Friday, October 24, 2008

RCCL Brands Set Fuel Supplement Elimination

Royal Caribbean has set an end to the fuel supplement for 2010 sailings, and the criteria for eliminating it on 2009 and previously booked 2010 sailings. The announcement applies to worldwide sales of three of their brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.

For bookings made November 10, 2008 and after, the brands will no longer charge a supplement for sailings that depart January 1, 2010 and after.

For 2009 sailings and passengers who have already booked 2010 sailings with a supplement, the company will determine on a quarterly basis if fuel supplements will be refunded. Refunds will be authorized "if the closing price of West Texas Intermediate fuel is $65 or less, at the closing time of the New York Mercantile Exchange, two weeks prior to the beginning of the upcoming calendar quarter." If that condition is met, refunds will be made in the form of an onboard credit.

The company made specific note that should fuel prices again begin to rise, they may reinstate a fuel supplement on new bookings.

Details appeared in the Ocotber 24, 2008 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Celebrity Solstice Delivered

Meyer Werft delivered Celebrity Solstice to Celebrity Cruises this morning (October 24). The ship will sail from Eemshaven on October 25, and anticipates arriving at Port Everglades on November 3.

Once at Ft. Lauderdale, Celebrity has scheduled a series of inaugural functions for the first-of-its-class vessel. It will be named at Port Everglades on November 14. Celebrity Solstice will enter service on November 23 with a series of 7-night eastern Caribbean cruises.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

New Carnival Advertising to Launch

Carnival will launch a new advertising campaign in November, the first product of Arnold Worldwide, their new advertising agency.

The new ads will be "fun," of course. One feature will be "Towel Animal Theatre." All will have the new tagline: Fun for all. All for fun.

The trade and consumer magazine advertising will launch beginning November 10. Four consumer ads will run in People magazine November 17 through December 8.

Two new TV spots will also begin running at an unspecified date in November. Those will be directed by Noam Murro who has directed award-winning ads for Volkswagen, Hummer, "Monsters" and Nike. He also directed the recent movie, "Smart People."

Details and perspective appeared in the October 23 (2008) edition of Cruise News Daily.

Ruby Princess Delivered

Ruby Princess was delivered to Princess Cruises today (October 23) and has set sail for Port Everglades where it is expected to arrive on November 4.

The ship, a sister to Crown and Emerald Princess, will enter service on November 8 with a winter series of 7-day western Caribbean cruises.

The complete article appeared in the October 23, 2008, edition of Cruise News Daily.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Carnival Returns to Galveston

Carnival Cruise Lines will resume operation from Galveston on November 1, after operating temporarily from Houston due to damage at Galveston caused by Hurricane Ike.

Carnival Ecstasy's November 1, 2008 sailing will be the first cruise ship to return. It will be followed on the next day (November 2) by Carnival Conquest.

Details appeared in the October 22, 2008 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

You can lose more than they actually steal

The Mobile Press-Register reports that while a couple was getting married on Saturday, someone came into the church and stole the bride's purse and money from the purses of all the bridesmaids. It sounds like the bride could also potentially be in for identity theft because in her purse was her checkbook, driver's license and passport.

She says she can deal with all that, but what her biggest problem is at the moment is not having her passport. The couple was to leave for their honeymoon on a cruise on Monday, and without the passport, she is afraid she won't be able to board the ship. The couple went ahead and left for Tampa anyway hoping something will work out.

These days, it seems you can lose more than they actually steal.

Getting Ready for The Orchestra

MSC announced another winner of a free Caribbean cruise in their ongoing promotion to draw attention to MSC Orchestra's upcoming arrival in the US.

The 92,400-ton MSC Orchestra is the largest MSC has ever had in the Caribbean, and it will arrive at Ft. Lauderdale on January 2, for a winter season of 7-night Caribbean sailings.

The latest winner is Christina Joly of Lynnfield, MA. MSC is continuing to give away free cruises and other MSC logo merchandise to visitors to their special website promoting MSC Orchestra's arrival in the US. You can enter simply by visiting www.theorchestraiscomingtotown.com

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Drug Seized on Returning P&O Ship

UK customs officers seized more than 65 pounds of cocaine when P&O's Arcadia docked at Southampton on Sunday. They arrested seven people involved; all were passengers aboard the ship, which was returning from a 23-night Caribbean cruise, and all listed addresses in the UK. Officials estimate the drugs were valued at almost $2.1 million.