In November, when Princess Cruises christenedits newest ship, Regal Princess, it also kicked off ayear-long celebration of the line’s 50th Anniversaryand called upon six members of the original cast ofThe Love Boat television show to be the ship’sgodparents and do the naming honors. The iconictelevision series (which ran from 1977 to 1986 andwere filmed on Princess ships) is often credited withthe success of Princess Cruises as well as havingmade an immeasurable contribution to cruising’ssuccess over the decades.

To underscore Princess’ Fifty Years and TheLove Boat connection, the six godparents -- CaptainStubing (Gavin MacLeod); Gopher, chief purser(Fred Grandy); Isaac, the bartender (Ted Lange);Doc, ship’s doctor (Bernie Kopell); Julie, cruisedirector (Lauren Tewes); and Vicki, the captain’sdaughter (Jill Whelan) -- christened the RegalPrincess by releasing 50 bottles of Moet & Chandonchampagne plus one gigantic bottle to smash againstthe ship’s hull. Other The Love Boat cast membersand a host of celebrities who had appeared frequentlyon the show, including Loni Anderson, Charo,Florence Henderson, and Jack Jones, were also onhand for the christening. And lest we forget, the first14 notes of The Love Boat theme are heard wheneverthe horn blows.

Actually, Regal Princess was inaugurated inMay in Europe and sailed on a series ofMediterranean cruises before arriving in FortLauderdale where the naming took place.

The 142,229-ton Regal Princess is almostidentical to the Royal Princess which was launchedin 2013, by her Godmother, Her Royal Highness TheDuchess of Cambridge (Princess Kate). The twoships are the largest in the Princess inventory, eachcarrying 3,560 passengers.

And yes, Regal Princess is big! You’ll quickly

get that impression in her grand Atrium spanningdecks 5 to 7. It’s almost 50% larger than those onearlier Princess ships. Starting at the Piazza, thebeautiful space glitters with the stairways windingaround columns of light up three decks and amatching chandelier overhead. Comfortable, warmand inviting with furnishings in soft, muted colors,the Atrium is the heartbeat and social center of theship and sets the tone. The Piazza, an ode to Italianworkmanship, is surrounded by bars, cafés, andspecialty shops – some familiar, some new -- wherepassengers gather for coffee, gelato, snacks, sweets,wine, pizza, and champagne, and to enjoyentertainment and music throughout the day andmost of the night as varied as chamber classics by astring quartet to a hula hoop dancer twilling to rockand roll. It’s also the best people-watching place onthe ship.

Off to one side forward is the lobby with theguest services and shore excursions desks andSabatini’s, Princess’ popular Italian restaurant.Beyond, the large Lotus Spa has 18 treatment roomsand The Enclave thermal suite with a Turkish-stylesteam room, an herbal steam room, a sauna andhydro-therapy pool. In the apt direction is theInternet Café and the Symphony dining room is atthe stern.

Regal Princess has several new features forPrincess Cruises. It introduced a ship-wide Wifinetwork that passengers can access free of chargewith a smart phone or laptop. It’s not Internet service(that’s an extra charge). Rather, it’s a shipboardnetwork that enables passengers to communicatewith one another and get updates on shipboardactivities.

Regal Princess was the first to host PrincessCruises’ new partnership with Miami-based masterchocolatier and pastry designer Norman Love. (Wasit by chance or by design?

FIRST LOOK: REGAL PRINCESS

Vol. 34, Issue 2 - December 15, 2014 “Our 34rd Year of Continuous Publication” Single issue price $2.50

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

(Continued on page 13)

EDITORIAL

I was very honored to be a guest at the namingof the new Regal Princess last month. PrincessCruises pulled out all the stops to make it a truly grandoccasions as it also kicked off of their 50thanniversary (1965-2015). This made it a doublyimportant occasion to celebrate. The commemorationcombined the past and modern day by having thecrew of the original The Love Boat television seriesacting as godparents for the new ship and with manyof the past guest stars of the show also in attendance.Great fun!

Stanley B. McDonald who founded PrincessCruises and gave his industry a promotional boost byallowing his ships to serve as backdrops for TV's"The Love Boat” at 94 could not attend but Princessprepared a moving video tribute to Mr. McDonaldand the history of Princess Cruises. Only 2 weekslater it was sadly announced that Stanley McDonald

had passed away.

As a businessman who helped bring the 1962World's Fair to Seattle, McDonald foresaw the influxof Seattle visitors and he chartered a ship that cruisedfrom San Francisco to Victoria, British Columbia,stopping en route to serve as a floating hotel forfairgoers which was a great success. Excited aboutthe business possibilities of cruising, McDonaldstarted a new company and leased a 318-passengerconverted ferryboat from Canadian Pacific and inNovember 1965, the Princess Patricia left LosAngeles for Mexico. This was the start of PrincessCruises.

When other cruise line executives rejected theidea of ABC's "The Love Boat" being filmed on theirships due to the disturbance to paying passengers McDonald welcomed ABC aboard his ships and the restwas television history. "That show put cruising on themap," Bob Dickinson, a former Carnival CruiseLines chief executive, told the Miami Herald in 2013."It moved cruising into the national psyche."

Stanley B. McDonald helped open cruising to themasses and not just the wealthy long before CarnivalCruise Line was sailing out of Miami. He was a truecruise industry visionary!

Sincerely,

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The American Queen Steamboat Company,owner and operator of America’s grandest riverboatfleet, announces its 2016 sailing schedule.Featuring the most sailings in company history, thetwo-vessel fleet will explore the heartland of theUnited States and the Pacific Northwest with acombined 82 sailings. For the first time, theAmerican Queen will sail the length of theMississippi River from St. Paul, Minn. to NewOrleans on two epic itineraries available to book intheir entirety or as individual segments. TheAmerican Empress season features 36 sailingsbetween Vancouver, Wash. to Clarkston, Wash.showcasing the majestic landscapes along theColumbia and Snake Rivers.

Offering the most inclusive river cruiseexperience in North America, fares on the AmericanQueen begin at $2,799 per person based on doubleoccupancy and $3,999 on the American Empress.All journeys include a one-night pre-voyage hotelstay, shore tours in all ports, complimentary wineand beer with dinner and a host of other amenities.

