PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI (January 16, 2018) – Carnival Triumph will operate a diverse itinerary schedule in 2019-20, with a wide variety of four- to 14-day departures from New York, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Norfolk, Va., visiting nearly two dozen stunning destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada, New England, Bermuda and the Panama Canal. “We’re delighted to offer this unique schedule on Carnival Triumph which will operate an array of cruise durations and varied itineraries departing from three convenient homeports along the East Coast,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “With such an array of cruise choices vacationers have the opportunity to enjoy short, valued-packed getaways to tropical destinations to longer length departures visiting spectacular ports of call,” she added. Four- to 14-Day Cruises from New York Carnival Triumph will offer the wide variety of itinerary choices from the Big Apple with four- to 14-day voyages departing in the summer and fall 2019 visiting beautiful destinations in Bermuda, The Caribbean, Canada and New England, as well as the unforgettable opportunity to visit the Panama Canal. Five four-day “long weekend” Bermuda cruises depart May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 12, 2019, and offer guests a full day to experience the island while a six-day Bermuda cruise departs Sept. 16, 2019, and spends two full days at the island. An eight-day cruise departing June 24, 2019 offers two full days in Bermuda, as well as a stop in Grand Turk. Three seven-day cruises will also be offered, departing Sept. 22 and 29 and Oct. 6, 2019 and featuring day-long calls in throughout New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Carnival Triumph’s schedule from New York also includes two distinctly different exotic eight-day Caribbean itineraries: one featuring Grand Turk, San Juan and Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) with departure dates of July 2, 10 and 30, Aug. 7 and 27, Sept. 4, 2019, the other visiting San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk and departing July 22 and Aug. 19, 2019. There’s also a 10-day exotic eastern Caribbean itinerary departing June 10, 2019, calling at San Juan, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk, as well as a 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise that departs May 27, 2019, and includes the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal during a call in Colon (Panama), as well as visits to Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, Limon (Costa Rica), and Half Moon Cay. Guests sailing on Carnival Journeys cruises enjoy unique local dining and entertainment experiences and a number of shipboard enrichment activities. Four- and Five-Day Cruises From Fort Lauderdale As part of its new schedule, Carnival Triumph will offer a series of four- and five-day cruises from Fort Lauderdale in April 2019 and, following its summer schedule of cruises from New York, will also operate these itineraries from November 2019 through April 2020. Carnival Triumph will be the only Carnival ship to operate a short cruise itinerary from this port. On this route, four-day “long weekend” voyages depart Thursdays and visit Nassau and the private Bahamian destinations of Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays. Five-day sailings departing Saturdays call at Grand Turk, Nassau and Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays, while five-day voyages departing Mondays feature Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. Five- and Six-Day Cruises From Norfolk Carnival Triumph’s schedule will also include five- and six-day Bahamas voyages departing from Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center. Two five-day voyages will depart May 12 and 17, 2019 calling at Nassau and Freeport while six-day cruises depart May 6, and October 14 and 20, 2019, visiting Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Freeport. Wide Variety of Onboard Amenities Carnival Triumph offers guest a wide variety of popular and exciting options, including Guy’s Burger Joint developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, the poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Cantina Tequila Bar, and the BlueIguana Cantina serving authentic Mexican fare. The ship also features hundreds of balcony staterooms, as well as a luxurious health and wellness facility, complimentary children’s programs for kids in three age groups, and a 214-foot-long cascading water slide. Prior to the launch of this program, Carnival Triumph will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will add a variety of exciting food, beverage and entertainment innovations. PRESS RELEASE_(Miami Beach, January 16, 2018) Miami New Drama continues its groundbreaking season with Kristoffer Diaz’s potent political satire The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, a body-slamming take on racism, stereotypes and a battle for the American soul set in the flamboyant world of pro wrestling. Presented in partnership with Sarasota’s Asolo Rep, one of the premiere regional theaters in the country, this Pulitzer Prize finalist in drama previews January 25 thru 26 and runs January 27 to February 18 at the Colony Theatre on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. The theatre will be transformed into a full-scale wrestling arena complete with two ringside seating sections to bring audiences even closer to the action.
