IN THIS ISSUE

• U.S. Homeport Regulations
• Princess Disembarkation Process Changes
• Carnival Enchances Online Registration
• Carnival "Fun-tennial" Celebration in March
• New Builds in 2008
• Specials
• Cruise of the Month
• Featured Cruises
• Alaska - Port Spotlight
• Recipe of the Month

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BON VOYAGE!

NEWS FROM THE HIGH SEAS

NCL Announces Adjustment to Hawaii Fleet

NCL Corporation ("NCL") today announced the withdrawal of Pride of Aloha from the Hawai'i market effective May 11, 2008. The ship is being transferred to Star Cruises and will be reflagged and deployed in Asia in the summer of 2008.

The remaining year-round ship in Hawai'i will be the larger and newer Pride of America, introduced in 2005, a vessel specifically designed and built for Hawai'i cruising. The company announced, and put on sale, Pride of America's sailings through 2010 offering its popular inter-island cruises departing every Saturday from Honolulu.

Since the announcement a year ago of Pride of Hawai'i's temporary transfer to NCL's European deployment, renamed as Norwegian Jade, the company has embarked on a major fleet-wide initiative called Freestyle 2.0 featuring significant product and hardware upgrades to its modern fleet, including Pride of America. The Freestyle 2.0 program will further enhance the on-board experience taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level. Enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for all guests; additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and the establishment of casual action-station restaurants taking the place of the "traditional" buffet experience. Freestyle 2.0 will be in place on Pride of America and across NCL's fleet, now the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, by the middle of May 2008.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has revised to 122-year-old Passenger Vessel Services Act that would impact foreign-flagged ships that sail roundtrip from U.S. ports.

The Passenger Vessel Services Act currently states that "No foreign vessels shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port, under a penalty of $300 for each passenger so transported and landed." Furthermore, this means that vessels must call on at least one international port, and is a particular troublesome for cruise lines that sail from to Alaska, Hawaii and New England. Now under the new proposal cruise ships that do fly foreign flags, will now sail out of the way to dock at ports such as Mexico's Ensenada or nearby Fanning Island in order to fulfill the new requirements, which in turn could add several extra days onto an itinerary.

Ships would have to spend no less than 48 hours in a foreign port, whereas currently, most spend no more than a few hours. Alongside that requirement, the foreign port must be atleast 51% of the trip which means a 7 day trip to Hawaii would either be a 3 day trip to Hawaii and 4 days in Mexico, or could double in length and become a 14 day trip with a visit to Hawaii and ports in Western Mexico. These new regulations may cause many lines to ditch these itineraries or completely rearrange them in U.S.-port heavy regions such as Hawaii, Alaska and Canada/New England.

This new regulation only applies to foreign-flagged vessels that homeport in U.S. cities.

© 2008 NCL Corporation

Princess Bids Farewell To Traditional Disembarkation Process

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be personally escorted to the gangway.

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast.

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great beginning to their onward travels."

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports departing passengers can also take advantage of an express disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise travel plans.

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

©2008 Princess Cruises

Carnival Enchances Online Registration

Carnival's 'Funtennial' Celebration Offers Special Booking Incentives and Giveaways Throughout March

Cruise Ship New Builds to Set Sail in 2008

Royal Caribbean - Independence of the Seas - May

Carnival - Carnival Splendor - July

Holland America - Eurodam - Summer

Princess - Ruby Princess - November

Celebrity - Celebrity Solstice - Fall

If you've never been on a cruise and ever wondered what it would be like onboard, this is the place for you! Watch multimedia videos for the cruise lines to show you what activities and amenities are available. If this doesn't wet your cruising appetite, we aren't sure what will! So sit back, relax and perhaps check out the "Sea View."

"Sea View" Multimedia Experience

PORT SPOTLIGHT

Anchorage, Alaska
©1997 Sealetter Cruise Magazine

Port City:

• Anchorage, Alaska
  Population:
  
• Approximately 250,000
  Climate:
  
• Cool, with temperatures ranging from 40 to 65 degrees F during the summer
  Currency:
  
• The U.S. dollar. The Canadian dollar is widely accepted at posted exchange rates.

  Located at the upper end of Cook Inlet in the Gulf of Alaska, Anchorage is Alaska's largest community. This popular tourist destination and crossroads for global air travel is only minutes away from the recreational areas bordering the Gulf of Alaska.

  History

  Though Anchorage is unquestionably a 20th-century city, its history dates back some 6,000 years. Archaeological finds at Beluga Point on Turnagain Arm have revealed that Chugachimiut and Tanaina peoples once settled in the area. The first European in the region was the English adventurer Captain James Cook, who charted the waters in 1778.

  Prospectors crisscrossed the region in search of gold at the turn of the century, but it was not until 1915 that Anchorage took root, with the construction of the Alaska Railroad. During World War II, two military bases were established, and the economy began to expand. Access to Anchorage was improved when it was linked to the Alaska Highway.

  Anchorage faced its greatest challenge on March 27, 1964, when the strongest earthquake ever measured on the North American continent struck the region. The U.S. government provided funds for a massive rebuilding effort, which was, in part, responsible for the city's modern look. With the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968 and the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1974, Anchorage experienced another upsurge in growth. Today, Anchorage is a modern metropolis, ready to face the challenges of the 21st century.

  Sightseeing

  You should first visit the Log Cabin Visitor Information Center, with its quaint sod roof, at the corner of West 4th Avenue and F Street, which provides maps and brochures about the city and its environs.

  At Old City Hall, located on West 4th Avenue east of the information center, you can see exhibits on Anchorage's history. Inside Boney Memorial Courthouse, on the corner of West 3rd Avenue and K Street, you'll discover numerous wall panels depicting 19th-century Yup'ik life, as well as Alaskan animals.

  If you're curious about how the city's early-20th-century residents lived, you can visit some historic houses. In the 500 and 600 blocks of West 2nd Avenue are the Christensen House, the Leopold David House and the Edes House.

  East of the Christensen House on 2nd Avenue and down the hill is the Alaska Railroad Depot. Just to the north, Ship Creek enters Cook Inlet; there's a viewing platform for watching the salmon, which run up the creek throughout the summer.

  One of the city's unique attractions is the Imaginarium, at 725 West 5th Avenue. This Alaskan science discovery center features numerous displays and participatory exhibits about the aurora borealis, aviation and earthquakes. A special presentation, the Imagizoo, will entertain the whole family.

  Among the city's cultural offerings are several museums. Four of the most interesting are: the Anchorage Museum of History & Art, at 121 West 7th Avenue; the Visual Arts Center, at the corner of West 5th Avenue and G Street; the Reeve Aviation Picture Museum, at 343 West 6th Avenue; and the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, located in the Anchorage Bowl, as greater Anchorage is known, at 4721 Aircraft Drive.

  Shopping

  Anchorage has several shopping centers in and around the downtown area. Exclusive specialty shops are located throughout the city and the Anchorage Bowl.