In an unprecedented move for many, cruise lines will be positioning more ships than ever to Europe for the Summer 2011 season. Many of the ships are being pulled from Alaska itineraries where cruise lines find it difficult to growing fees, taxes and regulations imposed on cruise companies by the state.
These are not all the older, less popular ships either. Recently, Florida-based Royal Caribbean International announced it would be sending 154, 407 ton Liberty of the Seas to Barcelona in the Summer of 2011 where Norwegian Cruise Lines will have positioned the new Norwegian Epic, not even in service yet.
This week, Princess Cruises announced that a record seven of it's seventeen ships will be in the region offering 42 different itineraries including seven new sailings and over 130 different ports in all.
This is great news for cruise fans wanting more choices for sailing in Europe where vacationers typically have more time for longer cruises. But what about the typical American couple or family without more than seven days to sail? Will the selection for them be limited?
Probably not as most new additions to the European Summer season are coming from Alaska itineraries and this week several cruise lines announced their 2011 Itinerary schedules which featured a renewed commitment to home port sailings.
Royal Caribbean International announced its 2011-12 Bermuda, Caribbean and Canada and New England cruises, ranging from five- to 12-night itineraries and Enchantment of the Seas will continue year-round service from Baltimore. Explorer of the Seas will sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ, and Jewel of the Seas will depart from Boston. The line will also feature popular mega-ship Oasis and now new sister Allure of the Seas both sailing from Florida's Port Everglades.
Do you have questions about cruise vacations? Email them to Chris for quick answers.
Get more on this story and others by reading Chris' unfiltered blog, ChrisCruises.
Keep in touch: become a fan of Chris on Facebook or follow @OrlandoChris on Twitter
Comments