Miami New Drama presents a powerful, prescient comedy for our fraught political moment. Chad Deity premiered in 2009, going on to garner enthusiastic reviews and multiple honors, including an Obie Award for Best New American Play and a New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award. But today the play’s themes of racial stereotypes, cultural manipulation, and the blurring boundary between politics and entertainment are more relevant than ever. “This is a play for today’s America, and this is the moment to bring it back into the conversation,” says Miami New Drama Artistic Director Michel Hausmann. “It’s a rollicking, chilling parable for the era of politics-as-reality-show.” Chad Deity centers on New York-raised Puerto Rican wrestler “Mace” Guerra, paid to perpetually lose to the title character, the flamboyant African-American star of a rigged WWE-style wrestling franchise. When Mace enlists a cocky Indian-American teen to help him finally fulfill his wrestling dreams, the manipulative promoter forces them to play a border-busting Mexican immigrant and a Muslim terrorist – racist, crowd-pleasing caricatures which force them to confront what they’ll do to win. An acclaimed playwright and educator whose work has been produced at numerous major theaters and festivals across the country, including The Public Theater, the Geffen Playhouse, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Brooklyn-raised Diaz has loved wrestling since he was a child, and is a writer on the popular Netflix series GLOW, about the rise of women’s wrestling. Director Jen Wineman, also a choreographer and longtime wrestling fan, stages Chad Deity with all the visceral physicality of a real TV wrestling match, complete with flips to the mat and flying dives off the ropes. The Colony Theatre will be transformed into a sports arena, with the audience sitting ringside and encouraged to cheer, boo and take sides. The cast includes Pierre Jean Gonzalez (Usnavi, In the Heights) as Mace and South Florida radio personality and Carbonell Award winner Todd Allen Durkin as EKO. What: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Presented by Miami New Drama and Asolo Repertory Theatre When: Jan. 25 to Feb. 18 Thursday - Saturday | 8:00 p.m. Sunday | 3:00 p.m. Where: Colony Theatre 1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach FL 33139 305-674-1040 Tickets: $30 to $59; Opening Night $100 www.colony.org or 1-800-211-1414 (PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 15, 2018) – Princess Cruises today announced the 2018 programming to be featured at the line’s custom designed wilderness treehouse located at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. The treehouse is a new addition to the guest experience which allows guests an opportunity to view Denali, North America’s highest peak, while enjoying themed activities and socializing with fellow travelers, all amongst the trees. The treehouse was built during an episode of Animal Planet’s hit show “Treehouse Masters,” in association with the line’s partnership with Discovery Communications, which premiered during the season finale in fall 2017. “At destinations around the globe, we strive to create a bond between our guests and the places we visit, and now more than ever people are visiting Alaska to experience the beauty and adventure the state has to offer,” said Lisa Syme, Princess Cruises vice president. “As the #1 cruise line in Alaska, we are eager to bring these fresh and engaging experiences to our Alaska cruisetour guests, providing opportunities for more travelers to connect with the people, nature, storied traditions and history of the Great Land in 2018.” The treehouse was the first-ever designed and constructed in Alaska by Pete Nelson, the star of the hit TV series. As one of the highest land-based north-facing viewing areas, the treehouse provides Princess guests a one-of-a-kind experience to see the south face of Denali from atop the trees, and is powered by solar panels. At approximately 500 square feet, guests can access the treehouse by hiking the short “hill trail loop” and be rewarded with the ultimate Denali view. For nearly 50 years, Princess Cruises has been recognized as a destination leader in Alaska, taking more guests to the Great Land than any other cruise company with its largest deployment ever in 2018. Guests traveling on a Princess Cruises cruisetour will be able to enjoy the treehouse, along with visits to other Princess-owned lodges, and a ride on the exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service, saving time on travel and allowing for more time to experience the Denali-area. In 2018, treehouse activities and programming include: Tales from The Sourdough Expedition Hosted by author, world record holder and amputee mountain climber, Todd Huston, guests will follow along a chronicle of the first successful ascent of Denali, the Sourdough Expedition. Participants will meet Huston and fellow adventurers before beginning their very own trek to the line’s new wilderness treehouse. Stories of the first successful ascent will entertain guests as the group explores area trails, ending the journey with a cup of hot cocoa and doughnuts at the treehouse summit. Guests are invited to join the 45 minute expedition five days a week for a nominal charge. Sappy Hour Found in the interior of Alaska, boreal forests are carpeted with Birch and Spruce trees, providing ideal conditions for sustainable syrup production. Beginning in 2018, guests can gather with fellow foodies inside the treehouse for a unique and rare sampling of birch syrups and other tree-inspired products. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about Birch trees and the process of harvesting birch syrup. Sappy Hour will run daily at the treehouse for a nominal charge per guest. Trivia at the Treehouse Guests are challenged to test their knowledge of The Great Land with an afternoon of brain-busting fun. Hosted by the lodge’s resident naturalist, guests will experience trivia like never before, taking in unprecedented views of North America’s highest peak from the trees. Trivia will take place daily, and participation is complimentary for lodge guests. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (January 15, 2018) – Carnival Victory is in the midst of an extensive, multi-million-dollar dry dock that is adding a wide variety of food and beverage innovations, as well as two luxurious Captain’s Suites and new deluxe ocean view staterooms.
