Cruise Crime Law Proposed, F3 and Carnival Dream Details, and Oasis booking to start.

[NWLB]

Former presidential candidate and current U.S. Senator John Kerry has
introduced legislation that would require cruise lines to log and
report crimes aboard ship to the Coast Guard and FBI. Less clear is if
this would apply to ships operating out of and not otherwise visiting
U.S. Ports. Among the highlights of the bill include mandated
additions of “peep holes” to cabin doors, railings of a minimum 54
inches high.

The projected costs to cruise lines hasn't been published, but it
likely figures to several hundred dollars per cabin. Most cruise
aficionados would agree that peep holes would be welcome additions to
cabins. It is unlikely that the lines will resist the bill, certainly
not in the public eye. To do so, after several years of high profile
stories about murder and passengers falling overboard, this bill would
do much to help put such PR issues to rest.

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Carnival entered the OK Corral of press events revealing new ship
details. The Carnival Dream is due to enter service in September 2009,
shaking down in Europe before moving to Port Canaveral in December of
that year. Curiously, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will arrive
in Port Canaveral the same month. It figures Carnival will want is
finest looking ship there to show the livery and brand.

However, the Dream will be the biggest ship in the brands fleet,
rating 130,000 GRT, slightly smaller than the original Voyager class,
and the new F3 class from Norwegian Cruise Lines. The ship will remain
close to the standard Carnival mold despite her size. Yet she will
feature a larger array of bars, more elaborate water slide, and a line-
first, wrap-around promenade deck.

Dream and NCL's F3 will be curious experiments in very large, but very
conventional cruise ship designs. At least, if you define conventional
as lacking indoor promenades, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls,
and massive expanses of glass windows found on Royal Caribbeans
Voyager series. Evidence from the general success of the Princess
Grand class, and generally well received, if wholly unoriginal
Carnival derivatives suggest the ships will do well.

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Mark your calendars friends. September 3, 2008 will mark the day you
may begin to book cabins aboard the Oasis of the Seas. Excluding the
likely pre-inaugural cruises typically of an on-time delivery, the
“Big O” is due to enter revenue service on December 23, 2009. Not
since the arrival of Voyager of the Seas, has a single ship promised
to generate so much publicity as Royal Caribbean's newest ship.

The news emerging after Royal Caribbean's recent New York City press
event lead some to think the line is attaching special fees for those
hoping to book the ship. That line of thought mixes a bit of myth and
reality. It is true that Richard Fain said he expects the ship to
command “a premium,” but the likely higher cost of book the ship is
nothing new. Most every ship commands a higher price as it enters the
fleet. In the case of Oasis, you have the lead ship in a revolutionary
new class of vessel, on her maiden voyage and inaugural year. Much as
you pay more for a new car, you will pay more for a new ship. In time,
likely a couple of years, you may see the average cabin price come
down, at least in comparison to the rest of the fleet.

Realistically though, if you are a true budget minded Royal Caribbean
fan, Oasis might not fit the bill for its inaugural year. The wild
card in this will be the fact Oasis does feature more cabins than any
ship ever to set sail. Bargins could may still be out there for the
sharp shopper.

Visit http://www.RoyalCaribbeanFan.com for more news and information!

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