Cunard Line has taken possession of the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria at Fincantieri, one of four major ship yards in Europe.  While considerably smaller than the 140,000-ton Queen Mary 2, she will have the exclusive Queens Grill and Princess Grill.  Passengers will find a West End-style theater with private boxes and a two-story library.  Victoria will leave the shipyard in Italy Nov. 30 and sail to Southampton.  Her inaugural voyage is Dec. 11, 2007.

Photo: Captain Paul Wright, happily at the help of his new ship.  The ship is steered with a joy stick!  No kidding.  In January he’ll take this lady on a world cruise.

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Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that the 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny will sail on a new Southern Caribbean itinerary from San Juan effective March 2, 2008.  Ports of call include St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica and St. Thomas.   Reservations and information may be obtained from travel agents.

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Norwegian Cruise Line, the first cruise company to offer year-round voyages from New York will expand its Bermuda program by adding two NCL ships starting 2009.  Sailing from Boston will be Norwegian Spirit, departing on Fridays while Norwegian Dawn will offer weekly sailings from New York.  Norwegian Majesty will sail to St. Georges, Bermuda, from Charleston, Philadelphia and Baltimore.  One of NCL’s most popular programs is a golf package at one of the island’s best golf course. 

In 2008, Norwegian Dawn will sail on one-week voyages from New York while Norwegian Majesty will offer Bermuda cruises from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charleston.

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Princess Cruises has announced that the 77,000-ton Dawn Princess will be permanently based in Australia with sister ship Sun Princess.  The 1,950-passenger Sun Princess, originally scheduled to sail on a South Pacific itinerary, arrived in October, 2007.  While Dawn Princess was slated to operate a five-month season of cruises from Sydney starting November, 2008, she will now remain indefinitely.

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