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Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
American Cruise Lines debuts Puget Sound Cruise
American Cruise Lines, the largest U.S. cruise company, introduces Puget Sound and San Juan Islands itinerary to the American Spirit’s 2013 schedule with a debut journey sailing on April 27. This new voyage is a one-of-a-kind experience that provides a glimpse into the pristine environment and captivating scenery only found in the Pacific Northwest. This is the company’s newest addition to a growing portfolio of cruises in the Pacific Northwest which includes Alaska and Columbia & Snake River itineraries.
The eight-day roundtrip voyage from Seattle explores the hundreds of islands, many of which are uninhabited, nestled between Canada’s Vancouver Island and the U.S. mainland. While aboard, guests enjoy elegant accommodations, personalized service, fine dining, nightly entertainment and daily lectures and seminars from local experts on the region’s rich history. The Puget Sound itinerary will run from April 2013 through October 2013 and then again from March 2014 through November 2014. Rates start at $3,750 per person.
“We are excited to offer the Puget Sound cruise to our guests and to provide a unique experience in that location,
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Royal Caribbean announces 2014-15 short Caribbean and Bahamas cruises
Royal Caribbean International today announced a number of short three- to five-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruises throughout 2014-15, sailing from Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami, Florida. Nearly all of these Royal Caribbean ships have recently undergone extensive refurbishments, offering guests up to 10 onboard dining options, spectacular entertainment and onboard features that offer greater convenience and connectivity.
On all ships except Majesty of the Seas, guests can also enjoy an oversized outdoor movie screen beside the main pool, new staterooms featuring flat-panel televisions, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi service, interactive digital signage and much more. For a short webisode about all the innovative enhancements that guests are already enjoying, please see http://tinyurl.com/c3au67b. Royal Caribbean’s 2014-15 short Caribbean and Bahamas cruises are now open for booking.
From Port Canaveral and Miami respectively, Enchantment of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas will continue year-round three- and four-night Bahamas cruises, calling at Nassau and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise in The Bahamas. On Majesty of the Seas’ four-night sailing, guests also call at Key West, Florida. At CocoCay, guests enjoy a private island with watersports options, plenty of beautiful beaches to soak up the sun, sip refreshing cocktails and enjoy a barbeque lunch by the sea.
Throughout the summer 2014 season, holidaymakers can also choose a Caribbean getaway from Port Everglades aboard Vision of the Seas. A four-night itinerary takes guests to Cozumel, Mexico, whilst two five-night itineraries take guests to Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras, on one, or Key West, Florida, and Grand Cayman. Guests will also have access to the spectacular high-flying, acrobatic musical production overhead in the four-deck high Centrum, while others can enjoy a cocktail at the new retro-chic R-Bar below.
Also from Port Everglades, Liberty of the Seas will sail four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises for the winter 2014-15 season, offering the broadest range of innovative and popular features and entertainment that were first introduced onboard the world-acclaimed Oasis-class and Freedom-class. Guests enjoy the FlowRider surf simulator, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom Presidential Family Suite
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Saturday, April 27, 2013
Cruise industry highlights continuing efforts to protect environments where it operates
In celebration of Earth Day, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today highlighted the ongoing efforts of its member lines to protect the ocean environment.
CLIA and its members lines have a vested interest in protecting the environment, not only because it is the responsible thing to do
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Holland America Line commemorates its 140th anniversary
In celebration of its 140th anniversary, an official christening of the new Holland America Line “Signature” tulip took place in the Netherlands on Friday, April 19 at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. President and CEO of Holland America Line Stein Kruse participated in the ceremony along with the President of the Board of Directors of Keukenhof Walter Jansen and Master Grower Jan Pennings.
A white-petal variety with delicate fringed petals was chosen to honor the company that was founded at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, April 18, 1873, as a trans-Atlantic cargo and passenger shipping company. Today the company’s fleet of 15 premium cruise ships sails more than 500 cruises on all seven continents.
“Holland America Line has a deep connection to the Netherlands, and to have a tulip named especially for our company is a true honor,” said Stein Kruse , president and CEO of Holland America Line. “I can’t imagine a more appropriate way to celebrate our 140th anniversary than to christen our tulip in the world’s most beautiful and famous gardens.”
In a November 2012 ceremony, Holland America Line “Signature” tulip bulbs were handed over from the grower near the windmill at Keukenhof that Holland America donated in 1957. In December, bulbs were planted at the cruise line’s Seattle headquarters and its Southampton, England, office. In addition to collaborating with the gardens to develop the tulip, Holland America Line participated in the annual Bloemencorso Bollenstreek flower parade on April 19 and 20. The line last participated in the parade in 1948 when the company entered a 35-foot flower float modeled on s.s. Westerdam that was awarded first place.
Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world’s largest flower garden, located in Lisse, the Netherlands. Approximately 7 million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually at the park. The Keukenhof is only open for two months each year, from March 21 through May 20, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world.
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Holland America Line and Seabourn celebrate partnership renewal
In recognition of Earth Day, Holland America Line and Seabourn today are announcing the renewal of their partnership with Marine Conservation Institute. The partnership with the Washington State
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
Voyages of Discovery to visit South Africa & Indian Ocean during 2014/15
In keeping with its focus on enrichment and discovery-led destination experiences, Voyages of Discovery has added exotic new regions and itineraries
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AmaWaterways unveils 2014 Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise brochure
AmaWaterways proudly announces the release of its new 2014 Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise brochure. The brochure provides complete details about AmaWaterways’ one-of-a-kind program in Africa, with four different land safari itineraries
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Swan Hellenic celebrates diamond anniversary
Swan Hellenic, the award-winning small-ship enrichment cruise line, is celebrating its 60th year of discovery cruising with early booking offers for its 2014/15 season and a special Diamond Anniversary itinerary.
In August 1954, the first Swan Hellenic trip took 128 passengers and four classical history experts around the Greek islands onboard the m.s. Miaoulis. To commemorate that sailing, the line is offering its Diamond Anniversary 15-day Swan’s Hellenic Celebration itinerary on August 13, 2014 that closely replicates the route of that first cruise. The 350-guest Minerva departs Naples, Italy and calls at Nauplia, Delos and Santorini, Greece and transits the Corinth Canal, which Minerva can access due to her small size, before arriving in Athens (Piraeus). The cruise includes overnights in Naples, Kusadasi, Mykonos and Athens.
The new season, which is now available for booking and can be viewed on Swan Hellenic’s website (www.swanhellenic.us), features itineraries to destinations in the Baltic, Black Sea, Adriatic, Mediterranean, India, and the Far East. Swan Hellenic continues to offer its popular Black Sea cruise on August 27, 2014. Brochures may be pre-ordered through the cruise line’s website.
In celebration of the new 2014/15 season, Swan Hellenic is offering an early booking offer of up to ten percent on the new itineraries (departing April 28 through December 19, 2014) for bookings made by June 30, 2013. In addition, those who book an oceanview or balcony stateroom by June 30, 2013 will receive an onboard bar/beverage credit bonus of up to $300 per stateroom.
The new season commences in April 2014 with a series of 12- to 16-day round-trip cruises from London to the Baltic, British Isles and Mediterranean regions.
CONTINUES BELOW RecommendedBreaking Travel News interview: Mouhamad Hadla, hotel manager, Rixos the Palm Dubai
Read More » Tags:swan hellenic Share this articleModerate Comments CommentsRelated ArticlesCruise into culture with Swan Hellenic16th Apr 2013 Retrace the roots of religion with Swan Hellenic26th Feb 2013 Discover the best of the British Isles with Swan Hellenic5th Feb 2013 Swan Hellenic launches the Price Promise9th Sep 2012 Swan Hellenic expands 2013 rivers programme5th Sep 2012 Learn a new skill at sea with Swan Hellenic1st Sep 2012 Swan Hellenic announces new river cruises for 201326th Jul 2012 Swan Hellenic to celebrate its diamond anniversary10th Jul 2012 Follow Breaking Travel News
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Ellie Simmonds to launch aqua park on Norwegian Breakaway
With just seven days to go until Norwegian Breakaway’s UK inaugural in Southampton, Norwegian Cruise Line is pleased to announce Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds as UK ambassador for the event on 29 April.
As part of the UK celebrations, Ellie will officially open the Aqua Park and be the first in the UK to swim in the pool. Throughout the day, Simmonds will be meeting with guests and experiencing the new ship first-hand, which brings the best of NYC to sea.
Francis Riley, vice president and general manager international of Norwegian Cruise Line said,
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Norwegian cruise liners act fast
Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its popular DASH sale on all sailings of three days or longer, fleet-wide. Guests who book a Norwegian cruise vacation from Tuesday, April 23 through April 26, 2013, can receive up to $250 per stateroom to spend on board (based on cruise length and stateroom category) and reduced deposits. For a complete vacation package, guests can also receive up to $1,000 in air credits on select sailings. Also, for a limited time, kids ages 17 and under who are cruising with two adults in the same stateroom, will receive 50% off their cruise fare on select Europe and Alaska vacations.
