NCL is introducing online pre-reservations for some Norwegian Epic shows.

Cunard unveils the centerpiece of Queen Elizabeth’s grand lobby, and some big names will be sailing on Crystal’s 2011 world cruise.  Meanwhile Seabourn takes delivery of their newest – Seabourn Sojourn.

LA approved funding for improvements to the World Cruise Center, and Carnival Paradise made a slight diversion after a passenger gives birth onboard.

Celebrity may be adding new ships – but in return some older ones are headed off- Celebrity Mercury will be getting a makeover and joining the former Celebrity Zenith as part of the TUI Cruises fleet.

This week Celebrity Constellation debuted with features from the Solstice class.  Carnival went a different route with their newest ship – and didn’t lift the name from another ship (or line!)

Silversea’s Prince Albert II got held up in Portsmouth due to overloading and the former Majestic America Line paddlewheeler Mississippi Queen has been sold.

Norwegian Epic and Seabourn Sojourn both had their godmother’s revealed.

There was a lot coming out of Royal Caribbean this week with Oasis of The Seas reveals, announcements about new features coming to Freedom of The Seas and Independence of the Seas, the end of Park West auctions onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and some comments from Adam Goldstein regarding Royal’s shift from Miami to Port Everglades.

A native of Norway, Capt. Buer will return there as master of Seabourn Sojourn during its maiden season. On June 6, 2010, Seabourn Sojourn will operate a 14-day maiden voyage from London to Dover, visiting Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords and Amsterdam. The maiden season will also include a series of 12- to 14-day voyages in Northern Europe, including Norway, Scotland, the Baltic Sea and Russia, offering the most luxurious and spacious cruise experience in the cruising region.

Seabourn is currently offering two-for-one cruise fares and value-priced round trip airfare on Sojourn’s Europe maiden season. All-inclusive cruise-only fares start from $4,950 per person, based on double occupancy. Reduced round trip add-on airfares start from $499 for economy class and only $1,999 for business class, from 40 North American gateways.

On Jan. 5, 2011, Sojourn will embark on a 111-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to London via the South Pacific, New Zealand, around Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean.

NCL announced some work at Great Stirrup Cay as well as some more information about Norwegian Epic.

Celebrity Mercury continues to battle Norovirus.

Seabourn gives us a construction update on Seabourn Sojourn.

Holland America continues their Signature of Excellence upgrades and creates a stir in Alaska who is now reconsidering the head tax.

Azamara, who really needed a direction gets a new name and a new attitude.  Maybe this one will work?

Costa’s newest completes technical trials, and the Seabourn triplets are getting renovations.

A new villainous show is coming to Disney and so are some family friendly shore excursions.

Princess looses a ship when Royal Princess heads to P&O while Silversea takes delivery of their newest  Silver Spirit.

Oceania’s massive owner’s suites on Marina will showcase Ralph Lauren.

Carnival Dream isn’t compatible with a pier in San Juan.

A few of Holland America’s ships are getting some really cool tech…

We got a request to talk about a few other things from our Westerdam trip and there’s some new video’s up for you to check out as well!

The renovation is being overseen by RTKL Associates Inc. in Miami, an award-winning international design firm recognized for its creative approach to commercial and residential spaces. The extensive work is being done during regularly scheduled periodic maintenance. With Spirit finished, Pride and Legend will head to dry dock in January 2010 and fall 2010, respectively.

Enhancements begin just steps into the Reception Lobby with honey-toned wood paneling, two-toned marble flooring and furnishings reupholstered in rich burgundy. Onboard entertainment spaces shine, with the main show lounge transformed with cut-velvet banquettes in muted blues and taupe chairs beneath glittering stars. In The Club, floral-motif carpeting plays off warm reds and burnt oranges while elegantly toned, matte stone panels invoke spaciousness throughout.

That play of color and comfort continues in the observation lounge, where wrap-around windows illuminate new pale-green accents and soothing creams and beiges with the ever-changing light of sea and sky. New club chairs and sofas of creamy leather are inviting perches for taking it all in, accented with leaf-patterned throw pillows that echo the foliage theme in the carpeting.

In The Restaurant, celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer’s cuisine is presented in a rich, yet understated elegance realized in handsome toffee-toned woods, creamy caramel accents, dramatic sheer curtains striped horizontally in violet and gold interspersing muted purple drapes, and flooring finished in sumptuous golden stone with sage infusions. Meanwhile, the open decks are going modern with graceful new furniture of coffee-hued, powder-coated metal and chocolate-toned fabric.

Odyssey is the first of three new vessels Seabourn is building, a 216% increase in capacity for the line, with Seabourn Sojournlaunching in June 2010 and a third new-build in 2011.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Seabourn Odyssey to our distinguished fleet of yachts,” said Pamela Conover, President and CEO of The Yachts of Seabourn. “The launch of Odyssey allows us to serve more travelers but still offer the intimate and exclusive experience which has made us a leader in the luxury cruising market.”

