyone of this change. Once again, as of January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, seeking to enter the United States through land and sea ports of entry must present documents proving citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) and government-issued identification (such as a driver’s license). Holland America Line will expand wireless cell phone and PDA access on its 13 ships with the help of a company called SeaMobile Enterprises. Your clients can use their own cell phones and wireless PDAs (any type) on the ships, and the charges show up on their home bills. NEW YORK Since the first great liners crossed the Atlantic, luxury and pampering have been the standard in ocean travel. Cruise ships have evolved with time, but one element of seagoing vacations remains a constant: no matter where in the world their ships may visit, at day’s end guests return to a realm of luxury and service, where chefs prepare gourmet meals and sinful desserts, and attendants continually tidy their cabins, leaving pillow treats. Everyone – from the vessel’s captain to its deck hands – welcomes cruise ship guests with hearty smiles and cheerful greetings of “Good day, Ma’am” and “Welcome aboard, Sir.” This emphasis on personal pampering is the norm aboard the cruise ships of the member lines of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). CLIA’s member cruise lines deliver the highest levels of guest satisfaction 365 days a year, surpassing vacationers’ experiences at almost any land-based resorts. All the while, cruise guests traverse the waters of the world, sailing to 1,800 ports on all seven continents. “There is virtually nowhere on land that vacationers can enjoy the prompt, polite and gracious service that cruisers enjoy everyday for the same cost,” said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, the association for 19 premier cruise lines and nearly 17,000 North American travel agencies (including Texas Cruise Company). “On every type of cruise vacation, from three-day getaways to 100-day world voyages, the high levels of attentiveness and indulgent service delivered aboard CLIA member-line vessels surpass similar amenities at the world’s best land-based resorts.” The secret of the cruise industry’s service success lies in the attitude and training of the staff and crew aboard CLIA member-line ships, said Dale. “Everyone who’s ever been on a cruise knows the service staff has a welcoming, ‘can do’ attitude, with ‘no problem’ being the rule, rather than the exception.” Guests on CLIA-member cruise lines can expect daily maid service, nightly turndown service, multi-course dinners, live entertainment and butler service in suite accommodations, among other pampering touches. Below are but a few line-specific examples: CARNIVAL CRUISE LINESGuests sailing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines can savor the new “George Blanc Signature Selections,” delicious menu items created by the world-renowned, three-star Michelin chef, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep with the new “Carnival Comfort Bed” featuring plush mattresses, duvets and linens and pillows. CELEBRITY CRUISES Express embarkation luggage delivery, welcome champagne, nightly hors d’oeuvres, 24-hour butler service; priority tender service, check-ins and departures, express luggage delivery and dining room seating preferences; and exclusive cocktail invitations are but a few of the luxurious suite amenities guests enjoy on Celebrity Cruises. COSTA CRUISES Costa Cruises’ new Costa Concordia is the first ship to offer exclusive spa cabins. Guests who stay in any of the Samsara Spa’s 55 staterooms and 12 suites receive special amenities that include flat-screen televisions, Elemis bath products, selected spa treatments and a customized consultation. CRYSTAL CRUISES Free of charge, Crystal Cruises’ guests can savor signature dishes of such award-winning, world-class chefs as Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Wolfgang Puck. Penthouse guests can also dine in the comfort and privacy of their suites, served this world-class cuisine course-by-course by their butler. CUNARD LINEGrill accommodations aboard Queen Mary2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 embody Cunard Line’s quintessential White Star Service. Spacious suites and butler service are paired with private single-seating restaurants and exclusive lounges. All guests are treated to the line’s renowned, white-gloved afternoon tea service. DISNEY CRUISE LINE The recently expanded Vista Spa and Salon onboard the Disney Magic offers three brand new “spa villas” that are perfect for couples side-by-side massages. The villas pamper guests with an indoor spa treatment suite that is connected to a private outdoor verandah with personal hot tub, open air shower and luxurious chaise lounge. HOLLAND AMERICA LINE Holland America Line brings the luxuries of its Greenhouse Spa and Salon to staterooms with the “Time to Spa” Elemis Aromapure miniatures. Staterooms also feature Mariner’s Dream Beds with plush mattresses, Egyptian cotton towels, and Suite guests can choose from three types of pillows. MSC CRUISES Guests feel special from the moment they step onboard an MSC Cruises ship, as they receive white-gloved escorts to their staterooms. The pampering continues throughout the cruise, with attentive crew and a variety of luxurious Balinese spa treatments designed to make guests feel like royalty. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE For the ultimate indulgence aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships, two therapists massage guests simultaneously, and in serene silence, performing the Mandara Four-Hands Massage, the line’s signature spa treatment. Mandara Spas, which are available fleetwide, reflect the spirit and traditions of the Balinese people. PRINCESS CRUISES The Sanctuary, an adults-only “pocket of tranquility” on Princess Cruises’ new Crown Princess, offers escapes into a plush, outdoor spa-inspired environment, featuring light meals, massages, and a staff of Serenity Stewards who provide chilled face towels, Evian atomizers and healthy beverages and fare. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISESGuests sailing aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 700-guest, all-balcony suite Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner are welcome to enjoy complimentary fine dining at Le Cordon Bleu-run Signatures specialty restaurants. Cooking classes offered by Le Cordon Bleu chefs are available on selected voyages. SEABOURNE CRUISE LINEGuests sailing aboard The Yachts of Seabourne can luxuriate in Pure Pampering aromatherapy baths by the celebrated Molton Brown, drawn and prepared by their stewardesses with a flourish of rose petals. They also enjoy free Massage Moments and cold towels while on deck. SILVERSEA CRUISES Silversea Cruises’ guests can enjoy complimentary en suite dining on their private verandas with meals served course-by-course by attentive yet unobtrusive waiters. Many dishes hail from the line’s La Collection du Monde, created by Michelin two-star chef Jacques Thorel. WINDSTAR CRUISESWindstar Cruises’ menus feature 100 new items from acclaimed celebrity chef Joachim Splichal of the Patina Group. New onboard amenities include iPod Nanos loaded with 500 songs from 50 different playlists, Bose SoundDock speakers in staterooms and wireless Internet access in public rooms. 
Texas Cruise Company.com recommends that our clients apply for passports now. And, they should allow at least 12 weeks (if not longer) to receive the actual passports. New Rules in effect now New cruise boarding rules in effect as of Feb. 18. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) advises that, starting that date, passengers must board at U.S. ports at least one hour prior to the ship’s scheduled departure. CLIA also recommends that our clients use any online check-in systems offered by cruise lines to submit their information as soon as possible before arriving at the departure port. Another good idea is booking clients into the departure port the night before the sailing date, to avoid any problems with flight delays on the date of departure. If passengers fail to make it to the ship by the hour-before-departure deadline, they may be denied boarding without any refund of their cruise payments. Note that companies like Royal Caribbean will ask clients to arrive even earlier for check-ins. And why not get onboard early? Enjoy yourself at their expense andhave a leisurly lunch on RCI or any other cruise line. They don't mind and it just extends your vacation. For Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara sailings, clients must complete their online check-ins no later than three days prior to the cruise departure. If they don’t, they will be required to complete the process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. If passengers are not checked in and onboard the ship at least 90 minutes prior to that time, they will not be permitted to sail. Texas Cruise Company clients can go to each brand’s Web site to do their own check-ins: www.royalcaribbean.com/onlinecheckin, www.celebritycruises.com/onlinecheckin, and www.azamaracruises.com/onlinecheckin. Another reminder: Starting Jan. 31, clients can no longer orally declare their citizenship to customs officials. Instead, they must carry proof of citizenship – such as a passport, a birth certificate, or naturalization papers – and a government-issued ID such as a drivers license. Continental Airlines will no longer accept checked luggage weighing more than 70 pounds per passenger. Continental says the change brings its baggage limits in line with its international airline partners, making it easier for passengers to make tight connections with their checked bags following them. Continental is the first major U.S. airline to adopt the 70-pound limit (whereas most other U.S.-based carriers simply charge excess baggage fees above 70 pounds). 