CRUISE LINES
WERE ONCE AGAIN monitoring a hurricane: Wilma. With the
closure of the Ports of Miami, Everglades and Tampa at least
through Monday, lines were forced to alter their departures and
shorten itineraries. Carnival Cruise Lines altered the itineraries
of at least five ships, the Celebration, the Elation, the Carnival
Glory, the Carnival Victory and the Carnival Miracle -- and
suggested that passengers keep checking in for information about
cruise departure and arrival times. In addition, Carnival said
several vessels already at sea were forced to make itinerary
changes to avoid the storm. At Royal Caribbean, passengers were
advised that the Sovereign of the Seas, the Majesty of the Seas,
Mariner of the Seas and the Enchantment of the Seas would depart on
their next cruises on Oct. 25, a day later than expected, and sail
modified itineraries. Altered itineraries also were projected for
the Rhapsody of the Seas. The line added that additional changes
could occur. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line said the Norwegian
Sun and the Norwegian Dream said the vessels were sailing modified
itineraries to avoid the storm.
THE WORLDS
LARGEST CRUISE NIGHT drew about 25,000 consumers around
North America to travel agencies doors on Oct. 19, said the event's
sponsor and promoter, the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA).
According to CLIA, 424 agencies hosted an event that day to promote
cruising.
THE MUSICA,
MSC Cruises latest ship, was floated out of the dock at
Chantiers de lAtlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on Oct.
15. MSC Cruises said final delivery of the 2,550-passenger ship
will be in June and its inaugural sailing will be July 1 from
Venice. The ship will arrive in the U.S. in November. U.S. CEO Rick
Sasso last week added that the Musica will have all the amenities,
venues and spacious areas that a megaship can offer, but without
the crowds.
ROYAL
CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONALS Grandeur of the Seas will return
to New Orleans on Dec. 2, 2006, the line said. The Grandeur, which
was scheduled to sail from New Orleans during the coming winter
season, is instead sailing from Tampa between December and May. The
ship will resume its typical New Orleans itinerary when it returns
in late 2006 for a four-month stay: seven-day sailings to Cozumel
and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Grand Cayman, Cayman
Islands.
ROYAL
CARIBBEAN and its sister company Celebrity Cruises picked
Discover the World Marketing to act as its sales representative in
Thailand. In addition to acting as a general sales agent in
Thailand, Royal Caribbean said it and Discover have had a long-term
relationship representing the lines in Australia, Colombia and
Pakistan.