SEADREAM YACHT CLUB canceled its plan to sell
cruises on a net-price basis through a select group of retailers.
The company said its "authorized yacht distributor program" failed
to generate enough participants because of a "nervous and unsettled
economy" as well as some confusion about the plan itself. Instead,
the company intends to offer agents commission rates of between 12%
and 16%, based on performance levels. The SeaDream Yacht Club will
offer Mediterranean cruises aboard the SeaDream I and II, the
former Sea Goddess vessels of Cunard Line, starting in May.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S first regularly scheduled
departure from New Orleans shoved off Feb 23. The Rhapsody of the
Seas will sail from the Crescent City on six seven-night western
Caribbean itineraries, calling in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico;
and Georgetown, Cayman Islands. Not one to pass up a good thing,
Royal Caribbean said bookings for the Rhapsody strong enough that
the line will send the Grandeur of the Seas to New Orleans in the
fall. The Grandeur will sail a western Caribbean route between Oct.
5 and May 3.
STAR CRUISES, parent company of Norwegian
Cruise Line, reported a $57.3 million loss in fourth-quarter 2001
compared with a loss of $54.9 million in the same period a year
ago. Singapore-based Star said it was adversely affected by a
"steeper-than-expected" economic downturn in Asia; cessation of
cruise operations in Japan and Taiwan, and the after-effects of
Sept. 11, especially on its North American and European markets.
For the year, Star Cruises posted a net loss of $8.4 million
compared with a loss of $29.6 million in 2000, the year the company
purchased NCL. Revenue for 2001 was stable at $1.38 billion,
compared with $1.33 billion in 2000, but operating income decreased
47% year-over-year. The NCL brand reported a 17.7% decrease in net
yields for the fourth quarter and a 10.4% decrease in net yields
for the year.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE said it formalized its
rebooking policies, and as a result, agent commissions will no
longer be protected at the original price if a client rebooks to
get a lower fare. The line also no longer allows passengers to take
advantage of a better cabin rate less than 75 days before departure
without first canceling the original booking -- and paying the
cancellation penalty.
BORA BORA CRUISES will float two new ships in
Tahiti in 2003. Each will accommodate 75 passengers on seven-day
cruises to the islands of Raiatea, Bora Bora and Huahine, a
spokesman for Tahiti Tourisme said. The ships are under
construction.
CRYSTAL CRUISES became the first supplier to
use e-Marketing's E- brochure program, which enables agencies to
e-mail electronic brochures to clients for free. Suppliers pay
e-Marketing, an Atlanta- based communications firm, a one-time
production fee of $15,000 for the brochures and 75 cents per
delivered e-mail, said e-Marketing president Michael Goldberg.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES altered its deposit
policy to get a little more up front. Deposits are $100 for
three-day sailings, $150 for four-day sailings and $200 for
five-day sailings. Previously, deposits on cruises of all three
lengths were $100. For cruises six or seven days in length, deposit
rates are unchanged at $250; eight-day cruises are $300, up from
$250; and cruises of 10 days or more are $400, up from $300.
Deposit rates for Alaska sailings are $350, up from $300.