News from the world of cruising ~
January 16-31, 2002
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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE FLAGSHIP MS AMSTERDAM IS WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY'S SHIP OF THE YEAR
Seattle, Jan 31, 2002 - Holland America Line's 1,316-passenger newest flagship, the ms Amsterdam was voted "Ship of the Year" for 2002 by the members of the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. This is the eighth year that a Holland America Line ship has taken top honors in this annual survey. The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society is a 21-year-old organization with more than 8,000 members, most of whom are very experienced cruisers who typically have taken 14 or more cruises.
The award was announced in the February issue of Ocean & Cruise News, the monthly publication of the society. All major cruise lines were rated in the survey, which is based on passenger satisfaction in the 14 categories: itinerary, food, alternative dining (breakfast and lunch), alternative dining (dinner), entertainment, stateroom comfort, appearance, housekeeping service, dining room service, bar, ship activities, spa/gym facilities, shore excursions and overall categories.
"We are delighted to have the Amsterdam named 'Ship of the Year.' It is an exceptional honor to be recognized by so many experienced and discerning cruisers with this award," said David A. Giersdorf, Holland America's senior vice president, marketing and sales. "Holland America Line continually strives to provide outstanding service and added value to our guests and to maintain our position and reputation as the world's highest rated premium cruise line."
The society requires that members actually have experienced the ships on which they are voting. "For a ship to become our "Ship of the Year," said George Devol, publisher of Ocean & Cruise News, "it takes an exceptional consistency of high marks in each of the categories. The award is based on passenger satisfaction and the Amsterdam certainly lived up the high expectations of Holland America guests."
The scores on the ballots are tabulated and the "Ship of the Year" is recognized as the ship having the highest combined score. Amsterdam was rated first in six categories: food, alternative dining (breakfast and lunch), appearance, shore excursions, housekeeping and overall. Seven other Holland America Line ships also were rated among the top 12 ships in the world: the ms Rotterdam (1999 and 2000 Ship of the Year) was third; the ms Volendam was sixth; the ms Maasdam was seventh; the ms Zaandam was eight; the ms Veendam (1998 Ship of the Year) was ninth; the ms Ryndam (1996 Ship of the Year) was tenth; and the ms Statendam (1995 Ship of the Year) was 12th.
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 world'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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MS AMSTERDAM TOP PREMIUM CRUISE SHIP IN CONDE NAST TRAVELER FEBRUARY 2002 RATINGS
Seattle, Jan 30, 2002 - Holland America Line's newest ship, ms Amsterdam topped the list of premium cruise ships in Conde Nast Traveler's ranking of the World's Best Cruise Ships. In addition, readers of the magazine rated all 10 Holland America premium cruise ships among the world's best ships.
"We are extremely pleased to have all our ships rank so highly with the readers of Conde Nast Traveler," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "In addition, readers also chose Holland America Line as an outstanding cruise value because we consistently deliver a premium travel experience that meets and beats our passengers' expectations."
With a score of 87.9 out of 100, the ms Amsterdam ranked first among cruise ships in the premium market segment and second overall in the category for mid-size ships, which also included higher-priced ships in the luxury market segment.
The reader survey ranked the cruise ships as small, medium and large. All
Holland America ships were in the top 20 medium size ships. The ships and
their respective rankings and scores are as follows:
* 2
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 8
* 9
* 11
* 16
* 17
* 19 |
Amsterdam
Ryndam
Rotterdam
Volendam
Zaandam
Statendam
Maasdam
Westerdam
Veendam
Noordam |
87.9
80.0
79.7
78.5
77.2
76.8
74.0
70.4
70.3
66.0
|
In addition, the Seabourn Sun, which will become Holland America's Prinsendam this summer, was ranked seventh in the mid-size category. Readers scored the ships in the areas of itineraries, service, design, food, activities and events.
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 world'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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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE'S 2003 DEPLOYMENT INTRODUCES
THREE SHIPS
OFFERS 449 PREMIUM CRUISES TO ALL 7 CONTINENTS
Seattle, Jan 30, 2002 - Holland America Line, the world's leading premium cruise line, announces its 2003 deployment, featuring the inaugural seasons of three ships--the ms Prinsendam, ms Zuiderdam, and ms Oosterdam.
Holland America's 12-ship fleet will offer 449 five-star cruises ranging in length from three to 108 days and visiting all seven continents. Holland America's 2003 cruises will sail from 12 North American home ports: eight with 10 to more than 100 sailings, and four with occasional departures.
"Our deployment for 2003 features a balance of perennial favorites, like Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal and Mexico, along with our new, easily accessible Canada/New England and Pacific Northwest/Coastal cruises, plus truly exotic, once-in-a-lifetime experiences like our five-continent Grand World Voyage and other itineraries that feature Antarctica, South America, Africa and the Asia/Pacific region," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales.
"2003 will be an exciting year to cruise with HAL. We're returning to Europe with three ships. We'll have seven ships in Alaska for the first time ever. And our five-star fleet will deliver world-class cruises ranging from the 108-day Grand World Voyage to exotic 14- to 22-day cruises to such locales as Africa, India, the Far East and South America's Orinoco River," said Giersdorf.
Holland America's 2003 highlights include:
* The new Zuiderdam, sister ship to the Oosterdam, introduced in December 2002 and continuing its inaugural season as Holland America Line's year-around Caribbean ship, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale all year on seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.
* The debut of the new 1,848-passenger Oosterdam, departing July 10 from Venice, Italy, on its maiden cruise, the first of a series of 10- and 12-day summer and fall Baltic and western Mediterranean cruises, culminating with a 12-day transatlantic cruise Nov. 23-Dec. 5, then two seven-day Caribbean cruises and two seven-day holiday cruises from Ft. Lauderdale.
* The intimate 794-passenger Prinsendam, continuing its inaugural season of exotic cruises ranging in length from 14 to 22 days from January to September in Australia/New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the Far East, Africa, Western Europe and the Baltic. On Sept. 20, the Prinsendam sails on a new 25-day cruise from Lisbon to San Diego, visiting West Africa, the Caribbean, Panama Canal and Mexico, then embarks Oct. 15 on a new 35-day South America/South Pacific cruise from San Diego to Auckland, ending the year with three 16-day cruises between Auckland and Sydney.
* The gala 108-day Grand World Voyage on board the 1,380-passenger flagship ms Amsterdam -- named "Ship of the Year for 2002" by the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society -- departing Jan. 4 from Ft. Lauderdale and returning to Los Angeles on April 22. The ultimate in global travel, the world cruise will visit five continents, encompassing the mythical wonders of South America and the majesty of Antarctica, the mystery of isolated islands and the idyllic romance of the South Seas, the wonders of the "Land Down Under," the exotic delights of the Far East and the sunny charms of the Hawaiian Islands.
* For the first time, Holland America, the leader in Alaska travel, will have seven ships offering a record 135 cruises to Alaska, including the Amsterdam reprising its seven-day cruises from Seattle to Alaska, May 2-Sept. 26. The Amsterdam also will offer new, longer Alaska cruises from Seattle: an 11-day cruise departing July 25 and a 10-day cruise on Aug. 5. On the tour side, Holland America Tours will introduce new tours visiting Canada's spectacular Kluane Park.
* A new 32-day European discovery cruise, featuring Greenland, the Baltic and Western Europe, on board the 1,316-passenger flagship ms Rotterdam, sailing round trip from New York, on Aug. 16.
* A new 18-day Pan-America/Panama Canal cruise, featuring Mexico, Central America and an overnight visit to the Canal, on board the 1,266-passenger Ryndam, sailing round trip from San Diego on Oct. 9.
* A series of 19 "introductory" cruises of fewer than seven days that will not only provide new cruisers with a sampling of the full HAL premium cruise experience, but also experienced cruisers with shorter alternatives.
An overview of Holland America's 2003 cruises by destination:
Caribbean - In 2003, Holland America will sail from the Florida home ports of Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral on 162 cruises to the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean offering seven-, 10- and 14-day itineraries. Eight ships will sail the Caribbean, including the 1,214-passenger ms Noordam, the 1,440-passenger ms Zaandam and ms Volendam, the 1,266-passenger ms Maasdam and ms Veendam, the Amsterdam, Zuiderdam and Oosterdam.
Alaska - In addition to the Amsterdam, sailing on 20 cruises from Seattle, the 2003 Alaska cruise fleet also will feature the Maasdam, Volendam and Zaandam offering 57 seven-day roundtrip Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruises from Vancouver, B.C., and the 1,266-passenger sister ships ms Statendam, Ryndam and Veendam on a total of 54 seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. (The Statendam and Ryndam also will do one Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruise each; the Veendam will offer two.) And, Holland America Tours will offer more than 30 exciting cruisetour options for the Alaska 2003 season, including new tours that visit Kluane Park, a scenic jewel located in Canada's Yukon Territory.
Panama Canal - Holland America Line, one of the largest operators of Panama Canal cruises, will offer 25 Canal cruises in 2003, ranging in length from 10 to 24 days. In addition to spring and fall trans-Panama Canal cruises between Florida and the Pacific Northwest, the Rotterdam will sail on a series of 10-day Sunfarer cruises from Ft. Lauderdale in the winter/spring and fall that feature the Southern Caribbean and a visit to the Panama Canal. Special Caribbean/Panama Canal/Orinoco River cruises will be offered on the Rotterdam (18 days, departing Ft. Lauderdale on April 23) and the Amsterdam (17 days, departing Ft. Lauderdale on Nov. 16).
Europe - Holland America Line will offer 40 Europe cruises, plus five transatlantic cruises, in 2003, ranging in length from 10 to 32 days, on board the Noordam, as well as the Oosterdam, Prinsendam and Rotterdam (highlights above). The Noordam will sail a 15-day transatlantic cruise from Tampa to Lisbon April 13-28, then will offer 10- and 14-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean, Western Europe and the Baltic, sailing for the U.S. on a 15-day cruise from Lisbon Nov. 22-Dec. 7. In addition to its 32-day Greenland/Baltic/Western Europe cruise, the Rotterdam also will feature two special 16-day summer transatlantic cruises with numerous port calls, including Greenland and Iceland, sailing between Boston or New York and Rotterdam July 13 and 31.
Canada/New England - The Rotterdam will sail in the spring and summer from New York, Montreal or Boston on a series of eight Eastern Canada/New England cruises ranging in length from seven to 11 days. In the fall, the Rotterdam will again sail on a program of four 10-day cruises between New York and Montreal.
Mexico and Hawaii - Holland America offers a total of 16 Mexico cruises and seven Hawaii cruises in 2003. The Statendam will sail an alternating program of seven-, eight- and 10-day Mexico cruises and 15- and 16-day Hawaii cruises from San Diego from January to May and again from late September through December. The Ryndam also will sail on two Mexico cruises from San Diego: a 12-day cruise departing April 24 and a 10-day cruise departing Sept. 29. All Ryndam cruises and selected Statendam cruises feature the Sea of Cortez.
South America - The Ryndam will again offer South America cruises in the winter/spring and fall of 2003. The nine cruises, ranging in length from 17 to 21 days, depart from San Diego, Valparaiso and Rio de Janeiro. Highlight of the 21-day cruise departing Valparaiso on Jan. 24 is a scheduled visit to spectacular Antarctica, marking HAL's fifth visit to the southernmost continent.
Pacific Northwest & Pacific Coast - In 2003, Holland America will offer 19 Pacific Northwest and Pacific Coast cruises of four days or less, perfect for a short, relaxing getaway.
About Holland America Line
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, complete fitness centers and popular "tipping not required" and "cashless" ship policies. Holland America Line's luxury ships sail to more than 280 ports of call and scenic cruising destinations on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
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. 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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MS AMSTERDAM SAILS ON 108-DAY GRAND WORLD VOYAGE IN 2003,
VISITING FIVE CONTINENTS, INCLUDING ANTARCTICA
Seattle, Jan 30, 2002 - With more than four decades of experience delivering luxury world cruises, Holland America Line has created the ms Amsterdam's 2003 Grand World Voyage to represent the ultimate in global travel: a 108-day odyssey to five continents, capturing the mythical wonders of South America and the majesty of Antarctica, the mystery of isolated islands and the idyllic romance of the South Seas, the wonders of the "Land Down Under," the exotic delights of the Far East and the sunny charms of the Hawaiian Islands.
"The 2003 Grand World Voyage features many highlights requested by our Mariner Society, our loyal alumni," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "We carefully crafted the 2003 Grand World Voyage to feature the most attractive destinations, such as Antarctica, which was a huge hit on our maiden visit during the 2000 world cruise, plus extended stays of up to 2 ½ days in 19 ports. This itinerary, combined with a broad range of stateroom categories and on-board features, makes for an unbeatable travel experience. "We expect high demand for this exceptional Grand World Voyage and that bookings will proceed rapidly," Giersdorf said. "The world cruise has always presented a superb sales opportunity for travel agents, and never more so than for 2003."
Travel agent Steven E. Shulem, MCC, of Strictly Vacations, Santa Barbara, Calif., agrees. Shulem has been selling world cruises since he sold the first one in 1992, on Holland America. "The commission potential is huge ," said Shulem. He added that travel agents should look beyond their usual cruise clients in their world cruise marketing. "The world cruise client is not your typical client. They are not necessarily 'traditional' cruisers. They are their own entity." He added that many are from the East Coast and enjoy the world cruise to escape cold weather, plus they are often very independent, able to travel away from home for the entire cruise. "But, once they try the world cruise one time, they are hooked for life. It's like an annuity for agents. At least 80 percent of my world cruisers do it every year," said Shulem.
The 1,380-passenger Amsterdam, the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society's "Ship of the Year for 2002" and the largest and most spacious ship in the world cruise market, departs on the company's 38th grand world cruise from Ft. Lauderdale on Jan. 4, 2003. The cruise will visit 38 ports, repeating just eight ports from the 2002 world cruise, including "collector" ports like Guam and Saipan (both maiden calls for HAL), plus many "marquis" ports such as Sydney, Australia, and Osaka, Japan.