To order a brochure, request additionalinformation and make reservations, contact theAmerican Queen Steamboat Company at 888-749-5280, visit online at www.AQSC.com or contact aprofessional travel agent.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCLH) today announced a definitive agreementwith Princess Cruises, Ltd. to purchase OceanPrincess for its newly acquired Oceania Cruisesbrand. The 684-passenger ship joins OceaniaCruises' trio of award-winning sister ships Insignia,Regatta and Nautica. The new addition will benamed Sirena.

Upon delivery in March 2016, Sirena willimmediately undergo a 35-day, $40 millionrefurbishment in Marseille, France to elevate theship to the Oceania Cruises' standard of elegance.Drawing on the recent transformation of Insignia asinspiration, the ship will feature Oceania Cruises'renowned specialty dining restaurants, Toscana andPolo Grill, along with more recent additions to thefleet such as Baristas and the cook-to-order grill at

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LOOKING BACK

A look at what was making news in Ocean &Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty yearsago.

Five Years Ago – December 2009....Celebrity Cruises announces that the fourthship to be built within its popular Solstice classwill be called Celebrity Silhouette......Seabournbegins a multi-million dollar renovation of theoriginal trio of its award-winning, small-luxuryfleet of Seabourn Spirit, Pride andLegend....Carnival orders a new ship, yetunamed, which will be a third sister to the newCarnival Dream

Ten Years Ago – December 2004....CarnivalCruise Lines' announces that its PresidentialWine Club will launch in January, 2005 underthe direction of the line's President and CEOBob Dickinson one of America's leading wineconnoisseurs and collectors....NorwegianCruise Line announces that it will build twonew ships for delivery in 2007. . . . CarnivalValor is christened in Miami with Today' ShowCo-Host Katie Couric acting as Godmother.

Fifteen Years Ago – December 1999.....Royal Caribbean announces that it has signed aletter of intent to build a third and fourth88.000-ton Vantage-class vessel with a totalcontract price of $800 million….Cunardannounces details of it’s Project Queen Marystating that she will be the largest passengership ever built, it will be longer than 1,100 feetand have a giant single stack that will towerover 20 stories above her keel.

Twenty Years Ago –December 1994....Radisson Diamond Cruises and Seven SeasCruise Lines announce that they will mergetheir operations to form Radisson Seven SeasCruises….Princess Cruises announces that itwill introduce smoke-free dining rooms on allnine of its ships….StarLauro Cruises acquiresthe Enrico Costa from Costa Cruises and willrename her the Symphony.......... The Star Lauro( ex - Achille Lauro / ex- Willem Ruys) catchesfire and sinks off of the coast of Somalia whileen route to South Africa.

Terrace Café. The ship will welcome her first guestsin late April 2016.

The inaugural season for Sirena will be releasedin late February 2015 with reservations opening onMarch 4, 2015. For more information on OceaniaCruises, visit www.OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or contact your travel professional.

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The Big Apple to the U.S. Capital - 9 Days, 8Nights - Departs May 22; June 1†, June 2, 2015 -

Offer: Save Up To $828 Off Per Person.*Embark in the riverside city of Alexandria, VA

and enjoy a scenic sail to Baltimore, MD. Explorehistoric Philadelphia, PA, “the Cradle of Liberty,”and marvel at spectacular views of the Manhattanskyline and the Statue of Liberty in New YorkHarbor, then sail to lovely New LondonConnecticut. Behold the Gilded Age mansions ofNewport, RI, before exploring Boston, MA, theperfect location to conclude your voyage up thenortheastern Atlantic Coast!DC to Boston - 12 Days, 11 Nights - Departs June11, 2015 - Offer: Save Up To $1,104 Per Person.*

Discover the history and beauty of the mosticonic cities in the northeastern United States onthese all-American voyage with Blount Small ShipAdventures! Call us at 800-556-7450 to receiveyour FREE brochure today!

*Cruise fare discount is per person and based on double occupancy. Valid on new

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dates operate in reverse direction.

The Princess Grill and Queens Grill experienceaboard Cunard Line’s fleet of majestic Queens –flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and QueenElizabeth – is the standard-bearer of refinedelegance that has been long enjoyed by royalty,heads of state and luminaries from around theworld. It begins before you even step on board oneof our renowned ocean liners, commencing at aleisurely pace with Priority Boarding as you check-in at the hour of your choice.

When you arrive to your suite – among the mostspacious at sea - you are warmly greeted by yourattentive steward or butler (Queens Grill) whoawaits your first requests, all delivered withexemplary White Star Service. Choose yourpreferred pillow from nine choices; have yourbutler unpack your suitcase while you getacquainted with your suite’s offerings andamenities; invite friends for an en-suite dinner usingyour personalized stationary; raise your Waterfordglass for a bon voyage toast with a complimentarybottle of wine or champagne.

After you’ve settled into your home-away-from-home, step into the storied enclave of theaward-wining Princess Grill and Queens Grillrestaurants. Excitement builds as you are greeted byname into the club-like, single-seating diningexperience known for serving world-class cuisine,showcasing flavours from around the globe. Thestaff are eager to make your favorite dish theircommand..

Daytime pursuits feature more pampering andlavish White Star Service: indulge in the privacy ofthe exclusive Grills Lounge or Grills Sun Terrace,and enlist the personalized service of the dedicatedGrills concierge for on board theatre reservations.

Arrive to your destination feeling like royalty,eager for the next Cunard Grills experience tobegin. For more information and to book a voyage,contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard Line at1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.

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When Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdamsets sail in February 2016 the ship will head to theazure waters of the Mediterranean on a seven-dayPremiere Voyage and continue on a series of 12-dayPremiere Sailings through early May 2016. Thedebut cruises will explore some of the region’smost popular capitals, culturally rich cities,charming villages and beautiful beaches. Bookingsfor the Premiere Voyage and Sailings open Dec. 1,2014.

The 2,650-guest ship is scheduled for deliveryby Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard Feb. 15,2016. Following its repositioning to Civitavecchia(Rome), Italy, ms Koningsdam will sail a seven-dayPremiere Voyage roundtrip from Civitavecchiadeparting Feb. 20 to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kérkira(Corfu) and Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; andNaples, Italy. Following the Premiere Voyage, fromthe end of February through early May msKoningsdam will cruise a series of six 12-dayPremiere Sailings on two alternating itinerariesroundtrip from Civitavecchia.

