Winter charter flights planned for Puerto Rico cruises

Charter flights from Gatwick to Puerto Rico to serve a revamped ship are planned for next winter by Royal Caribbean International. The line has contracted Britannia to fly Boeing 767s to San Juan every fortnight from November 19 this year to April 22, 2005. The charter flights will connect with Nordic Empress, which is being re-named Empress of the Seas after extensive modernisation work is completed in May. Additional dining, entertainment and fitness areas are being added to the 1,602-passenger ship, which sails from New York to Bermuda in the summer. Cabin bathrooms are also being upgraded. Next winter’s 11-night southern Caribbean itinerary from Puerto Rico includes calls at St Maarten, St Barts, St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Margarita Island, Curacao and Aruba. Packages sold in the UK will include three nights in San Juan before joining the ship. Prices start at £1,432 per person. Royal Caribbean sales director Leslie Peden said: “This is a very itinerary-rich cruise with unusual ports of call and should particularly appeal to seasoned cruisers.” Report by Phil Davies