(VIRGIN VOYAGES)_On Friday, November 15th (11/15), Virgin Voyages announced exciting additions to the Scarlet Lady’s Maiden Voyage on April 1, 2020. To mark the celebration in a very Virgin way, this first celebratory sailing will be packed full of celebrity-guest appearances, special events, exclusive surprises and an overall enhanced Virgin Voyages experience for sailors to revel in.
 
Accompanying the announcement of the extra experiences  for the Maiden Voyage, Virgin Voyages also announced that will open bookings for two Sneak-a-Peek sailings ahead of the April 1, 2020 sailing. Both sailings are a unique opportunity to experience a taste of Virgin Voyages before the inaugural season begins.
 
People who book the Sneak-a-Peek sailings beginning March 26, 2020 will get a selected highlights version of the full Virgin Voyages experience before the brand’s first ship, the Scarlet Lady officially sets sail on its Maiden Voyage April 1st. The three night Sneak-a-Peek Scarlet Lady sailings will feature the ship’s marquee experiences including a stunning day at the Beach Club at Bimini, a Scarlet Night Party, access to all restaurants and complete versions of entertainment offered onboard. 
 
Bookings for Sneak-a-Peak sailings open on VirginVoyages.com Friday, November 15th. The first sailing will run from Thursday, March 26 - Sunday, March 29. The second sailing will run Sunday, March 29 - Wednesday, April 1. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2019) — MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia Class smart ship — debuted in North America last month and today made her inaugural visit to Miami, her new homeport for her first winter season in the region. With a double occupancy capacity of 4,488 and gross tonnage of 171,598 GRT, MSC Meraviglia is MSC Cruises’ largest ship sailing from the U.S., offering guests a completely distinct cruise experience.

“Since MSC Meraviglia arrived in the U.S. in October, we’ve seen tremendous excitement and buzz from our travel advisor partners and guests,” said said Ken Muskat, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of MSC Cruises USA. “We are thrilled that MSC Meraviglia will now be part of the beautiful Miami skyline, joining MSC Seaside, MSC Armonia and MSC Divina. Due to significant demand, this is the first time MSC Cruises’ has four distinct ships sailing the region, all offering an enriching experience inspired by our European heritage, while providing our guests even more choice and variety to best fit their vacation needs.”

“We are grateful to our partners at MSC Cruises for their trust and commitment to growing their business in Miami-Dade County,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez.  “We welcome the MSC Meraviglia to the Cruise Capital of the World!”

“We welcome MSC Meraviglia with open arms,” said Chairwoman of the Tourism and Ports Committee Rebeca Sosa. “We are very pleased the vessel will be joining MSC Cruises’ line of cruise ships sailing out of PortMiami.”

MSC Meraviglia’s On Board Features

With a name meaning wonder, MSC Meraviglia boasts an innovative and glamorous design that showcases MSC Cruises’ signature European style. The ship’s two-story Mediterranean-style promenade, feauturing the longest LED Dome at sea, is lined with a variety of shops and specialty restaurants — including HOLA! Tapas Bar and Ocean Cay, restaurants by two Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa, and Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café, an open fronted chocolate atelier by world-renowned pastry chef, Jean Philippe Maury. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, November 14, 2019 – There’s an art to delivering the world’s most awarded luxury travel experiences, and Crystal River Cruises is taking viewers into the dedication and details of this process. In a new MasterClass video series launching today, the company showcases the various facets of its internationally acclaimed experience on the rivers of Europe. Six separate videos go behind the scenes to illustrate the “Art of” food, wine, entertainment, destinations, dessert and service.

The MasterClass series also brings viewers face-to-face with many of the crew members who create the Crystal River Cruises experience. Crystal’s people are at the heart of its global adventures and its guests and crew often become more like friends and family throughout their travels. This is the sentiment behind the company’s current campaign, “Where Luxury is Personal,” and is again reiterated with the production of MasterClass.

“The Crystal River Experience goes far beyond simply offering great service or exciting adventures ashore or wonderful cuisine. Our team pours over every single element of our guests’ experience – we analyze and anticipate every detail that would make it exceptional, and then we present it with the most polished and genuine service in the industry,” said Walter Littlejohn, vice president and managing director of Crystal River Cruises. “The new MasterClass series brings travelers along on this journey of creating the experiences they value most.”