Holland America Line is working to finalizedetails on the ship’s summer and fall 2016 cruisesand information will be released in the comingmonths. Cruise fares on Premier Sailings begin at$999 per person, double occupancy. Taxes areadditional. For more information about msKoningsdam and Holland America Line, consult aprofessional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL HAL(877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises revealed the firstrendering of its new ship, Seven Seas Explorer, andlaunched a dedicated microsite for the shipdesigned to be the most luxurious ship ever built.The microsite, found athttp://www.rssc.com/explorer, is the official site fordetails, imagery and updates on the ship, which willdebut in the summer of 2016. The site will featurethe latest information on Seven Seas Explorer,

including updates on construction, public space andsuite designs, onboard amenities, itineraries andother elements as they are revealed. An addedfeature to the site is a never before seen two-minutevideo that sets the elegant tone for Seven SeasExplorer, while building anticipation for the newestaddition to the fleet.

The one-stop portal for updates on the stunning750-guest, all-suite, all-balcony ship, includessections on milestones and events, yet-to-beannounced inaugural season details and generalnews leading up to the summer 2016 maidenvoyage. There is a dedicated section for SevenSeas Society members, the line’s loyalty program,where guests can register for priority reservationdetails pertaining to the ship’s inaugural season.

Reservations for Seven Seas Explorer’s maidenvoyage and inaugural season open Jan. 19, 2015exclusively for Seven Seas Society members, andbecome widely available starting Feb. 11, 2015. Formore information about Regent Seven Seas Cruisesor to receive a brochure, guests can call 1-844-4REGENT (1-844-473-4368) or contact aprofessional travel agent.

Seabourn has announced that it has exercised itsoption for a second new 40,350-GRT ship to bebuilt by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. It willbe a sister ship to the newbuild announced earlierthis year. The first new Seabourn ship is scheduledfor delivery in late 2016, and the second ship willbe delivered in spring, 2018.

The new ships’ configuration will be based onthe highly popular Seabourn Odyssey-class ships,with one additional deck and new expanded publicareas. Each ship will carry just 604 guests based ondouble occupancy in luxurious all-suite, verandaaccommodations. The interior design will maintainSeabourn’s high ratio of space per guest and enablehighly personalized service by nearly one staffmember per guest on board.

For more information on Seabourn’s award-winning cruise vacations, contact a travel advisor,call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visitwww.seabourn.com.

5

Capitalizing on the success they have found onthe mighty Mississippi River, the American QueenSteamboat Company has successfully brought backovernight stern wheel service to the Columbia andSnake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest with theAmerican Empress, the largest overnight riverboatwest of the Mississippi River. You can now followthe historic path of the explorers Lewis & Clark fromarid high plains through majestic river gorges to thePacific Ocean or conversely depending on directionaboard a modern yet wonderfully historic andelegant stern-wheeled river boat.

THE LINE – The American Queen SteamboatCompany, a subsidiary of Hornblower MarinesServices, first took over the beautiful AmericanQueen which had been laid up since 2008, from theU.S. Maritime Administration, and after an extensiverefit, put her back in service in April 2012, thusreviving nearly two centuries of overnight stern-wheel steamboat services on the Mississippi RiverSystem.

Then in 2013, the company announced the

purchase of The Empress of the North which was lastoperated by Majestic America Line before thatcompany went bankrupt in 2008. The largelyforgotten Empress of the North was laid up nearPortland, Oregon and sealed up by MARAD until anagreement was reached with American QueenSteamboat Company to acquire and operate her asAmerican Empress in 2013. Since then, the ship hasbeen completely overhauled to the tune of USD $5million. In doing so, the Memphis, Tennessee basedcompany has revived American river cruising aboardhistoric styled stern wheelers on the Mississippi andOhio Rivers of Middle America as well as theColumbia and Snake Rivers of the PacificNorthwest. There is talk of a third boat, perhaps onthe Great Lakes or for coastal USA cruising.

THE SHIP – The American Empress is the largestand most elegant riverboat in the Pacific Northwest.She was originally built at Nichols Brothers BoatBuilders on Whidbey Island, Washington in 2002 asthe Empress of the North for Majestic America Line.She sailed for them until being withdrawn fromservice in 2008 following the collapse of that

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SHIP OF THE MONTH – AMERICAN EMPRESSby Tom Cassidy

American Empress Photo Courtesy of Tom Cassidy

company. She then remained under the stewardshipof the U.S. Maritime Administration at Portland,Oregon until the American Queen SteamboatCompany came to her rescue in 2013.

The US registered and flagged AmericanEmpress is a 3,388-ton, 360-foot long, 58 foot widediesel-powered paddle-wheeler with a 20 foot draft.She can accommodate 223 passengers on 4 mainpassenger decks. She has an American crew of 90.Normally pushed by Z-drive propulsion and thesternwheel, the paddlewheeler can cruise at 14 knots.

Typically you board the American Empress onthe lowest of the 4 passenger decks on Explorerdeck. Off of the main foyer at the aft of Explorerdeck is the beautiful Astoria Dining Room. Thisroom has been redecorated from the red Russianczarist bordello look that this room had as theEmpress of the North to a very pleasant room withcentral crystal chandeliers and a pale blue and ivorycolor scheme. The dining room is open for breakfast(7 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.), lunch ( noon to 1 p.m.) anddinner (6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.). All meals are openseating so passengers can choose to eat whenever isconvenient and with whomever they wish duringthose times.

Moving forward is the main entry foyer with twoelevators and main staircase. A wide corridorcontains the Pursers Office and Gift Ship and theboats 7 outside cabins with windows. All the wayforward is the Showroom decorated in deep reds andgolds, with a dance floor and small stage where theband and singers perform and a bar is located at theback. It should be noted that the corridor connectingthe Showroom and main foyer can be busy and noisybefore and after shows or lectures so the cabins onthis deck could have a noise problem.

