Miami - Jul 7, 2008 ---
Today, Norwegian Sky returns to Miami and will begin sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises next Monday, July 14, 2008. The ship recently underwent a two-month wet dock in Freeport, Bahamas and now features a casino and NCL's Freestyle 2.0 enhancements*, the company's fleet-wide initiative to further improve the guest experience across all guest touch points from food and beverage to staterooms.
"Norwegian Sky offers guests the youngest and highest quality ship sailing three and four-day cruises from Miami to the Bahamas," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "On Norwegian Sky, guests will find all that Freestyle Cruising has to offer: a variety of accommodations, including balconies and suites, a choice of seven restaurants, a multitude of on-board amenities and our new Freestyle 2.0 enhancements, such as a bubbly welcome, Lobster Galore, new linens and bedding, themed parties and much more."
Norwegian Sky's first Bahamas cruise departs Miami next Monday and the ship is set to sail four-day Bahamas cruises on Mondays with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. On Fridays, the ship sails a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings. Fares are from $219 per person for an inside stateroom and from $329 per person for a balcony stateroom. Sailings are currently scheduled through April 17, 2009.
MSC CRUISES LEADS THE WAY IN RECYCLING
FLEET IS HONORED BY ALUMINUM RECYCLING CONSORTIUM
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (JULY 14, 2008) – MSC Cruises has been honored by an Italian consortium for its recycling efforts.
Each year CiAl (Consorzio Nazionale per il Recupero e il Riciclo di Imballaggi in Alluminio) recognizes Italian City Councils that distinguish themselves by recycling and promoting environmental issues as they collect recycled material.
This year, in addition to honoring three City Councils, the consortium also recognized the MSC Cruises fleet, in its role as a “floating council’ with thousands of inhabitants that glides on the sea, safeguarding the environment within a controlled framework of development.
MSC Cruises entered into an agreement with CiAl in the spring of 2007 for a collection of the boxes storing large quantities of aluminium that had been collected between May to December 2007. The company collected more than 22,000 pounds of aluminium, which was subsequently picked up in the port of Genoa.
Drink cans, other cans, aluminium foil, boxes and aluminium packing were all collected and given to CiAl, which recycles the aluminium to be reused in new items such as household goods, furnishings, structures for the construction of houses and transportation and more.
MSC Cruises has always been environmentally conscious and has implemented sustainable programs to safeguard the environment. The newest addition to the fleet, MSC Fantasia, will be christened in Naples on Dec. 18 and sister ship MSC Splendida will join the fleet in June 2009. Both ships have been designed with the highest ecological standards: they will both have the most innovative technology systems and implement energy saving systems and environmentally friendly programs, which range from an energy saving system to water treatment for black and grey water.
MSC Cruises was one of the first cruise companies to adhere to the Venice Blue Flag agreement, which governs ships transiting the canal of Venice using diesel oils and is designed to reduce their sulphur emissions. The company has received the most prestigious environmental certificates from recognized bodies, both national and international.
MSC Cruises, the fastest growing cruise line with the youngest fleet, has nine ships: MSC Poesia ( third flagship of the "Musica" class), MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Melody, MSC Rhapsody, cruising in the Mediterranean year round and seasonally in Northern Europe, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, South America, Indian Ocean and South Africa. In the late fall of 2008 the MSC Fantasia will be launched, followed in the spring of 2009 by MSC Splendida. These will be two of the largest ships built by a European ship owner. Then in 2010 MSC Magnifica, the fourth ship in the" Musica" class, will enter service.
MSC Cruises is a partner of the city of Venice and a member of the Club - 'Friends of Venice' as well as one of the supporters for the project 'Venice Blue Flag,' which sets the standards for carbon emissions.
Carnival Cruise Lines began accepting reservations today for the previously announced European and Caribbean itineraries of the new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, which is scheduled to enter service in September 2009, introducing a host of innovations and amenities.
