American West Steamboat Company

Some changes are coming in 2007. American West will introduce a season of three- to seven-day itineraries. From Portland to Lewiston, Idaho, its Queen of the West steamboat will retrace the final 1,000 miles of the Lewis & Clark Trail in a Victorian setting on full-week trips. Brand new three-, four-, and five-day itineraries in March and December will depart Portland for journeys that emphasize the lower Columbia. This is American West's tenth anniversary year. It's celebrating with "Cruises Into History," along three northwest rivers, the Columbia, Snake, and Willamette. The 150-passenger Queen of the West will sail from Portland on a seven-day itinerary. On-board historians and naturalists will lead tours and lectures. Shore excursions will be included in the cruise package.

For On-board Review of Queen of the West, see the Ship Reviews section.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Next March has been set for the inaugural of Carnival's new 2974-passenger, 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom. It will spend its first season doing 12-day cruises in the Mediterranean. There will be seven Med and Greek Isles trips and 12 "Grand Mediterranean" cruises, each operating round-trip from Rome. The Med-Isles itinerary will visit Naples, Rhodes, Izmir, Istanbul, Athens, Katakolon, and Livorno, with a night in Rome. The "Grand" itinerary goes to Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice, Messina, Barcelona, Cannes, and Livorno. The new ship will have 22 lounges and bars, a 13,300 square foot spa, a jogging track, Internet caf?, four swimming pools, a 214-foot long water slide, a nine-deck-high atrium, twin two-level formal restaurants, a 1400-seat poolside eatery, a 24-hour pizzeria, a supper club, conference center, shopping mall, children's and teens centers, and more... Joining many other carriers, Carnival has rolled out a new past-passenger loyalty program. For 10-time customers, it features such perks as priority embarkation and debarkation, personalized stationery, logo items, complimentary laundry service, a concierge desk, and special baggage tags.

Celebrity Cruises

2008 already? Yes, if you're announcing Celebrity's upcoming schedule to Europe. The carrier said it plans a significant expansion in Europe in 2007 and 2008, and issued details. It will go to the widest array of locations since it began sailing there in 1999. Four of its ships — the 1950-passenger Millennium, the 1870-passenger Galaxy, the 1950-passenger Constellation, and the 1770-passenger Century will ply the Med and Baltic regions. The Millennium will do a six-month series of 12-day cruises between Barcelona and Venice in 2007. The Galaxy will concentrate on 10- and 11-day round-trips from Rome to Greece, Turkey, and other Italian cities in 2007. The Constellation will make its home in the north in 2007 — operating 14-day Scandinavia and Russia trips from London. The Century will also be in the north, doing nine-day Scotland-Ireland and eight-day Norwegian Fjords trips yand 12-day Scandinavia and Russia itineraries, each from Amsterdam. There will also be trips from Amsterdam to the Arctic Circle/North Cape, British Isles, and Barcelona, followed by Med trips round-trip from Barcelona... Alaska will be big on Celebrity's 2007 agenda, too. It will place three ships there: the 1950-passenger Summit, the 1950-passenger Infinity, and the 1870-passenger Mercury. Sandwiched between spring and fall California/Pacific Coastal cruises, the Infinity will sail seven-day roundtrips from Vancouver, the Summit will do alternating seven-day one-way trips from Vancouver to Seward and Seward to Vancouver, and the Mercury will conduct seven-day roundtrip departures from Seattle... The 1770-passenger Century emerges from a $55 million revitalization this summer. It will sport 314 new private balconies, 14 new sky suites, 174 new Concierge Class staterooms that come with fresh flowers, a pillow menu, personalized stationery, a new specialty restaurant, Murano chandeliers, a completely-refurbished two-level main restaurant, a sushi bar, an alternative-dining Ocean Grill, an outdoor bar featuring fresh tapas, a coffeehouse, a martini bar, a teen lounge, and more. It will be based in Miami beginning in November for four- and five-day Caribbean cruises

Costa Cruises

Costa's entire 10-ship fleet will be deployed in Europe this summer. The vessels will conduct 273 departures on 76 itineraries to 102 ports in 33 countries. Departure ports will be Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Kiel, Venice, Rome, Genoa, and Trieste... Also this summer, Costa introduces its largest ship, Costa Concordia, which can hold 3780 passengers. One of its highlights is what's billed as the largest spa and wellness center on a ship — a two-deck, 20,500 square foot affair.

