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Among the world's most unique destinations, Australia and New Zealand hold a special allure for travelers who hope to journey "down under" at least once in their lives. Drawn by some of the world's most beautiful landscapes, exciting cities, unique native cultures and a population of iconic animals found nowhere else in the world, passengers have found that these "must see" countries are perfect for an action-packed cruise vacation. For these travelers, Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2011-2012 Australia and New Zealand season, offering a range of cruise and cruisetour options for exploring these dynamic destinations. As the largest cruise operator in the region, Princess will provide myriad ways to explore the sixth largest country in the world (Australia) and the youngest country on earth (New Zealand). Princess itineraries range from classic Australia & New Zealand sailings to Australia & Asia adventures, aboard ships both large and small. Travelers can also opt to add a land tour to one of these voyages for a full land/sea adventure. Passengers can also choose to cruise "Aussie style" aboard Princess' three locally-based ships. Australia and New Zealand have been long-time favorite destinations for us, that our passengers rave about every year," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Because we have such an extensive local operation in the region, we have a unique understanding of these remarkable countries, and strive to present a rich ?down under' onboard program as well." The delights of Australia range from distinctive SydneyHarbour and its iconic Opera House -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- to the expanse of the outback and the world's largest reef, the Great Barrier Reef. This unique land, famous for the unmistakable sound of the didgeridoo, also features the lowest population density in the world -- only two people per square kilometer -- plus more than 10,000 beaches, the most of any country. Cruise passengers can explore the country's wineries, history and wildlife with calls in Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania. Here travelers may catch a glimpse of Australia's many unique creatures, including kangaroos, koalas and the Tasmanian devil; ride horseback through the region's finest vineyards; or even visit the country's last penal settlement, the infamous Port Arthur. If travelers choose to extend their time with an Australian cruisetour, they can experience much more of this surprising land. Highlights include the outback landmark Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, Australia's sacred Aboriginal site and the world's largest monolith. The Great Barrier Reef is famous throughout the world for its outstanding diving and snorkeling, brilliant tropical fish and scores of sea life. Northern Australia's KakaduNational Park surprises guest with everything from aboriginal rock art formations to an amazing habitat of birds and other wildlife. When cruising through New Zealand, the one attraction guaranteed to get everyone up on deck is the scenic sailing through FiordlandNational Park. This must-see attraction is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the striking Fiordland crested penguin, as well as 14 towering fjords and five icy-blue lakes. In "The Land of the Long White Cloud" passengers will also learn about the fascinating Maori culture and may take in an entertaining "haka" performance, a native dance. Near Tauranga, Rotorua's geothermal wonders also get attention with fascinating steaming craters, exploding geysers and boiling mud. In a country where there are nine sheep to every person, a trip to a farm for a sheep shearing or dog herding demonstration is also a popular option; and daredevils will fit right in with bungee jumping, which originated here. And New Zealand's spectacular scenery will make travelers feel as though they are in one of the many movies filmed here, such as "Lord of the Rings." Passengers are sure to see a kiwi, whether it be the national bird; a delicious fruit (which were originally known as Chinese gooseberries, but renamed by enterprising New Zealand farmers once they started cultivating them for export), or simply the local people, who have become known as Kiwis themselves. Princess offers several cruise options for exploring these dramatic countries, including voyages between Australia and New Zealand or Asia. Travelers can choose either a large amenity-filled vessel or small intimate ship, or they can opt to sail aboard one of Princess' three ships based in Australia year-round. Australia & New Zealand sailings -- Princess offers exploring "down under" with a season of Australia & New Zealand sailings aboard Diamond Princess. These 12- or 13-day voyages travel between Sydney and Auckland, calling at Melbourne, Hobart (Tasmania), Fiordland National Park scenic cruising, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Tauranga along the way, with a call in Wellington, New Zealand also on the 13-day voyages. Sailings run from December 2011 to January 2012. Australia & Asia sailings -- Travelers can visit the best of two continents aboard Diamond Princess with sailings between Sydney and Singapore or Beijing. The Australia & Asia itinerary takes passengers on a 19-day journey from Singapore to the Asia ports of Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Mihn City, and Bali; plus Australian calls at Darwin, Port Douglas and AirlieBeach for the Great Barrier Reef. The 23-day Australia & China route also sails via northern Australia and adds ports such as Taipei, Nagasaki, Busan (South Korea), Shanghai and Dalian. Sailings depart November 27, 2011 and February 4, 2012. Small Ship Experience -- Ocean Princess offers several journeys between Australia and the wonders of Asia or the beautiful islands of the South Pacific, featuring the intimate, classic cruising atmosphere of a small ship. The 20-day Australia & Asia voyages sail to northern Australia, including the Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef and Darwin; plus call in Bali, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand. Ocean Princess sets sail on November 12, 2011 and March 17, 2012. The ship's 16-day South Pacific & New Zealand voyages travel between Sydney and Papeete, Tahiti, with calls in Tauranga, Auckland, and the island paradises of Suva (Fiji), Apia (Samoa), Pago Pago, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Sailings depart on December 2, 2011 and February 29, 2012. "Aussie Experience" sailings -- Locally based ships Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess offer "Aussie-style" cruising to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane. Featuring Australian dollars as the onboard currency plus dining and entertainment options geared to Australian tastes, these sailings offer a true local experience to passengers from all over. Itineraries include voyages to Tasmania, New Zealand, Northern Australia and Round Australia sailings that circumnavigate the continent. These ships also feature sailings from Australia to the South Pacific, Asia and World Cruise options roundtrip from Sydney. Sailings depart throughout the May 2011 to May 2012 season.

