Cruise traffic at the Port of Cork in Ireland continues on an upward spiral with record numbers of ships and passengers scheduled to call in 2006.
Commencing on 8 April, the port is set to host 37 cruise ships with 39,000 passenger capacity over a six month period to October 12 as the world´s major cruise lines confirm their confidence in Cork as an outstanding port of call in the increasingly competitive Northern European cruise market.
The Chilean Fjords, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Cape Horn Passage, the Falkland Islands and Buenos Aires are among the highlights of the first of two South America voyages Peter Deilmann Cruises is offering U.S. travelers looking for a grand hotel voyage aboard the five-star MS Deutschland, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 14, 2007.
The second sailing for travelers seeking both scenic and historic South America destinations and relaxing days at sea spends time in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro at Carnival time and colonial Salvador, before crossing the South Atlantic via the Cape Verde Islands to Santa Cruz, Tenerife in Spain´s Canary Islands, Feb. 14 to March 5, 2007.
Princess Cruises canceled the Caribbean cruises that had been scheduled April 9, 16 and 23 and a transatlantic cruise scheduled April 30 on the Star Princess, which has been taken out of service after a fire damaged 100 cabins and left one passenger dead and 11 injured.
The cruise line already had canceled the March 26 and April 3 departures of the Star Princess.
As more travelers become experienced Caribbean cruisers, they are discovering a new tropical paradise, the Mexican Riviera, which offers sensational scenery, some of the best beaches in the world and a formidable array of cultural attractions. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Mexican Riviera has grown into one of the top five cruise destinations in the last five years, and for good reason.
Typically, CLIA member line ships call at such destinations as California´s Monterey and Catalina Island, and the Mexican ports of Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa/Zihautanjeo, Manzanillo and Mazatlan. Cruises from seven to 11 days set sail from Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco.
The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) congratulates both Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International for rejecting suggestions to cut costs by cutting travel agency commissions.
A report generated by Goldman Sachs, suggested both cruise lines should lower their travel agent commission and redirect bookings to their own websites in efforts to save money. The cruise lines however, have said they have no intention of following such recommendations, because they value the role of the travel agent in their business.
Disney Cruse Lines is leaving North America for the first time in 2007 and revealed it will sail a series of itineraries in Europe aboard the Disney Magic.
The Disney Magic will offer 10 and 11 night Mediterranean roundtrip cruises out of Barcelona, Spain, calling in various ports in France, Italy and Spain.