Choosing A Cruise Line - Are They Really "That" Different?

This appeared on the americanchronicle.com and compares the different cruise lines, including the wonderful Cunard!

"Roy Witman
April 28, 2007
Casinos. Formal dining rooms. Day spas and fitness centers. All cruise lines offer the same things, right? That may have been true decades ago, but no longer! Today, there is a great deal of variety in the cruise lines with regard to onboard activities, amenities, destinations and more. Since "how do I choose a cruise line" is probably the most frequently asked question I get, allow me to give you a quick overview of the most popular cruise lines and what each offers. You'll want to bookmark this article so you can find it quickly in the future when you're ready to book your next cruise.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Known as the Fun Ships®, Carnival made a bold move years ago by breaking the stereotype of cruise vacations. Carnival opened the door to Ordinary Joe to experience vacations at sea just as the rich and famous did. Thanks to Carnival, everybody can take a cruise at an affordable rate. These are fun, basic cruises that offer comfortable accommodations and all the amenities you would expect. Casinos, Broadway-style shows, spa treatments and fitness centers are all onboard, as well as extensive kids activities. With destinations to the most popular locations including the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Bahamas, Carnival offers quickie three- and four-day cruises as well as lengthy 16-day tours.

Norwegian Cruise Line

With several new ships launched over the last few years, Norwegian has a relatively new fleet. Known for "Freestyle Cruising," NCL gives you the freedom to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. Traveling to the four corners of the world, NCL offers an extensive lineup of destinations in addition to the typical ones listed above. Book passage to Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Madrid, Amsterdam, Athens, or Paris, as well as numerous cities in Egypt, Norway and Belgium. Exclusive Courtyard Villas with exceptional amenities make accommodating large groups or families a breeze. The large array of kid’s activities means the children will also have a great time!

Royal Caribbean Cruises

The slogan "Get Out There!" should tell you something about Royal Caribbean. These fast-paced ships are new, innovative and large! With many firsts at sea, Royal Caribbean has the newest fleet at sea loaded with unusual things to do including a rock wall, FlowRider® onboard surfing machine, ice skating rink, boxing ring and bowling alley. All this in addition to the expected casinos, spas, fitness centers and restaurants. Extremely kid-friendly, Royal delivers a diverse selection of baby, toddler, child, pre-teen and teen activities. Sailing to the four corners of the world, Royal can take you to six of the seven continents for some amazing adventures.

Princess Cruises

The original "Love Boat," Princess Cruises has been a recognized leader in the industry since the early 70's when the television series put them in front of the public eye. Today, Princess continues to offer casual yet refined cruises to typical destinations as well as Asia, Australia, South America and Europe. With art auctions and ScholarShip® programs there's plenty to do onboard, including taking lessons in painting and digital photography plus listening to guest lecturers and more. Multiple youth and teen activities mean every member of the family can have a great time while vacationing on these smaller, but well-appointed ships.

Celebrity Cruises

More sophisticated and a little slower paced than the others, Celebrity's hallmark is exceptional service. With an eye toward anticipating the passenger's need and delivering before you even ask, Celebrity delivers award-winning service with every cruise. While they do offer a good selection of activities for children through teens, Celebrity offers more to adults. Enrichment programs and art auctions are included along with the typical casinos, shows and dining options. Offering signature destinations rarely found elsewhere, Celebrity can show you wonders of the world including the Galapagos Islands, Panama Canal and more around the globe.

Holland America Line

Signature white-glove service and premium accommodations set Holland America apart. With high levels of staffing, Holland sails with about one crewmember for every two guests, ensuring you get everything you want. A Culinary Arts Center offers hands-on as well as demonstration cooking lessons in a theater setting equipped with plasma TVs. Extensive programs for children and youth make this luxurious line family-friendly as well. Sailing to six of the seven continents, Holland calls on ports in lesser know, but fascinating destinations. Iceland, Norway, Greenland and Denmark as well as the ever-popular Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico can be visited when sailing with Holland.

Windstar Cruise Line

Intimate. Peaceful. Personal. Not massive ocean liners: Windstar offers cruises onboard motor-sail yachts with sails furling! Small ships accommodating just over 300 passengers offer a truly unique way to see the most popular destinations in the world including the Caribbean, Europe and the Greek Isles. Take part in water sports right off the back of the ship! Relish in the gourmet meals and enjoy the pampering of well-appointed cabins. Geared specifically to adults, no children's activities are offered. Two of the three ships have casinos; all have a delightfully different way to enjoy a cruise.

Cunard

The best of the best. Cunard says, "Excellence is to be expected" and they mean it! With three of the most recognized ships in the world, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Victoria, Cunard offers five-star service and accommodations at every turn. Regal in every detail, these world-famous ships frequently play host to royalty, heads of state, the wealthy and celebrities. Reminiscent of grand ocean liners of past eras, Cunard is home to Canyon Ranch Spa, offers cultural enrichment programs and also an onboard planetarium. Partake in authentic English afternoon tea, stroll the deck, try your luck at the casino or drop the children off in The Zone while you relax on deck. Sailing to the four corners of the world, Cunard can take you anywhere you want to go.

Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, use the guide above to direct you to the right cruise line for you at the right price. You'll quickly be able to decide the best vacation for you and your family with just a glance.

Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com offering the best deals on

cruises from New York.

$41M Bid Made on Queen Mary Lease

More news about the ongoing saga of the "Queen Mary" in Long Beach.

This latest from abclocal..

"A Santa Monica-based development team was reported today to have bid $41 million to purchase the lease to the Queen Mary and its surrounding property -- a strong start to what could become a bidding war as early as this summer.

O&S Holdings has signed a non-contingency purchase agreement with Howard Ehrenberg, the bankruptcy trustee for Queen's Seaport Development Inc., which holds the lease to the city-owned ship, the Press-Telegram reported.