Cruise West

Two new itineraries for 2007 will take the 120-passenger Spirit of Oceanus to Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and China. The 11-day and 13-day trips will depart in November... A new, more interactive Web site has been launched by Cruise West. It features blog postings, web seminars called "webinars," and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds. It's at www.cruisewest.com... Each of Cruise West's land-based exploration leaders and land-tour drivers in Alaska has completed the National Association of Interpretation's Certified Interpretive Guide course. The company says such certification will help make for better passenger experiences and more understanding among tourgoers.

Crystal Cruises

For passengers who really want to get away from it all — including other passengers — Crystal has come up with "Crystal Private Adventures." The new program will arrange shore excursions and activities tailored to individuals and groups seeking intimate perspectives of their destinations. Crystal has added extended shoreside programs to its 2007 world cruise. It now has 25 such overnight trips on the docket. Some of the countries where the one- to four-night tours are available are Brazil, Argentina, South Africa Kenya, Israel, and Turkey... Husband-and-wife Democratic-and-Republican political commentators James Carville and Mary Matalin will discuss politics and more on a late-summer Rome-London cruise aboard the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony... "Artisanal Cruises" is the newest term in Crystal's vocabulary. This fall it will feature visits with artisans during its New England and Eastern Canada cruises. Local tradespeople and craftsmen to be visited include glass-blowers, angora goat farmers, a soap manufacturing plant, a raspberry and blueberry cultivator who produces honey and jams, an edible flower nursery, a yacht restoration school, and more... Getting high: Crystal is offering what it claims is the first cruise industry climb to the top of 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa... Returning to Asia for the first time in two years, Crystal will operate four itineraries from March through May on the Symphony. Among the 17 cities in nine countries: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and Singapore... Crystal says that men now buy 36 percent of its spa offerings. So it's now offering a series of spa therapies with a masculine focus. It has produced a "Time for Men" brochure to promote them... For the first time, Crystal will schedule cruises beginning or ending in Monte Carlo. The four trips this fall will be 11 days in length.

Cunard Line

Details of the new 2014-passenger Queen Victoria, which enters service in December, 2007, are being revealed. The third ship in Cunard's fleet will have the profile and black-and-red livery of the company's traditional transatlantic liners. A three-tiered grand lobby will be the first space passengers will see on the 12-deck ship. There will be two swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, and a Winter Garden with a retractable roof in the health club/spa area. Children will have their own facilities. There will be a 6000-book library and a Royal Shopping Arcade. The theater will have private boxes. There will be a two-level dining room, a formal restaurant, a casual lido, traditional Queens Grill and Princess Grill, and additional dining and bar venues. 86 percent of the cabins will offer sea views, while 71 percent will have private balconies. Crystal chandeliers and a large ballroom floor will mark Cunard's traditional Queens Room, where white-gloved tea service occurs. Partnerships with Conde Nast Publications and Departures Magazine have resulted in three new transatlantic onboard enrichment programs on the 2620-passenger Queen Mary this fall. Literary Retreat on the High Seas will feature three authors; Modern Dance on the High Seas will celebrate the legacy of the Martha Graham Dance Company with lectures, performances, and classes; and Fine Living on the High Seas will offer advice, anecdotes, and demonstrations of culinary and interior design talent.

