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Celebrity Reprises Short Caribbean Cruises in 2009
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Celebrity Cruises will operate four- and five-night Caribbean
itineraries again in winter 2009/2010, bookings for which are now
open. From December 12, 2009, through April 22, 2010, Celebrity
Century will sail 29 short Western Caribbean itineraries departing
from Miami on Mondays, Thursday and Saturdays, each featuring two
ports of call including Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cozumel
and Key West. |
U.S. Senator Aims Legislation To Thwart Cruise Ship Pollution
Lawmakers in Washington are looking to crack down on cruise ship
pollution. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is introducing the Clean
Cruise Ship Act, which seeks to protect the world's oceans and the
Great Lakes from pollution by raising current control standards. The
act would create coastal zones where cruise ships would be prohibited
from dumping waste and new standards for waste treatment. Alaska
state legislators have already passed similar legislation that helps
safeguard its local waters from cruise ship pollution.
Durbin's bill would establish stronger standards and disallow ships
from discharging byproducts such as sewage, gray water and bilge
water within 12 miles of shore.
RCI details 2009-10 Caribbean routes
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The first Genesis newbuild and three Freedom-class ships are among
the 10 vessels Royal Caribbean International is fielding for its
2009-10 Caribbean season of six- to 14-night sailings. |
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In opening bookings for nine of the ships today, Royal Caribbean did
not disclose its Genesis deployment but, as earlier reported here,
that should be coming soon with sales likely to open in August. The
first Genesis, in late 2009 and the second, in 2010, will be based in
Port Everglades. Last month a Royal Caribbean executive said the
ships were likely to sail an Eastern Caribbean route to San Juan, St.
Maarten and St. Thomas, and a Western route to San Juan, Labadee,
Cozumel and the new Jamaican port of Falmouth.
Sales are open for nine ships include year-round departures
from Miami, Port Canaveral, Cape Liberty and San Juan. Freedom of the
Seas debuts at Canaveral in May next year as the largest cruise
vessel sailing from Central Florida. It will offer alternating
Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, replacing Mariner of the Seas.
Norwegian Jade rolls out Freestyle 2.0
The Freestyle 2.0 program of product and service enhancements is now
in full swing on board Norwegian Jade, the first NCL Corp. ship to
roll out the complete offerings.
From bubbly at embarkation to bedding upgrades to extended hours for
youth programs, the wide-ranging initiative aims to elevate the
entire experience.
The upgraded bedding -- mattress toppers, duvets and new pillows in
all accommodations, with brand-new beds and pillow menus in suites
and villas -- is being particularly well received, Norwegian Jade
hotel director Armando Da Silva told Seatrade Insider. Also,
passengers ‘love the bubbly on embarkation day,’ he said.
It may not be French champagne but ‘It’s the gesture. You
feel special because you’re getting that.’
Carnival News
A new multi-media advertising campaign being launched this season
will inject a new look and feel into Carnival's marketing. A series
of 30-second television spots will feature cruise and vacation images
linked with computerized animation and editing techniques that blend
one scene into another. Each commercial is pegged to an "Oooh,
you make me live" lyrical phrase...
A major upgrade will be completed during a 35-day drydock visit of
the 2052-passenger Carnival Fantasy this fall. Highlights include a
new aqua park with a four-deck high, 300-foot-long corkscrew water
slide, an adults-only area, a redesigned "resort-style"
main pool, an 82-foot-long racing slide, flat-screen TVs in
staterooms, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a renovated 12,000
square foot spa, a New York-style deli, a patisserie, new facilities
for children and teens, and contemporary sound and lighting systems
for music and entertainment venues...
12- to 14-year-olds will find more to their liking on Carnival ships.
The company is inaugurating dedicated facilities and activities
catering to early teens under the "Circle C" banner, which
currently has "Camp Carnival" for youngsters and "Club
O2" for 15- to 17-year-olds. The new clubs will feature a dance
floor with high-tech sound and lighting, 42-inch TV screens
displaying movies and videos, a jukebox stocked with current hits,
video gaming, plush seating, and staff supervision. Activities will
include basketball, volleyball, ping pong, water games, late-night
movies, evening pool parties, and more.