In the first MasterClass episode, “The Art of Food,” Crystal River Cruises’ executive chef, Georg Pfandl, illustrates his own vision behind the blend of Asian and Austrian cuisine and the menus that are tailored daily on board to reflect the day’s fresh finds at local markets. Viewers are treated to the process and techniques he and his team use to create complex and mouthwatering flavors.

Subsequent weekly episodes will feature similar glimpses into the philosophy and process behind Crystal’s hallmarks, with sommelier Ilija Marojevic highlighting the rich pairings found in the regions Crystal River Cruises travels; pastry chef Jozsef Reichenbach going into detail about creating artistic, indulgent desserts that reflect the destinations; Hotel Director Sonja Gruber on the personal touches that distinguish Crystal’s brand of luxury and service from all others; a spotlight on Crystal’s approach to showcasing each destination in ways that cater to guests’ individual interests, including an interview with local German master butcher, Norbert Wittmann; and renowned tenor Steffan Mullan speaking on how he draws all Crystal guests into his performances aboard the award-winning ships.

The new videos will be available for viewing on Crystal’s YouTube channel and will be distributed via the Crystal Insider blog.

When Crystal River Cruises’ 2020 season embarks next spring, it will be with the youngest fleet of ships in the river industry. Crystal’s River ships sail itineraries of seven to 16 nights along the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers. The 106-guest ships are all-suite, all-butler and all-balcony enclaves of elegance for itineraries that celebrate the romance, creativity and rich heritage of the destinations.

All suites feature Panoramic Balcony-Windows™ and walk-in closets and dual vanity in the bathrooms are featured in most categories. All of Crystal’s river ships feature private butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, ETRO amenities, robes and slippers, and wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs. Each suite offers Apple® iPad devices that serve as Digital Directories for many guests’ on-board needs, from dry cleaning and butler service to room service and dining reservations, as well as concierge and Crystal Collection inquiries.

Additional enticing features include farm-to-table cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room; and the Palm Court for entertainment, enrichment presentations and sweeping views of the countryside while hundreds of inclusive, curated experiences ashore cater to travelers’ individual tastes.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI and MENLO PARK, CA (November 7, 2019) -- Continuing its efforts at making a cruise vacation available to everyone, Carnival Cruise Line is partnering with Uplift to bring flexible pay-over-time options to Carnival guests. Instead of paying for the cruise at the time of booking, Uplift Pay Monthly gives Carnival’s guests the freedom to finance their trip and pay over time.

With Uplift, vacationers can budget for their ideal trip by making low monthly payments for up to 24 months. Uplift continues to grow in popularity by providing consumers with an effective budgeting tool to lock in the best fares.  Carnival’s guests will be able to secure the ship, stateroom and itinerary of their dreams while having clarity on the total cost with a predetermined payment schedule and payment amounts.  

Available through any travel advisor, carnival.com or via Carnival’s call centers, Uplift Pay Monthly can be used by U.S. residents for all of Carnival’s exciting voyages – from short getaways to the Bahamas and Mexico to longer vacations to Alaska, Hawaii and Europe.  Canadian residents will be able to use Uplift soon, as well.

“Carnival is already the most affordable vacation in cruising, and with Uplift, guests can enjoy the vacation of a lifetime by spreading the cost of their trip into affordable monthly payments,” said Ken Tate, chief commercial officer for Carnival Cruise Line. “Uplift’s unique zero money down option with up to 24 set monthly payments and its pure focus on travel made Uplift a natural choice for Carnival to partner with.”

Uplift Pay Monthly seamlessly integrates into Carnival’s existing booking and payment processes, making it easy for guests to receive an instant decision. There are no prepayment penalties and guests clearly see the total cost of their trip at the time of booking, enabling them to easily budget for their dream cruise vacation.