Celebrity Cruises has designed three new 12-night, port-intensive itineraries sailing roundtrip out of Istanbul in the early fall of 2011, aimed at connecting discerning cruisers with the Byzantine city of Istanbul and three new ports of call. Celebrity's introduction of these new cruises marks the first time the cruise line has offered roundtrip cruises from the city on the famed BosphorusStrait that connects Asia and Europe, a unique placement that has long intrigued travelers due to its multiple cultures. Presented on the newly revitalized, 2,034-guest Celebrity Constellation, the "Greek Isles and Turkey" cruises, sailing on September 19 and October 1 and 13, 2011, will each begin with an overnight in port in Istanbul, before spending a day at sea. Then, guests will enjoy stops in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Bodrum and Marmaris, Turkey; Rhodes, Santorini, Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos and Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece, before spending one more day at sea and returning to Istanbul. Bodrum, Marmaris and Chania are new ports for Celebrity Cruises and examples of ways the cruise line is designing unique experiences in exotic destinations to appeal to discerning cruisers. The Istanbul itineraries will be bookended by Mediterranean sailings taking place on September 7 and October 25, 2011. On September 7, Celebrity Constellation will sail a 12-night itinerary from Amsterdam to Istanbul, featuring visits to Brugges, Belgium; Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Spain; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Sicily, Italy and Athens. The 11-night October 25 cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona features an overnight stay in port in Istanbul, then visits to Athens; Naples, Rome, and Florence, Italy; Provence, France; and Palma de Mallorca. On November 5, Celebrity Constellation will reposition from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida during a 14-night transatlantic voyage, featuring visits to Cartagena, Spain; Gibraltar; Madeira, Portugal; and Tenerife and La Palma, Canary Islands. Guests who wish to extend their Istanbul experience can combine the October 13 roundtrip Istanbul cruise, the October 25 Istanbul-to-Barcelona cruise and the November 5 transatlantic cruise, without repeating any ports except Athens, for a 37-night extravaganza.

In a gala ceremony rich with Dutch heritage, Holland America Line named ms Nieuw Amsterdam in Venice, Italy, on July 4. Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands officially named the premium line's 15th ship in front of invited dignitaries, cruise guests and media during the special celebration before the ship embarked on its maiden cruise. "We are exceptionally honored to have Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima as the godmother of this beautiful ship and to continue a long and proud tradition of having members of the Dutch Royal Family name our ships," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer, Holland America Line. "The second Signature-class ship in our fleet is elegant and the largest passenger ship to sail under the Dutch flag." Fifteen fleet captains representing Holland America Line's ships participated in the festivities, welcoming Her Royal Highness as she arrived to the pier. Following the ship's blessing and traditional breaking of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow as the finale, company executives and senior staff officers led attendees in a toast of the occasion. Built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard near Venice, the 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam is the fourth to carry that name for the line and departed on its maiden voyage roundtrip from Venice to nearby Mediterranean ports following the naming. After a series of 12-day Mediterranean sailings, the ship embarks on a fall trans-Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean to sail seven-day eastern and western itineraries from November 2010 through March 2011.