The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed, the 3,646-passenger SuperLiner is set to debut Sept. 21, 2009, with a 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia), calling at Naples, Livorno and Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Messina, Sicily; Monaco; and Barcelona, Spain. Two additional 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises will be offered on Oct. 3 and 15, 2009.
Carnival Dream will then sail on a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 - Nov. 12, 2009, with visits to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, Spain; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and King’s Wharf, Bermuda.
From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, 2009, with stops at Port Canaveral, Fla., and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.
Carnival Dream will then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for year-round seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises beginning Dec. 5, 2009. On this program, Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Nassau; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles; while the exotic Western Caribbean route will include Cozumel; Belize; Costa Maya; and Isla Roatan.
Representing a new class of “Fun Ship,” Carnival Dream will offer a variety of unique features and facilities, including a bold new concept in entertainment called The Piazza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live music venue.
Additionally, the ship will offer the most elaborate children’s facilities at sea, including expansive play areas and a huge Carnival WaterWorks aqua park. Other features include “scenic whirlpools” that extend over the ship’s beam and a variety of new stateroom categories, including an innovative two-bathroom configuration that should be particularly attractive to families.
For additional information and reservations on the Carnival Dream or any other Carnival “Fun Ship,” contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Voluntarily Revises Fuel Supplement
MIAMI - March 10, 2008 - After working closely with the Florida Attorney General's office, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it has voluntarily agreed to eliminate its fuel supplement on any bookings made prior to the announcement of the fuel supplement on November 16, 2007.
Royal Caribbean will eliminate the fuel supplement for any guests who had a booking made prior to November 16. Guests booked before November 16 who paid the fuel supplement and have taken their cruise will receive a refund through the form of payment used to purchase their sailing. Guests booked before November 16 who paid the fuel supplement and have not taken their cruise will receive their refund as an onboard credit during their sailing.
As originally announced, the company did not charge the fuel supplement to guests with bookings made and paid in full before November 16. It will now eliminate the fuel supplement for guests with bookings made but not paid in full before that date. These latter guests were also provided with a three-week period in which to cancel their sailing without penalty.
The company has been in discussions with the Florida Attorney General's office to ensure the fuel supplement was implemented in a fair and reasonable manner.
The fuel supplement, which remains in place for North American bookings made on or after November 16, 2007, involves three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. The fuel supplement consists of a $5 per-guest, per-day charge for sailings that depart on or after February 1, 2008. The fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in each stateroom and does not exceed $70 per person per sailing.
Today's announcement will have no impact on the company's revenue projections and the company reaffirms its previous yield guidance.
The Florida Attorney General's office is expected to issue a press release regarding this matter Tuesday morning.
New Menus Filled With Regional Flair Enliven Cuisine Aboard Holland America Line's Fleet in 2008
Mexico and Caribbean menus debut first
Seattle, WA, January 8, 2008 - From coconut scallops in the Caribbean and Spanish tapas in the Mediterranean to chicken mole in Mexico, guests sailing aboard Holland America Line's premium cruise ships in 2008 will savor new menus reflecting their ship's current itinerary. Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has incorporated flavors, techniques and recipes from around the world on new menus fleetwide.
Menus are changing to reflect the ship's sailing itinerary, and local foods are brought on board to better reflect the regional cuisine. The new Mexico and Caribbean menus are the first to debut and are available now on ships sailing those itineraries.
"Part of the fun of travel is experiencing new cultures," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "By incorporating regional dishes, Chef Rudi has brought the excitement of visiting new destinations to the dining room."
Fresh fish will be brought on board in the Caribbean and Mexico along with local produce such as chayote, bread fruit, guava and fresh Mexican chiles. Island spices, local fish and produce, and Sodamin's knowledge of local specialties spice up the menu. On the Mexico itinerary, a guest might dine on Chicken mole, a Mexican regional specialty. In the Caribbean, the recipe changes to Caribbean jerk-style chicken.
