The Traveler's Journal  
Press Releases - The Traveler's Journal

Informative Press Releases for Travel

Press Release information you can use!

 

The following information is provided by the travel supplier or its public relations representative. The Traveler's Journal can accept no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any material in this section.

NEW SHIPS, MAIDEN PORT CALLS AND UNIQUE ITINERARIES HERALD A RECORD YEAR FOR CRUISES IN EUROPE

02-20-2008



CLIA Member Lines Expanding Presence to Satisfy Consumers' Growing
Interest in Exploring Europe in Style and Comfort

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (February 19, 2008) - If Europe was popular last
year - and it definitely was among the hottest cruise destinations in
the world - 2008 promises to be even more sizzling. Members of Cruise
Lines International Association (CLIA) are committing a record number of
ships - including some of the world's newest and biggest - to homeports
in Europe and the Mediterranean in order to satisfy the tremendous
interest on the part of North American and European travelers in
exploring western civilization's greatest cities and treasured landmarks
in style and comfort.

For Americans, cruising in Europe will be an even bigger value this year
thanks to the current exchange rate that makes European cruise vacations
purchased in dollars the most relaxing and cost-effective way to explore
Europe.

"As the cruise industry continues its global expansion, nowhere are
seagoing vacations growing at a faster rate than in Europe," said Terry
L. Dale, CLIA's president and CEO. "Travelers are discovering that a
cruise vacation is the most convenient, comfortable and enjoyable way to
explore new places, including some of the most famous cities and
landmarks in the world. They are choosing voyages that encompass the
entire continent of Europe, from Turkey and the Greek Isles to Iberia to
western Europe to Scandinavia and the Baltic."

To accommodate the demand, cruise lines have increased capacity in
Europe. Several CLIA members expanded their European fleets
substantially and will do so again in 2008, in some cases positioning
ships in Europe for year-round cruises. Particularly popular in 2007
were cruises in the eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic and that trend is
continuing this year, with a wealth of unique cruise ports in Slovenia,
Croatia and Albania.

Here is a sampling of what's on the horizon for CLIA member lines
operating in Europe in 2008:

AZAMARA CRUISES
Among CLIA cruise lines, Azamara is the newest kid on the water in
Europe this year. Founded in 2007, the company offers high-end,
destination-driven voyages, with Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest in
Europe this Spring and Summer. Offering open-jaw itineraries between
major cities as well as roundtrip cruises, the ship will roam from the
western Mediterranean to the Adriatic, throughout western Europe, pay
visits to Morocco and offer a handful of 12-night Scandinavia and Russia
trips. Two voyages encompass Egypt and Israel as well as the
Mediterranean.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Carnival inaugurates its first-ever northern Europe cruise season with
the 2008 debut of Carnival Splendor. Featuring a 21,000 square-foot
Cloud 9 luxury Spa, the 3,006-passenger ship will sail roundtrip from
London to Copenhagen, Warnemunde (Germany), Helsinki, St. Peterburg,
Tallin and Amsterdam between mid-July and the end of August. Earlier in
the summer she will cruise the Mediterranean and Greek Isles.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity brings four ships to Europe again this year, offering
Scandinavia and Russia, Norwegian fjords, western Mediterranean, north
Africa, and eastern Mediterranean itineraries. Returning to shipboard
life will be "Passaporto di Europa," an onboard activities/entertainment
program featuring the cultures of Europe. Examples include a French wine
and cheese fair, a "taste of Spain," "Dining under the Santorini Stars,"
and "Carnevale di Venezia." Itineraries also feature five new ports for
Celebrity: Harwich, Cherbourg, Gijon (Spain), Brest and Split.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
In addition to offering its first world cruise, which includes European
ports, Crystal has expanded its North Cape cruises to the Polar Ice Cap
and offers a choice of 15 Mediterranean itineraries, including voyages
through the Black Sea, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East. The line also
features a series of "port-intensive" Med cruises and summer British
Isles cruises featuring overnights in Dublin and Edinburgh. Perched on
the far reaches of Europe, Greenland and Iceland are featured in
Crystal's fall transatlantic crossing.

COSTA CRUISES
Costa will offer 53 itineraries to 112 ports on year-round departures
this year in the Mediterranean and northern Europe. In addition, Costa,
which represents one of the youngest and largest fleets in Europe, will
feature two of the newest and largest ships in Italian history. Costa
Concordia and Costa Serena both offer the largest spas at sea, complete
with spa accommodations, and the largest enclosable pool deck on a
cruise ship, thus making them ideal for year-round European cruises.

CUNARD LINE
Queen Victoria's inaugural season offers a wide variety of maiden call
voyages throughout Europe and the Mediterranean including the 12-day
Jewel of the Mediterranean voyage, departing Southampton on August 1,
the August 25 Jewel of the Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona and the
12-day Connoisseur's Mediterranean voyage departing November 29 from
Rome with prices starting at $2,295.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Offering its most expansive and most innovative European season ever,
Holland America will position six ships, including the brand new ms
Eurodam, in the region. They will sail on 57 unique itineraries from
March through November in northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, the
Mediterranean, Greek Isles and western Europe. Nine maiden port calls
will be featured including three in Sweden (Lulea, Hudiksvall and
Karlskrona); Aalborg, Denmark; Newcastle upon Tyne and Barrow in Furness
in England; Santander, Spain; Portimao, Portugal; and Split, Croatia.

