News from the world of cruising ~
January 1-15, 2002
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Miami - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has launched its fourth annual "Sale of All Sails" through March 1, 2002. This year, the sale consists of a two category upgrade on every ship and every itinerary. In addition, several bonuses are offered, on select sailings only, to include savings of 50 percent or more, four category upgrades, and shipboard credit of up to $50 per stateroom.
Sample Sale of All Sails cruise-only fares begin at:
· $279 PP 3-7 days Caribbean
· $499 PP 7-days Caribbean
· $749 PP 7-days Bermuda
· $749 PP 7-days Alaska
· $999 PP 7-days Hawaii
· $1599 PP 7-days South America
· $1599 PP 7-days Exotic
"With our exciting new ships purpose built for Freestyle Cruising and new itineraries, this year's 'Sale of All Sails' is certain to entice a broad range of people to experience Norwegian Cruise Line," said Andy Stuart, senior vice president, marketing and sales, of NCL. "In addition to the great promotions offered through "Sale of All Sales", passengers also benefit by not having to travel far to cruise on NCL, now that we offer regularly scheduled round trip seven night cruises from more US and Canadian ports than any other cruise line."
To take advantage of the "Sale of All Sail," cruisers should contact their travel agent and book before March 1, 2002.
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and industry innovator that currently operates a fleet of eight ships sailing to more than 140 ports around the world. NCL is currently building a 2,200-passenger ship, Norwegian Dawn, scheduled for delivery in December, 2002.
For more information on NCL, contact a travel agent of NCL in the U. S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; in Miami-Dade County, Florida, (305) 436-0866; visit NCL's web site at www.ncl.com
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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES BREAKS ONE-DAY RESERVATIONS RECORD; EXPANDS CALL CENTER HOURS TO 24/7
MIAMI (1/15/02) - Carnival Cruise Lines experienced a record reservations day yesterday, Monday, January 14, booking 28,061 individual guests. Also, based on current wave period phone volume, the company will keep its reservations department open 24 hours a day, seven days a week indefinitely, effective Thursday, January 17. The new one-day reservations record eclipses the previous record set January 22, 2001, when the company booked 27,389 individual guests. The number of calls answered in the company's individual reservations department on Monday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. totaled 42,486.
"We saw indicators last week that we were moving into a solid booking wave and the reservations activity so far this week further supports that view," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. "The heightened reservations volume we're experiencing at this time is encouraging and has prompted us to convert to a 24/7 operations schedule in our Miami and Colorado Springs call centers," he added. Dickinson further stated that attractive pricing and cabin availability are creating an enticing draw for consumers.
Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation, is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world with 16 "Fun Ships" operating voyages from two to 17 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, New England, Panama Canal, Bermuda, eastern Canada and Europe. The company has five new ships at an estimated value of $2.2 billion scheduled for delivery over the next three years. Carnival is the leader in the contemporary market of the cruise industry.
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Walmart.com to Feature Special Cruise Vacations
From the World's Leading Cruise Lines
Customers guaranteed lowest fares
BRISBANE, Calif, Jan 15, 2002 - Travelers shopping for an adventurous, romantic or relaxing vacation at guaranteed lowest fares on any of the World's Leading Cruise Lines can visit Walmart.com and start packing their bags.
Walmart.com, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator, have entered into an exclusive marketing and sales agreement to provide dream cruises at every day low pricesprices so low, in fact, that customers will be refunded the difference if they find a better deal on an identical cruise vacation within 14 days of booking. Carnival Corporation owns all six of the cruise companies that compose the World's Leading Cruise Lines' membership.
Customers can now choose from extraordinary specials on the World's Leading Cruise LinesCarnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, The Yachts of Seabourn, and Windstar Cruisesby logging onto Walmart.com. There, they'll see specials ranging from a three-day Bahamas getaway for $247 to a seven-day Mediterranean romance package for $3,749. They can book the package by calling 1-800-288-6030. In addition to advertised specials on Walmart.com, customers have a world of choices with any ship, itinerary and departure date offered by the six cruise lines by calling the toll-free number.
Carnival, Holland America, Windstar, Costa, Cunard and Seabourn are providing the extraordinary cruise specials, many of which feature promotional pricing, discounts and value-added features like cabin upgrades. Wal-Mart Vacations, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, is lending its travel-service experience and resources to the agreement. Wal-Mart Vacations operates travel agencies in six states.
"The world's leading retailer is teaming up with the World's Leading Cruise Lines to provide every day low prices on hundreds of dream cruise vacations," said Duane Futch, director of global travel services for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "These vacation packages are delivering the quality and savings that Wal-Mart and Walmart.com customers have come to expect. There are no membership fees, service charges or hidden costsjust great value for our customers."
"Carnival, Holland America, Windstar, Costa, Cunard, and Seabourn are the leaders in cruising," said Jack Anderson, executive director for the World's Leading Cruise Lines. "We are very excited to be the exclusive cruise vacation partners for Walmart.com. Our organizations share a commitment to quality, value, innovation and customer service. As the cruise industry continues its rapid expansion, one of our biggest challenges has been to develop the retail support needed to market and sell these fantastic vacations. This new relationship provides us with the ability to put our wide range of vacation products in front of millions of potential new customers with a company that has a proven track record in the retail sales arena."
"Through Walmart.com, millions of new customers will be able to take advantage of great values provided by Wal-Mart Vacations and the World's Leading Cruise Lines," said Futch. "Just as we are lowering the cost of living through our stores, clubs and online services, we are making it more affordable for all Americans to enjoy excellent vacations."
Each member of the World's Leading Cruise Lines excels in a particular style of cruise vacationing: the contemporary sparkle of a Carnival "Fun Ship," the five-star sophistication of Holland America Line, the classic British tradition of Cunard Line, indulgent intimacy and luxury with the Yachts of Seabourn, the casual elegance of Windstar Cruises, and the Italian charm of Costa Cruisesindividual styles, individual ships, sailing with a shared passion to please each guest. The six leading cruise lines offer all of the best: 458 destinations, 87 countries, and seven continents.
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CLASSICAL, JAZZ, BLUES & BIG BAND SOUNDS ACCOMPANY GUESTS ON CRYSTAL CRUISES' 2002 MUSIC THEME CRUISES
Luxury Line Offers Five Musical Voyages in Alaska, the Mexican Riviera,
Panama Canal and Across the Atlantic
LOS ANGELES, 1/14/02 - As part of its onboard enrichment programming, luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises has set five musically-themed cruises in four different destinations from April through October 2002. An impressive roster of entertainers and music professionals aboard both Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony will perform a variety of inspired musical styles, including classical, jazz and blues, Big Band and '70s pop. Guest speakers and screenings of relevant films and documentaries will complement the live performances.
Classical Music
- Panama Canal, Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale, April 27-May 13; 16 days Soloists and Chamber Orchestras from The Juilliard School of Music will offer full evening concerts, matinee recitals, and tea-time performances. Cruise fares begin at $2,975 per person, double occupancy. (Crystal Symphony)
- Alaska, round-trip San Francisco, Sept. 2-14; 12 days Philharmonia Virtuosi, the resident Classical Music Orchestra of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art will perform works conducted by Musical Director and Conductor Richard Kapp. Kapp will also give a series of lectures on the history of classical music. As an added bonus for theater and television aficionados, multi-award winning producer, director and choreographer Kevin Carlisle will be on board to share his production experience of more than 500 television series, specials and stage productions. Cruise fares begin at $4,455 per person, double occupancy. (Crystal Harmony)
Jazz & Blues
- Panama Canal, Acapulco to New Orleans, Oct. 16-27; 11 days Tom Hook and the Terrier Brothers will perform concerts and dance sets of jazz and the blues while Crystal Harmony cruises to New Orleans, considered by many to be the birthplace of jazz. Vocalist and pianist Yve Evans will also perform her stylized one-woman shows. Each evening, Crystal Harmony's striking Club 2100 nightclub will be transformed into a sizzling jazz venue. Jazz-related films and documentaries, and guest speakers will explore the fascinating roots of this indigenous music. Cruise fares begin at $2,820 per person, double occupancy. (Crystal Harmony)
Big Band
- Trans-Atlantic crossing, Ft. Lauderdale to London, May 13-22; 9 days One of the line's most popular theme cruises, Crystal's "Big Band" voyages bring aboard acclaimed favorites. This sailing will feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, whose Big Band sounds will inspire guests to swing into the evening with nightly dance sets, matinee concerts and tea dances. Big Band vocalist Beryl Davis, who toured with the original Glenn Miller Orchestra and the era's other 'greats' such as Django Reinhardt and Les Brown, will also be aboard. Cruise fares begin at $2,310 per person, double occupancy.
(Crystal Symphony)
"The '70s"
- Mexican Riviera, San Francisco to Acapulco, Oct. 8-16; 8 days A top to-be-announced '70s-era artist or group will get revelers into the groove with the decade's top dance hits. For one entire disco-balled evening, Crystal Harmony's main show lounge will be transformed into "Studio 54." Cruise fares begin at $1,995 per person, double occupancy. (Crystal Harmony)
Each at 50,000 tons and carrying only 940 guests, Crystal Cruises' luxury ships are among the most spacious and luxurious sailing vessels in the world. Their unique size in the luxury market allows for smooth sailing and a wide range of innovative facilities, generous amenities and elegant accommodations. In addition to a full-service fitness center and lavish spa, paddle tennis court, golf driving range and putting green with Callaway equipment, the Six-star rated line features grand lounges, 24-hour Internet and e-mail access with Computer , Caesars Palace at Sea casino, expansive decks, two pools, award-winning cuisine and entertainment and exquisitely appointed staterooms, more than half of which offer private verandahs. For an unprecedented sixth consecutive year, Crystal Cruises was named best large-ship cruise line in the 2001 readers' surveys conducted by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines. Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through professional travel agents. For a complimentary brochure, call 800.820.6663. Visit the luxury cruise line's web site at www.crystalcruises.com.
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Royal Caribbean Intl Announces New Benefits For Loyal Guests
Miami, Jan 14, 2002 - Whether they have taken a single cruise or enjoyed more than 100, guests of Royal Caribbean International are now eligible for greatly enhanced benefits as members of the Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program.
The cruise line has redesigned the program and boosted perks for its loyal and valued customers. There are now three levels - Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Silver level members from the previous program are automatically upgraded to the Gold level. Guests are eligible for Gold membership in the Crown & Anchor Society after one cruise. Gold members are elevated to Platinum membership after their fifth cruise. Platinum members advance to Diamond membership after their 10th cruise. Guests can enroll at the Crown & Anchor Society site at www.royalcaribbean.com, by calling the Crown & Anchor desk at 800-526-9723 or onboard at the Loyalty Ambassador or Guest Relations desk.