Guests looking to experience the majestic beauty of Alaska can set sail on board Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel or Norwegian Sun. Norwegian Pearl sails a series of seven-day cruises from Seattle every Sunday from May 19, 2013 through September 22, 2013 and Norwegian Jewel sails from Seattle every Saturday from May 18, 2013 through September 14, 2013. Both ships visit some of the most scenic destinations in Alaska including Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan, as well as a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Sun offers a series of open jaw seven-day cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia or Whittier, Alaska. Ports of call in Alaska include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The itinerary also features a scenic cruise through Glacier Bay. Cruises departing from Vancouver will also enjoy a morning sail past Hubbard Glacier and those cruising south from Whittier will enjoy a cruise though the spectacular Inside Passage. Fares start at $399
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Sunday, April 21, 2013
Crystal expands spiritual side ashore in Europe this season
New religious shoreside options have been added to luxury specialist Crystal Cruises’ roster of meaningful and enriching experiences in Europe this year. With the expansion, the ultra-luxe line now offers more than 20 Crystal Adventures featuring private, after-hours access, centuries-old houses of worship, Jewish heritage tours, and sacred pilgrimage destinations in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Malta, France and other timeless locales on the Continent. Most of the new and exclusive adventures visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Outings include:
NEW:
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Seabourn introduces new elegant penthouse spa suites
Seabourn is enhancing its spacious, all-suite accommodations with the introduction of Penthouse Spa Suites on its award-winning new trio of intimate ships. Seabourn Quest will emerge from a scheduled drydock in May, 2013 boasting four new elegant Penthouse Spa Suites located directly above the industry leading Spa at Seabourn facility. Guests will access the suites by means of a spiral staircase in the lobby of the spa, and enjoy unlimited access to the spa’s Serene Area, as well as spa amenities in the suite itself and the services of a spa concierge during the voyage. The new suites will also be added to Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn during their next scheduled drydocks.
“A growing number of our guests choose Seabourn’s new ships specifically because of our beautiful onboard Spa at Seabourn facilities,” said Seabourn President Richard Meadows . “Some of these guests have expressed a desire to incorporate a more complete spa vacation experience into their cruises, and our Penthouse Spa Suites are designed to fulfill that wish.”
Seabourn commissioned the Norwegian architecture and design firm of Yran & Storbraaten—who designed Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest—to come up with a plan to utilize the section of Deck 10 directly above the spa for the new accommodations. The result is four spacious suites with 516 to 538 sq. ft. (48
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Norwegian Cruise Line selects NICE Workforce Optimization Solutions
NICE Systems announced today that Norwegian Cruise Line is adopting NICE’s Interaction Management, analytics-based Quality Optimisation, and customer feedback survey solutions to deliver an enhanced customer experience. The cruise operator selected the NICE offering as part of its Cisco contact center solution to also improve sales effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Norwegian Cruise Line will use the NICE solutions to apply quality measurement metrics and solicit customer feedback via IVR (Interactive Voice Response) survey for its three U.S. contact centers. This will enable the company to gain valuable insights into its customer interactions, including direct input on service levels. This information will help the cruise operator decide where improvement is needed in order to further enhance customer experience. For instance, it may decide that additional agent coaching is needed in order to close agent knowledge gaps and improve first contact resolution rates.
By improving the quality of its service, Norwegian Cruise Line will be able to achieve greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. It will also help the company reduce operational costs and increase revenues by enjoying greater opportunities for cross-selling and up-selling.
“The NICE solutions provide added value to our contact center operations as they will enable us to bolster our position within the competitive cruise industry,” said Crane Gladding, senior vice president of passenger services for Norwegian Cruise Line. “Taken together with our existing Workforce Management solution from NICE, we now have a more comprehensive set of capabilities for optimising our workforce and improving our contact center performance. We are confident that this will help boost our customer service and deliver measurable return on investment.”
“This deal with Norwegian Cruise Line is a terrific example of how our Cisco partnership is helping companies leverage best-of-breed technology within a unified communications strategy,” said Barak Eilam , President of NICE Americas. “We are excited to see companies like Norwegian Cruise Line embrace the NICE/Cisco offerings to optimise their contact center operations and enhance the customer experience.”
CONTINUES BELOWSelect NICE Workforce Optimization solutions are part of the Cisco SolutionsPlus program, which delivers a one-stop ordering experience for Cisco’s customers, channel partners, and sales teams for certain third-party products and applications. The solutions integrate with the Cisco MediaSense recording platform.
Tags:norwegian cruise line Share this articleModerate Comments CommentsRelated ArticlesExplore like an Alaskan with Norwegian’s limited time offer5 days ago Norwegian Breakaway introduces senior management team7 days ago Norwegian Cruise Line announces “Breakaway Water Project”10th Apr 2013 Norwegian Cruise complete sea trials ahead of launch3rd Apr 2013 Captains named ahead of Norwegian Breakaway launch1st Apr 2013 Diageo mixes it up with leading cruise lines22nd Mar 2013 Norwegian launches all new Guppies program for children under three19th Mar 2013 Norwegian Cruise Line launches 2014-15 cruise highlights brochure19th Mar 2013 Follow Breaking Travel NewsView the Original article
Carnival announces $300m fleetwide enhancement
Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc, today announced that it has implemented a program to significantly enhance emergency power capabilities, introduce new fire safety technology, and improve the level of operating redundancies across its entire 24-ship fleet. This enhancement program will cost more than $300 million, and rapid upgrades have already begun.
