4/30/2008

Two Princess Ships to be Remodeled with Line’s Latest Signature Features
Star Princess and Caribbean Princess to Add Popular Amenities Including Atrium “Piazza” with International Café, Crown Grill and Adults Only Sanctuary

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 30, 2008) – Two Princess ships will be remodeled to incorporate a number of the most popular amenities that have become passenger favorites on the line’s newer ships. The upcoming makeovers of Star Princess  and Caribbean Princess will include a transformation of the Deck 5 atrium into the inviting piazza-style street café currently found on Crown Princess and Emerald Princess; plus will add the company’s signature adults-only Sanctuary and showplace Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, along with a more centrally located casino and seven new suites.

Star Princess  will receive these new features during her September drydock in San Francisco and Caribbean Princess will follow in January 2009.

The ships’ updated atriums will not only feature the specialty coffees, freshly baked goods, paninis and tapas of the International Café, but will also introduce an expanded Vines wine bar concept, which will now include rare vintage wines, a selection of artisan meats and cheeses, plus a wine shop where passengers can purchase their favorite bottle. In addition, passengers will be able to relax in the tranquility of The Sanctuary, Princess’ signature adults-only retreat, featuring plush padded lounge chairs and the services of dedicated Serenity Stewards. The ships will also replace their current steakhouse with the Crown Grill restaurant featuring an open show kitchen where passengers can enjoy watching as chefs prepare chops, steaks and seafood, including live lobsters. As part of the renovation, each vessel will also receive seven new suites with ocean-view picture windows, and the casino will be relocated one deck higher to deck 7, bringing it into the ship’s central entertainment area.

“After Crown Princess and Emerald Princess debuted, we knew we had struck a chord with our passengers who loved the piazza-style atriums, new dining experiences and the peaceful environment of The Sanctuary,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “And so we’re delighted to bring these hallmark features to two of the other vessels.”

To make room for the new features, passengers may find that some of their favorite areas have been relocated. In addition to the casino, the sports court, Internet Café and wedding chapel are also among the spaces that will be moved in the renovation process.

The new features passengers will find aboard these vessels include:

The Piazza - This piazza-style atrium has been a popular area on the new ships, with its sidewalk café feel and casual dining options. The ships will offer this lively area on Deck 5, designed to be the bustling hub of the ship with a street café atmosphere, featuring live music and entertainers throughout the day and evening. With Italian-inspired décor, this charming area serves as an inviting venue throughout the day for passengers seeking a more casual dining option. Within this space, passengers can relax over coffee and pastries at the International Café or a glass of wine at Vines, or keep in touch with home at the Internet Café.

Vines – The expanded Vines concept features a wine bar serving a selection of rare and unique new- and old-world vintage wines along with gourmet delicacies. Here passengers can enjoy an assortment of fine wines by the glass, wine flights, a wine shop and a walk-in glass artisan cheese and cured meat humidor. Designed to resemble a wine cellar, the venue hosts unique wine tasting sessions, while the chef makes special appearances to pair selections with some of the world’s most desirable artisan cheeses. Food-lovers can also sample a daily selection of sushi, sashimi, antipasti or ceviche. A signature feature in Vines, wine lovers will have the opportunity to sample a Swiss specialty, Raclette, a traditional melted cheese dish. The Vines shop offers an extensive collection of hard-to-find wines available for purchase, as well as Princess-branded favorites such as extra virgin olive oil, aged Italian balsamic vinegar and a selection of related gift items.

International Café - Serving up a variety of tasty options throughout the day, the International Café features an ever-changing array of quick bites and light meal choices. In the morning, passengers will be attracted by the aroma of freshly baked croissants, Danish pastries and beignets; while in the afternoon the Café serves grilled-to-order paninis, quiches and salads. At dinnertime passengers can stop by for tapas or dessert – including the popular chocolate fondue. Throughout the day, the café features the line’s famous fresh-baked cookies, and coffee lovers can also select from a variety of specialty coffee drinks and Revolution teas.

The Sanctuary - The adults-only “pocket of tranquility” that has been so popular on Crown Princess and Emerald Princess, will be added to the uppermost forward deck of the ship, which currently houses the ships’ sports court. The Sanctuary offers a relaxing alternative to the myriad activities available throughout the ship. Solitude seekers will be able to escape completely to this plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting with refreshing beverages and healthy fare, massages, relaxing personal entertainment and attentive service from the area’s Serenity Stewards.

Crown Grill – The ships will trade their Sterling Steakhouse restaurants for a Crown Grill premium seafood and chop house concept as found on Crown Princess and Emerald Princess. This showplace restaurant entertains passengers with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare steamed shellfish – such as lobster, scallops, clams and mussels – and cooked-to-order steaks and chops. Passengers can choose to sit at the kitchen’s eat-up counter and watch the show as they dine.

Suites - Seven new oceanview suites will be added on deck six, offering additional options for passengers who enjoy the luxury and amenities that come with Princess’ most spacious accommodations.

Luxury Riverboat Is Tauck’s Second New Ship In Two Years

ANTWERP, BELGIUM (April 3, 2008) Tauck family members, Tauck World Discovery executives, travel agents, local dignitaries, journalists and other special guests gathered at the Antwerp Cruise Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium today for the official christening of Tauck’s new MS Swiss Sapphire luxury riverboat. The launch of the Swiss Sapphire comes just two years after the launch of its sister-ship, Tauck’s MS Swiss Emerald.
The Swiss Sapphire was christened in a dock-side ceremony by Lee Tauck, godmother to the ship and matriarch to the third generation of the Tauck family to lead Tauck World Discovery, an 83-year-old luxury tour, cruise and safari operator. The christening ceremony included speeches by Tauck executives and city officials, performances by a local musical ensemble, and fireboats firing cannons and spraying towering geysers of water skyward in celebration. Following the ceremonies, the Sapphire and its guests set sail on a three-day luxury cruise along the Albert Canal.

The Swiss Sapphire was constructed in Hardinxveld Giessendam in the Netherlands, and it will alternate with the Swiss Emerald on six different itineraries. The launch of the Swiss Sapphire highlights Tauck’s sixth year offering European river cruises, and it marks the company’s continued expansion in the category. Besides the launch of the Sapphire, the company is also adding two new European river cruise itineraries this spring.

Despite the expansion of its fleet and its cruise offerings, Tauck is intentionally managing its growth, says CEO Dan Mahar. “We’re taking a very deliberate and measured approach as we grow our river cruising business, to make sure that the quality of the experience continues to live up to Tauck’s standards, and to exceed the expectations of our guests,” said Mahar. “Our goal is not to be the largest river cruise company in the world, it’s to be the best.”

The 361-foot Swiss Sapphire accommodates a maximum of just 118 guests, compared to 150 or more on other similarly sized vessels. Guests aboard the Sapphire can choose among 59 outside-facing staterooms, including 14 luxury suites. Each suite boasts 300 square-feet of living space highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in closets and marble baths with full size tubs. An additional 45 junior suites and cabins range from 150 to 183 square-feet. All suites and cabins are well appointed with plasma TVs, mini-bars, terry cloth robes, radios, safes, individual air conditioning and L’Occitane toiletries. The ship also features a 24-hour Jacuzzi, Lido bar, lounge, restaurant and wellness center. Along with a ship’s crew of 29, the Sapphire also has an onboard staff of three Tauck Directors and one Tauck Cruise Director to ensure superior service and attention to guests’ needs.

http://www.europe-river-cruise.com/eurivcrssearchresult.htm?Site=NxCamb&dir=offr&OfferId=816092

Wonders of the American West Added to 2008 USA & Canada Brochure

RYE, NY –“Wonders of the American West” is a new addition to Insight Vacations 2008 USA & Canada touring collection. Marc Kazlauskas, President of Insight Vacations states “We have North American itineraries that visit several of America’s national parks and the west coast. This new itinerary is completely focused on areas of the American west that are steeped in history and surrounded by incredible landscapes.”

Wonders of the American West takes in almost every highlight of the great Colorado Plateau, from the deserts and canyons, to the eerie remains of ancient civilizations. Starting in Denver and ending on a high in glittering Las Vegas, this adventure will reinvigorate the body, mind and spirit.