"Our loyal guests not only enjoy their vacations with us, but are some of the strongest promoters of the Royal Caribbean brand," said Barbara Shrut, vice president of Customer Loyalty. "We have created new benefits that give our Crown and Anchor members what they told us they wanted most - recognition. We make them feel special."
A new "Ultimate Value Booklet," delivered to the stateroom, provides guests with onboard offers and discounts for spa services, casino, bingo, wine tasting and much more. New benefits for Platinum and Diamond members include special rates on balcony staterooms and suites; priority check-in, a private departure lounge; and the waiving of the administrative fee for custom-air requests. Diamond members also receive priority wait listing for sold-out shore excursions, spa services and dining room seating; as well as concierge services on Voyager-class and Radiance-class vessels.
Crown and Anchor members are invited to a Welcome Back party on sailings of seven nights and longer and are eligible for member cruises, sweepstakes, and special shoreside events.
The enhanced program was launched on January 1, 2002, and a newly created onboard employee, Loyalty Ambassador, was introduced. The ambassador will be available on every cruise to ensure loyal guests receive their special benefits and recognition, and have the best vacation possible. Details on the enhanced program can be found on the Crown & Anchor section of the CruiseDiva.com website.
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Carnival Corporation Response to P&O Princess Circular
LONDON, Jan 14 - Carnival today issued a statement to P&O Princess Shareholders in order to clarify certain points raised by P&O Princess in its announcement, dated 10 January 2002, of the posting of its circular to shareholders.
* Carnival finds it astonishing that the board of P&O Princess can assert that Carnival's Offer is clearly not "as favorable financially as the proposed combination with Royal Caribbean." Carnival's Offer of 450 pence per P&O Princess Share is financially superior to, and as deliverable as, the Royal Caribbean Proposal, and represents a 31 per cent. premium to the look through value of 343 pence per P&O Princess Share.
* Carnival believes that there remains significant uncertainty and misunderstanding regarding the exit and termination provisions of the Joint Venture agreement which, based on the analysis in our announcement of 8 January 2002, could result in a cost of up to $484 million, prior to the impact of any financial guarantee(s). Carnival believes that should it receive acceptable clarification of these critical issues, it will be better able to provide P&O Princess Shareholders with both additional value and reduced conditionality in any revised offer.
* P&O Princess continues to state that a merger of the number two and three cruise operators has more chance of regulatory approval than a merger of the number one and three operators. This statement is unsupportable and disingenuous. P&O Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival have all publicly stated that the appropriate market in which to evaluate the competitive effects of either transaction is the wider vacation market. Carnival has been advised that in that market, as in the narrower cruise market, both proposals are similarly situated and raise the same antitrust issues.
* Carnival has consistently advocated that it is in the best interests of P&O Princess Shareholders for the two proposals to run side by side until the antitrust review process for both has been completed. Whilst the board of P&O Princess is unwilling to adjourn the EGM, an adjournment can still be achieved if P&O Princess Shareholders propose and vote for such an adjournment at the EGM on 14 February 2002. Carnival has been advised that this course of action will not enable Royal Caribbean to walk away from the proposed DLC combination.
* Carnival encourages P&O Princess Shareholders to demand definitive clarification from its board on the arrangements with Royal Caribbean, particularly with regard to the Joint Venture agreement. P&O Princess Shareholders will be best served by proposing and passing a resolution to adjourn the EGM until after the outcome of the regulatory process for both proposals is known.
Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival, commented, "We still cannot understand why, if their proposal is so attractive, they needed to protect it with such unprecedented poison pills. Given the continuing intransigence of the board of P&O Princess, it is up to shareholders to demand definitive clarification of the arrangements with Royal Caribbean, to enable Carnival to improve its already superior offer.
"Our offer is already at a 31 per cent premium to the Royal Caribbean proposal, but we believe that P&O Princess shareholders should have the choice of running both proposals side by side until after the regulatory process is complete. Shareholders can ensure that this happens by adjourning the EGM on 14 February 2002, and we strongly encourage them to do so. Shareholders have everything to gain and nothing to lose by adjourning the EGM."
This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this announcement.
Carnival Corporation Response to P&O Princess Circular
Introduction Carnival has completed its review of the P&O Princess announcement, dated 10 January 2002, of the posting of its circular to shareholders (the "Shareholder Circular") and believes that a number of the points raised require either clarification or correction.
In publicly responding to these issues below, Carnival hopes that the P&O Princess board will, in the interests of its shareholders, abandon its current refusal to speak with Carnival, in order that a sufficiently clear understanding of the poison pill arrangements entered into with Royal Caribbean can be obtained. This would then allow Carnival to decide whether to make an improved, and less conditional, proposal to P&O Princess Shareholders.
Carnival and its advisors consider the P&O Princess board's refusal to meet with Carnival as nothing less than a deliberate attempt to prevent its shareholders, the owners of the company, from receiving a further enhanced proposal from Carnival, and urges shareholders to lobby the board to meet with Carnival as a matter of urgency.
Carnival believes that the 18 January 2002 "deadline" is wholly artificial and that forcing P&O Princess Shareholders to make a decision at the EGM on 14 February 2002, before antitrust authorities have completed their review of each proposal, is clearly not in the best interests of P&O Princess Shareholders.
Commercial Joint Venture or Poison Pill? When P&O Princess announced the Royal Caribbean Proposal on 20 November 2001, the Joint Venture was presented as a purely commercial venture, although no credible reason has ever been advanced by either party as to why a Joint Venture was needed, given that the companies are proposing to combine. By contrast, in its "clarifying" Shareholder Circular, P&O Princess has belatedly admitted that the Joint Venture agreement, with its extraordinary penalties, was necessary in order to obtain Royal Caribbean's commitment to the proposed transaction.
This admission confirms that the Joint Venture was put in place solely to prevent any other party from offering an alternative proposal to P&O Princess Shareholders and to push shareholders into approving the Royal Caribbean Proposal without being able to consider any alternative proposal on a level playing field. Despite the Joint Venture being an integral part of the Royal Caribbean Proposal, P&O Princess Shareholders were denied the opportunity to vote on its implementation. These arrangements were clearly designed to thwart a Carnival proposal.
Carnival believes that there remains significant uncertainty and misunderstanding regarding the exit and termination provisions of the Joint Venture agreement which, based on the analysis in our announcement of 8 January 2002, could result in a cost of up to $484 million, prior to the impact of any financial guarantee(s). In response to Carnival's letter of 6 January 2002, P&O Princess issued its Shareholder Circular purporting to clarify certain elements of the Joint Venture. Regrettably, in two critical areas, the board of P&O Princess has failed to provide definitive clarification in any of its public documents, despite being asked specifically to do so in our letter of 6 January 2002.
1) The board of P&O Princess has stated that the Joint Venture poison pill arrangements can "unilaterally" be eliminated if P&O Princess fails to meet the January or April 2003 benchmark commercial targets. However, key questions remain:
* Can the board of P&O Princess confirm that it can deliberately ensure that these benchmark commercial targets are not achieved?
* If P&O Princess deliberately tries to ensure that the January or April benchmark commercial targets are not achieved, does Royal Caribbean have any legal redress under New York law, or otherwise?
* What is Royal Caribbean's position on these points?
* What are the full details of the January and April benchmark commercial targets, as contained in the undisclosed Initial Business Plan, and how easy or difficult are they to achieve?
2) If the put or call mechanisms are exercised following a change of control of P&O Princess, is there any ongoing obligation for P&O Princess to finance the Joint Venture company or guarantee its then existing or future debt? Is there an upper limit to any such commitment?
Carnival believes that should it receive acceptable clarification of these critical issues, it will be better able to improve its already superior Offer by providing P&O Princess Shareholders with both additional value and reduced conditionality.
It is therefore clearly in P&O Princess Shareholders' interests that P&O Princess provides a full response to these questions, so that P&O Princess Shareholders can then decide what action to take on 14 February 2002, from a position of detailed, full and not misleading information.
Carnival's Offer Compared to the Royal Caribbean Proposal
Carnival continues to believe that its Offer is superior to the Royal Caribbean Proposal and that the proposed transaction with Royal Caribbean is, by comparison, financially disadvantageous for P&O Princess Shareholders.
Carnival's Superior Value Proposition Carnival believes that its Offer is already a financially superior proposal to the nil-premium Royal Caribbean Proposal. Yet, despite having repeatedly confirmed its willingness to increase its Offer further still, the board of P&O Princess refuses to meet with Carnival to facilitate such a proposal.
Carnival's Offer currently values P&O Princess at 450 pence per share and represents:
* a 42 per cent premium to the P&O Princess Share price immediately before the announcement of the "nil-premium" Royal Caribbean Proposal;
* a 22 per cent premium to the P&O Princess Share price immediately after the announcement of the "nil-premium" Royal Caribbean Proposal; and
* a 31 per cent premium to the look through P&O Princess Share price of 343 pence implied by the "nil-premium" Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Carnival's Offer contains a significant element of certain value in that it offers 200 pence in cash per P&O Princess Share and provides the flexibility of the Mix and Match Election.
The Shareholder Circular suggests that P&O Princess Shareholders should be grateful that, under the Royal Caribbean Proposal, the board of P&O Princess was able to strike a deal whereby they received 50.7 per cent of the combined group, given that under an analysis of historic market capitalization P&O Princess Shareholders would only have been entitled to 44.2 per cent.
Carnival firmly disagrees with this assertion and believes that P&O Princess Shareholders will be far more concerned with the future earnings contribution of each party, as this is clearly the most relevant valuation metric in a nil-premium merger. Analysts' average forecasts for future net income contribution demonstrate that P&O Princess Shareholders should be entitled, under the Royal Caribbean Proposal, to at least 59.2 per cent of the combined group, and not the 50.7 per cent which their board seems only too happy to have accepted.
In its Shareholder Circular, the board of P&O Princess highlights the positive reaction of the P&O Princess Share price following announcement of the Royal Caribbean Proposal. Carnival accepts that this initial rise was in part due to the market's assessment of the expected value created by the Royal Caribbean Proposal, but believes that it was substantially driven by expectations that Carnival would make a premium counter offer for P&O Princess. Subsequently, on announcement of Carnival's Offer, the P&O Princess Share price rose even further, clearly demonstrating the market's view that Carnival's generous Offer is superior in value to the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Accordingly, Carnival finds it astonishing that the board of P&O Princess can assert that Carnival's Offer is not "as favorable financially as the proposed combination with Royal Caribbean."
Carnival Is a Stronger Financial Partner Carnival's board also believes that Carnival is a stronger financial partner for P&O Princess. Royal Caribbean has a significantly higher gearing level than Carnival, and this is reflected in its sub-investment grade credit rating, which is in marked contrast to Carnival's investment grade "A" credit rating.
