Carnival to Sail Year Round from Baltimore!

I think the number one request I get from clients is they want more choices of ships to sail from Baltimore. Well, Carnival listened!

Announced today, Carnival will start sailing year-round from Baltimore with the Carnival Pride! Her inaugural sailing from Baltimore will be on September 13, 2009, and she will sail very different alternating 7-night itineraries.

The first itinerary is what they're calling their Exotic Eastern Caribbean choice, calling at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Freeport, The Bahamas.

The second offering is focused on the Bahamas/Florida, visiting Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.

In addition, she will offer a special one-time 6-night sailing on September 7, 2009. Featured ports on this voyage include Freeport and Port Canaveral.

Sailings are open for booking NOW!

Another Fuel Supplement Increase

Carnival Corporation today announced a further increase in the fuel supplements for their brands. Starting with bookings made on June 12, the supplement will increase to $9 per person per day for the first two passengers in a cabin, up from $7/person per day, to a maximum of $126 per person per sailing. For additional passengers, the supplement is doubling to $4 per person per day, up to a maximum of $56/person per sailing.

This increase will be applicable to their 6 brands which are widely marketed in the US: Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Yachts of Seabourn, Costa and Cunard.

Carnival Corporation Lines Raise Fuel Supplement

In a series of press releases today, Carnival Corporation brands have announced they will be increasing their fuel supplements. The increases will impact Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard and Seabourn.

Carnival Corporation has stated that, starting with new bookings on or after April 21, 2008, they will increase the fuel supplement to $7/person per day for the first and second passengers, up to a maximum of $98/person per voyage, and for the first time implement a supplement of $2/person per day up to a maximum of $28/person per voyage for the third and fourth passengers as well.

Of course, for bookings made between November 7 and April 20, the originally-announced supplements of $5/person per day will apply.

What does this mean to you?

First off, if you're looking to book any of these lines, try to do so before April 21 for a bit of a savings. Secondly, expect to see the other lines (meaning Royal Caribbean, Azamara and Celebrity) following very soon.

Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Corp Modify Fuel Supplements!

And it's actually a good thing!

In early published reports this evening, it appears that from negotiations between both Carnival Corporation (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, etc.), Royal Caribbean International (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara) and the Florida Attorney General, both corporations have voluntarily agreed to refund to passengers booked prior to November 15 any fuel supplements charged on their bookings.

The Attorney General's office is expected to issue a release regarding the agreement on Tuesday morning.

Carnival has said that this refund will affect approximately 300,000 bookings, with a total refund around $21 million. Royal Caribbean didn't release their exact figures.

The fuel supplements will remain in effect for all bookings made after the announcement of the implementation of the surcharges.

Have to say I did expect this, as the way they were implemented really seemed to go against the settlement from the 1990s which prohibited adding fees without disclosure. I believe this is an equitable settlement to the issue, and am glad to see it happen relatively quickly and without too much fuss. Well done to all parties involved!

Carnival's Funtennial Celebration

As I mentioned in the Leap Year Special Edition newsletter this week, Carnival is starting a month-long "Funtennial" Celebration in honor of the anniversary of the line's inaugural.

For the week of February 29-March 7, their gift to you for booking any of the below sailings is up to $100/cabin onboard credit! The applicable sailings are:

