Diamond Princess update re: China virus outbreak

From Facebook, Sunday, Feb. 9 and 10/20

Our global team is working tirelessly to continue supporting Diamond Princess guests and crew during this challenging time.

As onboard needs continue to evolve, here’s an update on our current priorities. We will continue to provide updates as they are available: https://bit.ly/2Hb8foN

Although we are facing many limitations and challenges, we are doing our best to deliver the ship’s most critical needs. We are also working to provide as much care and comfort as we can to everyone onboard. We hope these gestures will lift the spirits of those onboard in this difficult time. Further updates here: https://bit.ly/2Hb8foN

Because of the extraordinary circumstances onboard Diamond Princess, we will refund the full cruise fare for all guests including air travel, hotel, ground transportation, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities, and other items. In addition, guests will not be charged for any onboard incidental charges during the additional time onboard. More information can be found here: https://bit.ly/37bUsJw 

Westerdam Update: Monday, Feb. 10/20

Westerdam update from Facebook re: visus, Feb. 10/2020
 
Westerdam is sailing for Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, where the current cruise that departed Feb. 1st will end on Thursday, February 13th.

Guests will be disembarking in Laem Chabang and transferring to Bangkok for their forward travel home. This new schedule has been communicated to guests on board. The cruise was previously scheduled to disembark Feb. 15th in Yokohama, Japan.

All guests will receive a 100% refund for the 14-day sailing, as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit.

Following the disembarkation of guests, Westerdam will depart Laem Chabang. The Feb. 15th cruise scheduled to embark in Yokohama has been cancelled. No cancellations for cruises with departure dates beyond February 15th have been announced at this time.

Holland America issues a "Coronavirus Travel Advisory" after MS Westerdam not allowed to dock in Japan

MS Westerdam with 2,000 on board has been blocked from docking in Japan over coronavirus travel issues

We know our guests have questions and concerns around Coronavirus and travel. To ensure you have the latest information, this page will be updated as needed with new details.

As of Feb. 7, 2020 (04:14 PM PST)
Westerdam is currently sailing on a southwesterly course off the coast of Taiwan to best position the ship for access to the potential port locations where we can disembark our guests.  We are evaluating several options and working with different governments for a swift resolution.

Guests on board continue to be safe and well cared for. The ship has sufficient fuel and food provisions to last until the end of the voyage. We are providing free internet and phone access for guests and crew to stay in contact with their loved ones. 

The ship is not in quarantine and we have no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board despite media reports. 
This is a very dynamic situation as we continue to manage around evolving and changing restrictions in the region. We sincerely thank our guests and crew on Westerdam — and their loved ones — for their patience during this extraordinary time.

Princess Cruises provides update on Diamond Princess in Yokohama regarding Coronavirus outbreak and quarintine

Updated February 7, 2020 at 10:30 PM PT

Rai Caluori, EVP at Princess Cruises provides update on Diamond Princess in Yokohama

Although we are facing many limitations and challenges, we are doing our best to deliver the ship’s most critical needs. We are also working to provide as much care and comfort as we can to everyone onboard. We hope these gestures will lift the spirits of those onboard in this difficult time.
Watch Video on YouTube

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February 6, 2020 at 7:30 PM PT
Guest Experience on Diamond Princess
Our team on board Diamond Princess, supported by our shoreside colleagues, is actively working to care for our guests to ensure their comfort and well-being. These are such unusual circumstances so our team has activated new in-room entertainment offerings which include:

• Eight (8) new satellite TV channels
• More than 80 new video-on-demand releases, including movies in various languages, concerts and in-cabin fitness videos
• Cruise Director Show (The Wake Show) in English and Japanese
• Printed newspapers in 36 languages
• Pre-printed trivia, daily puzzles, games and arts and crafts
• Radio Taiso (popular calisthenics) videos
• Kids’ activity packs
• Food & beverage options offered via room service
• Outdoor time for guests in interior staterooms (under the guidance of Japanese Ministry of Health)

New Cases / Nationalities / Quarantine End Date

So much in store on the new Carnival Panorama with largest retail collection in the fleet

  Fleet’s Biggest Beauty Space, New Fashion-Forward Logo Merchandise Highlight Expansive Multi-Level Retail Area 

  MIAMI  – After a successful debut in Long Beach, Calif. in December, Carnival Cruise Line revealed that Carnival Panorama features the largest retail collection in its fleet.