Delta Queen Steamboat Company

Ambassadors International, operator of American West Steamboat Company, has acquired Delta Queen Steamboat Company from its operator since 2002, Delaware North Companies. The price was $3 million in cash, the assumption of approximately $9 million of customer deposits, and the assumption of approximately $35 million of debt. Delta's name goes back to 1890, and it bills itself as the oldest cruise line in America. The three current Delta Queen ships — the 436-passenger American Queen, the 416-passenger Mississippi Queen, and the 174-passenger Delta Queen — will be combined into the Ambassadors Cruise Group subsidiary of Ambassadors. The acquisition will increase Ambassadors' number of vessels to five and number of berths from 365 to about 1400. Ambassadors is headquartered in Newport Beach, California... It's full steam ahead out of New Orleans. For the first time since Hurricane Katrina, each of Delta Queen's ships will sail from the Crescent City on regular schedules, starting next spring.

Discovery World Cruises

2007's winter program contains 17 cruisetours ranging from 13 to 40 days. The Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, South America, and the South Pacific are on the agenda and promise penguins, icebergs, giant tortoises, and blue-footed boobies. The 650-passenger Discovery will conduct the trips, under the tutelage of explorers and lecturers in glaciology, geology, marine life, seabirds, and similar Southern Hemisphere concerns.

Disney Cruise Line

"Mickey's Meanders in the Med" could be the title of the next chapter of the Disney saga. In Disney's biggest-ever new-route announcement, the line disclosed that it will reposition its 2700-passenger Disney Magic next year for eight summer cruises in Spain, Italy, and France. The Mediterranean cruises will have two itineraries, each starting and ending in Barcelona. A 10-day version will stop at Palermo in Sicily, Naples, Olbia in Sardinia, Rome, Florence-Pisa, Marseille, and Villefranche. There will be two at-sea days. The 11-day trip will stop at the same ports, but feature three days at sea. The four 10-day itineraries will depart on intermittent Wednesdays in June, July, and August. The four 11-day itineraries will depart on intermittent Saturdays in May, June, and July.

French Country Waterways

New itineraries for the eight-passenger, all-suite barge Horizon II will begin this summer. It will three itineraries in Burgundy for the first time... Locks, tunnels, and a 139-foot boat elevator ride will carry the eight-passenger Princess over the Vosges Mountains between Strasbourg and Nancy on six-day sailings this summer.

Heritage Cruise Lines

The Canadian carrier Heritage Cruise Lines will put its 18-passenger Georgian Clipper into service from Kingston, Ontario, this summer. It will operate five-day runs through the Thousand Islands and Bay of Quinte region of Eastern Ontario through October. The war of 1812, which was partially fought in the area, will be a main historic topic of each cruise. The Clipper has an open bridge policy, where passengers can learn to read charts, understand how a GPS works, and listen to radio traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Holland America Line

This season will mark the completion of "Signature of Excellence" enhancements on all 13 Holland America ships. The $225 million initiative includes upgrades to the ships' public spaces, stateroom amenities, a Culinary Arts Center, an Explorations Caf? powered by the New York Times, a Greenhouse Spa and Salon, and improved youth programs and facilities... The most extensive-ever Panama Canal program will be offered by Holland America this year. There will be 15 itineraries including both roundtrip sailings and transit voyages. Trips will vary between 10 and 34 days. Seven ships will sail through the canal, variously calling at every major Pacific coast city, many Mexico resorts, Florida, New York, the north tip of South America, and various Caribbean islands... A choice of 2500 shore excursions will be offered this year in 296 ports in 60 countries... Ole! A stellar Mexican Riviera season is on tap for Holland America this year. The 1848-passenger Oosterdam and the 1440-passenger Zaandam will conduct 32 cruises from San Diego. They'll be divided among seven- and 10-day trips... A second ship will be added to the Canada/New England run this fall foliage season. There will be a total of 22 cruises departing from Boston and New York aboard the 1266-passenger Maasdam and the 1380-passenger Amsterdam. Saguenay, Quebec, has been added to the stops on some itineraries... Grand Turk is being added to 28 Caribbean cruises this year. The carrier will place 10 ships in the Caribbean, conducting 152 departures.

For On-board Review of Statendam, see the Ship Reviews section.

