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.

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.

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.