Enticements are everywhere aboard Odyssey. The Spa at Seabourn is the largest spa on any luxury vessel at 11,400 square feet and is the only cruise vessel to offer SkinCeuticals, the award-winning skincare line, products and treatments at sea. Passengers can enjoy a hydropool, Kinesis wall, two herbal steam rooms as well as two Spa Villas complete with a whirlpool big enough for two, a private balcony for sunbathing, a double daybed and a full living room.

Passengers on Odyssey will savor five-star, all-inclusive dining in four restaurants from the fine-dining Restaurant with menus crafted by Charlie Palmer to the casual, open-air Patio Grill or choose course-by-course dining from the comfort of their suite.

With an intimate yacht-like atmosphere, passengers can choose from other highlights including 11 decks harboring two outdoor swimming pools, six outdoor whirlpools, water sports from the unique marina, and a private diamond showroom. The Retreat features a contoured nine-hole mini golf course, a giant chess board, shuffleboard and stargazing in the evening. Additional amenities include Seabourn-branded netbooks and iPods for loan as well as complimentary pool-side massages and signature ‘Caviar in the Surf’ service.

The Grand Wintergarden Suite, the largest of any Seabourn suite, offers 1,182 square feet of indoor space plus two verandas. The two bedroom, two bathroom suite features a glass-enclosed solarium with tub and daybed, as well as a whirlpool, dining for six, two bars and three flat-screen televisions.

All guests on Odyssey receive exceptional personalized service with nearly one staff member per guest and top-of-the-line amenities including the new Molton Brown Therapies skincare line, available for the first time at sea.

A new feature of Odyssey, Seabourn Square, is an innovative “concierge lounge” with a library, upscale shops, outdoor terrace and coffee bar, as well as concierges in a relaxed, club-like atmosphere.

Odyssey will spend her maiden year exploring the Mediterranean throughout the summer and early fall, then sailing the Caribbean before embarking on Seabourn’s first world cruise, a 108-day voyage departing January 5, 2010, visiting 42 ports in 26 countries on six continents from Ft. Lauderdale to Athens.

On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travelers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures conducted by wine professionals, vineyard owners, winemakers and other epicurean specialists from renowned establishments, including California’s Justin and Wente wineries, Italy’s Castello Banfi and Chile’s Santa Alicia Winery, to name a few.   On many voyages, guests will also have the chance to explore some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions on guided shore excursions.

Of special note is the participation of Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the Italian fashion visionary.  Renowned for their signature handbags and footwear, the Ferragamo family also owns Il Borro, an acclaimed wine-producing estate in Tuscany.  Ferragamo is slated to host Silver Wind’s July 6 wine-themed sailing from Lisbon to Monte Carlo.

You’ll find the exact itineraries when you click on “more” below.

Listed below are the 2009 Wine Series cruises (rates are per person, double occupancy and do not include port charges):

Alaska & Pacific Coast

– Silver Shadow departs July 20 on a 12-day, roundtrip voyage (#3917) from San Francisco with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria.  WINE SERIES HOSTS:  Eric and Arel Wente, owners of California’s Wente Vineyards.  Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.

– Silver Shadow departs August 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#3921) from Vancouver with calls in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Master Sommelier Joe Spellman of California’s Justin Vineyards and Winery.  Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,775.

Mediterranean

– Silver Wind departs May 28 on a 9-day voyage (#2917) from Monte Carlo to Athens with calls in Livorno, Sorrento, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi and Bodrum.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Stanislas Marchal, public relations representative for Vranken-Pommery Monopole.   Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,305.

– Silver Whisper departs July 4 on a 7-day voyage (#4918) from Venice to Athens with calls in Split, Kotor, Corfu and Itea.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Georges Muller of Riedel Crystal (the wine glass company), expert on pairing wines with stemware.  Silver Sailing fares start at $4,896.

– Silver Wind departs July 6 on a 12-day voyage (#2921) from Lisbon to Monte Carlo with calls in Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona (overnight), Cannes, Menton, Livorno and Corsica.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Salvatore Ferragamo, owner and managing director of Il Borro estate, Tuscany, Italy.  Silver Sailing fares start at $5,797.

– Silver Wind departs August 14 on a 7-day voyage (#2925) from Venice to Athens with calls in Hvar, Sibenik, Dubrovnik and Santorini.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Philip di Belardino, Castello Banfi Vineyard Estate & Winery, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy.  Early Booking Incentive fares start at $6,115.

Northern Europe & The Baltic

– Silver Cloud departs June 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#1914) from Stockholm with calls in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (3 days, 2 nights), Tallinn and Gdansk.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Gary Eberle, owner of California’s Eberle Winery (will co-host with a European winery, exploring Old and New World wines). Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.

– Silver Cloud departs August 26 on a 10-day, roundtrip voyage (#1921) from London with calls in Edinburgh (overnight), Invergordon, Oban, Dublin, Cork and Fowey.  WINE SERIES HOST:  Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky. Silver Sailing fares start at $7,486.