The new spaces, which are being added during a 17-day dry dock taking place Jan. 4-21, 2018, in Freeport, The Bahamas, include: · Guy’s Burger Joint: a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with chef and restaurateur Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries enjoyed amidst a décor that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture. · New Accommodations: Several new cabin categories will be added to Carnival Victory, including 260-square-feet Scenic Ocean View staterooms and 320-square-foot Scenic Grand Ocean View accommodations as well as Captain’s Suites, spacious 820-square-foot cabins offer a large extended balcony, two full-size bathrooms, separate sleeping quarters and a large living room. · RedFrog Rum Bar: a poolside watering hole offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own private label draught brew, ThirstyFrog Red. · BlueIguana Cantina: a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas, as well as an elaborate toppings and salsa bar. · BlueIguana Tequila Bar: a fun and festive outdoor bar offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool. · Bonsai Sushi Express: the success of the full-service Bonsai Sushi restaurants has spawned this casual, convenient yet equally tasty offshoot featuring a mouth-watering array of sushi, sashimi, rolls and more. · Re-Branded Deli: the ship’s deli has been completely renovated with an updated design and new menu offerings, including seven sandwiches such as meatball, buffalo chicken, and The Cubano, along with Southwest chicken, falafel and turkey wraps. · Cherry on Top: The “sweetest spot on board,” Cherry on Top is the gateway to the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun-and-fanciful gifts, just-because novelties, colorful custom apparel and more. These spaces complement Carnival Victory’s numerous other onboard amenities, including a 14,500-square-foot spa, a 214-foot-long water slide, a Punchliner Comedy Club offering adults-only and family-friendly performances, and Seuss at Sea, an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Carnival Victory operates year-round three- and four-day cruises from PortMiami. Three-day cruises depart on Fridays and call at Nassau, while four-day voyages depart Mondays and visit Key West and Cozumel or Nassau and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay. PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI, FL January 11, 2018 – Today, Azamara Club Cruises announces the launch of three new Land and Sea packages in South America that explore bucket list destinations with the brand’s signature passion for Destination Immersion cruise experiences. These exciting new packages include a Galapagos immersion with award-winning sister brand, Celebrity Cruises. Azamara provides guests with the opportunity to discover exotic ports and extend their voyage in some of 2018’s top regions to visit.
