Cruise
A Triumphant Moment For Celebrity Cruises
On the surface, yesterday (Nov. 2) marked the long awaited naming ceremony for Celebrity Apex, but as Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo explained, the event “stands for so much more.” Taking place 581 days after it was originally scheduled, like many things in the travel industry derailed by the pandemic, the naming ceremony symbolized the comeback of the cruise industry and a moment of rejoice for the Celebrity team after a challenging 18 months. “Today is a day of utter joy and looking forward,” Lutoff-Perlo noted. “Our comeback will be stronger than our...
Set Sail To The Opera With European Waterways
European Waterways announced that it is bringing back its popular Opera Cruise in Venice, available to groups who charter the company’s La Bella Vita luxury hotel barge during July and August 2022. Unique among the company’s many memorable cruises, the Opera Cruise treats guests to front row seats at performances of some of the world’s best-known operas at the Arena di Verona open-air Amphitheatre, a venue that is internationally famous for its large-scale productions. Guests have a choice of Carmen, Nabucco, Aida, Turandot, and La Traviata, among others, based on...
NCL’s Great Cruise Comeback Continues
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) continues its Great Cruise Comeback with the restart of its seventh vessel, Norwegian Bliss, sailing week-long voyages to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. Norwegian Bliss will be NCL’s second vessel sailing from the West Coast following the restart of its sister ship Norwegian Encore, which resumed voyages to Alaska from the Seattle in August 2021. Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “Norwegian Bliss has been one of the industry's game changers setting multiple world records on the West Coast,...
Royal Caribbean Introduces The Ultimate World Tour
Royal Caribbean International is definitely raising the bar for world cruises with the debut of its inaugural Ultimate World Cruise, a 274-night adventure that visits all seven continents, over 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world. The Serenade of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Miami, departing on Dec. 10, 2023 and returning Sept. 10, 2024. Bookings for the full Ultimate World Cruise can be made by phone starting today, with an exclusive one-week window through Oct. 26 for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Diamond status members...
Tradewind Voyages Postpones Caribbean Season
Tradewind Voyages is advising that the inaugural Caribbean season planned for winter 2021 will no longer take place. In a statement, the company cited “concerns regarding the ability to deliver an exceptional guest experience, that have been heavily impacted by continuing external factors, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the 17 planned voyages between December and April. Guest concerns about accessibility to certain islands and resistance to travelling in bubbles which is a key part of the brand experience has brought the company to this conclusion.” Tradewind...
Uniworld’s New ‘Super Ship’ Debuts In Egypt
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ newest Super Ship, the S.S. Sphinx, set sail on the Nile River in Egypt on Sept. 23, 2021. The S.S. Sphinx offers two gourmet dining venues, including a private dining room and an al fresco dining experience on the upper deck, a swimming pool, massage room and 42 suites. Its menus reflect the destination guests sail through, with options including Egyptian beef liver, veel “fatteh,” sweet corn soup, mulukhiya Egyptian bread, hawawshi and more. Guests can also pair their meals onboard with locally sourced Egyptian wines including Omar Khayyam...
Government Lifts Global Travel Advisory
ACTA is clearly pleased that the federal government has lifted its global travel advisory and returned to its pre-COVID-19 country-specific risk assessments, but it's disappointed that the government's Level 4 advisory against cruise travel remains in place. ACTA president, Wendy Paradis said that the industry association is “pleased the government has returned to a risk-based approach to travel advisories for fully-vaccinated travellers.” She pointed out that: “This approach follows the recommendations ACTA and Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable partners have been making...
Costa Cruises Sets Sail With A New Identity
Costa Cruises is setting sail with a new brand positioning that’s built around exploring destinations through unique experiences and includes not only new product features, but also a new way of communicating, which marks the company's transformation. The biggest innovation lies in the company logo, particularly its most distinctive and best-loved feature, as revealed by a consumer survey: the iconic “C” that has been accompanying Costa on seas worldwide for over 70 years. Francesco Muglia, vice president global marketing of Costa Cruises, said that: “The new brand...