QSDI declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2005 and has been searching for a developer to take over the lease. O&S Holdings owns 80 properties across the country and specializes in retail, dining and entertainment centers.

Ehrenberg told the Press-Telegram that O&S Holdings is considering a hotel and marina for the Queen Mary site. As for the ship, he said he believed the company planned to refurbish it but make few other changes.

O&S Holdings' $41-million bid, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the ship's 1967 arrival in the Long Beach harbor, was accompanied a $1.2- million, non-refundable deposit as a show of good faith, according to the newspaper.

The company is now considered a "stalking-horse" bidder for QSDI, which means an auction-style sale in bankruptcy court will invite other qualified developers to overbid the offer by at least $2.5 million, the Press-Telegram reported."

How can you check the sea-worthiness of your cruise ship?

This was in the belfasttelegraph.co.uk:

"Mark MacKenzie reports

The sinking earlier this month of the cruise liner Sea Diamond offers a timely reminder that holidays at sea are not without risk.

The ship, operated by the Greece-based Louis Hellenic Cruise Line, sank on Good Friday off the island of Santorini, after it ran aground on rocks. The 1,156 passengers, on a four-day tour of the Aegean, included Americans, Australians, Britons and Canadians. All but two were rescued. The two who are missing, from France, are believed to have drowned.

The cruise industry remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel market, attracting around 12 million passengers a year worldwide. In part, this is due to the increased capacity of modern vessels. The Titanic, on its ill-fated maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, carried around 3,000 passengers. The largest liner currently in service, Freedom of the Seas, which is owned by the Royal Caribbean line, has a capacity for around 4,500 people. In 2009, the same company is due to take delivery of an even larger vessel, Genesis, a ship able to transport between 5,500 and 6,500 passengers, depending on which predicted estimates you believe.

As liners get ever bigger, so the global network of routes and destinations available to holidaymakers increases with them. As a measure of how far the industry has come, in February this year the port of Auckland in New Zealand, once considered too far away to be profitable for European-based liners, received nine major ships in the course of a month, including both the QE2 and Queen Mary 2. Disembarking the equivalent of 19 jumbo jets, the visits smashed all records for the southern hemisphere port.

The cruise industry is worth billions of pounds and, as a result, companies are continually seeking to reassure consumers that incidents such as that off the Greek coast are rare. But recent research suggests they might not be as infrequent as the industry likes to think. According to research undertaken by the University of Newfoundland in Canada, since 1980 21 passenger ships have sunk around the world, a figure made up of cruise liners and the vessels of ferry operators. To put it another way, that's roughly one a year. In the same period, a further 76 passenger ships ran aground and, in many cases, structural or equipment deficiencies have been to blame.

So how can you be sure your liner is safe? According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the body responsible for regulating the UK's liner industry, the first thing to check is the age of your ship. "There is no tipping point in terms of what makes a safe or unsafe ship," explains Prasad Panicker, of the MCA's vessel survey branch. "However, if it's more than 25 years old, you need to check its safety record.

"While your tour operator should be able to provide you with details, a more independent method is to research the safety history of the nationality or 'flag' the ship sails under," explains Mr Panicker. In 1982, an agreement known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the state organisations of 25 maritime nations, including all European coastal states and those of the North Atlantic basin. As a result, port authorities in member states have the power to detain a vessel, regardless of origin, a measure designed to remove sub-standard ships from service. The organisation born out of the accord, Paris MOU, is today responsible for more than 20,000 inspections around the world annually, covering everything from a ship's external structure to its propellor shafts and fire precautions, and the organisation lists all its findings on a website, parismou.org.

"Based on the record of its commercial fleet," says Mr Panicker, " each nation is rated using a flag system. White flags are awarded to those with the best safety records, such as Britain and the US, and black to nations whose vessels are regularly detained." Among frequent culprits are the flags of several eastern Europe states and the Philippines. " There are no rogue flags as such," he says, "but it's fair to say some countries take a more robust approach to vessel safety than others."

This Internet rumor could sink a ship (The QE2)

This fun article with some (useless) facts about the QE2 appeared on the charlotte.com site:

"This Internet rumor could sink a ship

Q. How can it be claimed that the QE 2 ocean liner uses a gallon of fuel for each six inches it travels across the Atlantic? It would need a fuel tank larger than the 1,000-foot ship. This is one of those dumb "facts" I repeatedly see on the Internet. -- Richard Pasky, Elyria, Ohio
One gallon of fuel will move the QE 2 ocean liner about 49 feet in open seas, according to Cunard cruise line.

There's your quickie answer. If that's all you want, you may begin clipping Best Buy coupons now. Or paging through TV Week to check the time for "Desperate Housewives Dancing With CSI -- Home Makeover Edition."

I'm gonna talk about all kinds of other stuff.

The best thing about the Internet is, we can all disseminate information far and wide with just a few clickity keystrokes. The worst thing about the Internet is, we can all disseminate information far and wide with just a few clickity keystrokes.

I love Google. I really doogle. But you gotta be careful about the source of information you dig up -- as I have learned the hard way. Fortunately, I can go beyond Web research, and get the attention of pretty much any expert by saying four magic words:
"I'm a syndicated columnist."

They think: "He makes big money! He can write good! He has hair!"
Which proves that even top experts can be terribly wrong.

Chris Hodek, PR coordinator of the Cunard Line, says his company has never said this apparently widespread six-inch fuel thing about its QE 2 ocean liner.

The fuel needed to sail the ship for one day would fill six 29-by-19-foot swimming pools. (The ship has two like this but they don't keep fuel in them.)

The ship's fuel tank holds about 1 million gallons. The ship can cruise about 7,500 miles on each fill-up.

Built from 1965-69, the QE 2 originally cost about $70 million. Cunard has spent more than $675 million to keep it shipshape.

Who christened the ship before its maiden voyage in May 1969? Why, her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, of course. (As played by Helen Mirren.)