Wonders of the American West; 10 days from $2290 per person, land only, and based on twin share accommodation.  

Additional highlights of this tour include:

• Journey along Colorado’s Interstate 70 with the best views of the Rocky Mountains
• Travel down the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, past iconic Castle Rock
• Meander along scenic Highway 211 with superb views of the earth –etched canyons
• Travel along the Trail of the Ancients, through the Ulte Reservation
• Marvel at the breathtaking views over Bullfrog Marina and Lake Powell from your hotel
• Enjoy tour director-led visits to 6 national parks: Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon North Rim.

Insight guests enjoy more intimate groups, limited to just 40 passengers, the services of an experienced tour director and the assurance of staying in top quality hotels which are centrally or scenically located. Travel in style on Insight’s luxury reconfigured coaches with more legroom so the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

Take advantage of the included sightseeing worth hundreds of dollars, ensuring your holiday budget goes further. With so many included meals, quality hotels and sightseeing experiences, you’ll be astounded at the value of an Insight Vacation.

Insight Vacations  has accumulated an international following by providing outstanding service and quality tour packages to the savvy traveler who seeks better accommodations, choices in dining, and smaller group sizes all while staying in the most desirable locations.  For 30 years, Insight Vacations  has been the leader in premium escorted tours and cruises to Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, Canada and the United States.

Book now!  For more information or reservations, please contact your local travel agent or call us at (877) 325-7522.

Miami, FL,  — In response to the continually escalating price of fuel, Oceania Cruises is increasing its fuel surcharge* to $10 per guest per day for all new reservations effective May 1, 2008. The surcharge applies to all currently published sailings.

“The price of fuel continues to rise in price to levels that were previously unimaginable. We appreciate the continued understanding of our guests and travel agent partners as we make this necessary adjustment,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises .

The fuel surcharge of $10 per guest per day, regardless of voyage length, is effective for all new reservations as of May 1, 2008. The fuel surcharge applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and does not apply to third or fourth guests.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises , a Prestige Cruise Holdings company, is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line and offers a unique combination of the finest cuisine at sea, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. As the leader in destination cruising, Oceania Cruises  sails to more than 180 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Featuring three intimate and elegant mid-sized ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, the line will introduce two new mid-size  Oceania Cruises ceania Cruises ships to its award-winning fleet in 2010 and 2011. For additional information, to make a reservation, or to order a brochure, please contact your Travel Agent or Oceania Cruises at 800-531-5658. Visit us at www.OceaniaCruises.com.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings

Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is a subsidiary of Apollo Management L.P. and the parent corporation of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Formed in 2007 to manage select assets in Apollo Management’s cruise investment portfolio, PCH is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises. PCH is the market leader in the Upper Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry with more than 4,450 berths between the Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises brands, a number the company expects will grow to more than 6,700 berths by 2011.

SOURCE:
Oceania Cruises, Inc.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Tahitian Princess, one of the small ships in the Princess fleet, will be renamed in 2009, becoming Ocean Princess. The new name is intended to reflect the ship’s new deployment on worldwide itineraries. The renaming will take place while the ship is out of service during a routine maintenance period in Singapore in November 2009.

During next year’s fall season, Pacific Princess, another of the line’s small vessels, will provide cruises from Papeete, Tahiti, where the Tahitian Princess has been based.

“Tahitian Princess, along with our other two small ships, has developed a loyal following of passengers who enjoy a more intimate cruise experience, and also the opportunity to visit some off-the-beaten-path destinations,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president of customer service and sales. “As this ship is now sailing on itineraries around the world, we felt its name should reflect a more global theme.”

Tahitian Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2002, and has been primarily deployed on sailings in the South Pacific, particularly French Polynesia and Hawaii. Beginning this summer, the ship sets off on new worldwide deployments, featuring a Connoisseur’s cruise in Alaska, a world cruise in early 2009 and a season of unique Northern Europe sailings next summer. Following the 2009 renaming, Ocean Princess will sail on a series of Asia voyages to be announced separately.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent by calling 1-877-325 7522.

The Federal Appeals Court of Pasadena, California has ruled that laptops or other electronic media arriving at a US Customs port of entry can be searched by border agents without having to demonstrate “reasonable suspicion”. This may present a problem for business travelers or individuals arriving with sensitive data on electronic medium. Encryption of the data may be a reasonable alternative, however it would seem that the electronic medium can be seized, refused entry or the owner may be asked to un-encrypt.
The Association of Travel Executives (ACTE) noted that government has no guidelines on what may trigger an inspection or seizure of an electronic device.

Sailing year-round in Europe, the Freestyle Cruising vessel is the first ship to feature Freestyle 2.0 enhancements

Norwegian Cruise Line(NCL) announced today that it has introduced new entertainment on board Norwegian Jade as part of the ship’s year-round deployment in Europe. Reflecting the company’s continuing commitment to Freestyle Cruising, the wide variety of entertainment offerings were designed to offer guests more flexibility during Norwegian Jade’s port-intensive European itineraries.  The new entertainment includes four new off-Broadway musicals, the legendary show phenomenon Tony n Tina’s Wedding, an expanded The Second City comedy show, and a classical dance production by award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp. In addition, Norwegian Jade  is the first NCL ship to feature Freestyle 2.0 enhancements, including all new menus in the restaurants, upgraded bedding and enhanced on-board activities programming, including NCL “U” enrichment classes, themed parties, sports programming and enhanced youth programs.

“WithNorwegian Jade’s  year-round deployment in Europe, we’ve developed special entertainment programming that raises the bar for cruise ship entertainment, offering an engaging and vibrant daytime and nighttime line-up for our guests,” said Colin Veitch,NCL ’s president and CEO. “At the same time, Norwegian Jade is the first to feature our Freestyle 2.0 enhancements and the combination of these two initiatives is providing an extraordinary Freestyle Cruising experience for guests sailing on Norwegian Jade .”

On Norwegian Jade, NCL has replaced the traditional cruise director with both a master of ceremonies and a guest activities director. The master of ceremonies is a professional entertainer who hosts all evening events while the guest activities director coordinates the ship’s daytime activities. In addition, the entertainment scheduling has been changed to allow guests more flexibility and choice each evening. The nighttime production shows are offered twice per cruise, but only one performance per evening, in contrast to the traditional offering of one production show being offered twice per night. This provides guests the option of catching a show later in the cruise if they miss the first performance. In addition, most evenings there is a second show performed that includes acrobatics, action comedy and magic. To enhance the performance, all shows are performed live with the accompaniment of the Norwegian Jade orchestra.

Freestyle Entertainment Offers Something for Everyone
Norwegian Jade’s  new Freestyle Entertainment includes:

• Smokey Joe’s Café, The Songs of Leiber and Stoller: A jukebox comes alive during this Tony-awarding winning musical, showcasing more than 40 classic favorite rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The hits include “Dance with Me,” “Poison Ivy,” “Hound Dog,” “Stand by Me,” and more.
• SHOUT! The Mod Musical: Based on a popular British magazine, this engaging revue brings back the smashing sounds of England in the 1960s. From cover to cover, SHOUT! travels through the decade with unforgettable music of the era and includes performances of classic songs such as “Downtown,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and “Goldfinger” along with eye-popping fashions and groovy dance numbers.
• And the World Goes ‘Round: The Songs of Kander & Ebb: This glittering musical features an eclectic collection of love and torch songs, such as “New York, New York,” “Cabaret,” and “Money, Money,” interspersed with banjos, roller skates and a tribute to Sara Lee.
• Showdown!: This NCL Entertainment original production features four “contestants” who compete in a mock reality singing competition where the audience votes on the winner. The contestants sing Motown favorites and engage the audience with their unique personalities. They also invite the audience to join in the fun in a dance-a-thon medley.
• Sinatra Suite: Choreographed by the award-winning dance legend Twyla Tharp, this two-dancer ballet set to Sinatra music was originally performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov and is performed on the ship by a husband and wife team. Full of emotion and romance, the piece features classic Frank Sinatra songs, including “Strangers in the Night,” “That’s Life,” and “My Way.” Costumes for the production were designed by Oscar de la Renta. The dance is performed as part of a Classical Evening that includes an opera singer and another Tharp choreographed work, Junk Duet.
• The Second City International Cabaret: A seven-member ensemble from famed Chicago improvisational group, The Second City, hosts an entirely new and expanded evening of cabaret theatre in the Spinnaker Lounge. Offered multiple nights and running for four hours, the cabaret mixes The Second City’s unique sketch improvisational comedy with game show vignettes, special guests and dance and music sets performed by a live band. This highly interactive evening includes lots of spontaneous entertainment and audience involvement.
• Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding: The hottest off-Broadway show and one of the longest running, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is a hilarious interactive show that satirizes a traditional Italian-American wedding with audience members as “invited guests” to the nuptials of the Vitale and Nunzio families, portrayed by a improvisational cast of 25. The wedding and reception is held once per cruise in the Spinnaker Lounge, which is transformed into Vinnie’s Coliseum restaurant, a classic Italian wedding hall complete with pasta served on paper plates.
• Bar Central: In addition to the shows in the Stardust Theater and Spinnaker Lounge, Bar Central is another exciting entertainment venue. This dynamic piano lounge attracts guests from cocktail hour to late night with its engaging blend of show tunes, classical and popular music. Guest entertainers from other venues often drop in for impromptu duets and star turns. Freestyle 2.0 Offers Enhanced On-Board Activities

