Busy, Busy

When it rains it pours, as the saying goes.

Here's a quick smattering of what we have in the works for this week on From the Deck Chair:

- A Complete History of Specialty Dining

- When You Wish Upon A Star: Exploring Disney's new Disney Dream

- The Northwest Passage Transit with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

...plus the usual Unique Itinerary of the Week.  Stay tuned!

Goodbye Ballantyne?

Serenade of the Seas at Ballantyne Pier in Vancouver, BC.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

The steep downturn in the Alaska cruise market this year may have an unintended upside for those passengers embarking in Vancouver, British Columbia: with a few exceptions, Port Metro Vancouver's 2010 Cruise Ship Schedule shows vessels tying up exclusively at Canada Place.

Built in 1923, Ballantyne Pier has been used as Vancouver's secondary cruise ship terminal for many years  Most recently, almost all Celebrity and Royal Caribbean sailings used the pier, usually on busy Saturday's when all of Canada Place's three berths were occupied.

The major drawback of the pier was that, unlike Canada Place which sports an accessible promenade for well-wishers to watch the ships leave for Alaska in addition to a host of hotels in the immediate vicinity, Ballantyne is located in a heavily-secured industrial port area.  Not only is it complicated to access by vehicle, there is absolutely nothing within walking distance anywhere near the port and the area itself suffers from a large homelessness, drug, and prostitution problem.  

This year, that situation appears to have been remedied.  With sailings reduced overall from last year,  there is less pressure on the three Canada Place berths, allowing all cruise ships coming to Vancouver to dock there this year.  In fact, the only ships to use Ballantyne this year were the Statendam and Oosterdam during the 2010 Winter Olympics last month. 

Rhapsody of the Seas at Canada Place.

Photo ©2009 Aaron Saunders

With the decline in ships traversing the Inside Passage to Alaska, does this spell the end for Ballantyne Pier?  Not necessarily.  While passenger traffic has dropped off and is poised to stay that way for the next few years, removing existing infrastructure is not something that any port would consider.  More than likely, Ballantyne will continue its long career of faithfully serving passengers in the shadow of its more famous cousin, Canada Place.

Alaska Reconsiders

 Skagway, Alaska.  
Holland America's Zuiderdam is in the background.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

A few days ago, we wrote extensively about some of the issues facing the future of West Coast cruises, many of which center around the State of Alaska's 2006 decision to impose one of the heftiest passenger taxes on the world upon cruise ship passengers visiting the state.  Since 2008, the number of ships sailing north has dropped off dramatically - so much so that 2011 will see capacity fall to pre-2004 levels. 

Things may be looking up, however.  Alaska State Governor Sean Parnell turned up at this year's annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami conference - and got an earful from many industry execs, including Holland America Line CEO Stein Kruse who stated the line can - and will - move ships to more profitable runs in destinations that actively value its business.

Perhaps fortunately for Alaskans, Parnell seems to be a smart man.  He quickly made efforts to court the cruise lines, offering to reduce the current $46-per-passenger head tax by 25% in exchange for a lawsuit against the state by the lines being revoked.  No word yet on if the deal has been accepted.

However, this last-minute truce may be too little, too late.  Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Princess have all announced their largest-ever European deployments for 2011 in the past week.  Carnival also stands poised to re-enter Europe in 2011 after a three-year hiatus.  Many lines are also finding success in year-round Caribbean cruising, as well as trips to more esoteric destinations like Iceland or the North Cape.  MSC Cruises is also betting heavily on an extended Canada & New England run later this year - the largest in the line's history.

In short - if the Governor's offer is accepted, it may be years before lines return to full capacity in Alaska, if they do at all.  This year will see a 17% reduction in cruise passenger traffic alone, and next year will see even further cutbacks - Disney's move to position Disney Wonder in Alaska next summer is made somewhat redundant with Princess's announcement that it will pull another ship from the state in 2011. 

Wrangell, Alaska's Petroglyph Beach  -

No cruise passengers will come here this year.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Another factor may be at play here, and that is attitude.  When the head tax passed in 2006, many Alaskans were strongly supportive of it.  Some are even downright resentful of the ships and their passengers.  NCL used to call at Wrangell, Alaska, but dropped the town as a destination in 2006.  Much controversy surrounds this decision, as well as that of other lines to not call here.  Cruise lines say the town was being combative and refusing to put in the necessary infrastructure to cope with 2,000 plus passengers disembarking at once.  Locals say they shouldn't have to change the town to meet the needs of the lines.

