May 2, 2004

Timestravel

Royal Caribbean names top teacher godmother of Jewel of the Seas

Kathy Mellor, the National Teacher of the Year for 2004, has been named godmother of Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Jewel of the Seas. Mellor will officially name the ship May 7 in Southampton, England, before the ship’s maiden voyage. Mellor is believed to be the first educator ever to serve in the role of godmother. More than 100 cruise ships have been launched in the last decade. Jewel of the Seas, the fourth and final entry in Royal Caribbean’s 90,090-ton Radiance class, will embark on a series of 12-night cruises from Harwich, England, to Scandinavia/Russia and the British Isles/Norwegian Fjords.

For more information, call Almaden Travel Desk at (408) 723-0283, or visit their Web site at www.traveldeskonline.com

Seabourn rated best in Departures Magazine poll

In a survey conducted by the luxury lifestyle publication Departures, the magazine’s readers, who are American Express platinum and centurion cardholders, scored Seabourn Cruise Line tops among all cruise lines. The online survey separated cruise lines into categories of Large Cruise Lines and Small Cruise Lines. The Yachts of Seabourn scored 97.85, the best result achieved by any line in either category. “We are especially gratified by the phenomenal score given us by Departures’ readers,” said Richard D. Meadows, Seabourn’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, “because they comprise precisely the type of discerning, affluent travelers that we welcome aboard our yachts week after week, year after year.

For more information, call the Almaden Travel Desk at (408) 723-0283, or visit their Web site at www.traveldeskonline.com.

Carnival adds new shore excursions for 2004 Alaska cruise season

Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded the number of shore excursion options for its 2004 Alaska season, adding a dozen new tours that range from adventurous rock climbing and dog sledding expeditions to scenic cruises and gold-panning excursions. In total, Carnival will offer more than 100 different tour options in conjunction with the Carnival Spirit’s seven-day Glacier Bay and Glacier Route cruises, which sail northbound from Vancouver or southbound from Whittier/Anchorage May 12 through Sept. 15, 2004. “Alaska is a fascinating and spectacular region, full of natural beauty and wonder, and our shore excursions are designed to provide our guests with the best opportunities to discover the many intriguing highlights of the last frontier,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. “From active expeditions to more leisurely paced tours, our excursions appeal to a broad range of cruisers with diverse interests.”

For more information, call the Almaden Travel Desk at (408) 723-0283, or visit their website at www.traveldeskonline.com.

—By Sean Eastwood