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Former
R8 Joins Princess as Royal Princess
Princess
Cruises announced today they have bought another former
Renaissance ship, R8 (sailing today as the Minerva II for Swan
Hellenic), and will rename her Royal Princess. The 680-
passenger, 30,000-ton ship will join her sister ships Tahitian
Princess and Pacific Princess (also former Renaissance vessels) as
part of a sub-fleet of smaller passenger ships sailing exotic
itineraries for Princess.
Royal
Princess begins her career April, 2007, sailing 12-day
Mediterranean, Holy Land, and Black Sea cruises. But first she must
undergo a two-week drydock to get her ready for what Princess calls a
"boutique" version of Personal Choice Cruising, with
24-hour Lido café and alternative dining venues. Like her
sister ships, Royal already has a huge percentage of cabins with
balconies--over 70%.
Princess'
expansion into the smaller ship market may further blur the
distinction between premium and luxury ships. Already, distinctions
between the onboard experiences have blurred because of premium
upgrades bedding, service, and dining. And Princess says the new ship
will focus on exotic itineraries, another niche treasured by the
luxury lines.
Carlson
Cos. renames line Regent Seven Seas Cruises
NEW
YORK -- Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Carlson Cos. chairman and CEO, made
it official March 7: She waved a wand (literally) and named the
firm’s cruise business Regent Seven Seas Cruises, leaving
behind the previous name, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, which had
served the operation from its founding in 1992.
Carlson,
she said, was merging its two upscale businesses -- the cruise
operation and Regent International Hotels -- under a common brand and
choosing for both the name most suggestive of luxury.
Cruising
on the tube!
This week the Travel
Channel
has three programs about cruising. Tonight is "Cruise
Ship FAQ"
at 10PM EST. Thursday is going to be "Cruising
The Star Princess"
at 6PM EST, and then "Disney
Cruise Line"
at 7PM EST. You might want to check http://travel.discovery.com/
to be sure of the times in your area.
Curaçao
sees renewed interest in S. Caribbean
Curaçao
projects 300,000 passengers this year, up from 275,000 in 2005. After
declining passenger volumes in 2003 and 2004, business is turning
around as the island sees renewed interest in Southern Caribbean
itineraries. The Curaçao Ports Authority projects 350,000
passengers in 2007.
As new and
bigger ships enter the market, port officials jointly with the
island’s tourism organizations are focused on filling the
weekends and the empty summer months.
If cruise
volumes exceed 450,000 passengers per year, Curaçao will
invest in a second megaship terminal. Port officials expect this
target will be reached in the next three to five years, and planning
is already underway. |
