Majestic America Line canceled the June 30 departure of the Empress of the North, a total of seven cancelled sailings since the sternwheeler ran aground in Alaska’s Inside Passage May 14.
Princess Cruises will debut the Ruby Princess in November 2008. The line has unveiled the ship’s name along with its inaugural deployment, a season of seven-day Western Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale.
Carnival Cruise Lines is tapping into the ever-popular Elvis Presley craze. The cruise line is partnering with St. Louis-based Jazz Cruises, a provider of full-ship charter music cruises, to offer “The Elvis Cruise.”
Tim Conder, a cruise analyst with A.G. Edwards, writes in his most recent industry report that pricing in the Caribbean has stabilized and is showing continued improvement. Meanwhile, Alaskan pricing continues to founder, while Europe remains the strongest geographic market.
Travelers now have a new way to reach some of the farthest corners of the world in luxury, comfort and style. Azamara Cruises, the high-end, destination-driven cruise line operated by Celebrity Cruises, has opened bookings for 2008-2009 Asia itineraries on Azamara Quest.
Majestic America Line in 2008 will expand its program to include 238 departures by seven ships to the Mississippi, Ohio, Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as Alaska’s Inside Passage. Reservations are being accepted now.