Sailing southward, the Amsterdam first visits the Southern Caribbean, conducts a daylight cruise on the fabled Orinoco River, and then traces the coastline of South America, with a visit to Antarctica at the height of its summer. Next, the ship sets its course westward to some of the most remote regions of the world, fascinating Easter and Pitcairn islands, before exploring French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia. Turning north, the odyssey takes the Amsterdam to sample the Far Eastern delights of China, South Korea and Japan. A leisurely voyage back across the Pacific features idyllic visits to the Hawaiian Islands before the adventure ends in Los Angeles on April 22.
Since its first world cruise in 1958, Holland America has earned a stellar reputation for providing the utmost in personal service and amenities to its discriminating world cruise guests. Crews for these very special voyages are individually selected from the entire fleet to create a staff of unmatched excellence and experience. An array of special world cruise events, services, surprise gifts, culinary delights and entertainment add extra luster to Holland America's premium cruise experience.
Grand Voyage Service Makes the World Cruise the Trip of a Lifetime
In addition to the line's exemplary service and traditional elegant touches, such as fresh flower arrangements throughout the public rooms, fine Rosenthal china and silver dining service, Holland America Line's Grand Voyage Service takes the cruise experience to the highest levels of luxury. Holland America's attention to detail creates the trip of a lifetime, with culinary and entertainment enhancements to tempt the tastes of every traveler, including the following:
* Holland America does not repeat any meal during the entire world voyage. In addition to featuring favorite treats like fresh berries and fois gras, the expanded menu allows the introduction of cuisines and specialties from the regions visited, such as pia fish from Tahiti or rock lobsters in Australia. All full-cruise guests have the opportunity to have dinner with the captain during the voyage. In addition to the grand La Fontaine Dining Room, the Amsterdam's other dining venues include the alternative Odyssey Restaurant, featuring fine international cuisine; the casual Lido Restaurant; and 24-hour complimentary stateroom service.
* Grand World Voyage entertainment is a cut above. A new Broadway-style revue debuts aboard each world cruise, and the best shows from across the fleet, including "Barry Manilow's Copacabana," are featured. Each segment of the cruise offers different celebrity entertainers, who may include stars such as pianist/songwriter Marvin Hamlisch, and luminaries Jim Nabors, John Davidson and Debbie Reynolds. Local folkloric shows in various ports of call, add a touch of the exotic to the playbill.
* Holland America also offers guests opportunities to broaden their knowledge with a series of on-board cultural and lifestyle lectures. World-renowned experts lecture on a variety of topics including art, history, literature, politics and wildlife of the various countries visited on the cruise. Lifestyle topics may include health, fitness and personal finance.
Additional Grand Voyage embellishments include:
* deluxe gifts like high-quality bathrobes embroidered with the Grand World Voyage logo, a commemorative blue Delft plate, tiles, handicrafts and travel bag;
* additional special amenities, such as a portfolio of personalized stationery and travel guides for each port of call;
* a slate of theme parties and formal balls;
* clerical staff on board throughout the cruise to minister to the spiritual needs of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish guests;
* and a complement of eight social hosts for conversational fun and dancing.
All of these extra services and amenities, coupled with the Amsterdam's upscale décor and luxurious accommodations, create the perfect milieu in which to experience the world in the grand Holland America Line style. Extended Port Stays, Overland Tours Add Extra Cultural Depth With its advanced technology and a cruising speed of 25 knots, among the fastest ships in the world, the Amsterdam can offer more ports of call and more time in the ports for shopping, tours, deck parties, folkloric shows, and simply enjoying favorite places. The 2003 Grand World Voyage features extended stays of a day or longer at 19 ports, including 2 ½ days in Hong Kong, time enough to purchase custom tailored clothing. In addition to a multitude of optional shore excursions in the ports of call, the world cruise features many additional opportunities for in-depth multi-day overland tours that add an extra dimension of interest, such as a tour from Arica, Chile, to Macchu Picchu, fabled city of the Incas, or a tour to Beijing to view cultural treasures such as the Great Wall of China, the Ming Tombs and the Temple of Heaven.
Cruise fares for the full Grand World Voyage start at US$34,539 per person, double occupancy, including first class air and limousine transfers between airport and ship and port charges. Governmental taxes are additional at US$491.27 per person. Segments, which offer the opportunity for extended pre- or post-cruise tours in the ports of embarkation/disembarkation, start at US$6,289 per person, double occupancy, including port charges. Taxes start at $68.32 per person. All guests who book the full cruise or a segment by April 30, 2002, will receive 20 percent early savings; Mariner's Society members receive 24 percent early savings. In addition, Holland America is offering "Pay in Full" discounts: Guests who pay in full by March 31, 2002, save an additional 6% on stateroom categories PS-E; 4% on categories F-M. Guests booking suites receive priority disembarkation, exclusive receptions and luncheons, and complimentary laundry and dry-cleaning.
For more information about Holland America Line's Grand World Voyage, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-800-522-3399 or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
HONORED AS TOP 100 IN HIS FIELD
MIAMI, Jan 30, 2002 - The top information technology (IT) official at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been recognized by a leading national newsweekly as one of the top 100 people in the IT field.
Thomas Murphy, Royal Caribbean's chief information officer, has been recognized by Computerworld, as one of the business world's Premier 100 IT Leaders. The award honors individuals who have had a positive impact on their organizations through technology.
In its third year, the Premier 100 IT Leaders award recognizes individuals for exceptional technology leadership, innovative approaches to business challenges, and effective execution of comprehensive IT strategies. Murphy will be honored at the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference, at which he also will be a featured speaker, in March.
"This is a great honor, and one that must be shared with all of my colleagues at Royal Caribbean," Murphy said. "We are a team that has faced many challenges in the past year, however, by staying focused and working together, we are contributing to the ongoing success of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. My office and I are very fortunate to be supported by a management team that understands the value of technology and the value of assembling the best team of IT professionals in our industry."
Murphy was selected from hundreds of nominees based on those leaders who most closely matched Computerworld's Leadership Index, a set of characteristics that describes business and technology people who guide the effective use of IT in their organizations. Other award winners include leading IT executives from corporations such as The Bank of New York, Hewlett Packard, Staples, FedEx Corporation and Walt Disney World.
"Computerworld's annual Premier 100 IT Leaders list honors individuals who display exceptional technology leadership in their organizations," said Maryfran Johnson, editor in chief, Computerworld. "The honorees for 2002 join an elite class of innovative thinkers dedicated to solving business problems through creativity and effectively managed IT strategies."
Murphy joined Royal Caribbean in 1999. Since that time, he has aligned the IT organization with the company's many strategic initiatives, supporting the company's objectives of focusing on its customers, employees and supply chain. Since 1999, Royal Caribbean's IT organization has been recognized nationally for its diversity, innovation, and as one of the 100 best places to work in IT.
Computerworld is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 300 targeted Web sites in 70 countries.
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ROSTER OF WELL-KNOWN CELEBRITIES TO ENLIVEN 105-NIGHT WORLD CRUISE OF ALL-SUITE SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR
"Experience the World" with Ted Koppel, Bernard Kalb & Other Guest
Lecturers on Five Individual Segments Ranging From 14 to 31 Nights
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, Jan 28, 2002 - Luxury goes exploring with a lineup of celebrity speakers to entertain and enlighten a maximum of 490 guests on the five-segment, 105-night World Cruise of the all-suite Seven Seas Navigator, which departed Los Angeles on January 20. From TV journalists Ted Koppel, Robert Pierpoint and Bernard Kalb, to actors Patricia Neal and Larry Hagman, guests will be treated to political commentary and inside Hollywood and White House anecdotes in lively encounters with some of our era's shrewdest observers and popular film personalities. These enlivening sessions will enrich each of five individual segments of the World Cruise as the all-suite (90 percent with private balconies) Seven Seas Navigator navigates a leisurely course from the South Pacific to Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, India, the Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia and other port calls in Brazil and the Caribbean before reaching Ft. Lauderdale on May 5.
Featuring the largest lead-in suites and most affordable lead-in prices in the small, exclusive world of World Cruises, single segments, ranging from 14 to 31 nights, start from $4,571 per person, including economy airfare from 83 North American gateways, special shore side events, shipboard gratuities and wine with dinner. (Segments are combinable.) Overland tour options and an in-depth shore excursion program round out a World Cruise program aptly themed "Experience the World."
Shipboard Celebrities By Segment
Noted celebrity speakers and guests are currently scheduled to appear as follows:
*January 20, 23-night Los Angeles to Sydney cruise: broadcaster Robert Pierpoint, 23-year White House correspondent for CBS News during six presidencies.
*February 12, 23-night Sydney to Hong Kong voyage: Patricia Neal, distinguished film, stage and television actress, best-known for her roles in Hud, The Fountainhead and The Miracle Worker, and John Sculley, internationally recognized business innovator and former CEO of Apple Computer and PepsiCo who made these leading brand names in their categories.
*March 7, 31-night Hong Kong to Cape Town, South Africa, cruise: Bernard Kalb, thirty-year veteran world affairs correspondent for CBS News, NBC News and The New York Times who is currently co-host of CNN's Reliable Sources; Tom Wicker, celebrated New York Times columnist ("In the Nation") for 25 years and esteemed author; and Sally Jessy Raphael, host and driving force behind the longest-running talk show on the air today.
*April 7, 14-night Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, cruise: Ted Koppel, highly respected anchor and managing editor of ABC News' Nightline, television's first late-night network news program, now in its 21st year.
*April 21, 14-night Rio de Janeiro to Ft. Lauderdale cruise: Dick Thornburgh, the two-term Pennsylvania governor applauded for his response to the Three Mile Island accident, and widely respected attorney general under Presidents Bush and Reagan; and Larry Hagman, star of Dallas as bold and brassy J.R. Ewing for 13 seasons, remembered for his five-year run as "Master" in I Dream of Jeannie in the 1960s, and current organ donation and transplantation advocate.
The 490-guest, all-suite Seven Seas Navigator was built for world cruising, combining exceptional luxury, two fine dining options and one of the highest space ratios of any ship afloat (67.3). Ninety (90) percent of her suites boast private balconies, with her spacious ocean view suites offering a minimum of 301 square feet of living space. Every suite, ranging up to 1,173 square feet including balcony, features a large walk-in closet, European king size bed, marble bathroom with full bathtub and separate shower, personal safe, TV/VCR, hair dryer and refrigerator. Master and Grand Suites provide butler service 24-hours a day.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is part of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services encompassing more than 1,530 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise ship operations in 80 countries. Specific brands include: Regent International Hotels; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels in North America; Carlson Lifestyle Living (Carlson Park); Carlson Vacation Ownership; T.G.I. Friday's and other restaurant brands; and Provisions, a worldwide procurement division. For further information, contact Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, 600 Corporate Drive, Suite 410, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334; or toll-free 800-477-7500; for brochures and reservation information toll-free 800-285-1835; or visit the Web site: www.rssc.com. To make reservations contact your travel professional.
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CARNIVAL TO SAIL FROM RECORD 18 NORTH AMERICAN
HOMEPORTS IN 2002
Sailings to Include Departures from Such Non-Traditional Cruise Ports as
Mobile, Norfolk, Charleston, Philadelphia and Baltimore
MIAMI (01/29/02) - Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from a record 18 North American homeports in 2002, including such non-traditional cruise ports as Mobile, Ala., Norfolk, Va., Charleston, S.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore.
According to Carnival President Bob Dickinson, the record number of departure points follows the company's strategy of deploying tonnage near large U.S. population bases. "Nowadays, consumers appreciate the convenience of sailing from a port closer to home and these sailings offer U.S. residents a convenient and affordable vacation option, often departing right from their own backyards," he said.
Many of the sailings from non-traditional ports are in the short cruise market (five days or less in length), mirroring Americans' increasing preference for shorter, more frequent vacations. In fact, Carnival will offer a record 31 different short cruise itineraries in 2002 with nearly half of the line's fleet deployed on short cruises in the coming year.
"Short cruises are the fastest growing segment in the cruise industry, offering the flexibility and value desired by today's time-crunched consumers," Dickinson said.
Carnival's 2002 cruise schedule includes "Fun Ship" departures from:
Mobile - series of two-day cruises-to-nowhere and five- and six-day Caribbean voyages in March aboard the Holiday, the first "Fun Ship" departures from that port
Norfolk - two seven-day Bermuda cruises departing June 5 and 12, a six-day Bahamas cruise Oct. 6, and a pair of two-day cruises-to-nowhere Oct. 12 and 24 aboard Carnival Triumph
Charleston - six-day Bermuda cruise departing May 29 and a five-day Bahamas voyage Oct. 27 aboard Carnival Triumph
Philadelphia - six-day Bermuda cruise aboard Carnival Legend Oct. 23
Baltimore - six-day Bermuda cruise aboard Carnival Legend Oct. 30
San Diego - six- and eight-day Mexico voyages departing Oct. 19 and Oct. 25, respectively, and a 14-day Panama Canal cruise departing Nov. 2 on Carnival Spirit
These voyages complement the wide variety of departures from popular homeports such as:
Miami - year-round three-day Bahamas and four-day Caribbean cruises aboard Fascination; year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises aboard Imagination; year-round seven-day Caribbean voyages aboard Carnival Victory; year-round seven, 10- and 11-day Caribbean sailings aboard smoke-free Paradise; seven-day Caribbean voyages and a three-day cruise aboard Carnival Triumph through May 25; eight-day Caribbean sailings through March 29 followed by a 17-day Panama Canal cruise departing April 4 aboard Carnival Spirit; and a two-day cruise-to-nowhere Nov. 8, followed by year-round eight-day Caribbean voyages aboard Carnival Legend beginning Nov. 10
New Orleans - year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises aboard Inspiration (Carnival Conquest will operate an inaugural four-day Caribbean voyage Nov. 27 then assume this route Dec. 1); and 10- and 11-day Caribbean voyages aboard Holiday April 6 and 17, followed by year-round four- and five-day Caribbean sailings beginning April 27
Port Canaveral - year-round three- and four-day Bahamas cruises aboard Fantasy; and year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises aboard Carnival Pride
Tampa - year-round seven-day Caribbean voyages aboard Sensation (Inspiration will operate a six-day western Caribbean cruise Nov. 25 then assume this route Dec. 1); and year-round four- and five-day Caribbean sailings aboard Jubilee (Sensation will shift to this itinerary Aug. 25)
Los Angeles - year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises aboard Ecstasy; and year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages aboard Elation
San Juan - year-round seven-day Caribbean sailings aboard Holiday (through Feb. 2) and Carnival Destiny
Galveston, Texas - year-round four- and five-day Mexico cruises aboard Celebration (Jubilee will operate a two-day cruise-to-nowhere Aug. 17 then launch a similar four- and five-day program from Galveston beginning Aug. 19)
New York - two-day cruises-to-nowhere departing June 20 and June 22, four- and five-day Canada voyages June 24 - Sept. 2; and seven-day Canada/New England "fall foliage" cruises departing Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28 aboard Carnival Triumph; and two-day cruises-to-nowhere departing Oct. 17 and 19, a three-day cruise-to-nowhere Oct. 3, and 11-day Canada/New England "fall foliage" cruises Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 on Carnival Legend
Seward/Anchorage - series of seven-day southbound Alaska Glacier Route cruises on Carnival Spirit May 29 - Sept. 4
Vancouver - series of seven-day northbound Alaska Glacier Route and Glacier Bay cruises departing May 15 - Sept. 18, and a 12-day Hawaii voyage departing Sept. 25 aboard Carnival Spirit
Ensenada - 12-day Hawaii cruise departing April 21 aboard Carnival Spirit Honolulu - 12-day Hawaii voyages departing May 3 and Oct. 7 on Carnival Spirit
Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world with 16 "Fun Ships" operating voyages of two to 17 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda and Europe. The line currently has five new ships with an estimated value of $2.2 billion scheduled for delivery between now and 2004. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visit www.carnival.com.