Both Royal Caribbean and P&O Princess have made significant capital commitments, and given the uncertain times, prudent management practice dictates that a strong and flexible capital structure should be maintained. Instead, P&O Princess' credit rating has already been downgraded in anticipation of its merger with Royal Caribbean, whilst, as part of the Royal Caribbean Proposal, P&O Princess will be required to remove existing provisions in its Articles of Association which were designed to protect P&O Princess against an over leveraged capital structure.
It is indisputable that Carnival has significantly greater balance sheet strength and flexibility than Royal Caribbean and is therefore a demonstrably stronger financial partner for P&O Princess.
Ongoing Participation P&O Princess has again stated that it believes that P&O Princess Shareholders may wish to continue to own a share listed in the UK and included in the FTSE indices. As the board of P&O Princess knows only too well, it is not possible for Carnival to offer P&O Princess Shareholders a DLC structure, in order to address this perceived issue, on a unilateral basis. If P&O Princess genuinely believes that this is an important consideration for its shareholders, and if the board of P&O Princess were serious in evaluating both proposals on an even-handed basis, it can only be in the best interests of P&O Princess Shareholders for their board to meet with Carnival as soon as possible to explore such alternatives. Carnival has repeatedly offered to discuss such alternative structures with P&O Princess but has been consistently rebuffed.
Deliverability Carnival continues to believe, as set out below, that its Offer is at least as deliverable as the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Regulatory Risk P&O Princess has questioned the deliverability of Carnival's Offer due to the regulatory clearances it requires. In its Shareholder Circular, P&O Princess claims that the Royal Caribbean Proposal bears less regulatory risk than Carnival's Offer. Carnival firmly believes, and has been so advised, that there is no material difference between the regulatory clearances attaching to its Offer and that of the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
P&O Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival have all publicly stated that the appropriate market in which to evaluate the competitive effects of either transaction is the wider vacation market. As cruising represents less than five per cent. of the overall leisure travel market in the US and Europe, it must follow, and Carnival has been so advised, that both Carnival's Offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal face the same antitrust issues. Similarly, in a narrower cruise market, the positions of Carnival/P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean/P&O Princess are sufficiently similar that both transactions will face the same antitrust issues.
Carnival believes that P&O Princess' statement that a combination of the number one and the number three cruise operator must bear more risk than a combination of the number two and number three cruise operator is irrelevant and incorrect. Carnival has been advised that on this issue, Heinz/Beechnut is the most relevant decision of the US Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and disproves this assertion as, in this case, both the FTC and the US courts rejected the arguments being advanced by P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean.
Both the Carnival Offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal are now under review at the FTC at the same time, on the same schedule and by the same lawyers and economists, who will apply the same legal standards and analysis to both proposals based on the same information. Richard Fain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean, has acknowledged that the FTC review of Royal Caribbean/P&O Princess will probably take between four and six months. Carnival has also been advised that there will be no adverse impact on the regulatory outcome as a result of the two proposals being reviewed simultaneously.
Carnival has already commenced substantive discussions with the European Commission. Based on the aforementioned market definition, Carnival's advisors consider that the Offer is unlikely to raise regulatory difficulties in the European Union.
Carnival believes that P&O Princess' claim that the Royal Caribbean proposal faces less risk is both unsupportable and disingenuous. Rather than having effectively to choose between the two proposals at this premature stage, Carnival continues to believe that it is in the best interests of P&O Princess Shareholders to be able to judge the two proposals side by side, once the regulatory review of both proposals has been completed.
Carnival's Commitment to Acquire P&O Princess Carnival completely refutes the claims of P&O Princess that it is not a serious offeror and is merely trying to "spoil" the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Carnival has had a number of discussions over several years regarding a potential combination of the two groups. When Howard Frank, Carnival's Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, spoke with Peter Ratcliffe, Chief Executive Officer of P&O Princess, on 24 September 2001 to discuss a potential combination, the conversation was at a sufficient level of detail to include not only a discussion of the commercial rationale for such a deal, but also the future management roles for members of the P&O Princess board.
P&O Princess must explain why, if Carnival's approach were deemed to be nothing more than a "brief telephone inquiry," it shortly thereafter signed a confidentiality and exclusivity letter and began the process that led to the $62.5 million Break Fee and the extraordinary Joint Venture poison pill arrangements. Furthermore, Carnival believes P&O Princess agreed to the Break Fee and the Joint Venture poison pill arrangements because, knowing of Carnival's serious interest, it wanted to deter any future approach.
P&O Princess Shareholders will be aware that Carnival's Offer, unlike the Royal Caribbean Proposal, is being made under the rules of the UK Takeover Code. Carnival was only able to launch its pre-conditional Offer, with permission from the Panel, once Carnival and its advisors had every reason to believe that Carnival could and will be able to implement the Offer, once these pre-conditions have been satisfied. It would have been permissible under the Takeover Code for Carnival to have reserved the right not to proceed with its Offer once these pre-conditions had been satisfied, but Carnival has deliberately not reserved this right, in order to provide as much certainty as possible to P&O Princess Shareholders.
Accordingly, Carnival absolutely rejects any suggestion from P&O Princess that it is merely indulging in spoiling tactics--the only spoiling tactics being adopted are those of the board of P&O Princess, as demonstrated by the Break Fee and Joint Venture poison pill arrangements and its continued refusal to enter into discussions with Carnival.
P&O Princess Shareholders Have the Option to Adjourn
the EGM on 14 February 2002
Carnival believes that ambiguous, and potentially misleading, information has been given to P&O Princess Shareholders regarding the outcome of their actions at the upcoming EGM. The board of P&O Princess has clearly indicated in the Shareholder Circular that it does not intend to adjourn the EGM. However, Carnival and its advisors have reviewed the public documents and see no reason why P&O Princess Shareholders cannot adjourn the EGM until such later date when the regulatory outcome for both proposals is known. Such an adjournment would then enable P&O Princess Shareholders to judge both proposals on their economic and strategic merits, knowing the outcome of the regulatory review process.
Carnival believes that if P&O Princess Shareholders propose and pass a resolution to adjourn the EGM, neither Royal Caribbean, nor its major shareholders, who have provided irrevocable commitments to vote in favor of the Royal Caribbean Proposal at their shareholder meeting, are able to terminate their commitments under the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Carnival recognizes that, when deciding on the adjournment of the forthcoming EGM, P&O Princess Shareholders will have regard to the 16 November 2002 deadline, before which time the Royal Caribbean Proposal must have been approved or it will terminate. Carnival has been advised that the regulatory review of both proposals will almost certainly be completed in sufficient time so as to enable P&O Princess Shareholders to decide whether to accept the Royal Caribbean Proposal in advance of the 16 November 2002 deadline.
It is essential for P&O Princess Shareholders to understand that Carnival is not suggesting that they should vote down the Royal Caribbean Proposal at the EGM on 14 February 2002, unless the resolution to adjourn is not passed, as Carnival fully appreciates that P&O Princess Shareholders may want to keep their options open and ultimately vote for whichever proposal they consider to be more attractive.
P&O Princess Shareholders must appreciate that acceptance of the Royal Caribbean Proposal at the EGM on 14 February 2002 will terminate Carnival's Offer, without any opportunity thereafter to reconsider.
Next Steps Carnival and its advisors will continue to request a meeting with the P&O Princess board in order to clarify the effect of the arrangements it has entered into with Royal Caribbean. P&O Princess Shareholders are strongly encouraged to urge their board to break this stalemate and provide the clarification sought by Carnival and P&O Princess Shareholders, in order that it may provide P&O Princess Shareholders with both additional value and reduced conditionality in any revised offer.
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What's New at Carnival Cruise Lines for 2002
THREE NEW 'FUN SHIPS' & VARIETY OF NEW ITINERARIES HIGHLIGHT CARNIVAL'S 2002 CRUISE SEASON
MIAMI (01/10/02) - The launch of three new "Fun Ships," including the 2,976-passenger Carnival Conquest - the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed - along with the line's first-ever European departures, and a record number of embarkation ports and "short" cruise options, highlight Carnival Cruise Lines' 2002 cruise season.
DEBUT OF THREE NEW 'FUN SHIPS'
* 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride - set to launch seven-day alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., Jan. 12, becoming the newest and largest cruise ship to operate year-round from that port
* 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend - scheduled to operate the line's first-ever European departures, including a 12-day Northern Europe cruise round-trip from London (Harwich) Aug. 24 - Sept. 5, and a 15-day transatlantic voyage departing London Sept. 5 and arriving New York Sept. 20
* 2,976-passenger Carnival Conquest - the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed slated to begin year-round seven-day service from New Orleans Dec. 1, further strengthening the line's position as the Crescent City's largest cruise operator
VARIETY OF NEW ITINERARIES
* Carnival's first sailings to Bermuda in nearly three years with a series of voyages aboard the Carnival Triumph May 29, June 5 and 12, and aboard the Carnival Legend Oct. 23 and 30
* Two-day cruises-to-nowhere and five- and six-day Caribbean sailings from Mobile, Ala., in March 2002 aboard the 1,452-passenger Holiday, the first "Fun Ship" sailings from that port
* 10- and 11-day Caribbean voyages aboard the 2,052-passenger smoke-free Paradise from Miami, which when combined with the ship's year-round seven-day eastern and western Caribbean cruises, offers consumers four different smoke-free cruise options
* Year-round four- and five-day Mexico sailings from Galveston aboard the 1,486-passenger Jubilee beginning Aug. 19, doubling Carnival's capacity from that port
* Cruise industry's only year-round four- and five-day schedule from New Orleans aboard the 1,452-passenger Holiday, beginning April 27
* One-of-a-kind seven-day southern Caribbean program year-round from San Juan beginning April 21 aboard the 101,353-ton Carnival Destiny featuring four of the region's most popular islands - St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbados and Aruba
* 38 percent capacity increase in Tampa when the 2,052-passenger Sensation shifts to four- and five-day cruises Aug. 25. The 2,052-passenger Inspiration will assume the Sensation's seven-day itinerary from Tampa Dec. 1, providing a fresh new option on this highly popular cruise program
OTHER 'NEWS TO USE' IN 2002
* Record 350,000 children - nearly half of the kids carried by the entire North American cruise industry (CLIA member lines) - expected to sail on Carnival's "Fun Ships," which feature supervised activities, arts and crafts centers, and indoor and outdoor play areas, all part of the complimentary fleetwide "Camp Carnival" program
* Continuation of relationship with Miami Beach's Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, whose world famous crab claws will be among the featured menu items in David's, the "steakhouse-style" supper club aboard the new Carnival Pride
* Record 19 different embarkation ports from which to enjoy "Fun Ship" cruising, including such non-traditional cruise ports as Norfolk, VA, Charleston, SC, San Diego, Mobile, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, providing consumers with an even greater variety of affordable, "close-to-home" vacation options
* Record 30 "short" cruise options (voyages of five days or less in length) - the fastest growing segment of the cruise industry - providing consumers with a diversity of flexible, value-packed vacations in tune with today's busy lifestyles. Nearly half of Carnival's fleet will be deployed on "short" cruise itineraries in the coming year
* Extension through December 2003 of Carnival's Vacation Guarantee, the only program of its kind in the cruise industry, which provides pro-rated refunds and airfare reimbursement to those not completely satisfied with their cruise experience
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visit www.carnival.com.