The actions by Carnival Cruise Lines will expand the availability of hotel services for the comfort of its guests in the rare instance of a shipboard event that involves the loss of main power. In addition, the plan will reinforce key shipboard operating systems to further prevent a potential loss of primary power. The improvement plan is the result of a comprehensive operational review, overseen by parent company Carnival Corporation & plc, initiated immediately after the Carnival Triumph fire in February 2013.
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Friday, April 19, 2013
Cruise into culture with Swan Hellenic
Join Swan Hellenic on a cultural cruise to the Baltic to master your painting skills, learn how to take the perfect picture and experience a world class ballet performance.
Art and photography masterclasses will be held on board mv Minerva’s Baltic Splendour cruise for those wanting to harness their creative flair, whilst ballet fans will be treated to a classical recital at the renowned Mariinsky Theatre as part of a two night stay in St. Petersburg.
Passengers can also explore the Winter Palace of Catherine the Great made out of over 150 kilos of gold and enjoy a trip to the historic port town of Elisnore, home to Kronberg castle - the setting of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet.
Tags:swan hellenic Share this articleModerate Comments CommentsRelated ArticlesRetrace the roots of religion with Swan Hellenic26th Feb 2013 Discover the best of the British Isles with Swan Hellenic5th Feb 2013 Swan Hellenic launches the Price Promise9th Sep 2012 Swan Hellenic expands 2013 rivers programme5th Sep 2012 Learn a new skill at sea with Swan Hellenic1st Sep 2012 Swan Hellenic announces new river cruises for 201326th Jul 2012 Swan Hellenic to celebrate its diamond anniversary10th Jul 2012 Autumn Mediterranean discovery cruising6th Jul 2012 Follow Breaking Travel NewsView the Original article
Princess Cruises returns to Summer Caribbean sailings
For the first time in four years, Princess Cruises will offer summertime Caribbean cruising from Florida in 2014. Caribbean Princess returns to sail on a full season of voyages ranging from a three-day getaway to full week-long tropical cruises, all of which can be combined for a longer vacation of up to 14 days. All summer Caribbean cruises open for sale today.
The May to September program features 12 departures of the line’s popular seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, which can be combined for a 14-day Caribbean Adventure sailing. In addition, the ship will depart on 13 three-, four- and five-day getaway cruises for a quick vacation and opportunity to sample the Princess experience.
All cruises sail roundtrip from the convenient port of Ft. Lauderdale. Itineraries feature the ports of San Juan, St. Thomas, Costa Maya, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman, plus most voyages visit the line’s exclusive Bahaman paradise on Princess Cays.
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Princess Cruises adds new “Medallion” level to Captain’s Circle Loyalty Program
the Medallion level. The new tier, for passengers sailing on a fourth or fifth cruise, or between 31 and 50 cruise days, fits between the program’s current Gold and Platinum levels. The new level goes into effect with voyages beginning on or after today.
Medallion level members will now enjoy extra benefits in addition to Gold level perks, including a complimentary upgrade to the Platinum Princess Vacation Protection and a discount on the price of a souvenir Reflections DVD. Medallion cruise cards and pins will feature a deep burgundy color.
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Royal Caribbean reveals groundbreaking Quantum class ships
Building on a legacy of more than 40 years of innovation and creative design, Royal Caribbean International today unveiled first details of the next generation of cruise holidays
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Royal Caribbean launches new Quantum cruising
Building on a legacy of more than 40 years of innovation and creative design, Royal Caribbean International has unveiled first details of the next generation of cruise holidays
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Monday, April 15, 2013
Cruise lawyers to Senator Rockefeller: Overworked cruise employees denied
Cruise ship lawyers Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A. weighed-in this week on concerns raised by Senator John Rockefeller IV in his letter to Carnival Corporation CEO Mickey Arison. Last month, Rockefeller wrote a very publicised letter to Arison, following an engine room fire aboard the Carnival Triumph. That incident resulted in a complete loss of power aboard the ship, subjecting Triumph’s passengers to five days of reportedly horrid conditions while the ship was towed from Mexican waters back to port in Alabama. Rockefeller notes a disturbing trend of serious events on Carnival ships within the past five years.
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Norwegian Breakaway introduces senior management team
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the remainder of Norwegian Breakaway’s senior management team, including the ship’s staff captains, chief engineers, hotel director, assistant hotel director, food and beverage director, cruise director and key department heads.
These senior officers and managers will work alongside the previously announced ship’s captains, Evans Hoyt and Hakan Svedung, and hotel director Denis Prugda, to deliver the line’s most innovative ship to date.
Norwegian will take delivery of Norwegian Breakaway, the ship that will bring the best of New York City to sea, on April 25th, 2013.
Following inaugural festivities and a maiden transatlantic voyage, the ship will begin a series of seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda.
Seasoned officers, staff captain Niklas Persson and Matko Candrlic will be on board to introduce the vessel to guests during her very exciting inaugural season.
As staff captains, they are second in command and report directly to Norwegian Breakaway’s captain.
They are responsible for the Deck Department and are versed in all of the responsibilities and duties of the captain, so that they are prepared to assume command if necessary.
The staff captains will also assist Norwegian Breakaway’s captain with all operational issues, and all matters involving the safety of guests, crew, the ship and the environment.
Persson joined Norwegian in 1999 and since has served as staff captain on board Norwegian Spirit, Sky and Jewel.
Candrlic joined the company in 2003 and has held positions on board other ships including Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Gem.
Carsten Fosbo will take up the position of chief engineer and when on leave he will be relieved by Anders Nedal and Zoran Posa.
The chief engineer has full responsibility of the entire technical operation of the ship, plays a key role on the ship’s senior management team and works closely with the staff captain and hotel director.
Fosbo joined Norwegian in 1998 and has since served as chief engineer on various Norwegian ships including Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sky.
Nedal joined Norwegian in 1986 and has worked on board Norwegian Star and Norwegian Gem.
Posa has been a member of the Norwegian team since 2002 and has spent the majority of his time working on board Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky.
Norwegian hotel director Sean Wurmhoeringer will assume responsibility for the ship’s entire hotel operation in July when Prugda is on leave.
Wurmhoeringer joined Norwegian in 2002 and since then he has successfully operated hotel teams on board Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Star, and in 2010, Wurmhoeringer played a key role in the successful launch and delivery of Norwegian Epic.
Assisting the hotel director is Sonja Sommergger who will serve as the ship’s assistant hotel director.
Sommergger has worked with Norwegian since 2002 in various guest service roles and on various Norwegian ships including Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Epic.
Norwegian Breakaway’s food and beverage director Martin Ivanov will oversee all of Norwegian Breakaway’s 27 different dining options.
The role on this ship is complex, as Norwegian Breakaway boasts more restaurants than any other cruise ship at sea.
But, with his previous experience on Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Epic, Ivanov will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Norwegian Breakaway.
Heading Norwegian Breakaway’s entertainment team is cruise director Julie Valeriote.
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Saturday, April 13, 2013
Unprecedented demand for Oasis of the Seas first European season
Following last week’s announcement that the world’s largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, would embark on its first ever European season and transatlantic sailing out of a UK port of call, thousands of holiday hungry Brits have pre-registered their interest to be first in the queue to make a booking when it makes its debut in autumn 2014. The unprecedented demand is the highest ever volume of pre-booking registrations ever seen by Royal Caribbean International.
With the limited cruises set to go on sale on Thursday 11 April 2013, holidaymakers keen to secure their ultimate holiday experience have made the most of the cruise line’s amazing news to get their first pick of the itineraries by registering their interest in droves.
Oasis of the Seas’ European season went on sale to members of Royal Caribbean International’s loyalty club, Crown and Anchor, on 9 April 2013 to a phenomenal reaction. Reservations team members are working overtime, part time workers have been drafted in to work full time and people from other departments across the business are answering phones and taking bookings.
Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, UK and Ireland, explains:
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Royal Caribbean announces 2014 northern Europe cruises
Royal Caribbean International today announced 2014 Scandinavia and Baltic cruises from Hamburg, Germany, on board Legend of the Seas, one of nine Royal Caribbean ships to sail European waters in 2014. The cruise line also announced new 2014 Europe cruisetours, which combine a cruise with an exclusive land tour programme that explores some of Europe’s most vibrant cities and interior regions such as Madrid, Florence and Rome. With the most innovative cruise ships in the region, the cruise line offers families and adventurers a wide selection of exciting European destinations, signature entertainment and innovative onboard facilities, exclusive to Royal Caribbean.
Legend of the Seas’ 2014 Scandinavia and Baltic cruises from Hamburg will open for sale on 11 April, 2013, and the 2014 Europe cruisetours are available for booking immediately.
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Thursday, April 11, 2013
Silversea appoints new sales manager for Scotland, Northern Ireland and North East
Silversea, the leading cruise operator renowned for its ultra-luxurious ships and exotic destinations, has announced a new appointment to its UK sales team. Amanda Middler, who has 11 years experience in sales has joined the Silversea team as Regional Sales Manager with responsibility for Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North East of England, and will report to Priti Mehta, Head of Sales UK & Ireland.
Amanda joins from IHG Hotel Group, where for 2 years she was Position Cluster Sales Manager and successfully built strong relationships within the travel sector. Prior to that Middler also worked for Monarch Airlines as Base Operations Manager and MyTravel Airways as Passenger Services Superintendent.
Mike Bonner, Silversea’s General Manager for UK and Ireland, said: “We are excited to welcome Amanda to our sales team and believe her expertise will help us to develop and expand sales initiatives in these regions. Her addition to the team reinforces our commitment to providing an enhanced and highly personalised level of service to our travel agent partners.”
Tags:silversea cruises Share this articleModerate Comments CommentsRelated ArticlesRoyal Geographical Society and Silversea Cruises announce partnership20th Mar 2013 Silversea Cruises announce partnership with Royal Geographical Society17th Mar 2013 Silversea introduces South American land excursion13th Mar 2013 Silversea announces new shorter voyages23rd Jan 2013 Silversea forced to cancel cruise following damage to vessel17th Jan 2013 Silversea introduces sampler cruises12th Jan 2013 Silversea and Cruise Strategies strengthen partnership4th Dec 2012 Silversea’s Silver Cloud completes major refurb9th Nov 2012 Follow Breaking Travel NewsView the Original article
Celebrity Cruises presents modern luxury Caribbean holiday collection
Celebrity Cruises today announced another set of guest-inspired, destination-rich, modern luxury holidays for the 2014-15 season.
Opening today with
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Luxury cruise specialist eyes growth with new board appointments
The Cruise Line Limited, one of the first UK cruise specialists and leading agent for a number of luxury cruise operators has made two significant board appointments to help develop its business.
Jos Dewing is appointed Managing Director and takes over from founder Robin Maclear who will take up the new role of Chairman for the Company.
Jos boasts a wealth of cruise experience, having previously worked at the Company as Sales & Marketing Director before setting up his own cruise specialist marketing consultancy. More recently Jos has sat on the Board at All Leisure Holidays and controlled sales and marketing for two of the company’s niche cruise lines, Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery. During his time at All Leisure Jos developed numerous innovative routes to market and partnerships and was involved in the acquisition of Hebridean Island Cruises and the re-launch of Swan Hellenic.
Dewing’s appointment follows that of luxury expert James Maclear as Business Development Director and comes as The Cruise Line gears up to launch a number of new initiatives. James has also previously worked at The Cruise Line and was responsible for developing its key relationships with clients and partners within the luxury sector.
Robin Maclear, Chairman, explained:
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The Duchess of Cambridge to name Royal Princess
Princess Cruises announces that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will name Royal Princess, the newest addition to the line’s fleet. The ceremony at which The Duchess will name the ship will take place in Southampton on Thursday, June 13, and will be the highlight of week-long inaugural celebrations to welcome the vessel into service.
The spectacular ceremony will uphold British ship-naming traditions including the blessing, a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards, together with contemporary highlights.
Alan Buckelew , the line’s president and CEO said “It is a great honor for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess. We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company’s British heritage and our commitment to the country.”
Royal Princess will arrive at the Ocean Terminal in Southampton on Friday, June 7, where she will commence a series of events for customers and travel agents, including a special naming gala on the evening of Wednesday, June 12. The ship’s inaugural celebrations will conclude with her maiden voyage on June 16.
The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship. Among the special features found on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water; the new Princess Live! television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.
CONTINUES BELOWThe inaugural period of Royal Princess also includes two short preview cruises prior to and following the naming. After her maiden voyage the ship will sail Grand Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the autumn.
Tags:princess cruises Share this articleModerate Comments CommentsRelated ArticlesDiageo mixes it up with leading cruise lines22nd Mar 2013 Princess Cruises celebrates new milestone and surprises fans16th Feb 2013 Princess dramatically expands Japan cruise program in 201430th Jan 2013 Princess Cruises passengers inspire newView the Original article
Viva Florida 500 Voyage commemorates five centuries since Juan Ponce de Leon arrival
The mainsails are being hoisted today on El Galeon as it begins its historic Viva Florida 500 Voyage on a route similar to Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon ‘s 500 years ago. His arrival marked the beginning of a European presence in what is now the U. S. mainland and Florida.
El Galeon is a 170 foot, 495 ton, authentic wooden replica of a galleon that was part of Spain’s West Indies fleet. It will take El Galeon about 10 days to go from Puerto Rico to Florida where the Viva Florida 500 Voyage will include call on ports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral and St. Augustine beginning April 15 and culminating June 3, as part of the state’s Quincentenary commemorations.
The ship’s decks will be open to public visits during her stay in each port. Visitors will have the chance to learn about the history that began 500 years ago while admiring the craftsmanship and grandeur of these galleons that reached Florida’s coast centuries ago.