Royal Caribbean News
Taking a cue from the popularity of TV's competitive dance shows,
Royal Caribbean is making its passengers the stars of a new
production show. Winning couples chosen early in a cruise will
practice with the professional cast and will be featured in
"Invitation to Dance." The feature is being introduced on
the 3114-passenger Explorer of the Seas... Next summer will be a big
one in Europe for Royal Caribbean. It will position eight ships there
for the warm months of 2009. There will be 70 itineraries ranging
from four to 14 days in length. 87 ports in 32 countries will be
visited. Main destinations will be the Med, Northern Europe, Western
Europe, and transatlantic repositioning trips. Home ports will
include London Southampton, Malaga, Rome, Barcelona, Copenhagen,
Oslo, Stockholm, Athens, and Istanbul. New ports include Haifa and
Ashdod in Israel.
More new stuff from Royal Caribbean:
Flow Rider -- You can now reserve the Flow Rider
for your groups. For $300 per hour, you can have a private session
with our onboard sports staff. In addition, you can now have a
private lesson for $60 per hour!
Explorer Academy -- The Explorer Academy has
expanded it’s classes to include: Arts & Crafts
Classes, Backstage Tours, Ballroom Couples, Chef's Demonstrations,
Crayola Adult Art Workshops, Environmental Seminars*, Fruit and
Vegetable Carvings, Gaming Lessons, Guest Lecturers (Destination and
Arts & Crafts)*, Hip Hop Dance Classes, Ice Skating Classes*,
Jewelry Making*, Language Classes, Line Dancing, Martini Making
Classes, Napkin Folding, Nautical Notes/Captain's Corner, Ocean Lab
Tour*, Origami Classes, Piano Classes, Salsa Dance Classes,
Scrapbooking, Scratch DJ 101*, Swing Dance Classes, Towel Folding,
Wine Tasting & other Beverage Tastings.
Seabourn Cruise Line News
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Seabourn is replacing more than 50 percent of its menu items with
more than 150 additions. Its executive chef Charlie Palmer says that
the move ties in with a trend of adventurous diners seeking exotic
twists on familiar, comforting ingredients. There will be Malossol
caviar, smoked trout with potato parfait, seared beef carpaccio with
sesame vinaigrette and shiitake mushrooms, butter poached jumbo
prawns with red beet and goat cheese ravioli, and more. As before,
venues will offer black-tie dinners, cafe seating, al fresco dining,
and in-suite service. |
Holland America Line News
Changes to menus this summer will find more regional dishes in
Holland America's dining rooms. Starting with Mexico and Caribbean
cruises, passengers will find new menus reflecting their ship's
itinerary. There will be coconut scallops in the Caribbean, chicken
mole in Mexico, tapas in Spain, prosciutto and coppa in Italy, salmon
in Norway, and more...
A $20 million enhancement has been completed aboard the 793-passenger
Prinsendam. It resulted in new bathrooms in each cabin, redesigned
closet space, and new carpeting, desks, and chairs. In public areas,
walls were resurfaced, serving counters were upgraded, carpeting was
replaced, sports decks were refreshed, and the library was expanded.
Technologically, improvements were made to radar, lifeboats, and
nautical equipment...
Australasia is being added to Holland America's itineraries in 2009.
The 1432-passenger Volendam will conduct nine cruises from Auckland,
Sydney, or Singapore. They'll range from 14 to 19 days in length. In
addition, for the first time the Volendam will sail a round-trip Hong
Kong schedule. The series, which will run from this fall through next
spring, will call at cities in China, Southeast Asia, Korea,
Indonesia, Vietnam, and Russia...
Holland America has re-cast its web site. The new design offers a
detailed virtual sample of its cruise vacations, including stateroom
interiors, activities, zoom-ins to chosen destinations, views of tour
sites, photo/video galleries, podcasts about collections of art and
artifacts aboard each ship, video clips of ship staff discussing
dining options and shipboard activities, and more...