Regardless of where the truth lies, in 2009, their cruise ship visitors stood at 4,000.  This year, that number drops to zero.

After Wrangell, Haines and Whittier stand to loose the most this year - the number of cruise passengers scheduled to visit both towns will drop by 67 and 65 percent respectively.  

What is interesting in all of this is that many ports and towns stumble over themselves in an effort to court cruise ship passengers and ensure they have an enjoyable time.  In St. John, New Brunswick,  passengers are greeted to a bagpiper's farewell as their ship leaves the pier.  In Alesund, Norway, a fireboat escort leads passengers out to the North Sea to the tunes of Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again.

On one particularly memorable Alaska cruise, a group of locals in Juneau gathered at the cruise pier to give us all 'the finger' as our ship backed into the channel.  

That action shouldn't be taken as indicative - the vast majority of the locals were overwhelmingly kind - but it does point to a common complaint: that passengers get off the ship and head straight for Diamonds International, and then to the discount store by the pier to get themselves a plastic moose which can be made to defecate by squeezing his sides.  Neither of these (thankfully!) exist anywhere in Europe, or even on most Eastern seaboard ports.  In the end, what might anger the average Alaskan is that many passengers to the state step off the ship and back on without ever having really seen it.

Overall, it seems the head-tax was the issue that broke the camel's back, but the larger issues have been simmering for years.  Here's to hoping the State - and the cruise industry - can work together to get Alaska back on track.

A Continuing Signature of Excellence

Holland America Line funnels.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

It's not easy to stay ahead in the cruise industry.  Ships like Oasis of the Seas have new passengers demanding amenities that would have been laughable five years ago.  So how do cruise lines continue to make themselves relevant to their passenger base?  They listen to their customers - and then they make changes.

This is exactly what Holland America Line is doing with its latest round of Signature of Excellence enhancements - a world-class upgrade the line started back in 2004.

The Ryndam has just returned from its latest 17-day Signature of Excellence refurbishment in Freeport, Bahamas and is now continuing with its Western Caribbean cruises departing roundtrip from Tampa.  The ship now boasts the same impressive features as its fleet-mates, including Canaletto, the popular restaurant introduced onboard the Eurodam.  Each evening, a section of the Lido is transformed through the use of glass partitions into a world-class Italian venue.  While this can be thought of as an alternate dining option, Canaletto carries no additional surcharge, though reservations are recommended.

 Refreshing decor in the new Spa Suites.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line

Staterooms across all categories also received new looks and furnishings, as well as the addition of the extremely popular Lanai staterooms.  Sixteen staterooms near the bow on the Verandah deck were also re-categorized as Spa Staterooms which feature enhanced amenities like special room service menus, spa treatments, slippers, a yoga mat, an organic cotton bathroom, and more.  Their convenient location to the spa allows for preferential access.

The Ryndam did not however receive The Retreat, the line's brand new pool-area concept.  This is planned for the ship, but will be done at a later date.  The area includes a giant LED screen for watching movies during the evening, a new bar, and a pizzeria. 

From the Deck Chair recently had the opportunity to talk with Holland America Line's Executive Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs about the recent enhancements to their ships, and to better understand how the line is implementing these changes to ensure guests experience A Signature of Excellence.

From the Deck Chair: It's been quite a year for you.  Actually, it's been a very busy six years for you - it seems as if Holland America Line hasn't had a moment to rest since the Signature of Excellence enhancements were first introduced in 2004.  Can you take us through the past year?

Holland America Line (HAL): It's been an exciting year for Holland America Line. It began with the Oosterdam. The refurbishments that we had previously done on the Westerdam and Zuiderdam were also made to their sister ship, the Oosterdam. These included the addition of 34 new staterooms, a new Explorations Café, the addition of a screening room, a completely renovated Pinnacle Bar, upgrades to the shops and other improvements.

 ms Oosterdam tied up at Canada Place, Vancouver BC.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

HAL (continued): While the Oosterdam was being refitted in Palermo, the Veendam was in Freeport undergoing an extensive series of Signature of Excellence upgrades including a new Mix lounge area, show lounge, additional staterooms aft, the creation of a new Lanai category stateroom and a new aft pool area called the Retreat. ms Rotterdam completed these same drydock enhancements in December.

