Amadeus Waterways is investing approximately $100 million to build four river cruise ships over the next two years. Two of the four ships are set to launch this year, and two will launch in 2009, which will bring the company’s fleet size to six (not including several ships Amadeus charters).
Travel enthusiasts who wish to take an online journey through the deluxe, exotic-destination Azamara Cruises experience now can do so online before booking the real thing, at Azamara Cruises website.
Sophia Loren will be a five-time godmother for MSC Cruises when she christens the MSC Poesia at midnight on April 5 in Dover, England. It will be the first launch of an MSC ship outside of Italy.
Crystal Cruises is debuting two new products geared for travel agents. The first is the line’s “E-mail Builder,” a program that allows agents to send savings opportunities, destination specials and other promotions to individual clients. Agents can use the promotional le-mail templates to customize the content to suit a particular client’s interests, schedule or budget.
Holland America Line will offer nine select voyages throughout Australia and New Zealand in 2009 aboard the 1,432-passenger ms Volendam. The ship will operate itineraries ranging from 14 to 19 days, departing from Auckland, Sydney or Singapore.
Carnival Cruise Lines has enhanced its “Fun Pass” online embarkation portal to allow guests the ability to register for the line’s shipboard credit card system and to electronically accept the Terms and Conditions of Passage prior to their cruise, thus further expediting the embarkation process.