South America

– Silver Cloud departs January 4 on a 16-day voyage (#1901) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Punta del Este and Montevideo.  WINE SERIES HOST: Daniel Soto, Santa Alicia Winery, Santiago, Chile.  Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF Luis Gonzalez Morales, chef/owner of El Remezon restaurant in Punta Arenas, Chile, specializing in traditional Patagonian cuisine.  Silver Sailing fares start at $8,606.

– Silver Cloud departs February 5 on a 16-day voyage (#1903) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo.  WINE SERIES HOSTS: Silvina Barros of Trivento Winery and Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina; Fernando Mediano of Emiliana Vineyards, Casablanca Valley, Chile; and Jofre Duran of Concha y Toro Vineyards, Maipo Valley, Chile. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $10,450.

Transoceanic

– Silver Cloud departs April 15 on a 15-day voyage (#1910) from Barbados to London with calls in St. Lucia, Antigua, La Horta, Ponta Delgada, Falmouth and Cherbourg.  WINE SERIES HOST: Trevor Burnett, brand ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka. Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF of the Viking Cooking School.  Silver Sailing fares start at $5,337.

Princess announced their plans for the holidays, and Crystal’s holiday gift to you – $1500 off most European sailings next year.

All the major lines announced that fuel supplements are either gone or will be gone as of the New Year.

Carnival Corp is suing Rolls Royce and Converteam over the Mermaid propulsion pods that were installed on QM2.  They’ve also signed a deal for berthing rights in Seattle for both Holland America and Princess.

Port Canaveral has started moving on the improvements for Disney’s new ships with the awarding of the first contract.

Finally, with a name like Cruise Planners it’s easy to forget that we do more than just cruises.  This week we talk about some of the other things that we do…

The fuel supplement suspension applies to the following brands:  Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.

A refund of the fuel supplement will be made in the form of a shipboard credit  for all bookings within the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008.  All bookings outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008 will be adjusted to remove the fuel supplement and guests will be provided with a revised final payment amount.

The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day (except Seabourn, which would be up to $15 per person per day) should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel.

The fuel supplement for five of the six Carnival Corporation & plc brands is currently $9 per person per day for the first and second guest (not to exceed $126 per person per voyage) and $4 per person per day for third, fourth and fifth guests (not to exceed $56 per person per voyage).  Seabourn’s fuel supplement is $15 per person per day for the first and second guest (not to exceed $210 per person per voyage) and $4 per person per day for third and fourth guests (not to exceed $56 per person per voyage).

Sailing from Greenwich, ports of call on its Maiden Voyage include the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the Norwegian Fjords. Sojourn’s Maiden Season in the northern waters offers the most luxurious and spacious cruise experience in the region, although the yacht is still small enough to reach destinations larger vessels simply cannot reach. Fares and detailed itineraries will be announced in February 2009.

Like its sister Seabourn Odyssey, debuting in June 2009, Seabourn Sojourn provides the most exclusive all-suite accommodation available at sea, with 225 suites in total, 90 percent of which have private verandas. Top of the range suites include Wintergarden Suites with private solarium and veranda, and Signature Suites with sweeping verandas and unrivalled views facing forward. All suites feature separate living areas and bedrooms, writing desks with personalized stationery, iPod and MP3 connections and spacious granite bathrooms with separate bath and shower and twin sinks.

The two-deck, state of the art Spa at Seabourn features Spa Villas which can be reserved for hours of pure indulgence and relaxation. The new vessels will offer four dining venues, including a spacious open-seating Restaurant capable of seating all guests. Six bars and lounges will serve a full range of beverages including fine wines and spirits with Seabourn’s compliments.

Carnival Sensation will be getting her Evolutions of Fun upgrades in January, while Carnival Fantasy will be staying in Mobile until she heads to the shipyards for her own Evolutions of Fun upgrades.

MSC will be sending their two newest ships to the Caribbean for the 2009/10 season and orders two new Musica class ships from Aker Yards.

Carnival will be recategorizing their staterooms and we get some insight into how Joe Farcus designs ships for Carnival and Costa.

Cabo San Lucas is getting some infrastructure updates and is considering an actual cruise ship pier.

Princess has selected the Godparents for Ruby Princess and we get a look at some of what’s planned for Seabourn Odyssey.

Be sure to check in next week when I’ll be talking about a different sort of cruise that I’m taking this week.

First up was a small piece from Royal Caribbean’s earning call, what caught our attention was the announcements of layoffs and spending cuts intended to save the company as much as $125 million a year.

Seabourn announces the godparent for Seabourn Odyssey although godparents would be more accurate.

The NTSB released their final report in the investigation of the Empress of The North grounding last year in Alaska.

Holland America announces early advantage fares on all 2009 sailings and folks in Ketchikan want visiting ships to stay longer.