It can hold nearly 3,000 people -- 921 personnel and a maximum of 2,008 passengers.
When I go on my transatlantic cruise on the QE 2, I plan to stay in a split-level grand suite -- with living room, dining room, bedroom, marble bathroom, two private verandas (verandum?), a glass-enclosed conservatory and a butler (boatler?).

Price for the grand suite on the QE 2's transatlantic crossing April 12-18, 2008?
GET READY FOR THE COLUMN'S MOST EYE-POPPIN' NUMBER OF ALL:
$21,299.
Umm. Take a check?

Today's fascinating fact
GOT A QUESTION? E-mail Jeff Elder at glad@charlotteobserver.com

Cruise ships galore echo golden era

The article below appeared on the shippingtimes.co.uk about the visit bu the "liberty of the seas" to Southampton (Currently the largest crusie ship at sea. It refers a lot to current and past Cunard ships.

"Southampton enjoys busy week and a feast of passenger ships - by G.Russell and B.Biddulph

It's like a return to the golden age of passenger shipping in Southampton these days. We thought that perhaps a rough ship-spotters' guide to the vessels arriving in the port this busy week may be of interest to readers.

Today (Sunday 22nd April) saw the arrival of the LIBERTY OF THE SEAS at the UK's premier cruise ship port, one of the the world's largest cruise ships. At 1112 feet long she is not as long as the QUEEN MARY 2 but at 154407 grt she beats the Cunarder's tonnage of 151400 grt.

Also in port today are the AURORA, OCEANA and the OCEAN VILLAGE TWO and with further arrivals expected over the course of this week, the very names in some cases, if not the sheer size and number of vessels calls to mind the glory days of passenger liner shipping.

P&O Cruises, owned by Carnival, operate the AURORA and OCEANA. The former was built for P&O in 2000 and is more or less a modern take on the P&O white hulled and buff-funnelled ships of old. OCEANA however, is rather a different vessel, having been the OCEAN PRINCESS and sporting what many consider to be a rather hideous arrangement (there is no word to describe it!) instead of a conventional funnel.

On that tack, detractors of modern cruise ships complain about the less than classic lines of some of the vessels today, but the same grumbles were made in the early days of the 'classic' liners when bowsprits, counter sterns and teak cabins were jettisoned for clean lines, cruiser sterns and steel deckhouses.

Where the modern vessels beat their predecessors is in their proportions. Nowadays a cruise ship is considered 'small' if it is the size of the QE2!

The feast of passenger vessels continues tomorrow, 23rd of April with the arrivals of the ARTEMIS and the ARCADIA. The ARCADIA is a bit of a novelty, for shipping buffs at any rate, as she has the distinction of being a P&O vessel that was once a Cunarder! She was originally ordered from the famous Italian shipbuilders Fincentieri as a vessel for the Holland America line, but then Carnival decided she would become the QUEEN VICTORIA. Indeed publicity photos of her were issued showing her in Cunard livery, but another change of thinking saw her emerge in April 2005 as the ARCADIA for P&O Cruises. At 83,000 tons she is the largest in the P&O fleet.

The ARTEMIS too was a transfer, prior to 2005 she was the ROYAL PRINCESS.

As for OCEAN VILLAGE TWO she was also a former Princess. She debuted as CROWN PRINCESS in 1990, became the A'ROSA BLUE in 2002 and then the AIDAblu in 2003. On the 24th she will be at the centre of attention when she will be officially christened by the celebrity sisters Jodie and Jemma Kidd who have been invited to become the vessel's joint Godmothers.

Also on Tuesday 24th ship-spotters along the Solent will catch two vessels with the ultimate in classic pedigrees, name-wise and in looks. They'll need to be up early if they want to see them dock though, as at 05:30 the QUEEN MARY 2, the world's longest passenger liner, will dock in Southampton, followed at 06:30 by P&O's ORIANA.

The Cunarder is of course well known to nearly anyone with a passing interest in shipping, but little is heard of the ORIANA. She made her maiden voyage on the 9th of April in 1995. Like her fleet sister AURORA she carries with her an air of the old P&O vessels, and is topped by a gigantic buff funnel aft

Wednesday 25th April sees the arrival of one of your author's favourites, the 90,228 grt CONSTELLATION. Like QUEEN MARY 2 she was also a product of the French shipbuilders, Chantiers de l'Atlantique in St Nazaire and was delivered in 2002.

She arrives at 6am and an hour later the SAGA RUBY enters dock. This is a vessel that will get the old enthusiasts drooling, for although she is tiny by modern standards (at only 24,492 grt), she stands out as one of the most beautiful classics of the late 20th Century. Built by Swan Hunter (at the Wallsend yard that has finally, and very sadly, gone out of existence this year) in 1973 she was the VISTAFJORD for Norwegian America Line. In 1983 she transferred to Cunard and retained her name until 1999 when she re-emerged as the CARONIA. She became the SAGA RUBY in 2005.

Thursday looks set to be a great day too, with the return of the LIBERTY OF THE SEAS and also the SAGA RUBY's fleet sister SAGA ROSE comes in at the same time as the gigantic cruise ship, 7am. SAGA ROSE shares the same history as her sister SAGA RUBY, except in that she is a little older being built in 1965 by Soc. des Forges de la Méditerranée. A quirk of history here is that her builders no longer exist - her build cost the shipyard so much money she put them out of existence! She joined Cunard along with her sister in 1983 but she left their employ a good deal earlier than SAGA RUBY, being for a brief time chartered to Transocean as GRIPSHOLM and then in 1997 going to Saga and getting her new name.

And then at 11am will dock the NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS, the 138,000 ton fleet sister of LIBERTY will share the same port and no doubt their sirens will blare across the whole of Hampshire! She made her maiden voyage on 14th December 2002. She will depart Southampton for a short two day cruise to France before returning on Saturday.