On Norwegian Jade, guests are among the first to experience a wide-range of new day and evening offerings as part of Freestyle 2.0. These include:

• NCL “U”: Guests on  Norwegian Jade can experience this enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle programming, which includes a number of offerings throughout each cruise focused on four distinct areas: Digital Age & Technology; Destination Education; Food, Wine and Spirits; and Comedy & Humor hosted by the famed The Second City troupe. Guests can choose from a number of seminars including a variety of sessions giving tips on digital photography, a series of destination discovery overviews, mojito making, tequila tasting, French pastry making, 30-minute Italian meals, corporate world improv tips, class clowns: improv for kids and much more.
• New Themed Parties: Guests can party to the wee hours with two new themed nighttime parties: NCL’s White Hot Night and NCL’s Monte Carlo Night. Held in the Spinnaker Lounge on Norwegian Jade, the White Hot Night is the ultimate dance party set in a wonderland of white. Guests are also asked to wear white to the party and they can purchase special “white hot” shirts designed specifically for the event. NCL’s Monte Carlo Night, held in the casino, sizzles with all of the glitz and glam reminiscent of the French Riviera. It’s an evening of tantalizing entertainment unlike any other.
• Enhanced Pool Deck Experience: Guests on Norwegian Jade are treated to a number of special sailaway parties throughout the cruise. Drink flags have been added on all deck chairs with witty sayings such as “I’m unwinding. (Please don’t make me walk to the bar).” In addition, cold towels are delivered regularly throughout the day and crew members are equipped with Evian spritzers to cool off guests who need some refreshing.
• Enhanced Sports Programming: All new sports activities have been designed to make the sports deck more interactive and exciting. These activities include basketball tournaments; fitness classes such as body sculpting and stretch and relax offered outside on the sports deck; scheduled walks with the activities staff; and scheduled shuffleboard, table tennis and human-sized chess games on the sports deck.
• Expanded Kid’s Crew and More Teen Activities: Kid’s Crew hours have been expanded and now run from approximately 9:00 am through to 10:30 pm on both port and sea days. Parents have the flexibility of letting their children enjoy the Kid’s Crew during these expanded times. As part of Freestyle 2.0, table games, Nintendo Wii and Xbox video game consoles have been added to the Teen Lounge.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of NCL.

NCL is building two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.

For high resolution, downloadable images, please log onto NCL’s web site at www.ncl.com/pressroom. For further information on NCL Corporation, contact in the U.S. and Canada  1(877) 325-7522.

During a ceremony today at Aker Yards in St. Nazaire, France, the keel was laid for the first of Norwegian Cruise Line’s F3 ships, the third generation and the next evolution of the company’s innovative Freestyle Cruising ships. The first block of the keel, number 5006, a double bottom block weighing 322 tons, was put into place marking the start of the overall construction of the ship.

The milestone ceremony was attended by executives from Star Cruises, Apollo Management, NCL and Aker Yards. Upholding maritime tradition, each attendee was invited to put a specially designed coin in a tube that was welded shut and placed in the keel for good luck.

“The F3 ships are our most innovative project in the company’s 41-year history and will provide a totally unique vacation experience,” said Colin Veitch, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and CEO. “Today as we lay the keel for this groundbreaking new ship, we are one step closer to revolutionizing cruising as we know it.”

The two 150,000-ton F3 ships will each total 4,200 passenger berths, representing the largest ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet.

Chairman of Star Cruises Tan Sri KT Lim added, “History is in the making today as Norwegian Cruise Line’s first F3 ship begins to take shape. We are proud to be a part of bringing this new innovative ship to fruition, one unlike any the world has seen before.”

Steve Martinez, partner at Apollo Management, noted, ” Norwegian Cruise Line already has the youngest fleet in the industry. We are excited to launch the construction of this next generation of Freestyle Cruising ship.”

The new ship design will offer 60 percent more guest space than Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships to date, which will be used to provide guests an even wider range of on-board activities, amenities and stateroom options. The ships’ cabin mix will be the richest of any NCL ship with 100 percent of outside staterooms featuring private balconies. In total, each ship will have 1,415 balcony staterooms.

More details about the F3 ships including other innovative accommodations, public spaces, dining, entertainment/nightlife, cutting-edge technology and casino will be announced leading up to the launch of the first F3 ship in 2010.

For the latest updates on F3 with downloadable high-resolution images of the New Wave staterooms, visit F3.ncl.com.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line.

 Norwegian Cruise Line is building two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.

Royal Caribbean has named conservation advocate Jamie Sweeting as its vice president of Environmental Stewardship.

In his position, which is new to the company, Sweeting will be responsible for establishing the company’s long-term environmental strategy, including goals and objectives that ensure responsible corporate environmental performance. These objectives will incorporate factors such as climate change, destination stewardship, current and future environmental regulations and agreements, and programs that lead to sound environmental policy, compliance, incident response and training.

“We are delighted to have Jamie join our team,” said Gary M. Bald, senior vice president of Safety, Security, Environment and Health for Royal Caribbean. “Jamie will further strengthen our ongoing commitment to serve as responsible stewards of the environment. He has worked with many corporations to help them become more environmentally responsible, and maximize their contributions to conservation. His expertise and experience will be invaluable to our company as we continue to work to preserve and protect the environment.”

Sweeting has more than a decade of experience in tourism, conservation and business management. Most recently, he served as senior business advisor for Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business. Previously, he served as the Center’s Senior Director of the Travel and Leisure program, where he helped companies realize the benefits of becoming industry leaders in conservation and community development. Earlier in his career, Sweeting worked for the Ecotourism Society and also conducted a special project on ecotourism in the Caribbean.

Sweeting received a Master of Tourism Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a B.A. in Leisure and Business Management from Manchester University in the United Kingdom.

Royal Caribbean is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand.

Tickets and passes on the premium high-speed Spanish train, Alta Velocidad Española (AVE train), can be booked, in North America through Rail Europe. In addition to the original high-speed line between Madrid and Seville, the new lines connect Madrid to Barcelona and other destinations. The AVE train travels at speeds of 300 km/hour (186 mph) and covers the distance of 550 km (342 miles) between Madrid and Barcelona in less than 3 hours (travel time was previously 4 hours). “It’s like traveling by train from New York City to Montreal in 3 hours” says Rail Europe’s President & CEO Frédéric Langlois. A total of 17 trains will operate daily to take passengers between Madrid and Barcelona. The high-speed AVE will influence a shift from air traffic to rail on the Madrid-Barcelona route, as Eurostar has done on the London-Paris and London-Brussels routes and France’s TGV has done on the Paris-Lyon route.

The new high-speed lines, have also reduced travel times between Madrid and Valladolid; the journey, which previously took 2h 30mins, now takes only 55 minutes. And what was a 4 hour journey from Madrid to Málaga, now takes only 2h 30mins. In addition to these shorter journey times, European t rain travel also offers the time-saving benefit of bringing the travelers right into the city center, eliminating the need for airport/city transfers.