Other sample dishes include: chili-rubbed tuna brochette, chilled West Indian lassi soup, mahi mahi with roasted corn salsa and plantains, Mexican tortilla soup with mushrooms, and guava stuffed chicken.
In an effort to enhance the fine dining experience on board, Sodamin will continue to introduce new menus as the ships change sailing destinations. He's developing new menus for Northern and Southern Europe, as well as other destinations. On European itineraries, guests can enjoy prosciutto and coppa from Italy, Spanish tapas, Mediterranean olive oils and produce, artisanal cheeses and Norwegian salmon. Alaskan sailings will continue to feature wild Alaskan seafood.
Dinner menus in the main dining room have been redesigned with a fresh, modern look. A list of starters includes appetizers, soups and salads. Next is an entree section, followed by Chef Rudi Sodamin's recommendations for the day. A selection of entrees available daily includes favorites such as Caesar salad and New York strip steak. Wine and champagne recommendations appear at the bottom of the menu.
Guests on board may choose to dine in a variety of venues, from a quick bite poolside to a formal five-course affair. Every ship features an elegant main dining room; sophisticated Pinnacle Grill where guests can sample Sterling Silver beef and fresh seafood; the casual indoor-outdoor Lido Restaurant, and the Terrace Grill on deck for lunchtime fare.
For more information, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit
www.hollandamerica.com
UNIWORLD GRAND RIVER CRUISES 2008: EXCITING ITINERARIES, ELEGANT AMENITIES AND MAJOR SAVINGS
Experience Luxurious Grand River Cruises
Uniworld’s 2008 European Grand River Cruises are more luxurious than ever with new onshore and offshore amenities, generous pay-in-full and early booking discounts, a new Grand River Cruise Club, and a brochure and website elegantly designed and easy to use – all reflective of creating the world’s leading river cruise experience.
To add to the unique Europe’s Grand River Cruise 2008 experience, Uniworld has broadened its already fabulous list of amenities. Each ship experience is comparable to staying at a five-star boutique hotel. Guests will enjoy complimentary wine with dinner, bottled water in each stateroom, 24-hour specialty coffees including cappuccinos and lattes, and a state-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system to enhance guests’ onshore experience.
Ships include lavishly appointed staterooms with lovely river views, sumptuous cuisine and onboard entertainment. Inclusive shore excursions are always lead by English-speaking guides. Complimentary transfers are included on day of arrival and departure.
Uniworld has added exciting new itineraries such as a 7-night Danube Discovery Grand River Cruise from Vienna to Nuremberg, a 7-night Rhine Discovery Grand River Cruise from Nuremberg to Basel, and a 12-night Ukraine, the Black Sea & Istanbul Grand River Cruise between Kiev and Nessebar, along with a 3-night hotel stay in Istanbul.
GRAND RIVER CRUISE SAVINGS ARE PLENTIFUL:
2007 Holiday Grand River Cruises - Give yourself a pre-holiday gift! Join Uniworld on a Grand River Cruise along the great rivers of Europe. Save up to $200 per couple ($100 per person) on 2007 Holiday Grand River Cruises by booking before August 31, 2007. Choose from four spectacular Holiday Grand River Cruises: European Holiday Markets- Nuremberg to Vienna; Danube Holiday Markets - Budapest to Passau; Rhine Holiday Markets - Basel to Cologne; and Rhine & Main Holiday Markets - Cologne to Nuremberg.
The Pay-in-Full discount allows couples to save up to $2,000 per couple ($1,000 per person) when booking and paying in full at time of booking. Bookings must be made on or before September 30, 2007. The Early Booking Discount saves up to a $600 per couple ($300 per person) when reserving and depositing by November 30, 2007. These discounts are available for the following 2008 Grand River Cruises: Eastern European Explorer, European Jewels, European Serenade, Grand Christmas and New Year’s Cruise, Grand European Discovery, Grand European Explorer, Grand European Serenade, Grand France, and Legendary Rhine & Moselle.
