December 28, 2004 - CELEBRITY CRUISES redeployed the Century to Europe for the summer 2005 season, a short-notice switch that brings Celebrity's number of Europe-based ships to four. To move the Century to Europe, Celebrity canceled the ship's summer season in the Caribbean. Celebrity said "steadily increasing demand" for Europe cruises was a deciding factor in the move. The Century will sail 12-day Baltic-region cruises from Amsterdam between May and August and offer cruises in the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean before moving back to Fort Lauderdale.

CELEBRITY said passengers booked on the Century's nine- and 10-day Caribbean sailings can switch to another Celebrity fall sailing or choose another seven- through 10-day Caribbean sailing with Celebrity or Royal Caribbean International through Dec. 31, 2005. Passengers also can cancel for a full refund

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December 14, 2004 - CLIA: The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which collects passenger data for its 19 member lines, said 2.9 million people cruised during the third quarter, a 9.7% increase over third-quarter 2003. For the year to date, CLIA said nearly 8 million people worldwide cruised on CLIA lines, a 9.9% year-over-year jump. The organization predicts its member lines will surpass the 10 million mark this year.

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SAILING TOWARD THE HORIZON: Celebrity Cruises' Horizon will leave the fleet at the end of 2005, although its sister ship, the Zenith, will stay for now. Meanwhile, Celebrity launched its much-hyped Cirque du Soleil program on the Constellation last week, which includes a redesigned observation lounge (now called the Bar at the Edge of the Earth) and a weekly masquerade ball that costs $30 per person.

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CARNIVAL: On Dec. 17, NBC's "Today" show co-host Katie Couric will christen the Carnival Valor in Miami. The Valor, the third in Carnival Cruise Lines' Conquest-class series, will begin seven-day cruises Dec. 19.

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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE will offer winter cruises from New York in 2006 on its new Noordam, the line's fourth and final Vista-class ship. The winter cruises will start Feb. 22, 2006, and will be offered between February and April and again starting in October. The ship will spend the summer in Europe, HAL said. HAL will begin to accept bookings Dec. 20.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE had been the only line to offer regularly scheduled service from New York in the winter until the announcement by Holland America. It started with the Norwegian Dawn in 2003 and plans to add the Norwegian Spirit to the port in late 2005. In a statement, the line offered its congratulations to HAL and said, "Its presence will help to grow an already vibrant market."

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ROYAL CARIBBEAN has placed the Sovereign of the Seas back in service Dec. 13 after completing a refurbishment project that changed the ship's dining options and added 67 balconies to the former verandah-less ship. Royal Caribbean International added the balconies to cabins on the Sovereign's Deck 10.

The Sovereign debuts a new casual dining concept called the Windjammer Marketplace, which serves themed regional cuisine -- such as Asian and Mediterranean -- at several self-service islands around the Windjammer lido restaurant. The ship also has a Johnny Rockets restaurant, making the Sovereign the first non-Voyager class ship to have one of the burger eateries.

Royal Caribbean added several of its other now-staple public rooms to the Sovereign, including a Boleros lounge, a coffee shop that serves Seattle's Best Coffee and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream station. The ship's Adventure Ocean kid's program, the spa and fitness center and conference center have been expanded.

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ROYAL CARIBBEAN is rolling out cell phone connectivity at sea in conjunction with its sister line, Celebrity Cruises. Royal Caribbean already is offering passengers on the Majesty of the Seas the option of making cell phone calls in international waters. The cell phone program will launch on the Navigator of the Seas and Celebrity's Summit in the next few weeks, and other ships will follow suit throughout 2005.

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CARNIVAL'S latest cruise ship, the Carnival Valor, is en route to Miami this week after it was delivered from Italy's Fincantieri shipyards on Dec. 15. The vessel will begin regular seven-day service from Miami on Dec. 19.

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THE CROWN PRINCESS will be the name of Princess Cruises' second 113,000-ton, Caribbean-based cruise ship. The Crown Princess will be a sister ship to the Caribbean Princess, which debuted this year and sails year-round in the Caribbean. The Crown Princess launches in May 2006. As previously reported, the Crown Princess will feature several new eateries, including a wine and seafood bar in the atrium, a steak and seafood restaurant and a redesigned Sabatini's bar and Italian restaurant.

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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES is the second cruise operator in two weeks to pick Freedom as the name for a vessel. The line is naming its ship that will enter service in spring 2007 the Carnival Freedom. The 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom, which will be the fifth ship in Carnival's Conquest-class series, will join sister ships with other patriotic-sounding names, such as the Carnival Liberty and the Carnival Glory. Royal Caribbean International earlier said its first Ultra Voyager vessel would be named the Freedom of the Seas.

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Holland America Line Debuts New Culinary Arts Program Holland America Line said it is introducing a "groundbreaking" Culinary Arts Program across its entire fleet of five-star ships. The new program integrates passengers' love for fine food and wine with an entertaining enrichment experience. Special gourmet presentations, demonstrations, tasting events and intimate cooking classes highlight cuisine that reflects the ship's itinerary or different special occasions. Holland America has long been famous for its innovative culinary concepts. Working together with renowned Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, Holland America has developed a program to continue that tradition, allowing guests an interesting way to immerse themselves in the rich culture and unique traditions of the many fascinating ports of call that Holland America Line visits.

During every sailing Holland America's exceptional onboard culinary experts lead the demonstrations, classes and tastings. Celebrity and guest regional chefs will participate on select cruises. The new Culinary Arts Center is located in the Wajang Theatre or, on Vista-class ships, in the Queens Lounge. As the hub for these interactive gourmet experiences, the Culinary Arts Center features a state-of-the-art show kitchen outfitted with premier tools and equipment from industry leaders such as Wolf, Sub Zero and Kitchen Aid. Guests in the audience get an up-close view of the cooking action on large, plasma screens while broadcast capabilities provide all guests the opportunity to watch these events from the comfort of their staterooms. In addition to the onstage kitchen, each Culinary Arts Center will have portable cooking stations where groups of up to 16 guests can participate in hands-on classes. Holland America guests can attend several different culinary demonstration events during each cruise. These free, one-hour demonstrations will feature innovative cooking techniques and specially designed recipes that reflect the itinerary or a special occasion.

In addition, several different cooking classes are offered for those guests who prefer to get in on the cooking action. These private, interactive sessions are $19 per person. Participants will also receive a 10 percent discount at the renowned Pinnacle Grill restaurant or complimentary admission to the select wine tasting events. Highlighting the Culinary Arts Program are several Culinary Signature Cruises, bringing acclaimed celebrity and regional chefs on board to lead guests on a culinary adventure, including themed lectures, wine and liquor tastings, seminars and related shore excursions. Celebrity chefs will host a variety of demonstrations and classes per cruise. In addition to these large-scale Culinary Signature Cruises, Holland America Line will partner with celebrated regional chefs. Each ship will feature a regional chef--at least four times per year--who will help provide guests with an authentic taste of the destinations they visit.