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2002 Will Be a Landmark Year For Cruise Industry
As 13 New Ships Join North American Market
NEW YORK, Jan 9 - 2002 will be the biggest year ever for new ship introductions; however, the superlatives won't stop there. The 15 ships being launched by the member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)--13 new ships and two refurbished vessels--is the largest number in any single year in the association's 26-year history.
"With several ships having left service in 2001, the capacity of these ships will help us satisfy the demands of the almost 70 million people who have an interest in cruising," says James G. Godsman, CLIA president. From large ships to more intimate environments, the newest additions feature the latest in design and technology, a greater emphasis on suites and facilities with balconies and verandahs, more dining options and expanded communication capabilities and spa facilities.
The following CLIA-member cruise lines have ships slated to debut in 2002:
American Cruise Lines: The 49-passenger American Glory departs from Baltimore on July 27 on its seven-night inaugural cruise throughout the Chesapeake Bay. All 31 staterooms face outside and feature large, opening picture windows. Meals are served in the glass-enclosed dining room.
Carnival Cruise Lines: The 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride launches seven-day alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral Jan. 12. The 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend inaugurates the line's first European departures Aug. 24. The 2,976-passenger Carnival Conquest--the largest "Fun Ship"--begins year-round seven-day service from New Orleans Dec. 1. All three feature "resort-style" amenities and facilities, including multiple dining and entertainment venues, children's facilities and a large percentage of ocean view and balconied staterooms.
Celebrity Cruises: Beginning in May, the 1,950-guest Constellation will sail a series of European itineraries. The ship features a conservatory with a botanical environment; 80 percent ocean-view staterooms, 74 percent with verandas; AquaSpa(SM); COVA Cafe Milano (the seagoing version of Milan's coffeehouse); a specialty restaurant and other dining venues featuring the cuisine of renowned Master Chef Michel Roux.
Costa Cruises: The 1,494-passenger CostaEuropa (formerly the Westerdam) makes her maiden voyage in April. The ship will offer a variety of Northern Europe voyages, sailing from Amsterdam to the Fjords/North Cape/Spitzbergen and Baltic and Russia June through September. CostaEuropa will also sail 11-night voyages from Genoa to the Greek Isles and Canary Islands in April and September through December.
First European Cruises: The 1,500-passenger European Stars is scheduled to launch in late March, sailing from Barcelona to Marseilles, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valetta and Palma every week through December. It features four restaurants, 132 suites with balconies and a thalassotherapy health spa.
Holland America Line: The 784-passenger Prinsendam (formerly Seabourn Sun) debuts June 3. More than 90 percent of its staterooms have ocean views, nearly 40 percent with private verandahs. The new Zuiderdam, debuting Dec. 14, features a wide range of verandah staterooms, the largest spa in the company's fleet and exterior sea-view elevators.
Norwegian Coastal Voyages: The 643-berth Finnmarken and the 674-berth Trollfjord start service in spring, sailing year-round along the 1,250-mile west coast of Norway between Bergen and Kirkenes, above the Arctic Circle. The ships have 40 percent more berths and 50 percent more deck space than ships built in the 1990s as well as more suites and the line's first private balconies and Jacuzzis.
Princess Cruises: Star Princess will sail on the West Coast beginning in March. The 2,600-passenger vessel offers a 24-hour AOL Internet Cafe, expanded youth center and disco/observation lounge accessible by a glass-enclosed, moving "skywalk." Coral Princess, with a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines, will debut in December with a season of 10-day Panama Canal cruises. Ten percent of the staterooms will be inside, with 80 percent of the outside cabins featuring private balconies.
Royal Caribbean Int'l: The 2,501-passenger Brilliance of the Seas, with more than 70 percent of outside staterooms offering balconies, debuts in July, with a glass elevator facing the sea, nine-story glass-constructed centrum and specialty coffeehouse/retail book outlet. The ship will spend the summer in Europe before repositioning in the fall for 10-night New England/Canada cruises and will spend the winter in the Caribbean.
Royal Olympic Cruises: The 836-passenger Olympia Explorer features spacious rooms and suites, balconies, and a luxurious spa. Its Fast Monohull technology allows for accelerated speed to reach an increased number of ports, allowing for more time in each. Weekly roundtrip departures are scheduled May through October from both Venice and Piraeus.
For more information on the newest ships, visit CLIA's website at www.cruising.org.
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 2002
MIAMI, Jan 9, 2002 - Royal Caribbean International embarks on another exciting year with the debut of Brilliance of the Seas in Europe; year-round Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas on Rhapsody of the Seas; introduction of service from Tampa and New Orleans; three-and four-night Baja sailings on Vision of the Seas, which replaces Viking Serenade; a doubling in rail car capacity in Alaska; three Voyager-class ships in the Caribbean; a distinctive trio of positioning cruises and more.
"Vacationers are demanding experience-driven cruises that provide wonderful memories," said Jack Williams, president and COO, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. "We are committed to offering an incredible array of options for our guests on our 15-ship fleet."
Brilliance of the Seas, which debuts in July 2002, spends the summer in Europe sailing 12-night Scandinavia/Russia and British Isles/Norwegian Fjords cruises. She repositions in the fall for 10-night New England/Canada cruises before spending the winter in the Caribbean. Like her sister, Radiance of the Seas, more than 70 percent of Brilliance's outside staterooms will have balconies. She will be joined in Europe by Splendour of the Seas sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from late-April through October 2002.
Rhapsody of the Seas continues her new Gulf Port itineraries, offering seven-night Western Caribbean sailings from Tampa and New Orleans. In April, she repositions to Galveston, Texas for year-round seven-night Western Caribbean cruises. Viking Serenade will leave the Royal Caribbean fleet and be replaced by Vision of the Seas for three and four-night Baja sailings, beginning in October.
With an increase in rail car accommodations, more guests can experience any of 13 exciting packages taking them deep into the heart of Alaska on the most-advanced dome rail cars in the world. The cars offer 360-degree viewing; roomier, more comfortable seats that recline in pairs and rotate; onboard dining; outdoor viewing platforms; and wheelchair accessibility to the dome level - a first in the industry.
With three Voyager-class vessels in service, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean dominates the Caribbean, offering seven-night Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries year-round.
Popular cruise itineraries return including Alaska cruises aboard Vision of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas; Mexican Riviera sailings on Legend of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Vision of the Seas; and Hawaii cruises on Legend of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Vision of the Seas. Royal Caribbean will continue to deploy three-, four- and five-night short cruises aboard Majesty of the Seas, Sovereign of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Nordic Empress. Several one-time transatlantic positioning cruises will be offered as follows:
* An eight-night sailing from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico, onboard Rhapsody of the Seas departs November 1, with ports of call in Nassau, Bahamas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
* A 10-night cruise from San Juan to New York on Nordic Empress departs on April 25, with ports of call include St. Croix, U.S.V.I; Philipsburg; St. Thomas; King's Wharf and Hamilton, Bermuda.
* A 14-night voyage on Grandeur of the Seas departs from Barcelona, Spain, to New Orleans, Louisiana on October 19, with ports of call in Alicante, Spain; Gibraltar, UK; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Nassau, Bahamas; and Key West , Florida
* A 14-night sailing on Brilliance of the Seas from Barcelona to Miami, with ports of call in Alicante and Malaga, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Tenerife and Philipsburg.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 15 ships in service and five under construction or on firm order. For additional information about the cruise line, please visit the company's Internet web site at www.royalcaribbean.com.
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CELEBRITY CRUISES LAUNCHES REDESIGNED WEB SITE
MIAMI, Jan 8, 2002 - Visitors to Celebrity Cruises' web site at www.celebritycruises.com now will find a site with a fresh new design and an improved user experience.
"We listened closely to what Internet users said they wanted to find in a travel-oriented web site, and applied those comments to the creation of our new site," said Celebrity Cruises Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Planning Ares Michaelides. "Our redesigned web site is not only more functional and easier to use, but also portrays a warmer, more inviting look and feel, which is consistent with the ambiance onboard every Celebrity ship."
Celebrity's new web site features a variety of options tailored to each site visitor's personal vacation interests; larger images depicting the onboard experience and varied ports of call; special promotions; extensive information about each destination; a Captain's Club (loyalty program) component; personalized tips for group cruise planners, and enhanced cruise booking and transaction capabilities.
Celebrity worked with interactive partner, Yamamoto-Moss, a design firm based in Minneapolis, Minn., to create the new information architecture that shaped the redesigned web site. Celebrity Cruises is the highest-rated premium cruise line in the industry, with the youngest fleet of any major cruise line. Summit entered service in October 2001, and Constellation will make its maiden voyage this year, bringing the Celebrity fleet to nine ships. For more information, visit the Celebrity web site at www.celebritycruises.com.
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Holland America Melts Fares for Peak Season Alaska Travel with Thousands Off Cruise & Tour Pricing
Seattle, Jan 8, 2001 - Holland America has melted pricing for Alaska cruises and cruise-tour packages during peak summer travel months in 2002.
Passengers who make bookings by January 31, 2002, can save up to US$2000 per person with new 50% price breaks on more than 40 peak travel dates for vacations to Alaska. From May through August, Holland America will take 50% off Alaska cruise fares for all cabin categories with savings of more than US$1,000 per person on inside cabins and more than US$2,000 per person on verandah suites with balconies. Dates are available on all ships sailing to Alaska for Holland America, including the newest vessel, the 1,380-passenger ms Amsterdam, with round-trip Seattle, Washington-based itineraries to the Inside Passage.
In addition to cruise specials, Holland America also features special summer cruise tour packages from US$1,399 per person on three Alaska and Yukon programs: Denali Explorer cruise tour; Denali National Park and Alaska Highway tour; and the Denali National Park and Dawson City tour. Ranging from 11 to 12 days, cruise tour packages include visits to wildlife-rich Denali National Park and into the heart of the historical Yukon Gold Rush territory, as well as a three or seven-day cruise aboard a Holland America ship.
"Alaska will be a great vacation choice for travelers this year," said Paul Allen, vice president of Alaska cruises and cruise-tours. "It's close to home and offers incredible beauty, rich history and culture, and opportunities to see animals from bear to whales in their habitats. Plus, there are no better vacation values now than with exclusive Holland America peak season pricing."
