The cruise ship Disney Magic, which usually operates out of Port Canaveral, set sail on its first cruise out of the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif. A flotilla of Los Angeles fire and police boats, Coast Guard cutters and recreational boats, including kite boats, accompanied the Magic out of the port as it began its first of 12 seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera.

Carnival Cruise Lines will operate a six-day Bermuda cruise in 2006 and another in 2007 aboard the 88,500-ton Carnival Legend. The six-day voyages will depart from New York on April 20, 2006, and April 19, 2007, and feature an overnight visit to King´s Wharf, Bermuda; as well as a full-day call at Newport, R.I.

For the first time this fall, luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises will offer a dedicated new season of seven Mexican Riviera cruises in round-trip from Los Angeles, California. The extensive series also represents the last season for Crystal Harmony, scheduled to join its parent company´s Japanese cruise division in December.

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.