For the first time, Holland America will sail an extensive series of
Asia-Pacific voyages. During 2009, its 1432-passenger Volendam will
make four maiden calls at ports in the Philippines, Japan, China, and
Taiwan as part of nine new cruises. Included among them will be a
first round-trip Hong Kong itinerary and calls in Korea, Indonesia,
Vietnam, and Russia. There will be two Vancouver-Asia circuits,
between which the Volendam will spend the summer in Alaska service...
The 2104-passenger Eurodam, which debuts this summer, will have an
abundance of themed restaurants. In addition to the Rembrandt main
dining room and a Lido, there will be a Pacific Northwest-themed
Pinnacle Grill, a 144-seat Asian-themed Tamarind, a 72-seat
Italian-themed Canaletto, plus Slice, an all-day pizza outlet. Both
traditional and flexible seating times will be offered.
Louis Buys Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Majesty
Louis Cruise Lines announced it has reached an agreement with Star
Cruises for the purchase of NCL's Norwegian Dream and the Norwegian
Majesty for $380 million. According to the terms of the agreement,
the two cruise ships will be chartered back to Star Cruises until
November 2008 for the Dream and December 2009 for the Norwegian Majesty.
''The purchase of these two cruise ships constitutes the most
important renewal and upgrading of the Louis Cruise Lines fleet in
its 22-year history and at the same time it further enhances the
company's leading position in the Eastern Mediterranean cruise
market,'' the company said in a statement.
The 40,876-ton, 1,462-passenger Norwegian Majesty and the 48,000-ton,
1,754-passenger Norwegian Dream were both launched in 1992.
RCCL Increases Fuel Supplement
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has announced an increase in the fuel
supplement it charges guests.
For first and second guests in a stateroom, the revised fuel
supplement will be $8 per person, per-day, and no more than $112 per
person, per cruise. Additional guests in a stateroom will be charged
$3 per person, per day, and no more than $42 per person, per cruise.
The revised fuel supplement will apply to bookings made throughout
the world on or after May 1, 2008, onboard three Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises
and Azamara Cruises.
Carnival Splendor Offers Mishmash of Cuisines
Carnival Splendor, Carnival Cruise Lines' newest 3,006-passenger 'Fun
Ship' debuting in July, will provide its guests an assortment of
different cuisines set in various casual and more formal settings.
The ship's split-level dining room, the Golden Pearl and Black Pearl,
will offer a mix of appetizers, Carnival classics and the popular
broiled lobster tail, served once each voyage. For passengers seeking
a more intimate and refined experience, Splendor's reservations-only
supper club, The Pinnacle, will serve up an array of prime steaks and seafood.
On Lido Deck, Carnival will reprise the Indian tandoori station and
Mongolian barbecue venue, in addition to other regulars such as
pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers. Splendor will also feature rotisserie
chicken served upstairs on Panorama Deck.
Holland America Boasts Biggest Europe Season Ever in 2009
Holland America Line will deploy six ships in Europe in 2009,
visiting 166 ports, which include 16 maiden calls, on 70 different
cruises. "North Americans are realizing that a cruise is the
most cost-effective way to experience Europe,” said Richard
Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest
programs for Holland America.
Cruises will range from 10 to 50 days in length and will feature
maiden calls including Hendaye (Biarritz), France; Oostende (Brugge),
Belgium; Kiel, Germany; Scrabster, Scotland, United Kingdom;
Kristiansund, Norway; Vaasa, Finland; Foynes, Ireland; Greencastle,
Northern Ireland; Portland, England, United Kingdom; Santa
Margherita, Italy; Bat’umi, Georgia; Victoria (Rabat), Gozo,
Malta; Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom; Djúpivogur, Iceland;
Palau, Sardinia, Italy; and Trapani, Sicily, Italy. Cruise
fares for the line's 2009 European sailings start at $1,699 per person.