Six Ships, Three Scenic Itineraries
With the addition of the Amsterdam to the Alaska program, Holland America offers a total of 115 premium cruises to the Last Frontier on six of the company's luxury ships. The Amsterdam will be joined by the 1,440-passenger sister ships ms Volendam and ms Zaandam and the 1,266-passenger sister ships ms Ryndam, ms Statendam and ms Veendam.
Sailing on 19 cruises from Seattle, departing on Saturdays May 18-Sept. 21, 2002, the Amsterdam will visit Juneau, giant Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle. The ship's faster speed of up to 22.5 knots permits the weeklong itinerary from Seattle.
Holland America offers 60 departures from Vancouver May 6-Sept. 22 on its classic, seven-day, round-trip Glacier Bay Inside Passage itinerary. These cruises highlight Southeast Alaska's most popular ports - Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan - and spend a full day sailing amidst the scenic wonders of Glacier Bay.
Guests may choose from three luxurious ships: the Zaandam (Saturday departures), Volendam (Monday) and Ryndam (Thursday) on regular weekly sailings throughout the season, plus late-season sailings on the Veendam and Statendam.
The 36 Glacier Discovery seven-day cruises between Vancouver and Seward departing May 12-Sept. 15 feature the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska aboard the Statendam and Veendam, with Sunday departures. On one northbound itinerary, the ships visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka and offer scenic cruising past massive Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The other northbound itinerary visits Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka, then sails into Glacier Bay and College Fjord. Southbound cruises feature the reverse itinerary.
While cruising, passengers can choose from many diverse shore excursions, including exclusive "Just for Kids" programs, which appeal to the growing numbers of families choosing to cruise Alaska for their summer vacation. Two Exclusive On-Board Programs Highlight Native Heritage. All of Holland America's Alaska sailings offer two exclusive programs that provide cruise guests with an in-depth look at Alaskan native heritage, culture and crafts. The "Artists in Residence Program" features an Alaskan native on board demonstrating a traditional craft such as ivory or soapstone carving, basket weaving, or mask making. The "Huna Interpretive Program" provides rare cultural insight into Southeast Alaska's spectacular Glacier Bay through the eyes of a Huna Totem member, a tribe that has called the area home for centuries. A National Park Service ranger also joins each sailing in Glacier Bay. In addition, Holland America features a full-time naturalist aboard every Alaska cruise to discuss and point out wildlife and key scenery throughout the Inside Passage.
New Additions Enhance 2002 Cruisetour Program
To compliment the Alaska vacation experience, Holland America operates an extensive land tour network. Cruisetours utilize a fleet of deluxe motorcoaches, the McKinley Explorer luxury, glass-domed rail cars, and the Yukon Queen riverboat to explore Alaska's interior and the Yukon wilderness. The leader in Alaska travel, Holland America Tours offers 31 exciting cruisetour options for the Alaska 2002 season, including 12 Alaska & Klondike Explorer itineraries, 17 Denali Explorer itineraries and two Deluxe Escorted options. All cruisetours include a three-, four- or seven-night Holland America Line premium cruise.
New cruisetour features for 2002 include:
* Double Denali -- Eight cruisetours offer two nights at Denali National Park and include the Tundra Wildlife Search tour into the park, ensuring greater wildlife viewing opportunities, plus a full day at leisure to experience the vast wilderness with optional activities ranging from hikes to raft trips to flightseeing.
* Grand Alaska Journeys -- Ten comprehensive cruisetours offer the Great Land in depth, from Mount McKinley, to the "River of Gold" into Canada's fabled Yukon Territory and then cruising through the serene Inside Passage.
* Deluxe Escorted CruiseTours -- Two fully escorted tours that include most meals and provide the personal service of a tour guide for the entire land portion to take care of every guest's needs.
About Holland America Line
In 2002, Holland America Line will offer 360 sailings within a half-day's drive of 40 percent of North American households and departing from 15 North American home ports. Holland America Line is the highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2001 "Travel & Leisure" magazine "World's Best" Awards and among the top three premium lines in "Conde Nast Traveler" Readers' Choice Awards.
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Lili Marleen Begins Successful Season in Galapagos
Quasar Nautica, owner and operator of upscale yachts in the Galapagos Islands for over 16 years, is pleased to announce the successful launch of the Lili Marleen.
In December 2001, Lili Marleen successfully began sailing in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, on year-round 8-day/7-night itineraries. This 250-foot long, three masted, barquentine motor/sail yacht was built in 1994 in the tradition of the windjammers of the last century. Accommodating 48 passengers in 25 well appointed outside cabins, the Lili Marleen features air conditioning throughout, al fresco dining, beautifully appointed lounge, private marble baths, sundeck, library, boutique and an infirmary.
Travelers who sailed the inaugural voyage on the Lili Marleen were thrilled with their experience; outstanding praise was given for the comfort and spaciousness of the ship, the attentiveness of the staff, the fine food and the knowledgeable naturalist guides.
The Lili Marleen joins the six other fine vessels of the Quasar Nautica fleet; the 48-passenger expedition vessel Eclipse, the luxurious 16-passenger yachts Alta, Parranda and Lammer Law and the 12-passenger prestige yachts Diamante and Mistral. The Lili Marleen continues the outstanding the tradition of excellence for which Quasar Nautica has gained an international reputation. For information, call 1-800-247-2925.
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SEABOURN EXTENDS STAYS IN NORTHERN EUROPE'S PREMIER PORTS
Added Days in St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, London
Miami, Jan 8, 2002 - The 104 fortunate couples sailing aboard the yacht-like Seabourn Pride this summer will enjoy more time and more options for experiencing the most fascinating ports in Scandinavia, Russia and Northern Europe. Each of the two different 14-day cruise itineraries sailing roundtrip from London on the ultra luxury, all-suite ship will offer generous overnight or multi-day stays in the premier ports of call, allowing for more activities such as sightseeing, cultural pursuits and shopping. New for 2002 is an overnight in the heart of London on the last evening of every cruise, allowing guests to enjoy London's nightlife, theater and shopping.
"Seabourn's guests consider time a luxury," said Rick Meadows, CTC, Seabourn's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "These are great cities with a wealth of cultural and historical attractions and superb shopping. Our guests deserve the chance to experience more of what they offer. They can participate in exceptional Signature Series tours, plus our complimentary Exclusively Seabourn experiences and still relax and enjoy these cities at their leisure."
Two-week cruises of Europe & St. Petersburg include an additional overnight in Hamburg, Germany and two full days in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as three full days in St. Petersburg, Russia. The cruise also includes a transit of the Kiel Canal through Germany's pastoral Schleswig-Holstein region and a visit to the medieval towered city of Tallinn, Estonia. In Tallinn, guests will be treated to a complimentary Exclusively Seabourn shoreside experience: a private tour of Peter the Great's baroque Kadriorg Palace. After touring the palace and its priceless art collection, guests will enjoy a champagne reception featuring a classical music concert by some of Tallinn's finest musicians in period costume. These cruises depart London on June 1st and 29th, July 27th and August 24th. With Early Booking Savings of 40 percent, fares start from $6,563 per person, double occupancy.
Three 14-day cruises roundtrip from London to Scandinavia & Majestic Fjords include a day and a half in Copenhagen and two full days in Amsterdam, as well as calls at Leith (for Edinburgh) Scotland; Bergen and Oslo, Norway and Gudvangen and Flaam in breathtaking Sognefjord, Norway's longest. The London overnight and a transit of Kiel Canal are likewise featured on these cruises. Guests will enjoy an Exclusively Seabourn private visit to Amsterdam's Historical Museum, well loved by locals but little known to visitors. After riding to the museum in glass-topped canal boats, guests will be escorted through the halls and galleries by curators and guides. Drinks and Dutch treats abound as strolling musicians and singers serenade them. Coffee and tea are served on board the candlelit canal boats during the return. Departures of this itinerary are June 15th, July 13th and August 10th. Taking advantage of Early Booking Savings of 40 percent, fares start from $6,563 per person, double occupancy.
Extended stays in premier ports are another in a continuing series of refinements being introduced aboard the award-winning Yachts of Seabourn. Elements already introduced include complimentary fine wines and spirits, Exclusively Seabourn shoreside experiences included on every cruise, free mini-massages on deck and popular Movies Under the Stars on deck. Further refinements that have been announced for 2002 include exciting new dinner menus created by renowned chef Charlie Palmer and Seabourn's Pure Pampering program, featuring fine personal wellbeing products and a selection of soothing and revitalizing bathing experiences by Molton Brown, London.
The yachts of Seabourn provide the ultimate in small-ship, ultra-luxury cruise vacations to the most desirable destinations on earth. The Seabourn fleet includes Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend. For information on Seabourn Pride cruises of Northern Europe or any of the Yachts of Seabourn contact a travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
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Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas Begins Sailing from Tampa
MIAMI, Jan 4, 2002 - The first Royal Caribbean Intl. ship to sail regularly from the Port of Tampa, Rhapsody of the Seas, begins sailing from there tomorrow.
Rhapsody of the Seas will dock at the Port of Tampa's Cruise Terminal 2 at approximately 7 a.m. Saturday. The ship will sail from Tampa on January 5, 12, 19, 26, and February 2, 16, 2002, on five seven-night and one six-night Western Caribbean sailings with ports of call at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; and Key West, Florida. On February 9, 2002, Rhapsody of the Seas will make a special seven-night cruise to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
"We are very excited about our first sailings from Tampa," said Dan Hanrahan, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales for Royal Caribbean International. "The response to Rhapsody of the Seas has been very strong. Because of this, we are returning to Tampa for a second season of sailings, from November 2002 through April 2003, with our ship Nordic Empress."
Rhapsody of the Seas arrives in Tampa from a six-night sailing from Aruba that departed on December 30, 2001. That New Year's sailing made port calls in Willemstad, Curacao; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico.
During Royal Caribbean's second season of sailings from Tampa, Nordic Empress will arrive there on November 2, 2002, by way of a six-night Caribbean cruise that departs San Juan, Puerto Rico, on October 27, 2002, with ports of call at Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Nordic Empress will sail from Tampa on November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; December 7, 14, 21, 28, 2002; January 4, 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22; March 8,15, 22, 29; and April 5, 12, 2003, on 23 seven-night Western Caribbean sailings, with ports of call at Georgetown, Cayman Islands; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico. The March 1, 2003 sailing of Nordic Empress will be a special seven-night cruise to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and Progreso, Mexico.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 15 ships in service and five under construction or on firm order. For additional information about the cruise line, please visit the company's Internet web site at www.royalcaribbean.com.
