Princess Cruises Named "Weather Cruise Ship Company of the Year" by NOAA

Ships Assist National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Global Weather Readings

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 21, 2010) – While passengers are relaxing and exploring the world aboard Princess Cruises’ ships, little do they know that throughout their vacation the vessels are also helping the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) track global weather patterns. In 2009, Princess ships made 20,139 weather observations – more than any other cruise line – earning the company the distinction of NOAA’s “Weather Cruise Ship Company of the Year.” Coral Princess led the fleet with 5,142 observations.
 

Celebrity Cruises Reveals Name of Newest Ship

The word “silhouette” conjures up images of light and shadow, and sleek profiles in the world of design and fashion, so it’s fitting that Celebrity Cruises has named the fourth ship in its stylish Solstice Class fleet Celebrity Silhouette.

Like its widely acclaimed sister ships – Celebrity Solstice, which was named “Best Premium Ship” and “Best Rookie Ship” in Travel Weekly’s annual awards gala just last week; Celebrity Equinox, which set sail in July 2009; and Celebrity Eclipse, which will enter service in April 2010 – the 122,000-ton Celebrity Silhouette will offer the series of brand-defining, industry-first attributes that guests, travel agents and press have praised about Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design, and widely varied entertainment. Like its sisters, the 2,850-guest Celebrity Silhouette will have larger staterooms – 90 percent outside, and 85 percent with verandas – and spacious bathrooms, as well as several categories of accommodations, including Celebrity’s ConciergeClass and spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms.

“Cruise lovers interested in being among the very first to see Celebrity Silhouette while under construction in Germany actually have a chance. By entering Celebrity’s “Eclipse of a Lifetime” sweepstakes, running through January 14, 2010, 10 winners and their guests will be the first individuals outside of the line’s employees to board Celebrity Eclipse when it sets sail for the very first time; the first to have exclusive, up-close-and-personal views of the construction process of Celebrity Silhouette at MeyerWerft, one of the most modern shipyards in the world; first to be led and hosted throughout Celebrity Eclipse by Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan; first to nestle into the ship’s AquaClass staterooms; first to sample the ship's innovative cuisine created by the line’s VP of Culinary Operations and Chef Jacques VanStaden, and the first to have the chance to interact with the ship’s senior officers.

To enter, visit the Celebrity web site, at www.celebritycruises.com and click the “Eclipse of a Lifetime” tab to access the entry form and sweepstakes rules. The sweepstakes runs through January 14, 2010.Winners will be announced January 28, 2010. This sweepstakes is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. See Official Rules on the site for complete information.

Canival Fantasy to Sail Year-Round from Charleston, SC

Starting on May 18, 2010, Carnival will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy.  Carnival Fantasy will operate from the Passenger Terminal in historic downtown Charleston.

Charleston's centralized location within the southeastern U.S., as well as the city's strong appeal as a tourist destination, were key factors in the decision to launch year-round service.  The Carnival Fantasy is expected to carry more than 140,000 passengers annually from the port. 
 

Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages on a variety of different departure days.  Five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. Six-day voyages departing Saturdays will visit Freeport, Nassau and Key West, Fla.  Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

Replacing the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile will be its sister ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, which will reposition from San Diego to launch year-round service from that port May 15, 2010.  

With the addition of Charleston, Carnival will operate from 12 year-round homeports which are among the line's 20 North American departure points - the most in cruising.