Friday sees the BOUDICCA, operated by Fred Olsen. She has had a long and varied career and started off as the ROYAL VIKING SKY in 1973 built by Wartsila, Finland. In 1980 she had an additional 93 feet added to her length in a rebuild carried out by A.G Weser. In 1991 she went to NCL as the SUNWARD, in 1992 to Birka Line as the BIRKA QUEEN and in 1993 to 1996 she was with Princess Cruises as the GOLDEN PRINCESS. After that she went to Star Cruises as SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN. In 2004 yet another change of ownership this time operated by Iberojet as the GRAND LATINO. Fred Olsen purchased her finally in 2006.

All in all Southampton will be the place to be for seeing the world's greatest ships this week and if you have any photos you'd like to share with your fellow readers of Shipping Times, we'd be very pleased to hear from you.

Incidentally, if you are not an early bird, have no fears, all of the vessels with the exception of the LIBERTY OF THE SEAS on the 26th, are slated to leave port at 5pm."

Rover's travel plans unleashed

This article appeared on trhehurricaneonline.com and talks about travel with pets, and the luxury that they get on the QM2!

"With summer quickly approaching, and being in a day and age when most everyone is jet-setting around the world to exotic places, it is becoming easy for pets to become just as fast-paced and jet-setting as their owners. From simply flying in the belly of the plane as checked luggage, to the extravagance of exercising on the deck of Cunard's QE2 cruise ship and sleeping in plush beds, pets are no longer limited to just being boarded in a kennel while the owner travels the world.

Prior to travelIf you are considering traveling with your pet this summer, it is important to know the many preparations that must be taken prior to traveling. These rules and requirements are mainly for pets traveling by plane, but can be applied in other traveling excursions.When traveling with a pet in the U.S. or to a foreign country, most airlines require your pet to have a health certificate. The certificate must be obtained by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of the departure date.

Other paperwork requirements include a rabies vaccination certificate."People just need to remember that when traveling with pets that each pet's personality dictates how they will travel," Dr. Michael Mordaunt, a veterinarian at Town and Country Animal Hospital in West Kendall said. "Just because we want our pets to travel with us doesn't mean that a change in routine will be what's best for them. Everyone should think carefully about taking their pet on a trip, especially if they are taking their pet out of the country." According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, most dogs and cats should never be sedated before flying as it could be hazardous to their health, and muzzles should not be used during travel.Also make sure to bring identification tags for your pet and check that the information on your pet's microchip or tattoo is correct before traveling.

Pets and planesWhen traveling by plane, your pet can either fly in the cabin if they weigh less than 20 pounds, or can fly in the belly of the plane as checked luggage. Only one pet per passenger is allowed in the cabin and counts as one piece of carry-on luggage.Most airlines will accommodate dogs and cats for travel and Delta Airlines also allows for ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs to travel as carry-on items in cabin.Sylvia Lopez, a Delta representative, explained that "we have more and more requests for travel. For those with smaller pets, travel can be very easy and you can see the smiles on people's faces as they board with their pets.

"Each airline also limits the number of pets per flight, so make sure to check with your airline in advance to reserve a spot for your pet. There are also fees for pets either checked as luggage, or traveling in the cabin. This fee varies by airline, but normally ranges from $80 to $200 round-trip.

Pets on board
Currently, the only cruise line that accepts pets onboard is Cunard's QE2, which will keep your furry friend pampered in a kennel located mid-ship on the sun deck. The shielded open deck area is fitted with a fire hydrant and a lamppost and is available for your pet's exercise needs. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in the rooms, but there are visiting hours when you and your pet can have some together-time. Jay Tragberg, a Cunard representative, explained that, "our Kennel program allows our guests to take their pets with them across the ocean and provides their dogs and cats with the same pampering as they receive.""Traveling with pets has absolutely become much easier," said Lopez. The possibilities are truly endless."Lauren Marshall can be contacted at l.marshall1@umiami.edu.

City sets course for cruise bonanza

The article below appeared in the Southampton UK Daily Echo about the coming summer and how busy this port that is home for Cunard and also the P&O cruise line (both of which are owned by Carnival). It talks about how busy the port is going to be at some points when the Cunard ships are in port..

"IT'S going to be a firework feast, super sailing, cruise calling, passenger packed, Southampton saluting record breaker!

Thousands of sightseers are expected to crowd the shoreline of Southampton Water as some of the newest, largest and most famous vessels in the world gather on the city's waterfront in a spectacular, week long cavalcade of shipping.

Never before in the city's long history as a port, has the waterfront been as busy as it will be when the docks becomes the showcase for an unprecedented number of cruise ships next week.
Among the ships that will tower high over dockland will be the brand new Liberty of the Seas, the latest addition to Royal Caribbean International's rapidly expanding fleet, Navigator of the Seas, which is about to start a summer long season in Southampton and Ocean Village Two, with its distinctive pink and orange livery, which will set sail on her maiden voyage from the port.
Together with calls made by Southampton regulars such as Queen Mary 2, Oceana, Aurora, Arcadia, Artemis, Saga Ruby, Boudicca and Sea Princess it all adds up to the busiest passenger ship period ever seen in Southampton.

For many the highspot of the week will be on Thursday, April 26 when, at about 10am, Liberty of the Seas sails past the equally impressive, Navigator of the Seas and the two huge vessels boom out a salute that will echo across the city. Later that day, at 5pm, Navigator of the Seas leaves for a two-night mini-cruise to France and back.

The amount of tonnage and passenger numbers during Southampton's so called "Golden Era'' of ocean travel, more than half a century ago, pales into insignificance when compared to present day statistics.

For example the gross tonnage of the ships in port next Tuesday will total 439,363 tonnes with a return passenger capacity of 20,440. This figure is double that of 50 years ago when Southampton had eight dedicated passenger terminals but only had to cope with a maximum gross tonnage of 240,000 at full capacity.