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Cruise Lines Will Welcome Record Number of Ships in 2002, Traveling to Itineraries Near and Far
NEW YORK, Jan 3 - With more ships slated to enter service in 2002 than in any other single year in the history of the cruise industry, the new year is shaping up to be a significant period for the North American cruise lines. Fifteen ships, accommodating 49 to 2,600 guests, will spawn intriguing new itineraries both close to home and around the world, an expanding roster of options and unprecedented value, says Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL).
The fleet is expected to generate a record number of cruisers, including more first-time cruisers than ever. In research recently conducted by CLIA, "The Cruiser and Cruise Prospect Study," nearly nine out of 10 vacationers (including 85 percent of pleasure travelers who have yet to cruise) say they are interested in cruising.
"The Cruiser and Cruise Prospect Study" validates the tremendous product enhancements that have been introduced in recent years. CLIA-member lines are continuing to create experiences that appeal to people who seek choices in what they can do on their vacation, a comfortable setting in which to do it and a great value," said James G. Godsman, CLIA president. The study also provides insight into the factors vacationers use to decide on a particular cruise, including destinations, value and amenities.
Destination was cited by more than 85 percent of all respondents as the most important factor in the decision to take a particular cruise. The most popular future cruise destinations among all vacationers are the Caribbean and Alaska, followed by the Bahamas and Hawaii. Experienced cruisers also expressed notable interest in Mediterranean/Greek Islands/Turkey itineraries. In addition to the continued popularity of western Mediterranean, Baltic and Scandinavian itineraries, lines also are featuring sailings to the South Pacific, Far East, Africa, transatlantic crossings, and world cruises.
For those seeking to stay closer to home in 2002, several lines have added more departures from North American ports and have added sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and South America.
Both cruise prospects and current cruisers have similar priorities on a vacation: good value, fun and a break from routine were cited as "must-haves" by more than 80 percent of those surveyed as important when selecting a vacation. When it came down to choosing a cruise, value was a deciding factor for more than 82 percent of all respondents, second only to destination.
Cruises have long been known for their exceptional value, and now, the inclusive nature coupled with current pricing makes a cruise a value that can't be matched. Cruises are widely acknowledged for the range of activities and amenities they offer; integral to this is the opportunity for cruise vacationers to do as much or as little as they want. The CLIA study confirms that cruisers appreciate the ability to select from a variety of options, with informal dining choices, cultural events, fitness and spa facilities, and educational programs topping the activities and facilities that appeal to both past cruisers and cruise prospects.
The late '90s popularity of dining options on cruise ships continues to make big news in 2002. Guests can experience the fine dining for which cruise lines are famous in a variety of settings, both formal and informal.
When it comes to spas and fitness facilities, the lines feature the latest equipment and techniques. To escape the tension of today's world, guests can opt for a relaxing massage or sauna. Fitness-minded folks can continue their exercise program or try something new with the latest equipment and programs available on today's ships.
The number of cultural/educational programs, activities and shore experiences is also growing, with choices for all travelers, whether they seek cultural enrichment or adventure.
A great deal also is going on behind the scenes to ensure the experience is memorable and safe. Increasingly sophisticated equipment and extensive training have made cruising one of the safest vacations. For health care, ships typically provide ready access to medical facilities designed to deal with everything from sunburn to cardiac episodes. Most lines have adopted the American College of Emergency Physicians' guidelines, which outline such medical needs as equipment, procedures, personnel and medicine.
The cruise industry's highest priority remains the safety and security of all passengers and crew. Within hours of the September 11 events, cruise lines implemented Level III (the highest level) security measures, as cited in the U.S. Coast Guard's Security for Passenger Vessels and Passenger Terminals regulations, and remain at that level.
The welfare of the environment is also a primary concern for the industry. All cruise ships operating in American waters must comply with U.S. environmental laws. The cruise industry maintains a leadership role in all maritime operations and is committed to eliminating all forms of pollution through improved environmental policies, procedures, and technology.
The cruise industry plays a key role in the economy, too. "The industry remains committed to helping the travel industry and the economy grow," says Michael Crye, president of ICCL. "In 2000, the cruise industry created 257,000 American jobs and contributed approximately $18 billion to the U.S. economy." To learn more about cruise travel, visit CLIA's website at www.cruising.org, or ICCL's website at www.iccl.org.
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Radisson Seven Seas Voyager Set to Debut March 2003
Jan 2002 - Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to debut in March 2003. Inaugural sailings are planned for western Europe and the Baltic, featuring Mediterranean ports in June, September, October, and November and Baltic ports in July and August. Bookings for the newest vessel in the Radisson fleet will open in the summer of 2002.
The Seven Seas Voyager will be the second all-balcony, all-suite ship at sea, following in the wake of Seven Seas Mariner, introduced in the spring of 2001.
Set to begin in 2002, Radisson's 320-passenger Paul Gauguin and 350-passenger Radisson Diamond will each offer butler service in the four highest suite categories, a feature already available on board Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator.
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Celebrity's Galaxy to Sail Round Trip Cruises from Charleston in 2002-2003 Season
Jan 2, 2002 - Beginning 12/13/02, Celebrity's Galaxy will sail 10 and 11 night cruises round trip from Charleston. The 12/13/02, is a 10 night cruise and she will alternate between 10 and 11 night cruises through 2/24/03, finishing the series with a 9 night cruise on 3/7/03.
10 night cruise itinerary:
Day 1 Charleston depart 6pm
Day 2 At Sea
Day 3 Nassau 7am-1pm
Day 4 At Sea
Day 5 Belize 7am-7pm
Day 6 Cozumel 7am-4pm
Day 7 Grand Cayman 10am-6pm
Day 8 At Sea
Day 9 Key West 7am-4pm
Day 10 At Sea
Day 11 Charleston
11 night cruise itinerary:
Day 1 Charleston depart 6pm
Day 2 At Sea
Day 3 At Sea
Day 4 Tortola noon-6pm
Day 5 Antigua 7am-6pm
Day 6 St Thomas 7am-6pm
Day 7 St Maarten 7am-5pm
Day 8 San Juan 7am-4pm
Day 9 At Sea
Day 10 Nassau
Day 11 At Sea
Day 12 Charleston
9 night cruise itinerary:
Day 1 Charleston depart 6pm
Day 2 At Sea
Day 3 Nassau 7am-1pm
Day 4 At Sea
Day 5 Belize 7am-7pm
Day 6 Cozumel 7am-4pm
Day 7 Grand Cayman 10am-6pm
Day 8 At Sea
Day 9 At Sea
Day 10 Charleston
Galaxy will depart Charleston and resume 10 and 11 night cruises from Baltimore on 3/17/03.
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CRYSTAL SYMPHONY SAILS INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DESIGN CHANGES
Jade Garden and Crystal Penthouses Are Completely Renovated
LOS ANGELES, Jan 2, 2002 - Renowned for its attention to detail and friendly, yet polished, service, Crystal Cruises has applied a similar focus to its most recent enhancement of the luxurious Crystal Symphony. In early December, the 50,000-ton, 940-guest floating hotel emerged from her renovation with a new look. In addition to several contemporary design updates throughout the luxury vessel, many of her public areas, as well as the two 982-square-foot Crystal Penthouses, were completely remodeled during the scheduled fall drydock.
"Our refurbishment strategy is always guided by our commitment to product quality, service and innovation," says Gregg L. Michel, president, Crystal Cruises. "To maintain, and to further enhance Crystal Cruises' leadership position in the luxury market, we strive for innovation in design, function and product delivery."
Jade Garden
One of several popular dining venues, the ship's Asian specialty restaurant, Jade Garden, was remodeled from floor to ceiling with new paneling, carpet, furniture, framed artwork and lighting. Geometric patterns in crisp colors, such as royal blue, maroon, gold and jade contrast with the cream, yellow, and taupe-hued background of the dining chairs and carpet. Blonde wood, atmospheric lighting and bamboo-framed Asian artwork and more moder pieces with brushed gold, create a sophisticated backdrop to the unique dining experience. New menu covers and sleek outfits for the service staff will complete the new look in early 2002.
The Crystal Cove and Plaza
The Crystal Cove and Plaza, the central lobby area and gathering place aboard Crystal Symphony, was completely outfitted with new furnishings. Working with the grey tones in the two-story atrium, while complementing the turquoise shades in the adjacent Crystal Dining Room, the new scheme showcases rich blue and lavender patterns, turquoises and greys. Italian sofas and armchairs, with modern leather accent pieces update the look. A specially-designed patterned carpet in greens, purples, and grey runs through the Crystal Cove, while the Crystal Plaza features a large, custom-designed hand-woven area rug. Sheer silver drapery and jacquard curtains in grey-green and metallic lavender frame the expansive windows. To enhance the room's residential feel, the curtains can be drawn at night.
The Crystal Penthouses
Each of Crystal Symphony's two Crystal Penthouses, the luxury line's most lavish accommodations on its coveted Penthouse Deck, has been transformed from floor to ceiling. Like the Crystal Penthouses aboard Crystal Harmony, the spacious suites were completely renovated to replicate the drawing room, master suite and bath of a discerning world traveler's private residence. The hand-tufted entrance carpet and elegantly upholstered walls immediately convey elegance. The living room features a mix of sophisticated dark wood dining, cocktail and end tables and upholstered silk and satin sofas, accent chairs and fringed pillows. While the most pervasive color is gold, the two Crystal Penthouses are distinguished by a soft accent color of rust or blue. The entertainment center houses state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, including a new, large 35-inch flat-screen color television, DVD and new CD and stereo components. Wheat-colored Axminster carpeting, residential lighting and new frames on both original artwork and classic prints add to the comfortable, yet sumptuous, ambiance. Balloon shades, framed mirrors and subtle lighting, with dimmers, embellish the marble master bath. Fine bed linens and bath towels augment the new décor.
Additional Drydock Enhancements
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The Lido Café - one of the ship's casual dining venues with indoor and outdoor seating with extensive breakfast and lunch buffet service - sports newly upholstered chairs in sky blue and violet, a slate tiled floor, carpet and window treatments.
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The Crystal Spa & Salon boasts new steam room and sauna facilities.
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Also during drydock, Crystal Cruises complements the ongoing year-round maintenance of the ship and soft goods with more intensive refurbishment. This includes heavy-duty cleaning or replacement of carpets and soft furnishings in all staterooms, re-grouting bathrooms and painting verandahs; sanding and varnishing all dance floors and stages; off loading deck cushions for dry cleaning; installing new teak decking; having teams of French polishers come aboard to refine all marble surfaces; and scouring all housekeeping pantries, galley store rooms and provisioning areas. Overseeing the project was noted ship architect Robert Tillberg and his Tillberg Design U.S. office in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., who have specialized in cruise ship interior design for over 40 years. The refurbishment was completed at Lisnave Drydock in Lisbon, Portugal. The 10-day drydock for the 50,000-ton, 940-guest Crystal Symphony began on Nov. 16, 2001.