With the Pay-in-Full discount – save up to $1,000 ($500 per person) per couple on Land of the Cossacks – when booking and paying in full at time of booking. Bookings must be made on or before September 30, 2007; saving is off cruise or cruise and air rates or enjoy Early Booking Discount and save $500 per couple ($250 per person) off cruise or cruise and air rates for Land of the Cossacks.
The Pay-in-Full discount allows couples to save up to $600 ($300 per person) when booking and paying in full at time of booking. Bookings must be made on or before September 30, 2007. The Early Booking Discount saves up to a $300 per couple ($150 per person) when reserving and depositing by November 30, 2007. These discounts are available for the following 2008 Grand River Cruises: Burgundy & Provence; Castles Along the Rhine; Danube Discovery; Danube Holiday Markets; Douro Valley; Dutch Dreams; Enchanting Danube; European Holiday Markets; Grand Danube Holiday Market; Paris and Normandy; Rhine Discovery; Rhine Holiday Markets; Tulips and Windmills.
The Pay-in-Full discount allows couples to save up to $400 ($200 per person) when booking and paying in full at time of booking. Bookings must be made on or before September 30, 2007. The Early Booking Discount saves up to a $200 per couple ($100 per person) when reserving and depositing by November 30, 2007. These discounts are available for the following 2008 Grand River Cruises: Imperial Russia; Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul; and Waterways of the Czars.
Uniworld recognizes their loyal past guests with the introduction of the Grand River Cruise Club with many value-added inclusions, plus a $100 per person past-guest discount on all Grand River Cruises and Tours.
Uniworld Grand River Cruises include lavishly appointed river view staterooms with the finest amenities, all meals and entertainment onboard, the services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager, expertly planned itineraries, fascinating shore excursions lead by knowledgeable, English-speaking guides, and significant savings.
Los Angeles based Uniworld offers 500 well-priced departures on more than 30 itineraries, sailing on 12 rivers in 20 countries across 4 continents – China, Europe, Russia and Egypt.
I Love The Nightlife: Celebrity Solstice To Present The Coolest New Places To See And Be Seen Along With Longtime Favorites Miami - (November 26, 2007 )
- Celebrity Cruises will present a stellar line-up of nightclubs and lounges on the line's new Celebrity Solstice, scheduled to launch in December, 2008. From an intimate, enriching wine cellar to a vibrant club that transforms with each night’s dance theme, the 2,850-guest ship will offer guests some of the most stylish and varied public spaces at sea."
Our Solstice-class fleet will present several entirely new venues, along with creative twists on some of our guests’ longtime favorites," said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We think our guests will find the design and style in every space not only inviting, but also absolutely stunning."
Cunardia, the First Permanent Cunard Museum at Sea,
Tells the Story of the Company's Trio of 20th Century Queens From Service in World War II to its trademarked White Star ServiceTM, Exhibit onboard Queen Victoria will Celebrate the Line's Incomparable Legacy Retired Commodore Ronald Warwick to Serve as Honorary Curator
Valencia, CA - November 6, 2007 - Heart-felt anecdotes and historic artifacts related to Cunard Line's three 20th century Queens are captured in Cunardia, the museum exhibit that is poised to become one of Queen Victoria's most captivating features. Scheduled to launch this December, Queen Victoria is the first Cunard ship to carry a fully curated exhibit of Cunard memorabilia, artifacts and vintage souvenirs including Queen Mary's log book and her historic Zig Zag clock - the vital timekeeping device that prevented World War II U-Boat attacks against the famed liner.
Valencia, CA - November 6, 2007 - Heart-felt anecdotes and historic artifacts related to Cunard Line's three 20th century Queens are captured in Cunardia, the museum exhibit that is poised to become one of Queen Victoria's most captivating features. Scheduled to launch this December, Queen Victoria is the first Cunard ship to carry a fully curated exhibit of Cunard memorabilia, artifacts and vintage souvenirs including Queen Mary's log book and her historic Zig Zag clock - the vital timekeeping device that prevented World War II U-Boat attacks against the famed liner.
Masterfully created by the Open Agency, the same team of researchers and designers responsible for several other popular Cunard exhibits and publications, Cunardia tells the story of Queen Mary (1936), Queen Elizabeth (1940) and Queen Elizabeth 2 (1969). Through five engaging storylines, the exhibit explores:
Creating a Queen, showcasing the histories of the iconic ocean liners
•A Queen's Day, tracing a "typical day" at sea from the perspective of both passenger and crew member
•Queens at War, featuring the role of the Queens as troop carriers during World War II and the Falklands War in 1982
•Queens Do Not Race, an in-depth history of the Atlantic Blue Riband highlighted by a life-size replica of the famed Hales Trophy
•Inspired by a Queen, detailing the Queens' far-reaching impact on many aspects of creativity Harnessing Cunard's rich image archive and the latest audio-visual technology and contemporary display design, the exhibit immerses guests in the Line's unparalleled history.
In addition, retired Commodore Ronald Warwick, former Master of Queen Mary 2 and QE2, will serve as Honorary Curator of the Cunard Queens exhibit. Warwick, an avid Cunard historian, was a natural choice, not only due to his own place in the Cunard family, but also because his father, Captain William E. Warwick, captained Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2. Interestingly, Commodore Warwick has traced the history of all Cunard captains and he and his father are the only father-and-son captains in the Line's 168-year history.
"I am delighted to accept the invitation to become Cunardia's first Honorary Curator, particularly as the exhibit focuses on Cunard's Queens. I look forward to sharing the illustrious history of these renowned ocean liners with Cunard enthusiasts sailing aboard Queen Victoria," said Warwick.
"The excitement surrounding this exhibit is unprecedented," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "Anecdotes, artifacts and memorabilia continue to pour in - a stirring testament to Cunard's singular place in the hearts of maritime enthusiasts around the world." To tap this interest, the Open Agency conducted extensive research within Cunard's own archives and issued public appeals to past guests, crew and renowned Cunard collectors in both the United States and Great Britain. According to Martyn Routledge of the Open Agency, "the timing is ideal as most guests and crew of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are now in their 80's or older and are extremely proud of their Cunard experience and eager to share their memories."
Among the most significant pieces to be exhibited are:
•A copy of the Hales Trophy awarded to the winner of the Atlantic Blue Riband. Although Queen Mary broke the speed record in 1936 and held it unchallenged from 1938-1952, Cunard Line refused to accept the award on the grounds that the Line still followed Samuel Cunard's mandate to his captains in 1840 to put safety before speed at all times.
•A zig-zag clock from Queen Mary during her wartime service. The clock was kept on the Bridge to alert navigators as to when to change direction during the operation known as zig-zagging. Regularly changing course was a tactic designed to confuse U-boats. Hitler had put a price on the ship as a target and as a trophy of war.
Other exhibits include a section of Queen Mary's deck rail carved with the initials of some GIs who contributed to her unbroken record of carrying the largest number of people on a ship; the first log book of Queen Mary (handwritten by Sir Edgar Britten, Captain during her maiden voyage); collections of never-before-published images illustrating the celebrity hey-day of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; detailed ship models and souvenirs; artifacts and stories related to the "Cunard Yanks," the young crew who brought back the latest New York fashions in clothing and music to post-war Britain.
While focusing on Cunard's 20th century history, Cunardia also gives a nod to the present with exhibit references to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, including the cork from the bottle of prosecco that was broken over Queen Victoria's bow by Maureen Ryan as the ship met open water for the first time. With its typical flair for tradition and ceremony, Cunard chose Ryan, the only known person to have served on four Queens, to serve as the ship's godmother during Queen Victoria's float-out celebration. Similarly, in December, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will perform the naming of the ship, joining a long line of royals who have launched a Cunard liner.
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