Rail Europe offers special web-only fares on www.raileurope.com, which save travelers up to 10% over bookings made over the phone. Prices on the Eurail Spain Pass start at $216* USD/CAD. Madrid –Barcelona AVE train tickets start at $157* USD/CAD while passholder fares for this route start at $16. Rail Europe also offers city cards, which make exploring destination cities easy and affordable. The Madrid, Barcelona or Seville cards offer access to public transportation around the city and entrance to museums and attractions.

For more information or to book any of Rail Europe’s wide range of economical rail passes and point-to-point tickets on trains throughout Europe and the U.K., consult a travel agent or log on to Rail Europe’s web site, www.raileurope.com.

 ONBOARD PROJECT GENESIS SHIP -Central Park Brings the Outdoors In, Creating Open-air Neighborhood for Guests That Reaches to the Sky

In its latest evolution in cruise ship design, Royal Caribbean International’s Project Genesis will bring the best of the land to sea with Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds spanning the length of a football field. An exquisite public gathering place featuring serene pathways, seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees, Central Park will provide cruisers with more choices in a unique outdoor space. One of the ship’s most ground-breaking spaces, this new concept is the first of seven neighborhoods to be unveiled on Project Genesis. Each neighborhood will provide vacationers with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences in various locales based on their personal style, preference or mood. Elegant and lively, Central Park’s central piazza will be the ship’s “town square” which evolves from a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere during the day to a gathering space for alfresco dining and entertainment in the evening, where guests will enjoy concerts and street performances. The neighborhood is lined with balcony staterooms rising six decks high with views of the Park below and the sky above. Surrounding this social space will be an array of restaurants, with choices ranging from fine dining to casual chic. Guests will have the option of an elegant dinner at the new 150 Central Park or a picnic lunch from the more casual Central Park Café, where they can sit outdoors and people-watch. Other dining choices will include: Giovanni’s Table, an Italian restaurant; Vintages wine bar; and Royal Caribbean International’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse. Several bars will be scattered throughout the Park, including the Canopy Bar, located at one of two impressive glass-domed canopies, and the unique Rising Tide bar – the first moving bar at sea. Truly an engineering feat, Rising Tide will span three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park and then descend back into the public spaces below. Central Park also will have stylish boutique shops, showcasing a selection of upscale merchandise. “Building such a large vessel allowed us to add even more of the choices and amenities that our guests value and Central Park is a dramatic addition to our already extensive array of exciting features,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Central Park is the first of many dynamic neighborhoods on Project Genesis which will enable each guest to find his or her own space and activity.” “Our brand identity is founded in innovation and on delivering the best cruise vacation through ‘WOW’ experiences,” stated Adam Goldstein, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Central Park is a true evolution of cruise ship design and allows us to provide our guests with not only a more varied selection of balcony accommodations, but also a stunning public venue that will be a central element of the ship, both during the day and at night.”

Central Park is located on Deck 8 of the ship, with dimensions of 62 feet (19 meters) wide and 328 feet (100 meters) long. The sophisticated neighborhood will include 334 staterooms overlooking the Park, 254 with balconies.

Central Park will be landscaped with tropical foliage, including seasonal flowers, shrubs and trees. Drawing on the concept of unexpected surprises and intrigue, garden spaces throughout the Park will sprout from charming pathways. Drifts of Calla Lilies among Giant Elephant Ears, Red Ginger, Rabbit Foot Ferns and Zebra Calathea are some of the plant life guests will discover. Trees, some eventually reaching more than two-and-ahalf decks tall, include Black Olive, Cuban Laurel, Cherry of the Rio Grande, and Painted and Golden Bamboo. Surprises in the Park include quiet reading corners; a Chess Garden with large-scale pieces; the Pergola Garden, an interpretive garden featuring vegetation from a host of Caribbean locales; and a Sculpture garden, highlighting work by international artists. Irrigation and drainage systems will be incorporated, along with micro-climate control techniques. An on-site horticulturist will provide educational classes for guests seeking to learn more about flora. The Crystal Canopies, two impressive arched-glass domes, one with a bar, will be a focal point of Central Park and provide sunlight into the ship’s inner public spaces. Restaurants and dining options in the Central Park neighborhood include:
The most exclusive dining venue on the ship, 150 Central Park combines leadingedge cuisine with leading-edge design. An observation window into the kitchen of this stylish restaurant will give Central Park passersby the opportunity to observe the executive chef in action.

Open for dinner.

– Continuing the tradition, Royal Caribbean’s popular signature steakhouse will offer premium cut, quality meats in an upscale, contemporary setting. Open for dinner.

– Influenced by the Tuscan countryside, Giovanni’s will be a casual new Italian restaurant concept offering toasted herbal breads, pizzas, salads, pastas, Italian sandwiches, braised meat dishes and stews. Rustic with a contemporary flair, dishes are served family style in an indoor and outdoor setting to provide an alfresco experience in Central Park. Open for lunch and dinner.
– A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety and flexibility, Central Park Café is an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests order directly from the chefs behind the food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
Always a popular hot spot for Royal Caribbean guests on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, the Vintages wine bar evolves into a larger space on Project Genesis, offering a variety of options for those seeking a tropical white Riesling or a mocha-inflected Merlot. Great for a pre-dinner rendezvous, Vintages also provides a selection of cheeses and a full tapas menu to accompany a robust selection of fine wines. Open for lunch and dinner.
Central Park will feature upscale retail boutiques for discerning travelers, including specialty outlets such as The Parkside Gallery, showcasing original artwork for purchase, and Picture This, a portrait studioWhen she launches in late 2009, Project Genesis will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 GRT, carry 5,400 guests, and feature 2,700 staterooms. The ship will sail from her home port in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 2010, she will be joined by a sistership. Additional information is available at www.royalcaribbeangenesis.com.
http://www.cht-caribbean-cruise.com

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and three under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand. For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent call 1 877 325 7522.

 MIAMI – April 24, 2008 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL).

Key Highlights

• First quarter 2008 net income of $75.6 million, or $0.35 per share, compared to $8.8 million, or $0.04 per share in 2007.
• First quarter 2008 Net Yield grew 7.1% to a record $173 per APCD.
• First quarter 2008 Net Cruise Costs per APCD increased 2.9%, and decreased 1.0% excluding fuel.
• Fuel prices increased 53% versus 2007, but energy savings initiatives and hedging lowered the cost impact per APCD to 24%.
• For the full year 2008, the company continues to expect Net Yields to increase in a range around 4%, and adjusting for higher current fuel prices, earnings per share to be $2.85 to $3.00.

“It is gratifying that, despite the challenging economic times, our guests continue to appreciate the outstanding value offered by our brands,” said Richard Fain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We delivered the highest first quarter yields in our company’s history, with significant improvement in ticket prices and continued healthy onboard spending.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced net income for the first quarter 2008 of $75.6 million, or $0.35 per share, compared to net income of $8.8 million, or $0.04 per share, in 2007. The significant increase in earnings per share versus the first quarter 2007 was due primarily to increased capacity and higher yields, offset by higher fuel prices. Revenues for the first quarter 2008 increased to $1.4 billion from revenues of $1.2 billion in the first quarter 2007. Higher fuel prices increased costs by $60 million in the first quarter 2008, which reduced earnings per share by $0.28.

Key metrics for the first quarter 2008, as compared to the first quarter 2007, were as follows:

• Net Yields increased 7.1% to a record $173 per APCD.
• Excluding fuel, Net Cruise Costs per APCD decreased 1.0%.
• Fuel prices increased 53%, while fuel costs per APCD increased 24%; benefiting from energy saving initiatives and hedging. The average at-the-pump price for the quarter was $592 per metric ton versus $388 per metric ton in 2007.
• Net Cruise Costs per APCD increased 2.9%.

2008 Outlook
The company expects its second quarter 2008 earnings per share to be $0.40 to $0.45, and expects full year 2008 earnings per share to be $2.85 to $3.00.

“Our record yield performance in the first quarter and our solid forward bookings demonstrate our resilience and are certainly reassuring,” said Fain. “Our brands have clearly differentiated themselves and our portfolio of innovative newbuilds will continue to feed their momentum.”