"Our mission is to make travel more accessible, affordable and rewarding for everyone,” said Uplift President Rob Soderbery. “Travel has become a fundamental part of our lives, and today’s consumers rightly demand more flexibility. We are thrilled to partner with Carnival Cruise Line and help more people enjoy a dream vacation.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Nov. 11, 2019) – Carnival Cruise Line celebrated its 25th anniversary sailing from the Port of Tampa with a reception and luncheon aboard Carnival Legend highlighted by the presentation of a commemorative plaque from Carnival President Christine Duffy to Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson commemorating the milestone.

Carnival Cruise Line was the first cruise operator to recognize the potential of Tampa as a year-round cruise homeport when it launched a schedule of seven-day voyages aboard the since-retired Tropicale in 1994 carrying about 28,000 guests a year. 

Fast forward to today and Carnival Cruise Line deploys two ships from Tampa that will carry approximately 240,000 passengers a year from Tampa – nearly a nine-fold increase compared to 25 years ago.

Tampa is an important part of Carnival’s close-to-home ship deployment strategy in which the line positions ships near large U.S. population centers along the East and West Coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. Including Tampa, Carnival sails from 19 North American homeports providing a convenient and cost-effective means for guests to get to and from their cruise.  Roughly half of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive of a Carnival homeport and many Carnival guests opt to extend their vacation with a pre- or post-cruise land stay to experience all the city has to offer.

“Tampa is a convenient, centrally located homeport – not to mention a popular vacation destination – and the growth that we’ve experienced at this port is a testament to the wonderful partnership with the Port we’ve enjoyed for the past 25 years,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

“Carnival Cruise Line is truly the pioneer of modern-day cruising throughout the world and from Port Tampa Bay. We value the long term partnership with Carnival and look forward to many more successful years working with them to provide our guests from throughout Central Florida – and beyond – a great vacation experience.” Anderson said.

The 25th anniversary celebration was held aboard Carnival Legend, which arrived in Tampa last month, providing an exciting new choice from this market.   The ship features a variety of onboard innovations, including Green Thunder, a drop-down slide that’s one of the fastest and steepest at sea, along with popular food and beverage choices like the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, Bonsai Sushi serving authentic Asian delicacies, Guy’s Burger Joint developed in tandem with longtime partner and Food Network star Guy Fieri, and a classic American steakhouse.  The ship features hundreds of balcony staterooms as well a luxurious health and wellness facility.

Carnival Legend will operate a seasonal schedule of six-, seven-and eight-day cruises featuring top destinations in the western Caribbean, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, Mahogany Bay, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal and Grand Cayman. The ship will also offer a 13-day Carnival Journeys cruise from Tampa to New York May 3-16, 2020, featuring a partial transit of the Panama Canal, along with visits to Aruba, Cozumel, Limon (Costa Rica), Cartagena (Colombia) and Grand Turk.

Carnival Paradise, which underwent an extensive multi-million-dollar dry dock last year that added all of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 food, beverage and entertainment options, operates a year-round schedule of four-day “long weekend” cruises to Cozumel and five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman or Mahogany Bay departing on Mondays and Saturdays. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_Nov. 13, 2019, Purchase, NY -- PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) is partnering with Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s most popular cruise line, to become the preferred beverage partner for its North American fleet. Beginning in January 2020, Carnival Cruise Line will begin serving a variety of beverages from the PepsiCo portfolio featuring premiere brands from Starbucks ready to drink coffee to fast-growing bubly sparkling water. When the transition is complete, Carnival guests will have a broad selection of beverage choices, from iced tea, sparkling water, coffee drinks and sports drinks to juices and soft drinks, including an array of low calorie and no sugar options.

“At Carnival Cruise Line, we invite our guests to Choose Fun, and now with PepsiCo’s extensive portfolio of brands, we’re able to give them more ways to choose a beverage that suits their taste, mood and preference,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “PepsiCo’s line-up of beverages will give our guests access to leading brands in growing non-soda categories like iced tea, juice and sparkling water, as well as popular soft drink brands that consumers love. We’re also excited to work with PepsiCo on our shared commitment to sustainability, including a reduced reliance on plastics, and alternative ways to deliver and serve water and other beverages.”

As they cruise, Carnival Cruise Line guests will be able to enjoy some of their favorite PepsiCo brands such as bubly, Pure Leaf, Naked Juice, Gatorade, MTN Dew, Starbucks, Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Sierra Mist and Sierra Mist Zero Sugar among others.