MSC Cruises

Europe will figure ever higher on MSC's agenda. It announced 2008 plans to sail three ships on Northern Europe itineraries. The 1492-passenger Melody, the 2055-passenger Opera, and the 2500-passenger Poesia, with the potential to carry 126,000 passengers during the season, will be based there... MSC's newest ship, the 2600-passenger Musica, enters service this season. It will have some 236,000 square feet of public space... more than five acres. Inside that space will be four restaurants — two of which will specialize in Italian and Japanese food — a piano suspended on a crystal platform above a waterfall, a 13,000 square foot spa, three pools, four Jacuzzis, and many bars, lounges, theaters, shopping areas, and more. It will have an international staff.

Norwegian Coastal Voyage

Vintage ships built in 1874, 1912, and 1931 will ply the historic Gota Canal between Stockholm and Gothenburg this summer. The ships — which have between 25 and 29 cabins — will conduct seven- and nine-day cruise-tours... Expedition cruises to Greenland are being introduced this summer aboard the 56-passenger Disco II.

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL announced that the 2384-passenger Norwegian Pearl, its newest Freestyle Cruising vessel, will join Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star in Alaska for the 2007 season. Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl will sail seven-day roundtrip cruises from Seattle, and Norwegian Sun will move to Vancouver for seven-day round-trip cruises. The new Pearl will enter service in December... NCL observes its 40^th anniversary this summer by introducing the brand new 2400-passenger Pride of Hawaii. The ship will be the carrier's third to sail the Hawaiian Islands as part of the NCL America fleet. It will do seven-day roundtrip inter-island cruises. The ship will boast 10 restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, six hot tubs, a large library, a kids club, a video arcade, a galleria of boutiques, a golf pro shop, basketball/volleyball/tennis court, a chapel, meeting rooms, and more.

Peter Deilmann Cruises

It'll be easy to work off all their food and easy living for Peter Deilmann river cruisers this year. The company is expanding cycling offerings on Seine, Rhone, Elbe, and Danube River sailings. Some are multi-day events including hotel stays, meals, and cycling through wine regions, small country roads, orchards, riversides, and countrysides.

Princess Cruises

Princess' Alaska passengers this summer will have 21 additional excursions to choose from. They'll range from off-road 4x4 adventures to snorkeling in a dry suit to dog sledding on a glacier to searching for wildlife and whales. They're being added to the current 217 tour options. Princess will have 122 Alaska departures on seven ships this summer from San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver... Princess' 2007 Europe schedule has been announced. There will be 81 departures, 31 itineraries, 110 ports, and five ships, including two that will make their Princess debut with Europe sailings. The new 3100-passenger Emerald Princess will serve the Med and Greek Isles; the 680-passenger Royal Princess, which joins the Princess fleet next year, will offer five itineraries in the Med, the Crimean/Aegean Coasts, and Israel; the 2400-passenger Grand Princess will handle Northern Europe with a bit of off-season Med; the 2600-passenger Star Princess will concentrate on Scandinavia and Russia; and the 1950-passenger Sea Princess will again operate from London to Spain, Scandinavia, and the Med... Emerald Princess, which will set sail on its first voyage from Rome next April (see item above), will have features like outdoor movies at night, multiple dining and entertainment options, an Asian-style spa, an extensive children and teen center, a wedding chapel, large casino, and some 900 cabins with private balconies... In case 3100 passengers and all their activities get to be a bit overwhelming for some, Princess' new Crown Princess will have The Sanctuary. That's an adults-only retreat on the 17^th deck that will have an "atmosphere of tranquility and service, offering a respite for relaxation," according to Princess. It will offer "a relaxing alternative to the myriad outdoor activities and entertainment available elsewhere throughout the ship."... Spelling bees are being added to the activity offerings on Princess ships. The "Bee at Sea" will be conducted in a large theater in both adults and kids versions.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