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN REPORTS 2001 RESULTS
MIAMI - (January 29, 2002) - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today earnings for the year of $254.5 million, or $1.32 per share, compared with $445.4 million, or $2.31 per share in 2000. Earnings were negatively impacted during the year by the events of September 11 and ships out of service, partially offset by insurance proceeds. Excluding the impact of these items, net income would have been $318.9 million, or $1.65 per share. Revenues for the year were up 9.7% at $3.1 billion, compared with $2.9 billion in 2000. The increase in revenues for the year was due to a 20.8% increase in capacity, offset by a decline in net yields (net revenue per available berth day) of approximately 9%.
Revenues for the fourth quarter were $656.0 million, up 2.2% from $642.1 million in 2000. The increase in revenues was due primarily to the increase in capacity in the quarter, partially offset by a change in yields. Net revenue yields for the quarter were down 10.7%, primarily due to the impact of the events of September 11. During the quarter, the company significantly reduced its cost structure. Operating expenses and SG&A were down approximately 10% on a per-available-berth-day basis from the same quarter in 2000. Also included in the quarter were $6.5 million, or $0.03 per share, in severance expenses related to the previously announced shoreside reduction in workforce. The company reported a net loss of $39.0 million for the quarter, or $0.20 per share, as compared with net income of $30.1 million, or $0.16 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2000.
"It goes without saying that the events of September 11 have had an impact on us both professionally and personally, and will for quite some time to come," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "However, I am very encouraged by the speed at which bookings for the industry, and our company in particular, are moving towards normalcy. Occupancy for the fourth quarter, which we earlier anticipated would be in the low 90% range, ended up at 96%. January occupancy was 103%, indicating that we have returned to more normal levels. The wave season began a couple of weeks ago, and early indications are positive."
Since the start of the 'wave period', the company has broken several bookings records for both Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, as well as the overall company in 2002. For example, during the week ended January 18, the Royal Caribbean International brand took a record 147,819 bookings. For the week ended January 25, booking volumes for the first quarter sailings were running 78% ahead of the same week in 2001, with discount levels on new bookings only 5% higher. Booking volumes for the second quarter were 18% higher, with discounts of 4%. During the company's January 8 conference call, guidance was given that first quarter net yields would be lower than in 2001 by 10-15%. Current estimates are that the final number will be at the low end of the range. The company continues to believe 2002 yields will improve each quarter thereafter.
"Despite the challenges, 2001 was a year of significant accomplishments for the company," said Fain. The company successfully introduced an unprecedented four new ships in 2001, including Radiance of the Seas, the first of the Radiance-class vessels. The average age of the fleet is now only five years, which the company believes is the youngest of any of the major operators, and many of the company's ships offer amenities that are unique in the industry.
In addition, Royal Celebrity Tours had a very promising start in 2001. Operations in Alaska during its inaugural season were rated "good" or "excellent" by 98% of guests. "We are looking forward to the 2002 season, when two more domed railcars will be delivered, allowing us to continue to expand this exciting business that is so complementary to our cruise operations," said Fain.
Cost-savings initiatives introduced in 2000 and early 2001 came to fruition during the year. The strong focus on efficiency allowed the company to reduce operating costs and SG&A on a per-available-berth-day basis significantly this year. Excluding the impact of oil costs, this improvement was 4.5%. The company is continuing efforts on this front, and expects to see an additional 5% unit cost improvement in 2002. This does not include the cost savings the company hopes to achieve through the DLC merger with P&O Princess.
"Regarding the merger," said Fain, "we continue to be very excited about the opportunities we feel this transaction offers both our companies, and we are eagerly awaiting a positive outcome at our respective shareholder meetings on February 14."
The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. eastern time today to discuss its earnings. This call can be listened to, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company's investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com. A slide presentation will accompany the conference call, and is also available for viewing at the web site.
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COMPLIMENTARY 'DOUBLE UPGRADES' NOW AVAILABLE ON A VARIETY OF 'FUN SHIP' CRUISE DEPARTURES
MIAMI (01/28/02) - As part of Carnival Cruise Lines' 30th anniversary celebration, the line is now offering complimentary "double upgrades" on a variety of 2002 "Fun Ship" departures. The new promotion is available on a wide range of two- to 17-day "Fun Ship" cruises departing May 1 - Dec. 17, 2002, including voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, New England and Canada. To be eligible for the special upgrade, bookings must be made between now and Feb. 17, 2002.
"With consumers beginning to make their summer and fall vacation plans, this special 'double upgrade' promotion provides travel agents with a wonderful sales tool for enticing their clients to book a 'Fun Ship' cruise vacation," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
The "double upgrade" promotion is capacity controlled and applies to new individual bookings for cabin categories 4A and higher. Upgrades are available within specific stateroom accommodation types (i.e. interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, balcony to balcony, etc.). The offer is combinable with Carnival's advance purchase Super Saver discount program. Holiday departures excluded. Upgrades limited to balcony staterooms on Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend. Certain other restrictions apply. Travel agents must request fare code CPU5 when making the reservation. For additional information and reservations, contact Carnival's individual reservations department at 1-800-327-9501. Information and reservations are also available on-line via www.carnival.com.
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PRINCESS EXPANDS AUTOMATIC GRATUITY PROGRAM
Convenient Tipping Option Now Includes All Shipboard Service Staff
Princess has made it easier than ever for passengers to recognize the waiters, assistant waiters and cabin stewards who serve them during their cruise. The line recently expanded its automatic gratuity program to cover all service staff with a convenient daily charge of $10 per person, which is placed on the passenger's shipboard account.
"When we introduced Personal Choice Dining, we began an automatic gratuity program for the dining room staff that was very well received, as it made tipping convenient and hassle-free," said Dean Brown, Princess' executive vice president of customer service and sales. "As a result, we have now expanded the program to cover all dining and accommodation staff who serve our passengers so well, giving our guests one less thing to concern themselves with at the end of their cruise."
In keeping with Princess' emphasis on Personal Choice Cruising, passengers can easily make adjustments to the automatic charge. Those who wish to change the amount given, or who would prefer to tip crew members in person, can do so by visiting or simply calling the front desk at any time during their cruise.
"Passengers who choose to tip in the traditional manner can continue to do so," said Brown. "This program is an addition to our onboard service. We are not taking anything away from our customers' choices."
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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ALTERS NORWEGIAN STAR ITINERARY
THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002
New Ship Will Call at Hilo Instead of Kona
Miami - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced Norwegian Star will call at Hilo instead of Kona, Hawaii through March 31, 2002. The decision comes after the successful testing of the operational feasibility of Hilo for two weeks as well as receiving positive feedback from passengers, who were able to spend more time on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Additionally, the stop at Hilo allows passengers to experience popular shore excursions including the Volcano National Park Odyssey, featuring Mount Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes.
"Hilo offers us the opportunity to dock at the Big Island of Hawaii instead of tendering to it, which allows passengers to spend more time on the Big Island and more time overall experiencing the beautiful Hawaiian Islands," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. "In Kona, inclement weather together with the absence of shore tenders, has sometimes prevented us from performing the tendering operation to our satisfaction. Hilo, in the winter months at least, is the best alternative and we believe our guests will be happy with the change."
Guests with pre-booked Kona shore excursions will be moved over to similar tours where possible. In cases where this is not feasible, pre-booked guests will have first preference of available Hilo tours. Pre-booked guests can log on to www.ncl.com for information on Hilo excursions and fax or e-mail their choices to 305-436-4110 or . Or they may visit the Shore Excursions Desk upon arrival on Norwegian Star.
New sample itinerary:
| Day |
Port |
Arrive
|
Depart
|
| Sun 1/27 |
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
--
|
8:00pm
|
| Mon 1/28 |
Hilo, Hawaii |
7:00am
|
1:00pm
|
| Tue 1/29 |
At Sea |
--
|
--
|
| Wed 1/30 |
Fanning Island, Republic of Kiribati |
9:00am
|
3:00pm
|
| Thu 1/31 |
At Sea |
--
|
--
|
| Fri 2/01 |
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii |
1:00pm
|
10:00pm
|
| Sat 2/02 |
Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hawaii |
8:00am
|
4:00pm
|
| Sun 2/03 |
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
7:00am
|
--
|
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PRINCESS ANNOUNCES REVISED 2002/2003 EXOTICS PROGRAM
Line Debuts New Australia/New Zealand Itinerary and South America Cruisetour
Jan 23, 2002 - Princess continues to lead the way in world-wide cruising in 2002/2003 with an Exotics program that features 17 itineraries to more than 80 exciting ports of call in Australia, New Zealand, the islands of the South Pacific, Asia and South America. In addition, Princess offers the industry's most comprehensive cruisetour options, with land/sea programs available in Australia, China, and, for the first time, South America with a new tour in Argentina.
"Our many years of experience in Exotics destinations enables us to offer passengers the opportunity to see some of the world's most interesting places while also enjoying the comfort and service that sets Princess apart," says Dean Brown, executive vice president of customer service and sales. "With our dozens of itineraries to ports around the world, Princess takes more passengers to more places across the globe than any other line."
Pacific Islands/Asia/Australia:
The 2002/2003 Exotics season begins with the 1,590-passenger Regal Princess as she embarks on a series of cruises throughout the South Pacific, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. First up is a 10-day repositioning cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii, followed by a voyage back through history with a 22-day Pacific Islands cruise that visits some of WWII's most important battle sites.
Regal Princess explores the wonders of Asia with a 12-day cruise between Osaka and Beijing, and a 16-day cruise between Beijing and Bangkok. Both sailings can be combined with Princess' popular China cruisetours that take passengers deeper into this fascinating country. Four different offerings include visits to places such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Yangtze River and Hong Kong.
Regal Princess also heads "Down Under" for a series of cruises on a new 12-day Australia/ New Zealand itinerary, which can be combined with one of five cruisetour offerings for a land/sea vacation that takes in many of Australia's famed attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs and the Port Douglas, Dunk Island and Silky Oaks resorts.
For a taste of both the Outback and the Far East, Regal Princess offers an enhanced 18-day Australia/Asia cruise now including Ho Chi Minh City and Darwin, a center of Aboriginal culture and the gateway to Kakadu National Park. In addition, a 19-day Australia/Asia cruise combines Bali and Singapore with the rarely visited Australian cities of Perth and Albany.
Regal Princess finishes the season with a look at these cultures and many others with a 30-day Bangkok to Rome sailing departing April 8, 2003.
Hawaii/South Pacific:
Idyllic ports of call such as Maui, Kauai, Moorea and Bora Bora, combined with the Personal Choice Cruising options aboard the 1,950-passenger Dawn Princess and Sun Princess, create the perfect atmosphere for exploring the tropics. Dawn Princess offers nine- and 10-day Hawaii cruises, as well as a 12-day Tahiti/Hawaii sailing featuring an overnight stay in Tahiti. Sun Princess offers the convenience of a round-trip voyage from Los Angeles with its two 15-day cruises to the Hawaiian Islands.
South America:
Royal Princess, a long-time passenger favorite, returns to South America for 2002/2003, beginning with a revised Fort Lauderdale to Santiago sailing on December 26. Passengers will enjoy a 16-day voyage to Aruba, Cartagena, the Panama Canal, Quito (Equador), Lima (overnight), Pisco (Peru), Arica (Chile) and La Serena (Chile).
The 1,200-passenger vessel will then offer a series of 14-day Cape Horn/Strait of Magellan cruises between Santiago and Buenos Aires, which feature the dramatic transit around the southern tip of South America. For those who would like to extend their vacation, Princess has added its first South America cruisetour option in conjunction with this voyage. The Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls land option features four days to experience the rhythmic passion of Argentina and the beauty of Iguazu Falls.
Royal Princess' end-of-season sailing on April 17, 2003 reprises its South America/Andes itinerary between Santiago and Fort Lauderdale, and features shore tours to Machu Picchu and the mysterious Nazca lines.
In addition to Princess' extensive cruisetour options, the company's Cruise Plus program also provides passengers with several opportunities to extend their vacations with pre- and post-cruise hotel packages and tours in many port cities, including Sydney, Auckland, Beijing, Bangkok, Osaka, Honolulu, Buenos Aires, and Santiago.