1,000 hybrid cars Hertz announced it will add 1,000 Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid cars at 50 different airport locations in the U.S.A. (plus its downtown Manhattan locations) this month. Avis also plans to add 1,000 Prius hybrids by the end of June, mostly in California. For full details about Hertz’s news, check www.hertz.com. Condos and Penthouses Are in Demand On Magellan Although the rest of the country may be feeling the housing slump, condo and penthouse sales onboard the $750,000,000 private residential cruise ship, The Magellan, have been so brisk a new sales center has been opened to deal with demand. Residential Cruise Line, Ltd., the parent company of The Magellan, has opened a 5500 square foot sales office and added more than 10 new sales representatives in less than a month. The Residential Cruise Line Sales Center is headquartered at 4145 E. Baseline in Gilbert just adjacent from the parent company's corporate headquarters. The new sales center features 24 private offices and can accommodate up to 30 sales representatives. Various recruiting firms and in-house sales team recruiter has been hired to fill the remaining sales force positions. "With our sales exceeding expectations, it became evident for the need to staff up our sales team in order to better accommodate our potential new owners," said Randall B. Jackson, president and CEO of Residential Cruise Line, Ltd. "Rapid customer responsiveness is one of our hallmarks. We want to make sure that our owners have a stellar customer service experience from their initial point of contact to when we hand them the keys to their new condo or penthouse on board The Magellan. Additional sales staff will insure we stay true to our hallmark." The most luxurious private residential cruise ship ever conceived, The Magellan features the amenities and services of the world's finest resorts. On-call housekeeping staff, a world-class spa and marketplace, a 24-hour concierge staff, indoor and outdoor pools, four fine dining restaurants, a 450-seat theatre featuring Broadway-quality entertainment, a casino worthy of Monte Carlo are just a few of the features that make owning a home on board The Magellan a unique experience. Private residences on The Magellan range in price from $1.875 million to $8 million for penthouses and from $156,250 for fractional ownership condos. For more information about ship specifics and fractional ownership opportunities, contact Texas Cruise Company and we'll put you right in contact with these folks. Federal aviation security officials say they have modified a new airport screening machine so that it does not display passengers’ intimate body parts during tests that started in January 2007. The change in procedures comes as critics complained that the new “backscatter” X-ray machines would violate passenger privacy. Now, they’ll be set to show only black-and-white outlines of each traveler, not a fully shaded and detailed picture. However, security experts now say the less detailed displays will not be as effective as the full scans in finding plastic explosives and other difficult-to-detect weapons. The new machines were to be tested first at the Phoenix airport. Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled its sailing plans for Europe next year, with 45 different cruises and new ports of call (including Falmouth [England], Cartagena and Valencia [Spain], Golfe de Porto [Corsica], Koper [Slovenia], Korcula [Croatia], Kotor [Montenegro], and Kos [Greece]). During this coming winter, both ships on these routes -- the “Seven Seas Navigator” and the “Seven Seas Voyager” -- will undergo multi-million-dollar refurbishings. Also starting next year will be the new Regent Seven Seas policy of free wine and spirits on every sailing. Regent’s 2007 European season starts April 16 and runs through early November, with fares from $4,157 ppdo (with cruise lengths from seven to 19 nights). Despite the new $50 per-person tax on Alaska cruisers next year, Holland America Line plans to base eight ships there in 2007. The list includes three Vista-class vessels -- the “Noordam,” “Oosterdam,” and “Zuiderdam” -- along with the “Amsterdam,” “Ryndam,” “Statendam,” “Volendam,” and “Zaandam.” Cruise-only fares start from $849 ppdo for Inside Passage cruises. Carnival Cruise Lines will send its 2,974-passenger ship “Carnival Freedom” to Europe again in 2008. Booking levels for the ship’s inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles region next year prompted the decision. The “Carnival Freedom” will run two 12-day itineraries in 2008 -- the “Grand Mediterranean” and the “Mediterranean & Greek Isles” -- between May 10 and Oct. 25 (with fares from $1,199 ppdo). The vessel will debut in Europe next March with 22 lounges and bars, four pools, full wireless Internet access and cell phone service, among other amenities. Carnival Corp. ordered a new 2,260-passenger ship for Costa Cruises that had been on option. The vessel will be built in an Italian shipyard at a cost of about $558 million for delivery in March 2010. (It will be a sister ship to the Costa vessel that’s due to arrive in the spring of 2009.) That makes four new ships for Costa on order at this time, giving Costa 15 vessels overall when they are delivered and reflecting the growing demand for cruises in Europe. About seven in 10 cabins aboard the new