Crystal Symphony will sail 26 worldwide itineraries in 2002, ranging in length from eight to 100 days, throughout North and South America, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, and Europe. Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through professional travel agents. For a complimentary brochure, call 800.820.6663. For more information, visit the line's web site at www.crystalcruises.com.
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Royal Caribbean Schedules Conference Call With Analysts
MIAMI, Jan. 2, 2002 - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has scheduled a conference call with analysts for 10 a.m. eastern time, Tuesday, January 08, 2002, to provide a current business update. The call can be listened to by all interested parties at the company's investor relations web site, www.rclinvestor.com. Visual aids relating to the call will also be available at the web site. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same site for a month following the call.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Celebrity Tours. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have a combined total of 23 ships in service and 6 under construction or on firm order. Royal Celebrity Tours operates cruisetour vacations in Alaska utilizing the world's largest glass-domed railcars. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com or www.celebritycruises.com
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Music Theme Cruises & "Club Mariner" Kids' Program to Expand to Baltic on Seven Seas Mariner
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - In 2002, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises will introduce new itineraries and services throughout its acclaimed luxury fleet - and begin to take bookings for the 700-guest, all balcony-suite Seven Seas Voyager, whose maiden voyage is scheduled for April 1, 2003. Also new in 2002, the Paul Gauguin and Radisson Diamond will offer butler service in top suites; the Seven Seas Mariner will sail her first Europe season; the Seven Seas Navigator will offer a 68-night "Circle South Pacific" voyage; and Song of Flower will ply a southern transatlantic route en route to spending her winter 2002/03 season in South America.
Rounding out 2002 with special theme cruises, the Seven Seas Mariner will entertain guests with Jazz and Big Band orchestras, a tribute to the Beatles and a Waterford Wedgwood program. The "Club Mariner" children's program will be added to the vessel's shipboard programming in the Baltic, while the Seven Seas Navigator will continue with "Club Mariner" offerings during her May - September Alaska sailings.
Voyager On The Horizon
In March 2003, the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager will join the fleet, offering inaugural cruises in Western Europe and the Baltic. Bookings will be opened in Summer 2002. The Voyager, the world's second all balcony-suite vessel, will be a sister ship to, but not an identical twin of, the Seven Seas Mariner. The new vessel will have an exceptionally high space ratio, with every guest enjoying a minimum of 301 square feet of living space plus balcony. Four main dining venues will be featured including the 110-seat Le Cordon Bleu-directed Signatures. The ship will also feature some of the more popular elements of the Seven Seas Navigator's celebrated design including ultra-spacious marble bathrooms with separate showers and full bathtubs.
New Itineraries in Europe
The all-balcony suite, 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner will cross the Atlantic for her first Europe season with a 13-night Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona voyage on April 26, 2002. Guests will swing the nights away to the Big Band tunes of the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, led by Buddy Morrow, one of the all-time great trombonists. Guests may also opt to learn French cooking while aboard this designated Le Cordon Bleu voyage. Classe Culinaire des Croísières workshops will be offered to a maximum of 32 guests ($395 per person). Special two-for-one cruise fares start at $2,998 per person and include wine with dinner and shipboard gratuities. Low-cost air add-ons are available.
The Seven Seas Mariner will make her inaugural port calls in the Western Mediterranean in June, September, October and November, and in the Baltic in July and August. Among her 21 seven- to 11-night voyages is a first-ever 11-night "Land of the Midnight Sun" Hamburg to Kiel, North Cape cruise on July 1. Per person cruise-only prices start at $5,495 and include wine with dinner and shipboard gratuities.
For the first time in two years, the twin-hull, 350-guest Radisson Diamond will return to the Baltic with 10- to 12-night voyages May to August. Prices for her May 10, 10-night Dover to Stockholm voyage start at $3,595 per person and include wine with dinner and shipboard gratuities. August through October, the Diamond will offer seven convenient seven-night voyages between Rome, Nice and Venice.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is celebrating its Europe season by dramatically lowering the cost of flying in Business Class from April to November 2002. The exclusive, limited-time offer of roundtrip Business Class air to and from Europe - featuring upgrade supplements from $399 to $599 per person for 58 luxurious European voyages - will benefit those guests who book and deposit by March 15, 2002.
Radisson Seven Seas has launched its new generation of luxury cruise ships under the banner "Luxury Goes Exploring," epitomizing its trademark combination of spacious, ocean view accommodations with the industry's highest percentage of private balconies, fine dining with open seating and a destination-intensive spirit of exploration.
Exotic South Pacific and South America
Inaugurating a new itinerary, the all-suite 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator will depart San Francisco on September 15 for an exotic 68-night "Circle South Pacific" voyage to Ft. Lauderdale calling at Hawaii, Christmas Island, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Island, Easter Island, Peru, Ecuador, Cayman Islands and Key West. Per person prices from $17,921 include complimentary roundtrip first class airfare from 82 North American gateway cities, wine with dinner and shipboard gratuities. Segments of 12- to 56-nights are also available.
New for the 180-guest Song of Flower in 2002 - after her summer Mediterranean and Baltic season - will be a November Transatlantic crossing to Manaus, Brazil. Winter 2002/2003 will be spent exploring South America and the Amazon River - the first time the cruise line has positioned one of its ships in South America for an entire season.
Club Mariner
With multi-generational family vacations growing in popularity, Radisson Seven Seas will bring the "Club Mariner" children's program - a solid success story when introduced in Alaska in 2001 - to the Seven Seas Mariner in the Baltic in July and August. The program will continue in Summer 2002 on the Seven Seas Navigator in Alaska.
Enriching the shipboard experience for family groups, "Club Mariner" will offer a creative, lively program of age-graded events in two tiers: for children ages six to 11 and 12 to 17. Age-appropriate, counselor-supervised activities will be organized both onboard and ashore, focusing on the destination's nature, heritage and crafts. Special "Club Mariner" tours will be offered, and a children's menu served in the Compass Rose dining room.
Beatles, Big Bands and Le Cordon Bleu
The lasting contributions of the Beatles will be the theme of the Seven Seas Mariner's June 13, seven-night Lisbon to Southampton "Tribute to the Beatles Cruise" with Joe Johnson, host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Beatles Brunch." Performances by the Beatles tribute band Revolution, fun trivia and look-alike contests are planned. For those still yearning for more John, Paul, Ringo and George nostalgia, an optional three-night post-cruise Beatles tour in Liverpool and London will include visits to Abbey Road Studios and Paul's private art exhibit at the Walker Art Gallery. Cruise prices start at $3,595 per person. The optional post-cruise package is $1,545 per person.
On June 20, the Seven Seas Mariner sets sail from Southampton to Hamburg, calling in Ireland, Wales and Scotland. This 11-night "Waterford Wedgwood Cruise" will welcome aboard Lord Piers Wedgwood of Barlaston (a direct descendant of founder Josiah Wedgwood) and Jim O'Leary, creative director of Waterford. The guest lecturers will discuss the newest lines of china and crystal. Guests can enjoy a complimentary visit to the famed crystal factory and will receive a free Waterford glass and $50 store credit at the factory showroom. Cruise prices start at $5,495 per person.
The all-suite vessel's September 4, 11-night Le Havre to Nice sailing will present a "Ragtime and the Roaring 20's" theme, recreating the music, fashion and art of the Post World War I era with an 11-piece dance orchestra playing skilled interpretations of Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin classics. Prices start at $5,495 per person.
The Seven Seas Mariner's westbound November 23, nine-night Transatlantic from Tenerife to Ft. Lauderdale will feature the Russ Morgan Orchestra, delighting guests with Big Band tunes. Two-for-one prices start from $2,148 per person.
Butlers Galore
In 2002, the 320-guest Paul Gauguin and the Radisson Diamond will add yet one more luxury amenity to their rosters: butlers. The butler service will be offered on the Paul Gauguin in the Owners Suite, Grand Suites, and Deluxe Ocean View "A" and "B" category suites, and on the Radisson Diamond in the Master Suites. Butler service is already offered on the Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator.
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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE INTRODUCES
HOMELAND CRUISING PROGRAM FOR 2002
NCL Offers Regularly-Scheduled, Seven-Day, Round-Trip Voyages from More US and Canadian Ports Than Any Other Cruise Line
MIAMI - Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce a new Homeland Cruising program beginning January 2002, which offers passengers regularly-scheduled, seven-day, round-trip cruises from more ports in the United States and Canada than any other cruise line.
With the addition of the new Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Star, the coming of Norwegian Dawn, and the re-joining of the legendary S/S Norway, NCL's ships sail roundtrip from eight homeland ports including: Miami, Fla.; Seattle, Wash.; Vancouver, B.C., Canada; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y; and Honolulu, Oahu and Lahaina, Maui, HI. Additionally, NCL will offer select one way cruises from Miami, Los Angeles and Montreal, bringing the total number of Homeland Ports to 10.
"Current travel trends indicate consumers are willing to travel but many want to remain closer to home," said Colin Veitch, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "So we have deployed all but one of our ships out of US and Canadian ports throughout 2002. We want to provide as wide a range of choice as we can. And in these times when everyone is feeling the need to reinforce the bonds of family, we are pleased to have so many NCL ships close-to-home making it much easier for family groups to get together in an economical way."
Homeland Cruising options include:
Miami
Recently introduced in September 2001, NCL's new Norwegian Sun offers seven-day Exotic Western Caribbean cruises from Miami every Saturday through April 5, 2003, visiting George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatan, Bay Islands; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Through Jan. 26, 2002, Norwegian Sky will cruise to the Eastern Caribbean round-trip from Miami, followed by a rotation of alternating, seven-day Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises through April 6, 2002. Eastern Caribbean itineraries include visits to Nassau, Bahamas; St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and NCL's private Bahamian island, Great Stirrup Cay. The Western Caribbean cruises stop in Cozumel; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Jamaica; and Great Stirrup Cay.
Norwegian Dawn, currently being built, will be launched in December 2002. Norwegian Dawn will begin her tenure with NCL on Dec. 14, 2002, on alternating round-trip, seven-day, Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami though April 26, 2003.
Norwegian Sea offers alternating 3-day cruises that visit Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay and 4-day cruises that call at Key West and Cozumel through April 15, 2002. From November 16, 2002 through April 14, 2003, the Sea is scheduled to operate a series of 4/5/5 Western Caribbean with Belize/Western Caribbean with Grand Cayman, and Bahamas cruises.
The Norwegian Majesty will begin alternating 3-day and 4-day Bahamas and Mexico cruises from November 11, 2002 through April 21, 2003.