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Sunday, April 7, 2013
New Bruges & Amsterdam Crystal Cruise goes off the beaten path
This summer, Crystal Cruises is returning to Bruges and Amsterdam for the first time in years, with a new, seven-day itinerary from London. The June 8, Crystal Serenity voyage offers luxurious access to two of Northern Europe’s most charming, historic, and off-the-beaten-cruise-path cities. More than a dozen new Crystal Adventures throughout the cruise showcase the area’s artistic history, culinary delicacies, and vibrant man-made and natural surroundings.
Bruges
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American Cruise Lines guests to relive ‘old fashioned summertime’ on the Mississippi
American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com), operator of the newest riverboats and small cruise ships in the United States, announced today the addition of a brand new theme cruise which captures the heart and soul of the classic American summer. The Old Fashioned Summertime cruise, offered this summer aboard the new Queen of the Mississippi on July 13 and August 10, will transport guests to a simpler time rooted in laughter, fresh air and relaxing fun. Guests will sip on freshly brewed iced tea or freshly squeezed lemonade, and enjoy ice cream socials and kite flying off the top deck. Other highlights and special events include:
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Friday, April 5, 2013
Un-Cruise Adventures adds two theme cruises
Un-Cruise Adventures has added two theme cruises on Active Adventure sailings in Southeast Alaska this summer. The 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer welcomes guest experts on board for a photography theme on June 8 and an Alaska Insider theme on July 13.
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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Costa Cruises presents 2014 and winter 2014/15 itineraries
To mark its 65th anniversary on 31 March this year, Costa Cruises has announced its cruise programme for 2014 and winter 2014/15, with bookings already available at the company’s partner travel agents or directly online at www.costacruises.co.uk.
With around 1,000 cruise holidays to choose from visiting around 250 destinations, Costa Cruises offers something for everyone, from culture and entertainment to nature and relaxation on the beach, plus the convenience of being able to depart from 44 different ports of embarkation.
Costa Diadema, the biggest Italian cruise ship (132,500 gross tonnage and 3,693 lower berths), currently under construction in Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice, will join the fleet in October 2014. The new Costa flagship will make her debut sailing from Venice on 5 November 2014 on a five-day cruise to Savona, which will be the ship’s homeport throughout the winter season. From here she will be deployed on a one-week itinerary offering the chance to visit two of Italy’s must-see cities, Rome and Florence, on the same cruise. The port calls will be Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.
Once Costa Diadema has joined the fleet, Costa’s offering in the Mediterranean in winter 2014/15 will rise by 50%. Another growth area in winter 2014/15 will be the United Arab Emirates, with an increase of around 20% as a result of the positioning of a larger ship, while company operations will be boosted by 20% in Northern Europe in summer 2014 on account of the deployment of five ships compared to four in 2013.
In the Mediterranean, Costa will be offering year-round itineraries appealing to all types of consumers, with 13 ships operating in the region. A destination that combines a unique blend of history, culture and tradition, coupled with calm sea, attractive beaches and sunshine at any time of year; all this can be enjoyed on the same holiday on board the Costa fleet.
CONTINUES BELOWThe Western Mediterranean cruise programme features cosmopolitan cities and splendid beaches, plus the welcome return of the marvellous city of Tunis. Calls to beach resorts will be boosted thanks to one-day and overnight port calls in Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, while another new entry will be La Spezia, the gateway for excursions to Tuscany’s magnificent art centres of Florence and Pisa and to the stunning landscape of the Cinque Terre and Portovenere.
The Eastern Mediterranean cruises offer the crystal clear waters of the Greek islands and the enthralling cities of Turkey and Croatia. Meanwhile, Costa will once again be offering two of its most popular itineraries that are exclusive to the company - the beautiful Dalmatian Coast including excursions to Medjugorje, one of the world’s most important pilgrimage sites, and its fly and cruise package out of Crete, which incorporates a visit to a different island in the Aegean Sea each day and also ports in fascinating Izmir.
The mini-breaks will also be back. With cruises of three to five days in length, this type of holiday is extremely attractive in terms of both affordability and duration, offering sun, sea and culture in places such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Marseille and Ajaccio.
For a more leisurely look at the physical, architectural and cultural landscape of the Mediterranean, there are longer cruises from 10 to 14 days with more port calls, longer stopovers and more exotic places such as Egypt and Israel, the Black Sea, Lisbon and Casablanca. The main overhaul is the Greece and Turkey route, which includes an overnight stopover and two days in Istanbul, allowing visitors to make the most of this incredible, culturally diverse city. Offering some much needed winter sun is a cruise to the Canary Islands and Morocco, departing from St. Cruz de Tenerife with two days and one night in both Casablanca and Madeira.
Once again in 2015, Costa will be offering the around-the-world cruise, a fabulous trip that has proved very popular over the last few years among Costa’s guests. The 115-day cruise on the elegant and sophisticated Costa Deliziosa will depart westbound on a world voyage to extraordinary destinations on five continents on 6 January 2015 from Savona. A highly convenient way to travel, the around-the-world cruise allows guests to experience the wonders of the world without having to re-pack or change hotels.