This Saturday signals the start of the hectic schedule that sees the port welcome a total of 15 vessels and handle 19 cruise ship and liner movements.Together the ships will have a capacity of 77,600 passengers, which means that in one week the docks will cope with 40 per cent of the passenger traffic it received during the entire 12 months of 1997, a year when 191,000 people passed through the port.

Activity will peak next Tuesday when the vast Liberty of the Seas, Cunard's QM2 together with P&O Cruises' Oriana are all in port together with Ocean Village Two, which will be officially named that day.

Ocean Village Two, the second vessel to be brought into service by the Southampton based company, is set to arrive in Southampton for the first time tomorrow but as yet a time has not been finalised. She will leave the following day at 8pm for a short two-night "shake-down'' voyage, returning on Saturday.

The ship, designed to appeal to passengers looking for an informal, casual cruise, will be officially named on Tuesday, April 24 by supermodel, Jodie Kidd and her sister, the celebrity make-up artist, Jemma Kidd, who will together smash the traditional bottle of champagne over the decks of Ocean Village Two.

The following day, Ocean Village Two will leave on her maiden voyage from Southampton for Palma, Majorca where she will be based throughout the summer.
Peter Shanks, Ocean Village's managing director, said: "We are thrilled to be part of this record-breaking week.

"Not only is it historic for Southampton but Ocean Village Two will also be making history as the first British ship to boast two godmothers.'' Ray Facey, Southampton's assistant port manager, said: " It is an extremely exciting time for the port. Every year the cruise industry in the UK increases in capacity and in popularity and next week, particularly the Tuesday, is a testament to how far the cruise market has grown over the last ten years.

"As the UK's leading passenger ship port this is great news for Southampton and for the local economy in terms of job creation and tourism.'' This Saturday Queen Elizabeth 2 and Celebrity Cruises' Millennium will arrive early in the morning and then depart again at 5pm and 6pm respectively.

Liberty of the Seas, the joint biggest cruise ship in the world and sister to Freedom of the Seas, which called at the city last year, will make her dramatic entrance on Sunday when she makes her way through the Solent and up Southampton Water to berth at the City Cruise Terminal, next door to Mayflower Park, at 7am.

At 9.45pm that evening and, at the same time, on Monday a glittering firework display will light up the night sky over Liberty of the Seas. More fireworks will soar into the air on Tuesday evening, this time at 9pm, before the ship leaves for a two-night cruise at 10pm.
Sunday will also see the arrival and departure of P&O Cruises' Oceana at 38/9 berth in the Eastern Docks and Aurora at the Mayflower Terminal in the Western Docks.

On Monday, April 23 Arcadia and Artemis, both part of P&O Cruises' Southampton based fleet, arrive first thing in the morning before embarking passengers later in the afternoon.

Saga Ruby and Constellation are in port on Wednesday, April 25, Saga Rose arrives and departs the following day and on Friday the Fred Olsen Cruise Line ship, Boudicca is set to make a call.
Navigator of the Seas returns to port on Saturday and leaves again at 5pm while Princess Cruises' ship, Sea Princess is due to leave at the same time.

All the dates and times are correct as of today but changes to scheduled arrivals and departures can happen."

John Maxtone-Graham to be honored aboard the Legendary QE2

This article appeared on 13 April on the travelvideo.tv site

"VALENCIA, CA (April, 2007) On April 27, 2007 world renowned maritime historian and author, John Maxtone-Graham, will be honored at a luncheon aboard the Grand Dame of ocean liners, Queen Elizabeth 2, in Brooklyn when she calls on New York. At the luncheon, sponsored by The Ocean Liner Council of the South Street Seaport Museum, Maxtone-Graham will be presented the Silver Riband Award for his contributions to the preservation of maritime history and ocean liner travel. The event is hosted by Cunard Line.

"John-Maxton Graham has dedicated his life to the preservation of maritime history and we are truly honored to present him with the Silver Riband Award," said Der Scutt, The Ocean Liner Council Chairman. The Silver Riband Award was established by The Ocean Liner Council of the South Street Seaport Museum in the Fall of 2002 to celebrate and recognize an individual who has excelled in the perpetuation of ocean liner history, travel, technology, seamanship, design, business development, or for a single major contribution of outstanding nautical achievement. John Maxtone-Graham is the fifth recipient of this award.

John Maxtone-Graham began his career in maritime history with his first book The Only Way to Cross, published in 1972. Many other books have followed as well as an extensive amount of sailing and lecturing aboard Cunard ships. Ashore, he lectures at New York's Metropolitan Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Geographic Society, the Four Arts Society of Palm Beach and also at Britain's National Maritime Museum.

For more information on this luncheon please contact Carol Rauscher at the South Street Seaport Museum - crauscher@southstseaport.org

About South Street Seaport Museum

South Street Seaport Museum, founded in 1967, occupies a 12-square block historic district in Lower Manhattan, site of the city's original port. The Museum's mission is to preserve, interpret and display the history of New York as a world port, highlighting both the South Street Seaport district and the tremendous contribution of maritime enterprise to the economic, social, and cultural heritage of the city, the state and the nation. This is accomplished through exhibitions, on- and off-site public programs and formal education programs for students of all ages. The Museum is becoming one of America's premier institutions for the study and exhibition of Ocean Liner memorabilia.

About Cunard Line

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceSM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007."

Behold, the Queen! The opulent Queen Mary II offers everything from luxe boutiques to the world’s first floating planetarium

This article appreared on Friday 13 April on the dailyreportonline.com site

"IN DAYS GONE BY, young Americans of a certain social status often spent months abroad on the “Grand Tour,” exploring the capitals of Europe and traveling both ways by ship. Today, Queen Mary 2, flagship of the Cunard line, is the only vessel making regular transatlantic crossings; her passengers include honeymooners, vacationers, and retirees—and a surprising number of professionals combining business trips with a holiday abroad. QM2 replaces Queen Elizabeth 2, still in service but no longer making regular transatlantic runs. The original Queen Mary is now a Long Beach, Calif., hotel and tourist attraction.