Among the new offerings is the line’s most expansive beauty footprint at sea with interactive hands-on events, mini-makeovers and beauty workshops such as smoky eye tutorials and contouring classes as well as a shop dedicated to the launch of the line’s reimagined and fashion-forward logo merchandise collection.

“We are thrilled to launch our most fun shopping experience in the fleet onboard Carnival Panorama. We’ve partnered with brands that our guests love and have introduced new brands that are sure to become Carnival fan favorites,” said William Butler, vice president of retail services for Carnival Cruise Line. “Our Panorama retail experience allows our guests to Choose Fun however they want whether it’s sporting a new beauty brand or fun designs from our new logo apparel assortment.”

At the new ‘Beauty Bar’ on Deck 5, beauty specialists guide guests as they indulge in the best makeover experiences at sea – perfect for a night on board or a special occasion. The Beauty Bar features an assortment of top skincare, cosmetics and fragrance brands including Urban Decay, Dior, Estée Lauder, and Clinique, among others.

Other onboard retail offerings include the largest Effy jewelry assortment in the fleet with exclusive Carnival Panorama pieces and a first-ever Carnival-branded inaugural collection; Carnival’s most expansive watch assortment with fine and fashion timepieces; terrific branded shop experiences with John Hardy and Swarovski; along with retail items connected to the Pixels Photo Gallery experience and shore excursions from Carnival Adventures.

Greenland’s dramatic landscape added to select Holland America Line 2021 Canada and New England cruises

Suite bookings made by Feb. 28, 2020, receive free drinks, free dining package and free gratuities

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 16, 2020 — Holland America Line’s Canada & New England season will be even more scenic in 2021 with the addition of three cruises that explore the dramatic landscape of Greenland.

From April through October, guests can select from more than 13 unique Canada, New England and Greenland itineraries ranging from seven to 17 days — including a new round-trip cruise from Boston, Massachusetts, that features Greenland, Newfoundland and New England.

 

Maasdam in Quebec City

To celebrate the opening of the 2021 Canada, New England & Greenland bookings, Holland America Line is featuring an exclusive suite offer that includes free drinks, a free dining package and free gratuities when reserved by Feb. 28, 2020.

“With spectacular scenery in any season, close-to-home access for many of our guests and a thriving culinary and cultural scene, Canada and New England remains one of our most requested destinations,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Adding Greenland to those itineraries makes them even more desirable because it’s so rarely visited on a cruise, and the natural beauty is a perfect complement to Canada and New England.”

Celebity Cruises unveils Encore in Edge series with new Celebrity Apex

Reaching the Apex of Luxury at Sea

Takes Seagoing Vacations to New Heights with Exclusive Culinary, Wellness and
Entertainment Offerings, Starting April 2020

 

 

 

MIAMI – January 28, 2020 – When the much-anticipated Celebrity Apex is christened on March 30, 2020, Celebrity Cruises will do more than continue the lineage of its groundbreaking Edge Series that began with the 2018 launch of Celebrity Edge. Celebrity Apex takes modern cruising to yet another whole new level, with the very latest culinary, spa and wellness trends, and progressive entertainment offerings.

The industry-leading, first-in-class Celebrity Edge has received more than 50 awards and was crowned one of TIME Magazine’s 2019 World's Greatest Places^[1]. It impressed the world with its innovative outward-facing design and visionary spaces created by world-renowned designers including: Kelly Hoppen, MBE (accommodations and suite experience); Tom Wright of WKK (ship exterior and open decks); Patricia Urquiola (interior design at The Club and Eden); Scott Butler, AIA (architect for Eden and The Theatre) Jouin Manku (Grand Plaza and circulation); and many more.

Hanging loose on popular cruise ship Christmas and New Year's sailings

   Out to Sea for Nov. 30/19

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   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox      

   They say there’s no place like home for the holidays and many people are making that home a cruise ship.

   So popular are cruises for Christmas and New Year’s that it’s best to secure a cabin now for next year.