Early booking fares for Exotics sailings begin at $1,595 per person, cruise only. Special group rates are also available.
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PRINCESS "MAXIMUM MCKINLEY" TOURS BECOME BEST-SELLERS
New Cruisetours Offer Extra Days at Denali National Park
Jan 21, 2002 - Princess' "Maximum McKinley" cruisetours have so far become the runaway best-sellers of the company's more than 50 land/sea options for the 2002 Alaska season. The top attraction in Alaska, Denali National Park is a perennial favorite among Princess cruisetour passengers. As a result, Princess has added or expanded 27 special itineraries to feature extra time near the park, with two- and three-night stays at the company's two exclusive properties in the Denali area, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.
"Previously, passengers had to choose between our two Denali riverside lodges," said Dean Brown, Princess' executive vice president of customer service and sales. "Now with most of our Maximum McKinley tours, they can stay at both properties, with extra time to really enjoy the best of what the area has to offer. We certainly provide more options in Denali than any other tour company, with the most beautiful properties in the region that also remain true to their wilderness settings."
This extra time in the shadow of the "Great One," Mt. McKinley, not only gives passengers a better opportunity to admire the tallest peak in North America, but also to explore the park's six million acres of wildlife, mountains, tundra and pure wilderness from the comfort of Princess' own lodges.
Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge offers stunning views of its namesake mountain with floor-to-ceiling windows in the dazzling Great Room. Other lodge features include a massive stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, lobby piano, outdoor hot tubs, children's playground, and nature trails that stretch for miles. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, located just one mile from the entrance of Denali National Park, features an expansive outdoor deck overlooking the Nenana River and is the perfect base camp for park excursions. The lodge even offers a complimentary shuttle service between the property and the Park Visitor Center for independent explorers.
For those who want to make the most of their time in Denali, each lodge offers an extensive line-up of adventures, including heli-hiking, horseback riding, flightseeing, kayaking, sport fishing, river rafting, hiking, walking on a glacier or park ranger talks.
Maximum McKinley tours also feature travel aboard the company's exclusive Ultra Dome Midnight Sun Express rail cars, and many include stays at the line's other Alaska properties -- Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and the new Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. Individually personalized tours are also available through the company's Tour Customization Program.
Princess cruisetours also include a seven-day sailing on the company's famed "Voyage of the Glaciers" Gulf of Alaska itinerary. Passengers can choose to sail on any one of four of the line's ships, including the largest and most amenity-filled vessel to sail in these waters, the new Star Princess.
Fares for Maximum McKinley cruisetours begin at $1,549 per person, based on double occupancy. For more information about these, or other Princess cruisetours, contact the company's cruisetour number, 1-800-426-0442.
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SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II to Call On Miami for Her Debut
MIAMI, Jan 28, 2002 - In a scant five months after Atle Brynestad and Larry Pimentel dreamed of a new and unique company, offering an ultra luxury yacht holiday experience, that dream has turned to reality. The company, SeaDream Yacht Club, is off and running and the first of its two mega yachts, SeaDream II, is sailing into Miami January 31 to be displayed February 1-8, the travel industry and others by special invitation only.
Brynestad, owner of SeaDream Yacht Club, is the Norwegian entrepreneur who founded Seabourn Cruise Line. His colleague and co-owner Pimentel, was President of Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Line. In August 2001, the pair purchased SeaDream I and II which were originally introduced as the twin Sea Goddesses, prototypes of the ultra luxury yachting experience.
SeaDream II will arrive at the Port of Miami fresh from a complete redesign in a European shipyard. Her twin, SeaDream I, currently sailing the Caribbean, will undergo the same reincarnation in April this year. SeaDream II will sail to the Caribbean after her Miami debut where both SeaDream I and II will offer seven-day sailings out of St. Thomas. In December 2002 they will utilize Miami as home port on sailings that will include Nassau, San Salvador, Rose Island and Key West. In May they will operate seven day Mediterranean sailings using Nice as their hub and calling on ports along the French and Italian Riviera. Annual itineraries call for the pair to sail in the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter.
Both Brynestad and Pimentel will be on hand in Miami to welcome their yacht. Pimentel, now Chairman and CEO of SeaDream Yacht Club, expressed the feelings of Brynestad and his small group of SeaDream colleagues:
"At a time when passenger shipping lines are becoming ever more gigantic and smaller lines are being snapped up by the big boys, this is a demonstration of what a small entrepreneurial company can accomplish when it puts its creativity and energy to the task. Quite simply, SeaDream Yacht Club is a new kind of company and SeaDream I and II will offer a new and exciting type of seagoing holiday.
"SeaDream I and II will offer an unstructured, free-form yachting holiday at sea with plenty of room for personal choice--no clocks, no crowds, no lines and no stress,'' Pimentel stated.
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HOLLAND AMERICA'S UNIVERSITY AT SEA PROGRAM COMBINES CONTINUING EDUCATION AND CRUISING VACATION
Seattle, Jan 25, 2002 - Health care professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, chiropractors and veterinarians typically have to juggle time for continuing education against time relaxing on true vacation.
With Holland America Line's University at Sea program, they can do both: earn continuing education credits in their profession while enjoying a five-star vacation aboard a premium cruise ship in the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Mediterranean and, for the first time, Canada and New England.
Holland America is offering a total of 35 professional University at Sea courses in 2002, the majority designed for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and health care providers. They can select from 20 accredited courses including such diverse topics as anesthesiology, gastroenterology, emergency medicine, family practice, pediatrics, pain management, dermatology and women's health. Eight other courses provide updates in dentistry, chiropractic, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. University at Sea courses are offered primarily on Holland America's seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises aboard the ms Maasdam, plus two 10-day Southern Caribbean/Panama Canal cruises on the ms Rotterdam. The seven-day cruises sail virtually year-round, and the 10-day cruises operate in February and October 2002.
For the first time, Holland America will feature a University at Sea course on its seven-day Canada and New England cruise aboard the Rotterdam departing July 6. The "Update in Family Medicine" course is geared toward MDs, RNs, NPs and other medical professionals and provides accreditation of 16 CME hours or 19 contact hours. Holland America features University at Sea courses on numerous seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises to Alaska aboard the ms Statendam between May 19 and Aug. 25. The company also is offering a course on its 10-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the Rotterdam departing Oct. 31. The professional course fees range from $299 to $695 [CAN $455 to $1,055]. Participants receive 12 to 19 hours of classroom time, depending on the course, plus complete course materials, appropriate credit registration and certificate of attendance.
Interested guests should reserve their space in a course at least 60 days prior to sailing. Guests should contact their travel agent for information on program details, speakers, fees, credentials, and credits. For additional information, phone University at Sea at 1-800-926-3775 or visit www.universityatsea.com for a complete course schedule.
For more information regarding Holland America Line cruises, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
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SEABOURN RIDING A WAVE OF RENEWED CONFIDENCE, SALES
Twelve Week Booked Revenues Over Three Times Greater Than Prior Year
MIAMI, Jan 28, 2002 - Ultra luxury cruise operator Seabourn Cruise Line reports that it has experienced a three-month wave in which it booked net revenues exceeding those in the same period last year by 307 percent. This trend follows a six-week downturn immediately after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.
"Prior to September 11th, we had accrued twelve weeks of sales exceeding the same weeks in the prior year," said Rick Meadows, CTC, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Seabourn. "We experienced the same drop-off as everyone else after that," he continued. "But after only six weeks, sales climbed back well above prior year, and they have continued to build since then, right through the Holidays. It started with close-in business, but now we are booking well into the summer season and beyond."
Meadows attributes the strong results to a renewed confidence in Seabourn among upscale travel agents and their clients. He pointed to several key actions by the line which he believes have contributed to this confidence. Initially, the line re-positioned the brand as The Yachts of Seabourn, focusing on the excellent reputation of its intimate, exclusive, 208-guest Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend among travel agents selling to affluent, luxury-seeking clients. New advertising, collateral and direct mail were created, concentrating on the exceptional level of personalized service made possible by the Seabourn ships' intimate size and nearly one-to-one staff to guest ratios.
Simultaneously, the company introduced a continuing series of enhancements to the onboard product that included 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 well-being products and a selection of soothing and revitalizing bathing experiences by Molton Brown, London.
"People who have sailed on the Yachts of Seabourn are coming back and telling their agents about their experience," said Meadows. "The buzz among the agents and the guests is clearly that Seabourn is back. And the good news for agents and for us is that we still have prime inventory left to sell"
Tom Baker of CruiseCenter.com in Houston, Texas recently sailed on Seabourn Legend. Asked about his experience, he said: " I have been cruising since I was five years old and I've sailed on over a hundred different ships, including the most highly rated ships in the world, and this was without doubt the finest service I have ever experienced. And that includes any hotel or restaurant anywhere. The food was superb and the service was just magnificent. There are some other ships out there that claim to be six star, but Seabourn clearly surpasses them all."
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. Seabourn Cruise Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Together, these member lines share a commitment to quality and value, offering cruise vacations that appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets and sail to some of the world's most exciting destinations. For information on the Yachts of Seabourn contact a travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
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FROM ANTARCTICA TO THE TROPICS, CRYSTAL CRUISES UNVEILS 104-DAY WORLD CRUISE FOR 2003
World Cruise Firsts: East Coast Departure and Antarctica
LOS ANGELES, Jan 24, 2002 - Crystal Cruises will set sail for its eighth annual World Cruise in winter 2003, touring four continents and visiting 37 ports of call in 15 countries. Two firsts will distinguish Crystal Symphony's globe-spanning cruise, "Wonders of the Southern Seas," the luxury liner will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Crystal's first-ever East Coast embarkation for its annual World Cruise, and she will navigate through Antarctica's icy waters, a destination never before visited by the floating resort. Also new for the 2003 104-day journey are a circumnavigation of South America and Australia, and a host of other exotic locales in North America and the South Pacific. While the "Wonders of the Southern Seas" concludes in Los Angeles, those who prefer a round-trip Ft. Lauderdale voyage may continue on a convenient 15-day Panama Canal cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.
As in past years, Crystal Cruises surveyed thousands of past guests and top-producing travel agents regarding their itinerary preferences. The resulting 2003 World Cruise was crafted from responses earning the highest level of interest. "Each year our goal is to create the luxury cruise experience of a lifetime," says Gregg L. Michel, president, Crystal Cruises. "We also appreciate, perhaps more so than ever, that many of our guests value the convenience of domestic embarkation and disembarkation ports."
Crystal Symphony's 2003 World Cruise itinerary travels from sunny Caribbean climes to South America's diverse topography, around Cape Horn and Antarctica, into the hallowed South Pacific, onto the untamed outback of Australia, stopping in the Hawaiian Islands and returning to Los Angeles. The voyage features four maiden calls, including the island of Huahine in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, the Australian ports of Launceston and Exmouth in the provinces of Tasmania and Western Australia, and Porto Belo, Brazil.
Other ports of call on the world cruise are St. John and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; St. Kitts, West Indies; Fortaleza and Rio, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Valparaiso and Easter Island, Chile; Adamstown, Pitcairn Island; Papeete and Mooréa, Tahiti; Bora Bora, Society Islands; Nuku'alofa, Tonga; Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand; Tasmania; Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Sydney, Australia; Nouméa, New Caledonia; Lautoka, Fiji; Honolulu and Lahaina, Hawaii.
Guests can delve into the diversity of the world's wonders, as Crystal Cruises has once again developed a full array of enriching experiences in its noted land and overland adventures. Urban escapades such as a tango in Buenos Aires, the "Paris of the South," the mystical experience of pondering Easter Island's "Moi" and the exploration of the natural wonders in Kakadu, Australia's largest terrestrial national park are a few of the excursions being planned.
World Value Fares for the full 2003 World Cruise start at $41,455 per person, double occupancy, and include round-trip First or Business Class air transportation (depending on stateroom category) from a Crystal Cruises North American air gateway city, private car airport/ship/home transfers, pre-paid gratuities, $1,000 shipboard spending credit, luxury overnight hotel accommodations and gala bon voyage party in Ft. Lauderdale the night before embarkation, as well as overnight programs and exclusive events in key destinations, such as Buenos Aires and Sydney. Crystal Cruises offers savings of 3.5 percent if payment in full is received 180 days prior to departure.
Guests who wish to sail on shorter passages, ranging in length from 18 to 27 days, may join the cruise in Buenos Aires, Valparaíso, Auckland, or Sydney. These voyages may be shorter, but they do not skimp on luxury. The same opulent appointments, crystal glassware, fine linens and personalized touch of daily fresh flowers, extend to every guest. Cruise fares for the shorter World Voyages begin at $7,610 per person, double occupancy, and include a complimentary pre-cruise, two-night hotel package. Complimentary air transportation is also included for guests who sail for two or more of the World Voyages. Guests booking a single World Voyage option can also take advantage of specially priced airfares.
The 50,000-ton, 940-guest Crystal Symphony and her sister ship, Crystal Harmony, are two of the most spacious and luxurious vessels cruising 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. The Six-Star rated liners feature pampering refinements such as grand lounges, a lavish spa adhering to the principles of Feng Shui, and exquisitely-appointed staterooms, more than half of which offer private verandahs. Coupled with these luxurious appointments are expansive decks, two pools, a full-service fitness facility, Computer , Crystal Cruises' award-winning cuisine plus entertainment and the only Caesars Palace at Sea casino.
Crystal Symphony and Crystal Harmony are operated by Crystal Cruises, winner of the travel industry's most distinguished hospitality awards and guidebook ratings. Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through professional travel agents. For a complimentary 2003 Cruise Guide, please call 800.820.6663. Visit the luxury liner's web site at www.crystalcruises.com.
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New Holland America video takes viewers
on a spectacular Alaskan adventure
Seattle, Jan 23, 2002 - Calving glaciers, charging grizzlies and majestic peaks are just some of the highlights in Holland America Line-Westours' stunning new video, the Great Alaska Tours. The spectacular video reminds seasoned Alaska travelers of the grandeur of the state, and whets the appetite for others to experience the wildlife, scenery and Alaska culture first hand.