QM2 is one opulent queen. She was built with the most extensive seagoing wine cellar, the largest dance floor of any passenger ship, 14 bars and lounges (one devoted exclusively to champagne, another to cigars and cognac), luxe boutiques (Chopard, Dunhill, Harrods, Hermes) and the world’s first floating planetarium, offering daily educational programs about the stars.

Promenade decks, once places to see and be seen, often serve as jogging tracks on modern ships. QM2’s one-third-mile loop is the longest at sea. Exercise buffs will also enjoy the basketball court, yoga and Pilates classes, and a fully equipped fitness center with 36 stations.

Foodies will be grateful for those exercise options since eating—heartily and often—can consume much of the day. QM2’s vast kitchens (sign up for a tour to see them) serve well-prepared international cuisine in the 1,351-seat, three-deck-high Britannia, the main dining room. Guests in the swankier accommodations (some with doorbells, private decks and personal butlers) dine in the intimate Princess and Queen’s Grills, where elaborate meals are created to individual specifications. The Britannia and Grills also offer light spa cuisine.

For a change from the glitter and bling in the dining rooms, the Golden Lion Pub serves pub grub amid dart games, karaoke contests and football (soccer) on the telly. Indoor and outdoor buffets are also an option. In the evening, three informal little restaurants offer Italian, Chinese and traditional British food; and at a fourth, the Chef’s Galley, chefs banter with a small group of diners as they demonstrate cooking techniques for that evening’s set menu.

For special occasions, a surcharge of $30 at dinner and $20 at lunch is worth it for the chance to dine in the eponymous Todd English, run by the chef famous for several world-class eateries, including Olives in Boston. And every afternoon, QM2 bows to the age-old sailing tradition of elegant afternoon tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and china teapots.

Lolling in the aquatherapy pool, perhaps after a teeth whitening and a hot stone massage at the Canyon Ranch Spa, can cap a day of sybaritic indulgence. The trendy spa has a whopping 20,000-square-foot onboard facility spread over two decks.

Those more interested in scholarly pursuits will find plenty of possibilities listed in the ship’s daily newspaper. Experts from Oxford University give in-depth lectures on everything from social history to piracy, and there are talks by such luminaries as best-selling author Frank McCourt and Janet Eilber, artistic director for the Martha Graham Dance Co. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art offers classes in movement, focus and the vocal requirements of acting. And anyone with the self-discipline to work will find a fully equipped Cyber Centre offering computer terminals and quiet workspace. The ship has 14 Wi-Fi hotspots and a full range of business services.

At night the two liveliest spots are the G32 Nightclub, which opens at 10 p.m. with live rock and jazz bands and dancing, and the 6,000-square-foot Casino, open at 9 a.m. when the ship is at sea and remaining open until the wee hours. Twelve gambling tables include blackjack, American roulette, craps, Caribbean stud poker, three card poker and mini baccarat. Novices who want to play will feel comfortable with the lower-stakes games and 115 slot machines, including reel slots and traditional video poker.

Passengers making the eastward transatlantic crossing embark at the snazzy new passenger terminal in Brooklyn, N.Y., and have six nights to wine, dine, gamble or gambol before disembarking at Southampton, England (or, on some trips, eight to Hamburg, Germany), where connections can be made to anywhere in Europe. QM2 spends the chilly winter months traveling to the Caribbean and South America and makes fall cruises to New England and Canada. She will make her first around-the-world cruise in 2007. Transatlantic trips resume this month. Reservations for all sailings should be made well in advance, although it’s occasionally possible to score a last-minute bargain."

Ghost hunting aboard the Queen Mary

This appreared on the 49er, a newspaper for students in California

"What's big, white, historic and lights up at night while offering ghostly tours?Give up?Of course you don't, because the obvious answer is none other than the Queen Mary, the formerly royal flagship of the sea, which has become the flagship symbol for the city of Long Beach.

But going back to ghostly adventures, I recently had the pleasure of embarking on the Paranormal Investigation Tour, the smallest and most intimate excursion one can take aboard the "Grey Ghost." Led by Erika Frost, the house psychic, the tour indulges visitors into areas of the ship beyond the limits of the others (this I know is fact because I've taken most of them).

One of those locations will likely include the bottom front end of the Queen, an area once used to store prisoners of war. The area is reputed to be extremely haunted because several have died there for one reason or another, leaving their presence behind for tourists and psychics alike to find.

On the fateful night of my investigation within this supposed hotspot, the group was instructed to hold hands and follow a few meditation procedures. The lights were turned off and we stood together in the dark hull that was well below the water line.That's when things started to get creepy.

One of us from the Daily Forty-Niner said she could hear mutterings and whispers from beyond after Frost called upon the spirits to congregate. As for skeptical me, I thought I could see a black figure circling the group, which is a lot considering I'm not the quickest person to accept a haunting or see bodies from beyond the grave, so to speak.

Frost, always unfailingly polite and an interesting speaker, led the small group to a few other locations, including the ghost hotspot by one of the Queen's pools. All in all, I recommend this tour for people who are authentically interested in the cultish art of ghost hunting, or for history fanatics of neat locales like the Queen Mary.

Prices run steep for this particular exploration, however, at $150 per person.Tours are offered when the sun is down and the clock strikes twelve on the first and third Fridays of each month. Reservations must be made and can be limited, as this tour only takes groups of up to six deep within the hull of the Queen Mary in search of her infamous paranormal activity"

World's Largest Ocean Liner Completes Maiden World Cruise

This appeared on the NY1 site as the QM2 returned to New York yesterday after her 1st world cruise!