Each passenger aboard Odyssey’s maiden voyage, scheduled to depart Venice, Italy, on June 24, 2009, will have his or her name engraved on a plaque to be displayed on board the sleek yacht. An early-evening ceremony to christen the new yacht is planned to coincide with the summer sunset over the domes and steeples of Venice’s skyline – with all 450 godparents taking part in the momentous event.  Seabourn Odyssey will then make its stately way from the canals to the lagoon and beyond – a gala, 14-day voyage exploring the Dalmatian coast, the Greek Isles, and Turkey.

Highlights of the cruise will include sailing into the dramatic fjord of Kotor in Montenegro, a day of water sports from the yacht’s marina while anchored off the Greek Isle of Mylos, and a signature Exclusively Seabourn evening reception and concert in the torch-lit ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.

Full World Odyssey guests are invited to stay overnight and attend a gala Bon Voyage Ball at the St. Regis hotel in Fort Lauderdale the night before departure. Then there will be five complimentary events reserved solely for guests who book the full world cruise. Those guests embarking in Los Angeles for 92 days will enjoy four of them. An additional seven ports will feature complimentary Exclusively Seabourn shoreside experiences to which all guests on board will be invited, regardless of the length of their voyages.

Where will Odyssey’s world cruise shoreside experiences take you? • The full world cruise events begin on January 18, 2010, with a spectacular catamaran cruise from tiny Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of Baja California, to seek some of the six species of whales which gather each year in the Sea of Cortez. Sailing on a comfortable catamaran, guests will pass the famed natural formation of Los Arcos, the secluded golden sands of Lover’s Beach, the resident colony of sea lions, and beyond. A naturalist guide will impart details of sea and land life, and answer questions as guests toast the starkly beautiful and biologically rich environment of the Baja Peninsula.

• On February 6, full world cruise guests will be greeted by the haunting tones of a conch-shell salute and fragrant tiare flower leis as they stroll a candlelit path into a tropical garden at Papeete, Tahiti. There, under a canopy of South Pacific stars, they will enjoy an evening of cocktails, lilting Tahitian music and a sumptuous feast capped by a rousing performance of traditional Polynesian song and dance.

• In Sydney, Australia on February 24, a private sunset dinner cruise of scenic Sydney Harbor will end alongside the city’s iconic Opera House, where guests will be escorted inside to enjoy the featured performance, before returning by the same boat to Seabourn Odyssey.

• Hong Kong will be the site of the next world cruise event on March 15. The waterside Aberdeen Marina Club will be transformed into a colorful Chinese bazaar with craftsmen’s booths, traditional fortune-tellers and calligraphers, a Chinese musical ensemble and a spectacular Lion Dance. In addition to a buffet of delectable Chinese specialties fit for an emperor, the kaleidoscopic evening will include exhibitions of Chinese Opera “face-changing,” kung fu martial arts and acrobatics.

• The dramatic climax of the world cruise exclusive events will unfold in a colorful setting on the island of Phuket on March 29. Greeted by a Thai long drum troupe, Seabourn guests will enter a Phuket Thai cultural village to be regaled by women in traditional Thai costumes, gaily decorated elephants, and exhibitions of classical Thai dance, traditional boxing, floral decorations and elaborate fruit and vegetable carving. There will be demonstrations of Thai cooking, puppet carving, rubber tapping, and even chances to ride in an ox-cart or atop a decorated elephant.

The ceremony, which was officiated by Seabourn’s president & CEO Pamela C. Conover and Marco Bisagno, president of T. Mariotti S.p.A., marks the beginning of the next stage in a three-vessel expansion project that will increase Seabourn’s capacity of luxury cruising accommodations by over 217 percent in the next three years.

The first of the three hulls, which will become Seabourn Odyssey, was delivered to Mariotti’s shipyard in Genoa, Italy at the end of May, where it will be finished and fitted out over the next year, prior to delivery in June of 2009. It will represent the first newly built capacity in the ultra luxury end of the cruise industry in over six years. Carrying just 450 guests, it will be especially notable for its intimate size, which embodies Seabourn’s commitment to yacht-style vessels at a time when most other brands are engaged in building ever-larger ships. The new yacht promises to further embellish Seabourn’s peerless reputation for superb onboard experiences with an unmatched ratio of space per guest, encompassing a wide range of sumptuous ocean-view suites measuring from 295 to over 1,600 square feet, 90 percent of which will boast private verandas. Additional features include five inviting dining alternatives, an innovative concierge lounge called Seabourn Square and an indoor/outdoor spa facility of over 11,400 square feet, spread over two decks.

First was just a few stories from while we were gone that we wanted to touch on.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have revised their infant and pregnancy policies.

We’ve got to stop calling it Project Genesis, Royal Caribbean’s newest will now be Oasis of The Seas and Allure of The Seas, both of the Oasis Class.

Norwegian Spirit caused minor damage to a pier while docking in New York and the hull for Seabourn Odyssey has been delivered to the shipyard as construction continues.

We quickly recapped Seasocks ’08, it was an eventful sailing to say the least. Be sure to check out among others the CraftLit podcast, and their friends over at NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me (we’re so not worthy of some of the folks we got to hang out with ). For the knitting inclined you should also check out our friends at CastOn and of course Knitty too. A very big thanks also to the kind folks at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas and of course Beehive Wool Shop and all of the other yarn stores that graciously hosted the group over the week.