Royal Caribbean's much-ballyhooed, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas is proving itself a winner for the line in more ways than one. Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain says that in addition to commanding unusually high ticket prices, the world's largest cruise ship also is generating huge revenue from customers once they get on board. "On-board spending is handily above other ships," Fain told Wall Street analysts last week during a conference call to discuss fourth quarter earnings. "Clearly, the business model we have been espousing for (Oasis) is producing the hoped for results." Fain notes that the new Solstice Class ships at Royal Caribbean's sister line, Celebrity Cruises, also are generating higher on-board revenue as well as higher up-front ticket prices. The 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice debuted in late 2008 and a sister ship, the Celebrity Equinox, arrived in mid- 2009. Three more Solstice Class ships are on order. "These new (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity) ships are incrementally more expensive to build, but they are quantumly more profitable to operate," Fain says. "That combination generates better returns on our investment." The new Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships are packed with more places where passengers can spend money such as extra-charge restaurants and stores, helping to boost on-board revenue. Profitability isn't the only area where the new Oasis of the Seas is standing out. Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein told the Wall Street analysts last week that the two-month-old vessel already is getting some of the highest customer ratings in the line's fleet. Goldstein says concerns over the ship's record size have proved unfounded. "The ports have no issues handling the ship, and our pier check-in ratings at the fabulous new Terminal 18 in Port Everglades have been higher for Oasis than for any other ship in the fleet for every one of her sailings thus far," he notes. The vessel, he says, "has exceeded our expectations."

Add the Carnival Fascination to the list of aging Carnival ships that have gotten an "extreme makeover." Carnival says the popular vessel, which sails to the Bahamas out of Jacksonville, Fla., emerged today from an extended, $34 million dry dock that brought a new deck-top water park, a new adults-only lounge area and a redesigned main pool area. The overhaul of the 15-year-old ship also brought the addition of balconies to 98 cabins that formerly just had windows -- a major structural change. The 2,052-passenger Fascination is a workhorse of the Carnival fleet that sails short four- and five-day trips to Nassau, Freeport and Key West, Fla. It's a favorite of Southerners who can drive. The ship is the sixth of Carnival's eight Fantasy Class vessels to get such a makeover as the line spends $350 million to revamp its oldest ships. The Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination underwent a similar overhaul in 2007; the Carnival Fantasy was upgraded in 2008; and the Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Sensation were redone in 2009. As on the other ships getting face lifts, the Fascination's new water park area, dubbed WaterWorks, features a four-deck-high, 300-foot-long spiral water slide – among the longest at sea. It also has an 82-foot-long, dual-lane racing slide. Carnival says the 28-day dry dock also brought a new Mongolian wok station to the ship's casual pool-side restaurant, and the ship's two main dining rooms were refurbished with new carpeting and upholstery.

Should cruisers pay for infrastructure in Alaska? And, if so, what sort of infrastructure? The question has taken center stage over the past week in the wake of the cruise industry's landmark lawsuit against Alaska over the state's controversial, $50-a-head tax on arriving cruisers. Among the industry's arguments against the tax is that Alaska already has illegally appropriated millions of dollars of the money on projects that have nothing to do with cruisers or cruise ships. The lawsuit, filed by an association of the nine major cruise lines operating in the state, cites everything from $1.5 million earmarked for the reconstruction of a community hall in Saxman, Alaska, to $1.675 million to construct a dock in Valdez that cannot accommodate the industry's ships to $1 million for a bear education awareness research sanctuary near Portage, Alaska. The cruise industry argues that, by law, the state cannot collect taxes and fees from a cruise ship unless the taxes and fees directly defray the cost of services and facilities for the vessel.

Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, will operate seven-day Caribbean cruises from Galveston beginning Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the largest cruise ship based at the port year-round. Additionally, the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will reposition from New Orleans to Galveston to operate year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises from that port beginning Oct. 6, 2011. Homeporting the Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph in Galveston represents the largest-ever capacity commitment by a cruise line to Texas. With these deployments, Carnival expects to carry more than 450,000 guests annually from Galveston - a 28 percent increase over the current year. In turn, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest and 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy, both of which are currently based in Galveston, will reposition to New Orleans to operate year-round departures from that port, returning the line to pre-Katrina capacity levels there. With Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, the line is expected to carry nearly 340,000 passengers annually from New Orleans - the most of any cruise operator. "Deploying the new Carnival Magic to Galveston and increasing capacity on our popular short cruise program with the Carnival Triumph is a clear indication of the tremendous appeal and growth of this key homeport, which consistently earns high marks from our guests," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. "At the same time, we are very pleased to return to pre-Katrina capacity levels in New Orleans with the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy - a wonderfully positive indicator of the city's continued growth and recovery," he added. Carnival Magic, which is slated to debut in Europe in May 2011 with a host of innovative facilities and features, will offer two different week-long itineraries from Galveston, including seven-day western Caribbean voyages to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and week-long eastern Caribbean cruises to Nassau, Freeport, and Key West. Carnival Magic will offer many exciting amenities including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship's sides, and expansive spa and children's facilities. Also featured will be a variety of stateroom choices, including deluxe ocean view accommodations with two bathrooms, some of which feature five berths and hold particular appeal for families; cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; and spa staterooms that provide special access and benefits. A number of new innovations are scheduled to be announced in the near future. Prior to launching year-round Caribbean service from Galveston, Carnival Magic will operate a series of seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona May 1 to Oct. 16, 2011; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Galveston departing Oct. 28, 2011. Also being deployed to Galveston is the Carnival Triumph which will operate year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises beginning Oct. 6, 2011, becoming the newest and largest ship to operate a year-round short cruise program from that port. Four-day cruises depart Thursdays to Cozumel, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and visit Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Triumph offers many guest-pleasing features and amenities, including nearly 500 balcony staterooms which are very popular among consumers and typically not available on short cruises. Carnival Conquest will reposition to New Orleans for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning Nov. 13, 2011. The ship will offer three different week-long Caribbean options from New Orleans: a new western Caribbean program featuring Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, an eastern Caribbean itinerary to Key West, Freeport and Nassau, and exotic western Caribbean cruises to Belize, Roatan and Cozumel. Carnival Ecstasy will operate year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean voyages from New Orleans beginning Sept. 22, 2011. The ship underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation last year that added an expansive water park, tropical-style main pool area, adults-only retreat and 98 balconies to existing staterooms. On the Carnival Ecstasy's new itinerary, four-day cruises departing Thursdays visit Cozumel, while five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays call at Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.