"The Queen Mary 2 arrived at Brooklyn's Cruise Terminal, Pier 12 in Red Hook, Tuesday morning after completing its maiden world cruise. The 80-day cruise began in Ft. Lauderdale on January 10th. The world’s largest ocean liner will now be based in the city for the next year and a half. The liner is more than 1,100 feet long and more than 236 feet high and weighs approximately 150,000 tons. It has a maximum capacity of more than 3,000 and a crew of more than 1,200. "

Mavis finds crew members worse for wear

This story appeared in the Uk Evening Star about the QE2 World Cruise...

INTREPID Evening Star reader Mavis Bensley is nearing the end of her round-the-world cruise on the QE2. In India this week, she saw some crew return to the ship drunk, endured a hair-raising taxi ride, and saw saris unravelling at an onboard cocktail party.

I ARRIVED in Goa to see a working port where everything looked red - the colour of rust, red rock, sand, dust, lots of barges carrying coal and gravel, rust buckets of tankers, lots of rubbish and mangy dogs.A gang of us beat a hasty exit to find a taxi to the beach at Bogmalo. The usual beach sellers came around and wizened women with babies strapped on their back, begged for rupees with the persistence of superglue! If you gave them something, three more appeared over the dunes as if by magic.

I felt ashamed, embarrassed and annoyed all at the same time. Some of the crew had shore leave and two in particular overindulged at one of the many bars, and paid the price of too much alcohol under a blazing hot sun. One spent two hours in the recovery position and had to be stretchered back to the ship. He spent the night in sick-quarters and left the ship in Mumbai. Silly lad! Letting the ship down in front of passengers does not fit the code of behaviour set by Cunard.In Mumbai - the older citizens still call it Bombay - I toured the city with three American fellow passengers.

One place which was not open to the public intrigued me was the Dokhmas Towers or Tower of Silence - an eerie name and even more eerie function. The dead bodies of the parsea religion are literally hung here because their faith prevents them from polluting the earth (so no burial), or the air (so no cremation). Instead they are left in a tower with grilles on the large windows so that vultures may gorge themselves at will. The sky was full of these evil looking birds, circling and waiting to devour their next banquet.Another incredible sight was the dohbi ghatt - an open-air laundry stretching for a couple of acres.

Men and boys were flailing bundles of clothes, sheets, towels etc, against stone slabs. How they got them clean I'll never know because the water was filthy and not a sudsy bubble in sight. Sparkling white shirts and sheets were drying on lines no doubt bleached by the sun.Alongside the laundry was a railway line and there were no doors on the train carriages so passengers were hanging out of them to catch the breeze. It looked very dangerous to me but no doubt they were warned to “mind the gap”.

We ended our long day in Mumbai with afternoon tea at the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was like tea at the Ritz in very elegant surroundings. Yet my lasting memory of Mumbai was not of the beautiful buildings, the enormous billboards advertising Bollywood blockbusters, the crowds of people spilling on to the pavements, not even the cows roaming the streets or the numbers of beggars and hawkers. It is the sound of 70,000 taxis hustling, bustling, bobbing and weaving, jockeying for position and constantly honking their horns. Our taxi was rusting, battled scarred and dropping to bits.

We took sharp intakes of breath on more than one occasion but the driver remained unconcerned. A sign on a roundabout said “no horns” so he honked anyway. Another sign read “zero tolerance” but no explanation of what and to whom! Safely back on board, I attended another cocktail party given by Martyn Moss the cruise director, which I enjoyed very much because I know most of the officers by now and can chat and joke with them instead of the rather stilted parties at the early days of cruising.Later in the evening was the Raj Ball and many of the ladies had brought saris.

There had been an instruction class on how to tie the seven metres of material. I think a couple of ladies didn't listen hard enough as their saris began to unravel and they had to beat a hasty retreat.The Indian passengers looked very elegant and striking in their silk jackets. Western men wore turbans or other ornate headdresses of the Raj. One guy wore dohti pants - like a big nappy and a sheet so he looked like Gandhi. On April 1 we anchored out of Port Victoria on Mahe, one of the larger Seychelles islands.

When I switched on my TV to check the view from the ship's bridge, I saw waves washing over the prow. Strange, I thought, then the penny dropped - April Fool - nice one Captain.My dining companions had agreed to hike to a small-secluded beach, “only one and a half km and we'll get a bus back”. I liked the idea. One and a half kilometres didn't sound too bad - wrong! After leaving the taxi we had two and a half kilometres to walk on an old winding, hilly, pirate trail. We had to scramble up and down uneven rocks, catch tree roots for support, navigate slippery slopes and stay away from steep drops and narrow ledges.

Two people turned back, but I hate to be seen to give up, so cut, scraped, battered and bruised I forged ahead. There was hardly any shade or respite from the blazing sun.I was so thankful to finally reach the lovely secluded cove with a sandy beach shaded by palm trees, warm turquoise water, fish round our feet, sand crabs scuttling along the shoreline. I didn't care if a coconut dropped. I felt like Tom Hanks in Castaway.

I realised I wouldn't make the trek back, I was so exhausted. We took a local bus to town, a taxi to the port and the tender boat back to the ship where I downed a glass of water and two cups of tea in rapid succession. If I had laid on the bed I wouldn't have risen until dawn but I had places to go, people to see, so I dolled myself up and made it to the bridge to answer an invite from Captain David Perkins - a giant of a man. I was introduced to the other guests on the bridge of the ship as “a well-known on board celebrity guest”. My flabber was gasted!

The pilot took us out and under a gorgeous full moon we left the Seychelles and headed for Mauritius. Tonight I think I will put out my “do not disturb” sign and sleep until noon.

Simon the QE2's sports director is a handsome, bronzed athletic 25-year-old who used to be a pro footballer with Nottingham Forest until injury to his leg curtailed his career.He spends a couple of hours each morning and afternoon coaching or supervising tournaments - paddle tennis, shuffle board, golf, quoits etc. Usually the same group of people turn up every day. It is amazing how competitive they become, reverting back to school playground behaviour.Green vouchers are given as prizes, to be exchanged for gifts or cash discounts in the ship's shop. There would be a mutiny if this system was scrapped. Simon is the envy of all his friends back in Leicester, but he does realise that this life isn't reality and misses his family back home.