Now that we’ve wrapped up Seasocks ’08 we can announce the details for Seasocks ’09. You’ll find them all here.

Watch this Podcast over the next few months too… We’re going to be on one of the final sailings of Queen Elizabeth 2 as she bids her farewells to Britain and the Cunard fleet. More details will be coming over the next several months.

The arrival of the hull marks a major milestone toward delivery of three intimate cruise vessels from T.Mariotti S.p.A. for Seabourn, the ultra-luxury brand of Miami-based Carnival Corporation & PLC. The €200 million Seabourn Odyssey will be the cruise industry’s first ultra-luxury addition in six years. A maximum of 450 guests will travel on board, in luxurious all-suite accommodations measuring from 290 to over 1,600 square feet, over 90 percent with private verandas. The cruising yacht will offer guests five dining alternatives, five lounges and bars, an expansive pool and sunbathing area, and a spectacular two-deck, indoor/outdoor spa facility with more than 11,400 square feet to go around. Seabourn Odyssey’s maiden season will include voyages from the grand cities and romantic isles of the Mediterranean to the waters of the Caribbean, before embarking on Seabourn’s first-ever World Cruise in January 2010.

The fuel supplement will rise from $5 to $7 a day and thirds and fourths in a cabin will get a $2 a day fuel supplement. The fuel supplement will be capped at $98 per person per voyage for the first and second passenger and $28 per person per voyage for the second and third passenger.

We wanted to advise you that Carnival Corporation & plc has announced a voluntary refund of the company’s fuel supplement for applicable U.S. bookings that were made prior to November 7, 2007 under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The fuel supplement, announced November 7, 2007, was applied to all U.S. bookings for voyages departing on or after February 1, 2008 for cruises on Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. The company will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced. Refunds for affected guests will be implemented based on cruise departure date according to the following schedule: For cruises departing on or prior to April 4, 2008, guests will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise; For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, guests will receive an on-board credit; For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, guests’ bookings will be adjusted to eliminate the fuel supplement. The fuel supplement remains in effect for all bookings made on or after November 7, 2007. The $5 per person per day fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in a stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person per voyage. Also, at the time the fuel supplement was announced, travel agents whose clients had existing reservations were offered $10 per booking in administrative compensation for notifying those clients of the supplement and that compensation will continue to be provided. We also want to thank you for your continued support for all our brands. We appreciate your business and look forward to providing your clients with great cruise vacations. Sincerely, Jack Anderson Vice President – Corporate Marketing Bill Harber Director of Corporate Marketing

Instead we got to talking about the new restaurants coming to Celebrity Solstice and the transfer of Pride of Hawai’i among other things and the next thing we knew we had a 50 some odd minute show… Go figure!

A simple show this week is fine – because next week we have something cool planned. You’ll just have to come back to find out about it!

“As we know to expect from Chef Palmer and his team, the changes to the menu are cutting edge and will certainly please the discerning palates of our guests,” said Pamela Conover, president of Seabourn. “With a very high customer repeat rate coupled with the fact that our guests dine with us each day for several weeks on their cruises, we are thrilled to be updating the menu with 150 new options.”

With a variety of modern cuisine, classic dishes or lighter fare, travelers experience the new menu changes to award-winning cuisine in a variety of venues aboard the three Seabourn vessels. Over the course of the cruise, guests chose the dining option that is best suited for each meal, from black-tie dinners in the elegant The Restaurant and the Veranda Café’s outdoor seating overlooking the ship’s wake to casual, al fresco dining beneath the stars in the Sky Grill and 24 hour in-suite dining with a full course menu, for the room guests and their friends.

As founder of New York’s highly acclaimed restaurant Aureole and two-time James Beard Award winner, Charlie Palmer raised progressive American cuisine to a world-class level with creations praised for unusual, yet clever combinations. His use of bold flavors and the finest seasonal ingredients combine to produce delectable creations that remain aesthetically pleasing, as exemplified on his Seabourn menus. He currently owns 11 restaurants, including four of New York’s top tier, and founded celebrated dining establishments with a focus on fresh seafood and the highest grade steaks from Las Vegas and Washington D.C. to California’s Sonoma wine region and Dallas.

The original relationship between Chef Palmer and the Yachts of Seabourn allowed for hundreds of new signature recipes for cuisine to be served in the exclusive, single-seating restaurants aboard the line’s ultra-luxury, yacht-like ships. Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend, all feature true restaurant kitchens, rather than typical cruise ship banquet galleys, causing cuisine that is cited by Gourmet Magazine as “consistently excellent.”

“The menu additions reflect an ultra-luxury taste with a contemporary twist,” said Chef Palmer. “Seabourn guests are accustomed to the best and it is our job to constantly amaze them. Using the highest-quality and freshest ingredients, we have created a menu to delight each guest over the course of their cruise.”