   “The reality is that these sailings are at the most popular time of the year, so space might be really tight this close in,” said Vance Gulliksen of Carnival Cruise Line.

Home is at sea for many over the holidays. (Jim Fox photo)

    Guests will gather for carolling around the tree while fashionistas can try their luck in an Ugly Sweater competition and the on-stage holiday shows put everyone in the spirit, Carnival says.

   Ships are decorated in festive attire from bow to stern and pack the days at sea with special treats whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year’s Eve.

A blow-up Santa appears in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Jim Fox photo)

    Options range from short getaways such as three or four nights to the Bahamas, week-long island-hopping Caribbean voyages and much longer sailings to exotic locales.

Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White named Godmother for new Carnival Panorama

Popular TV Hostess to Officially Name Ship At Dec. 10 Ceremony in Long Beach

MIAMI (Nov. 22, 2019) -- The most popular cruise line – Carnival Cruise Line – has selected one of the most popular television hostesses ever – Vanna White – as godmother for Carnival Panorama when she is officially named during its ceremony in Long Beach, Calif., on December 10.

“Vanna has been that welcoming face, cheering on and watching over Wheel of Fortune contestants for decades, and we love the fact that Vanna will be doing the same for Carnival Panorama, her guests and crew, as the ship’s godmother,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Every night, millions of Americans welcome Vanna into their homes. She is beloved. What other game show hostess has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame?  And she’s got the most famous wardrobe on television!”

Beware of things that go bump in the night when cruising during hurricane season

   Out to Sea for Sept. 28/19

 

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

   When the “barf bags” appeared beside the elevators, we knew we were in for a rough night at sea.

   But it became unnerving when people posted onYouTube to “pray for the people on the Carnival Sunrise” facing the wrath of Hurricane Humberto.

   We hung on as the ship bobbed from side to side like a huge rubber ducky and plunged forward through the night like a rollercoaster into the hollow of the waves.

Monster waves began to calm after the Carnival Sunrise turned back toward New York in this balcony photo. (Jim Fox photo)

    We had watched the growing intensity of the hurricane last week while preparing to leave for New York and a one-week sailing to Bermuda and return.

   We never made it.

   When we booked the cruise with 10 family members, we were aware of the perils of “hurricane season.”

   But Bermuda is off the hurricane track and where strong storms are quite rare.

   Upon boarding the ship at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, we were given a note from Captain Isidoro Renda.

   It was our first indication that something had to give.

Carnival Cruise Line resumes regular calls to the Bahamas

(News Release)

Line will make 41 Port-of-Call Stops in September

 

      Carnival Pride at anchor at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas in 2018. (Jim Fox photo)

MIAMI (Sept. 8, 2019) - As Carnival Cruise Line continues to work closely with its partners to deliver relief to the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco islands recovering from Hurricane Dorian, it also plans 41 calls to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays for the remainder of September as those destinations eagerly await cruise guests.

Bahamian officials have expressed great appreciation for the support Carnival and its employees and guests have provided but also stressed that the other parts of The Bahamas are open for business and stand ready to welcome guests.

"Thank you to all who have joined us to support our friends in the Bahamas with donations," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Our work to assist and support continues.

And as our ships and our guests return to Bahamian ports of call, our visits will make sure that our guests experience the beauty of The Bahamas and that the economy moves forward and jobs will be supported."

 

Half Moon Cay (today) after Hurricane Dorian (Carnival photo)

Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, private island of Holland America Line and Carnival Cruises, emerged relatively unscathed by Hurricane Dorian

Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas

Half Moon Cay's horses used for swimming by cruise guests and stingrays are doing well and Holland America's Zuiderdam will be returning to the island next month.

CARNIVAL CORPORATION STATEMENT:
Carnival Corporation’s President and CEO Arnold Donald posted the following statement regarding their support for the Bahamas:

On behalf of all of us at Carnival Corporation and our cruise line brands, let me begin by saying our thoughts and prayers go out to the great people of The Bahamas — our friends and partners for many years.

It was very emotional seeing reports of Hurricane Dorian’s impact over the past couple days. Our hearts go out to those who have lost friends and loved ones, and whose homes and businesses have been destroyed or damaged.