With Carnival Cruise Lines expecting to welcome some 600,000 children aboard its ships this year –a six-fold increase from 12 years ago- and other lines reporting more and more families sailing with them each year, children’s facilities and programs at sea are seeing significant enhancements –everything from special enrichment activities to themed sailings to water parks onboard.

Coral Princess Cruises has announced that fuel surcharges for all its voyages will be abolished for departures on or after February 1, 2009. Coral Princess was one of the last cruise operators, world-wide, to impose a surcharge in August, 2008 and has moved quickly –in light of reductions in diesel fuel costs- to be one of the first cruise operators to lift it.

Indian Ocean Cruises from Foresight Smart Ventures, the flagship company of the $500 million London based Foresight Shipping Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Europe’s second largest travel firm Thomas Cook Group plc.

Indian Ocean Cruises from Foresight Smart Ventures, the flagship company of the $500 million London based Foresight Shipping Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Europe’s second largest travel firm Thomas Cook Group plc.

Small-ship exploration supplier Cruise West is following the precedent set by the big three cruise lines, and others such as MSC Cruises, by waiving its fuel surcharge on all 2009 cruise itineraries for guests who pay in full by January 30.

The recent drop in crude oil pricing means savings for clients. As a result of the continuing drop in oil prices, effective immediately, Crystal Cruises is eliminating its fuel surcharge for 2009 cruises.