Seabourn Odyssey will debut in June of 2009. Bookings for its maiden season are being accepted from the general public starting today, after a successful advance booking period reserved for past guests of the line. The second ship in the series is scheduled to enter service in the summer of 2010.

That formula is embodied in the new, 32,000-GRT ships, which will accommodate just 450 guests in 225 luxury suites, ninety percent of which will offer private verandas. The ships are specifically designed to achieve a balance between Seabourn’s small-ship signatures, such as its highly personalized service, truly fine dining and exceptional delivery of destinations, with the added spaciousness, features and amenities that a larger ship will allow. Seabourn’s guests will continue to enjoy an unmatched level of personalized service from a skilled and dedicated staff, and one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the industry.

The new ships will maintain the yacht-like onboard ambience that has won the loyalty of affluent travelers, who appreciate all-inclusive policies such as complimentary open bars, open-seating dining and a myriad of thoughtful touches the company calls its Signature Delights.

The design specifications call for hulls 650 feet long, with a beam of 84 feet and a draft of 21 feet. The ships will be powered by diesel-generated electricity and operate with twin screw propellers, with a service speed of 19 knots. They will be equipped with two bow thrusters to enhance maneuverability and two stabilizers. The ships will also be “green ships” employing advanced wastewater treatment technology.

In addition to the inaugural year sailings, Seabourn Odyssey will embark on The Yachts of Seabourn’s first-ever World Cruise in January, 2010. Visiting exotic ports-of-call from Bora Bora to Bali, Sydney to Saigon and Hong Kong to Istanbul, and touching five continents, the 108-day voyage will offer guests opportunities to experience bespoke excursions at each destination, while traveling in the pampered, casually elegant style that is Seabourn’s signature.

Like Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend, Seabourn Odyssey’s intimate scale allows travelers the opportunity to explore secluded harbors and hidden coves such as the Thai island of Ko Kood and the charming village of Deshaise on Guadeloupe. Although Seabourn Odyssey is larger than her sisters, she will carry a maximum of only 450 guests – boasting one of the highest space ratios in the industry and maintaining a highly personalized standard of service with nearly one staff member per guest. Ninety percent of the 225 luxurious suites boast private verandas, and all have ocean views.

They feature full granite and marble baths with separate tub and shower and Molton Brown well-being products, a complimentary in-suite bar stocked to the guests’ requests, flat screen televisions, and a writing desk with personalized stationery – thoughtful details that make guests feel at home. One exceptional feature of Seabourn Odyssey will be Seabourn Square, an innovative “concierge lounge” that invites guests to access every service they might require in a relaxed, club-like ambience designed to encourage sociability. The area includes a library, upscale shops, an outdoor terrace and a coffee bar, and is staffed by concierges prepared to respond to any request, from in-port shopping tips to creating an ultimate shore excursion. Occupying the aft section of two decks, the Spa at Seabourn will be the largest on any luxury ship, and offer full services in a dramatic, expansive setting. A two-deck-high waterfall and appealing indoor/outdoor treatment rooms combine with a thalassotherapy pool and complete salon facilities to pamper guests.

We start this week back peddling from a story we ran last week.  Celebrity had announced prior to our recording last week that even though Millenium had suffered propeller damage that disrupted a sailing there were no plans to cancel the July 12 sailing on the Millenium.  Right after we posted the show on Monday – Celebrity canceled the July 12 sailing of Millenium.

Cunard has announced that both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will be sailing World Cruises in 2009.

MSC is extending their kids sail free promotion a little longer.

Cruise West will offer 5 cruises to Costa Rica and Panama later this year, and will rename the Spirit of Nantucket to the Spirit of Glacier Bay when she relocates to the West Coast later this year.

Holland America’s 2008/09 Caribbean itineraries are out, while Regent has completed a fleetwide renovation program and also announced changes to their smoking policy.

Crystal has announced their 2008 value collection sailings, and the keel for Seabourn Odyssey has been laid.

For the feature this week we take a lot at the economics of cruising, in particular the economics of cruising the Mediterranean.  With the US Dollar so week against the Euro (and even weaker against the British Pound) Mediterranean cruises become a pretty attractive value.   Since you’re paying for your vacation in Dollars not Euros, your protected against currency fluctuations, plus the pricing you see isn’t effected by the beating that the Dollar is currently taking on the world currency markets.  We talk about it more in detail, and check out our comparison spreadsheet comparing the costs between a land vacation and a cruise.

The Deal of The Week this week is the cruise that we use for reference in our comparison.

Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s president and CEO, placed an un-circulated 2007 U.S. Silver Eagle dollar coin in the keel as the first section of the hull was joined to it. Marco Bisagno, president of T. Mariotti S.p.A., contributed a newly minted Italian one-Euro coin to complete the ceremony, which traditionally solicits good fortune for the vessel during its construction and throughout its seagoing life.