Next deck up is Frontier Deck which containsmostly cabins, all with balcony. The Empress has noinside cabins. At the aft of Frontier Deck overlookingthe paddle wheel is the very popular Paddle WheelLounge. This is a comfortable room with windowson three sides containing beautiful stained glasshighlights giving you views of the river and passingscenery and of the big red paddle wheel aft. Theroom is done in a dark walnut with a tray ceiling.There is an intimate bar in one corner and the othercorner contains book cases and furnishings to form a

small library/game area and there also are fourcomputers where passengers can browse the Internetfor free. It should also be noted that internet is freeaboard the Empress and you can often get excellentreception in your cabin. The Paddle Wheel Loungeis the meeting spot for pre-dinner cocktails and apianist and singer provide late-night entertainment.

Up one deck is Discovery Deck which containsall cabins and suites. The top deck, deck 4 is VistaView Deck which contains more cabins and suitesand the River Grill & Bar. This room is an additionsince AQSC purchased the boat. Originally as theEmpress of the North this was basically an outdoorhot dog or snack stand, now it is a modern, whencompared to the rest of the ships décor, and stylishdining area. You are surrounded on 3 sides by wallsof glass that can open in fair weather to almost givean alfresco atmosphere to dining plus provide awe-inspiring views of the river and beautiful PacificNortheast scenery. It features a large white marblebar at which you can eat, modern tile floor and woodhighlights with seating for 55 people inside. You canalso eat outside in a large area to the aft overlookingthe paddle wheel. There was a small piano in onecorner and on certain night’s background music isprovided as you enjoy dinner in the very pleasantroom. The room is open for an informal buffet typebreakfast and lunch but at night it is reservationrequired for a more formal sit-down dinner. Soda,coffee and light snack stations at the back of theroom are available 24 hours for passengers.

The corridors on all 4 decks are lined with apriceless art collection from the previous owners,including some actual Faberge eggs that passengerscan do a self-guided tour of to learn about the pieces,many of which reflect the local Native Americanhistory, Russian background and nautical themes ofthis area

The American Empress doesn't have a spa,fitness center or pool but offers six cruiser bikes foruse in ports on a first-come, first-served basis, as wellas helmets and bike locks at no fee. A wraparoundpromenade encircles deck 4.

THE CRUISE – My trip took place in lateSeptember eastward sailing from Vancouver,Washington (located across the river from Portland,Oregon) to Clarkston Washington – 7-nights. But

7

like all the American Queen Steamboat Companycruises it starts off with a hotel stay the night beforein your departure city, in this case Vancouver,Washington.

For our first night we stayed at the very niceVancouver Hilton which is in the heart of the citydirectly across from Esther Short Park a beautifulpublic park which is the town square of Vancouver.Our room on the fourth floor had an actual patiowith table and chairs overlooking the park and itsclock tower. The hotel is within walking distance ofthe river and most sights in Vancouver includinghistoric Fort Vancouver.

After your included breakfast buffet on sailingday you check-in at the hotel and busses take you tothe boat two hours before sailing. So with check inbehind you, you just scan your ID and go directly toyour stateroom upon boarding the boat and findyour luggage waiting in your room. Before sailing aNorthwest Wine Tasting was held hosted by localvineyards.

The next morning found us already docked atAstoria, Washington by the time we woke up. TheEmpress docks next to the Maritime Museum andwithin easy walking distance to the heart of town. InAstoria as in all ports you have the free Hop-on,Hop-off bus excursions which run most all day.

Like her sister on the Mississippi the AmericanEmpress offers complementary shore excursions inthe form of the ingenious “hop-on, hop-off” free busexcursions which are included in each port. Everyday, in each port, guests can choose what time theywould like to begin their included tour by selectinga time at the Departure Kiosk located on the secondfloor lobby between the Shore Excursions Desk andthe Purser's Desk. Pick up a tour map from theShore Excursions Desk or at the motorcoachloading area. Use your boarding pass (specific to thedeparture time that you selected) to board yourluxury motorcoach, actually called “SteamCoaches” and begin your tour. You enjoy thenarrated tour and hop off at any stop that catchesyour interest and stay as long as you'd like. Whenyou're finished exploring, simply wait at a sandwichboard, which denotes each stop, to board the nextmotorcoach and continue to the next hop off stop!The custom motor coaches follow the boat

throughout the cruise and are there at each port withthe same driver who by cruises end has become agood friend. And a real plus is that admission fees tomuseums and attractions that are part of the Hop-OnHop-Off tours.

Premium tour options are available for a fee andare well worth the price (some in the range of about$59 per person). With the premium options, you'llget closer to the history and wild beauty of thePacific Northwest.

In Astoria the premium tours were a Lewis &Clark Experience which took four hours and cost$69 or for the more adventurous there was the ZipLining Adventure for $109. We sailed from Astoriaat 5pm for The Dalles. This is also some of the mostscenic area of the cruise with the beauty of theColumbia Gorge so the time on the river throughStevenson, Washington is amazing

Around noon on the next day we docked at TheDalles, Oregon where you have the option of theHop-on, Hop-Off bus or to just explore the town onyour own. We then departed The Dalles at 3am thenext morning which gives you time to go ashoreafter dinner if you want to enjoy a local pub orwinery.

As ports are never far apart on this river wedocked at Stevenson, Washington by 7am the samemorning. Here you could take the Hop-On, Hop-Offtour which included among other points of interest,the Bonneville Dam and the Columbia GorgeInterpretative Center with admission included oryou could do a Premium Tour to Multnomah Fallsand Crown Point for $39 or The Beauty & Bountyof the Pacific Norwest Tour for $99. I took the laterwhich was a 8 hour tour that included Mount Hoodand the Timberline Lodge, a delightful lunch at alocal Grange Hall and a visit to Mount Hood wineryand a stop at Multnomah Falls before returning tothe ship. I would highly recommend it. We departedStevenson at 5pm.

The following day we arrived at Richland,Washington after lunch at about 2pm. We dock hereuntil 5pm the next day. The afternoon we arrivedyou could explore the town on your own of take oneof the Steam Coaches to the The ReachInterpretative Center. The following day the Hop-

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On, Hop-Off coaches included the Sacajawea StatePark, the Interpretative Center and CountryMercantile Store. A Premium Tour offered “Wines& Spirits on Red Mountain” which visited 3wineries for $69. While the area around Richland isscenic and the town fairly interesting a 27 hour stayhere was too long. I am not sure how they changethat but it is too long a stay in a port that does notoffer that much.