An "Inclusive Liquor Policy" begins on all cruises in 2007. That means all bars and restaurants fleetwide will offer select complimentary wine and spirits... "Circles of Interest" cruises will be extended to each Baltic and Med itinerary this summer and fall. Trips aboard the 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager between Stockholm and Copenhagen will feature excursions, workshops, and lectures focused on art-design-museums, jazz, exploration-wellness, and Baltic culture. Similarly, Med trips will focus on archeology, history, photography, and food and wine on voyages between Monte Carlo, Rome, Athens, and Funchal... A concierge program in concert with Travel + Leisure Magazine will be charged with customizing passengers' travel experiences and achieving maximum satisfaction for them... The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin has emerged from a $6 million rejuvenation conducted in Australia. It now has a new piano bar, new casino, five additional cabins, new seating and carpeting in public areas, and more. It sails seven-day trips through Polynesia from Papeete plus occasional longer trips in the Marquesas and Society Islands regions... Le Cordon Bleu hands-on cooking workshops taught by master chefs will be offered on five cruises this year. Also, chef-guided visits involving cooking demonstrations, market tours, wine tastings, dinners, and food-oriented activities will be offered in Paris, Monte Carlo, Tokyo, and Sydney "Ambassadors of the Environment" cruises, a series of nine voyages designed to educate young people via direct experiences, will circulate from Tahiti through Raiatea, Tahaa, Motu Mahana, Bora Bora, and Moorea. The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin will feature island excursions, expedition films, dinners with Tahitian hostesses, games, ecosystem education, Polynesian culture immersion, archaeologist presentations, canoe paddling, a dolphin expedition, and more... A 59-day Circle South America voyage will be undertaken by the Seven Seas Voyager starting next January. It will travel round trip from Fort Lauderdale to 36 ports in 15 countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The voyage will sail 1000 miles up the Amazon River to Manaus. It will also visit the Falkland Islands, Buenos Aires, Cape Horn, the Chilean fjords, and the Panama Canal... Installation of flat-screen television sets in each suite will be completed in 2007.

   
This issue: On-board Review of Navigator. See the Ship Reviews section.

ResidentSea, Ltd.

The World, ResidentSea's 165-residence, 12-deck private residential floating community, has released its 2007 itinerary. It will visit 36 countries, including Rio during Carnaval, France during the Cannes Film Festival, and Spain during America's Cup.

Royal Caribbean International

A 445-foot-long shopping/dining/entertainment boulevard. A 3600-volume library. A pizzeria. A traditional barbershop and shoeshine establishment. A 1350-seat theater. A juice bar. A surf park with cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean. A surfing simulator. An ice skating rink. Flat-paneled television sets. As tall as a 20-story building. Those are just a few of the stats for Royal Caribbean's new 3634-passenger Freedom of the Seas. Billed as the largest ship in the world, the 160,000 ton liner enters service this season sailing seven-day trips from Miami to the Western Caribbean ports of Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and the line's private Labadee... An "Extreme Makeover" is planned for Royal Caribbean's 2356-passenger Majesty of the Seas. It will undergo extensive renovations in every area of the ship. There will be new spa and fitness facilities, additional dining options, refurbished cabins and bathrooms, refreshed public areas, new bed frames and mattresses, high thread- count sheets, a facelifted casino, new carpeting, a Johnny Rockets eatery, a new pizzeria, revitalized dining rooms, and more. The ship will be taken out of service in January for about four weeks... A new Dominican Republic home port, Santo Domingo, will be the base for the 2076-passenger Legend of the Seas beginning in December, 2007. ..Also a new itinerary starting in December, 2007: The 2076-passenger Splendour of the Seas will sail from Santos, Brazil, calling at Rio, Buenos Aires, and other destinations in Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina on alternating eight-day and six-day trips during the Southern summer. The location will allow for seven-day cruises to St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Venezuela, Aruba, St. Kitts, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Lucia on two alternating itineraries.

Seabourn Cruise Line

A complimentary "Shoreside Experience" has been added to each Seabourn cruise... Flat-screen television sets, DVD players, and Bose Wave radio/CDs will be installed in all guest cabins by the end of this year... A luggage shipping service from home to cabin and back is now available on most Seabourn cruises.

