Jan 8, 2004

Travel Times

New ships and changes planned for 2004

There are12 new cruise ships and two new river boats entering service this year. In addition, there another seven cruise changes planned. Here’s a run down of what's happening this year:

· Princess Cruises has a busy schedule planned for 2004, with the introduction of three new cruise ships this year. The Diamond Princess begins sailing in March, and the Sapphire Princess has its inaugural in June. The new Caribbean Princess begins sailing in April.

· Carnival Miracle sets sail from Jacksonville Florida in February followed by Carnival Valor entering service in December. Carnival says a fond farewell to the Jubilee; P&O Cruises Australia will sail her as the Pacific Sun starting in October.

· NCL America’s much anticipated Pride of America enters service on July 4 in Honolulu. The Norwegian Sky will be renamed Pride of Aloha and begin sailing from Honolulu in October.

· Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas, the fourth in its Radiance-class ships, enters service in May with a European itinerary.

· Cunard Line starts the year with the much anticipated Queen Mary 2 sailing her maiden voyage next week and ends the year with the departure of Caronia to Saga Holidays of the U.K.

· Holland America Line's third Vista-class ship, Westerdam enters service in April.

· Costa Cruises' CostaVictoria is in drydock for a rebuild including the addition of more than 240 balconies. The new CostaMagica is due sometime in the fall.

· Oceania Cruises' Insignia debuts in April in Europe and sister ship Nautica (the former Renaissance Cruise ship R5) will be acquired for sailings beginning in 2005.

· The Ocean Breeze, which is the former liner Southern Cross, may sail Australia out of Fremantle. The liner entered service in 1955 for sailings from Europe to Australia and was the first modern passenger ship to have an aft funnel

· Radisson recently sold the Song of Flower. She will emerge after a refit as Le Diamant for the French line, Tapis Rouges Croisièers (Red Carpet Cruises) in May.

· MSC Italian Cruises' Opera begins sailing form Genoa in June.

· Finally, two new river boats arrive in March - the Victoria Katarina debuts for Victoria Cruises on the Yangtze River in China. Peter Deilmann's Heidelberg will sail the Moselle and Rhine.

For booking information call the Travel Desk, 408 723-0283.