HOLLAND AMERICA LINE changed its summer 2003
itineraries on the Prinsendam, replacing Mediterranean and Baltic
offerings with a series of 14-day Alaska cruises from San
Francisco. The line canceled 11 Prinsendam voyages in Asia and
Europe between April 25 and Sept. 20. Instead of leaving April 25
from Hong Kong enroute to Singapore, the Prinsendam will sail a
23-day transpacific cruise visiting China, Japan, Russia and
Alaska, before arriving in its new San Francisco homeport. The
vessel then will offer 14-day roundtrip cruises to Skagway and
Hubbard Glacier. A 22-day Panama Canal cruise on Sept. 10 will
reposition the Prinsendam to Boston, where it will resume its
original schedule.
MEANWHILE, HAL'S Amsterdam could be pulled from
service temporarily if more onboard outbreaks of the Norwalk-like
virus occur. Last week, 34 passengers and 10 crew members exhibited
symptoms of the gastrointestinal virus, said the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The Amsterdam has had problems with
the virus since it left Seattle for the Caribbean, where it now is
currently sailing. The ship is being sanitized twice daily, the CDC
said, and both the CDC and HAL said they are closely monitoring the
situation.
ROYAL OLYMPIC CRUISES replaced March 24 and
April 5 Caribbean cruises with another "Great Rivers of South
America" cruise, citing the popularity of the 19-day itinerary. The
voyage departs from Houston (but also picks up guests in Fort
Lauderdale before heading south) and sails the Orinoco and Amazon
rivers.
STAR CRUISES reported net income of $56.2
million for the third quarter, up 42% compared with the year-ago
period. Revenue for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, increased
17.8% to $447.4 million. Subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line reported
net yields rose by just under 2%, but yields at subsidiary Orient
Lines were down "significantly," Star said.
DECEMBER DUE DATES:
• Royal Caribbean Int'l took delivery of the Navigator of the Seas
from Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku, Finland, on Monday. Tennis star
Stefanie Graf will be the godmother of the ship and participate in
the Dec. 6 naming ceremony in Miami.
• Holland America Line, meanwhile, took delivery of its first
Vista-class ship, the Zuiderdam, from the Italian Fincantieri
shipyard. As reported, TV star Joan Lunden will act as the
godmother to that ship and participate in the Dec. 14 naming
ceremony in Fort Lauderdale.
• Unexpected delays at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard will push
back the maiden voyage of Princess Cruises' Coral Princess, the
line said. The vessel's inaugural 10-day Panama Canal cruise has
been postponed one sailing, to Dec. 24. Passengers on the canceled
Dec. 14 sailing will receive a full refund, plus a $500-per-cabin
credit.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, meanwhile, debuted its
largest ship, the Carnival Conquest, in New Orleans this week.
LOOKING AHEAD, Port Canaveral is the chosen
homeport of Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas when that ship is
delivered in late 2003. The 3,114-passenger Mariner is the final
ship in Royal Caribbean's Voyager-class series and the second Royal
Caribbean vessel to sail regularly from the central Florida port;
it will sail alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries
beginning in November 2003.
CONGRESS passed the Maritime Transportation
Security Act, which sets out federal blueprints for U.S. ports to
work with the U.S. Coast Guard on security plans. The act directs
individual ports to work -- committee style -- to set their own
particular security needs, and it authorizes the appropriation of
more federal funds for security improvements. The bill has yet to
be signed into law.
TRADE WINDS
• Residensea raised some of its capacity-controlled fares
throughout May and on the Oct. 28 to Nov. 11 sailing of the World.
The line said that it had met its target levels on those sailings,
which will operate in Vietnam and China in May and in South America
in the fall.
• Luxury line Seabourn extended its offer of cruise-only savings up
to 50% to include all 2003 Mediterranean cruises of the Seabourn
Spirit and the Seabourn Legend, and a selection of cruises in
Scandinavia and Northern Europe on the Seabourn Pride.
• Cruise West added two dates to its 10-night Gold Rush Alaska
cruise on May 17 and May 27, bringing the total number of
departures to 10.