In January, ms Prinsendam underwent the addition of 21 new staterooms with an expanded aft pool area and new pool bar. ms Zaandam completed a technical drydock with a refurbishment of some public areas and the addition of Merabella shops. In February, ms Ryndam [underwent] Signature of Excellence enhancements including the Mix lounge, show lounge, and a new Canaletto restaurant. The additional staterooms and Retreat pool will come in a couple years.

The new Martini Bar area in MIX.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line 

The Holland America Logo adorns classic wooden deckchairs.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

FTCD: Was this a huge logistical challenge to perform these renovations?

HAL: Really, it is planning when and how you can implement drydocks. But it’s not a huge challenge for us since this is our business and we regularly bring ships into drydock.

FTDC: How difficult was it to complete these drydocks in such a short amount of time?

HAL: It requires focus and dedication. As you can imagine, any wasted time can impact your completion. So, we have a great team of folks to oversee the planning, logistics and progress. And of course, the shipyard has skilled workers and their management team, too. We are heading to our third of the latest Signature of Excellence drydocks but really, we’ve done these drydocks in the past so have a good level of experience to plan, anticipate and manage through to the end result on time.

FTDC: Much has been written about the renovations to the Veendam's aft pool, covering everything from the extension of the deck itself to the re-arrangement of the pool itself.  The biggest complaint, asthetically, from a lot of people has been the odd overhang and 'ducktail' that adorn the stern.

HAL: It is really somewhat logical. We made plans to add additional verandahs so the pool deck would become larger. The thing one must be aware of in this is weight and the ship’s draft. That’s why we go to the table with engineers and the shipyard to be sure that what we would like is feasible. And it was. Technically, it’s fairly easy as shipyards go. You cut the sections apart from hull add the new section and then weld it back together. Well, of course one has to be sure all the wires and connections are taken care of, too. But ship yards know how to address all of this.

 ms Veendam after her refit.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

FTDC: The Veendam is a ship of many firsts for Holland America.  It was the first ship to have a British Captain, as well as the first ship in the history of the line to be registered outside the Netherlands (this was changed in 2006).  Was there any particular reason Veendam was chosen to be first in line to recieve this major refit?

HAL: Just timing of drydocks. It was due up first and we could make the plans.

FTDC: The Amsterdam, Zaandam, and Volendam are noticeably absent from the refurbishment timeline..

HAL: These are more recent ships and currently not in the plans for the current enhancements. But they receive those items and programs that are part of Signature of Excellence in general such as soft goods in staterooms, Explorations Team, new culinary programs, and more.

New Lanai Staterooms feature sliding doors opening onto the promenade deck.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line 

FTDC: The new Lanai staterooms that open up to the promenade deck are without a doubt one of the most innovative features of these renovations.  Additional balcony staterooms and inside staterooms have also been added in some cases.  Do these refits serve a dual purpose by continuing to improve the passenger experience, while at the same time perhaps improving the economies of scale?

HAL: As with all our Signature of Excellence initiatives, our main objective is to continue to enhance our guest experience by blending innovation and premium touches to deliver a cruise experience that is unparaelled.

In the Rotterdam dry dock, as well as Veendam earlier this year and upcoming dry docks on Ryndam, Statendam and Maasdam, we had the opportunity to not just add more verandah staterooms (which are always popular) but to create new categories with the lanai and spa staterooms. The lanai staterooms have been incredibly popular and offer an experience that isn’t available on other lines with the opportunity to walk directly from your stateroom onto the teak promenade deck.

Of course we ultimately experience some economies of scale but we invested $42 million in improvements to the Rotterdam to add 44 staterooms, create 39 new Lanai cabins, 23 new “spa staterooms” and add The Retreat, Mix, Showroom at Sea, Canaletto and more. Our significant investment in the Signature of Excellence program – over $525 million to date – is all about enhancing the guest experience and delivering the latest innovations and services to our guests.

