CUNARD ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF QUEEN VICTORIA; DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TO NAME NEW SHIP

Cunard took delivery of the Queen Victoria on November 27, and the new ship left the shipyard in Venice on November 30.

She is scheduled to arrive in Southampton on December 7, where she will berth at the City Cruise Terminal at 9:30 am. If you are in the UK, here is the schedule of December 7 viewing points as the ship makes her way up Southampton Water.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will christen new ocean liner with a magnum of Veuve Clicquot's Yellow Label. Like her sister ship the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria will feature a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar. Located on Deck 2 of the triple-height Grand Lobby, the1920's Art Deco-style champagne bar will serve Veuve Clicquot Champagne exclusively. Appropriately, the Champagnes are paired with fresh delicacies during the pre-dinner and post-dinner hours.


The Following her Naming Ceremony on December 10, the Queen Victoria will depart on her Maiden Voyage, to a splendid firework display, at 5:00 pm on Tuesday December 11.


Courtesy of About.com


Read the Official Press Release

INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS WILL ARRIVE TWO WEEKS EARLY

Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, Independence of the Seas, will be coming into service two weeks earlier than scheduled.

Work has been completed earlier than expected so the cruise line will be able to offer an additional two sailings on board the new ship from the beginning of May 2008.

Managing director Jo Rzymowska said: "The extra couple of weeks provide our trade partners with further opportunities to earn commission, particularly over the peak booking period during the festive season and in the New Year.

"This complements our Turn Of Year campaign which has launched earlier than ever before."

The two additional sailings include a four-night Cork cruise that departs on May 2 and an 11-night Canary Island cruise on May 6.

Guests who have already booked onto the inaugural sailing on May 17 will be offered the first chance to move at no additional cost to the new maiden voyage on May 2, incorporating exactly the same itinerary from Southampton – Cork – Southampton.

Guests wanting to change to the new date should contact the cruise line by December 12 in order for their booked stateroom to be re-protected on the new sailing date.

Royal Caribbean International is writing to all its trade partners to fully explain the changes.

The new sailings are live for re-booking from December 7.

After a Nordic inaugural celebration in April 2008, Independence of the Seas will arrive in the UK on April 25 with UK celebrations taking place from April 26-30 in Southampton.

NEW SEABOURN SHIP TO SAIL FROM VENICE

The first new Seabourn ship in six years is to operate its first series of sailings from Venice.

The $250 million vessel is to enter service for the ultra luxury line in summer 2009.

The 225-suite ship will run itineraries from Venice starting on June 24, 2009, with bookings opening on November 5.

The 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey will also operate the company's first world cruise in January 2010, with a duration of 108 days. Ports of call will include Bali, Bora Bora, Sydney and Saigon.

The new ship will expand the Seabourn fleet to four vessels.

The line's president and CEO Pam Conover said: "The ultra luxury segment of the cruising business has been operating at nearly full capacity and Seabourn Oydssey will be the first ultra luxury vessel to be launched in six years.

"There is pent-up demand for a new, intimate ship to continue Seabourn's legacy of exceptional service, unexpected delights and exotic destinations, which are synonymous with the brand."

by Phil Davies

Courtesy of Travelmole.com

NCL'S NEW "IT" GIRL MAKES HER GLAMOROUS DEBUT

She's hot, she's hip, she's the ultimate trip – Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) new "It" Girl of Freestyle Cruising® is here.

On Friday, 5 October NCL's latest ship, Norwegian Gem, made her debut in Dover and just like any "It" Girl, she wowed everyone who saw her. The inaugural event on Friday evening attracted celebrities like Ruby Wax, a bevy of paparazzi and travel professionals from around the UK to a Gem of a Night on-board celebration, culminating in a Fireworks Fantasia on Dover's Promenade.

The Jewel-class ship offers 15 decks of fun, including opulent suites and Villas, a four-lane ten-pin bowling alley, rock climbing wall, high-energy Broadway-style shows and the sheer indulgence of the South Pacific Spa and Beauty Salon. This "It" Girl has it all and with around one crew member for every stateroom, service is everything an A-lister would expect. She even has her own "HerSpace" page at www.gemitgirl.co.uk where you can win great prizes such as £50 of Harvey Nichols vouchers or a Nintendo Wii™ every week until the end of December 2007. And if you would like to get aboard this fantastic Gem of a ship then you could also win a 7-night Mediterranean cruise to experience for yourself all that she has to offer.

Norwegian Gem is fantastic but don't just take our word for it, check out her video right here and see for yourself.

Like any "It" girl, Norwegian Gem will be good at selling herself but to help her along we have created a selection of photographs for you to use on your website.

After spending the winter in the Caribbean, Norwegian Gem will reposition in Europe in April 2008 where she will pick up her series of 28 seven day Western Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip from Barcelona.

If you were at the festivities of the inaugural in Dover then thanks for coming and we hope you had a great time; if not then please enjoy her webpage, video and photographs and you never know you could be the lucky winner of that cruise aboard Norwegian Gem.

If you would like help marketing any of NCL's itineraries both for print and web then please visit our trade partners website at www.ncl.co.uk/agents/index.htm, password: freestyle, username: cruising.

Special Jetline Cruise offer: 13 Night fly cruise package to the Caribbean from New York on the Norwegian Gem from only £799pp. Book now for 14th January 2008 or 4th February 2008.