The U.S. coin is decorated with an allegorical image called “Walking Liberty,” depicted as a female form striding across the earth in flowing raiment. The Italian Euro coin depicts Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Vitruvian Man,” symbolically fitting an ideal human form into a well-ordered and geometric universe.

Conover noted that “Seabourn’s Odyssey Class vessels are being born of a time-honored Italian legacy, whereby innovative designers and skilled craftsmen team to create objects of beauty that inspire and bring delight to people over many years.”

According to Bisagno, “Mariotti is honored to build the first of two ultra-luxury yachts for Seabourn, which will no doubt set a new international standard for world-class cruise vessels.”

The sleek hull of Seabourn Odyssey is being constructed at CI.MAR, which is a new alliance between Mariotti and Cimolai Group, a premier firm specializing in sophisticated steel fabrication. Once completed, it will be transferred to Mariotti’s shipyard at Genoa where they will fabricate the ship’s graceful superstructure. Mariotti is a leader in the construction of intimate cruising vessels and ultra-luxury mega yachts.

• Crystal Serenity to offer two new itineraries to/from Istanbul this fall.
• Queen Elizabeth 2′s final sailings are now open for booking, and a progress report on Queen Victoria.
• Princess has announced their 2008/2009 Australia and Asia itineraries.
• The Yachts of Seabourn names their newest ship Seabourn Odyssey.
• Carnival Pride will offer 8 day Mexican Riviera itineraries beginning in March of 2009.
• Experts warn of dangers in salvaging Sea Diamond.

In addition, be sure to check out Joanne Giorgianni’s first hand report from Liberty of The Seas as the struggled with getting a norovirus outbreak under control.  You’ll find it here.

This week’s Deal of The Week  is a trans-Panama Canal sailing from San Juan PR to Acapulco Mexico onboard Princess that INCLUDES AIRFARE!!!!  Be sure to check out this fantastic deal.

Seabourn Cruise Line has announced the name that will be given to its new, ultra luxury cruising vessel, presently under construction in Italy. The all-suite, 450-guest ship will be christened Seabourn Odyssey when she debuts in Venice in mid-2009.

Seabourn invited its Seabourn Club, an exceptionally loyal coterie of repeat guests, to participate in the fun by guessing the name before it was announced. With the incentive of a free cruise for two during the new ship’s maiden year for the winner, the contest drew thousands of entries from around the world by mail and email. Over fifty of those entries divined the correct name, and the winners, John and Hazel Coleman of Monaco, were drawn at random from among those who answered correctly.

Beginning last May, more than 8,500 tons of steel is being cut and welded to form the sleek hull and graceful superstructure of the line’s new, $250 million flagship, which, when she is launched, will be the first addition to any fleet in the ultra luxury segment of the cruise industry in six years.

Although three times the size of her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend, Seabourn Odyssey will carry just over twice as many guests, and boast the same gracious ratio of hospitality staff to guests and among the highest space-per-guest ratios in the cruise industry. In addition, the new vessel will offer more dining options than her sisters, as well as more types of suites, more verandas, more entertainment venues and enhanced spa and recreational facilities.

While Seabourn has yet to announce the first itineraries, there is some information on some incentives the line is offering to passengers interested in the ship’s maiden voyages.  Click “more” for details.

Plans for maiden year itineraries are still being finalized, but the initial level of interest and excitement prompted Seabourn to devise a system for accepting reservations that will be at once equitable to its loyal guests and supporters, and manageable for the company’s internal staff.

Guests who wish to sail on voyages during the maiden year can secure a spot on a waitlist by making a standard Seabourn deposit of $1,000 per person, or $2,000 per person for the actual maiden voyage. These deposits are being accepted now. Seabourn expects to publish the details of Odyssey’s maiden year schedules by the end of 2007. At that time, waitlisted persons will be notified in advance and given priority booking access, which will allow them to select the specific voyage and accommodation they prefer. These reservations will be accepted according to the following criteria:

Guests who sail with Seabourn in 2007 or 2008 will have first priority. They will be notified in advance and given a two week priority booking window. This will include anyone who books and sails on a cruise departing by the end of 2008.

Past guests of Seabourn who do not sail in 2007 or 2008 will be granted the second priority notification and a second two-week booking access.

A third priority booking period will be available to first-time Seabourn guests who have deposited for the waitlist.

After that, reservations will be accepted from anyone for remaining space on maiden year voyages, based on Seabourn’s standard deposit and booking policies.

Travelers can experience Seabourn’s award-winning style on cruises of seven to 28 days or more in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, India and Arabia. Cruise itineraries explore landmark ports and lesser-known gems where larger ships cannot go.

The few stories we have this week -

Crystal announces a partnership with Hotel Bel Air, and Seabourn releases lots of details on their new flagship.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 is the only cruise ship currently in service with a war record, seeing service during the Falkland Islands campaign 25 years ago.  To commemorate the event QE2 will host a special luncheon reunion on Sunday June 10.

MSC has decided to name the ship that was to be known as MSC Serenata the MSC Splendida instead.