Three Cunard Queens rendezvous for last time
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Tuesday (4/22) was another one of those days that gets ocean
liner junkies' hearts racing -- a day that saw a historic meeting
between some of the world's grandest ships. |
All three of the storied Cunard Line's globe-trotting
"Queens" -- the 39-year-old Queen Elizabeth 2, the four-year-old
Queen Mary 2 and the four-month-old Queen Victoria -- met up in the
line's home port for the first and last time.
The BBC reports that thousands of Britons turned out to see the
rendezvous of the three vessels, which all fly the British flag and
have Southampton on their stern (the only passenger ships that still
do). The three ships have been together once before, in January in
New York, but this was the first time they had come together in the 168-year-old
company's home town.
The QE2 and Queen Victoria pulled into the busy port after completing
around-the-world cruises that had taken them from the Americas to
Asia to the Middle East. The Queen Mary 2 arrived after concluding
her first trans-Atlantic crossing of the season from New York.
The QE2, launched in 1969, will retire as an ocean-going vessel in
November, becoming a floating hotel in Dubai. Still, the Cunard fleet
won't be without a third queen for long. The line already has
announced plans for a new Queen Elizabeth to launch in late 2010.
Exclusive photos of historic Cunard meeting in Southampton CLICK
HERE
Carnival Dream to Home Port at Port Canaveral
Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that the new 130,000-ton Carnival
Dream will be based at Port Canaveral in Florida, starting in fall of 2009.
Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy,
the 3,652-passenger ship is the first in a new class of ship (the
largest of the "Fun Ships"), and will feature a unique
interior design, sleek hull and distinctive profile, along with a
host of innovative facilities and features which will be revealed
over the next few months, according to the cruise line.
The deployment of the Carnival Dream to Port Canaveral continues the
line's 18-year relationship with the Canaveral Port Authority.
NCL F3 Is Out of the Box
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NCL revealed what it calls "the cruise industry's most
innovative living space at sea - New Wave Staterooms by NCL."
Designed for its next generation of Freestyle Cruising ships, F3, the
New Wave standard, New Wave balcony and New Wave deluxe staterooms
represent a giant leap forward in cruise ship accommodations with a
completely fresh take on bathroom design, contemporary curved
architecture and open living space. |
"We have thrown away the rule book with the design of F3 and
today are revealing the very first element with our New Wave
staterooms. Gone are the regimented typical designs and in place are
sleek staterooms that are totally outside the box, designed for the
needs of tomorrow's guests," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president
and CEO.
The New Wave staterooms most distinctive design element is its curved
walls and lines creating a modern and chic experience.
NCL said it has maximized the living space with a bathroom that is
completely unique with a separate shower stall, separate water closet
and a modern vanity top sink. The staterooms feature a sophisticated
earth-tone palette accented with a splash of color and rich, dark
wood. Concealed contour LED lighting and back-lit domed ceilings set
a relaxing vibe.
"Today's announcement is just the first chapter in a series of
innovations we will be revealing about our new F3 ships leading up to
their launch in 2010," Veitch said. "These ships will
further deconstruct the traditional cruise ship experience with
innovations in design, accommodations, luxury and entertainment to
create a cutting-edge resort vacation experience unlike any other at sea."
Oceania Increases Fuel Surcharge
In response to the continually escalating price of fuel, Oceania
Cruises is increasing its fuel surcharge to $10 per guest per day for
all new reservations effective May 1, 2008. The surcharge applies to
all currently published sailings. The fuel surcharge
applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and
does not apply to third or fourth guests.
New Entertainment on Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has introduced new entertainment on board
Norwegian Jade as part of the ship's yearround deployment in Europe.
The company said ithe wide variety of entertainment offerings were
designed to offer guests more flexibility during Norwegian Jade's
port-intensive itineraries
The new entertainment includes four new off-Broadway musicals, the
legendary show phenomenon Tony n' Tina's Wedding, an expanded The
Second City comedy show, and a classical dance production by
award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp.
