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Editor: Daniel A. Hoffman, MCC  

This newsletter contains current news and information on the "Cruise" industry. It will also contain the "Views" of the editor on different issues within the industry. The editor owns and operates a cruise oriented travel agency located in Pennsylvania. This newsletter's main purpose IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE for the purpose of selling cruises. It will at times contain ads from different sources. All ads will be cruise or travel related. It will list cruise specials from time to time in the ad section, but as stated, this is not the primary purpose of this newsletter.

In This Issue

Special Report
Live From Ft. Lauderdale

PLUS
-You Asked For It-
-"Off The Track Fact"-
-QM2 Stats-
-MSC Lirica U.S. Debut-

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In America it’s mostly "Hail to The Chief" we hear, but today is Monday, January 26, 2004 and it’s "Long Live The Queen" in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

The Queen Mary 2 is due to arrive at 8 am at the Port Everglades Terminal. She is the tallest, longest, widest and most costly Ocean Liner ever built. All Cunard Ships have fine pedigrees. The first Cunard ship was launched in 1840. More than 160 followed, but only three were named "Queen". The ships were named: "Queen Elizabeth" and "Queen Mary" in the 1930’s; and "Queen Elizabeth II" in 1969.

The latest Queen left Southampton, England on January 12, 2004. She embarked on her Maiden Voyage with great fanfare and included Christening by Queen Elizabeth II herself.

South Florida hopes to rival that glittering send-off from the United Kingdom with its own welcoming grandeur here in the USA.

Your Editor, Dan, is caught in cold snow covered Pennsylvania and will miss all. Your writer, Capt. Lou, will try not to miss a thing as usual. I will try to provide you with a little on-site information and a front row seat to the Queen Mary 2’s entrance into her first US Port.

In spite of added security, my Capt. Credentials have allowed me a good vantage point near the port entrance. Good Morning America is broadcasting from on board. The City has painted, "Ft Lauderdale Welcomes the QM 2" in red and blue on the beach. A local school band is assembled on the dock. Condos adjacent to the channel have several large banners hanging from balconies which are being used as a party base for many residents and friends. Flags, British, Cunard, and American are abundant and wave in excitement as the arrival of "The Queen" is anticipated.

Reporting "live" it’s Capt. Lou, as "QUEEN MARY 2" is spotted on the horizon off shore. She docks 30 minutes ahead of schedule. She is welcomed by water spraying tugs, local boats, condo residents, news media the world over, and by onlookers. The QM2 is well protected--above and below-- by US Coast Guard Cutters, choppers and support vessels, and by the Navy Guided-Missile Destroyer--USS Carney, whose 320 crew are home-ported in Jacksonville. Additional protection is provided by Ft Lauderdale and Broward County Police & Sheriff choppers and vessels, and by US Fish & Wildlife vessels. Our position on the channel entrance at NOVA Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center is as close as one can get unless traveling with Gov. Jeb Bush--rumored to have boarded from the Pilot Vessel greeting her.

Several photos are offered as representing the events. Photos alone can in no way relay the "feelings" provided by seeing the QM 2. Added to that is the protective services, the Red, White and Blue water spraying from 3000 gallon per minute cannons on the tugs, British & American Flags waving, horns sounding including the QM 2’s---which can be heard for 10 miles and was originally aboard her predecessor, Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary 2 is now docked at Pier 21 in Port Everglades. If you’re wondering who has been aboard on this inaugural trip from Southampton, it breaks down as follows: 47 percent of the 2545 passengers are Brits--no surprise since she is British Flagged. We Americans are next with 33 percent. About 4 percent are Australian, 3.5 percent are German and 3 percent are Canadian. Thirty-two of the passengers are children. I couldn’t get any figures on the canine crowd, but the kennel is on Deck 12 with a great view.

Huge, awesome, magnificent, elegant, unbelievable, and "speechless"--just some of the comments being put forth. All are best summarized by:

"She is THE QUEEN MARY 2"

The preceding article was written and contributed by:
Capt. Lou Hoffman

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PHOTOS OF QM 2

Capt. Lou, at the time President of the Charleston SC Kiwanis Club, and wife were aboard the original Queen Mary in 1991. She has been at the dock in Long Beach, California since 1967 operating as a resort hotel and luxurious restaurant. Her elegance made her a high point of the visit.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

QUEEN MARY 2 INFORMATION:

cost: $ 800,000,000.00
height: 23 stories
length: 1131’ (4 football fields)
tonnage: 150,000
cruise speed: exceeds 30 knots
hull is extra thick to take the pounding of crossing the Atlantic Ocean
at those speeds. Transit time 6 days.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MSC LIRICA MAKES
FT. LAUDERDALE DEBUT

After completing her inaugural Mediterranean season, the MSC Lirica made her United States debut in Ft. Lauderdale this month.

The first cruise of her inaugural Caribbean season departed Ft. Lauderdale on January 15th for an 11 night West Indies and Bahamas cruise.

Ironically, she returned to Ft. Lauderdale on January 26th and her stern can even be seen in two of the photos supplied by Capt. Lou. in QM2 article on left.

She then departed on the 26th for another 11 day cruise encompassing Panama Canal, Jamaica, Columbia, San Blas, Costa Rica, and Key West. MSC Lirica will alternate these two itineraries until May 14th. She will then return to Genoa with a Transatlantic crossing.

This new and highly acclaimed ship of MSC Italian Cruises was christened last April in Naples Italy by none other than hometown actress Sophia Loren.

The ship offers 795 cabins including 132 suites with private verandas. It includes other state of the art amenities such as two swimming pools, a luxurious spa, five restaurants, a pizzeria, kids' club, shopping gallery, casino, disco, theater, and a cyber cafe. There is even a tennis court, fully equipped gym, and golf course.

This brand new ship offers just about everything including the classic Italian service and cuisine for which MSC Italian Cruises is world renowned.

MSC Italian Cruises has been in business since 1988 but has only been marketed to the North America market for five years. However, their market share has increased fourfold during that time and expect another fivefold increase between 2003 and 2005 with the introduction of this new ship in this market.

They offer very attractive pricing on all cruises in this market to help gain market share and build clientele. If you are interested in more information or booking with them, drop us an email and we will be glad to assist you.

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