The following day we arrived in our final port ofClarkston, Washington at noon. Here you couldenjoy the Hop-On, Hop-Off to see the area andventure into Lewiston, Idaho or take the PremiumTour which was the Hell’s Canyon Scenic Jet BoatExperience. This tour was the most expensiveoffered during the cruise at $129 but it is well worthit. It takes you deep into the Hells Canyon’s Gorgeplus you see local bighorn sheep, deer, elk and otherlocal wildlife.

We overnighted on the Empress and then thefollowing morning after a leisurely breakfast andgoodbyes to new friends transportation was provideto Spokane International Airport or the DavenportHotel in downtown Spokane. Spokane is overalmost a 3 hour drive from Clarkston so a fee of $49was charged for this transportation.

We stayed one last night at the Davenport Hotelin Spokane on our own. This is the hotel that AQSCwould put you up in if you were boarding atClarkston and sailing westbound. This beautifulhotel, a gem in downtown Spokane, has beenrestored to its former glory. It was opulent in everyrespect. Not only was the hotel beautiful, it wasefficiently run with a very gracious staff. A stay hereis great way to end an outstanding trip.

If rain is expected, as it often is in this part of thecounty, loaner umbrellas are provided whendeparting the ship as is bottled water free of charge.And don’t forget the cruiser bikes that are availablefor your use in each port.

One tip I will relate having now traveled bothdirections on the Columbia/Snake Rivers itinerary Iwould recommend the westbound cruise fromClarkston to Vancouver over the eastbound. For onething you are actually following the path of Lewis &Clark towards the Pacific Ocean plus westbound

you hit some of the most scenic and interestingsections of the river in daylight. On this eastboundtrip we traveled through the Bonneville Dam locksand passed Multnomah Falls and some of the mostscenic starches of the Columbia Gorge at night.

Unlike the American Queen, the AmericanEmpress doesn’t run year round but typical cruisesthe Columbia and Snakes Rivers from April till lateOctober of November.

PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES –Entertainment aboard the American Empress wassurprisingly plentiful and good for a vessel of hersize. Typically the evening would start off with pre-dinner Happy Hour entertainment in thePaddlewheel Lounge which could be guitarstyling’s to Broadway show tunes to just pianobackground. Every evening there was a main showin the Show Room at 9pm and here again varied incontent and then there was usually entertainment inthe Paddle Wheel Lounge from 9 to 10pm. Allentertainment was finished by 10pm.

Two husband-wife teams (Lindy/Greg andLaura/Bill) provided great singing and dancingentertainment as well as a magic show.. The pianoplayer, Frank Case who held court evenings in thePaddle Wheel Lounge, is someone who simply hasto be experienced. His piano playing and singingcombined with his casual, off-hand comments andstories were totally entertaining.

Laurence Cotton, the Riverlorian, was excellent.He is very well-versed in Northwest history, culture,and geography. He had daily talks about theColumbia River, its history, and its inhabitants,including Native Americans. He typically could befound in the River Grill available to chat with thepassengers about river lore and history and pointingout local wildlife and sites..

Drinks in the bar are reasonably priced. Themost expensive was a martini, at $12. The mostexpensive cocktail was $9. Beer and wine were $4-6. The daily Happy Hour features reduced pricesand drink specials. Complimentary cappuccino,espresso, bottled water, and soft drinks are providedthroughout the journey

Pilothouse tours were offered twice, and were

9

scheduled during port visits.. And there was anoccasional afternoon movie shown and winetastings held in the Show Lounge.

All daily events, as well as excursion times andmeal times, were listed in the River Times whichwas delivered to your stateroom each evening.

Passengers onboard the American Empress aremostly Americans in the 60-plus age range and tendto be well traveled history buffs. Dress code is thenow ever popular country club casual meaningjeans, T-shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts and sneakersduring the day to explore ashore and at night mentend to wear dress slacks with button-down or polo-style shirts and sweaters. While some men wearjackets, ties are rare. Evening wear for the womenincluded dresses, skirts and dress pants.

STATEROOMS – Categories include VerandaStateroom (12 of them at 150 square feet); SingleOutside Stateroom with Veranda (one of them at160 square feet); Outside Stateroom with Window(seven of them at 180 square feet); Deluxe VerandaStateroom (76 of them at 180 square feet) and 6Superior Veranda staterooms. Six Suites withVeranda measure 310 square feet each and feature alarger seating area that includes a couch and table,as well as chairs. And there are two Luxury Suites

with Veranda, each at 410 square feet.

Each cabin onboard American Empressincludes a king or two twin beds and a sitting areaand most have private balcony with access viastandard doors (rather than sliders). There are noinside cabins aboard the Empress. All cabins alsofeature Keurig personal coffee/tea machines, robes,safes, phones, hair dryers, binoculars and Clarinstoiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, soap,shower gel and lotion. Each cabin also has a flat-screen television with about a dozen satellitechannels and a mini-refridge filled withcomplimentary bottled water, which is restockedduring the cruise. The cabins are spacious andcomfortable, decorated in either shades of red orblue. Furniture is ornate, with dark woodwardrobes, small desks and padded leatherheadboards. Dressers provide plenty of drawerspace. Bathrooms are somewhat small and simplebut very adequate. And also be forewarned thatsound travels easily between the cabins and TV andmuted conversation can be heard through the cabinwalls.

The pair of binoculars which is in every cabin isvery handy and appreciated on this very scenic riverroute. I used mine often to view wildlife and sightspointed out by the Riverlorian.

SERVICE & CREW – As the American Empressis American flagged she has a very friendly andenthusiastic all American crew that provided greatservice. Our room was always refreshed while wewere at breakfast and turned down while we wereat dinner.

Service in both dining venues was perfect andagain friendly yet efficient. I recognized some crewfrom the American Queen and AQSC moves theirstaff up from within rather than from outside so thatthe crew has opportunities to advance within thecompany.

