~ SEA VIEWS ~
The Newsletter for Cruise Travelers
August 15, 2002
Welcome aboard Cruise Diva's SEA VIEWS newsletter and thank you for subscribing. SEA VIEWS is a twice-monthly email publication containing the latest news afloat and the cruise travel information you want.
So many cruises, so little time...
Finally! The Renaissance R-Class ships that so many passengers enjoyed in Tahiti will be sailing once again. P&O Princess Cruises announced that the former R3 and R4, will soon be joining the Princess fleet, introducing Princess' trademark "big ship choice" in a smaller, more intimate cruise environment. The ships will offer sailings in Tahiti and the wider Pacific Ocean region.
The 688-passenger R3 will premiere as Pacific Princess, while sister ship R4 will debut as Tahitian Princess. Both vessels, which originally entered service in 1999, are well suited to offer many of the Personal Choice Cruising options that have become Princess trademarks, according to the company. This includes a wide variety of dining experiences including a 24-hour Lido and alternative dining programs with both an Italian restaurant and an American steakhouse; and 92 percent outside staterooms, with over two-thirds of these including a private balcony.
Phil Kleweno, president of Princess Cruises said, "The design of these small, modern ships will enable us to provide a 'boutique version' of our Personal Choice Cruising program, with over two thirds of the ship's cabins having balconies and with a variety of dining and entertainment options.
For more photos and info, as well as Fast Facts about the Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess, see The NEW Pacific & Tahitian Princesses. Then check the Stateroom Floorplans (from the last brochure published by Renaissance Cruises). For a taste of cruising through the unspoiled South Pacific paradise of French Polynesia, read Cruise Diva's Tahiti Cruise Diary.
Explore Ports of Call in Tahiti Only a two-hour time difference from the west coast of the United States, Tahiti is light-years away. Born of volcanic violence, the islands typify an earthly paradise with unrivaled beaches and lush tropical scenery.
Listen Up! "Cruises for Non-Cruisers" If you missed the Savvy Traveler show on National Public Radio, you can still listen to Diana Nyad and the Cruise Diva discuss cruises in RealAudio on the SavvyTraveler.org web site.
Summer is Cruise Season in The Mediterranean Cradle of ancient civilizations and playground of the jet-set, the Mediterranean offers tantalizing sights for history buffs or those who want to sunbathe in the buff.
Cruise News Briefs
Following the traditional maritime hand-over ceremony on August 14th at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland, Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation, took delivery of the new 88,500-ton Carnival Legend (the 17th "Fun Ship" in the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet). The new 2,124-passenger vessel will depart tomorrow, Aug. 15, for Harwich, England, where it will be "officially" named in an Aug. 21 ceremony presided over by the ship's godmother, Oscar-winning British actress Dame Judi Dench.
Celebrity Cruises will mark its fifth season of cruising in Europe next year by deploying three ships and launching the first season of the premium cruise line's exclusive cruisetours in the region. Celebrity's new Europe cruisetour packages feature classic destinations such as Paris and London, in addition to Mediterranean favorites, including Madrid, Seville and Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Florence and Siena, Italy, and Venice and the Italian Lakes.
Ultra luxury Seabourn Cruise Line is offering free roundtrip coach class airfare from 28 North American gateways to two different Seabourn Pride cruises of South America in 2003. The airfare offer represents additional savings of up to $1,795 per person for these 16- and 18-day cruises aboard the intimate, all-suite ship. The cruise line has also added extra value features to the January and February departures of its "luxury adventure" cruises of Panama, Belize and Costa Rica aboard the intimate, all-suite Seabourn Legend. Two week cruises departing January 4th from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and January 18th from Caldera (San Jose), Costa Rica aboard the 208-guest ship now offer increased Early Booking Savings up to 50 percent with fares. The same itineraries, departing on February 1st from Florida or February 15th from Costa Rica, feature free economy class airfare from 28 North American gateways, in addition to Early Booking Savings up to 40 percent.
Looking to get way out there? Royal Caribbean's 2003 line-up of Exotic Destinations takes guests as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and French Polynesia. January through March 2003, Legend of the Seas will sail 14- and 16-night South Pacific itineraries departing from Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and Honolulu, Oahu.
Holland America Line announced that its "Elegant Explorer," the 794-passenger ms Prinsendam, will sail on the 105-day Grand World Voyage in 2004.
Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) completely redesigned website, www.cruising.org, is the ultimate cruise vacation resource, a one-stop source for unbiased, comprehensive cruise information geared toward vacationers, travel agents and the media. Site visitors will find a wealth of useful information about the cruise industry, the 23 CLIA-member cruise lines and the nearly 17,000 travel agent affiliates, as well as links to key industry resources, all in a new easy-to-access and easy-to-navigate format.
As a result of its voluntary reporting of irregularities, Norwegian Cruise Line reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Department of Justice to plead guilty to a single count of violation of Title 33, U.S.C., Section 1908, for the knowing failure to maintain an accurate Oil Record Book aboard the S.S. Norway prior to May 2000. Under the plea agreement, NCL has agreed to pay a fine of $1 million, be placed on probation, and maintain a comprehensive environmental compliance plan.
Details of these stories and more in CRUISE NEWS
Who's cruising? Check the latest Cruise Reviews on CruiseDiva.com!
Cruise Diva's August Book Selection
Smart Packing for Today's Traveler
by Susan Foster
Cruise Diva's comments: The very BEST packing advice & it's all in one book. An absolute MUST for every traveler
Join a Group Cruise!
Enchanted Group Cruise - It's not too late! Enchantment of the Seas, our floating castle sets sail on Sunday, October 13, 2002.
There will be Cruise @ddicts CH@OS on the Dawn Princess on January 9, 2003. For details, contact Lori Cunningham!
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