Cruise
Oceania Cruises Set for Fleet Expansion
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has a definitive agreement with Princess Cruises, Ltd. to purchase Ocean Princess for its newly acquired Oceania Cruises brand. The 684-passenger ship joins Oceania Cruises’ trio of sister ships Insignia, Regatta and Nautica. The new addition will be named Sirena. Upon delivery in March 2016, Sirena will immediately undergo a 35-day, $40 million refurbishment in Marseille, France to elevate the ship to the Oceania Cruises’ standard of elegance. Drawing on the recent transformation of Insignia as inspiration, the ship will feature Oceania...
Princess Introduces Gift Card Program
Just in time for the holidays, Princess Cruises has launched a new gift card program making it easy to give the gift of cruising. Princess gift cards can be applied as payment towards the purchase of a Princess cruise, as well as onboard products and services including specialty dining, drinks, Lotus Spa treatments, shore excursions and more. “Our new gift card offering is customizable, easy to purchase, ideal for any celebration and is the perfect gift for holidays, birthdays and anniversaries,” said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. “We hope our new gift cards will...
Encore, Royal Caribbean Savings
For the next two weeks, Encore Cruises, together with Royal Caribbean International, is featuring a “buy one, get one half off” promotion, on all cruise plus air bookings. Running through Dec. 7, the promotion applies to all 2015 Florida sailings of seven nights or longer. Sample prices: Out of Montreal: passenger 1 pays $1,639, and passenger 2 pays $1,044, taxes in (Feb. 15, Freedom of the Seas, inside stateroom cat. Q); Out of Halifax: passenger 1 pays $1,653, and passenger 2 pays $1,028, taxes in (Feb. 21 departure, Vision of the Seas, inside stateroom cat. Q); Out of...
Majesty of the Seas Sailing Over to Pullmantur
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. reports that Majesty of the Seas will transfer from its Royal Caribbean International cruise brand to its Pullmantur brand in 2016. Majesty of the Seas’ last three-night sailing for Royal Caribbean will depart on April 29, 2016. It will then enter dry dock before joining the Pullmantur fleet, allowing it to be tailored to fit Pullmantur’s brand standards and offerings. “Majesty of the Seas has created wonderful memories for millions of guests, and we expect this record of success to continue as she transitions to Pullmantur,” said Richard D....
Extraordinary Canada
Lindblad Expeditions is inviting Canadians to explore their home and native land. And that includes locales well above the Arctic Circle. In this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press, Ian Stalker reports that company president Sven Lindblad told a recent Toronto gathering that his company – which has 10 vessels, six of which it owns and four of which it charters – has Canadian sailings, while conceding that many think travel within their own country isn't exotic. Sailings in northern waters and through islands off the northwest coast of this country “highlight the...
Royal Caribbean Offers Half Off Second Guest Fare
Royal Caribbean International is making it more enticing for travellers to book a cruise with its “Vow to WOW” offer. Through Dec. 31, travellers can get half off of the cruise fare for a second guest, booked in the same stateroom with a full-fare guest. With a 50%-reduced deposit, travellers can reserve their room from as low as $50 per guest. Guests also will receive $100 onboard credit per interior and oceanview stateroom; $200 onboard credit per stateroom with balcony; and $300 onboard credit per suite-category stateroom. The Vow to WOW offer applies to all stateroom...
Cruising To The Top
Cunard has named Richard Meadows as the new president of Cunard Line – North America. Meadows will take over his new role on Dec. 1, 2014, reporting to David Noyes, CEO of Cunard Line. As well, Meadows will retain his role as president of Seabourn. Noyes said of the appointment of Meadows: “With Rick having worked at so many brands within the Carnival Corporation portfolio, we are eager to leverage his knowledge, experience and skills to advance the Cunard brand in North America.” And he continued: “His background in leading Seabourn is particularly valuable, as he...
Windstar Goes Year-Round in Tahiti
Windstar Cruises has announced plans to sail year-round in the South Pacific, allowing guests to explore the Society and Tuamotu Islands of Tahiti. Continuous voyages begin May 26, 2015 aboard the renovated, 148-passenger Wind Spirit. Itineraries will include the seven-day “Dreams of Tahiti” voyage, which was launched in May after Windstar’s 10-year hiatus from the region, as well as new extended 10- and 11-day journeys that include stops in the Tuamotu Islands – widely known as a diver’s and snorkeller’s paradise. “When we returned to Tahiti this year, we knew it...