Holland America Line is adding a new resort-style pool area on the aft of the Lido deck on Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam. The five ships are undergoing $200 million month-long dry-docks. The main focus of the new pool area will be a shallow area with 44 lounge chairs where guests can dip their toes in the water. Built-in benches are another place for dangling legs in the water. “The Retreat is a totally new approach for us to this area of the ship,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president-marketing, sales and guest programs. “We’re creating an area where guests can relax outside in a sophisticated environment, and we’re adding other fun and convenient features such as a whirlpool, a band and DJ stand and even a pizzeria.”

The Retreat’s pool will be divided into three sections separated by low, curving walls running the length of the pool. The middle section is 16 inches deep so guests can sit on the built-in benches in the water. The two side sections feature lounge chairs in eight inches of water. Waterfalls and spouts enhance the décor. At the aft end of the pool will be a hot tub.

Slice, an upscale pizzeria, will be incorporated into the area, serving whole pies and slices to order. Tables and padded chairs under a sunscreen provide a place to dine al fresco. A stage will be added near the pool for live music. For added entertainment, an LED screen and sound system will be integrated into the ship’s superstructure.

The first dry-dock begins with the Veendam in spring 2009 and the last will be completed on the Maasdam in early 2011. While in dry-dock, ships will also get a new bar concept called Mix that features separate areas -- Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Enhancements will be made to all existing staterooms and additional staterooms will be added. The ships will introduce 38 lanai staterooms (39 on Rotterdam) with direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck. New spa staterooms near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon will offer in-room spa amenities. Overall, Holland America Line has committed $525 million to its Signature of Excellence program. For more information, call 866-912-7245.

Due to the soaring cost of crude oil (as high as $98.62/barrel last week, a 42% rise since August), Several cruise lines have announced the addition of a fuel surcharge to the cost of a cruise.

The Carnival Lines (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Seabourn and Cunard) have implemented a $5 per person per day surcharge on all cruises sailing on or after February 1, 2008. The surcharge applies to fist and second passengers per cabin, will not exceed $70 per person and applies to all bookings.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced a surcharge of  $7.50 per guest, per day, for all reservations that are not paid in full by Dec. 1, 2007. The surcharge applies to all sailings through 2008.

Oceania Cruises announced a $7 per person/per day fuel surcharge that applies to new and existing reservations that are not paid in full by Dec. 1 and is effective for all published sailings through April 2009.
and Silversea is assessing  a $10 fuel surcharge per person/per day effective on all new cruise bookings for 2008 voyages made on or after Nov. 14, 2007. The surcharge is applicable to all guests in the suite. Reservations made prior to that will be exempt from the surcharge. Cruise West will implement its $12 per person/per night fuel surcharge starting Dec. 7. The charge will be waived if the cruise is paid in full by that date.

Royal Caribbean International confirmed it will test open seating dining on the Freedom of the Seas from Oct. 14 to Dec. 16. The flexible dining will be offered in the Galileo dining room, located on the top of three tiers of the main restaurant. During the test period, open seating will be offered between 6 and 9 p.m. The other two levels will continue to offer two traditional seatings. Royal Caribbean's pilot program follows the announcement on July 16 that Holland America Line will add "As You Wish" open seating on one level of its two-tiered restaurants fleetwide. The move follows a test on the Noordam and will be expanded across the fleet over the next year. Like its sister company Princess Cruises, Holland America will still also offer two traditional seatings on the other restaurant level. Open seating will be 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily. For more information, call 866-912-7245.

Holland America Line's Westerdam has unveiled new staterooms, more shopping, a larger Pinnacle Grill and Bar, and a new Explorations Café at the top of the ship in a portion of the Crow's Nest on Observation Deck. The improvements are part of the premium line's Signature of Excellence program. The first wave of innovative Signature of Excellence fleet-wide enhancements, which cost more than $225 million, was completed at the end of 2006. "At Holland America Line, we continually evaluate how to make our product even more relevant to today's cruiser. This ongoing commitment to quality and innovation is our Signature of Excellence," said President Stein Kruse. "These new concepts and venues on the Westerdam will be extended to the Eurodam upon its launch in June 2008 and to the Vista-class Oosterdam in 2008 and Zuiderdam in 2009."

Work on the Westerdam was completed a day earlier than expected at Fincantieri Palermo Shipyard in Italy. Located in the Crow's Nest, the new Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times, provides views while guests surf the Internet Center, read a book, listen to music, sip a specialty coffee or enjoy a pastry. The Pinnacle Grill alternative restaurant on Lower Promenade Deck was expanded to accommodate 136 guests. A new Pinnacle Bar separate from the restaurant was created. On the Promenade Deck, the former location of the Internet Center now features additional shopping areas and a small coffee bar. The Holland America Line Signature Shops have been expanded and a new high-end verandah jewelry store, the Merabella -- which was first introduced on the Amsterdam -- has been added. The guest capacity of Westerdam also has increased with the addition of 34 and inside cabins on the aft Upper Verandah, Rotterdam and Navigation decks. The new staterooms, complete with signature amenities such as flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds, give Westerdam a guest capacity of 1,916.

Five Carnival Corp. brands will now participate in "On Deck for the Cure," a fundraising initiative that benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, an organization that raises money for breast cancer research.

Jack Anderson, Carnival Corp.'s vice president of marketing, made the announcement at last week's Cruise 3Sixty conference, and said the program will be modeled on one launched by Holland America Line ships last year.