Fain continued, “Higher fuel prices have been a prolonged challenge for us, but our management team remains focused on cost controls and continues to help mitigate the impact. Except for higher fuel prices, it is very gratifying to see our revenues and earnings projected to be as good or better than our original expectations. Our brands’ momentum, cost savings initiatives, growing economies of scale and the efficiencies of our new vessels should continue to improve our shareholder value.”

The company provided the following estimates for the second quarter and full year 2008, as compared to the second quarter and full year 2007, respectively.

The company expects to have a 5.1% increase in capacity in 2008, driven primarily by a full year of Liberty of the Seas, the Independence of the Seas entering service in May, Pullmantur’s purchase of Pacific Star, and Celebrity Solstice entering service in the fourth quarter.

The company does not forecast fuel prices and its cost guidance for fuel is based on current at-the-pump prices net of any hedge impacts. Based on today’s fuel prices, the company has included $685 million in fuel expenses in its full year 2008 guidance. This figure is $90 million, or $0.42 per share, higher than at the time of its previous earnings guidance.

As of March 31, 2008, liquidity was $1.4 billion, including $0.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $1.0 billion in available credit on the company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.

Based on current ship orders, projected capital expenditures for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, are estimated to be $1.9 billion, $2.0 billion, $2.2 billion, $1.0 billion, and $1.0 billion, respectively. Projected capacity increases for the same five years are estimated at 5.1%, 9.3%, 11.4%, 6.4%, and 3.4%, respectively.

The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today to discuss its earnings. This call can be heard, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company’s investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com.

Terminology

Available Passenger Cruise Days (“APCD”)
APCDs are our measurement of capacity and represent double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.

Gross Cruise Costs
Gross Cruise Costs represent the sum of total cruise operating expenses plus marketing, selling and administrative expenses.

Gross Yields
Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.

Net Cruise Costs
Net Cruise Costs represent Gross Cruise Costs excluding commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, we believe changes in Net Cruise Costs to be the most relevant indicator of our performance. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Cruise Costs to projected Net Cruise Costs due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.

Net Debt-to-Capital
Net Debt-to-Capital is a ratio which represents total long-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt, less cash and cash equivalents (“Net Debt”) divided by the sum of Net Debt and total shareholders’ equity. We believe Net Debt and Net Debt-to-Capital, along with total long-term debt and shareholders’ equity are useful measures of our capital structure.

Net Revenues
Net Revenues represent total revenues less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses.

Net Yields
Net Yields represent Net Revenues per APCD. We utilize Net Revenues and Net Yields to manage our business on a day-to-day basis as we believe that it is the most relevant measure of our pricing performance because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs, which are commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Yields to projected Net Yields due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.

Occupancy
Occupancy, in accordance with cruise vacation industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCD. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

Passenger Cruise Days
Passenger Cruise Days represent the number of passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days of their respective cruises.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 35 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and New Zealand.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward‑looking statements. Such factors include general economic and business conditions, vacation industry competition, including cruise vacation industry competition, changes in vacation industry capacity, including over capacity in the cruise vacation industry, the impact of tax laws and regulations affecting our business or our principal shareholders, the impact of changes in other laws and regulations affecting our business, the impact of pending or threatened litigation, the delivery of scheduled new ships, emergency ship repairs, negative incidents involving cruise ships including those involving the health and safety of passengers, reduced consumer demand for cruises as a result of any number of reasons, including geo-political and economic uncertainties, the unavailability of air service, armed conflict, terrorist attacks and the resulting concerns over safety and security aspects of traveling, the impact of the spread of contagious diseases, our ability to obtain financing on terms that are favorable or consistent with our expectations, changes in our stock price or principal shareholders, the impact of changes in operating and financing costs, including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, fuel, food, payroll, insurance and security costs, the implementation of regulations in the United States requiring United States citizens to obtain passports for travel to additional foreign destinations, weather, and other factors described in further detail in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition, certain financial measures in this news release constitute non-GAAP financial measures as defined by Regulation G. A reconciliation of these items can be found on our investor relations website at www.rclinvestor.com.

Three Freedom-class Ships from Three Ports Offer More Choices for Caribbean Vacationers

MIAMI, April 22, 2008 – Consistently pleasant weather, beautiful beaches and rich cultures make the Caribbean a rejuvenating and enriching region for a tropical getaway or a family cruise vacation. For the 2009-10 cruise season, Royal Caribbean International will offer 31 distinct itineraries on 264 sailings, ranging from six to 14 nights. Vacationers can choose departures aboard nine of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships from the ports of Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral, FL; Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ; Galveston, TX; San Juan, PR; and Colon, Panama. Booking for Royal Caribbean’s 2009-10 Caribbean cruises open this week.

“Royal Caribbean offers vacationers a wide range of Caribbean cruises departing from seven convenient homeports,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean . “We continue our legacy of delivering exhilarating Caribbean experiences in one of the world’s most spectacular destinations with some of the best ships in the industry geared for family and active vacations.”

Vacationers can choose year-round departures to the Caribbean from the ports of Miami, Port Canaveral, Cape Liberty, and San Juan. Freedom of the Seas debuts at Port Canaveral in May 2009 as the largest and most innovative cruise ship in the port’s history. The Freedom-class cruise ship will sail alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, replacing Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas¸ which will depart for its new homeport of Los Angeles in January 2009.

Unlike any other vacation experience, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class of ships exclusively feature amenities that have revolutionized the industry, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the four-bedroom/four-bath Presidential Family Suite. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas offer guests more ways to enjoy a memorable Caribbean cruise vacation.

From Miami, Liberty will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries in the summer 2009 season, but changes to two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries in the winter. Liberty’s traditional Western Caribbean itinerary will alternate with a new Western Caribbean itinerary in November, which includes ports of call at Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Adventure of the Seas will homeport year-round at San Juan, offering two new alternating seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries with Sunday departures, while Serenade of the Seas will join Adventure in the winter and offer a Saturday departure. New ports of call at Grenada, Dominica and St. Croix for both ships, and additionally Tortola and St. Kitts for Serenade, create two back-to-back voyages with no repeat calls. The distinct alternating itineraries of either ship will give vacationers the opportunity to combine two sailings into an extended 14-night Southern Caribbean odyssey.

Additional winter season highlights include the following itineraries:

• Independence of the Seas will sail six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades, giving vacationers a choice of six Caribbean itineraries aboard one of three Freedom-class ships.
• Explorer of the Seas will continue its third consecutive year-round deployment at Cape Liberty sailing Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries, ranging from eight to 12 nights. A special 14-night holiday cruise departs December 20, 2009.
• Voyager of the Seas will return to Galveston, TX in December 2009 to offer two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries, one new, featuring calls at Roatán, Honduras, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
• Jewel of the Seas will sail 10- and 11-night Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises from Miami. On a very special holiday sailing, Jewel will make a maiden call on Christmas Eve at the new Jamaican cruise port of Falmouth.
• Enchantment of the Seas will return to Colon, Panama to offer seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises to Colombia and the ABC Islands. Royal Caribbean International is the only cruise line to homeport in Colon.

Onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, guests enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service, award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, top-rated Adventure Ocean kids programming with teen-only spaces fleetwide, and Royal Caribbean’s Gold Service Standard of friendly and engaging service from staff and crew.

On many Western Caribbean itineraries, guests also enjoy a call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination along the northwestern coast of Haiti. Labadee’s features a wide variety of watersports and excursions, a craft market, Labadee Luc’s Splash Bash pirate water park, and the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, the world’s longest zip line over water at 2,600 ft.

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues at TUI AG to build a world class cruise line for Germany,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.   “TUI Cruises is another strategic step in our efforts to meet the growing global demand for cruising.”

“Our partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.  will help us bring the very best cruises to our fellow countrymen,” said Dr. Michael Frenzel, chief executive officer of TUI AG. “We expect TUI Cruises to be a central player in Germany’s fast growing cruise market.”

TUI Cruises will be based in Hamburg, Germany, and Richard J. Vogel, a long time cruise industry executive, will serve as chief executive.

The new cruise line will begin service with one ship in early 2009. Sales and marketing activities will begin in the coming months.

TUI Cruises will meet the needs of German-speaking customers seeking a premium cruise experience. The onboard product will be custom-tailored to German tastes, and encompass food, entertainment and amenities. German will be the language used onboard.

