Cruise Vacations Enable Travelers To Explore

What do Baie des Ha! Ha!, Kos, Napier, Santo Tomas, Sarande, Sihanoukville and Valdivia all have in common? These very uncommon places are all new destinations that Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) companies have added to the nearly 2,000 ports they visit each year. CLIA's member cruise lines continually seek out new ports of call to ensure that itineraries are fresh and new - and even more importantly, offer something for everyone.

Regardless of the destination - be it Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean or Europe - cruise vacations enable travelers to explore exotic cultures and landscapes around the globe, all the while returning to Western-style comforts and conveniences aboard passenger-pleasing ships.

In the Caribbean, for instance, several cruise lines this year are offering inaugural calls at the pristine shores of Grand Turk, part of the Turks & Caicos Islands chain, while others plan to visit La Romana in the Dominican Republic, with its miles of bleached beaches. In Mexico, more cruise lines are adding Costa Maya, an up-and-coming port near the ancient Mayan cultural centers.

In Alaska, more lines are also calling at Icy Strait Point in Alaska, a destination located near Glacier Bay that is the historic native settlement of Hoonah. Icy Strait Point offers travelers a glimpse at wildlife tours and a taste of native Tlingit culture.

CLIA cruise lines are charting new waters in Europe as well, with many lines traveling to such farther-flung ports including Sarande, Albania's most famous seaside resort, and Constanta, Romania, where passengers can enjoy mud baths at local spas. 

In Asia, cruise guests can take in the sights of Sihanoukville, Cambodia's premier beach town; and Chan May, a port from which travelers can visit Hue, Vietnam's Imperial City during the 19th century.

CLIA cruise lines are also adding calls to new, "hot" destinations in the Middle East, like Syria and Lebanon, affording travelers a glimpse of destinations about which much of the Western world knows little.

"From cosmopolitan European cities to quaint Caribbean islands to remote, emerging ports in the Middle East, one thing always remains the same," said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA  "Guests can return from their adventures ashore to ships that offer features and amenities that exceed expectations."

Following Are Highlights Of Emerging & Exotic Ports Visited By

CLIA-Member Cruise Lines This Year

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

One of Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ports is Grand Turk, of the Turks & Caicos Islands chain, which features pristine beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, and an intimate, unspoiled atmosphere. The itinerary will initially be operated on four- and five-day sailings out of Port Canaveral, Fla., aboard Sensation starting in March.

CELEBRITY CRUISES

In October, Celebrity Cruises' Galaxy provides travelers with a chance to see a fascinating, lesser-known side of Europe. The 14-day itinerary traverses the Black Sea, calling at ports in the Ukraine and Romania and destinations in Greece, Italy and Turkey.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

Crystal Cruises continually seeks out new destinations for its well-traveled roster of upscale guests. In 2006, the luxury line will sail to Latvia, Mauritius; and Longyearbyen, in Spitsbergen, Norway, the northernmost port the line has ever visited and the best port for viewing the Midnight Sun.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Disney Cruise Line adds a second call to its popular private island, Castaway Cay, on an alternate seven-day western Caribbean itinerary that will operate every fourth week from May 27 to December 9. The itinerary also adds Costa Maya in Mexico.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America Line features nine cruises that visit Napier, New Zealand, on a new 14-day itinerary that will appeal to experienced travelers. The line also offers 15 maiden port calls in Europe, including Alicante and Palamos, Spain; Narvick, Norway; Trabzon and Sinop, Turkey; and Varna, Bulgaria.

MSC CRUISES

MSC Cruises includes calls at the Dominican Republic's Cayo Levantado and La Romana on its Caribbean itineraries. Cayo Levantado, MSC's private paradise, is off the northeast coast in Samana Bay. La Romana, a premier Caribbean resort, is popular among discriminating travelers.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Crown makes a maiden call at Valdivia, Chile and Talcahuano, Chile, on an 18-day South America November itinerary. Norwegian Sun will call at Guatemala's Santo Tomas de Castillo on a seven-day Exotic Western Caribbean itinerary, which commences in November.

OCEANIA CRUISES

Oceania Cruises offers three new ports in 2006: Reykjavik, Iceland; Porto Venere, Italy; and Riga, Latvia; and is always seeking new and intriguing ports to provide an eclectic mix of large cities and off-the-beaten-path destinations, to satisfy guests' desire for history and cultural enrichment.

ORIENT LINES

Travelers sailing aboard Orient Lines' Marco Polo in November have the chance to extend their cruises with pre- and post-cruise land tours of three nights in South Africa's Cape Town, which is renowned for its spectacular views, mountains, nightlife and entertainment.

PRINCESS CRUISES

Princess Cruises' trailblazing Pacific Princess will make maiden calls at Cambodia's Sihanoukville on her Southeast Asia and India itinerary and Chuuk, Micronesia, home to a lagoon with sunken war vessels, on a new Islands of the Pacific Theater itinerary.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises features new ports that appeal to luxury travelers in search of adventures to exotic locales. In addition Vietnam's Chan May and Uruguay's Punta del Este, ships will visit West Point in the Falkland Islands, Fuerte Amador in Panama and Australia's Phillip Island.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

Royal Caribbean International will offer guests itineraries from two new ports: Seattle and Philadelphia. Vision of the Seas will sail to Alaska on seven-night cruises departing from Seattle and Empress of the Seas will offer seven-night Bermuda sailings leaving from Philadelphia.

SILVERSEA CRUISES

For Silversea Cruises' guests, the untapped travel regions of Lebanon and Syria are the newest must-see destinations. The luxury company is offering a portfolio of six cruises to Lebanon and Syria in 2006.

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE

Seabourn Cruise Line's fleet of three luxury yachts will call at a diverse portfolio of little-known and exotic ports, including Sarande, Albania; Rovinj, Croatia; Poltu Quatu, Sardinia; Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway; and Gloucester, Mass., the port of embarkation for a Food & Wine Festival.

SWAN HELLENIC

Swan Hellenic's Minerva II makes a maiden call at Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, the Orinoco's turning point, in March, followed by Turkey'sGallipoli Beaches to coincide with the 90th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings, in April. In September the ship visits Sarande, Albania.

WINDSTAR CRUISES

New for 2006, Wind Spirit offers five departures of a new Greek Isles itinerary between Istanbul and Athens that includes visits to a widerange of new ports, including Canakkale and Izmir Turkey; Patmos, Agios, Kos and Naxos, Greece; and Nikolaos, Crete.