“Our brands both celebrate having fun and offering something special for everyone, making PepsiCo and Carnival Cruise Line a great match,” said Anne Fink, president of PepsiCo Global Foodservice. “We’re excited to share the voyage as we create enjoyable, seamless experiences for Carnival Cruise Line passengers while they enjoy their fun vacations at sea and ashore.”

As "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®," Carnival Cruise Line annually sails more than 5.2 million guests Its fleet of 26 ships will grow to 28 with the delivery of Carnival Panorama in December 2019 and Mardi Gras in August 2020. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (November 13, 2019) – In 2021, Carnival Cruise Line will operate its most extensive European season ever with a diverse schedule of voyages aboard Carnival Legend that includes visits to 58 stunning ports across 21 countries, including the line’s first cruises to the Greek Isles and a return to Iceland, Norway and the Baltic.

During these “bucket list” voyages, guests can explore ancient ruins, sample regional cuisines, experience unique cultural opportunities, and visit centuries-old UNESCO sites, including Geirangerfjord in Norway, the Acropolis in Greece, Cinque Terre in Italy and Mont Saint-Michel in France.

Following its European season, Carnival Legend will shift to year-round deployment from Baltimore beginning in November 2021.  In turn, Carnival Pride, currently based in Baltimore, with reposition to Tampa, providing exciting new choices in these two important markets.

“For Carnival Legend, we’ve assembled our most diverse season ever with opportunities to visit an array of breathtaking sites across nearly two dozen countries, all combined with the one-of-a-kind vacation experience that Carnival is known for.  It’s really the best way to see Europe,” said Fred Stein, Carnival’s vice president of revenue, deployment and itinerary planning.

Diverse European Season aboard Carnival Legend

Carnival Legend will reposition for its European season with a 15-day transatlantic crossing from Tampa to Barcelona March 26-April 10, 2021, with stops in Nassau, The Bahamas; Bermuda; Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal; and Malaga and Valencia, Spain. 

From there, the ship will operate a wide range of exciting voyages from Barcelona, London (Dover) and Rome (Civitavecchia), including:

Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic

·       June 4 and July 16 from London (Dover):  Nine-day Norwegian Fjords with stops at popular scenic towns like Stavanger, Flaam, Alesund, Andalsnes, Olden, Molde, Geiranger; Hellsylt, and Bergen, and opportunities to cruise majestic fjords such as Geirangerfjord, Sognefjord and Nordfjord.

·       July 25 and Aug. 15 from London (Dover): 12-day Scandinavia & Russia cruise with ports including Gothenburg, Sweden; Berlin (Warnemunde) Germany; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight call); Tallinn, Estonia; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Iceland & British Isles

·       June 25 and Aug. 6 from London (Dover):  Nine-day British Isles voyages calling at Edinburgh, Invergordon and Isle of Skye, Scotland; Belfast (Northern Ireland), UK; Liverpool, England; and Cork (Cobh), Ireland.

·       June 13 and July 4  London (Dover): 12-day Iceland & British Isles cruises with calls at Reykjavik, Grundafjordur, Akureyri, and Seydisfjordur, Iceland; Belfast (Northern Ireland), UK; Isle of Skye, Scotland; and Kirkwall, Orkney Islands or Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland/UK.

Greek Isles and Italy

·       Sept. 5 and 24 from Rome (Civitavecchia):  10-day Greek Isles and Italy voyages calling at Mykonos, Santorini, Athens and Katakolon, Greece; Messina or Catania (Sicily), Naples, Italy; and Izmir (Ephesus), Turkey.  An 11-day cruise departing Oct. 4 adds a stop in Corfu, Greece. 

Western Europe and the Mediterranean

·       May 17 and Oct. 23 from Barcelona:  Eight-day Mediterranean voyage visiting Valletta, Malta; Messina (Sicily), Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Livorno, Italy; and Marseilles, France or Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

·       May 25 from Barcelona:  10-day western Europe cruise featuring Malaga, Spain; Gibraltar; Lisbon and Leixoes (Porto), Portugal; La Coruna, Spain; Paris (Le Havre), and Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium.

·       Aug. 27 from London(Dover):  Nine-day western Europe cruise featuring Paris (Le Havre), La Coruna, Spain; Leixoes (Porto) and Lisbon, Portugal; Seville (Cadiz) and Cartagena, Spain.

·       Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 from Rome (Civitavecchia):  Eight- and nine-day Mediterranean voyages calling at ports such as Naples, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Messina or Catania (Sicily), Livorno, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Marseilles, France.

The program concludes with a 14-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Baltimore Oct. 31-Nov. 14 with stops at Cartagena (Murcia) and Seville (Cadiz), Spain; Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada and Praia da Vitoria, Azores, Portugal.

Carnival Legend: Exciting New Choice from Baltimore

Carnival Legend will kick off its year-round schedule from Baltimore Nov. 14, 2021, operating seven-day cruises departing every Sunday.  A wide variety of week-long adventures are offered visiting destinations including Nassau, Freeport and the private Bahamian destinations of Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays as well as Grand Turk.

The ship’s Baltimore-based program also includes a special 14-day Carnival Journeys – Panama Canal voyage departing Jan. 9, 2022 calling at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Limon, Costa Rica; partial Panama Canal transit; and Grand Turk.  Carnival Journeys cruises offer special onboard enrichment programming and fun activities like the 1980s-style Throw Back Sea Day.

Carnival Pride to Operate Diverse Schedule from Tampa

Carnival Pride will assume Carnival Legend’s schedule of six-, seven-and eight-day cruises beginning Nov. 14, 2021.  The sailings feature popular western Caribbean destinations, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, Mahogany Bay, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal and Grand Cayman.

The ship will also offer a 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise from Baltimore to Tampa Oct. 31- Nov. 14, 2021, featuring a partial transit of the Panama Canal, along with visits to Grand Turk; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia;  Limon (Costa Rica); Mahogany Bay, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Boston, MA – November 5, 2019 – Vantage Deluxe World Travel is pleased to announce that it has been named the winner of three Solo Traveler awards including ‘The Solo Traveler’s Choice Award,’ ‘Best Tours for Solo Travelers,’ and the shared-honor of ‘Best River Cruise for Solo Travelers’ with Riviera River Cruises. Vantage was recognized for its ability to cater to solo travelers, including cabin availability and special services targeted for solo travelers, before or during trips. Vantage Deluxe World Travel is the only deluxe cruise company that offers supplement-free solo cabins outfitted especially for singles, adding up to thousands of dollars in savings for the best experience at the best value.

“We are honored to be recognized by Solo Traveler with three awards this year,” said Henry Lewis, Founder and Chairman of Vantage Deluxe World Travel. “At Vantage, we work to make sure solo travelers are safe and well taken care of, from the day they plan their journey and throughout their trip.  From our supplement-free solo cabins to myriad accommodations exclusive to Vantage for our solo travelers, we are proud of our programs and look forward to making solo travel enjoyable to even more travelers.”

Earlier this year, Vantage announced new itineraries, solo-only departures and expanding accommodations for the solo traveler in 2020.  Sixty-two solo cabins have been added to the company’s fleet of six owned ships—for a total of 90 solo cabins; all of them are supplement-free for singles.  

Vantage’s addition of 62 solo cabins will be located on all decks of all ships, and at approximately 150 to 210 square feet, are larger than the industry standard.  Unlike many other companies, many cabins feature French balconies, allowing travelers to enjoy a solo adventure without compromising on comfort, views, and amenities.

All ships include Solo Connections, Vantage’s exclusive onboard events; and exclusive concierge service available on every departure. In addition, every Vantage journey is led by an experienced Tour Director, Cruise Director, or Adventure Leader who ensures the journey goes smoothly for everyone and keeps a special eye out for solo travelers. 

