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The Newsletter for Cruise Travelers
So many cruises, so little time...
RADISSON DIAMOND "Sunshine Sojourns" Cruise The Western Caribbean itinerary is a familiar one, but this is no ordinary cruise. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' Radisson Diamond is one of the most distinctive vessels at sea with its SWATH technology and not one, but two hulls to provide unparalleled stability for smooth sailing. For Radisson Diamond's extended 2003 Caribbean season, guests enjoy extraordinary dining and service, distinctive on board amenities, and adventurous shore tours that emphasize ecological discoveries. See the Caribbean in an entirely new light... join CruiseDiva.com on board for an uncommon Caribbean cruise, the Radisson Diamond "Sunshine Sojourns" Cruise Diary. How often do you get to sail BENEATH a cruise ship?!? Take a short photo tour between her twin hulls for a close up look at Radisson Diamond's incredible futuristic design. Where's Cruise Diva? Sailing in July on board Silversea Cruises' SILVER WHISPER. See what's in store for the Copenhagen to Stockholm Cruise Diary. Cruise News Briefs: On Sunday, May 25, 2003, at approximately 6:30 am, while the S/S Norway was at the Port of Miami returning from an Eastern Caribbean cruise, there was an incident in the engine room involving one of the boilers. Norwegian Cruise Line is sad to report the deaths of six crewmember from the accident. Two crewmembers who were hospitalized and being treated for injuries have been discharged. NCL has put them up at local hotels near the hospital so they can receive further treatment as needed. Additionally, another crewmember was released from the Intensive Care Unit and is resting in serious but stable condition. NCL has cancelled the June 1 and June 8 voyages. Passengers booked on future S/S Norway sailings should contact their travel agents and check Cruise News on CruiseDiva.com for updates. Ultra luxury small ship operator Seabourn Cruise Line and Tumi, the prestige brand of American luggage and accessories, have unveiled a new marketing partnership that combines two potent icons of high style in travel. Later this year Seabourn will begin providing fashionable and functional document portfolios and luggage tags designed and manufactured by Tumi for Seabourn guests. Luxury cruise operator Windstar is adding value to cruise offerings by packaging hotel and air components with European cruises. Thirteen cruise itineraries visiting a total of 11 countries offer great rates including hotel or airfare. Sailings depart in May, June, July, September, October, and November aboard one of two sleek sailing yachtsthe 308-passenger Wind Surf or the 148-passenger Wind Spirit. Oceania Cruises unveiled its revolutionary Tranquility Bed, an oasis of comfort unlike any other found at sea. The most luxurious and sybaritic sleep experience in the cruise industry, the sumptuous, stylish, Tranquility Bed is comprised of a custom designed mattress set, deluxe 350 thread count Egyptian cotton linens, a plush comforter, silk-cut duvet and the most exceptional, fluffy down pillows in the business. Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises announced it is seeing substantial increases in cumulative booking trends since the conflict in Iraq ended. Highlighting recent weeks of increased booking activity is an impressive 35% surge in reservations over the same period last year. Said Bill Leiber, Silversea's Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "The demand is so robust that the cumulative increases are often well beyond our expectations. Not only does this show us that people are eager to get back to traveling, but it's an encouraging sign that more and more travelers are feeling greater confidence about making plans well into the future." In addition, Silversea is introducing an innovative program that enables guests to embark and debark with maximum flexibility. Expanding on its success with such revolutionary concepts as Personalized Voyages, which allows guests to create their own customized cruises, Silversea is now making it even easier for guests to check in and out from their cruise with flexible embarkation and debarkation options. SeaDream Yacht Club, operator of the twin, ultra-luxury mega yachts SeaDream I and II, has announced its 2004 schedules: a compendium of new yacht sailings in the in the Caribbean and in Europe with more than 40 holiday itinerary options. Included are classic cities and resort destinations as turnarounds and intriguing, small and exclusive yachting ports. Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a variety of new "Fun Ship" deployments for 2004, including the first year-round cruise program from Jacksonville, FL, an innovative 7-day round-trip schedule from Baltimore, and newer, larger ships homeported in Tampa and New Orleans. Carnival will deploy the new Carnival Miracle on 7-day "exotic" Caribbean cruises from the Port of Tampa beginning Nov. 7, 2004 and the Sensation will sail on 4- and 5-day Mexico sailings from New Orleans beginning in fall 2004. Two new high-energy Vegas-style revues"X-Treme Country" and "SRO: Standing Room Only"with fast-paced set and costume changes, precision choreography and dazzling special effects, are now featured aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' "Fun Ship" Celebration. Through a new program from Carnival Cruise Lines, active U.S. military personnel can book up to four "Fun Ship" staterooms at savings of up to 50 percent off published fares. The special rates are available for a limited time only on a wide variety of "Fun Ship" departures through the end of 2003. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced the names for its first two Project America ships, which will begin sailing Hawaii inter-island cruising next year. Project America 1 will be named "Pride of America", reflecting the "Best of America" theme on board. The line's second Project America ship, currently sailing as Norwegian Sky, will be reflagged into the U.S. registry, and will be renamed, "Pride of Aloha" reflecting the strong Hawaii theme to be incorporated during a complete refurbishment in September 2004. On the east coast, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced Norwegian Dawn will sail a series of four 10- and 11-day Exotic Southern Caribbean itineraries from New York during January and part of February in 2004 and 2005. The change is spurred by New York area travel agents' request for an exotic Caribbean itinerary during the coldest months of winter. The arrival of Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Serenade of the Seas, in New York this August marks two firsts for the cruise line. Set to be delivered on July 31, 2003, Serenade of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to sail an inaugural season from New York City, as well as the first to offer Canada itineraries from The Big Apple. With experiences like swimming under waterfalls in lush rain forests or galloping on horseback through Costa Rica's Valley of the Monkeys, it's no wonder travelers are increasingly interested in cruises to Hawaii and the Panama Canal. In response, Royal Caribbean is adding expanded sail dates to both destinations on Legend of the Seas. Bookings are now open on the new Hawaii and Panama Canal itineraries through Spring 2004. Princess will offer more Inside Passage cruising in Alaska in 2004 than ever, with a significantly expanded schedule featuring two of the line's newest and most amenity-filled vessels, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, in Seattle as well as the return of Regal Princess to Alaska with cruises from San Francisco. For the first time in its long history Cunard Line will operate three luxury liners named for British monarchs. In 2005, the line's fleet will consist of the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. The 668-passenger Caronia will leave the fleet in November 2004, having been sold to the UK-based Saga Group. "With our three Queens, Cunard will truly have the most famous ocean liners in the world, offering luxury amenities, our unique Queens Grill and our signature White Star Service," according to Pamela Conover, Cunard's president. AAA Travel recently named Disney Cruise Line its "2002 Preferred Cruise Partner of the Year." Enjoy a private cooking lesson in St-Tropez. Create a custom French perfume in Grasse. Tour private estate homes in Valetta. Watch for dolphin in the Strait of Gibraltar. These are but a few of the 24 new and exclusive shore programs luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises is adding to its impressive roster of 169 enriching excursions during its 2003 Mediterranean season, each designed to showcase the artistry and beauty of some of the world's most inviting destinations. Details of these stories and more in CRUISE NEWS Who's cruising? The latest Cruise Reviews... Cruise Diva's Book Selection:
Elsewhere on the Internet AnitaVacation.com Ask Anita About Radisson Seven Seas Navigator & Bermuda. She's sailing soon and will answer your questions from on board. EVERYONE wants a bargain, but how many of us have the time and expertise to search out the "bidding" sites online? Take heart... Amber Blecker strips away the mystery and confusion and will even handle the process for you!
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