Cruise News

01 Apr 2008

New ships are almost a monthly occurrence. But new cruise lines are rare. Last year, Royal Caribbean Cruises launched upscale Azamara Cruises as a separate brand. This year, the newest entry will be Pearl Seas Cruises. The infant line has the ambition of building a fleet of two all-suite, 214-passenger luxury vessels designed, the line notes, to transport passengers "in a relaxed, country-club casual style to captivating, less-traveled destinations and cosmopolitan cities around the globe." Pearl Seas' inaugural sailings later this year will offer seven, 10-, 11- and 14-night cruises to the Canadian Maritimes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New England. In early 2009, the line will offer seven- to 11-night cruises to the Caribbean, Leeward Islands, Windward Island, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Panama Canal and Central America. The line's first vessel is under construction and expected to enter service in late summer or early fall

GROWING DEMAND FOR WHEELCHAIR ASSISTS TAXING AIRLINES.
Airlines are obligated to provide free, prompt wheelchair assistance between curbside and cabin seat to comply with the 21-year-old Air Carrier Access Act, an anti-discrimination law. But, as more disabled and elderly people take flight in today's congested air system, many are finding that the assistance is difficult to get, says USA Today. In the three years that the government has issued statistics, more than 34,000 disabled flyers have complained about their treatment, and 54% of the incidents have involved wheelchair assistance. In 2006, the most recent year available, the nation's six network airlines received 107 complaints per 100,000 passengers about inadequate wheelchair assistance. Airlines accurately note that the vast number of wheelchair orders from customers come off without a problem. But many disabled flyers and their advocates say the airlines could do a better job.