All three locations – the Galapagos in Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Iguaza Falls in Argentina and Brazil- are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while Machu Picchu is acknowledged as one of the New Wonders of the World. For both first-time South America travelers and return visitors, these experiences provide guests a chance to fully connect with locals and discover the local heritage, art and culture. “The new pre- and post- South American experiences are an exciting and natural extension of the Azamara brand, celebrating local cultures and encouraging travelers to take a deep dive into the destinations they visit,” said Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “With the new addition of our third ship, Azamara Pursuit, we look forward to offering our guests more Land and Sea packages, and to continue to push the boundaries of what unique locations are accessible from our intimate ships. Machu Picchu will also enable us to visit all Seven New Wonders of the World in 2018-2019, yet another milestone that our brand will be celebrating as we look to explore all corners of the world.” The Galapagos: In partnership with sister brand Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Pursuit guests are afforded a post cruise experience in the Galapagos. The 11 Night Colombia, Panama & Peru voyage takes travelers to experience the islands on a 10-Night Galapagos Inner Loop, all-inclusive package, on the 100-passenger Celebrity Xpedition. Guests will explore two destinations per day with several options for activities on the island with all tours led by a certified Galapagos National Park naturalist. As the Galapagos were deemed the “living laboratory of evolution” by Charles Darwin, guests will take in the pristine environment and unique wildlife first hand, enjoy the chance to swim with sea lions, walk along barren volcanic landscapes and snorkel with penguins. Machu Picchu: The five-night Machu Picchu package follows the footsteps of the ancient Incans and tells the story of Peru’s rich history through the eyes of local communities, ancient ruins and artists continuing the legacy of their ancestors. Guests will have the opportunity to visit with local Peruvian artists at both a ceramic and weaver’s workshop, to explore the Maras Salt Mines and to view the Huaypo Lagoon. Visits to the religious site of Machu Picchu, the Temple of the Sun and Inca Bridge will take up the second half of the land stays that ends in Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire. Iguazu Falls: The four-night Iguazu Falls experience will explore the most expansive waterfalls in the world through both the Argentinian and Brazilian perspective. Guests will embark on an exhilarating boat ride through the water formations, journey to the Jasy Pora Guarani Indigenous Village in the middle of the Yriapu rain forest and learn about the Guarani way of life that emphasizes a self-sustainable mindset.. PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI (Jan. 12, 2018) – NBA Hall of Famer and TNT commentator Shaquille O’Neal – also known as “Shaq” – announced on last night’s TNT Inside the NBA broadcast that he has been given a new title, joining Carnival Cruise Line as their newly appointed “CFO.” The announcement was made with a tongue-in-cheek video that features Shaq and Carnival President Christine Duffy but omits one minor detail: CFO stands for “Chief Fun Officer,” personifying the cruise line’s newest brand campaign, “Choose Fun,” which launched earlier this week. As the newly appointed “CFO,” O’Neal has partnered with the cruise line, lending his fun, larger-than-life personality and playful spirit to inspire America to Choose Fun with Carnival when planning their next vacation, and in their everyday lives. Shaq’s role will be brought to life via engaging video content, social media and experiential activations, beginning today. In the first piece of advertising that introduces Shaq as Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer, he takes viewers on a whirlwind 30-second tour of Carnival Vista, showing his playful self as he enjoys the ship’s many attractions and experiences, including SkyRide, Havana pool, Cloud 9 Spa, a burger at Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint and, of course, the basketball court. “We are very excited to have Shaq as part of the Carnival team! He will serve as a great partner ensuring everyone knows all about our one-of-a-kind brand of fun,” said Duffy. “We’re confident that his embodiment of our brand values will inspire America to Choose Fun and discover the authentic, participatory and social atmosphere that Carnival offers.” “In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to choose fun, especially when everyone is busy with work, family, and life in general,” says O’Neal. “So, I’m honored to be appointed the Chief Fun Officer at Carnival – a company that lives and breathes fun.” (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI – January 11, 2018 – Brightline, Florida’s new hospitality-focused express passenger rail service, announces introductory service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach will begin on Saturday, January 13. In the coming days, South Florida residents, business commuters and tourists will be able to ride the only privately-funded, operated and maintained rail service in the United States that is focused on providing guests with an exceptional experience. The company expects to become fully operational and extend service into downtown Miami in the coming months. The Brightline team has been working toward operational readiness in collaboration with federal and local authorities with simulated service over the past month. Introductory service will feature 10 daily roundtrips during the weekdays and nine on the weekends to provide guests an opportunity to travel between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in