Princess Cruises has announced it will expand its fleet by adding a sister vessel to the line´s popular Pacific Princess and Tahitian Princess. The 680-passenger ship will be named Royal Princess, taking the name of a former, much-beloved Princess ship which had long been cruising in Europe and other exotic worldwide destinations.

For its 2006 New England and Canada season, luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises is featuring more fall foliage cruises traveling roundtrip from New York. From September through October, the award-winning Crystal Symphony showcases the fall splendor and rich history of this unique part of the world on five destination-rich itineraries including a new 11-day and two new seven-day round-trip departures from New York, as well as two 11-day itineraries between New York and Montreal.

Carnival Cruise Lines´ new Carnival Freedom will operate an inaugural schedule in 2007, encompassing 12-day cruises that include the line´s first-ever visit to the Greek Isles and Turkey, as well as extended calls at a variety of Mediterranean ports. Carnival Freedom´s inaugural season kicks off March 14, 2007, and includes seven 12-day Mediterranean & Greek Isles cruises and 12 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” voyages through Oct. 16, 2007.

Princess Cruises is expanding its fleet with the addition of a 680-passenger, 30,000-ton ship it will call Royal Princess. The ship is currently cruising as Swan Hellenic´s Minerva II and will enter service with Princess in April 2007, joining the line´s other small-ship vessels, the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess ships. The future Royal Princess´ first itineraries will be 12-day European sailings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

From the halls of the famed Louver Museum to a junior suite at the Hôtel du Louvre, guests of the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator can explore Paris, the city that had Robert Langdon on the run, with The Da Vinci Code pre- and post-cruise land program. Seventeen 2006 European sailings from Nice and Monte Carlo offer the optional two-night luxury hotel stay including a tour of the Louvre, pointing out real life highlights of the best-selling novel and soon to be released movie.

The recent opening of the Port of Chiapas highlights the growing importance of cruise tourism for Mexico. The facility will join more than two dozen port cities in the country. Offering access to the nearby Panama Canal, Puerto Chiapas provides an interesting variation on current trans-canal cruises for the market. In 2005, the Mexican Government invested more than $7 million in the development of the Port of Chiapas, which is expected to receive a significant number of cruise calls in 2006. In fact, the authorities are hoping it will give a big boost to tourism generally.