HURTIGRUTEN
In 2008, Hurtigruten's year-round Norwegian Coastal Voyage will again
feature a variety of theme cruises, including "Bridge Players,"
"Watercolors and Art," "Harmony at Sea" and "Winter Digital
Photography." The Coastal Voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes, above the
Arctic Circle, calls at 34 ports and are available in 12-day roundtrips,
seven-day northbound and six-day southbound voyages.  MS Lofoten joins
MS Polar Star and MS Nordstjernan offering a new 16-day air-inclusive
"Spitsbergen Ultimate Voyage" from Bergen to the North Cape to the
Arctic's Spitsbergen Islands. And, MS Fram offers a second season of
air-inclusive sailings in Greenland, with PolarCirkel boat landings from
May through September. 

MSC CRUISES
April 2008 marks the arrival of MSC's highly anticipated MSC Poesia, the
third sister ship of the line's "Musica" class of new ships.  The
2,550-passenger vessel will be joined by the company's 3,300-passenger
MSC Fantasia in December. The company is also offering special air/sea
packages from North America for seven-night European itineraries on all
seven of its ships operating in Europe, featuring  the Eastern
Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Western Mediterranean, Russia & The Baltic
and Scandinavian fjords.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Highlighting NCL's European season is the arrival of two new ships to
the region: Norwegian Gem will sail on seven-day western Mediterranean
itineraries from Barcelona from May through November. Norwegian Jade
will offer 14-day Mediterranean voyages, 12-day North Cape itineraries
and a Spain, North Africa, Canary Islands trip between March and
November. With the expanded schedule, new ports are also featured,
including in Norway, Northern Ireland, Italy, Spain, Scotland and
Belgium.

OCEANIA CRUISES
With destination-rich voyages a top priority, Oceania has added several
new ports this year in its 42 different Mediterranean and Greek Isles
itineraries. Among the new ports are Pula, Croatia and Alghero, Italy
and the line also features a new 14-day Barcelona to Istanbul trip that
includes Egypt and Israel as well as Greece, Turkey and Italy. With a
range of itineraries that traverse of virtually all of Europe, from
Russia to the Greek Isles and Black Sea, sailings range from 10 to 16
days.

PRINCESS CRUISES
"More than ever before" is the theme for Princess Cruises' European
season. Six ships will call on 115 ports, including five new ones, on 32
unique itineraries. Two ships - Crown Princess and Pacific Princess -
make their European debuts, and Princess will offer five new
itineraries, including a "Classical Europe" option that combines the
best of Scandinavia and Russia with the Mediterranean in a single voyage
featuring the 710-passenger Royal Princess. New ports include Sarande,
Albania; Dartmouth, England; and Scrabster, in Scotland.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Seven Seas' newest offerings in Europe include several maiden port calls
in the Adriatic, including Kotor, Montenegro (on Seven Seas Navigator's
Venice to Istanbul itinerary departing May 24), Koper, Slovenia (Seven
Seas Voyager's Piraeus to Venice voyage departing May 26), and Hvar,
Croatia (Seven Seas Navigator's voyage from Venice to Piraeus, July 26).
The company is also featuring a series of "air inclusive" cruise
packages, with Economy Class or Business Class air included depending on
category of accommodations chosen. 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
Debuting in April, Independence of the Seas, the third of Royal
Caribbean's new Freedom Class ships, will be deployed in Southampton in
the United Kingdom where she will be the largest ship ever to be
home-ported in Europe. In all, the line will have a record seven ships
sailing European itineraries that encompass 63 ports. Home ports for
Royal Caribbean will include Barcelona (Voyager of the Seas, Brilliance
of the Seas), Rome (Legend of the Seas), Venice (Splendour of the Seas),
Southampton (Independence of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas) and
Harwich (Jewel of the Seas).

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE
Seabourn is introducing two new "Grand Harbors of Europe" cruises mixing
marquee ports with less-known "Seabourn Secrets" along the western coast
of Europe. Departing from Lisbon on May 12 and Dover on September 18,
the 14-day cruise features overnight stays in such ports as Amsterdam,
Antwerp and Dublin as well as intriguing ports like Pembroke, Wales;
Belfast, St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly and Liverpool. Two-for-one
international business class airfares add value to available savings to
35%.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
Operating two of the smallest ships in the CLIA fleet (100 passengers),
SeaDream will spend 176 days in Europe in 2008, with SeaDream I and II
sailing the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Aegean (including Croatia),
and even to North Africa (Tunisia). Embarkation and debarkation ports
include Barc
[Back to Press Releases Main]