"Alaska and the Yukon are such scenic and exciting destinations with a new adventure around every corner," said Paul Allen, vice president of Alaska marketing and sales. "This new video brings the experience of a Holland America cruisetour alive so travelers can get a glimpse of the incredible sites they'll visit when they join us."
The narrator takes the viewer on a 14-day "Dream Tour" beginning in Anchorage and traveling to Denali National Park, Fairbanks, the Yukon River and Dawson City, Whitehorse and Skagway, where tour guests board their luxurious Holland America ship for a cruise to Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and the Inside Passage to Vancouver, B.C. Along the way, the video features all-new footage of Holland America destinations, shore excursions and ships in Alaska.
The video highlights the many options the viewer has in various destinations. In Denali National Park the video features clips from a wild river rafting trip, a peaceful horseback ride, a dog mushing demonstration, hiking, flightseeing and the hilarious Cabin Night Dinner Theater. In Dawson City it' Diamond Tooth Gerties and a walking tour of the old mining town. There also are images of huge glaciers, colorful wildflowers, and trips on Holland America's Yukon Queen II and the McKinley Explorer, both featuring Holland America's renowned service. To order copies, call 877-724-5425. Cost is US$9.95 plus $2 shipping in the United States and US$9.95 plus $4 shipping (US funds) in Canada.
The "Dream Tour" featured in the video is only one of the 31 available Alaska tours and cruisetours. New Additions Enhance 2002 Cruisetour Program 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.
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HOLLAND AMERICA PAYS $50,000 TO TRAVEL AGENTS
FOR FIVE-STAR SWEEPSTAKES
Seattle, WA, Jan 23, 2002 - Holland America Line recently presented 18 travel agents from across the United States and Canada with cash prizes in amounts ranging from $10,000 down to $1,000 for booking Holland America cruises and cruisetours departing during the last half of 2001.
"As a part of our $50,000 Five-Star Sweepstakes, I am pleased to present these cash awards to very deserving partners in the cruise industry and great friends of Holland America," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "Especially now, I think it comes with perfect timing for a job well done."
The $50,000 Five-Star Sweepstakes contest rewarded travel agents in a contest last spring for making bookings on cruises and cruisetours departing between May 7 and December 31, 2001. Winners were selected after all booked passengers had cruised.
Winning the Grand Prize of $10,000 is Lotta Braswell off AAA Travel in Torrance, California. Five agents won $5,000 awards: Judy Fisher, Point Grey Cruiseship Center, North Vancouver, BC; Nancy Driskell, Southern Oregon Travel, Grants Pass, OR; Colleen Eultgen, USAA Cruise Travel, St. Louis, MO; Susan Fitzgerald, AAA South, Sarasota, FL; and AAA Travel in Oregon.
Recipients of $2000 awards are Mary Doyle, Harmon Travel, Boise, ID; Florence Kaplan, Jefferson Travel, Tamarac, FL; Harula McLardie, The Cruise Professionals, Mississauga, Ontario. Receiving $1,000 each are Louise West, Elmes Travel, Montecito, CA; Janet Rathy, CruisePlus Management, Lantzville, BC; Penny Harper, East Town Travel, Milwaukee, WI; Donelle DuFault, America Way Travel, West Lake Village, CA; Deborah Alexander, AAA Inland Auto Association, Spokane, WA; Judi Tarber, Accent Travel, Inverness, FL; Cathy Inness, Custom World Travel, North Palm Beach, FL; Patricia Helm, AAA Washington, Lynnwood, WA; and David Yannone, S&H Travel, Inc., Houston, TX.
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Carnival Corporation Declares First Quarter Dividend
MIAMI, Jan 23 - Carnival Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share for the first quarter ending February 28, 2002. The dividend is payable on March 14, 2002, to shareholders of record on February 28, 2002.
Carnival Corporation is comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise line based on passengers carried, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises. Carnival Corporation's various brands operate 43 ships in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexican Riviera, South America and other worldwide destinations. Additional information can be obtained via Carnival Corporation's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com.
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Carnival Corporation Antitrust Review Process
LONDON, Jan 23 - Carnival announces that on 22 January 2002 it received a request for additional information from the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") in relation to its Offer for P&O Princess. Carnival had expected to receive such a request in the course of the normal review process and continues to provide information and to assist the FTC in its investigation.
This expected action continues to keep both the Carnival Offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal under review at the FTC at the same time, on the same timetable and by the same lawyers and economists, who will apply the same legal standards and analysis to both proposals based on the same information.
Carnival continues to believe, and has been so advised, that there is no material difference between the regulatory conditions attaching to the Carnival Offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal.
Terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Announcement dated 16 December 2001. The directors of Carnival accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Carnival (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained herein for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
Merrill Lynch International and UBS Warburg Ltd., a subsidiary of UBS AG, are acting as joint financial advisors and joint corporate brokers exclusively to Carnival and no-one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Carnival for providing the protections afforded to clients respectively of Merrill Lynch International and UBS Warburg Ltd. as the case may be or for providing advice in relation to the Offer.
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NCL Offers New Travel Agent Incentive
to Support Homeland Cruising Program
MIAMI, Jan 21, 2002 - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has developed a travel agent incentive tic-tac-toe game to support the company's new Homeland Cruising program, which has regularly scheduled round-trip seven-day cruises from more US and Canadian ports than any other cruise line. Agents can win fun NCL logo prizes, $500 and be entered into a contest to win the grand prize of a complimentary cruise for two on the brand new Norwegian Star in one of the largest suites afloat -- the magnificent Garden Villas.
The game card looks similar to a tic-tac-toe board and agents win prizes by selling the cruises in each square. Agents who sell enough cruises to fill in any one row down, across or diagonally, just like tic-tac-toe, receive an NCL beach bag and towel. Agents who can fill in any two rows down, across or diagonally receive an NCL logo jacket. Agents who fill in the full card receive an NCL logo bathrobe and entry to win one of 10 $500 cash prizes. All agents awarded prizes will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for a one-week cruise in Hawaii onboard Norwegian Star in one of the 5,300 square foot Garden Villas. Sailings must be booked and deposited by March 31, 2002 and voyages must be taken by December 31, 2002.
"The Sell and Sail America Tic-Tac-Toe promotion provides a fun and rewarding way for agents to sell cruises while learning about our new Homeland Cruising program, which has become the cornerstone for our 2002 fleet deployment," said Andy Stuart, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The cash prizes and Garden Villa drawings will be held the first week of January 2003. Each travel agent is limited to five claimed prizes for each type of reward. Travel agencies are limited to 50 claimed prizes for each type of reward.
NCL's new Homeland Cruising program offers passengers regularly-scheduled, seven-day, round-trip cruises from more ports in the United States and Canada than any other cruise line. Ships sail round-trip from eight U.S. and Canadian 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. In addition, NCL offers operations from Los Angeles and Montreal on one-way cruises.
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and industry innovator that currently operates a fleet of nine ships sailing to more than 140 ports around the world. NCL took delivery of its two newest ships Norwegian Sun, August 2001 and Norwegian Star, October 2001. NCL is currently building Norwegian Dawn, a 2,200-passenger sister ship to Norwegian Star (delivery in December 2002). For further information on NCL, contact a travel agent or 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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WINDSTAR CRUISES RETURNS TO TAHITI
Wind Song Sailings Begin May 2002
Seattle, WA, Jan 21, 2002 - Windstar Cruises announces that it will return to Tahiti and her islands in May of 2002, after a four-and-a-half year hiatus. The msy Wind Song will sail a total of 34 newly announced cruises in 2002.
A joint agreement between the government of French Polynesia and Windstar Cruises was signed last Thursday, January 17, 2002. The public signing ceremony was held in Papeete, Tahiti, gateway to the South Pacific.
"This agreement is a tourism boon for both Tahiti and Windstar. We are thrilled to be renewing our long-standing relationship," said Tom Russell, vice president of marketing and sales for Windstar Cruises. "Historically, Tahiti has been one of our most popular destinations--it's the perfect match for Windstar's luxury sailing ships. We anticipate that these cruises will fill up quickly," Russell added. "Many of our past guests have been eagerly awaiting our return to Tahiti and her islands."
The 148-passenger sailing yacht Wind Song was designed specifically for cruising among tropical islands and spent her first ten years from 1987 to 1997 plying the crystalline waters of the South Pacific. With her four tall masts and 21,500 square feet of soaring white sails, the Wind Song will ride on the famous South Pacific trade winds.
"We are looking forward to welcoming Windstar back and introducing many new guests to Tahiti and our spectacular islands," stated Al Keahi, managing director of Los Angeles-based Tahiti Tourisme.
An early booking rate is being offered on all 34 Tahiti cruises booked by April 30, 2002. Cruise-only rates include cruise fare and port charges and taxes. Air-inclusive rates include round-trip airfare, all necessary transfers, a dayroom, cruise fare, port charges and taxes, and are available only on departures from Tahiti. All rates are listed per person based on double occupancy (pp/do), including port charges and taxes.
Wind Song will begin her South Pacific journey on May 1, 2002 with a 14-day repositioning cruise from Auckland, New Zealand to Papeete, Tahiti. The ship will cross the International Date Line and stop at Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Atiu in the Cook Islands. The South Pacific repositioning early booking rate starts at US$3,595 [CDN$5,210] pp/do.
The season kicks off with a 10-day "Tahiti Reunion" cruise sailing round-trip from Papeete, Tahiti on May 14, 2002. Passengers aboard this memorable cruise will celebrate Wind Song's return and visit the idyllic islands of Rangiroa, Arutua, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. The "Tahiti Reunion" early booking rate starts at US$3,895 [CDN$5,645] pp/do for cruise-only; and US$4,595 [CDN$6,659] pp/do for air-inclusive. The Wind Song sails thirty-two 7-day cruises through the end of 2002. Passengers will board in Papeete, Tahiti on Friday afternoon and spend a week visiting Tahiti and her exotic islands of Raiatea, Huahine, Bora Bora, and Moorea.
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Miami, FL, Jan 11, 2002- 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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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE TAKES TOP HONORS IN ONBOARD SERVICES MAGAZINE COMPETITION
Seattle, Jan 21, 2002 - Holland America Line-Westours garnered six awards, including top recognition for its onboard service and entertainment, during The Onboard Service Magazine Awards presented in January. The company took top honors, the Diamond Award, in the Onboard Service category for meeting the challenge of staffing three new ships, the ms Volendam, ms Zaandam and the ms Amsterdam, in one year. The award also recognized the important role SS Jakarta, Holland America's training school for Indonesian cabin and dining room staff, played in preparing staff for the three ships.
Holland America also was presented with a Diamond Award in the Entertainment category. This award recognized Holland America's more unusual entertainment programs, including the "Running of the Mousse," a dinnertime parade of chocolate mousse desserts on Alaska cruises, and "Masters Golf," a Dutch-themed, 6-hole mini golf tournament.
The McKinley Explorer, Holland America's domed Alaska sightseeing rail line, won Emerald Awards for Onboard Service, Uniforms and Food Service. The leader in Alaska travel, Holland America 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. Many feature the McKinley Explorer luxury rail experience between Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
In addition, Onboard Services awarded Holland America a second place, Emerald Award, in Food Service for using the company's chef training program to improve menus.
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CARNIVAL CORPORATION RESPONSE TO P&O PRINCESS CRUISES PLC
1/21/2002 - Carnival notes today's announcement by P&O Princess that it has rejected Carnival's latest proposal and, once again, has refused to enter into a dialogue with Carnival.
Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival, commented:
"I am not surprised by P&O Princess' response, but I am terribly disappointed that the board of P&O Princess is so opposed to the Carnival proposal that its Chief Executive can state that he would not talk to us even if we further increased our already superior proposal. I believe that the board never had any intention of talking to us, regardless of what we offered, and is merely continuing to hide behind their agreement with Royal Caribbean. We have acted in good faith; P&O Princess shareholders will ultimately determine whether their board has acted in their best interests. Since the P&O Princess board will not discuss our superior proposal, we will take it directly to their shareholders."
Carnival has consistently tried to ensure that P&O Princess Shareholders are given the opportunity to judge both the Carnival Offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal on a level playing field. Carnival met the artificial deadline set by P&O Princess to put forward a revised proposal and by submitting such a clearly superior proposal had hoped to enter into discussions with the board of P&O Princess to the benefit of P&O Princess Shareholders. Once again, Carnival has been rebuffed. Carnival believes that by refusing to meet with Carnival to discuss this latest proposal, the board of P&O Princess is once again refusing to act in the best interests of P&O Princess Shareholders.
Carnival believes that its proposal, as outlined in its announcement dated 17 January 2002, is a financially superior and deliverable proposal. At the current value of 500 pence per P&O Princess Share, Carnival's proposal represents a 45.8 per cent. premium to the look through P&O Princess Share price of 343 pence implied by the "nil-premium" Royal Caribbean Proposal.
As set out in its previous announcements, Carnival has been advised that there is no material difference between the regulatory clearances attaching to its Offer and to that of the Royal Caribbean Proposal. Carnival is fully committed to pursuing a transaction with P&O Princess and has, contrary to the assertion by the board of P&O Princess, clearly set out its strategic rationale for a combination with P&O Princess.
Carnival continues to believe that P&O Princess Shareholders should have the opportunity to consider both proposals side by side, on their strategic and economic merits, once the regulatory outcome of both proposals is known. Carnival is concerned that P&O Princess Shareholders have not yet received absolute clarity from their board as to their ability to adjourn the EGM on 14 February 2002. Carnival has been advised that any such adjournment, if proposed by P&O Princess Shareholders, does not entitle Royal Caribbean to abandon its proposal unless Royal Caribbean is prepared to pay at least $62.5 million to P&O Princess. P&O Princess should therefore advise its shareholders whether, if P&O Princess Shareholders themselves propose and pass a resolution to adjourn the EGM, that would be a breach of the agreement with Royal Caribbean and/or would entitle Royal Caribbean to walk away.
Given the apparent refusal of the board of P&O Princess to consider Carnival's latest proposal seriously, Carnival intends to take its case directly to P&O Princess Shareholders and will be writing to them directly in due course.
