THE QUEEN MARY
2 DEPARTED Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 19, one-and-a-half days
behind schedule, after one of its four propulsion pods was damaged
when it hit the side of the ship channel during an attempt to
depart the port on Jan. 17. The line said the ship was safe to
sail; with one propulsion pod out of commission the ship will move
at slower speeds.
CUNARD CANCELLED the QM2's calls at St. Kitts,
Salvador and Barbados, and the ship proceeded directly to Rio de
Janeiro. The line gave passengers a 50% refund of the cruise's
initial segment, which started in New York or Fort Lauderdale and
ends in Rio de Janeiro. Cunard added it was "continuing to review"
the ship's itinerary following its stop in Rio.
CLIPPER CRUISE LINE SOLD TWO OF ITS SHIPS -- half
its fleet -- to Cruise West, the small-ship cruise line based here,
after U.K. conglomerate First Choice officially closed on its deal
for Clipper's parent company, Intrav. The 138-passenger Yorktown
Clipper and the 102-passenger Nantucket Clipper will sail their
previously announced 2006 itineraries, which include voyages along
the Eastern seaboard, the Great Lakes, the Caribbean, Alaska,
Mexico and Central America. Clipper Cruise Line retains the Clipper
Odyssey and the Clipper Adventurer. The acquisition brings Cruise
West's fleet to 10.
SILVERSEA CRUISES EXTENDED ITS MED SEASON by one month
and added calls in Lebanon, Libya and Syria. Rates for the extended
season, with departures from March through mid-November, will be
discounted by up to 50% on select dates.
CELEBRITY CRUISES KICKED OFF an ad campaign that
represents the line's first foray into network TV advertising in
seven years. The ad concept centers on how the line's cruise
experience makes guests feel like "celebrities." The campaign
includes a mix of network TV ads on high-profile shows like
"Desperate Housewives," cable placements and a print campaign in
consumer and trade magazines and newspapers.