• Carnival Fascination, 3/14/08, 3 Nt Bahamas, Miami RT, from $329
• Carnival Sensation, 3/20/08, 3 Nt Bahamas, Port Canaveral RT, from $329
• Carnival Paradise, 5/23/08, 3 Nt Baja Mexico, Los Angeles RT, from $469
• Carnival Elation, 4/24/08, 4 Nt Baja Mexico, San Diego RT, from $399
• Carnival Elation, 5/22/08, 4 Nt Baja Mexico, San Diego RT, from $579
• Carnival Fascination, 3/17/08, 4 Nt W. Caribbean, Miami RT, from $429
• Carnival Fascination, 5/5/08, 4 Nt W. Caribbean, Miami RT, from $309
• Carnival Paradise, 5/5/08, 4 Nt Baja Mexico, Los Angeles RT, from $269
• Carnival Celebration, 3/27/08, 4 Nt Bahamas, Jacksonville RT, from $399
• Carnival Ecstasy, 4/5/08, 5 Nt W. Caribbean, Galveston RT, from $429
• Carnival Ecstasy, 4/19/08, 5 Nt W. Caribbean, Galveston RT, from $429
• Carnival Elation, 4/19/08, 5 Nt Baja Mexico, San Diego Rt, from $349
• Carnival Liberty, 5/24/08, 7 Nt W. Caribbean, Miami RT, from $719
• Carnival Triumph, 4/19/08, 7 Nt E. Caribbean, Miami RT, from $589
• Carnival Pride, 5/4/08, 7 Nt Mexican Riviera, Los Angeles RT, from $649
• Carnival Valor, 4/6/08, 7 Nt E. Caribbean, Miami RT, from $649

Carnival doesn't often have onboard credit offers, so if you're looking for a cruise in the next few months, this is a great opportunity! Call or email me for more details.

In addition, book *any* Carnival cruise during March, and be entered into a weekly drawing for a free cruise in a Grand Suite aboard the Carnival Imagination or Carnival Inspiration, or 10 second prizes for Fuji digital cameras.

Carnival Enhances Online Registration

Carnival has finally enhanced their online FunPass Registration, allowing registration of credit cards and acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of Passage online prior to sailing. This should help aleviate lines at check in and speed the boarding process!

To utilize this service for an upcoming cruise, just log onto www.carnival.com, go to FunPass and enter your information at least 24 hours prior to sailing.

First 2009 Summer Sailings Released!

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the opening of some of their Summer, 2009 itineraries! They're certainly getting the jump on their competition.

The ships and itineraries announced today are:

CARNIVAL TRIUMPH 4, 5 & 7 Day Canada Cruises - Departing NYC - 2009
One (1) 4 Day Canada Cruise on Sunday, June 7, 2009
Six (6) 5 Day Saturday cruises: 6/20, 7/4, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29/09
Sieven (7) 5 Day Monday cruises: 6/15, 6/29, 7/13, 7/27, 8/10, 8/24, 9/7/09
Seven (7) 4 Day Thursday Weekend cruises: 6/11, 6/25, 7/9, 7/23, 8/6, 8/20, 9/3/09
Five (5) 7 Day Fall Foliage Saturday cruises: 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10/09

2009 Alaska - Carnival Spirit - 7 day cruises - May 6, 2009 through September 9, 2009!

2009 Europe - Carnival Liberty - May 9, 2009 through November 18, 2009 (plus two special Caribbean sailings):

Sat. 5/9/2009 London - 12 Day 1 Northern Europe
Thurs. 5/21/2009 London - 12 Day 2 Northern Europe
Tues. 6/2/2009 London - 12 Day 3 Northern Europe
Sun. 6/14/2009 London - 12 Day 4 Northern Europe
Fri. 6/26/2009 London - 12 Day 5 Northern Europe
Wed. 7/8/2009 London - 12 Day 6 Northern Europe
Mon. 7/20/2009 London - 12 Day 7 Northern Europe
Sat. 8/1/2009 London - 12 Day 8 Northern Europe
Thurs. 8/13/2009 London - 12 Day 9 Northern Europe
Tues. 8/25/2009 London - 12 Day 10 Northern Europe
Sun. 9/6/2009 London - 13 Day Western Europe
Sat. 9/19/2009 Rome - 12 Day 1 Grand Mediterranean
Thurs. 10/1/2009 Rome - 12 Day 2 Grand Mediterranean
Tues. 10/13/2009 Rome - 12 Day 3 Med, Greece & Turkey cruise
Sun. 10/25/2009 Rome - 12 Day 4 Grand Mediterranean
Fri. 11/6/2009 Rome - 12 Day 5 Grand Mediterranean
Wed. 11/18/09 Rome - 16 Day Transatlantic to Miami
Fri. 12/4/09 Miami - Offers a special 8 Day Exotic EC cruise
Sat. 12/12/09 Miami - Resumes 7 Day WC & EC alternating cruises
(this one is EC)

2009 Europe - Carnival Freedom - May 9, 2009 through November 5, 2009 (plus two special Caribbean sailings):

Sat. 05/09/09 Rome - 12 Day 1 Med, Greece & Turkey cruise
Thurs. 05/21/09 Rome - 12 Day 2 Grand Mediterranean
Tues. 06/02/09 Rome - 12 Day 3 Grand Mediterranean
Sun. 06/14/09 Rome - 12 Day 4 Grand Mediterranean
Fri. 06/26/09 Rome - 12 Day 5 Grand Mediterranean
Wed. 07/08/09 Rome - 12 Day 6 Grand Mediterranean
Mon. 07/20/09 Rome - 12 Day 7 Grand Mediterranean
Sat. 08/01/09 Rome - 12 Day 8 Grand Mediterranean
Thurs. 08/13/09 Rome - 12 Day 9 Med, Greece & Turkey cruise
Tues. 08/25/09 Rome - 12 Day 10 Grand Mediterranean
Sun. 09/06/09 Rome - 12 Day 11 Grand Mediterranean
Fri. 09/18/09 Rome - 12 Day 12 Med, Greece & Turkey cruise
Wed. 09/30/09 Rome - 12 Day 13 Grand Mediterranean
Mon. 10/12/09 Rome - 12 Day 14 Grand Mediterranean
Sat. 10/24/09 Rome - 12 Day 15 Grand Mediterranean
Thurs. 11/05/09 16 Day TRANSATLANTIC Rome to Ft. Lauderdale
Sat. 11/21/09 8 Day Exotic Western Caribbean - Ft. Lauderdale

In addition, the Carnival Miracle 8-night Caribbean sailings from New York will open later this week. If you're interested in any of these sailings, call now for the best availability!

German Cruise Market Heats Up

We mentioned here a couple days ago the growing popularity of the German cruise market. Carnival today confirms that, with orders of 2 newbuilds from Meyer Werft shipyard for their Aida brand. This brings their total newbuilds to 6 in just the past three years.

The two ships will each be 71,000 tons, with a passenger capacity of 2,174, and will be scheduled to enter service in April 2011 and May 2012.

Additionally, the company announced that it has contracted with Meyer Werft to increase the size of the fourth vessel in the series, set to debut in April 2010, to 71,000 tons with a passenger capacity of 2,174, making it a sister to the two ships ordered today. The all-in cost for that vessel has been increased from ?335 million to ?350 million.

All of these vessels will operate under AIDA Cruises’ informal “club resort” cruise concept which is marketed exclusively to German-speaking clientele and offers a product aimed at younger, more active guests who enjoy a host of on-board amenities and facilities.

“With the interest in cruise vacations among Europeans continuing to grow significantly, we are committed to investing in our European brands. The addition of these 71,000-ton ‘club resort’ newbuilds and the increase in capacity for the fourth in the series will help to ensure that we have adequate capacity to meet growing demand, while further reinforcing AIDA’s position as the leader in the German cruise industry,” said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO.

AIDA Cruises’ President Michael Thamm added, “Our business has been performing very strongly and our parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, shares our confidence in the potential of the German cruise business as demonstrated by the more than ?2 billion investment in six exciting new shiips.”

These vessels will join the 68,500-ton AIDAbella, set to debut in April 2008, and an as-yet-unnamed sister ship in April 2009. The first vessel in the series, AIDAdiva, was introduced earlier this year.

AIDA Cruises revolutionized the German cruise market with the introduction of its first “club ships” in 1996. By 2012, a total of nine “club ships” will be in service, operating voyages to the Mediterranean, the Canaries, the North Sea, the Baltic, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Asia and Central America.

So, sailing around the world, when you see these ships, you know you might need to say "guten tag" in port, in addition to "good morning".