FOOD & DINING – The main dining venue, theAstoria Room, offers sit-down service for all threemeals while the River Grill & Bar on Deck 4 offersbuffet service for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, itis reservation only. Unlike the Astoria Room, theRiver Grill dinner menu doesn’t change. Stayingtrue to her Pacific Northwest surroundings, the

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Cunard Line Circa 1950’s

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Passenger Capacity: 223 Builder: Nichols Brothers Boat BuildersNumber of Crew: 90 Entered Service: 2003Tonnage: 3,388 Registry: USALength: 360 feet Maximum Speed: 14mphBeam: 58 feet Propulsion: Z-Drive plus SternwheelDraft: 12.5 feet Passenger Decks: 4

Ocean & Cruise News Classification: SpecialtyPassenger Cabins:Luxury Suites with Veranda ..............................2 Single with Veranda..........................................1Suites with Veranda ...........................................6 Standard with Veranda....................................12Superior with Veranda .......................................7 Outside with Window.......................................5Deluxe with Veranda.......................................76

Services and Amenities: 24-hour reception; Shore Excursion counter; two elevators, River Grill &Bar, Paddlewheel Lounge, Showroom, Free WiFi, gift shop, small library and computer area

Restaurants: Astoria Dining Room, River Grill

Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the generalstandards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normallyexpected for the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normallyexpected for the classification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough towarrant a higher or lower whole number.Level of Activity...............................................2 Quality of Ports................................................2+Air/Sea Program...............Yes with Special Offers Guest Conveniences........................................2Alternate Dining ...............................................2+ Quality of Food................................................2+Food Presentation .............................................2+ Food Preparation..............................................2+Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2 Overall.............................................................2+

Suggested Tipping: $16.50 per day

Strong Points: : US flagged ship and crew, unique American travel experience, classic riverboat décor,creative menus, scenic river itineraries and excellent excursions

Weak Points: None

CRUISE FACTS — AMERICAN EMPRESS

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American Empress takes full advantage of theregion’s fresh seafood and produce along withseasonal fruits and vegetables.

The Astoria dining room is open for breakfast (7a.m. to 8:00 a.m.), lunch (noon a.m. to 1 p.m.) anddinner (6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) though mealtimes canvary slightly depending on tours in port. All mealsare open seating so you can choose to eat wheneverand with whomever you wish. Breakfast offerstypical American standards, such as bacon and eggs,but it also offers some more local options such as adelicious salmon and egg hash. Fresh fruit andlighter fare like cereals and oatmeal are alwaysavailable. Lunch usually offers a soup or saladoption and entree.

At dinner, the menu offers a starter, soup orsalad, and an entree. Diners can choose their maincourses each night from a selection that alwaysincludes seafood, red meat, white meat andvegetarian dishes. Some of the original local entreesincluded Marinated Dungeness Crab Salad withAsparagus-Dill Mousse, Wild Forrest MushroomCrepe; Sautéed wild harvested local mushroomswrapped in a delicate crepe, served with pinot noirreduction and“Cold Smoked” Salmon; Slicedapplewood smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese,red onion, hard cooked egg and crostini to name buta few of the delicious offerings.

The River Grill & Bar offers a buffet breakfast(6:30am to 8:30am) and lunch (11:30am to 1:30am)and dinner (6:00pm to 7:30pm). Breakfast hereincludes an omelet station, where a chef will prepareyour eggs made-to-order and a small buffet thatfeatures a full range of breakfast items, such asbacon, toast, oatmeal and scrambled eggs. Lunchbuffet options include some type of seafood, chickenand brisket, and salad and the chef will create made-to-order sandwiches. At night, reservations arerequired to dine in the River Grill & Bar. The menualways includes starters, a salad option and entrees.Each night, entrees include lobster tail, filet mignon,lamb chops, a vegetarian selection and a local freshcatch selection; this selection is fixed and neverchanges. All the food here is excellent as is theservice. This can be a very popular room and duringpeak periods when the Empress is full, reservationsare generally limited to two dinner visits per seven-night cruise. Book soon as you get aboard.

Cappuccino, espresso, bottled water and softdrinks are included and complimentary beer andwines are included with dinner and your servers willkeep filling your glass until you say “stop”. Regionalbeers and spirits are highlighted throughout the boat.

Light snacks and cookies were also available inthe Paddlewheel Lounge from 3-5 daily and in theRiver Grille & Bar around the clock. However thevariety of snacks offered in the River Grille & Baroff hours are not near as good or varied as thoseoffered in The Front Porch on the American Queen.This was disappointing. Room service is available atany hour, and the menu is substantial. It includes thestandard breakfast fare, as well as sandwiches andburgers and desserts. Room service iscomplimentary.

One recommendation regarding meals is that theAstoria Dining Room be open longer for breakfast.Many passengers came down after 8am hoping for anice breakfast only to find the room closed andforced to go up to the River Bar & Grill. Even justan extra half hour till 8:30am would make a bigdifference, better yet till 9am.

CONCLUSION – For those that have sailed on theAmerican Queen on the Mississippi the AmericanEmpress is very similar yet very different like therivers they sail upon. The American Queen is almosttwice the size and grander in her public rooms whilethe American Empress is smaller and has moreintimate. Both have outstanding service and cuisinebut here too each cuisines is very different with bothembracing the local flavor and foods of the regionsthey travel.

The American Empress travels the historic andvery scenic Pacific Northwest, following along theroute that Louis and Clark took back in 1805. Sheoffers a way to explorer this historic andbreathtakingly scenic part of our county in a way noone else can, on the rivers that Lewis and Clarkactually traveled, you will repeat history but in totalcomfort and style.

American Queen Steamboat Company is off toa great start with the American Empress. I was veryimpressed with the boat, her staff and service fromthe start and her itineraries are one of a kind.

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After all, Princess is The Love Boat.) Theprogram called “Chocolate Journeys,” offerschocolate experiences, such as Love-designedchocolate desserts on dining room menus,delectable chocolate bites, and unusual chocolateand wine pairings. Norman Love Confections ofhand-crafted chocolates are available for sale inCelebrations, the ship’s sweet shop. Princess willroll out the program fleet-wide in the coming year.

When Princess Cruises introduced the RoyalPrincess, the line got complaints over the lack of anaft pool and a promenade deck. On Regal Princess,the line attempted to make amends. At the stern ondeck 17, a small pool was added and on deck 7, ashort, open stretch with deck chairs – you might calla promenade – was added on both sides of the ship.But there is still no open deck that encircles the ship.The Sports Center on deck 18 has a jogging trackwith separate lanes for walkers and runners. A morenoticeable shortcoming is the absence of a midshipstairway [despite the fact that the ship’s deck planshows panoramic lifts at midship from decks 5 to16. I never saw them]. From decks 7 to 17, if youwant to walk from deck to deck, you must walk tothe forward or aft stairwell --or wait for an elevator.

