Fascination Multi-Million Dollar Makeover

Fresh off a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, the “Fun Ship” Fascination has added a variety of new areas and expanded some of the existing ones. The Fascination is filled with fabulous new features and upgrades, including: a miniature golf course, Café on the Way, teen club, Camp Carnival playroom, art gallery, atrium bar and Internet café. Staterooms and suites on the Fascination have also been refurbished, and now boast: flat screen TVs, an entirely new décor and completely remodeled bathrooms. The upgrades in carpeting and upholstery, as well as modifications to the layout of the aft lounge and casino area -- to accommodate larger groups – round out this full-ship renovation.

Norwegian Pearl Causes Europe's Weekend Power Outage

A massive power outage that began late Saturday and spread from northern Germany to Morocco is, according to European news reports, attributed to Norwegian Cruise Line's still-under-construction Norwegian Pearl.

Really! Turns out that -- in a move orchestrated by Meyer Werft, the ship's builder, and German utility company E.ON (NCL itself was not involved) -- a 380,000-volt power line was switched off to allow Norwegian Pearl to sail safely under the line as it traveled from the shipyard, in Papenburg, Germany, to its berth on the North Sea. The temporary shut-down was meant to be a safety precaution.

Alas, the loss of power there is thought to have overstretched other lines and created a domino-like weakness that knocked out power for up to 90 minutes, with effects that, beyond simply cutting off electricity to homes, also halted trains and trapped people in elevators. According to an Associated Press report, E.ON estimates that some 10 million folks were affected, including people in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Croatia and Morocco.

The power cut had no impact on Norwegian Pearl.

News reports mention that E.ON issued a statement, saying "such switch-offs have been undertaken repeatedly in the past without any problems. It is still unclear where and how the acute fault occurred half an hour after the switch-off. E.ON is working flat out to obtain a detailed analysis."

New Four- and Five-Day Cruises from San Diego

Beginning June 2, 2007, the 70,000-ton Elation will launch the first year-round cruise program from San Diego encompassing four- and five-day cruises to ports in Baja Mexico.

Four-day cruises feature Cabo San Lucas, one of Mexico’s most popular seaside destinations highlighted by its distinctive rock formations, lush landscape and aqua-blue waters popular with snorkelers and scuba divers the world over. Five-day cruises add a stop in Ensenada, located along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and offering gorgeous beaches, a waterfront promenade, and its most famous attraction, the “La Bufadora” geyser.

Prior to the start-up of this program, the Elation will operate a special six-day Mexico cruise departing San Diego May 27, 2007. Featured ports on this one-time voyage include Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Ensenada, each offering magnificent white-sand beaches, diverse cultures, and interesting sites and historical attractions.

For additional information and reservations, contact us at 1-800-788-2545 or visit us at www.CruiseCafe.com.