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  

Princess Cruises reveals 2020 World Cruise onboard Pacific Princess; 42 destinations, 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 24, 2018) – Destination lovers seeking new worldwide travel experiences need to look no further than Princess Cruises and the cruise line’s 2020 World Cruise. Offered on the intimate 670-guest Pacific Princess, cruisers will visit 42 destinations on five continents and come back holding once-in-a-lifetime memories from around the globe.

Due to popular demand of the 2019 World Cruise, the 2020 111-day roundtrip voyage offers similar routing to the 2019 cruise, including South Africa and departs Ft. Lauderdale on January 5, 2020 and Los Angeles on January 20, 2020. Princess Cruises also offers a 96-day Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale segment, departing Los Angeles on January 20, 2020, as well as shorter, multi-day segments along the journey.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. breaks ground on new terminal at PortMiami

 MIAMI, Florida – April 26, 2018 – Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, today celebrated the groundbreaking of the new and dedicated Norwegian Cruise Line terminal at PortMiami.

The Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners approved the project on April 10, 2018, with construction beginning May 1.  Present at the ceremony, which took place at PortMiami’s Terminal B, were Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, Howard Sherman, executive vice president of onboard revenue and destination services, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, Miami-Dade County commissioner Rebeca Sosa, PortMiami director and chief executive officer Juan Kuryla, Florida State Representative Cynthia Stafford and leading executives from the architecture and construction firms on record, Bermello Ajamil & Partners and the NV2A-Haskell joint venture.

The state-of-the-art terminal is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2019, as Norwegian Encore, the newest ship of the Breakaway Plus class, debuts in Miami with seasonal cruises to the Caribbean.

Cast your cares away on a cruise ship "private island"

   Out to Sea for April 28/18

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

   Here’s a chance to play “Gilligan” and escape to an uninhabited exotic island far from the hustle and bustle.

   No traffic, hustling cries of “taxi, taxi” or “I know what you’re looking for” as the popularity of cruise ship “private islands” grows as a hassle-free day at the beach.

   It’s not exactly like being marooned as in the Gilligan’s Island TV show and its doomed charter boat, the S.S. Minnow.

Beach day at a private island with Holland America Line’s Westerdam off shore. (Jim Fox photo)

   This is chilling out in style with pampered service including all-you-can-eat beach barbecues, bar service – both in and out of the water – sifting sand on pristine beaches and adventures in the aquamarine waters.

Carnival Cruise Line takes delivery of 26th ship, Carnival Horizon

 Line’s Newest Ship Sailed on Inaugural Voyage from Barcelona

 

MIAMI –  In a traditional maritime handover ceremony held last month at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Cruise Line officially took delivery of the new 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, the 26^th ship in its fleet.

The 3,954-passenger ship repositioned to Barcelona, Spain, where it departed April 2 on an inaugural 13-day voyage – the first of four sailings from the European port.  The ship will then operate a trans-Atlantic crossing before arriving in New York May 23, 2018, for a pierside overnight gala and naming ceremony featuring the ship’s godmother, Grammy award-winning musical artist and acclaimed actress Queen Latifah.

Following a summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean sailings from New York, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami for a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018.

Carnival Horizon offers several unique and exciting features, including a new Dr. Seuss-themed WaterWorks aqua park, part of the line’s exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Bonsai Teppanyaki, the line’s first teppanyaki venue, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse|Brewhouse serving up “real deal” barbecue favorites created by Food Network star Guy Fieri, as well as four new craft beers brewed on board.

NEWS: First look at Disney's next ships - Rendering

(News Release)

The Disney Cruise Line fleet has the most beautiful ships at sea and the three newest vessels setting sail in 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be no exception. This first, early rendering depicts the magnificent exterior of the newest Disney ships that will elevate family cruise vacations to a whole new level.

In keeping with the distinct Disney Cruise Line style, the new ships will embody the elegance and romance of the golden age of ocean cruising with unique touches all their own.

The new vessels will offer more innovation, new technologies, spectacular entertainment and more Disney stories and characters than ever before.