Regal Princess’ most publicized new attractionis the SeaWalk on Deck 16. It’s a 60 feet long glass-floor enclosed walkway cantilevered 28-feetbeyond the edge of the ship with a view of the ocean128 feet below. Across the pool on the opposite sideof the ship, the SeaView Bar has its own glass floorextending out from the edge of the ship.

Perhaps Regal Princess’ most significant newfeature is Princess Live!, the largest productiontheater on any Princess ship and the first with adedicated live television studio. Here daily, “TheWake Show” is broadcast in front of a live audience.The theatre’s flexible design enables it to hosttelevision talk shows, theater in the round, andpassenger game shows. Bingo is played on largetelevision screens in the afternoon and specialmusical and other events are staged in the evening.The theater can also show full-screen 3-D movies.Any event here can be seen live over cabintelevision or broadcast later on the system. Adjacent

to the studio is Princess Live! bar with interactive,wall-mounted video screens, and serving specialtycoffees, teas, fresh juice, and fresh-baked pastries inthe morning.

The 19-deck Regal Princess houses 1,780cabins and suites, located on decks 8 through 16,and available in eight different categories. Allexterior cabins have a balcony -- a new feature --but most balconies are only large enough for twoupright chairs and a small table. The cabins arecomfortable with easily accessible closets andshelves and ample hanging space and hangars;bedside chests of drawers provide more storagespace. The cabins have a safe; hairdryer; and flatscreen television with movies, ship programing, andsatellite television with a limited selection ofchannels. The bathroom in majority of cabins, Ifound, is small with limited shelf space whencompared to Princess ships of the past. Deluxecabins have a sofa and small refrigerator.

Regal Princess offers a wide range of diningexperiences: In the three main dining rooms,passengers have the choice of “Traditional Dining”in Allegro on deck 6 with the two dinner seatings at6:00 and 8:30 p.m. At the center of the room is theChef’s Table Lumiere with a large table for 12people and surrounded by strands of light that forma beautiful curtain that provides privacy. The fee forits use is $115.

“Anytime Dining” is available in theSymphony Dining Room on deck 5 and its upperlevel, Concerto, on deck 6, where passengers arefree to dine any time between 6:30 and 9:30 pm.Each room has a Wine Cellar Table seating 12people and used for the Wine Maker's Dinner ($40),which pairs a tasting menu with wines. All threedining rooms have the same dinner menus withvarying choices of appetizers, soups, salads, maincourses, and desserts. Concerto also serves an openseating breakfast daily; afternoon tea; and lunch onselected days.

The ship’s five Specialty Dining venues, allwith a surcharge (usually $25), are on or just off thePiazza on deck 5 or overlook the Piazza on deck 7,except the Crown Grill, a steakhouse at the rear ofthe Wheelhouse Bar on deck 7. It offers its own Pub

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Lunch of traditionally British fish-and-chips orbangers and mash. Sabatini's serves pastas, seafoodand Italian specialties; Vines, the wine bar, also servestapas and bites. The new Gelato, meant to resemble anold-fashioned ice cream parlor, has a selection ofItalian ice creams ($3.50 for three scoops). On deck 7,the new Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar (the best cuisineon the ship in my opinion) serves excellent sushi,sashimi, and other seafood specialties. Its prices are ala carte, but if you order a drink, you get some seafoodsamplers, too.

For the most casual dining, the International Cafeby the Piazza is open 24 hours a day, offering pastriesin the morning; sandwiches, paninis, salads at lunch;cookies and desserts any time -- all included in thebasic fare; there's a charge for specialty coffees andteas. On deck 6, Alfredo's Pizzeria, open from about11 am to 11 pm daily with table service, offers freshlybaked pizza cooked to order in a stone oven and otherItalian favorites.

On the lido deck 16, the Horizon Court and theHorizon Bistro, bisected by the Pastry Shop, arenewly designed buffet areas with action stations (nosignposts), which this reporter found to be veryconfusing. Selections are extensive. Horizon Court

also has a special dedicated area for kids with seatsand décor to suit them. The space is also used forYouth Center activities such as pizza parties and icecream socials. During the course of a cruise, theHorizon Bistro serves two special dinners -- a Fonduedinner and a "Crab Shack" seafood dinner. Both havea surcharge. Near the pools on deck 16, the TridentGrill cooks hamburgers and hot dogs; Prego Pizzeriawill tempt you with a slice of pizza; and you can finishwith ice cream from Swirls.

Centering deck 16 are a large pool with two hottubs and a plunge pool. Between the pools is an islandthat becomes a stage for WaterColor Fantasy, a tech-driven dancing colored lights and fountains show atnight.. Overlooking the pools is the huge outdoormovie screen for "Movies Under the Stars."

Aft on deck 17 is the Fitness Center and the threeexpanded, age-specific kids and teens areas.Following Princess Cruises recent agreement with theDiscovery Communications (which includes theDiscovery Channel, Animal Plant and others) tocreate "Discovery at Sea." The new program, to debutin early 2015, will offer interactive onboard activitiesand shore excursions in each of the three childrensections of Regal Princess and across the fleet.

Regal Princess Photo Courtesy of Tom Cassidy

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Regal Princess’ most beautiful areas are theRetreat Pool and Bar and the Sanctuary, tranquil areasin a garden setting for adults only. Occupying theforward area of deck 17, upon arrival you come firstto the pretty Retreat Pool and two hot tubs, a largerectangular pool surrounded by lounge chairs andcabanas. Use of the pool and chairs is free; thecabanas rent for $50 for a half day and $80 for a fullday. Beyond the pool is the private entrance to theSanctuary, that’s even more exclusive and expensive.