The companies announced their intentions to form TUI Cruises on December 10, 2007. On March 10, 2008, they received permission to move forward from European antitrust regulators. Each company holds a 50 percent interest in the joint venture.

Further details regarding the brand’s first ship and the TUI Cruises product will be revealed at an April 29 press event in Hamburg. 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.  is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand.

TUI AG is Europe’s leading travel and shipping group. TUI AG holds the majority stake in Europe’s leading travel group, London-based TUI Travel PLC. The corporation operates the world’s fifth-largest container shipping company – Hapag-Lloyd – and, through Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, also runs the leading German cruise line company in the luxury and expedition segment.

For first and second guests in a stateroom, the revised fuel supplement will be $8 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-day, and no more than $112 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-cruise. Additional guests in a stateroom will be charged $3 (U.S.D.) per-person, per day, and no more than $42 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-cruise.

The revised fuel supplement will apply to bookings made throughout the world on or after May 1, 2008, onboard three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand.

AVALON WATERWAYS CHRISTENS EUROPE’S NEWEST RIVER CRUISE SHIP

New AVALON SCENERY Sails Through
Wine Country in the South of France

LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2008 – Demonstrating an increased commitment to health and fitness, Crystal Cruises is launching “Tour de Spin,” a complimentary indoor cycling program that mirrors stages of the Tour de France. The program, inspired by top cyclist Lance Armstrong and led by onboard instructors, will utilize Le Monde Life Fitness Bikes and include three virtual Tour de France rides.

Participation in the program can benefit one’s health as well as The Lance Armstrong Foundation, which unites people to fight cancer. Guests who have completed all three rides in the program will receive a yellow Live Strong wrist band courtesy of Crystal’s onboard fitness operator, Steiner Leisure. For each wrist band distributed, Steiner Leisure will donate one dollar to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which unites people to fight cancer. Participants will also receive a letter from Lance Armstrong thanking them for their participation.

Beginning mid-April on Crystal Symphony and in May on Crystal Serenity, the classes will be available on all itineraries, and will be offered on every sea day and in port when time allows. The three rides are choreographed to music specifically selected for indoor cycling.

Rides include:

• · Les Alps - a multi-level profile, which can include flat, medium-mount and mountain stages;
• · Time Trial – an interval workout, where cyclists race alone against the clock; and
• · Alp D’Huez – a mind-body climb, maximizing guests’ cycling potential.
  

“Our guests are health-conscious, active individuals looking for the very latest in sophisticated fitness classes and equipment, and we are thrilled to add yet another option to our roster,” says Thomas Mazloum, Crystal’s senior vice president, hotel operations. “This program allows them to participate in something that benefits their own health, as well as a worthy foundation.”

Crystal’s two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, are equipped with Fitness Centres complete with panoramic ocean views and state-of-the-art equipment including LifeFitness^® treadmills with individual flat screen televisions, elliptical trainers, recumbent and upright life cycles and steppers, strength-training equipment, free weights and a Pilates Reformer^® machine. Daily exercise classes include yoga and personal training sessions. Crystal’s Walk-on-Water program features the WALKVEST^® Training System, which revolutionizes walking simply by adding resistance (added weight) to your walk. Fresh fruit, fresh fish, creative salads, low-calorie and low-carb meals add to the completely trans fat-free dining experience available throughout the ships.

This year, the line is also hosting renowned medical experts from the Cleveland Clinic – one of the nation’s most respected academic medical research centers — who will speak to guests about the latest trends and treatments on a variety of topics, from cardiovascular disease to wellness through mind, body and spirit.

The Crystal Difference

Aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic service, abundant space, extensive choices and superior quality, providing worldwide vacations of seven to 100+ days that bridge the best of land and sea. Grounded in more than a decade of accolades, Crystal has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

 For additional information please contact 877-325-7522.

Miami March 12/08
NCL Corporation (NCL) announced today it will begin the roll out of Freestyle 2.0 on Norwegian Jade’s first Mediterranean cruise which starts on March 30, 2008. Freestyle 2.0 is the company’s fleet-wide initiative to further improve the guest experience. The enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for guests of all ages; and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests.

The initiative has been driven by quantitative and qualitative feedback from both guests and travel partners and enabled by the $1 billion infusion from Apollo Management, LP in NCL and Star Cruises continued commitment and vision.

“It is critical for NCL to retain today’s loyal customer, while still attracting the next generation of travelers,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO. “We believe the features and benefits of Freestyle 2.0 will further position NCL as a Freestyle Cruising innovator and the preferred brand for today’s cruise vacationer.”

Guests on Norwegian Jade’s March 30 12-day Classic Mediterranean cruise will be the first to experience the Freestyle 2.0 initiatives. Additional ships will launch Freestyle 2.0 within the following weeks, with fleet-wide roll out implemented by June 1, 2008. More specific details of the enhancements include:

Freestyle Dining:
A “bubbly welcome” – a welcome aboard glass of bubbly for everyone;
New menus with expanded choices in every restaurant;
Lobster Galore – Lobster in the main restaurant twice per cruise and in every specialty restaurant every night of the cruise;
Steak & Eggs Breakfast Feast in Teppanyaki restaurant with unlimited Bloody Mary’s and mimosas;
Lavazza coffee in all Java Cafes and top suites;
A signature specialty dish in every restaurant, including the following:
Le Bistro: Côte de Boeuf, a 32-ounce premium gold angus rib eye steak; Plateau de Fruits de Mar, a cold seafood platter including mussels, lobster tail, shrimp and raw oysters on the half shell; and Cardinal of the Seas, a braised Maine lobster;
Italian: Osso Buco, Lobster Ravioli;
Cagney’s: Maine Lobster, 32oz Porterhouse, Surf & Turf, Alaskan King Crab Legs;
Tex-Mex: Jumbo Tiger Prawns;
Asian: Szechuan Stir-fried Maine Lobster;
Action Station: Chocolate Fountains;
The action station restaurants will also receive plasma menu boards, a world-class salad bar, soft serve ice cream machines, and improved service and nighttime ambiance with tablecloths and candlelight;
A new and expanded room service menu.
Stateroom Experience:
Elemis bathroom amenities;
Memory foam mattress toppers;
Pillow upgrade and addition of Euro pillows to all beds;
Upgraded linens;
All beds will receive a top sheet.
Expanded mini-bar options and item customization option;
Upgraded room service menus.
Balcony and Mini Suites, all of the above plus:
Bathrobes;
Customized Fruit Menu;
Fresh-baked cookie at turn down on last night of cruise;
Escort to stateroom on embarkation day;
Special color keycard;
Priority Restaurant Reservation and Reception hotlines.
Suites and Villas, all of the above plus:
NCL branded bedding collection;
Upgraded mattress, linens and feather pillows.
Upgraded sofa bed;
MP3 Player connections;
Pillow Menu;
Plush Bathrobes;
Customized Fruit Menu;
Customized Canapé Menu;
Turndown cookie last night of cruise;
Personal escort to stateroom on embarkation;
Bottle (or Half Bottle depending on category of suite) of Moet Chandon White Star Champagne upon embarkation;
Priority Restaurant Reservation and Reception Hotlines;
Special color keycard for ship-wide recognition;
VIP Breakfast & Lunch in Cagney’s;
Private Breakfast & Lunch with action station set-up in Courtyard for Villa Guests;
Dedicated Butler in Courtyard.
On-board activities:
An enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle program – NCL “U” – offering a range of new classes in:
Humor hosted by Second City;
Food, wine and spirits;
Destination education;
Digital technology.
Library transformed into a coffee shop atmosphere with:
Implementation of honor system for book borrowing;
Complimentary coffee and tea;
Plasma screens (muted) broadcasting news.
Enhanced nightlife with new party experiences, such as:
NCL’s White Hot Party;
NCL’s Monte Carlo night.
An enhanced Pool Deck experience:
Entertainment taken upscale;
Relaxing ambient music;
Drink flags on all deck chairs;
Pool of indulgence – Evian sprits, cold towels, etc.;
Quiet zones and times.
Exciting sports deck programming;
X-box game consoles in video arcades;
Expanded and increased flexibility of Kids Crew hours;
Enhanced Teen Centers to include:
X-box game consoles;
Nintendo Wii;
Table games such as foosball, billiards and air hockey.
NCL’s Freestyle 2.0 marketing campaign will span all consumer, travel partner and guest touch points via national print, radio and online advertising. In addition, NCL’s guests and travel partners will see Freestyle 2.0 materials encompassing all cruise line correspondence, online at www.ncl.com with dedicated Freestyle 2.0 content pages, as well as on board and in-cabin elements.

