Celebrity Cruises is canceling its June 3 sailing on Summit and shortened by one day its May 27 sailing to replace a radial-bearing unit that is showing premature wear in the ship´s starboard propulsion system. "I sincerely apologize to our guests for this disruption to their vacation plans," said Dan Hanrahan, president of Celebrity Cruises. "I share in their disappointment and promise that we´ll do our best to assist them, as well as our travel agent partners, in rescheduling their vacations."

Following strong consumer response to its first-ever Mediterranean cruises set to debut aboard the new Carnival Liberty this summer, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that the vessel will return for a second time for a full season of Med cruises beginning on May 2006. The 110,000-ton cruise ship, which is currently under construction in Monfalcone, Italy, will operate a series of fifteen 12-day "Grand Mediterranean" cruises round-trip from Rome stretching out from May 7 to October 22, 2006.

Two of Princess´ most popular vessels will make their debut on the line´s Seattle-based Alaska Inside Passage itinerary in 2006. Sister ships Sun Princess and Dawn Princess will take over the seven-day roundtrip voyages through some of southeastern Alaska´s most dramatic scenery. In total the line will offer 51 Inside Passage cruises on three itineraries, each featuring the convenience of departing from an easily accessible homeport.

The new 116,000-ton Crown Princess will call at Port Canaveral next summer when Princess Cruises begins new service from New York to the Caribbean. It will be the first time the cruise line has called at Port Canaveral. Passengers who embark in New York for the round-trip Caribbean voyages will be able to spend a day in Brevard County and Central Florida.

Princess Cruises and Cunard Line are merging their sales forces after bringing under one management the two line´s operations and port planning and Cunard moving from Miami to Princess´ offices in southern California. Both lines fall under Carnival´s P&O Princess International division, which is overseen by Peter Ratcliffe. The consolidated sales force is divided into four regions, each overseen by a current regional sales director.

Carnival Cruise Lines´ will return to Europe in 2006 after its first season of Mediterranean cruises was deemed a success. Carnival will begin a full season of 12-day Mediterranean cruises beginning May 2006 using the 110,000-ton SuperLiner, which is currently under construction in Monfalcone, Italy.