Silversea Cruises

Wellness will be a continuing theme aboard Silversea vessels. Programs including nutrition classes, exercise, fitness activities, spa therapies, health-accented dining options, vitamin smoothies, seminars, morning walks, aerobics, Pilates, circuit training, yoga, and more will be part of the program. To accommodate the new emphasis, fitness centers aboard the 382-passenger Silver Shadow and 382-passenger Silver Whisper are being expanded to house new cardiovascular training equipment... Passengers booking Silver Shadow's entire 126-day world cruise that leaves Fort Lauderdale next January will be treated to shoreside events showcasing culture, art, history, and culinary traditions in Santiago, Auckland, Dubai, Safaga, and Rome. There will also be 22 optional overnight land programs. Walter Cronkite and William F. Buckley are among the many who have signed on as speakers... In its new 2006 - 2007 Voyage Atlas, Silversea lists 130 different itineraries to 350 destinations in 120 countries. Voyages range from six to 120 days... Passengers can now use their own cellular phones and wireless PDAs on board Silversea ships, thanks to the recent installation of new SeaMobile technology. WiFi hotspots have also been created... Cultures of the Far East will be explored on eight voyages of the Silver Cloud and Silver Whisper from December through February. Among the departure ports: Hong Kong, Singapore, Bombay.

Star Cruises

For the first time, Asia-Pacific-headquartered Star Cruises will base a ship in the Eastern Mediterranean. The 1480-passenger SuperStar Libra will reposition to Valletta, Malta, this summer... SuperStar Gemini will extend its Southeast Asia itineraries until the end of the year. Maiden calls will be made in Bangkok, East Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Khmer Republic. Gemini is one of Star's smaller ships. Singapore will be the home port.

Windstar Cruises

2007 and early-2008 itineraries have been announced by Windstar. Its three sailing ships — the 148-passenger Wind Star, the 148-passenger Wind Spirit, and the 308-passenger Wind Surf — will visit the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, and transatlantic crossing points. Greek Island sailings will be increased over previous years, with seven-day trips arranged so that back-to-back voyages on different itineraries will be possible. The ships will visit some 50 countries, calling at 100 ports... Want a tonic for a hot day? Windstar is now offering lemon-scented, iced towels and sorbet served in a chilled orange half.

Carnival Cruise Lines Takes Delivery of 
New 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty

MIAMI – In ceremonies in Monfalcone, Italy, Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK),  took delivery of the its newest cruise ship, the 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty, which launched the line’s first-ever Mediterranean cruise program July 20. The 2,974-passenger SuperLiner is the 21st vessel in Carnival’s “Fun Ship” fleet. 

“Carnival Liberty is a spectacular addition to the ‘Fun Ship’ fleet and we’re looking forward to the exciting inaugural festivities, as well as the start-up of our first-ever Mediterranean cruise program which features some of the region’s most charming and historic ports of call,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. 

Carnival Liberty’s seven-port, 12-day Med cruises will operate round-trip from Civitavecchia July 20 - Oct. 12, 2005, and include visits to Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. 

Following this program, Carnival Liberty will depart Civitavecchia on a 16-day transatlantic crossing Oct. 24 and arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 9, 2005, positioning the vessel for a one-of-a-kind program of six- and eight-day Bahamas/Caribbean voyages beginning Nov. 12. She will return to Europe in May 2006 for another season of 12-day Mediterranean cruises. 

Among the largest passenger vessels at sea, Carnival Liberty houses 22 lounges and bars, including a sports bar, piano bar, wine bar, dance club, and a 1,500-seat theater showcasing lavish Vegas-style productions. 

Its 13 passenger decks also house a 13,500-square-foot health club, four swimming pools, a cascading water slide, a 4,200-square-foot children’s play area, and a 1,800-square-foot teen club. Dining options include twin two-level main dining rooms, a spacious poolside eatery and an intimate reservations-only supper club serving U.S.D.A. prime beef and other gourmet cuisine. 

Of the ship’s 1,487 staterooms, 60 percent offer either an ocean view or private balcony. 

Reservations are being accepted for all of Carnival Liberty’s 2005-2006 Mediterranean and Caribbean departures.