NCL Corporation Ltd. Is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line.

NCL is building two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Gem.

These days with so many credit card companies luring consumers with offers for free travel and points redemption it is hard for consumers to figure out which is the best. In particular CIBC and now American Express both offer cards giving anywhere from 1 to 1.5 Aeroplan points for each dollar you spend on your credit card. This sounds like a good deal but is it? Originally when CIBC first introduced the Aeroplan Card it became quite popular with many people saving their points for that next big trip. With their classic program Aeroplan definitely offers the best bang for the buck. Looking at their reward chart we can see that from Vancouver to Germany would cost 60,000 points for Economy and 80,000 in Business class.  Now if we were to look for the rates on Air Canada or Lufthansa in the offseason the fare would be approx CAD732 plus taxes for Economy.   That equals to 1.2 cents/point in value.   Buisness class in offseason is CAD$5353 which equals 6.7 cents/point.   Now if we look at the busy summer season on the same flights an economy fare goes for CAD$1291 with business class being the same at CAD$5353.  The value per point of economy increases to 2.15 cents/points and stays the same for Buisness class.   So to get the most value for your points depends when you are travelling and if you want business or economy class.   

Air Canada has realized this point and as a result offers only a few seats on each flight for people redeeming points.  At first this wasn’t a problem as it took people awhile to accumulate enough points on their cards to even purchase these flights.  However now it is very hard to get seats on any flights especially in Buisness class to Europe and other long haul destinations.    As seats were filling up on all flights people complained and Aeroplan introduced Classicplus.  Basically it means that for higher points they will get you a seat that normally they would have charged someone for.  To do this they had to increase the number of points to redeem a seat.  An economy Classicplus seat on the same routing during the summer is 113 000 points and a value of 1.14 cent / point.    Business class goes to 442 250 points a value of 1.21 cents/point.   Both of these are substantially less value than redeeming on classic.   However Classicplus are becomming more common as the classic seats are scooped up at 11 months prior.  Aeroplan also offers merchandise for your points which is the biggest waste of points.  As an example a $50.00 gift certificate will cost you about 6,000 points a value of .8 cents / point.   

To really understand what is the best credit card lets looks at one of their competitors RBC Avion card.  They way avion works is they buy regular tickets however your points have a dollar value that can be used to offset this cost.  Lets look at our example from Vancouver to Germany again but this time using Avion.   An economy ticket with Avion would cost 65,000 points to travel from Vancouver to Frankfurt of which the maximum they will pay is $1,300 for a ticket.  Therefore the value of each point in low season is 1.12cents/point and 1.98 cents/point in high season.  For buisness class they will offer it at a rate of 1cent/point which would mean 535,300 points. 

Lets compare the above now with a Dividend card where you get cash back to spend however you want.   With CIBC they offer a 2% platinum dividend card however upon reading the fine print it is more like 1.47% if you spend 50,000 on your card in a year.  This amount goes down if you spend more or less than this amount.   You do get a better return on each dollar spent than the Classicplus with Aeroplan and the low season flights with Avion.   You do also get the most flexbility but unless you spend 50,000 dollars in a year on your credit card it is not worth it.  

All of the figures above show one thing to use your points most effectively you need to know what kind of travel you are going to do.  If you want to fly business class you need to go with Aeroplan as even with their Classicplus rates you are still doing better than Avion.  If you can get their Classic space you are doing really well.  As for Economy tickets you are still better with Aeroplan for economy tickets at classic rates only.   If you have to go to Classicplus rates then you would be better off with Avion. 

Other considerations to keep in mind is that Aeroplan does expire points and you need to keep getting points into your account to keep it active.  With Aeroplan you can only book Air Canada and Star Alliance partners versus with Avion you have freedom to book most other airlines.  If you are receiving points through American Express you can get anywhere from 1.25 to 1.5 points for each dollar spent.   This allows you to accumulate points much faster and makes Aeroplan points more attractive.  Dividend cards if you spend enough are a good average and allows you flexibility if you are not travelling some years.  Remember to choose a card that works best for you and the type of travel that you do. 

Frontier Airlines filed today for bankruptcy protection. The Airline maintains that all financial obligations will be met and flights will operate as scheduled. According to Frontier the move was brought about because the principal credit card processor is going to withhold larger amounts of the proceeds from ticket sales as of April 11.
“This change in established practices would have represented a material change to our cash forecasts and business plan. Unchecked, it would have put severe restraints on Frontier’s liquidity and would have made it impossible for us to continue normal operations.” Frontier CEO Sean Menke said.
As all US Airlines, Frontier has struggled amid rising fuel prices and aggressive competition at Denver International Airport. It blamed a 16.3 per cent jump in fuel costs for a third-quarter loss that more than doubled from the previous year.

The Department of Homeland Security and of State of the USA has now issued what is considered the final ruling as far as acceptable travel documents is concerned.
Effective June 1, 2008 the following rules will take effect for cruise passengers.

1. U.S. Citizens that are on a cruise which begins and ends in a U.S. Port must show proof of U.S. citizenship and a government issued photo ID *(such as drivers license). A passport is not required for passengers that fall into this category.
2. All other passengers or U.S. citizens that are on an itinerary which leaves from one U.S. port and returns to another U.S. port or which begins or ends in a foreign port will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of recognized document go to this government site

*documents include: original or certified copy of birth certificate; naturalization papers;Consular Report of Birth abroad issued by Department of State.
In view of the above regulations we encourage travelers from the U.S.A to obtain a passport to have the greatest options for travel. Information for obtaining a passport can be viewed at this government site

Carnival Corporation has just announced an increase in the fuel supplement charge from $5 to $7 per person per day for double occupancy and a charge of $2 per day for 3rd/4th/5th passenger in a cabin. The increase will be in effect for all new bookings as of April 21/08.
Carnival also announced a voluntary refund of the company’s fuel supplement on March 31, 2008 for applicable U.S. bookings that were made prior to November 7, 2007 under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The fuel supplement, announced November 7, 2007, was applied to all U.S. bookings for voyages departing on or after February 1, 2008.

The company will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced. Refunds for affected guests will be implemented based on cruise departure date according to the following schedule:

- For cruises departing on or prior to April 4, 2008, guests will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise;
- For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, guests will receive an on-board credit;
- For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, guests’ bookings will be adjusted to eliminate the fuel supplement
This ruling applies to all Carnival Brands including: Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourne Cruises, Costa Cruises and Cunard

Another carrier has been hit by the high cost of fuel and stiff competition. Asian low cost carrier, Oasis Airlines, flying the Vancouver Hong Kong and London Hong Kong routes has halted operations after just 17 months in operation. The Hong Kong Economic Times suggested that Oasis had been loosing money on virtually every flight it flew.

Many passengers are holding tickets for future flights since they were being sold until the end of March. Executives for the Oasis said they were looking for a way to help customers affected by the shutdown. A government official on Wednesday told reporters it is negotiating with other airlines that fly Oasis’ routes to get them to provide low-cost tickets to its customers.

“We sympathize with the many passengers…who have been stranded by the Oasis’ decision, and we will do our very best to help them through this difficult and stressful period,” Cathay Chief Executive Tony Tyler said in a statement. Cathay has established a help site for ticket holders offering a special one way fare of $320 on the Vancouver HongKong route.  More information can be found at  http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_CA/offerspromotions/offerdetails?refID=277c9cdd60d29110VgnVCM10000010d21c39____
The Oasis website http://www.oasishongkong.com

As of May 5, 2008 Continental airlines will fall in line with other US Carriers and restrict baggage allowance for coach passengers to one bag with a charge of $25  applying to a second bag. Presidential class card holders and non elite customers purchasing full-fare and premium class tickets are also exempt.