Princess Cruises will offer adventurous passengers two opportunities in 2011 and 2012 to experience one of travel's most grand voyages -- the World Cruise. Sailing to multiple continents and encompassing dozens of the globe's treasured places, these fascinating itineraries will give travelers the unique opportunity to experience the world while enjoying Princess' famed style and service. Just announced, the intimate Pacific Princess will sail on a 107-day journey from Ft.Lauderdale to Venice, departing January 13, 2012, offering the line's popular small-ship cruising experience. For an Australian-style world cruise, Dawn Princess will sail roundtrip from Sydney on May 25, 2011. Travelers on these voyages will be able to experience numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites -- such as FiordlandNational Park in New Zealand, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and historic Cairo -- and can opt to travel beyond the ports in some locations with overland excursions to such must-see destinations as the Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Pacific Princess will also introduce three new ports for Princess -- Santa Marta, Colombia; Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica; and Manama, Bahrain. "As we know from our long-standing emphasis on destination cruising, our passengers are globetrotters by nature," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "And these world cruises are the ultimate way for them to truly experience so many places of a lifetime all in one voyage -- from the Panama Canal to the pyramids of Egypt." Pacific Princess -- 107 days -- January 13, 2012: This Ft.Lauderdale to Venice itinerary will visit 38 destinations in 28 countries, including the mighty Panama Canal, the idyllic South Pacific, plus the "down under" experience of Australia and New Zealand. Passengers will explore a variety of vibrant Asian cities such as Toyko, experience the bustle of India and Egypt's legendary monuments, and see some unique European ports, such as Dubrovink, before finally arriving in breathtaking Venice. Three new ports debut on this voyage: Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia, is the site of the last days of Simon Bolivar, the liberator for whom Bolivia is named. From this port, passengers can visit a number of historical sites, including the oldest church in Spanish America, or can enjoy TayronaNational Park for ecological tours and time at the beach. Puerto Quepos offers an off-the-beaten-path experience in Costa Rica, near the ecotourism destination of Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Manama, the main port for Bahrain, a small island country in the Persian Gulf, is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fort of Bahrain or Qal'at al-Bahrain (the AncientHarbour and Capital of Dilmun) plus other numerous archeological sites. Pacific Princess passengers will also have the opportunity to experience a variety of other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These remarkable places that make up the planet's cultural and natural heritage include Fiordland National Park in New Zealand, Sydney Opera House, the Great Blue Mountains near Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef (from Cairns), the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the historic center of Macau (from Hong Kong), the Taj Mahal (from Mumbai), ancient Petra (from Aqaba), historic Cairo (from Alexandria) and the old city of Dubrovnik. Passengers may also take in UNESCO sites such as the Great Wall of China and Cambodia's Angkor Wat with several overland adventures available during the voyage. The full itinerary for the Pacific Princess world cruise adventure starts in Ft.Lauderdale, followed by calls in Aruba and new port of Santa Marta (Colombia), before transiting the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. The ship then heads up the coast to new port of Puerto Quepos (Costa Rica), and San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua), to San Diego. Passengers will then enjoy crossing the Pacific with visits to Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Pago Pago, Tonga (Nuku'Alofa), and then Auckland, and FiordlandNational Park in New Zealand. In Australia, the ship visits Burnie, Tasmania and spends two days in Sydney, plus visits Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef. Heading for Asia, the ship calls at Guam, then Tokyo, Hiroshima, Busan, Shanghai, and two days in Hong Kong. Next is Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Singapore and Phuket. In India, passengers will experience Chennai and Mumbai (for a full-day tour to the Taj Mahal), then the ship reaches Bahrain for the new port of Manama, followed by an overnight call in Dubai. Then it's on to Salalah, Safaga (for Luxor/Karnak), Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza), and a transit of the Suez Canal. Once in the Mediterranean, the ship calls at Dubrovnik and Koper (for the capital of Slovenia, Lubljana), and then finally on to the final port of Venice. Dawn Princess -- 104 days -- May 25, 2011: Sailing roundtrip from Sydney, this world cruise features an Australian flavor. Dawn Princess will call at 43 intriguing ports on six continents and will introduce some new destinations not seen on her previous global voyages, including Costa Rica, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Scotland and Norway. Popular destinations such as Singapore, Dubai, the Mediterranean, the Panama Canal and the Hawaiian Islands are also included. The full cruise itinerary will take passengers from Sydney to Darwin, then across the Equator to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), and Langkawi, Malaysia. Then the ship sails to India with calls at Cochin, and Mumbai (for the Taj Mahal). The cruise continues to Abu Dhabi, Dubai (overnight), Muscat (Mina Qaboos), and Aqaba in Jordan (for Petra). Dawn Princess will then sail through the Suez Canal to reach Port Said (for Cairo/Giza), followed by Jerusalem (Ashdod). Then it's on to the Mediterranean with visits to Mykonos, and Istanbul, with a cruise by ANZAC Cove. The classic ports of Athens (Piraeus), Naples (for Capri & Pompeii), Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Monte Carlo, and Barcelona come up next, followed by Casablanca (for Rabat), Lisbon, Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), and then on to London (Dover). Northern Europe ports include Amsterdam and Bergen, Norway as the ship then sails to Britain and Ireland with calls at Edinburgh/Glasgow (Greenock), Dublin, and Cork (Cobh -- for BlarneyCastle). Dawn Princess next crosses the Atlantic with a stop in Bermuda on the way to Ft.Lauderdale. Passengers will then visit Cartagena and transit the spectacular Panama Canal. Sailing up the PacificCoast, the ship reaches Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Acapulco, Manzanillo, and then Los Angeles. Passengers will then enjoy sailing across the Pacific to Honolulu, Tahiti (Papeete), Bora Bora, and Apia (Western Samoa), as the ship heads for home with a final call in Auckland before reaching Sydney once again.

For those looking for an exciting and affordable way to experience Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest “Fun Ship,” the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic will operate a 16-day transatlantic crossing departing Barcelona Oct. 28 and arriving Galveston, Texas, Nov. 13, 2011. Featured ports on this voyage include Palma de Mallorca and Malaga, Spain; Los Palmas, Canary Islands; and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, each offering interesting historical sites, excellent beaches and a host of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities. The transatlantic crossing follows the ship’s inaugural schedule of seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona beginning May 1, 2011 – the line’s first departures from that port. Following the crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the largest ship ever based at the port year-round. As the line’s newest “Fun Ship,” Carnival Magic will offer many exciting amenities including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides, and expansive spa and children’s facilities. Also featured will be a variety of stateroom choices, including deluxe ocean view accommodations with two bathrooms, some of which feature five berths and hold particular appeal for families; cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; and spa staterooms that provide special access and benefits. A number of new innovations are scheduled to be announced in the near future.