Your choices are to rent one of the handsome,cushioned lounge chairs (half-day $20; full day $40)or a very private, tastefully decorated, tented cabanafurnished with comfortable couches, lounges, flatscreen television with headsets, robes and slippers,welcome cocktail and snack, and mini bar with anoptional selection of fine wines and imported beer(half-day $140; full-day $220). All cabanas have Wi-Fi access. Two other cabanas have two massagetables for couples; prices based on the treatmentsselected. Sanctuary’s facilities cannot be booked inadvance; rather passengers must go every morningaround 8:30 a.m. to book for that day. However, youcan purchase a pre-paid pass for the entire cruise.

The main showroom, Princess Theater, thelargest in the fleet, presents the ship's productionshows nightly and other events during the day. VistaLounge, a signature Princess venue throughout thefleet, is used for more intimate entertainment andClub 6, the late-night dance club, is located acrossfrom the casino on deck 6. A staircase in the casinoleads up to deck 7 with some of the ship’s boutiques.

Regal Princess and Royal Princess are thefirst of a new class of ships for the line and are verydifferent from other ships in the fleet. They seem toindicate a new direction for Princess, placing greaterfocus on public spaces and facilities (rather thanaccommodations), perhaps to appeal to youngerpassengers by creating a more fun social atmosphereand vibe than the quieter ambience of previousPrincess ships.

The ship’s staff – cabin, dining, spa – seemedlacking in training and experience and not up to theusually high level of service that has characterizedPrincess ships in the past. We assume this concern istemporary and will improve with time.

ms KONINGSDAM FAMILY & SINGLESTATEROOMS

When ms Koningsdam debuts in 2016, theship will feature Holland America Line's first-ever purpose-built staterooms for families as wellas single staterooms among its 1,331 guestaccommodations. In addition, many familiarstateroom categories such as Neptune, Signatureand Vista suites will be available in a wider rangeof sizes and configurations to choose from.

The 32 new specially designed family ocean-view staterooms will range from 222 to 231square feet and feature special amenities such astwo bathrooms and accommodations for fivepeople. The 12 single ocean-view cabins willrange from 127 to 172 square feet in size and willbe available on multiple decks at a variety offorward, mid-ship and aft locations.

With a sophisticated color palette and thefreedom to design from the ground up based onguest feedback, ms Koningsdam's staterooms andsuites feature a host of modern functional detailssuch as bedside USB ports, custom casework andframeless glass shower doors that feel elegant andluxurious. Additional amenities found in all suitesand staterooms include Holland America Line'ssignature Mariner's Dream Bed with finelywoven cotton linens, plush bathrobes for useduring the voyage, a premium massageshowerhead, flat-panel TV with video-on-demand, mini fridge, complimentary fresh fruiton request and fragrant soaps, lotions, shampooand other bath amenities from ElemisAromapure.

The ship will have the most staterooms withverandahs in the Holland America Line fleet with912 total from Verandah to Pinnacle Suitecategories. Guests looking to focus on health andwellness during the cruise can book verandah spaaccommodations, conveniently located near theGreenhouse Spa & Salon that come with yogamats for use during the voyage and an iPoddocking station.

For guests looking for a more affordableoption, the line is offering 266 standard or largeinterior accommodations up to 225 square feet.

Academy Award® winning actress ShirleyJones will sail aboard Queen Victoria as a CunardInsights speaker during the 2-17 February 2015Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles segment of theWorld Cruise. Jones will be accompanied by herhusband, actor and comedian Marty Ingels. Fansand guests on board the ship will enjoy a booksigning of her recently released biography, ShirleyJones: A Memoir, as well as two Q&A sessionsand screenings of her films.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Hasannounced it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Prestige CruisesInternational, Inc. ("Prestige"), the market leaderin the upscale cruise segment and parent companyof Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven SeasCruises, in cash and stock for a total transactionconsideration of $3.025 billion, including theassumption of debt.

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largestcruise company, today announced its first-evermulti-brand marketing initiative incorporating allnine of its leading global brands to drive increasedawareness, consideration and demand for cruisingas a great vacation option at an exceptional value.Targeting consumers who are new to cruising, thecampaign was kicked off last month with severaldigital and social elements and will continue toramp up through 2015.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ three ships BlackWatch, Braemar and Balmoral are all due to enterdry dock at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg,Germany in November and December 2014, inpreparation for the forthcoming 2015/16 cruiseseason. This is the first time that so many Fred.Olsen ships have undergone refurbishment withinsuch short succession

Royal Caribbean Cruises has announced thatMajesty of the Seas will transfer from its RoyalCaribbean International cruise brand to itsPullmantur brand in 2016. Majesty of the Seas'last 3-night sailing for Royal CaribbeanInternational will depart on April 29, 2016. Shewill then enter dry dock before joining thePullmantur fleet, allowing her to be tailored to fit

Pullmantur's brand standards and offerings.

When Holland America Line’s msKoningsdam sets sail in February 2016, the shipwill first head to the Mediterranean on a seven-dayPremiere Voyage and then continue on a series of12-day Premiere Sailings through early May 2016.The 2,650-guest ship is scheduled for delivery byFincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy onFebruary 15, 2016.

Liverpool's Cavern Club will set sail for thefirst time when a replica of legendary home of TheBeatles is installed on a giant cruise liner next year.Norwegian Cruise Line has signed an exclusivedeal with the club’s owner, Cavern City Tours, torecreate the Mathew Street basement club onboardits 4,100 passenger liner Norwegian Epic.

PortMiami broke another world recordprocessing approximately 4.8 million multi-daycruise passengers in the fiscal year endingSeptember 30, 2014. For Fiscal Year 2015,PortMiami will service 34 ships and 15 differentcruise brands, including: Aida Cruises, AzamaraClub Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, CelebrityCruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, DisneyCruise Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, MSC Cruises,Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&OCruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, ResortsWorld Bimini, and Royal Caribbean International.

Aranui Cruises, operator of the Aranui 3 mixedpassenger-freighter vessel, is celebrating 30 yearsas the world's only soft adventure cruise providerto sail in French Polynesia. This month will markthe 30th anniversary of the company's first historicpassenger-freighter voyage, which departed fromPapeete, Tahiti in 1984, bound for the northernTahitian archipelagos.

Officials with Norwegian Cruise Line and theBoard of Commissioners of the Port of NewOrleans signed a new four-year berthingagreement today with three one-year options. Theagreement will keep at least one Norwegian cruiseship sailing seasonally from New Orleans through2018 with the ability to extend the agreementthrough 2021.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS