Trio of Queens in New York

The three Cunard Queens, QM2, QE2 and QV, will all be meeting in New York on January 13. According to Cunard, this will be the first, and only, meeting of all three since the QE2 is retiring at the end of the year. It's a unique opportunity, as this is the first time in Cunard's history they've had 3 Queens sailing at one time.

Scheduled for departure at 6:30PM, Queen Mary 2 will depart her winter home at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Queen Elizabeth 2 will leave from Pier 92 of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and Queen Victoria from Pier 88 also in Manhattan. The three regal ladies will then rendezvous and sail by the Statue of Liberty together at approximately 7PM, accompanied by a "spectacular" fireworks display.

If you're in the area and would like to witness this historic cruising event, Cunard recommends the following vantage points:

• Battery Park: On the southern shoreline of Manhattan, www.thebattery.org
  Map link: http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/map/map.php


• Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park: Overlooking the Hudson River with great views of the Statue of Liberty
  Getting there: Just south of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. By subway: 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or N or R to Whitehall.


• The Esplanade: Running the entire length of Battery Park City, along the Hudson River from Stuyvesant High School on the north end all the way south to Battery Park


• Hudson River Park: 550 acre park extends for five miles along the Manhattan shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street.

Dubai Building Second Cruise Terminal

Huh? Where you may ask? Why should I care?

Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the fastest-growing travel destinations in the world. Most travelers come from Europe, not from America, but this is likely to change as this destination grows and matures and Americans look for new destinations.

As a cruise port, Dubai is relatively new. However, 2 years ago, Costa announced they were going to base a ship there (marketed to Europeans) in the winter months. It was a huge success, quickly selling out all its sailings. A second ship was added for this year and it's proving to be just as popular. It's expected that 165,000 passengers will sail through Dubai this season, and that number is expected to grow to 350,000 by the 2010 season.

Why is this important to you? It's another example of the growing importance of the European cruise market. More and more cruise line resources are going to serve this market, and it's expanding the areas of the world where you can cruise. While not many Americans are yet exploring these areas in the winter, I expect that to change over the next few years. In addition, expect to see a growing percentage of the newbuilds going to the European brands instead of the US market.

Finally, if you thought Dubai sounded familiar, this is where, after November 2008, you will have to go to see the Queen Elizabeth II. One mega resort there has purchased her to be a permanent attraction.

There's big money in Dubai, as they seek to diversify beyond oil revenue, and are intentionally growing their tourist base. Amazing hotels, theme parks and other attractions (including casinos) are being built. Keep an eye on it for the future!