April 4th Newsletter

Cruiseman News

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises quietly implemented a fuel surcharge, making the luxury operator the first North American-based cruise line to do so. Radisson is charging $2.85 per person, per day, on bookings that were made after Feb. 18. Large cruise lines today typically spend between 5% and 6% of their revenue on fuel, a percentage that has risen over the past few years. For Carnival Corp., that would have amounted to about $120 million in the first quarter.

Passengers on a charter cruise of NCL’s Pride of Aloha in Hawaii last summer brought a class-action lawsuit here against the travel agency that organized the trip, seeking damages because of an experience they maintain was way below expectations. The agency in turn, filed a cross-complaint against NCL, also seeking damages and complaining about “a week of hell”.

For the third consecutive year, Carnival Cruise Lines, will sponsor a VIP site at BAYNANZA, Florida's largest one-day beach and coastal waters cleanup, presented by Miami-Dade County's Department of Environmental Resources Management. This year's event takes place on Saturday, April 16, 2005. Carnival's sponsorship includes breakfast for more than 300 volunteers and dignitaries at the event's designated "VIP site" located at the dockside facilities of Shake-A-Leg, an organization that provides instructional, recreational and competitive sailing programs for individuals with disabilities. Shake-A-Leg is located at 2600 Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove, Florida.

As part of a unique partnership between the world's largest cruise operator and the NBA's premier franchise, Carnival Cruise Lines and the Miami HEAT Family Outreach Charitable Fund have pledged $2.5 million to renovate the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Medical Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami. The $2.5 million donation - one of the largest ever to Holtz Children's Hospital - will enable Jackson to completely refurbish the 30,000-square-foot facility and purchase a variety of new medical equipment.

One of the many popular and unique features of a Carnival "Fun Ship" cruise is the whimsical "towel animals" that greet guests when they return to their stateroom each evening. Now there's a new instructional book offering step-by-step instructions, along with accompanying photos for guests wishing to recreate these creatures back home. The cost of the book is $12.95 and is available from the stateroom stewards or in the "Formalities" shops onboard.

Cruiseman Exclusive Offers

Today we are mailing postcards to 500 of our existing clients with a very special free vacation offer. Watch your mailbox because one may be coming your way. Next month we will send out another 500 postcards with another exciting free vacation offer. If the response to our offer is positive, we will continue doing this every month thereafter. Tell your postman you are waiting for your postcard from The Cruiseman!!

Cruiseman Contest

The Question last week was:

"How much money is the cruise industry adding to the economy of New Orleans per year?"

This was not supposed to be a trick question, but we got several different answers from our readers.

Here is the answer : The Port of New Orleans generates $226 million in direct and indirect sales among New Orleans businesses each year, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the port and released earlier this month.

Here are our five winners, selected at random from among all the correct entries.

Cheryl Maples -- Ft. Wayne, IN
William Reece -- Jacksonville, FL
Alan Wallace -- LA, CA
Ray Fitzpatrick -- Plano, TX
Henry Rybczyk -- Nashua, NH

Each winner will receive a Holiday Inn Certificate.

This weeks Cruiseman Contest Question:

(Do The Math!) Approx. how much wil Carnival Corp. spend on fuel this year?

To enter -- read the instructions, and then CLICK on the link below to send your entry.

1. Don't change the subject line.
2. Type your answer in the message area
3. Include your name & postal address (in case you win!).

To enter The Contest: CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Please, don't hit your reply button, or your entry will go to the wrong address! This address is for contest entries only. One entry per person, please.