The much-loved S/S Norway has returned to service through April 2003 and is deployed in the Caribbean offering her traditional seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Miami. Ports of call include St. Thomas, St. John's, St. Maarten and Great Stirrup Cay.
Norwegian Sky will offer a 5-night repositioning cruise from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Oct. 29, 2002. Ports of call include St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
San Juan
Through April 7, 2002, Norwegian Majesty offers alternating, seven-day Deep/Exotic Southern Caribbean sailings round-trip from San Juan. The Exotic Southern itinerary includes stops in Martinique, Antigua, St. Maarten, British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands. Alternatively, the Deep Southern cruise calls on St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica and St. Kitts, in addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Norwegian Sky will operate Deep/Exotic Southern Caribbean itineraries throughout the winter from San Juan beginning Nov. 3, 2002 through April 20, 2003. Deep Southern Caribbean ports of call include St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Exotic Southern Caribbean ports of call include Martinique, Antigua, St. Maarten, Tortola (BVI) and St. Thomas. Seattle
Norwegian Sky will resume its Alaska service from April 28 through Sept. 29, 2002, offering alternating seven-day Glacier Bay/Sawyer Glacier cruises. Either itinerary calls on Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Honolulu and Lahaina
NCL's newest member of the fleet, Norwegian Star is offering weekly seven-day, year-round itineraries round-trip from Honolulu, Oahu and Lahaina, Maui. Norwegian Star's itineraries include visits to the four main Hawaiian Islands: Oahu (Honolulu), The Big Island of Hawaii (Kona and/or Hilo), Maui (Lahaina), and Kauai (Nawiliwili) including a stop at Fanning Island, NCL's Pacific hideaway -- a remote island in the Republic of Kiribati. Norwegian Star has the distinction of being the only ship offering year-round weekly cruises in the Hawaii market.
Norwegian Wind will begin its extended season of 10- and 11-night round-trip cruises from Honolulu on Sept. 27, 2002 through April 21, 2003.
Seattle
Norwegian Sky will resume its Alaska service from April 28 through Sept. 29, 2002, offering alternating seven-day Glacier Bay/Sawyer Glacier cruises. Both itineraries call on Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Vancouver
Norwegian Wind resumes her popular seven-day Alaska cruises from Vancouver for the summer season from April 29 through Sept. 16, 2002, offering alternating, seven-day Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier cruises. Both itineraries call on Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan, Alaska. Additionally, Norwegian Wind will offer a Repositioning Cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii on Sept. 16, 2002. Ports of call include Hilo, Lahaina (Maui), Kona, Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Honolulu.
Norwegian Sky will offer a three-day Pacific Coastal cruise on Sept. 29, 2002 from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
Boston
Beginning April 28, 2002, Norwegian Majesty will resume its series of round-trip seven-day cruises from Boston to St. George's, Bermuda, through October 27, 2002.
Los Angeles
Norwegian Sky will offer a repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Miami on Oct. 2, 2002. Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Cartagena Colombia.
New York
Every Sunday, beginning April 28, 2002, Norwegian Sea will offer five, seven-day, round-trip cruises to the Bahamas calling on Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. Beginning June 2 through Sept. 1, 2002, the ship will venture every Sunday round-trip from New York on seven, seven-day itineraries to New England, visiting Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston, Martha's Vineyard and Newport, R.I. Every other Sunday, Norwegian Sea will offer six additional seven-day, round-trip cruises to the Bahamas.
As of Sept. 1, 2002, Norwegian Sea cruises seven alternating itineraries from New York to Montreal visiting ports in New England and Canada, including Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Quebec City.
NCL's comprehensive new Homeland Cruising brochure, available in January, will offer travel agents and cruisers one-stop shopping and information about NCL's close to home itineraries. For a copy of the brochure or more information on Homeland Cruising, please contact NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030. Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and industry innovator that currently operates a fleet of eight ships sailing to 140 ports around the world. For more information visit NCL's website at www.ncl.com.
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Holland America Adds Res Staff, Gears Up For Wave Month To Reduce 'Hold' Time and Speed Bookings
Seattle - Holland America Line is gearing up its Reservations Department as never before to handle the coming Wave period beginning in January. The companys goal is twofold: substantially reduce on hold" times and provide more efficient assistance to travel agents, enabling them to handle their clients' bookings more quickly.
Holland America has experienced an unprecedented surge of calls to Reservations during November and early December, so we started preparing for the Wave period well in advance, said Brendan Vierra, vice president, Passenger Programs. Call volumes from agents are averaging 15 percent higher than last year, largely because of the extraordinary popularity of our recent Lowest Fares offer and our current Best Cruise for the Best Price promotion.
Consequently, we have 37 new reservations staff currently in training who will begin manning Res phones in January. Another 20 will be trained during January to begin in February. We also plan to bring in additional staff from supporting departments to assist Reservations with overflow calls during Wave season.
Vierra said Holland America is about to debut another major support: a new, voice-activated Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVR) that will allow travel agents to handle a number of administrative tasks at their convenience, without needing to speak to a reservations agent.
Holland America is the first cruise line to introduce a sophisticated IVR, said Vierra. Weve been working to perfect it for the past six months and will launch it in January. Agents can use the IVR 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to take care of the administrative aspects of booking and spend their prime daytime hours selling new clients.
For example, Holland Americas IVR will let agents make credit card payments; check the status of document mailing, financial summaries and cabin assignments; request seating arrangements and times for the dining room; and obtain air schedules. Agents also may use the IVR to request by fax or e-mail on demand passenger confirmations, invoices, gift and wine order forms, special requirement forms and Air Plus forms.
Gearing up for Wave Month -- 12/19/01
In addition, agents can use Holland America's web site, www.hollandamerica.com, to research cruises dates, itineraries, shore excursions and port information. They also can make bookings on-line, confident theyre getting the best available fare with real time availability. Like the IVR, the web site can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the agents convenience.
Travel agents who subscribe to Cruise Director or Leisure Shopper will be able to take advantage of bonus offers for new bookings during Wave Month. Cruise Director now has best fare capability providing direct access to HAL's current best available prices.
With cruise fares changing rapidly, a great rate literally can be here today and gone tomorrow, concluded Vierra. Were urging agents to make their clients bookings if they see a super rate on their first call it very well may not be available if they shop around and call back the next day.
About Holland America
Holland America's premium cruises feature spacious staterooms, superb dining, renowned service, casino, first-rate entertainment, duty-free on-board shops, internet centers, the Club HAL children's program, the "Passport to Fitness" activity program and complete fitness center.
Holland America Line has 11 luxury ships sailing to more than 280 ports of call and scenic cruising destinations on all seven continents, including Antarctica. In 2002, Holland America Line will offer 360 sailings within a half-day's drive of 40 percent of North American households and departing from 15 North American home ports. Affordable air arrangements are available through the Home City Air program and Holland America offers the only trip cancellation program in the industry that offers cash back for canceling for any reason prior to 24 hours before departure.
Holland America Line is the highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2001 "Travel & Leisure" magazine "World's Best" Awards and one of the word's three highest rated large-ship cruise lines in the 2001 "Conde Nast Traveler" Readers' Choice Awards. The company also has won its 10th consecutive "Best Overall Cruise Value" award from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS).
For more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
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Disney Cruise Line Hosts Ebert & Roeper Film Festival at Sea
This is your opportunity to screen films with two of the most respected movie critics in the business, Roger Ebert & Richard Roeper. They will host a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise Vacation, navigating you through a special sneak peek at films they've chosen just for the festival. You'll also get to join the nationally renowned film-critiquing duo for a welcome aboard luncheon on embarkation day (plan to be at the port by 11:30 a.m.), sail-away reception and dinner.
3-Night Bahamian Cruise Vacation - $534* per adult
Valid for sail date commencing 02/28/02
* Rate valid for stateroom category 11 aboard ship. Adult rate based on adult double occupancy. Government Taxes and Fees and onboard gratuities included. Excursions not included. See Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions for details. Package components subject to availability. Other discounts do not apply. Rates include Early Booking Savings. Rates in US dollars.
Book online, call Disney Cruise Line at (800) 945-3806 or call your Travel Agent and mention booking code EBT.
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WINNING AGENT CRUISES BELIZE
Windstar 15th Anniversary Cruise A Success
Seattle, WA Winning agent Gena Stoll of Camelback Odyssey Travel in Scottsdale, Arizona returns from her grand prize anniversary voyage aboard the msy Wind Star.
Stoll was drawn from among the thousands of agents who booked Windstar cruises throughout summer 2001. A longtime Windstar proponent with over 15 years of experience in the travel industry, this was her first cruise onboard Windstar.
We are back from our luxurious vacation on the Wind Star and had a wonderful time. The ship was beautiful. We loved our cabin... having movies and hot popcorn in the cabin every afternoon was awesome! It was a great experience and I am proud to have been a part of Windstars 15th anniversary celebration, commented Stoll. My clients really enjoyed their Windstar cruise in Europe, its a great product to work with, added Stoll.
Stoll and her husband David raised a glass with Windstar executives, former Windstar Captains, and Foremast Club alumni, toasting Windstars 15th anniversary year on December 7, 2001 aboard the msy Wind Star. Captain Timothy Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing for Windstar, Tom Russell, senior vice president of marketing at Carnival Corporation, Jack Anderson, and former Windstar Captain Dag Dvergastein joined the Stolls on the 148-passenger luxury sailing yacht sailing Caribbean waters roundtrip out of Cancun, Mexico on a 7-day Mayan Riviera cruise. The Stolls exclusive anniversary package also included free first class roundtrip airfare and transfers for two.
The deluxe getaway for two concluded Windstars summer long 180 Free Cruises giveaway. Celebrating 15 years of cruising 180 Degrees from Ordinary, the luxury line awarded 180 free cruises to agents who booked between the dates of May 1 and September 6, 2001.
Windstar introduced the innovative style of casual elegance to the cruising industry in 1986. This cruise giveaway promotion was our way of thanking all of our travel agent partners that have helped us reach the selective Windstar audience and become as successful as we are today. With a host of new itineraries and services, we look forward to an even brighter 15th anniversary year in 2002, stated Russell.
Seattle-based Windstar Cruises operates four sailing yachts, the 308-passenger Wind Surf, and 148-passenger Wind Star, Wind Song and Wind Spirit. Windstars unique cruise vacations mix casual elegance and small-ship intimacy. The fleet cruises worldwide to exotic ports in New Zealand, the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Far East, Caribbean, Central America, and the Atlantic and Pacific.
For reservations, a brochure, or more information call Windstar Reservations at 1-800-258-SAIL (1-800-258-7245), or visit www.windstarcruises.com.
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Unless otherwise noted, all news items are sourced by individual cruise lines, cruise-related industries, and their agents.
