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August22, 2006 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Dear Cruise Fans, Welcome to the August 1 edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News. Hot enough for you? I don't care where you live in the U.S., you must be cooking! Our daughters in Indianapolis, Chicago, Portland and just down the road in Lighthouse Point have all mentioned just how horribly hot it is this summer. We might as well all go on vacation! Even the deep Caribbean couldn't be warmer! We have some tidbits of cruise news today, but first I need to put in a good word for Pat, your source for the very lowest cruise prices-and no lack of friendly personal service either. Pat loves helping you save money! So give him a call, toll-free, at 1-866-424-1090. He'll find you one of the excellent prices that are available right now! NCL is sending out reminders of excellent holiday prices this year. That reminds me of holiday cruises we've taken in the past. If being home for Santa is not a priority at your house, think about a family cruise as the perfect present. Nothing to wrap! Of course, if you're like us, you'll try to take a little of the holidays along. We created the "7 Days of Christmas" one year, with a surprise at everyone's place each night at dinner. We had prepared small presents for one night, candy canes for another, plus bubble-light night lights, stockings, Christmas crackers, individual electric candles, and Santa hats. If you follow this example, remember to bring along spare Santa hats for your waiter, bus boy and maitre d'. Oh, were they a hit! If you want to know more, give Pat a call! And now, some cruise news... Here's what Princess reported about their recent incident aboard the Crown Princess... Dear Passenger, We at Princess Cruises would like to take the opportunity to comment about the incident of last week, when Crown Princess experienced a strong list following her departure from Port Canaveral, Florida. We express our sincerest apologies for this regrettable event, and fully understand that this was a distressing experience for all who were on board. We especially extend our apologies to those passengers and crew who were injured. We are grateful that the injuries were not life- threatening, and also that those transferred to hospitals for evaluation and treatment have now been released with the exception of one passenger, for whom we wish a speedy and full recovery. Following the incident, we immediately cooperated with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Bermuda flag authorities. Following an extensive assessment, Crown Princess departed New York last Saturday July 22 on a seven-day voyage, having received clearance to sail by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Bermuda flag authorities. We can appreciate there may be concern as to the cause of this incident, and questions about whether it could happen again. As you may be aware, there is an investigation into the incident being carried out by the U.S. authorities which has not yet been fully completed. It would therefore be inappropriate for us to comment in any detail before that investigation is complete and the results published. However, we can confirm that the incident was due to human error and the appropriate personnel changes have been made. We want to unequivocally emphasize that we would never operate an unsafe ship, nor would the U.S. Coast Guard allow a ship to sail that had any safety issues. We want to assure passengers who may be booked on an upcoming sailing, or those who may be thinking about traveling with Princess, that the highest priority for our company is the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew. Sincerely, Alan Buckelew, President Princess Cruises Meanwhile, down in Mobile, Alabama, Carnival Cruise Lines has extended its contract with the city and will homeport the 46,050-ton, 1, 452- passenger Holiday there for another year.This is good news for the cruise port, which like much of the Gulf Coast did not escape the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Last fall, Carnival took Holiday out of service (as well as Sensation and Ecstasy) to serve as a floating shelter for evacuees -- leaving Mobile with no ship to speak of until Holiday resumed sailing this March after an extensive renovation. According to an official statement from the cruise line, the voyages have been "a tremendous success," consistently operating in excess of 100 percent occupancy ( based on two per cabin) and accounting for approximately 125,000 passengers annually from the port. Carnival is the first and currently only line to operate a perennial program in the Alabama port city (the first voyage set sail in 2004). Whether the line's commitment to Mobile will spur other lines to homeport ships there remains to be seen; port representatives did not immediately fulfill Cruise Critic's request for additional information.Holiday operates four-day cruises to Cozumel on Thursdays, and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen or Costa Maya on Mondays and Saturdays. In 2008, the Pacific Princess will embark on a 102-day voyage beginning in Fort Lauderdale that will span six continents. Guests will enjoy 42 destinations in 35 different countries including Ecuador, Australia, China, Thailand, Egypt and Spain. Highlights include visits to the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Egypt, as well as an overnight stay in Lima with a day excursion to Machu Picchu. This will be the first world cruise for the Pacific Princess, which joined Princess' fleet in 2002. A former Renaissance ship, she is one of Princess' smallest vessels, accommodating only 688 passengers. The intimate and charming atmosphere aboard the Pacific Princess will be a perfect setting for guests on their worldwide exploration. A few years ago, there were only three world cruises offered, but in 2007, a record eight world cruises are available. Where do you sign up? Call Pat, of course! Did you know that Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the only ship that allows pets (other than service dogs) onboard? Yes they do, but only on transatlantic sailings between Southampton and New York. The "Pets on Deck" package provides first-class accommodations and services to dogs and cats that rival those provided to their owners. Special amenities include a choice of bedding and blanket, freshly prepared dog biscuits and a QM2-emblemed coat for stepping out in style during daily walks. Pets receive an assortment of toys, a nametag, food dish and scoop and a complimentary portrait with their pet owner. To mark their journey, Cunard presents each dog or cat with a crossing certificate and personalized cruise card. A kennel master oversees the care, feeding and walking of pets, but owners are encouraged to. Pets are not allowed in passenger staterooms. Reservations for the kennel can be made at the time of booking and range from $300 to $500 per pet. Of course, we strict rabies laws in Europe, your pet may not be welcome when you arrive. Still, it's very 1930's elegant to think of well-dressed pets strolling the deck. Not our dog, however. Bob is just not the type. Fine art goes high tech on the high seas when Holland America Line debuted self-guided art tours using handheld iPod devices on ms Westerdam on the July 30, 2006 sailing. Tours of the unique art and antique collections on each of the line's five-star ships - together valued at tens of millions of dollars - will be available fleetwide by the end of 2006. The introduction of the tour on the Westerdam marks the first time a cruise line has offered museum-quality self-guided tours to its guests. Guests desiring to take a tour simply sign out an iPod free of charge and take the tour at their leisure, returning the device when they finish. In addition, the tours will be available for download to a home computer or handheld device from the Holland America Web site at www.hollandamerica.com. The 40- to 50-minute tours include walking directions, interviews with artists, background music and photo images displayed on the iPod screen to help guests locate each piece. For convenience, tours are confined to the main public decks to facilitate casual, unhurried strolling from piece to piece. Each tour begins with a welcome message from Holland America Line President and CEO Stein Kruse and includes comments from ship architect/ designer Frans Dingemans, as well as others associated with the line's art program. Two artists who have their work displayed on every Holland America ship - Susanna Holt, whose lifelike bronze animal sculptures grace the pool areas, and Stephen Card, whose classic maritime paintings of Holland America ships can be found in the main stairwells - provide insight into their artistic inspiration. The sheer scope of the shipboard art and antiques distinguishes these tours from most landside museum visits. On Westerdam alone, the pieces range from a huge Indian silver-overlaid wood palace doorway at the entrance to the dining room that measures 92 inches by 69 inches to a 5-inch-long bone tobacco pipe carved in the shape of a woman's head. The most valuable piece is a painting of the Port of Rotterdam, and the oldest is a collection of 5, 000-year-old pre-Columbian carved limestone figures from Ecuador. An interesting way to spend a sea day, eh? That's about it for now. Please visit the website at www.7seascruises.com and picture yourself on a relaxing cruise! Then pick up the phone and let Pat make it a reality for you. And until next week, smooth sailing, friends! Teri |
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August22, 2006 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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