In addition, Norwegian Jade is the first NCL ship to feature
Freestyle 2.0 enhancements, including all new menus in the
restaurants, upgraded bedding and enhanced on-board activities
programming, including NCL "U" enrichment classes, themed
parties, sports programming and enhanced youth programs.
Celebrity Opens Bookings for Longer Caribbean Sailings
For the first time in five years, Celebrity will offer a range of
Caribbean itineraries lasting a week or longer on five of its ships:
Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Mercury,
Celebrity Solstice, and Celebrity Summit. Together, the ships will
call at 26 different ports during sailings ranging from seven to 14
nights, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto
Rico. These bookings are now open.
Celebrity Cruises also recently announced its 2009-10 offerings of
four- and five-night cruises to the Caribbean.
Celebrity's 2009-10 seasonal Caribbean season will feature calls on
new ports, the deployment of two of the line's new Solstice class of
ships to the region, and the reintroduction of a 14-night itinerary length.
Disney Cruise Line Fuel Surcharge Decision
Due to continually rising fuel prices, Disney Cruise Line® is
implementing a fuel surcharge.
The surcharge is $8 per person, per day for the first two Guests in a
stateroom and $3 per day for all other Guests. It is effective for
new bookings only made on or after May 28, 2008. Additionally, the
surcharge will be capped at $112 each for the first and second Guests
in a stateroom and $42 each for all other Guests in the stateroom.
HAL Expands Exotic Port Offerings for 2009
Holland America Line has announced its 2009 global itineraries, which
include nearly 500 cruises and more than 320 ports of call, including
20 new ports.
A highlight of the 2009 plan will be the Oosterdam's move to South
America, increasing the line's South America capacity by 32%. The
increase in the line's capacity is allowing it to expand the
diversity of its cruises, including once again offering a series of
Panama Canal cruises.
"We are thrilled to be introducing a Vista ship with more
verandah staterooms in the growing South American market," said
Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales
and guest programs.
Other 2009 deployment highlights include:
More than 20 new ports of call including Cardiff, Wales;
Kristiansund, Norway; Vaasa, Finland; Kiel, Germany; Batumi, Georgia;
Maputo, Mozambique; Bonne Bay, Newfoundland; and Itajai, Brazil.
Eurodam's first full year of sailing, with itineraries in the
Caribbean, the Baltic and Canada/New England.
Full Panama Canal transit season in fall and winter aboard the
Statendam, on 14- to 28-day cruises between Ft. Lauderdale and San Diego.
Four distinctive Grand Voyages aboard the Rotterdam, Prinsendam and
Amsterdam, ranging from a 50-day Mediterranean and Black Sea voyage
to a 117-day circumnavigation of the world.
A total of 28 Mexico sailings, including seven-, nine- and 10-day Sea
of Cortez, 12-day in-depth Mexican Riviera itineraries and an
extensive 21-day Panamerica voyage to Mexico, the Panama Canal and
Costa Rica.
Next year will mark the 61st year in Alaska for Holland America. In
2009, the line will sail eight ships on Alaska cruises from Seattle
and Vancouver and include Tracy Arm to provide a glacier experience
on its Inside Passage cruises.
Carnival Salutes Military Personnel with Savings
Carnival Cruise Lines is honoring active and retired military
personnel with a special promotion - they can book up to three
staterooms for themselves and their friends and family at special
discounted rates.
The "Carnival Salutes Our Troops" promotion is available in
conjunction with a wide variety of three- to 12-day voyages to the
Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe, departing
between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2009, from 20 different departure points.
Reservations must be made May 1 to 31 to qualify for the promotion.
Rates are as follows: $219 per person for three-day cruises to the
Bahamas and Baja Mexico; $229 per person for four-day cruise to the
Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico; $279 per person for five-day cruises
to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Mexico; $479 per person for
seven-day cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska; and $829 per person
for 12-day cruises to Hawaii and Europe.
The promotion is valid for individual bookings only, capacity
controlled and not applicable with any other discount offer. Military
personnel must provide proof of service during the reservations
process to be eligible.