For Customers with Economy Class tickest traveling exclusively to the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, US. Virgin Islands and Canada.
“Customers purchasing any domestic Economy ticket and who do not have premium status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25.00. Customers who have attained Premier Associate status or higher in Mileage Plus or Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner are exempt from this policy change. This new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.
The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased.”

UPDATE – “On April 4, 2008, United revised its domestic checked baggage fees to include customers traveling on refundable fares, government fares and Standard Award tickets in Economy class in the policy charging a service fee for checking a second bag. Customers who purchased these types of fares on or after February 4, 2008 and prior to April 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008 may request a waiver of the second bag service fee upon check-in with a Customer Service Representative at the airport. Alternatively, those customers may request reimbursement from United’s refund department”
For more information and tables of new rules consult http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

A ruling by the Canadian Transport Agency (No. 155-C-A-2008) declares that the small animal tariff policy announced by Air Canada June 1 2007 is unreasonable. The Agency found that the discontinuation of treating the shipment of small pets and kennels weighing less than 70lbs as checked baggage is unreasonable.

Alitalia, the Italian Airline which is loosing $1,600,000 US a day, edged closer to bankruptcy protection as the Air France/KLM consortium broke off talks with the troubled airline on Wednesday evening April 2/08.
However for now the Italian government has stepped in to keep Alitalia’s planes flying, despite the prospect of bankruptcy looming over the airline.
Air France withdrew a Eu139 million, or 10 cents-a-share, bid on Wednesday night. Jean-Cyril Spinetta, the head of Air France-KLM, blamed Alitalia’s nine unions as having pushed him “back up against the wall” and that he could no longer negotiate with them.

It seems like prices for cruises continue to drop fuelled by competition, overcapacity and a slowing economic market.  Cruise lines are cutting corners wherever they can, how do they stay afloat?  The answer: cruise lines don’t make money on the cruise fares , but instead make it off the extra’s that people spend onboard from drinks, pictures, casino, gift shops and shore excursions.   Cruise lines know that once they have you onboard you cannot shop around for the best deal unless you made other arrangements before you started your cruise.  They also make it convenient for passengers to book shore excursions on their websites the same time as they need to register for their cruise.  Booking the cruiseline shore excursions offers some flexibility and changes can be made right on the ship.  However are their better options?

Many veteran cruisers have learned to get off the ship in port and look for vendors selling tours.   These tours can sometimes cost a fraction of what you would have paid for onboard.   In Jamaica a group of us going off the ship were able to buy a tour to Dunns river falls for $10US which compared to the $80 – 90US offered by the cruise line.  Though once we had paid we were led to an old broken-down van with no seats available.  When asking where I would sit the driver pulled out a makeshift metal seat that felt like it was going to snap when I sat on it.  After an uncomfortable drive we arrived at Dunns River Falls.  We were each given old ripped aqua socks and  had to pay for our entrance into the park.  We were left on our own after being given a time when to be back for our transfer to the ship.   Once we were at the falls and started climbing we noticed the people who purchased the Princess shore excursion were coming.  Of course they came on a sailboat and we ended up just following their guided tour up the falls.  After we had finished the falls we went to meet our driver for the transfer back.  He was nowhere to be found so we decided to wait. After 1/2 hour anxious wait we see our driver dropping off another load of people. We climbed onboard and wondered if we would have ever seen him again.   

Cruise lines do charge higher prices however they also do offer other advantages besides convenience.  First they do all the research and only deal with reputable companies that can provide the level of service that their passengers are accustomed to.   If they get numerous bad reports about a certain company from passengers they will look into whether they continue that relationship.  Another advantage is that if your cruise port is cancelled due to weather or any other circumstance your money is automatically refunded.   If your tour is delayed they are in constant communication with the ship so that the ship won’t sail before you are onboard or if it does they will get you to the next port. This is a valuable reason as I have heard of many stories of passengers being stranded when the tour bus they booked locally broke-down in the middle of nowhere.   With no way to get back to the ship in time they had to pay their own way to the next port which can be very expensive depending where the port is.   For any long tours that are set to arrive close to the ships departure going with cruise line shore excursions does provide peace of mind.  

 In March of 2006 a group on the Millenium from Valparaiso to Fort Lauderdale hired a local tour guide in Arica to take them to Lauca National Park.  The bus on the return swerved off the mountain killing 12 elderly Americans onboard.  The company was a local company that lacked permission to carry passengers  (more info).  The cruise line did go beyond its required obligations to help those involved but that is not always the case.  Shore excursions sold through the cruise line must meet strict safety standards and have insurance which is important if an accident happens.  If an accident happened to me in Jamaica while on that tour I booked locally the chances are I wouldn’t get any compensation.   I don’t think I would even see the driver again.

These days with many people preferring to book everything over the internet they also prefer to book their tours privately ahead of time directly with the company.   An example is a couple that wanted to go to Molokini in Maui and arranged ahead of the cruise a tour with a local company.   Once they got off the ship they rented a car and off to the charter company they went.   When they arrived the person apologized and said that they didn’t get enough people and the tour was cancelled.  They tried to contact the couple but they were on the ship.   As all the other tours were sold out for the day they just wasted their one day in port.  

Private companies are starting to see the value in offering private shore excursions to cruisers.   Roberts Hawaii who is an operator for some of the cruise line excursions offer their own excursions in Hawaii for lower prices.   They also will refund any money if the ship does not make port.    Another company Shoretrips is a private company that offers over 3000 shore excursions throughout the world.  Like the cruiseline they do offer a refund if the ship does not make it in port.  The advantage is that often the tours are much smaller and more personalized than cruise ship excursions.  They also provide little extra’s and cater well to groups one area that seems ignored by many cruise lines. 

Shore excursions remain a large part of the whole cruise experience with people spending more on excursions than they do on the entire cruise.  Choosing the best option is an important factor to enjoying your holidays.  Cost should not be the only consideration and you should be careful to research the company you are dealing with or go with a company that will do the work for you. 

Air Canada Passengers affected by flight delays or cancellations can now contact a specially trained Air Canada representative to arrange for alternate travel or accomodation if required. The service is called “On My Way” and will cost $25 for short haul flights and $35 for long haul flights each way. The service is available for Air Canada and Jazz flights within Canada and to the USA including Hawaii and Alaska.

ATA airlines filed for Chapter 11 on April 2, 2008. Passengers holding unused tickets on ATA are advised to contact their travel agent or credit card company on how to obtain a refund. ATA states that they are in no position to refund a ticket from available cash. Southwest Airlines which was a codeshare partner with ATA is rebooking travelers to the closest departure available.

Passengers stranded by the sudden demise of Aloha Airlines on March 31, 2008 should visit the website created by the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau at http://www.gohawaii.com/AlohaAirlines . The website publishes information and procedures on how to secure seats on other airlines with your Aloha Ticket. Those Holidayers who have booked packages through Pleasant Holiday should contact the travel agent through whom they purchased the package. But they are advised to avoid a credit card chargeback since it will make it difficult for Pleasant Holiday to rebook their departure.
 

AIG Travel Guard has announced that it will provide emergency travel assistance services* free to all travelers affected by Aloha Airlines’ announcement. Travel Guard is offering to help travelers rebook flights on other air carriers, arrange for extended hotel accommodations for those currently stranded at their destinations and help with other emergency travel needs. AIG Travel Guard has already begun fielding calls for assistance on rebooking on airlines such as United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and go!, who have said they would honor Aloha’s tickets and try to accommodate Aloha passengers with existing reservations.

Travelers wishing to take advantage of these complimentary emergency travel assistance services can call AIG Travel Guard’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-637-1739*.

Happy Vacations
Happy Vacations has made immediate arrangements for clients with Aloha Airlines tickets; clients do not need to contact the airline directly. For clients in travel now, Happy Vacations asks that they contact their dedicated management staff directly at 800-903-7666, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a client’s trip has not yet commenced, email Happy Vacations at Alohahelp@happyvacations.com, and include the reservation number and any additional information that will help re-accommodate the client, or call 800-877-4277.

For passengers without waiver, Happy Vacations will credit the full value of the ticket with no change fee. Clients who included the Price Protection option will be accommodated without additional cost. Complete cancellations will be refunded in full less waiver, or applicable cancellation fees.