One other thing to mention is that this on-going investment reinforces our commitment to our mid-size fleet, which we believe is important to the premium cruise experience we deliver.  

FTDC: One thing that most impressed me about these renovations was how dramatically some of the public rooms would be changing - and not in a bad way, either.  It seems to have modernized them in a very classy, elegant way and allowed some of the look and feel of the Vista class ships to creep into the earlier vessels.  How did you determine what areas would change, and what they would develop into?

HAL: It’s really about listening to your guests through surveys, comment cards and focus groups. And then watching the latest trends for the premium traveler.

 The new MIX area onboard the MS Rotterdam.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line

Mix, for example, really takes advantage of providing a vibrant center with three niche bars to cater to specific interests but allow a very social setting for everyone to enjoy. (Martinis, Champagne and Spirits &Ales)  Our guests are looking for an upscale, trendy spot where they can gather together and be part of this exciting new ambiance.

 Showroom at Sea onboard the MS Rotterdam

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line

The new show lounge concept – Showroom at Sea - expands upon the latest entertainment trends to create more than a glitzy show. It’s a modern-day take on the classic nightclub, featuring state of the art technology and a different show and themed environment nightly.

Comprised of cast members with credits such as Les Miserables and Rent on Broadway, National Tours of Mamma Mia and performances with the Tokyo Philharmonic, the shows include “Street Singin’,” “Encore,” “Live from the Stardust Lounge,” and “Bob Mackie’s Broadway.” Our guests will be wowed by this fresh approach to entertainment and the complete transformation of the showroom.

The inviting new pool area called The Retreat.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line

One of the key highlights...is The Retreat, a new resort-style pool area on the aft of the Lido deck. The main focus of the new pool experience is a shallow area with forty-four lounge chairs where guests can relax and dip their fingers and toes in the water. Built-in benches create another place for guests to relax and dangle their legs in the refreshing water. The Retreat is a totally new approach for us to this area of the ship. We’re creating an area where guests can relax outside in a sophisticated environment, and we’re adding other fun and convenient features such as a whirlpool, a band and DJ stand and even a pizzeria.

FTDC: That's a very unique idea.  Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about these new enhancements.

While some lines focus seemingly on building bigger ships than the next guy, it is nice to see Holland America's commitment to their smaller vessels continue in the form of extensive enhancements meant to bring these ships into the 21st century.  This is one of the greatest advantages of the line, in that passengers who prefer their ships smaller can sail these ships without sacrificing any of the amenities of the larger Vista class ships.  Other unique features, such as the Lanai staterooms, may be enough to encourage passengers who have traditionally preferred larger ships to try a voyage on a ship like the Veendam.

With the Statendam's drydock in April, the last remaining S-Class vessel to receive these refurbishments will be the ms Maasdam.  A firm favorite among the Holland America fleet, Maasdam will enter drydock in April 2011 where she will emerge with the same features and fresh appearance as her fleetmates.

Among the most impressive enhancements are things not even directly related to the ships themselves.  The line has introduced a new Ship Flicks program, featuring over 1,000 DVD titles.  Guests' picks are sent to their staterooms upon request, and can be re-ordered as they wish.

Club HAL has also seen expansion to provide kids of all ages with even more choices than ever before, and significant improvements have been made to the line's enrichment programs.  Guests can learn to blog, take cooking lessons from culinary experts around the world, hear lecturer's speak on the many ports of call, or simply take part in enhancing their own well-being with the line's Explore Well-being Program.

We look forward to seeing what unique and interesting improvements Holland America Line will think of next.  For more information on Holland America, their ships and destinations, as well as their Signature of Excellence program, pay a visit to the Holland America Line website.

Aaron Saunders would like to personally thank Erik Elvejord, Director of Public Relations at Holland America Line for his time, assistance and patience in acquiring photographs for this article and answering his many questions, as well as Richard D. Meadows and the entire Holland America team for their time and thoughtful responses.  The assistance of both of these fantastic gentlemen is greatly appreciated.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: The Tradition Continues

The birth of the modern cruise owes a great debt to Hapag-Lloyd's Albert Ballin, the line's pioneering General Director.  It was he who decided, in 1891, to offer the world's first week-long cruise to the Mediterranean.  Up to this point, ocean travel was viewed with the same disdain that accompanies modern-day air travel: it was an experience to be endured, not enjoyed.

