THE CRUISE
LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION has picked its new digs in
South Florida: It is relocating to Fort Lauderdale from New York in
conjunction with its merger with the International Council of
Cruise Lines. Terry Dale, current CLIA chief, will be president and
CEO. Robert Sharak, current CLIA executive vice president and chief
marketing officer, will be executive vice president of marketing
and distribution. Current ICCL President Michael Crye, who will be
executive vice president responsible for technical and regulatory
affairs, will not be joining the team in Fort Lauderdale. He will
remain in a Washington satellite office to handle government
relations responsibilities.
CLIA
also hired Jim Lida as director of marketing, a new position
created to drive greater visibility for the association. Lida most
recently was assistant director of cruise marketing at Port
Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
ROYAL
CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL restructured its sales force to
provide regional and channel-specific training instead of a
"one-size-fits-all approach," said Lisa Bauer, Royal Caribbean's
senior vice president of sales. The sales department also added
several new positions, including a sales coach, field trainers,
market-development managers and regional business analysts. It will
rename its inside sales reps and district sales managers "customer
business development managers," or CBDMs, because "we are focused
on the customer, who is the travel agent, and agencies, not the
district," Bauer said.
THE CRYSTAL
SYMPHONY emerged from a two-week, $23 million drydock with
a new look. The refurbishment included renovation of the Symphony's
cabins and bathrooms and a reconstruction of its lounge, casino,
shops and the Bistro Cafe. A new nightclub was built, and the
ship's main entertainment deck was redesigned. New lighting
throughout the vessel will correspond to the time of day and events
going on in different areas of the ship. In the last two years,
Crystal Cruises has invested more than $35 million into
construction projects on the Crystal Symphony in order to expand
its choices in dining and onboard activities.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS canceled two
cruises on the Seven Seas Voyager due to damage found in the ship's
motors during a scheduled 10-day drydock. The ship will stay in
drydock 11 additional days so its two motors can be disassembled
and repaired. Regent said it contacted guests booked on the
affected cruises and offered them incentives and discounts for
future sailings. The ship is expected to be back in service for its
Dec. 11 cruise.