Celebrity Galaxy To Join TUI Fleet
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Galaxy will be the first ship of
TUI Cruises, the new brand designed for German-speaking clientele
that was established through a joint venture between Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd. and TUI AG.
Celebrity Galaxy will complete its scheduled sailings through its
March 2, 2009, itinerary, then join TUI Cruises in May under a new
name and sail the summer in the Baltic, Caribbean in the winter.
The 1,870-passenger Celebrity Galaxy joined Celebrity Cruises' fleet
in December 1996, and this month was fitted with $4-million worth of
renovations including new carpeting, upholstery and lighting.
Norwegian cruise line charged over 2003 blast
MIAMI (AP) — Norwegian Cruise Line has been charged with grossly
negligent operation of a vessel for a 2003 ship explosion in Miami,
according to court documents filed Friday.
Eight sailors died and several others were injured after a boiler
exploded on the 1,035-foot ship Norway in May 2003. The explosion
sent debris and a blast of steam through parts of the 43-year-old
ship after it docked at the Port of Miami-Dade.
"Charges such as those today are necessary to show that
companies operating and managing ships have a duty to take reasonable
measures to assure the safety of all onboard — passengers and
crew, and that they will be held accountable if they fail to meet
that obligation," U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said in a
statement. It was not clear why authorities waited
five years to file the charge.
RCI’s Independence is named in Southampton
Highland pipers and drummers, Celtic dancers, Olympian Sir Steve
Redgrave and a godmother from Derbyshire gave a strong British accent
to the naming festivities for Independence of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship was christened on a
drizzly afternoon in Southampton, its homeport for the coming months.
Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean chairman and ceo, called Independence
of the Seas ‘the largest, most innovative cruise ship ever to
sail from these shores.’
More than 10,000 travel agents, media, contest winners and repeat
customers have sampled Royal Caribbean International’s
Independence of the Seas during preview activities in Oslo and Southampton.
‘We’ve really maximized the opportunity,’ said Susan
Hooper, the company’s svp and md for Europe, Middle East and
Africa. This preview wasn’t just for the trade but also had a
strong consumer element with various newspaper and radio contests
bringing people on board.
Boston’s bigger NCL ship arrives
NCL Corp.’s Norwegian Dream is due to arrive this morning in
Boston, its homeport for the 2008 season.
Norwegian Dream is replacing NCL’s smaller Norwegian Majesty,
which homeported in Boston for 13 seasons.
The new ship’s inaugural sailings from Massport begin on May 9
with a two-day roundtrip weekend get-away cruise. Weekly sailings to
Bermuda will then operate through Aug. 24, and again from late
September to late October. In the late August-September interval,
Norwegian Dream will sail seven-day New England/Canada
cruises. Boston expects a total of 280,000
passengers in 2008.
Princess pair to add new amenities
Star Princess and Caribbean Princess will be remodeled to incorporate
a number of amenities available on the line’s newer ships.
The make-overs will include a transformation of the Deck 5 atrium
into the piazza-style street café found on Crown Princess and
Emerald Princess, complete with an International Cafe and Vines, for
wine tastings and gourmet snacks.
The ships will also gain an adults-only deck area, The Sanctuary, and
a Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, along with a more
centrally located casino and seven new suites.
In addition to the casino, the sports court, Internet Café and
wedding chapel are among the spaces that will be relocated in the
renovation process.
Star Princess will receive the new features during its September
drydock in San Francisco and Caribbean Princess will follow in January.
New Infant and Pregnancy Policies for Royal Caribbean
Effective immediately there will be a new policy in effect for people
traveling with infants and woman who are pregnant for all Royal
Caribbean International®, Celebrity® and Azamara sailings.
Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the
first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for Transatlantic,
Transpacific, Hawaii, select South American cruises/cruisetours and
other selected cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day
of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old.
Also, Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises® and Royal Caribbean
International® cannot accept guests who will have entered their
24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during,
the cruise or cruisetour.
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