Princess Cruises announce 2009 Alaska Cruise Schedules

In 2009 Alaska will celebrate it’s 50^th Anniversary of statehood. Princess Cruises are celebrating this with a total of 130 Alaska sailings with cruise itineraries to the best the state has to offer, including the truly breathtaking Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

Throughout the May to September Season Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess will be travelling on Princess Cruises signature Gulf of Alaska sailings. Golden Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess will be sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, while Pacific Princess takes the lines small ship experience on a 14 day Connoisseur voyage to some of the state’s less visited ports.

Princess Cruises own wilderness lodges will be featured, with Direct to the Wilderness rail travel combined with sailings through the state’s dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast. All cruises will include at least two nights stay in the Denali area. Denali National Park encompasses six million acres and is home to Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak soaring an unbelievable 20,320 feet into the sky. The park hosts an array of wildlife - from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray wolves and red foxes. Located only one mile from the Park's entrance, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the premium riverside accommodation in the area.

Princess will also be taking more passengers then any other line to the wonders of Glacier Bay. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.

EUROPE AND ASIA CRUISES TIPPED FOR GROWTH IN 2008

Cruise Critic is predicting increased interest in European and Asian cruise itineraries for 2008.

The online resource for consumer cruise reviews, which recently launched a UK site after being purchased by Tripadvisor, said a record number of British holidaymakers will be taking to the high seas this year as cruise holidays experience an unprecedented boom.

"Along with the increased popularity and availability of Asian and European cruises, other 2008 trends we are seeing include a greater number of fitness and spa themed cruises and the building out of new ports of call in the Caribbean," said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief, Cruise Critic.

She said the popularity of Europe-based cruising and the need to alleviate gridlock at the busiest ports means cruise lines are offering more exotic itineraries, including ports of call along Croatia's coast or around the Black Sea.

"Cruise lines are offering more opportunities to explore Asia by sea, as lines like Princess Cruises (with Sapphire Princess) and Royal Caribbean (with Rhapsody of the Seas) have moved larger ships into the market," she added.

Meanwhile, Cruise Critic believes that some Caribbean itineraries are getting a bit stale for long-time cruise enthusiasts.

"In 2008, look for cruise lines and other developers to continue investing in "undiscovered" ports of call. Carnival, a leader in this field, is developing places like Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos, and Progreso, in Mexico," it said.

Cruise Critic travel experts have put together a list of the top 10 ports that should not be missed in 2008. These are:

Amsterdam,
Dubrovnik,
Hong Kong
Martinique,
Maui, Hawaii
Muscat
Naples,
St. Petersburg
Sydney
Vancouver, B.C.

PRINCESS CRUISE TOURS GO TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST CELEBRATED DESTINATIONS IN 2008-09

Princess will debut three new cruisetour options for the 2008-09 season to add more adventurous opportunities for passengers on South America, Asia or Australia cruises.

These land/sea vacations take passengers to explore some of the world's most fascinating destinations, including new tours to the remote Galapagos Islands, and Hangzhou, one of China's most scenic cities.
Together Princess' worldwide lineup of cruisetours offer passengers the opportunities to visit three of the new Seven Wonders of the World as well as a number of UNESCO's World Heritage sites, including such important sites as Machu Picchu, The Great Wall of China, Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Angkor Wat.
Courtesy of About.com

INCREASED DEMAND FOR CRUISING, OCEAN STYLE

A trend in cruising: leisurely Ocean crossings between continents with few if any ports of call.

These trips, known as repositioning cruises, are a look back to a bygone era when plenty of onboard time added to the mystique and romance of a high-seas adventure.

No fewer than 15 major players, each a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), will soon move their fleets from summer seasons in Europe, Alaska and Canada to winter itineraries in the Caribbean, Mexico and elsewhere.

A total of 50 ships, ranging in size from intimately small to mega-liners, will be offering fall transatlantic or Pacific Ocean voyages this year, says Cruise travel columnist Michael Coleman.

"One of the world's most popular cruise lines, Princess, might be the busiest," he adds.

The luxury lines, are also repositioning their fleets.

Report by David Wilkening