Cruise News
THE PRINSENDAM, Holland America's smallest vessel, will go into a drydock for a $20 million upgrade at the end of this year, where it will be given a new Explorations Cafe, an expanded shopping area, new carpeting and flooring, an upgrade to its cabins and a new meeting room that will be converted to a Club HAL hangout for kids.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE'S newest ship, the Eurodam, will be named in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on July 1 before it embarks on a 10-day maiden voyage from Copenhagen. The ship will sail its inaugural season in Europe followed by sailings in Canada and New England in the fall and the Caribbean in the winter. The Eurodam, the first of HAL's Signature-class ships, will feature two new alternative dining venues that feature pan-Asian and Italian cuisine.
Carnival names newbuilds Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic. Add the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Magic to the roster of new ships in the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet as the cruise line officially named the two 130,000-ton ships on order with Italy's Fincantieri shipyard Feb. 9. The 3,652-passenger ships are scheduled to enter service in October 2009 and June 2011, respectively, and will represent a new class of vessel for Carnival, and the largest in its fleet. With the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Magic, the line has four new ships on order with Fincantieri. The 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom will be the first to enter service when it debuts in Europe on March 5, followed by the 112,000-ton Carnival Splendor, which is scheduled to enter service in July 2008.
Carnival's Bob Dickinson Marks 35th Anniversary. Carnival Cruise Lines President and CEO Bob Dickinson was surprised with a celebration marking his 35th anniversary with the company. During the festivities, attended by hundreds of Carnival employees as well as his friends and family members, Dickinson received a number of mementos, including a 35-year diamond-and-ruby anniversary pin. Dickinson joined Carnival on Feb. 14, 1972, as executive vice president, just three weeks prior to the inaugural sailing of the line's first ship, the Mardi Gras, on March 9, 1972. He was named president in 1993 added the CEO title 10 years later.
Disney Cruise Line Announces First-Ever Mediterranean Cruises. For the first time, Disney Cruise Line is adding European flair to its itinerary offerings, repositioning the Disney Magic for the summer of 2007 to the Port of Barcelona in Spain and offering alternating 10-night and 11-night Mediterranean cruise vacations to Europe.
Costa Cruises Unveils 2008 Itineraries. Costa Cruises announced its 2008 itineraries, which include new routes in the Indian Ocean, expanded spa getaways at sea, and new itineraries from Mauritius with stops in the Seychelles, Kenya and Madagascar. Costa's new 2008 brochure was released Thursday.