Ballin realized it didn't have to be that way.  Noticing that transatlantic passenger traffic dropped off steeply during the wet, cold, and entirely unpleasant winter months, he decided to relocate one of the line's under-utilized ships to the Mediterranean, where the destination, as well as the ship, would be the key advertising features.

On a cold winter day in January 1891, the Augusta Victoria sailed into history as the first cruise ship.  The idea was such a huge - and unexpected -  success that in 1899 the line contracted Blohm & Voss to construct the first purpose-built cruise ship, to be called Prinzessin Victoria Luise.  Ballin oversaw the project personally, and was continually tweaking and refining it to ensure his passengers were always satisfied.

In 2010, that tradition of exceeding passengers expectations continues at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.  Thier flagship, MS Europa, is the only cruise ship in the world to have been awarded five stars from the Berlitz Cruise Guide - a distinction it has proudly held for the past ten years.  Together with fleetmates MS Hanseatic, MS Bremen and MS Columbus, the Europa offers some of the most unique and innovative itineraries of any ultra-luxury line at sea today.

 The inviting pool deck onboard MS Europa.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

German in heart and heritage, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers many bilingual voyages designed to appeal and cater to English-speaking travelers, while at the same time preserving the line's unique European heritage.  Everything from the initial brochure to onboard documents, announcements, lifeboat drills and shore excursions will be conducted in English.  This commitment to detail is just the first of many features that should make anyone looking for an ultra-luxury experience put Hapag-Lloyd Cruises at the top of their list.

Here's what we find particularly special about the line:

Outstanding Included Amenities
An impressive list of amenities are included with every Hapag-Lloyd Cruise.  Beer and non-alcoholic beverages in the suite minibars are included in the cruise fare.  Text email messages under 10kb can also be sent free of charge - an absolute rarity for those wishing to communicate with home.  Gratuities are included, as are weather-dependent items like waterproof parkas and umbrellas.  Depending on the destination, snorkeling equipment and bicycles are also available to guests.

Bicycles are available for loan on most voyages.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 

Amazing Ultra-Luxury Ships and Expedition Ships
MS Europa is, without a doubt, one of the classiest ships afloat.  The line even refers to her as The World's Most Beautiful Yacht - and it's easy to see why.  With a passenger compliment of just 408, the 652-foot long Europa boasts an all-suite cabin arrangement, with choices ranging from a 291-sq. ft. Oceanview suite, to the SPA Suites featuring whirlpool tub, atmospheric indirect lighting, and free drinks and snacks from the special SPA menu.    The Penthouse Grand Suite comes in at 915 sq. ft, and boasts all the comforts of home - and then some.

The beautiful SPA Suite bathroom onboard MS Europa.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 

But the luxury doesn't stop there: MS Bremen and MS Hanseatic sail the line's Expedition Voyages. Carrying just 164 and 184 passengers respectively, the MS Hanseatic is the world's only five-star expedition ship, and MS Bremen is not far behind with four stars.  Both ships have been awarded the highest ice class for passenger ships (E4), allowing both to cruise regions like the Arctic and Antarctica with the utmost safety.

Destinations
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers some of the most unique and diverse itineraries out there - so many, in fact, it boggles the mind.  One of the most unique, the MS Hanseatic spends 26 days this summer transiting the fabled Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska - making Hapag-Lloyd the only luxury line to be able to do so.  The line also offers a wide variety of Antarctica and Artic Expedition cruises, as well as a unique 16-day Circumnavigation of Newfoundland voyage departing May 29, 2010.

 MS Bremen on an expedition cruise to Antarctica.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

MS Europa offers cruises to the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Great Britain, and the Far East - and while these are not expedition voyages as such, expect them to call at a number of ports not commonly visited by most cruise ships.

One unique itinerary in which the ship and its entertainment are the destination is the line's Ocean Sun Festival.  Departing Kiel, Germany on August 24, 2010 and cruising around Great Britain, the Ocean Sun Festival is the only classical music festival on the high seas.  Featuring performances both onboard and ashore at historic locations,  the voyage will also offer commentary by noted music critics and guest lecturers along the way, and has been compared to the prestigious Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy.