In summer, Costa’s Northern Europe programme will be enhanced by the addition of a fifth ship thanks to the arrival of Costa Mediterranea, which will be based in Hamburg. There will be a wide range of cruises to choose from lasting between one week and 16 days and offering the chance to discover wonderful Baltic cities such as St Petersburg, Tallinn, Stockholm and Helsinki, the staggering scenery of the Norwegian fjords, and the majestic natural spectacle of North Cape, Spitsbergen Island and Iceland.
For guests looking for a warm winter getaway for 2014/15, Costa Cruises provides a range of options all over the world, including one-week or 10-day Caribbean holidays with three ships operating, so guests can chill out on a new beach at a different island each day. There will also be cruises to South America on two ships, Costa Favolosa and Costa Pacifica, touring Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Another option is a one-week cruise to the UAE and Oman on Costa Serena, featuring the decadent and futuristic architecture of cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, or the striking beauty of Oman’s capital, Muscat. Meanwhile, the seven-day Red Sea itinerary on Costa Voyager includes the splendid coral reefs and the must-see ancient civilizations of Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
The magical atmosphere of the Far East will be on offer throughout 2014 and winter 2014/15 with two ships operating, Costa Victoria and Costa Atlantica.
The programme for 2014 and winter 2014/15 will also be available in the 2014 edition of Costa Cruises’ annual brochure, due out in mid-April, as well as in travel agencies and on the company’s website. In addition to the cruises, the brochure also details the ships, excursions, gastronomy, spas, shows and exclusive services and amenities that make up a Costa holiday.
Including the new flagship Costa Diadema, scheduled to make her debut at the end of October 2014, the Costa Cruises fleet consists of 15 ships, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style. On board, guests are spoilt for choice with the best Italian and international cuisine, high-tech entertainment facilities like the 4D cinema, Grand Prix and golf simulators, children’s clubs and wellness centres for ultimate relaxation.
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Norwegian Cruise complete sea trials ahead of launch
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that the line’s newest and most innovative ship to date, Norwegian Breakaway, successfully completed her technical and nautical sea trials which took place off the coast of Norway and Denmark.
Over the course of several days beginning on March 25th, Norwegian Breakaway underwent a series of stringent tests to assess various nautical and technical elements, including the ship’s speed, manoeuvrability, and more.
In order to assess the ship’s speed, the Captain, navigational officers and representatives from MEYER WERFT tested all of the various power outputs for the propellers.
The speed was then adjusted to various levels at each power output level.
Every speed test that Norwegian Breakaway underwent was successful and exceeded the required technical specifications.
To demonstrate the agility of the ship, Norwegian Breakaway performed a
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Monday, April 1, 2013
Captains named ahead of Norwegian Breakaway launch
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the seasoned captains who will serve on Norwegian Breakaway, the company’s most innovative ship to date.
Norwegian also introduced the ship’s hotel director, responsible for all guest areas, including the 28 dining options, world-class entertainment which includes three Broadway shows, extensive nightlife venues, family and recreational activities and staterooms ranging from studios to the luxurious suites in The Haven.
Following the ship’s transatlantic voyage and series of exciting inaugural events, Norwegian Breakaway, the largest cruise ship to ever be constructed in Germany, will sail seven-night cruises from New York City to Bermuda under the command of Captain Evans Hoyt, an experienced seafarer, with more than 30 years at sea.
He joined Norwegian Cruise Line in 2005.
Previously serving as Captain of the company’s US flagged vessel, Pride of America, Captain Hoyt is responsible for all aspects of the ship, its guests and crew.
He also served as Captain aboard three additional ships within the Norwegian fleet, including Norwegian Spirit. Captain Hoyt graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in New York in 1982.
Born in Morocco, the son of a US diplomat, he has lived in many different countries.
Showing his true passion for the sea, he and his wife sail the world on their sailboat during his time off.
While Captain Hoyt is enjoying his holidays, Captain Hakan Svedung will take the helm of Norwegian Breakaway.
He has been at sea for 35 years and is currently captain of Norwegian Epic.
Captain Svedung, who lives in Sweden, joined Norwegian in 2006; prior to that he worked for Star Cruises, one of Norwegian’s shareholders, for 12 years.
Norwegian has also announced that Denis Prguda will serve as Norwegian Breakaway’s Hotel Director.
Denis began his career at Norwegian in 1997 on board the Leeward and has since held a variety of positions on numerous ships in Norwegian’s fleet.
His previous positions have included Food and Beverage Director and Assistant Hotel Director.
He was promoted to Hotel Director in 2008.
As Hotel Director he has led teams on Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Epic. When he is not on board, Denis spends his holidays with his family, including his wife and two daughters, in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
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