Celebrity Cruises has introduced a new "Personal Concierge" program aimed at further enhancing the brand's "Designed for you" reputation, by emphasizing the extraordinary customized onboard service that has long set Celebrity Cruises apart from its competitors. By individually communicating with guests to learn their personal preferences, tastes and needs, Celebrity's new Personal Concierges deliver individualized attention - much like that of a personal assistant - for any guests who wish to heighten special occasions and create new ones. "Our guests cruise for many reasons, whether they're seeking an unforgettable vacation or celebrating life's most precious milestones," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. "We have designed the new Personal Concierge position in order to help guests make their vacation with us a truly personalized experience, in a way that minimizes their effort but maximizes their enjoyment." The Personal Concierge on each ship is an expert in matching Celebrity's onboard offerings to guests' individual desires for a particular event or experience. Guests don't have to be celebrating any special occasion to enjoy the Personal Concierge service. Personal Concierges also help guests to arrange private shore excursions, book spa and specialty dining experiences and more, for no other reason than to make the most of their vacation. Personal Concierges also handle the fine details of arranging onboard celebrations of personal milestones such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirement and graduation. The consultative services of the Personal Concierge are free of charge; guests only have to pay for the services and events arranged. "Recently, a guest sailing on Celebrity Summit asked the Personal Concierge to assist in planning a special evening during which he intended to propose to his girlfriend," Lutoff-Perlo said. "The Personal Concierge spent time discussing the guest's ideal evening, and then created an unforgettable romantic experience. The Personal Concierge arranged for a table in the ship's specialty restaurant's exclusive wine cellar for dinner that evening, ordered a dozen red roses to be delivered to the table, reserved a table in the ship's nightclub and arranged for a bottle of chilled champagne to be ready for the guests upon their arrival there after dinner, and, while they were enjoying the evening, sent Celebrity's "Classic Romance" package of strewn rose petals, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries to their stateroom in order to continue the romantic theme throughout the evening. Throughout the evening, the Personal Concierge ensured that everything went smoothly, and the next day, the guest - whose proposal was accepted - expressed his sincere thanks." This example illustrates the range of experiences designed for discerning cruisers who vacation on Celebrity Cruises' award-winning ships, which are known for outstanding cuisine and engaging, life-enhancing activities set against a backdrop of stunning spaces and compelling destinations.

Carnival Cruise Lines – the West Coast’s number one cruise operator – will return to the Port of Los Angeles when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit launches a series of five- and nine-day Mexican Riviera voyages in fall 2011. This marks the first time the line has offered a regular program from the San Pedro cruise terminal in eight years. Carnival Spirit will also offer two 15-day Hawaii sailings round-trip from Los Angeles and San Diego in 2011 and 2012, marking the first time the line has offered round-trip voyages to the AlohaState. New Five- and Nine-Day Sailings from L.A. Carnival Spirit’s new Los Angeles-based schedule will encompass 12 departures between September 2011 and January 2012. Carnival also operates two ships year-round from nearby Long Beach, Calif. — the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise, operating three- and four-day Baja cruises, and the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor, sailing week-long Mexican Riviera cruises. Carnival will be the only cruise operator to homeport three ships in the Los Angeles area, providing consumers with a wide variety of affordable cruise options in Southern California and the surrounding region. Carnival Spirit’s five-day voyages will spend two days at the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas, distinguished by its distinctive rock formations, lush landscape and gorgeous white-sand beaches, while nine-day departures will also feature a two-day call in Cabo San Lucas, as well as visits to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and La Paz. Puerto Vallarta is a popular resort destination offering magnificent beaches and a host of shopping and dining experiences. Known as the Pearl of the Pacific, Mazatlan is famous for white-sand beaches, and myriad fishing and diving opportunities. La Paz offers an awe-inspiring waterfront with excellent beaches and an abundance of snorkeling and diving experiences. New 15-Day Hawaii Voyages For the first time, Carnival will offer 15-day Hawaii voyages round-trip from either Los Angeles or San Diego, providing consumers with a more convenient and cost-effective means for visiting the breathtaking island chain. Both departures include day-long stops at five spectacular ports: Hilo, Maui (Kahului), Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), and Kona. Hawaii is home to a diverse array of landside experiences, offering guests an opportunity to visit interesting historical sites, explore volcanoes and other natural landmarks, and soak up the sun on some of the world’s best beaches. Voyages operate round-trip from Los Angeles Dec. 2, 2011 and from San Diego April 13, 2012. Carnival Spirit will continue to offer seasonal Alaska cruises as well as five- and nine-day Mexico cruises from San Diego this fall/winter and in 2012.

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