Costa ship will have verandas (the highest percentage in Costa’s fleet). Meanwhile, Carnival Corp. also extended its option to buy a new 2,044-passenger ship for Holland America Line in the company’s Signature class. MSC Cruises announced that it will build a fourth Musica-class Panamax ship at the Aker shipyard in France. The 2,500-passenger, $547 million “MSC Magnifica” will debut in 2010, giving the cruise line a dozen vessels at that point. MSC Cruises has introduced one new ship every year since 2003, making it the fastest growing cruise line in the world. Norwegian Cruise Line will be the first cruise line in the world to offer Nintendo’s wildly popular Wii interactive gaming system onboard its ships. Right now, Wii setups are available for cruisers on the “Norwegian Pearl” and NCL’s three “Pride” ships, but every NCL ship will have its own Wii systems by the end of April. Wii features traditional video games with a wireless joystick that allows players to simulate the actual motions of playing the game (e.g., if you hold the joystick in your hand and pretend to roll a bowling ball, you’ll see the bowling ball move on the screen in front of you). You’ll find the systems in the ship’s atriums and Kids Crew centers. Silversea Cruisesis promoting its “Silver Links” golf programs this year in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. During 15 different sailings aboard the “Silver Shadow” and “Silver Whisper” this year, your clients can play at almost four dozen different courses and take part in free onboard classes with PGA golf pros (plus computerized golf swing analyses at $30 each). These cruises will also feature golf-themed shore excursions. Your clients can rent clubs via Silversea if they don’t want to pack their own clubs. BTW-Texas Cruise Company.com loves to book golf cruises! Princess Cruises will send six different ships to Europe next year, operating 32 separate itineraries (with 87 departures) from seven to 23 days. The 2008 schedule includes five new itineraries, and two ships – the “Crown Princess” and the “Pacific Princess” – will mark their European debuts. Also, Princess has added eight new ports for its 2008 European sailings, ranging from Dartmouth and Scrabster in the United Kingdom to the Dutch island of Bornholm. Princess will offer an updated “Europe 2008” online course for agents starting next week as part of its Princess Academy program. Disney Announces Expansion of Successful Cruise BusinessTwo New Ships will More than Double Passenger Capacity The Walt Disney Company plans to expand its successful cruise business by adding two new ocean liners, President and CEO Bob Iger announced today. Scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, the ships will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line® to meet the sustained demand for Disney's family cruise vacations. The new 122,000-ton cruise liners will be two decks taller than the existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic® and the Disney Wonder®. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms. Specific design plans and itineraries for the yet-unnamed ships are still in development and will be unveiled at a later date. Call Texas Cruise Company.com for your great Disney Cruise! Norwegian Cruise Line will spend several million dollars to renovate the Kilohana Plantation on Kauai so that it can begin offering a new luau and dinner show as an optional shore excursion for its Hawaii passengers. Right now, NCL offers this excursion at the Maui Prince Hotel, but it plans to move the luau to Kauai next spring because Kauai has fewer evening entertainment options than Maui. The renovations will include upgrades to the plantation’s carriage house and a 15,000-square-foot pavilion that can hold a thousand guests. The evening shows (three times weekly) will eventually be open to the general public as well. Holland America Line will name its newest ship the “Eurodam.” The 2,044-passenger vessel (the largest ship in Holland America’s history and the first ship in its new Signature class) will be delivered in the summer of 2008. Among other improvements, it will boast a top-deck “Pan-Asian” restaurant, an Italian restaurant, an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a larger show lounge with theater-style seating, and a newly designed atrium. The “Eurodam” will also introduce a new stateroom design for Holland America, with 10 cabins offering ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall panoramic windows. Eighty-six percent of the cabins will be outside, with 67 percent of those offering balconies. Like other Holland America vessels, this ship will also include a Pinnacle Grill, a Culinary Arts Center, a Greenhouse Spa and Salon, a large fitness center, and a teens-only Loft. Holland America holds an option to buy another Eurodam-style ship for delivery in 2010. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer more than six dozen different shore excursions in Alaska next year -- everything from snorkeling in Sitka Sound to traditional glacier treks and whale watching. Questions- Give us a call 1-325-835-7561 |