Holland America Line introduced its Group Early Advantage pricing and amenities perks for 2007. The goal is to provide best value pricing as an incentive to get groups to book early for select sailings. Travel agents booking with Group Early Advantage can save their clients up to $1,700 per person, with an average savings of $200 per person on more than 50 sailings in 2007.

Consumer demand for ocean cruises onboard ships of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member lines remained strong in 2006´s first quarter. CLIA-member cruise lines carried 2.79 million worldwide guests, a 5.8 percent increase over the same period in 2005. North American passengers grew by 4.3 percent in the first quarter to 2.44 million, up from 2.34 million guests during the same period in 2005.

Against the backdrop of the setting sun on the bell tower of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italian actress Sophia Loren christened MSC Cruises´ newest vessel, the Musica, on June 29. The christening was attended by about 1,300 members of a mostly European press and travel agent contingency; speaking at the ceremony were Italy´s transportation minister, Alessandro Bianchi, the mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, and MSC CEO, Pierfrancesco Vago.

Carnival Cruise Lines will expand its wireless Internet access to all public rooms and suites in its fleet by the end of 2006. Guests on any Carnival vessel will be able to connect via any wireless-equipped laptop computer from almost anywhere onboard, including the lounges, bars, pool areas, open decks, dining venues and suites.

Celebrity Cruises announced today that a federal court jury in New York awarded Celebrity $193 million in a lawsuit against Essef Corp. Celebrity has remaining claims for interest and certain legal fees. Celebrity filed suit against Essef Corp. for damages stemming from a 1994 outbreak of Legionnaires´ disease on Celebrity´s vessel Horizon.

Ambassadors Cruise Group unveiled the new brand name for the combined operation of its American West Steamboat Co. and Delta Queen Steamboat Co.: Majestic America Line. The company´s six ships will retain their individual names as the company transitions to the new brand.