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.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomed American Cruise Lines as its newest member on March 15, said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. American Cruise Lines (ACL) will bring to 20 the number of CLIA-member cruise lines, which collectively represent 97 percent of the cruise capacity marketed in North America. CLIA is also comprised of nearly 17,000 travel agencies, making it the largest travel industry association based on agency membership. ACL ships sail with no more than 100 passengers along the smooth, inland waterways of the United States, on nine itineraries between Maine and Florida.

Royal Caribbean International recently introduced a new fleet-wide bedding program that includes an extreme makeover from bed frames to covers. The new bedding program will be introduced on Freedom of the Seas in May and rolled out across the entire fleet by May 2007. Guests cruising with Royal Caribbean International will soon experience the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation with the introduction of a new fleet-wide bedding program.

MSC Cruises ordered another Panamax ship from the Chantiers de l´Atlantique shipyard for a 2008 delivery, CEO Richard Sasso said at the Seatrade conference State of the Industry session here. Sasso did not say where MSC´s five new ships on order would go but that North America would “get a lot of attention. “These ships give us so much versatility,” he added.

Parading penguins and towering icebergs, hundreds of mysterious Moai statues standing as tall as than 70 feet, and giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies are among some of the exciting sights awaiting guests of Discovery when the ship returns to South America and the South Pacific for the fourth consecutive year in 2007. A specialist in exploring exotic and faraway places in comfort and style, Discovery World Cruises –operators of Discovery- will offer 17 spectacular cruise tours, ranging from 13 to 40 days to the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, South America and the South Pacific for 2007.

With Europe an ever popular cruise destination, Holland America Line is adding a fifth ship, the new ship Noordam, to sail the Mediterranean throughout the summer. The Noordam makes her European debut starting with a 16-day Atlantic crossing from New York to Rome followed by a full summer of 10-day cruises exploring the romantic and beautiful Mediterranean round trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) from May through September.