Carnival Cruise Line unveils largest, most technologically advanced operations center in cruise industry

Miami fleet operations center is third overall in Carnival Corporation’s global network

 

MIAMI (May 10, 2018) – Carnival Cruise Line today previewed its new Fleet Operations Center (FOC) in Miami, the largest and most advanced in the cruise industry. The 35,000-square-foot facility is custom-designed for hands-on, around-the-clock monitoring and support of the line’s 26 cruise ships.

The Carnival Cruise Line FOC is the first facility of its kind in South Florida and features a state-of-the-art tracking and data-analysis platform that enables real-time information sharing between Carnival ships and specialized shoreside teams designed to support fleet operations. 

It was unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony and interactive demonstration of its most innovative new high-tech features, which is anchored by a 74-foot-long video wall composed of 57 LED screens. The high-definition wall displays the status of all ships, including weather, itinerary updates, safety, engine and environmental updates. Additionally the status of ports, ships logistics, guest operations and a host of other functions are also monitored.

 The 24/7/365 system will support the work of cross-functional teams, including technical, nautical, port and guest operations, environmental operations and compliance, occupational safety, technical services, and other key areas. Seating is arranged in open “pods” aligned with  Carnival’s ship classes, to invite constant collaboration, integration and streamlined communication between these and other departments, bringing together all areas of expertise into shared spaces.

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 kicks off 2018 transatlantic season

Travelers embrace the trend of slow travel that the iconic Transatlantic Crossing offers:

the luxury of time and freedom to create, reflect, imagine, and recharge

VALENCIA, Calif. – On May 17, 2018 Cunard’s flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 returned to her homeport of New York for her 2018 Transatlantic Season. Following another successful World Cruise season, QM2 resumed her regularly-scheduled service across the Atlantic, a route that began 178 years ago.

Now more than ever, Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossing offers travelers a unique and precious escape from day to day life. Traveling leisurely by sea between New York and England, for seven nights in the North Atlantic, passengers have the time and luxury to dive deeper into their passions and crafts, to explore creative expression, and to hone personal and professional projects that range from journal writing and sketching, to polishing screenplays, musical scores and more.

Celebrities, writers and artists who have made the most of QM2’s Transatlantic Crossings include songwriter, music producer, and actor Ed Sheeran who sailed from New York to England and wrote parts of his latest hit album “Divide;” filmmaking director and screenwriter Wes Anderson, who wrote much of his movie “Isle of Dogs;” and legend Francis Ford Coppola who boarded the liner to put the final touches on his book “The Godfather Notebook.”

Princess Cruises reveals 2019-2020 Panama Canal itineraries

Cruise Line’s Largest Deployment Ever, Featuring Emerald Princess Sailing Through New Locks

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 17, 2018) – Sail with the #1 cruise line in the Panama Canal as the upcoming Princess Cruises fall 2019 through spring 2020 season is on sale today, offering the cruise line’s largest deployment ever to the Panama Canal, featuring the maiden season of Emerald Princess sailing through the new locks. In 1967, Princess Cruises was the first cruise line to sail through the Panama Canal locks, and now the line carries more guests across this engineering marvel than any other cruise ship. .

Emerald Princess will be the cruise line’s second Neo-Panamax ship, after Caribbean Princess, to be modified during a scheduled spring 2019 drydock. The ship will traverse the new Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side of the canal as well as the new Cocoli Locks on the Pacific Side, that opened in June 2016, as part of the 10-year, $5.4 billion “Neo-Panamax” expansion.

Princess Cruises offers three ways to experience the Panama Canal – roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, roundtrip from Los Angeles, or a full transit that sails between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C. The 2019-2020 line-up features five ships, with 10- to 21-day options, also visiting culturally rich ports in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.

Windstar: New Asia cruise tours explore some of the world’s oldest civilizations and most modern metropolises

Windstar Expands Small Ship Cruise Offerings in Asia with Inspired and In-Depth
Land & Cruise Adventures on Seven New Cruise Tours in 2018-19

Seattle, WA, May 21, 2018 — The capitals, villages and ports of Asia are among both the oldest and the newest of the world, and Windstar Cruises will offer culturally curious travelers seven different cruise tour options to explore the region aboard the 212-guest Star Legend in 2018-19. The award-winning cruise line has announced that the new season of Asia Cruise Tours is open for booking, presenting guests multiple choices to experience the region from the culturally-rich combination of China, Japan and South Korea, to thoughtful exploration of Southeast Asia’s customs and temples. Asia Cruise Tours start at $5,099 per person, double occupancy, and range from 12 to 17 days. 

 The itineraries, which combine land and sea exploration, make it possible for guests to take in a unique mix of Asia’s icons, less-often-discovered gems, culinary heritage and coastal beauty. Guests can spend up to 17 days pursuing their path of choice from walking China’s Great Wall to staking out the sunrise over Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. While inland sites like Xian and the Terracotta Warriors inspire many to visit China, the massive region of Asia has so much coastline and so many ports of interest to explore. Windstar’s Star Legend is the perfect way to truly gain a sense of place by allowing guests to linger along the coast in all-suite luxury.

Carnival Paradise resumes year-round service from Tampa after extensive and expensive makeover

Spectacular WaterWorks Aqua Park, New Staterooms, Popular Food and Beverage Venues Added To Ship During Extensive Month-Long Dry Dock

 

MIAMI – Carnival Paradise returns to year-round cruise service from Port Tampa Bay following an extensive month-long dry dock that added a variety of spaces and innovations, including a spectacular water park, 38 new staterooms, 98 balconies added to existing accommodations, and an array of exciting food and beverage concepts.

Carnival Paradise departs this afternoon on a five-day Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman – part of the ship’s year-round sailings from Tampa that also include four-day cruises to Cozumel and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Mahogany Bay (Roatan), Key West or Grand Cayman.  The ship also offers four- to eight-day cruises to Cuba featuring day-long and overnight calls in Havana, as well as visits to popular ports throughout the Caribbean. 

“We can’t wait for our guests to check out the fantastic new features aboard Carnival Paradise, which returns to service better than ever offering an exciting combination of itineraries featuring top destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Cuba,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

The new features added during dry dock include:

Cunard announces Big Balcony event deals

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Balcony Stateroom guests receive up to $1,400 Complimentary Onboard Credit per Stateroom

Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suite guests receive Complimentary Drinks and Gratuities

VALENCIA, Calif., May 2, 2018 — Luxury cruise line company Cunard today announced the Big Balcony Event, which features up to $1,400 complimentary onboard credit per stateroom and complimentary drinks and gratuities in the Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites on a range of voyages on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

Guests can now reserve a voyage under the Big Balcony Event until July 31, 2018.

Big Balcony Event applies to new bookings only. The offer features:

• 5-night Northern Europe fares from $749
• 7-night Transatlantic Crossing fares from $999
• 7-night Mediterranean fares from $1,099
• 13-night Caribbean fares from $1,299
• 10-night Alaska fares from $1,599

Norwegian Cruise Line invites guests to cruise into savings with free at sea promotion

Select Cruises Also Eligible for Bonus Free Onboard Credit 

MIAMI, FLORIDA – May 1, 2018 – Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests another reason to book their new cruise vacation by providing a bonus onboard credit of up to $1,000* on select cruises from now until May 17^th. The free onboard credit is combinable with the line’s Free at Sea promotion, giving guests up to $3,700 in value on their next cruise.

May value offers include:

·        FREE AT SEA - EXTENDED: Guests can take advantage of Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion, now extended through May 17. This signature value-added promotion provides guests who book a new three-day or longer cruise their choice of up to five free offers that feature spectacular onboard amenities†, including free unlimited open bar, $50 credit per stateroom that can be applied towards shore excursions in each port, a free specialty dining package, 250-minute internet package, or Norwegian’s Friends & Family Sail Free offer which allows the third and fourth guests to sail complimentary on select cruises.

Win a seven-day cruise on Holland America Line's newest ship with Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes

SEATTLE -- To celebrate the upcoming debut of its newest ship in December 2018, Holland America Line has launched the Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes for the chance to win a seven-day cruise for two in 2019 aboard the new ship. The sweepstakes runs through June 15, 2018, and the winner will be announced June 30, 2018. To enter the Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes, participants must visit HALNieuwStatendamSweeps.com and fill out the entry form. Once that form is complete, one additional entry can be earned by sharing the sweeps on Facebook or Twitter, for a total of two entries.  "We're eagerly anticipating the arrival of Nieuw Statendam, and we want to share our enthusiasm by giving someone the chance to win a cruise on our beautiful new ship," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "Nieuw Statendam is going to be an incredible addition to our fleet and this sweepstakes is a way for us to do something special for our loyal guests and fans."

Princess Cruises and the original cast of “The Love Boat” to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame honorary star plaque

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 1, 2018) – Just over 40 years ago (May 1977), a new television show premiered, set aboard a cruise ship, featuring stories of romance, hijinks and adventure on the high seas that involved characters portrayed by Hollywood’s biggest stars of the day. The opening theme song lyrics invited viewers to “come aboard, we’re expecting you…” Today, “The Love Boat” remains a beloved part of the fabric and culture of television and the ensemble cast along with ocean-going co-star Princess Cruises will be honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, superintendent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, will honor Princess Cruises and the original cast of “The Love Boat;” Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Jill Whelan (Vicki), Ted Lange (Isaac), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Lauren Tewes (Julie) and Fred Grandy (Gopher) during a ceremony on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in front of the Dolby Theatre on the famed Hollywood Boulevard.

 “What an unexpected thrill for our cast to be honored with Princess Cruises on Hollywood Boulevard,” said Gavin MacLeod, aka Captain Merrill Stubing and 30-year brand ambassador for Princess Cruises.

Cunard’s “Three Queens” Ofoer Royal Wedding celebration in honor of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding

VALENCIA, Calif., May 1, 2018 – Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced it will have exclusive celebrations on board Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth on May 19, 2018 in honor of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nuptials.

Those who are not able to cross the pond to attend the wedding festivities will be offered special viewing parties and royal celebrations around the world on Cunard’s fleet of “Three Queens.” The Royal Celebration on May 19 will include:

• Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea with specially created cakes including the Union Jack Butterfly, Chocolate Crown, Victoria Wedding Cake along with traditional finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jams
• Celebration cocktails including the Princess Bride, The King’s Steed, American Beauty, Midnight Over the Atlantic and P.S. I Love You
• Screening of the Royal Wedding
• Commemorative dinner and keepsake menu in the main dining rooms on board (Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia, Britannia Club, and Verandah)
• Celebration cake, modelled after the bride and groom’s, made of lemon and elderflower to be served in each of the restaurants
• Champagne at dinner