Until such time, P&O Princess Shareholders should continue to pressurize the board of P&O Princess to enter into talks with Carnival and should wait until the EGM on 14 February 2002 before making a final decision on these issues. Accordingly, Carnival strongly urges P&O Princess Shareholders not to return the P&O Princess form of proxy and to vote to adjourn the 14 February 2002 EGM or, failing such adjournment being achieved, to vote against the existing DLC proposal with Royal Caribbean.
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Board of P&O Princess rejects pre-conditional proposal from Carnival
01/21/2002 - On 17 January 2002, P&O Princess Cruises plc ("P&O Princess") received a letter from Carnival Corporation ("Carnival") indicating that Carnival may be willing, subject to certain assumptions, to increase its pre-conditional offer to acquire P&O Princess to 500 pence per P&O Princess share.
The Board of P&O Princess has now had the opportunity to review Carnival's revised proposal in detail with its advisers and has concluded that the revised proposal is not as favorable financially to P&O Princess shareholders and is less likely to be completed than the transaction with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ("Royal Caribbean"). Accordingly, P&O Princess does not intend to meet with Carnival to discuss its revised proposal. The Board continues to recommend that shareholders vote in favor of the proposed combination with Royal Caribbean (the "Combination") at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 14 February 2002. Further details of the Board's considerations are set out below.
Value
In assessing value, the right comparison is between the price Carnival is proposing and the value that can be created from the Combination with Royal Caribbean. In combining with Royal Caribbean, P&O Princess believes that it is creating the world's largest cruise vacation company with the real potential to increase its EBITDA margins towards those of Carnival, the industry leader. P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean are an excellent strategic fit with strong brands and a high quality, flexible fleet. P&O Princess has already identified at least $100m of annual cost savings beginning 12 months after completion.
The Board believes that the Combination with Royal Caribbean is a unique opportunity to accelerate and build value for P&O Princess shareholders. The Board also believes that the cruise industry as a whole, notwithstanding the impact of the events of September 11, continues to enjoy good long-term growth prospects and will continue its rapid globalization. The Board believes that these factors provide the potential for both earnings and rating improvement, which should be reflected in the P&O Princess future share price.
In contrast, the proposal from Carnival is a takeover that represents an exit from P&O Princess and, for those shareholders who are unable or unwilling to hold Carnival shares, from the sector. The Board therefore believes that Carnival's proposal should not only recognize the value of P&O Princess with its leading brands, global strength, high quality assets and financial strength but should offer P&O Princess shareholders a premium which recognizes the full value of its long term potential.
In consultation with its financial advisers, and after taking into account all the above-mentioned factors, the Board has concluded that the takeover proposal from Carnival is not as favorable to P&O Princess shareholders from a financial point of view as the Combination with Royal Caribbean.
Deliverability
The Board considers that the Combination with Royal Caribbean has a good chance of being completed because:
- P&O Princess has a signed and binding contract with Royal Caribbean;
- P&O Princess has received an irrevocable commitment ensuring that 44.5% of Royal Caribbean's share capital will be voted in favor of the transaction at the Royal Caribbean shareholder meeting on 14 February; and
- whilst the completion of the contract is dependent upon certain regulatory approvals, P&O Princess has already received clearance from the German Federal Cartel Office, and has received advice from its legal advisers that the Combination should receive clearance in both the United Kingdom and United States.
Royal Caribbean insisted on certain provisions containing elements of deal protection in the Combination agreements. P&O Princess agreed to these provisions in order to secure the transaction and enable the proposed Combination to be put to its shareholders. These provisions include an agreement not to solicit alternative proposals. The agreements do permit discussions with a third party which has made an unsolicited proposal but only if the Board believes that such proposal qualifies as "superior" after taking into account both value and deliverability.
If the Board withdraws or modifies adversely its recommendation of the Combination with Royal Caribbean, or recommends an alternative transaction with Carnival, Royal Caribbean will have the right to terminate its agreements with P&O Princess. Given this contractual position and in view of Royal Caribbean's high level of commitment to the Combination, the Board has also considered carefully the level of Carnival's commitment and the deliverability of its proposal.
Carnival has not stated any clear strategic reasons as to why it wants to acquire P&O Princess. Prior to the announcement of the proposed Combination with Royal Caribbean, Carnival's only approach with regard to a business combination in the whole of P&O Princess' history as an independent company came when P&O Princess' share price was at an all time low of 180p. Despite having had two months since the announcement of the Combination with Royal Caribbean and three weeks since the posting of P&O Princess' shareholder circular, the latest proposal from Carnival does not provide any evidence of an increased commitment on its part. Carnival has done nothing to address or clarify the deliverability of its latest proposal.
Both the original and the revised proposals from Carnival contain not only a number of completion conditions but also a number of pre-conditions that must be satisfied before Carnival actually makes an offer. Carnival's regulatory and financing pre-conditions are particularly troubling, as they require satisfaction in terms satisfactory to Carnival. This gives Carnival extremely wide discretion as to whether or not to make an offer. This is not acceptable to the Board of P&O Princess.
In addition, the Board continues to believe that Carnival is incorrect in repeatedly asserting that there is no material difference between the regulatory issues and risks arising from the Combination with Royal Caribbean and the takeover by Carnival. P&O Princess considers, and has been advised, that a combination with Carnival, the world's leading cruise operator and the leader in both the United States and Europe, is likely to give rise to more significant regulatory issues and risks than the Combination with Royal Caribbean.
Rather than focusing on the issues of value and deliverability, Carnival has spent its time attacking the proposed transaction with Royal Caribbean and the motives of the P&O Princess Board. In the light of these factors, the Board continues to believe that Carnival may be indifferent between acquiring P&O Princess and breaking up our Combination with Royal Caribbean, given that both outcomes would result in Carnival preserving its position as the world's largest cruise ship operator and the leader in both the United States and Europe.
The Board of P&O Princess has therefore concluded that the Carnival proposal has significant completion risks and is less likely to be delivered than is the Combination with Royal Caribbean.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing analysis the Board, which is being advised by Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, has determined that it does not consider the revised proposal from Carnival to be a "superior proposal" and continues to recommend the proposed Combination with Royal Caribbean to its shareholders.
Peter Ratcliffe, Chief Executive of P&O Princess said today:
"We made it clear when Carnival made its initial proposal that our response was based on two simple criteria - value for our shareholders and deliverability. The revised proposal still falls short on value and adds nothing on deliverability. The timetable provided them with every opportunity to come forward with a realistic proposal; they have chosen not to do so.
"I believe that our Combination with Royal Caribbean provides a unique opportunity for P&O Princess to accelerate value creation for our shareholders. It is now time for us to move on and focus on delivering these benefits to our shareholders. We continue to recommend to our shareholders that they vote in favor of the Combination with Royal Caribbean at the EGM on 14 February 2002."
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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES BREAKS ONE-WEEK RESERVATIONS RECORD TWO WEEKS IN A ROW
MIAMI (01/21/02) - So far in January Carnival Cruise Lines has twice
set new one-week reservations records. January 7-13, 2002 the cruise line
booked 140,392 individual guests, surpassing the previous one-week record
set January 22-28, 2001 when 133,555 guests booked Carnival cruises. A new record was again established this past week, January 14-20, when the company booked 144,342 people.
"Consumers are recognizing current price levels, combined with all the stunning, technologically-advanced new ships in service, creates a value equation that can't be found in any other vacation sector," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. "We are particularly encouraged that some of the booking activity we're seeing is for sailing dates well into the latter part of the year," Dickinson stated.
In response to the heavy reservations volume, last Thursday the cruise line modified the hours of operation for its two individual reservations call centers to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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.
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ALASKA JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM WINS PARK SERVICE AWARD
Key Component of Princess Kids Program in Alaska Recognized for Educating Young Passengers about Glacier Bay
Princess Cruises has been presented with an Excellence Award by the Alaska Region of the National Park Service (NPS) in recognition of the Junior Ranger program featured aboard Princess ships. The program, which was lauded for its excellence in education, is an integral part of Princess' onboard youth program in Alaska. The Cruise Ship Junior Ranger and Explorer Program in Glacier Bay National Park was the winner in the Pathways to Learning category, one of three awards presented. The Park Service's Excellence Awards were created to recognize people and programs that show outstanding leadership, stewardship and innovation.
"It's gratifying to see the Junior Ranger program recognized for the excellent job it does to both educate and entertain the children on board," said Dean Brown, Princess' executive vice president of customer service and sales. "It has certainly been well received by our young passengers, and is a very good fit for Princess as we take more passengers to Glacier Bay than any other line."
Designed to bring Glacier Bay and the Alaska wilderness to life for thousands of children each summer aboard Princess ships, the Junior Ranger program features interactive games, activity books and presentations by rangers. The program was developed in 1999 to provide an enriching and fun program for young passengers to help them appreciate the wonders they experience during their cruise. Next summer the program will be expanded with an Explorer program for teens. Program materials are also being developed for adult passengers.
The Junior Ranger program is part of the line's comprehensive youth program, Princess Kids. Recently expanded, Princess Kids offers specifically tailored activities for three different age groups in dedicated youth centers aboard Princess ships. Featuring a wide variety of opportunities for kids to learn while they have fun, the program includes special presentations and materials developed with a number of respected organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and the California Science Center.
Princess, a leader in Alaska cruising, will have six ships sailing the region this summer, including the new Star Princess, the largest and most amenity-filled vessel ever to be based on the West Coast. Itineraries include the line's famed seven-night "Voyage of the Glaciers" Gulf of Alaska itinerary between Vancouver and Seward which features Glacier Bay,the star attraction of the Junior Ranger program and Alaska cruising in general, on every sailing. Princess will carry more passengers to this natural wonder this year than any other cruise line.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: Response to Carnival's Proposal to Make a Revised Pre-Conditional Offer
MIAMI, Jan. 18 - Royal Caribbean issued its comments on Carnival Corporation's ("Carnival") proposal to make a revised pre-conditional offer to P&O Princess Cruises plc ("P&O Princess").
On 19 December, the Board of P&O Princess volunteered an extended timetable under which Carnival had until 18 January to put forward their best offer. Royal Caribbean agreed to a delay of P&O Princess' EGM until 14 February in order to facilitate a full and considered review of the agreed DLC transaction and any alternatives. Against this background, it is surprising that Carnival has chosen not to address the key concerns that had been raised about the earlier pre-conditional proposal. The P&O Princess Board previously concluded that Carnival's proposal was less valuable and less deliverable for its shareholders than the agreed DLC transaction. Carnival's revised proposal represents only a marginal increase in value and has greater uncertainty in relation to conditionality than its previous proposal.
Commenting on Carnival's revised proposal, Richard Fain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean said:
"Despite improving market conditions, we continue to be committed to the DLC combination with P&O Princess on the terms and timetable agreed in November.
Carnival again appears to be trying to distract attention from and delay the DLC transaction. The continuation of these distractions is likely to be damaging for the operations of both our businesses. We look forward to this process reaching a conclusion on 14 February.
We have seen Carnival's actions and practices in the past. Their actions over the last few weeks certainly appear to follow a pattern we've seen before."
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FIRST STEEL CUT FOR QUEEN MARY 2
The countdown begins on January 16th: 694 days to delivery
Pamela Conover, Cunard Line's president and chief operating officer, made history when she pressed the button to start the cutting of the first steel for Queen Mary 2, the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive passenger ship ever.
Queen Mary 2, the first liner to be built in over three decades, will enter service in January 2004 and will be the fastest passenger ship built since Queen Elizabeth 2 entered service in 1969.
Being constructed by the renowned shipyard of Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France, birthplace of such famous liners as Normandie, France (now Norway), and Ile de France, the 150,000-ton QM2 is destined to become the benchmark by which all other passenger ships will be judged.
According to Conover, "I am absolutely delighted to officially initiate the construction of the successor to such great transatlantic liners as Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2. This begins a new era in the history of Cunard."
For the last six decades, there has always been a Cunard "Queen" on the sea. QM2 will be the heir to their grandeur and elegance and at the same time the greatest luxury liner of the new century. The ship will feature classic Cunard hallmarks such as sweeping staircases, expansive promenades, stylish restaurants and gracious public rooms of an imposing scale. The sheer size of the vessel has enabled Cunard to create a variety of passenger spaces, from a majestic, three-story dining room to intimate bars and lounges to the first sea-going planetarium.
With a passenger capacity of 2,620 (lower berths), Queen Mary 2 will have a space ratio per passenger of 57.25, making her among the roomiest of the world's larger passenger ships. Spacious staterooms, nearly three quarters of which will have their own private balcony, will offer a level of luxury unprecedented at sea.
Stylistically, QM2 will combine the sophistication of grand ocean liners with contemporary style and amenities. Technologically, she will feature the latest innovations. Her powerplant will include two gas turbines and four diesel engines. More than two-thirds of this energy will be used to power a state-of-the-art MermaidTM Pod Propulsion System, comprised of two fixed and two azimuthing pod units. The first four-pod installation to date, the powerful new system will provide a speed of nearly 30 knots with low noise and vibration levels and maximum maneuverability.
According to Patrick Boissier, chairman and CEO of Alstom Chantiers de L'Atlantique, "Today is a great day which will be remembered for a very long time by all Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique employees and all our partners associated in this project. It marks the beginning of one of the most prestigious industrial projects of this century, and we are proud that Cunard has selected our shipyard to be part of it."
For more information on Queen Mary 2, contact a professional travel agent, call Cunard at 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit the website www.cunard.com.
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CARNIVAL CORPORATION LETTER TO THE BOARD OF
P&O PRINCESS CRUISES PLC
Following is the text of a letter sent today by Carnival to the board of directors of P&O Princess
17 January 2002
For the attention of Lord Sterling of Plaistow and Mr Peter Ratcliffe
Dear Sirs:
Increased offer of 500 pence per P&O Princess share
I am writing to set out a proposal by Carnival Corporation to make a revised offer for P&O Princess, which further improves the already superior offer to P&O Princess shareholders made by us on 16 December 2001.