The big three in gay cruises set schedule for ports far and wide

This article appeared on southernvoice about the QM2 being cahrtered for an all gay crossing in 2007:


GAY PEOPLE CRUISE MORE THAN HETEROsexuals. That is to say, gay travelers board cruise ships far more frequently than their straight counterparts, according to Community Marketing and the Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, gay travel groups.
According to a recent study by Community Marketing, people who take gay cruises do so an average of three times per year, compared to once every three years for people who take mainstream cruises.The study also says that 20 percent of gay men and lesbians took a cruise vacation in the last 12 months, while only an estimated 17 percent of heterosexuals took a cruise in the last three years, and only 16 percent of overall Americans have ever taken a cruise in their lifetime.
If all this talk whets your appetite to test your sea legs, here are some upcoming opportunities from three of the main providers of all-gay cruises:

ATLANTIS EVENTS
If you have some work days saved up that you can use quickly, Atlantis Events offers a seven-day Hawaiian islands cruise departing on April 23 from Honolulu on Oahu. The trip includes stops at three islands: Hawaii, Maui and Kauai, before returning to Oahu.
The trip takes place aboard the newest US-flagged ship, The Pride of Hawaii, which offers ten different restaurants, two outdoor pools, a three-story theater, an Asian-themed spa and a fitness center. Prices begin at $999 per person with double occupancy. Airfare and other fees are not included.
Atlantis’ other 2007 offerings include Spain, Italy and Greek Isles cruise Aug. 25-Sept. 2; an Athens to Venice cruise Sept. 2-11; and a cruise along the Mexico's Pacific coast Oct. 13-21.

OLIVIA CRUISES
The gals at Olivia have a mouthwatering Mediterranean culinary cruise May 29 to June 8. Travel from Italy to Croatia, Greece and Turkey.
Special guests include the 2006 Bon Appetit pastry Chef of the Year; Tiffany Faison and Josie Smith-Malave from Bravo’s Top Chef; a wine connoisseur and a famed San Francisco restaurateur. Remaining rooms start at $3,599.
Three more Olivia cruises with rooms available before year’s end include a Tahitian cruise, Sept. 15-22; an Alaskan cruise, Sept. 9-16; and a Mexican Riviera cruise, Oct. 20-27.

RSVP VACATIONS
The luxurious Queen Mary 2 makes a transatlantic journey from New York City to Southampton, England, May 29-June 4.
The six-day trip across the Atlantic includes a mega line-up of entertainers from comedian Margaret Cho and "American Idol" contestant and recording artist RJ Helton. RSVP is currently promoting a limited number of rooms starting at $789.
Other RSVP cruises planned for 2007 include a Mediterranean cruise to Italy, Greece and Croatia, Aug. 9-19; and an Alaskan cruise, Sept. 7-14.

QUEEN MARY IS COMING Back to Brooklyn.

Cunard’s flagship Queens Mary 2, which docks at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, will return there on April 10 after completing her maiden world cruise.

She will be based in Red Hook for the next 18 months, offering more trans-Atlantic crossings, weekend getaways and Caribbean adventures.

Cunard will also host The Britannia ball, a gala fundraiser onboard the Queen Mary 2, benefiting New York City Opera and Brooklyn Academy of Music, on Thursday, May 24.
Queen Mary 2 is the only ship offering regularly scheduled transatlantic service between New York and Southampton (that’s Southampton, Britain, not Long Island), offering 10 six-day eastbound crossings from New York.

A £459,000 holiday for two: Got 103 days and half a million pounds to spare next year? Then join the rush to mega-expensive vacations

This article appeared in The Indepenent newspaper in the UK

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2432461.ece

By Lauren Veevers

Published: 08 April 2007

It's the ultimate holiday: private butler, unspoilt views from penthouse suites and 103 days of relaxation. But like all the greatest luxuries, it has a price tag as remarkable as its itinerary.
With a brochure price of £229,839 per person, it is one of the most expensive and extravagant round-the-world trips. Next January the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship will set sail from Southampton on 103-day cruise that will cost £2,231 a day.

Those passengers will wake in their penthouse suites, take breakfast on a private verandah, bathe in a marble bathroom before walking into the massive wardrobe to pick out a fetching greatcoat to protect them from the winter Atlantic gales as they take a bracing walk on the private, forward-facing deck.

They may then use some of their £2,500 spending money in the ship's shops, casinos or the first seaborne branch of Harrods. The 103-day cruise travels first to New York, then calls at more than 30 destinations including Mexico, the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Sydney and Singapore.

While £229,839 might buy most people a house, there is no shortage of takers for the top suites, according to Cunard spokesman Eric Flounders. He said: "The ship fills from the top: the more expensive suites are the first to go. We have our regulars who will have booked months ago. All the food and drink is included in whatever suite you choose, but the range of amenities available differs as the suites get more expensive. Some don't care what their suite is like because they are never in it. But others value the space more."

The luxury cruise market has had a sixfold increase in North America since 1980, and passengers spent $12.9bn (£6.5bn) on cruises last year.

The Queen Elizabeth 2's sister ship, Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004, is the biggest cruise ship ever built. Many regular "cruisers" are loyal to the 44-year-old QE2, preferring its history and traditional decor.
£229,839

A cruise for two people will set you back almost half a million pounds on the 'Queen Elizabeth 2' from next January if you opt for a grand suite on the 103-day South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey
£128,000

Four weeks on the island of Little Whale Cay in the Bahamas can be arranged for up to 12 adults and two children at £4,158 per night
£120,000

Will get you to New York - with no flight back. Admittedly it will be on board a private Gulfstream jet, but you will still have the hotel and return journey to pay for
£110,000

A two-hour sub-orbital space flight with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will take passengers 62 miles above the Earth and will include up to 10 minutes of weightlessness