~ SEA VIEWS ~
The Newsletter for Cruise Travelers
September 30, 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...
Hot, Hot, Hot... Why not escape the winter doldrums and head south? Really south! The Caribbean has its allure, but don't overlook the obviouswhen it's cold and snowy in North America, the weather is sunny and warm in the southern hemisphere.
A cruise is the ideal way to sample the pleasures of South America. With thousands of miles of beaches and vibrant, cosmopolitan cities beside the sea, there's a lot to keep visitors busy day and night. Venture beyond the museums, shopping, and cultural attractions found in the ports of call and you'll discover some of the world's most spectacular scenerymountains to trek, rivers to cross, and jungle to explore for wildlife and flora.
While most South America cruises tend to be lengthyfrom twelve to fourteen days or moresome of those offered by Silversea Cruises on the 6-star, ultra-luxury Silver Shadow can be booked in segments to accommodate almost any schedule. Some segments are as short as six nights, which should accommodate even the most hectic lifestyle. Depending on itinerary, an added bonus is Silversea Cruises' Simplicity Pricing for 2002, which offers savings of 20% to 50%.
Find out more about Cruises to SOUTH AMERICA.
Featured Itinerary Culture, Cuisine, Carnaval! These Tips for South America Cruise Travel are offered by a frequent traveler to some of South America's most popular destinations.
10 Reasons Are Cited for Cruise Industry Recovery "Now, more than ever, people should book a cruise vacation," stated Richard Fain, chairman of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), which represents 16 North American cruise lines. "Prices are extremely affordable and passengers will have peace of mind knowing that cruising is as safe as it has ever been." How did the cruise industry bounce back over the course of a single year? "The cruise industry pulled itself together by being responsive to consumers' needs," stated Michael Crye, president of the ICCL. "We dropped prices, moved cruise ships closer to home and made an already safe industry even safer. In short, consumer confidence is returning and the industry is rebounding beyond anyone's expectations of last September." Get the details in CRUISE NEWS
Cruise News Briefs:
Devotees of the world's only totally smoke-free cruise ship, Carnival Cruise Lines' Paradise, now have a compelling reason to sail on her again. She offers new year-round alternating western and eastern Caribbean cruise programs from Miami beginning February 23, 2003, which feature an exceptional array of ports including Isla Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced it has deferred its options to purchase a fifth and sixth ship within its new Radiance class with deliveries in 2005 and 2006. Royal Caribbean and Meyer Werft shipyard of Papenburg, Germany, builder of the Radiance-class ships, agreed to extend the options to January 10, 2003.
Continuing its tradition of visiting the world's most desirable ports of call, Silversea Cruises has announced a new 2003 schedule for the Silver Wind. The 296-passenger, ultra-luxury vessel will emerge from a complete refurbishment next Spring to sail on an all-new Mediterranean and Caribbean program. Silver Wind was originally scheduled to travel to the Far East and Australia/New Zealand in 2003; however, due to the increased popularity of Mediterranean and Caribbean, the company has decided to redeploy her. Guests affected by the itinerary changes will be contacted and offered attractive alternative arrangements.
Cunard Line and Athens 2004, the organizing committee for the 2004 Olympic Games, signed a memorandum of understanding to position Cunard's $800-million Queen Mary 2 in the Greek port of Piraeus to serve as a floating hotel during the Games. The 1,310-cabin luxury liner will arrive in Piraeus on August 12, 2004, and remain docked there through August 30.
Travelers seeking the ultimate in service will find even more accommodations with personal butler service aboard Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises' newest ship launching in July 2003. From unpacking luggage upon request to coordinating an intimate dinner for two on one's own private verandah, European-trained butlers will pamper guests in the luxury ship's new category of accommodations, the "Penthouse Stateroom with Verandah." Crystal has also launched an additional website dedicated to Crystal Serenity, the fleet's third ship departing on its inaugural cruise July 7, 2003. The site premieres the first 3-D images and an animated virtual tour of the exteriors and interiors of Crystal Serenity, including a wide variety of public rooms and personal accommodations, as well as the first video clips of the construction progress.
Celebrity Cruises will devote a second ship to the Caribbean for the 2003 summer season to accommodate a continued demand for its Caribbean product. Century, currently sailing 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades, was scheduled to redeploy to Europe next summer, then resume her Caribbean sailings next fall. Celebrity will cancel Century's originally scheduled European sailings and transatlantic crossings. Guests on the cancelled cruises are encouraged to rebook on either of Royal Caribbean's or Celebrity's remaining European itineraries and will receive a $100 per cabin credit as compensation.
Offering its most diverse selection of Caribbean cruises ever, Holland America Line will sail 170 departures in 2003, highlighted by the introduction of seven-day itineraries aboard the new 1,848-passenger ms Zuiderdam. And, in 2003, Holland America features more ports of call on its South America cruise itineraries and will offer more time in the popular ports of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sharks, extraterrestrial life, myths and more... explorers and experts will enliven Seabourn's South America Cruises. Guests aboard Seabourn Pride's cruises circumnavigating South America early next year will share their journey with renowned experts in fields as varied as history, biology, cultural anthropology, archeology, geographic exploration and the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Disney Cruise Line is offering special savings for Floridians this fall, when seven-night cruise vacations start at more than $200 off brochure rates. Between Oct. 5 and Dec. 14, Florida residents can sail Disney's seven- night eastern or western Caribbean cruise vacations for as little as $599.
Details of these stories and more in CRUISE NEWS
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Crystal Serenity - 3-D images and an animated virtual tour of the exteriors and interiors of Crystal Serenity, including a wide variety of public rooms and personal accommodations. Plus, video clips of the construction progress.
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Images courtesy of Amazon.com, Crystal Cruises, M. D. Coffman