Subject to the terms of this letter, Carnival is prepared to make an improved offer consisting of 250p in cash and 0.1380 Carnival shares per P&O Princess ordinary share. The revised offer values each P&O Princess ordinary share at 500p and values the entire existing ordinary share capital of P&O Princess at approximately £3.5 billion. This represents an increase of 12% over Carnival's existing offer.
Conditions precedent to the Offer
Our willingness to improve our current offer is based on the assumption that P&O Princess can ensure that the Joint Venture can be terminated in 2003 without cost or liability, as you have indicated. We therefore continue to require clarity as to how this will be achieved in practice.
We envisage that our offer will have the following principal conditions precedent:
* the regulatory consents and related financing condition, as per our previous proposal; and
* the Royal Caribbean Proposal not having been approved by P&O Princess shareholders.
Deliverability
You have publicly recognised that the definition of the appropriate market in which to evaluate the competitive effects of either transaction is the wider vacation market and, on that basis, it follows that both our offer and the Royal Caribbean Proposal face the same antitrust issues. We therefore firmly believe, and have been so advised, that there is no material difference between the regulatory conditions attached to our offer and the
Royal Caribbean Proposal.
DLC tax risks
We remain open to exploring with you the prospects of offering an alternative structure to your shareholders which retains all of the perceived benefits of the proposed DLC structure with Royal Caribbean.
However, having taken legal advice, we are concerned that the DLC structure which you have proposed to your shareholders is defective. In analysing the DLC structure proposed by yourselves and Royal Caribbean, our tax advisers believe that there is a significant risk that the DLC structure will lose its Section 883 tax exemption for a significant portion of the combined companies' income, and that the amounts involved would be material.
We note that the failure of P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean to identify this tax risk may be attributable to the fact that the offering circulars issued by both companies misquote the key provision of the proposed US tax regulation on which they are explicitly relying. We attach, as an appendix, a memorandum from our legal advisers describing this issue in greater detail.
Next steps
We firmly believe that our revised offer is a Superior Proposal to the Royal Caribbean Proposal. In the absence of your prompt confirmation that our offer is superior, we will be urging your shareholders to vote to adjourn the 14 February 2002 EGM or, failing such adjournment being achieved, to vote against the existing DLC proposal with Royal Caribbean.
Yours faithfully
M. Arison
Chairman and CEO
[Terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Announcement dated 16 December 2001. The directors of Carnival accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Carnival (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained herein for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.]
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'FAMILY-FRIENDLY' AMENITIES ABOUND ON NEW CARNIVAL PRIDE
New 2,124-Passenger 'Fun Ship' Further Bolsters Carnival's Position as
Family Cruise Leader, Carrying an Estimated 350,000 Kids Annually
MIAMI (01/17/02) - For its new 88,500-ton Carnival Pride, which began year-round seven-day service from Port Canaveral, FL, Jan. 12, Carnival Cruise Lines has incorporated a variety of new and expanded "family-friendly" amenities, everything from geography classes and candy-making machines to special family activities on a private island, teens-only shore excursions, and fun, "just-for-kids" port lectures. These new features, part of the line's fleetwide complimentary "Camp Carnival" program, are expected to further bolster the line's position as family cruise leader. In the coming year Carnival is expected to carry more than 350,000 children, roughly half of the kids carried by the entire North American cruise industry (CLIA member lines).
"Families are a huge part of our marketing mix, oftentimes, children's input can 'make or break' the final vacation decision, and with the Carnival Pride we've gone to great lengths to create a stimulating environment with a variety of activities and amenities that appeal to parents and kids alike," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
New and Expanded 'Family-Friendly' Amenities
Among the new family-friendly amenities are fun, educational geography classes during which kids can learn interesting facts about the various islands featured on the Pride's eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Kids can also make their own "pixie sticks" with the Carnival Pride's new "candy-making" machines. Carnival Pride's bi-monthly visits to Half Moon Cay or Salt Cay, both private Bahamian out-islands on the Pride's eastern Caribbean cruises, provide the line a unique opportunity to create special family-oriented beachside activities, including sand-castle building and water games. In addition to enjoying beautiful white-sand beaches and modern facilities, families can partake in a variety of watersports, including snorkeling, kayaking and "aqua-cycling."
Other new features include "teens-only" shore excursions, in which teens get together and select their favorite shore tour and then visit the destination accompanied by a member of the youth staff.
Indoor and Outdoor Play Areas
The focal point of many of the Pride's "Camp Carnival" activities is the "Fun Club," located forward on Upper Deck 5. Decorated with a colorful undersea motif designed by Carnival's interior architect Joe Farcus, the "Fun Club" is divided into three distinct areas, each connected by a series of tunnels connecting the different venues. The first area houses an arts and crafts center featuring spin and sand art machines, while the second houses a computer lab with educational and video game software. The third section, an all-ages play room, is stocked with a variety of toys and games, a "video wall" displaying movies and cartoons, and kid-sized tables and chairs. New to this area are multi-lingual, touch-screen computer games, previously featured on Carnival's 100,000-plus-ton "Destiny-class" vessels. An outdoor play area featuring mini-basketball hoops and other playground equipment is also available on Sports Deck 11. "Real Virtuality," a high-tech game room housing the latest video and arcade games, is located one deck below the "Fun Club" on Main Deck 4.
Carnival Pride also features four swimming pools, including a children's wading pool on Sports Deck 11 and three pools on Lido Deck 9. A two-deck-high cascading water slide featuring a variety of exhilarating twists and turns is also featured on Sports Deck 11.
Spacious Accommodations, 'Kid-Friendly' Dining Options
Carnival is known throughout the cruise industry for offering some of the largest staterooms in the contemporary market and the Carnival Pride continues that tradition, offering several levels of cabin categories, many of which can accommodate up to four guests. Many staterooms are interconnecting, perfect for large families or family gatherings.
And when it comes to dining, kids get the full "Fun Ship" treatment with special children's menus in the Normandie restaurant and a wide variety of children's favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries available at Mermaids' Grille, a casual poolside eatery which also features 24-hour pizza and ice cream/frozen yogurt. Kids can also "dine under the stars" with a member of the youth staff one night during each voyage. Other "kid-friendly" dining amenities include a turn-down service offering freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on the first and last night of their voyage, as well as the "Fountain Fun Card," a fleetwide soft drink program good for unlimited sodas throughout the duration of the cruise. The cards, which are purchased once on board, range in price from $7 for two-day voyages to $19.95 for seven-day voyages.
Nightly babysitting is also available from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the children's play room. Conducted under the watchful eyes of the Carnival Pride's trained youth staff, the cost is $6 for the first child and $4 for each additional child in the same family.
Seven-Day Eastern and Western Caribbean Itineraries
The 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride launched seven-day eastern and western Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Fla., Jan. 12, becoming the newest and largest cruise ship based year-round at that port. Eastern Caribbean cruises feature the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay or Salt Cay, along with St. Thomas/St. John, and St. Maarten, while the western route stops at Key West, Belize City, Progreso/Merida, and Playa del Carmen/Cozumel. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visit www.carnival.com.
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ROYAL CELEBRITY TOURS DOUBLES RAIL CAR CAPACITY AFTER SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL SEASON
Miami, Jan 17, 2002 - Royal Celebrity Tours, the land-tour company created in 2000 by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., took possession of two new Wilderness Express train cars today. The new cars, the third and fourth in the series, will embark on a multi-city "Whistle Stop Tour" for the travel trade, through the East Coast and Midwest beginning January 30, before arriving in Alaska for the summer season.
"Based on the successful launch of our Alaska cruise tours last year, we've doubled our capacity so that more guests can experience a Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean International cruise tour vacation," said Craig Milan, president of Royal Celebrity Tours.
The train cars boast the most dome glass of any double-deck train cars in the world, outdoor 360-degree viewing platforms, extra wide seats that recline and rotate, and onboard dining. The cars are also equipped with dome-level ADA-compliant seating, allowing physically challenged travelers to access both levels.
In May, guests on Celebrity Cruises' and Royal Caribbean International's Alaska sailings can select pre- or post-cruise land packages ranging from two to six nights featuring cities such as Talkeetna, Fairbanks, Alyeska, Denali and Anchorage. All Royal Celebrity Tours are hosted by expert tour directors, and have been carefully designed to offer guests the best of Alaska's wildlife, culture and outdoor activities.
Royal Celebrity Tours has also expanded operations into the Canadian Rockies, in conjunction with Rocky Mountaineer Railtours. Eleven- and 13-night cruise-tours are available on Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas, and Celebrity Cruises' Infinity in May.
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 six under construction or on firm order. Royal Celebrity Tours operates land-tour vacations in Alaska utilizing the world's largest glass-domed train cars. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com.
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CELEBRITY CRUISES NAMES DIGITAS AGENCY OF RECORD
Miami, Jan 17, 2002 - Celebrity Cruises, the highest rated and fastest growing premium cruise line in the industry, has selected Digitas Inc. as its marketing agency of record, following a thorough agency review process.
"Digitas' expertise in relationship marketing and loyalty marketing, as well as in the travel industry, will help us rapidly build our base of new customers and strengthen our relationships with guests who have cruised previously with Celebrity," said Celebrity Cruises Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Planning, Ares Michaelides.
"The Celebrity experience is a very personal, meaningful one, providing a powerful opportunity for ongoing, loyalty-based relationship marketing," said Michael Ward, President and Chief Operating Officer of Digitas. "Our objective will be to communicate the difference that is Celebrity through integrated marketing and direct consumer communications channels to those who appreciate quality and the many attributes that differentiate Celebrity from other vacation options."
In addition to handling the full range of integrated marketing programs previously handled by WestWayne, Digitas also will be responsible for web site management, previously handled by Yamamoto-Moss, and media buying, previously handled by The Media Edge.
"We are very grateful for the many contributions of our former agency partners," said Michaelides. "Now that we have consolidated our marketing efforts, we will move in a new, more consistent and focused direction, and we believe Digitas is the best-in-class for doing that."
Digitas (www.digitas.com) is a marketing and technology services company that helps its clients generate marketing productivity by managing their customer relationships one at a time. Digitas serves as strategic partner to several industry-leading clients, including Allstate, American Express, AT&T, Delta Air Lines, General Motors, L.L. Bean, Morgan Stanley and Terra Lycos. Digitas employs 1,200 people and has offices in Boston, Chicago, London, Miami, New York, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. 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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Line's Newest Vessel to be Christened in Italy
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Star Princess will be the largest and most amenity-filled ship ever to sail on the West Coast, offering 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises round-trip from Los Angeles.
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Jan 16, 2002The newest "star" of the Princess fleet, Star Princess, will be christened by Gunilla Antonini, the wife of Dr. Corrado Antonini, executive chairman of Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, the ship's builder. The January 25 combination naming/ship handover ceremony will take place at Fincantieri's shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
"We are delighted that Signora Antonini will serve as the godmother of Star Princess," said Phil Kleweno, president of Princess Cruises. "Fincantieri has built many of the ships in our current fleet, and Signora Antonini and her husband have been with us for the naming of each of these vessels. It seems only fitting that she take on this special role as we launch the final ship in the Grand Princess series."
Along with the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle against the ship, the dockside ceremony will feature Star Princess Cruise Director Paul O'Loughlin as master of ceremonies and will also include a flag changing service as the ship replaces the Fincantieri flag with that of P&O Princess Cruises; a performance by The Scots Guards Band; and a prayer from the shipyard's chaplain. P&O Princess Cruises Chairman Lord Sterling will also take part in the festivities.
Following the ceremony, Star Princess will leave on a 15-day positioning voyage to Singapore, where she will depart on February 13 for her inaugural sailinga 26-day odyssey across the Pacific to Los Angeles. Once in California, the ship will participate in a series of short preview cruises, before beginning a regular season of round-trip seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages on March 16. For the summer season, the ship will be based in Alaska, sailing on Princess' famed "Voyage of the Glaciers" Gulf of Alaska route between Vancouver and Seward.
The 2,600-passenger, 109,000-ton Star Princess will be the largest vessel ever to sail on the West Coast, offering a wide variety of amenities that rival those of today's land-based vacation resorts. Featuring many of the same popular innovations that made headlines when her sister Grand Princess debuted, the ship includes a wedding chapel and wedding-at-sea program, two specialty restaurants and three separate show lounges. She also sports Grand Princess' dramatic signature characteristica disco/observation lounge set high atop the ship and accessible only by a glass-enclosed, moving "skywalk"as well as a 24-hour AOL Internet Café, a nine-hole putting green, a swim-against-the-current lap pool and an expanded children's and teen's center.
Passengers aboard Star Princess will enjoy the line's famed Personal Choice Cruisingenabling passengers to customize their cruise experience to fit their individual interests and needs. Guests will have the freedom to do "what you want, when you want" with multiple dining and entertainment choices each and every day. The program includes the company's innovative Personal Choice Dining, giving passengers the opportunity to select either the Traditional Fixed Seating or the restaurant-style Anytime Dining experience in the main dining room. In addition, many passengers will appreciate the special privacy afforded by the ship's more than 710 balcony cabins, a Princess trademark.
More information about Star Princess' schedules and fares is available through a professional travel agent. Brochures are available by calling 1-800-PRINCESS.
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SHORT CARIBBEAN HOLIDAYS IN MARCH & APRIL COMBINE LUXURY WITH EXCEPTIONAL VALUES:
TWO-FOR-ONE & 50 PERCENT OFF SECOND-PERSON FARES ABOARD SEVEN SEAS MARINER and RADISSON DIAMOND
Four-, Five- and Six-Night Luxury Cruises from San Juan Also Feature "Immediate Deposit Rewards" of $200 Per Stateroom Shipboard Credits
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Jan 16, 2002 - Exceptional luxury and value are in store for guests of the Seven Seas Mariner and Radisson Diamond this March and April on seven Caribbean cruises. The four- to six-night voyages will feature the spacious ocean view accommodations, fine food and impeccable service of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises as well as two-for-one rates and up to 50% savings on second-guest fares.
