Cruise
Carnival Awards $15,000 in Cash Prizes to Agencies
Carnival Cruise Line has awarded $15,000 in cash prizes to three travel agencies – including one from Halifax – as part of the line’s “Ultimate Cruise Night” event. One grand prize of $5,000 was originally to be awarded with two runners up receiving $2,500. However, Carnival recently surprised all three finalists by awarding them each a $5,000 grand prize. The “Ultimate Cruise Night” event kicked off last summer with agencies submitting ideas for creative and effective cruise nights to Carnival. Three finalists were then given $1,000 by the line to host their proposed...
Vista Launches Year-Round Sailings From Miami
PortMiami welcomed Carnival Cruise Line’s newest, largest and most innovative ship, Carnival Vista, Sunday (Nov. 27) when it arrived to kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean. To officially welcome Vista to its Miami homeport, Carnival Vista Captain Stefano Battinelli and PortMiami Assistant Director Fred Wong participated in a traditional maritime plaque exchange prior to the ship’s inaugural departure from Miami. As the line’s newest ship, Vista takes cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a...
Princess To Resume Summer Caribbean Cruises
For the first time in four years, Princess Cruises will offer summer Caribbean cruises, including Panama Canal transits in 2018. The 3,192-passenger Caribbean Princess returns to sail on a full summer season of voyages ranging from seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries to a 20-day Caribbean and Panama Canal Explorer. All summer Caribbean cruises are open for sale Dec. 1. The 2018 April to October program features 47 departures, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, including eight unique itineraries visiting 23 destinations in 22 countries. In addition, four ports offer...
Carnival’s Fathom Cruise Line Discontinued
Carnival Corporation is pulling the plug on Fathom and sending the 704-passenger Adonia – which had been sailing week-long “social impact” cruises to the Dominican Republic and Cuba since May – back to P&O Cruises. “The Fathom experience has been expanded across our many Carnival Corporation brands sailing to the Dominican Republic and beyond, and the Adonia is being scheduled to sail in the UK for the summer season for our P&O guests,” confirmed Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corp.’s chief information officer. The move does not mean an end to Cuba sailings for...
‘King of Chinese Pop’ Named Godfather of Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has lined up iconic Mandopop artist, Wang Leehom, as Godfather of its soon to-be-unveiled 3,850 passenger vessel, Norwegian Joy. Arriving next summer with home ports in Shanghai and Beijing (Tianjin), Norwegian Joy will be NCL's first purpose-built ship for the Chinese market. Along with serving as Godfather of Norwegian Joy, Leehom will also represent NCL China as its brand ambassador, introducing Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise experience to Chinese consumers through a variety of platforms, including television and radio commercial campaigns, as well...
Princess Goes Big in Alaska
Princess Cruises is putting an even bigger spotlight on Alaska in 2018 with its largest deployment ever, on sale effective Dec. 1. In summer 2018, seven Princess Cruises ships – representing a 15% capacity increase – will sail Alaska’s pristine waters on 130 cruise departures, with more than 75% of all voyages sailing to Glacier Bay National Park, departing from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Anchorage (Whittier). In addition, the cruise line has more than 22 cruisetour options providing guests the opportunity to journey into the interior of Alaska,...
Carnival Enhances Travel Agent Support Team
Carnival Cruise Line has expanded its business development team for travel agents, a move that sees Justin French named regional vice-president, Canada and Northern US. French will also maintain his current role managing Canada and will continue to be based in Toronto. Given French’s expanded role in North America, his responsibilities in managing Carnival’s international business will move to Iain Baillie who is now vice-president of U.K. and international...
The Cutting Edge
The next generation of cruise ships has moved from concept to construction as the first piece of steel was cut at the STX France shipyard for Celebrity Cruises’ newest – and boldest – ship. The ship will be called Celebrity Edge, befitting the many daring design advances and innovations of Celebrity's first new ship class since 2008. Celebrity is also announcing today the name of Edge’s sister ship -- Celebrity Beyond – signaling the incredible experience guests can expect onboard Celebrity Edge and the entire Edge Class, changing the way travellers see the world. Richard...