Westerdam gets some new cabins and other upgrades that will be rolled out to her Vista class sisters Oosterdam and Zuiderdam in the next two years.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon dedicates the two new piers in Puerto Vallerta

Empress of The North to be moved from Ketchikan to another location to complete the repairs on her hull.  As a result additional sailings have been cancelled.  Itineraries through June 23 are now cancelled.

For the feature part of the show we talk about crusing the British Isles.  Like other destinations in our ongoing series Cruising Anywhere BUT the Caribbean, we talk about the ports of call and the attracts that you might be interested when sailing to the British Isles.

The yet-unnamed vessel is being designed by the renowned architecture firm of Yran & Storbraaten of Norway and constructed in Italy by T. Mariotti S.p.A., leaders in the construction of mega-yachts and intimate cruising vessels. The ship’s designers have mirrored the distinctive silhouette of the existing Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend while adding additional facilities and amenities. Indeed, past guests will appreciate a familiar scheme to the general layout of public rooms and accommodations.

“We’ve been careful to incorporate Seabourn’s signature features while designing the next generation of ultra luxury ship to satisfy the desires of a new generation of luxury travelers,” said Pamela C. Conover, the line’s president and CEO.

Seabourn’s grand, new yacht will offer more dining options, more types of suites, more verandas, more entertainment venues and enhanced spa and recreational facilities. Although three times the size of her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, the new vessel will carry just over twice as many guests (450 passengers), boasting among the highest space-per-guest ratio (71.1) in the cruise industry.

You’ll find more information about Seabourn’s newest ship when you click “more” below.

13 Categories of Suites In response to feedback from past passengers, the new ship will offer a range of luxury accommodations. Seven of its 11 passenger decks will feature 225 ocean-view suites, measuring from 277 to over 1,300 square feet. Approximately 90 percent of the suites will include private verandas providing from 68 to 344 square feet of outdoor living space. Decks 9 and 10 are home to 22 penthouses with 450-square-foot interiors and verandas measuring nearly 100 square feet.

The most expansive guest quarters on board will be five Owners Suites that measure over 700 square feet (including veranda) and four, two-bedroom Grand Suites providing over 1300 square feet of private living space. All suites will feature granite bathrooms, with separate tub and shower, twin sinks and a stunning glass vanity.

Four Dining Venues Guests can enjoy superb cuisine in a choice of four venues: The Restaurant – the ship’s gourmet, open-seating dining room, where guests savor multi-course dinner menus designed by acclaimed celebrity chef Charlie Palmer; Veranda Café – a stylish, yet casual restaurant serving regional specialties, with both indoor and outdoor seating; Restaurant 2 – an elegant and intimate specialty restaurant featuring innovative tasting menus; and Patio Grill – where guests can enjoy pizza and grilled items, poolside. In addition to a 24-hour, in-suite service menu, during dinner hours guests can order from The Restaurant menu, dining course-by-course if they wish.

Six Open Bars Anticipating the desires of sophisticated travelers, the newest addition to the Seabourn fleet will offer a selection of lounges and bars to satisfy a myriad of moods and entertainment styles. With an open-bar policy that ensures fine wines, champagnes and spirits flow freely, choices will include: Grand Salon – the main showroom and home to Seabourn’s dance band, features a unique living room-like foyer furnished with inviting booths and arm chairs, in addition to tiered banquettes that surround the dance floor.

The Club – with both indoor and outdoor seating, is where a pianist, duo or trio will perform a variety of musical genres throughout the evening. Sky Bar – this popular icon of the existing Seabourn yachts overlooks the ship’s central, outdoor living space: Poolside Patio. Patio Bar – in the evenings, guests can enjoy live, alfresco entertainment, weather permitting. Coffee Bar – situated portside at Seabourn Square, traditional Italian espresso, cappuccino and café latte are complimented by champagne, wine and spirits.

With a dramatic square bar as its focal point, the ship’s forward-facing observation lounge is located atop the navigational bridge and boasts panoramic views; high-powered, motion-dampened spotting scopes and binoculars-behind-the-bar for use by patrons.

Other Facilities & Amenities Seabourn Square – the heart of the ship and home to the pursers and tour desks, Internet center, library and three duty-free retail shops.

The Marina – a beloved icon of the current Seabourn fleet, a fold-down teak platform provides a staging area for guests to enjoy complimentary water sports including waterskiing from the ship’s own speed boat, banana boat rides, paddleboats and kayaks.

Sun Terraces – Stepped terraces, on Deck 11, at the ship’s highest and furthest-forward point, are home to another intriguing amenity. There, protected by a glass windbreak, guests will find a terraced enclave furnished with large sun-beds.

Spa at Seabourn – With a thallasso whirlpool as its focal point, the spa will feature his and hers Finnish saunas, a selection of aromatic steam rooms, separate gym and aerobics areas and two outdoor decks, for exclusive use by spa guests.

Swimming pools and whirlpools – Guests can choose from swimming pools on Decks 8 and 5, plus a total of seven whirlpools.