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May19, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Hi again, cruise fans, Teri here. Welcome to another edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News. Thanks to everyone who offered support and guidance for this diabetes business. I am not alone! It was great to hear from all of you. And thanks to those of you who reminded me that many cruise lines offer diabetic desserts! Pat got some fantastic prices on the brand new Coral Princess for Alaska this week. If you can pack up and go in the next few weeks, call him at 1-866-424-1090 or send an e-mail to cruiseplanners7seascruises@msn.com There are some fantastic Alaska prices available now! This week is a newsy one. So, I'll get one with it??¦ She just missed her boyfriend. Such is the sad story of a 20-year old woman from Laguna Hills, California, who, according to various reports, was sailing with her family on a Royal Caribbean Hawaii cruise (Legend of the Seas). She wanted to go home to be with her boyfriend, so she left two notes in a public restroom aboard ship. Prosecutors say she had hoped that the notes would force the ship to turn back. Kelley Marie Ferguson admitted she wrote the notes when she was questioned by FBI agents who boarded the ship to investigate. The first note, according to wire services, said, in all capital letters, "I HAVE BEEN SENT ON A MISSION TO KILL ALL AMERICANOS ABORD LEGEND IF WE PORT ON AMERICAN SOIL." In the second, she wrote "I MUST KILL ALL AMERICANS." In a statement, Hawaii's U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo says, "The defendant said she never wanted to go on this cruise ship with her family to begin with and that she wrote these notes hoping it would shorten her time on the cruise, allowing her to return to her boyfriend." She was arrested and taken to the federal detention center in Honolulu, charged with two counts of violating terrorism laws -- each one a felony and each carrying a maximum penalty of ten years. Guess it will be awhile before she sees that boyfriend again. (Ed. Note: What was she thinking??!?) More news??¦ Princess Cruises has placed an order for a new ship. The 116,000-ton ship, a sister to Caribbean Princess, the first in a new design for the cruise line, is anticipated for a summer 2004 launch for year-round Caribbean sailing. The ship, dubbed, temporarily, Caribbean Princess 2, will have the same unusual features as its older sibling, including "Dive-In Movies," projected on a giant, outdoor state-of-the-art LED screen poolside, and Club Fusion, a Jules Verne- themed "edutainment" lounge. According to a company statement, the ship will make a bigger effort than is usual to theme onboard programs and amenities around the region where she sails. But, the Caribbean Princess 2 announcement was made by Carnival Corporation -- and is, in fact, the ship that was originally slated to be the fifth in the fleet of Holland America's Vista class ships. Holland America, owned by Carnival, is a sister cruise line to Princess now. A serious loss to report. Officially, Regal Cruises has closed its gangways. The one-ship cruise line, which operated the classic old Regal Empress had been forced to cancel its last two voyages due to a legal dispute over a $750,000 bill for engine repair. At that time, the company announced it was seeking to resolve the issue with Motor Services Hugo Stamp, Inc., which had federal marshals arrest Regal Empress on April 18. No details on passenger refund options were offered. As a past passenger, and one of the legions of loyal fans of the Regal Empress, I am saddened by the loss of this ship. As I have often said before, the Regal Empress was one of a kind, and used to offer cruise-weary passengers totally unique itineraries. I am still thrilled to have been on the ONLY cruise to ever visit Red Bay, Labrador. I will always remember sampling cloudberries with the Mayor of Bonaventure, Newfoundland. Or visiting the Viking encampment at L'Anse Aux Meadows ( Columbus, eat your heart out!) And seeing those icebergs! Wow. Don't get me wrong. Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, Carnival, HAL, Celebrity and all the rest of the major carriers do a wonderful job. But, only a small cruise line can afford to offer the thoroughly unique, out-of-the-way cruise. And there just aren't any of the little ones left. So, raise your glass to the end of the small ship and small cruise line era. Sigh. Now that Carnival owns 13 different cruise brands in the U.S. and Europe, they are tweaking the line up, including: -Reducing Holland America's "Vista" class. The 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Zuiderdam, the first in that class, will now get just three more siblings instead of four; Vista class vessels will be launched through 2006. -New delivery dates for Carnival Corp. ships. The Carnival Valor's original delivery of September 2004 has been moved to December 2004. Cunard Line's Queen Victoria will now emerge from the shipyard in March 2005 instead of January 2005. Holland America's as-yet-unnamed fourth (and last) Vista class ship will be completed in January 2006 instead of October, 2005. The Queen Mary 2 is beginning to advertise. After its March 21 "float out,' the ads began in earnest. And it looks like this ship will be something to see! Waterford is doing the crystal. Wedgwood is designing a brand new pattern exclusively for the Todd English Restaurant aboard the ship which is set to debut in January, 2004. The Waterford Wedgwood Company is providing more than 90,000 pieces of porcelain and glassware for the ship. China in the Britannia Restaurant will feature the Cunard logo in gold. If this is not indulgent enough for you, there is the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Among other delights, you can frolic in a 30- by 15-foot Thalassotheraphy Pool with airbed recliner lounges, neck fountains (which are what??), a deluge waterfall, air tub and body massage jet benches. And on that note, I will allow my mind to wander, and I invite yours to do the same. My! Until next week, see you at the neck fountain. (I really must brush up on my "spa talk.") Teri |
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May19, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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