Conveniently designed for travelers who are short on time and wish to stay close to home, the voyages will embark from San Juan on March 18, 22, 27, April 9 and 22, and make daily calls at tropical island paradises in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, British and French West Indies, Netherlands Antilles, and the Bahamas.
Guests who secure their deposit by credit card at the time of their booking will also receive an "Immediate Deposit Reward" in the form of a shipboard credit for $200 per stateroom, good for boutique purchases, spa treatments, shore excursions, etc. All prices below are per person and include spacious, ocean-view accommodations, a complimentary in-stateroom mini bar set up on embarkation, wine with dinner and all shipboard gratuities. Roundtrip economy air add-ons are available from 82 North American gateways from $150-$759 per person depending on gateway.
Mariner Caribbean Samplers
The 700-guest, all-balcony suite Seven Seas Mariner will pamper and rejuvenate winter-weary guests on three island-hopping voyages. On March 22, the vessel sails roundtrip from San Juan on a five-night "Four Flags in the Caribbean" cruise calling at St. Thomas, St. Johns, St. Barts and St. Maarten. Prices from $1,496, include 50 percent off second-guest fares. Her six-night "Leeward Landfalls and Virgin Adventures" voyage sailing roundtrip from San Juan on March 27, calls at St. Thomas, St. Johns, St. Barts, St. Maarten and Virgin Gorda. Prices from $1,721 include 50 percent off second guest fares. On April 22, the Seven Seas Mariner will offer a convenient four-night "Caribbean Sampler" voyage from San Juan to Ft. Lauderdale, calling at St. Thomas and Nassau. Two-for-one prices start from $798 per person.
Aboard the Seven Seas Mariner, guests enjoy virtually the highest space ratio of any luxury ship afloat. Single, open seating dining in the Compass Rose Restaurant allows guests to dine when and with whom they wish. Three other fine restaurants provide alternative dining including "Signatures," staffed by chefs trained at the famed Cordon Bleu of Paris. A Judith Jackson Sea Spa offers a popular alternative to traditional oceangoing spas, including Jackson's celebrated aromatherapy.
Diamond Two-For-Ones
Guests of the 350-passenger, six star Radisson Diamond's four short, roundtrip San Juan cruises in March and April will enjoy special two-for-one savings of up to $2,895, luxurious amenities and an attentive staff catering to every whim. Turquoise waters and soft white sands beckon on March 18 as the twin-hull vessel embarks on a four-night "Islands in the Sun" voyage calling at Virgin Gorda, St. Barts, and St. Maarten. Two-for-one prices start at $948 per person. The Radisson Diamond's March 22, 27 and April 9 five-night "Diamonds of the Caribbean" voyages call at Tortola, St. Barts, and St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Two-for-one prices for start at $1,198 per person.
The Radisson Diamond's twin-hull design and wide stance provide the most comfortable and stable ride of any cruise ship afloat. She boasts one of the highest space-to-guest ratios of any cruise ship in her class, combining the intimacy of a private yacht with the amenities of larger ships. Single, open seating dining is in the elegant, art deco Grand Dining Room and Don Vito's offers an entertaining, alternative reservations-only restaurant featuring in Northern Italian cooking and singing waiters.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is part of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services encompassing more than 1,530 hotel, resort, restaurant and cruise ship operations in 80 countries. Specific brands include: Regent International Hotels; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels in North America; Carlson Lifestyle Living (Carlson Park); Carlson Vacation Ownership; T.G.I. Friday's and other restaurant brands; and Provisions, a worldwide procurement division. For further information, contact Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, 600 Corporate Drive, Suite 410, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334; or toll-free 800-477-7500; for brochures and reservation information toll-free 800-285-1835; or visit the Web site: www.rssc.com. To make reservations contact your travel professional.
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TRAVEL AGENTS CHOOSE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE AS NUMBER ONE PREMIUM LINE
Seattle, Jan 16, 2002 - Holland America Line-Westours is the favorite premium cruise line of travel agents, according to a survey by Florida-based Recommend magazine. Results of the survey, taken last summer, were published in Recommend's December issue.
"We are especially gratified to be recognized by such a knowledgeable group of people," said David Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "Travel agents know their clients will appreciate Holland America Line's unsurpassed, gracious service and great values."
As the leading premium cruise line, Holland America's ships feature spacious staterooms, superb dining, renowned service, casino, first-rate entertainment, a dedicated movie theater at sea, duty-free on-board shops, internet centers, the Club HAL children's program, and a complete fitness center.
Holland America also delights guests with "little touches" which carry no extra charge while making their cruise memorable: make-your-own ice cream sundae buffet featuring many toppings and liqueurs; espresso coffee drinks; hot hors d'oeuvres in all lounges during the pre-dinner cocktail hour; freshly-made popcorn served during movie times; shoe-shine service; and a Holland America Line signature canvas tote bag for shopping or beach-going.
Recommend's survey asked agents to name their favorite cruise line, but did not prompt them with a list of possible answers. Agents also named Holland America their top choice for a mid-ship cruise line. Recommend, a highly respected travel trade publication, features destinations and has a circulation of nearly 60,000 agents.
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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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE ESTABLISHES NON-SMOKING DINING AREAS
Seattle, Jan 16, 2002 - Holland America Line-Westours will begin implementing a new onboard smoking policy on February 1, 2002. Smoking no longer will be permitted in any of the dining areas, including main dining rooms and the enclosed portion of Lido restaurants.
The new policy will be phased in as each ship embarks on a new cruise on or after February 1. Nearly all ships will have smoke-free dining areas by the middle of February with the ms Amsterdam implementing the new policy following its 100-day Grand World Voyage on April 30, 2002. Alternative restaurants have been non-smoking since their introduction and continue to be non-smoking under the new policy. All ships will continue to have designated smoking areas.
About Holland America Line
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, coupled with popular "tipping not required" and "cashless" ship policies. 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 world'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).
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HOLLAND AMERICA DELIVERS ALASKA VACATION VALUE THREE WAYS: BY CRUISE, LAND TOUR, AND EXCLUSIVE CRUISETOURS
2002 Alaska Vacation Pricing Starts from Just $799 per Person
Seattle, Jan 16, 2002 - As the leader in travel to Alaska, Holland America Line-Westours offers three options to explore the 49th state to the north. Six cruise ships will offer 115 cruises, including a seven-day roundtrip itinerary debuting from Seattle on the new 1,380-passenger flagship ms Amsterdam. In addition, Holland America offers 31 cruisetour options that cover the Alaska and the Yukon, featuring Holland America premium cruises, plus an exciting land-based experience. Holland America Tours also offers 19 land-only tour options, including six new packages for 2002, as well as a selection of great Alaskan attractions.
"Alaska is one of the most popular destinations for North Americans and with cruises departing from Seattle or Vancouver, there is easy access for all travelers to this vacation gateway," said Paul Allen, vice president of Alaska sales and marketing. "Holland America is the leader in travel to Alaska and Canada's Yukon with 54 years of experience providing premium cruises, wildlife and culturally rich tour components, and exceptional value."
Allen also notes that the pricing for Alaska vacations has never been better with up to 50% discounts across the season, which runs from May through September. Prices for an Alaska cruise begin at US$799 per person, double occupancy, including port charges. A cruise-tour vacation starts at US$1,799 per person. Land-only packages begin at US$395 per person for three-day tours.
Six Ships, Three Scenic Itineraries, Most Glacier Bay Visits
With the addition of the Amsterdam to the Alaska program earlier this fall, Holland America now 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. Most cruises visit Glacier Bay National Park, one of the crown jewels of the Great Land, which captures the essence of Alaska's wilderness. 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 portsJuneau, Skagway and Ketchikanand 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 Glacier Bay 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 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 every sailing demonstrating a traditional craft such as ivory or soapstone carving, basket weaving, or mask making.
For the sailings that cruise Glacier Bay National Park, the "Huna Interpretive Program" provides rare cultural insight into Southeast Alaska's spectacular national park 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, to provide in-depth naturalist interpretation.
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 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 DenaliEight 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 JourneysTen 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 CruiseToursTwo 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.
Six New Land-Only Tour Options for 2002
In addition, Holland America also offers land only vacation packages through Holland America Tours. Holland America Tours introduces six new packages in 2002 highlighting the scenic wonders of Alaska from the Yukon to Denali:
* National Park Journey, starting from $2,155, is a 9-day/8-night adventure which includes a tundra wildlife tour of Denali National Park, a visit to the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward and dayboat cruises of both Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park.
* Escorted Alaska Klondike Explorer, starting from $3,699 is a 12-day/11-night fully escorted tour, a well-rounded vacation of the top destinations of Alaska and the Yukon. The package includes a cultural tour of Anchorage, a cruise aboard the mv Ptarmigan to Portage Glacier, a jetboat safari in Talkeetna, a sternwheeler cruise, a historic train ride to Skagway, gateway to the Klondike gold fields, and a cruise on the Yukon River to Dawson, where passengers can pan for gold.
* Glacier Bay Adventure, starting from $1,955 is a 7-day/6-night adventure of Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka featuring several land and water tours to view Alaska's abundant marine life. The package also includes tours of Mendenhall Glacier and historic Skagway.
* The Denali Kenai Explorer, starting from $1,469 is a 8-day/7-night tour of the southwestern Alaska wilderness featuring the exclusive, glass-domed train tour on the McKinley Explorer from Denali to Anchorage, where passengers can watch for the Denali "Big Four" (Dall sheep, moose, caribou and bear), a ride on the Alaskan Railroad from Anchorage to Seward, where passengers will view Steller sea lions and harbor seals at the Alaska Sealife Center, a wildlife cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward and a cruise aboard the mv Ptarmigan to Portage Glacier outside of Anchorage.
* The Alaska Explorer, starting from $2,089 is a leisurely-paced 8-day/7-night tour featuring three days to explore Anchorage, including a cruise aboard the mv Ptarmigan to Portage Glacier and a day-trip 30 miles above the Arctic Circle to Kotzebue. The tour also includes a glass-domed train ride to Denali National Park aboard the McKinley Explorer, a wildlife tour of Denali, a sternwheeler cruise and a trip to Gold Dredge No. 8 in Fairbanks.
* The Denali Explorer, starting from $1,199 is a 6-day/5-night tour traveling between Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks, offering passengers a variety of Alaskan highlights. The tour includes travel on the McKinley Explorer domed railcars, a wildlife tour in Denali National Park, and a visit to Gold Dredge No. 8 in Fairbanks for lunch and gold-panning.
Largest Five-Star Fleet in Alaska
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. 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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TRAVELERS CHART THEIR OWN COURSE WITH TRAVELOCITY.COMS NEW CRUISE FUNCTIONALITY
Selecting the cruise of your dreams has never been easieror more funthan with Travelocity.coms latest groundbreaking features. Inspect a slew of ships from bow to stern from the comforts of your own living room. View breathtaking images of various ports of call. Research a cruise based on your personality traits. Even add a hotel stay or insurance package during one convenient booking session. Charting the course for the perfect cruise vacation just got better with the following Travelocity.com innovations:
Intelli-DeckTM Travelocity.com introduces its newest groundbreaking technology, the most innovative way to take a self-guided ship tour before ever setting sail. Intelli-Deck displays views of specific ship features from cabin photos to images of theatres, fitness areas, spas, restaurants, grand foyers, clubs and other social venues all by just rolling over a deck plan. Just click on an image to see the larger photo and a description of the area. Browse through hundreds of decks to view the most extensive and innovative cruise multimedia offering on the Web.
Clickable Deck Plans To enhance the booking process, Travelocity.com now offers clickable deck plans, allowing users to view the layout of a specific deck, see all available rooms, and select a specific room based on real-time availability. Once a customer selects their room type, customers can easily select their room location - from bow to stern, port to starboard, or even near the elevator - as available staterooms are easily identifiable by the flashing blue arrow on the ships deck plan. Just point and click and the stateroom is yours.
Cruise Expert Travelocity.com also introduces its exclusive Cruise Expert functionality that tailors a cruise vacation based on members personal preferences. Members use pull-down menus and sliding scales to indicate information about their interests and personality including: personality type, level of activity desired, estimated budget and type of social happenings onboard. Cruise Expert searches through thousands of departures to recommend the best cruise package based on their interests. Cruise Expect even indicates why the cruise recommendation is the closest match. With Cruise Expert, members have access to a variety of available cruise options tailored for individual interests.
Custom Port Descriptions Now customers can also get a glimpse of their destination before leaving home. Each itinerary features clickable ports of call - users simply click on the city of their choice to generate informative pop-up windows, complete with vibrant images. Brief descriptions add to the experience, many of which link to Frommers destination guides. This customized information gives customers all the tools they need to build a successful cruise vacation.
In addition to new functionality, Travelocity.com has added the following enhancements to the cruise booking process:
Seamless booking functionality Selecting the perfect cruise is only part of the overall booking process. With its enhanced cruise booking functionality, Travelocity.com is the first major travel site that enables members to book their own cruise, as well as flights, hotel stays, transfers and insurance options all in one convenient transaction.
Pre- and Post-Cruise Hotel Stays A pre-planned evening or two in a hotel can help avoid missing a flight, or worse yet, missing the boat. Now, consumers can easily book a hotel stay before or after their cruise, including transfers.
Transfers Dont fuss with a rental car or depend on taxi service when affordable transfers are now available. After a stateroom is selected and the itinerary is reviewed, Travelocity.com members have the opportunity to select transfer add-ons, when available.
Insurance Travelocity.com wants all members to have a worry-free cruise vacation. For this reason, members have the choice of adding travel insurance to online cruise bookings. Insurance plans vary by cruise line, but most offer vital services - such as trip cancellation insurance, trip delay coverage, baggage protection, medical expense coverage, emergency evacuation services, and more.
Were revolutionizing the way people shop for and buy cruises with our newest functionality and enhancements, said Chris McAndrews, senior vice president, leisure travel and partner marketing, of Travelocity.com. We are especially excited about our groundbreaking Intelli-Deck technology, which is comparable to all our members having their own multi-media cruise library with everything they need to plan, choose and book cruises with confidence.
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Unless otherwise noted, all news items are sourced by individual cruise lines, cruise-related industries, and their agents.
