Cruise West ships escape to the warmth of Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the South Pacific Cruise West, long known for its leadership in Alaska cruising, is trading glaciers and brown bears for exotic birds, pearls, and snorkeling this winter in multiple, sun-soaked itineraries.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor -the largest vessel ever constructed for the line- is undergoing final exterior and interior outfitting in Italy in preparation for its debut in Europe next summer.

As a testament to the growing reach and popularity of Carnival Cruise Lines’ online marketing channels, the blog of Carnival Freedom Senior Cruise Director John Heald, FunShipIsland.com and CarnivalConnections.com continue to achieve unprecedented success, with each surpassing the one million visitor mark in recent months.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s recent fuel surcharge will dampen the impact of fuel price spikes for the company and will not deter bookings, said Bank of America equity analyst Michael Savner.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny will launch a unique seven-day cruise program from San Juan featuring extended calls at six tropical destinations - St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Thomas/St. John. The new schedule begins March 2, 2008.

Ground broke Tuesday on the Honduran island of Roatan for what is slated to be the Central American country’s largest cruise port facility when it opens in summer 2009.