Carnival, Princess, and Regent announce new itineraries

The cruise lines are mixing it up with new itineraries. Here’s the latest news from Carnival, Princess, and Regent Seven Seas.

[% 11986 | | Carnival %] announced that the Carnival Splendor—which debuts next summer—will begin year-round Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach in March 2009. The ship’s new itinerary will feature calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Carnival is trying to dominate the southern California cruise market, and is currently the only cruise line with three ships deployed there year-round. The Splendor’s Mexico sailings go on sale June 22, and fares start at $549 per person based on double occupancy.

In 2008 and 2009, [% 14460 | | Princess Cruises %] will base three ships in South America for the first time. The Star Princess will sail itineraries to Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan, Antarctica, and the Andes, as well as a new 14-day Cape Horn cruise between Rio de Janeiro and Santiago. The Pacific Princess will return to the Amazon, and the Royal Princess will begin new 12-night itineraries between Ft. Lauderdale and Ecuador with optional tours to the Galapagos and Machu Picchu.

Also down south, [% 9668 | | Regent Seven Seas %] has just added four new Antarctica cruises for the 2007-2008 season. It will send the Explorer II to the white continent on new 10- to 16-night itineraries departing on November 8 and 24, and December 20, 2007, and February 25, 2008. Sailings depart from Ushuaia, Argentina.

Fares start at a whopping $9,795 for the 10-night voyages. As a consolation, the price of the cruise does include a one-night pre-cruise stay in Santiago, Chile; round-trip economy airfare from the U.S. to Chile and from Santiago to Ushuaia; a city tour and lunch on embarkation day; a backpack and parka; and all gratuities and beverages onboard.