Prices for the line are very much in-step with other ultra-luxury lines, but it is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises attention to detail and commitment to its English and German-speaking guests that has earned the line such high praise from a wide variety of sources.

Here at From the Deck Chair, we plan to do an in-depth article on the Ocean Sun Festival, as well as a detailed overview of the Northwest Passage Transit in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, passengers wanting more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises should visit their website, or order a printed brochure here. 

A New Alaska for Carnival

Carnival Spirit departs Vancouver, bound for Alaska

Photo ©2009 Aaron Saunders

If Carnival excels in one area, it's fleet deployment.  The line is careful to never over-saturate one area, and even plays its cards close to its heart in the already over-saturated Caribbean, choosing to offer cruises of varying lengths operating on a series of different ships from multiple homeports.

Another more cautious destination for Carnival is Alaska.  Ever mindful of customer comments, the line announced last year it would be moving the 85,920-ton Carnival Spirit from its usual alternating Northbound and Southbound Alaska runs - moving instead to more generic seven-day roundtrips from Seattle.

Passengers traveling from the United States cited high airfare costs into Vancouver and Anchorage as the main reason for hesitating to book an Alaskan cruise, and Carnival listened.  

While this is not new news - the original press release came through last year, after all - it is worth noting since the 2010 Alaska season is about to kick off at the end of next month, and will prove to be a defining year for Alaska as a destination.  Prices are still relatively high as of this writing, but if the same sort of discounting that went on last year happens again this year, the fleet heading north will continue to shrink from both Vancouver and Seattle.

Carnival withdrew - temporarily - from Europe a few years ago after it was revealed that a majority of their passengers either couldn't or had no interest in flying to Europe.  This was juxtaposed with the news that Europe was exploding as a major destination of interest for many North Americans, and reveals the extent to which fleet deployment at the major cruise lines is largely dependent on their passenger base.

So why the change in Alaska for Carnival?  For the cruise line, the decision was a no-brainer: not only is it less expensive for their passenger base to fly to Seattle, but Seattle-Tacoma Airport is only roughly 20 minutes from the port.  It allows Carnival to continue to have an edge over the competition even in this tight economic market.  

Just how low were prices to Alaska last year?  Shoulder-season sailings on Holland America's Statendam were going for $299 - in an oceanview.  A great deal for passengers, but hardly a sustainable fare, and certainly one that no cruise line wants to see this year.

We will have extended coverage of the Alaska season here in Vancouver once it kicks off at the end of April.  In the meantime, to check out Carnival's new Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay sailings roundtrip from Seattle, head on over to Carnival's website.

Princess Debuts Largest Ever Europe Season in 2011

Crown Princess docked in Akureyri, Iceland

Photo ©2009 Aaron Saunders

This past week, Princess announced the first details of what is to be their largest-ever European season in 2011.

Offering 42 unique itineraries visiting over 135 ports of call, a total of seven itineraries are brand-new for the line.  Also included are enhanced overnight stays in ports like Venice, St. Petersburg, Alexandria, Dublin and Edinburgh.

While full itineraries and bookings won't open until March 25th, here's a quick peek at what to expect.  Prices are slated to start at $1,199 US Per Person, making booking early for the 2011 Season an attractive offer indeed.

Ruby Princess returns to the Med to operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises.

Emerald Princess will sail a new 11-day Scandinavia and Russia itinerary, offering a two-day stay in St. Petersburg.  Most competing lines only sail a 10-day itinerary on this run.

Star Princess will offer a series of 12-day Egypt, Greek Isles, and Mediterranean voyages.

Crown Princess returns for a fourth season to the British Isles, as well as offering voyages to Norway and Iceland that range in length from seven to 12-days, out of Southampton.

Grand Princess also returns out of Southampton, where she will sail a new selection of Mediterranean and Northern Europe voyages, ranging in length from seven to 17 days.

Ocean Princess, one of the line's smaller ships, will offer a series of alternating seven-day Greek Isle and Mediterranean Interlude voyages that can be combined to create a longer 14-day voyage.

Pacific Princess, sister ship to the aforementioned Ocean Princess, will offer Holy Land and Black Sea cruises.

For more information, visit the Princess Cruises website.

Itineraries go on sale March 25, 2010.