about 35 minutes. Introductory Try Our Train Fares pricing will be $10 per segment for Smart Service and $15 for Select Service. A segment is one way between the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale Brightline stations. Seniors, active military and veterans will receive a 10 percent pricing discount, and kids 12 years old and under will receive a 50 percent pricing discount. Brightline has also launched its mobile app and unveiled a new website, making it easy for guests to seamlessly personalize and book their travel experience, check train times and ride. Introductory service will include frequent trips with trains departing as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 11 p.m. The schedules will differ between weekdays and weekends. In addition to the launch date, Brightline also announces the promotion of Patrick Goddard to company president. For more than a year, Mr. Goddard has been instrumental in leading the operations team in preparation of the service launch. “We are thrilled to have South Florida preview Brightline with the launch of introductory service,” said Patrick Goddard, Brightline President and Chief Operating Officer. “We believe the comfort and convenience of our travel experience paired with premium hospitality will set a new standard for passenger rail service. Our team will continue to ramp up operations as we prepare to fully launch this transformative new infrastructure asset for South Florida.” Brightline is expected to expand operations to MiamiCentral, the 11-acre multi-modal hub, in the coming months. Construction on Phase 2, connecting to the Orlando International Airport, will begin in 2018. The trains are 100 percent Buy America compliant and were assembled by more than 1,000 employees at Siemens USA in Sacramento, California. More than 40 suppliers in over 20 states supplied the components for the state-of-the-art trainsets. To view Brightline’s full schedule, purchase tickets or download the mobile app, please visit www.gobrightline.com for more information. (Press Release)_Monday January 8, 2018 – Boutique cruise line Azamara Club Cruises announced today that its new ship, Azamara Pursuit, will undergo its transformation to be almost identical to sister ships Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey. Azamara Pursuit will be refitted in the U.K. as it prepares to go into wet dock in Belfast in Spring 2018. The ship’s maiden voyage will begin in Southampton, England in August and visit eight destinations throughout Norway as part of its Destination Immersion® country-intensive series. “We’re delighted to announce that the Azamara Pursuit’s first several voyages will depart from one of our largest growth markets,” said Azamara Club Cruises CEO Larry Pimentel. “We’ve seen double the UK demand for Azamara Pursuit than we usually see for its sister ships, so this is a really exciting time for us as a brand.” The refit will take place at the iconic Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland and be completed by one of the world’s top outfitting specialist MJM Group. Work will begin in Spring 2018 and will be completed by the end of July. The maiden voyage will depart Southampton on August 1, 2018 and travel to eight Norwegian destinations, including Kristiansand, Flam and Haugesund, with overnight stays in Oslo and Bergen. Azamara Pursuit’s sister ship, Azamara Journey, will also be dock in Haugesund on the same day, marking their first meeting. Azamara Pursuit will then depart Southampton for an Iceland-intensive voyage on 13 August 2018, before a special christening voyage on 28 August 2018. The ship will then depart Southampton once more on 30 August 2018 for its 13 Night Wine & Romance Voyage. (Press Release)_MIAMI, FL – January 8, 2018 – Celebrity Cruises is excited to announce the highly anticipated inaugural season of Celebrity Edge has expanded, as the transformational new ship will be completed ahead of schedule and enter service earlier than planned. The schedule change will now allow Celebrity to offer not one, but two distinct seven-night maiden voyages on Celebrity Edge’s alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Travelers also have the option to book back-to-back sailings for a 14-night journey: Maiden Voyage West: A seven-night western Caribbean cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL., on December 9, 2018, and visiting Key West, FL.; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman Maiden Voyage East: The previously announced seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Ft. Lauderdale on December 16, 2018, and visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten “Thanks to the amazing work of the STX France shipyard team, the industry-changing Celebrity Edge is now scheduled to arrive much earlier than anticipated, which gave us the opportunity to offer not one, but two maiden voyages,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Both of these maiden voyages, plus the taste of luxury preview sailings, will have all of the festivities one would expect from the launch of such a revolutionary new ship, and now even more guests will have the chance to experience these one-of-a-kind inaugural sailings.” In addition to the alternating maiden voyages, Celebrity will also be offering four new Edge Preview Sailings, perfect for eager guests who simply can’t wait to get a taste of luxury. These three-night Bahamas cruises will also sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL., departing on November 21, November 24, December 3, and December 6. Celebrity Edge will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, FL., now making her first sailing November 21, 2018. Bookings are now open at the Celebrity website or through a travel agent. Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022. |
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