KIRK
LANTERMAN, a cruise industry icon who has led Holland
America Line for more than 30 years, is stepping down as its CEO.
Stein Kruse, HALs current president, will take over as CEO,
effective Dec. 1. Lanterman will continue to serve as chairman of
Holland America Line Inc. in a nonexecutive role and as a member of
the board of directors of Carnival Corp., HALs parent company.
STAR
CRUISES became the first major cruise line to introduce a
fuel surcharge, which it is now charging on its Asia-Pacific
cruises. The line said the charges, which run between a $2 and $4
per person per day, is a temporary measure and said it was
continuing to monitor fuel prices. The charges do not extend to
Stars sister companies, Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Lines or NCL
America.
THE CRUISE
LINES International Association (CLIA) will play host next
fall to Cruise3sixty, a combination trade show and CLIA training
session with a focus on cruise lifestyle themes, such as fashion,
food and entertainment. The show is slated for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2
at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center and will include keynote
speeches and one-on-one meeting opportunities with senior cruise
officials, ship inspections, CLIA training courses and
technology-based training modules.
COSTA
CRUISES Costa Magica debuts this week, and Spanish actress
Paz Vega will act as the ships godmother during its christening
ceremony Nov. 6 in Barcelona. Meanwhile, Costa said its next ship,
to be the largest in the fleet, will be named the Costa Concordia.
The Concordia will be about 112,000 tons and carry 3,300 passengers
when it launches in 2006; the Magica is 105,000 tons and carries
2,720 passengers.
NEW
YORK could sign a lease agreement to take control of two
Brooklyn piers for use as cruise berths within the next two weeks.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the
Brooklyn piers, outlined the time frame in a statement given to the
New York City Council last week, which held a hearing on the
subject. Carnival Corp. Vice Chairman Howard Frank, who testified
at the hearing last week, said it was critical that the Brooklyn
facility open on time and added: Many of our brands have expressed
interest in using the Brooklyn facility. The city predicts an
opening in spring 2006.