Vantage onboard amenities include: 

• Solaris deck with a walking and jogging track
• Complimentary Wi-Fi onboard river ships
• Fitness rooms with a treadmill, stationary bike, and free weights
• Reading room with a selection of books and magazines
• Housekeeping service twice daily with evening turndown
• Beauty salon
• Luxurious hotel-style linens and L'Occitane de Provence amenities
• Single-seating dining with a tempting menu of American and European favorites (vegetarian, gluten-free and heart-healthy dishes available)
• Wine and beer included with onboard dinners 
• Early riser breakfast available daily
• Free coffee, tea & hot chocolate available 24 hours a day; cookies and snacks available every afternoon
• Breakfast and lunch buffets available daily 

Each cabin features an outside-facing room, extensive in-room movie list and many US TV channels including CNN, MSNBC, Discovery and more. Suites include butler service, floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies, bathrooms with double sinks and bathtubs with Jacuzzis, a separate sitting area, hotel-style beds, complimentary mini-bar, laundry service and multiple flat-screen televisions. 
For a full list of this year’s Solo Traveler Award winners, please visit: https://solotravelerworld.com/winners-solo-travel-awards/.

(PRESS RELEASE)_WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – November 13, 2019 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, the only provider of two-night cruises to Grand Bahama Island and Nassau, and the originator of the unique Cruise & Stay Program, today announced details around its second ArtSea Cruise Experience, one of the largest artistic experiences at sea. Departing from West Palm Beach on November 30 onboard Grand Celebration and visiting Grand Bahama Island, the themed cruise is perfectly timed to the official kick-off of the season of the arts, returning to South Florida just days before Miami Beach’s Art Basel debut. Starting at just $129 per person, ArtSea is an affordable and art-inspired Bahamas getaway. 

 “ArtSea was created to provide travelers who are passionate about the arts a unique way to cultivate that passion while enjoying a getaway to paradise,” said Fred Greene, vice president of Marketing of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “This one of a kind floating celebration of the arts is a great option for South Florida locals – as well as those visiting the region for Art Basel - the chance to witness live art installations from popular street artists, and incredible musical performances, with breathtaking ocean views as a backdrop.” 

Since its launch in April 2019 featuring EDM legends Afrobeta and DJ Wags and infamous artists Jose Sabate “PEZ” and Dasic Fernandez, ArtSea remains the only getaway of its kind. This year, thanks to the talent and expertise of Joseph Risolia, event organizer, curator, and product developer that’s helped create some of South Florida’s most famed events, including ULTRA Music Festival, those booking the second ArtSea experience are in for an unforgettable getaway, enjoying all of the onboard perks and amenities Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is known for – including fine dining options, award-winning live entertainment, an onboard casino and more.  While onboard the two-day cruise, travelers will have unique up close and personal experiences with world-renowned street artists, like Wynwood Walls artists The London Police, Jordan Betten, and Ernesto Maranje. Once travelers arrive on Grand Bahama Island, they will experience live painting sessions featuring Sam El Greco, Pez Barcelona, Demsky, and Adam Neate, among others.  There will also be the chance to create unique hand-crafted masterpieces that can serve as a keepsake for family and friends. This event will also include performances by Jo Mersa Marley, as well as music by world-renowned and Grammy-nominated Reggae band, Third World.

Contributing partners of the second annual ArtSea Cruise Experience include GreenSheen Paint and Brightline. GreenSheen Paint is an eco-friendly national supplier of premium latex paint that donated $20,000 worth of paint towards the event – providing guests with an ample supply of materials to create their own masterpiece or two. With Brightline now onboard, travelers can easily reach the Port of Palm Beach with the cruise line’s all-new package that includes a roundtrip train ride and rideshare credit for starting at just $15 per person.

ArtSea is a unique opportunity for travelers to combine their love for travel and the arts while helping to facilitate economic recovery in the Bahamas, which were recently impacted by Hurricane Dorian.

“ArtSea is a wonderful way for us to continue giving back to Grand Bahama Island through the arts, which is something ingrained in so much of the culture of the Bahamas,” said Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “We can’t wait to welcome everyone aboard!”

For more information on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line or to book the ArtSea Cruise Experience, visit: https://www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com/Art-Sea.php or call 888-530-2775 (English) / 888-530-2776 (Español). Follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Porto, Portugal, Nov. 12, 2019 – World Explorer is the first cruise ship to employ hydrojet technology to bring guests closer to marine wildlife by minimizing underwater noise. A technology initially developed for naval warships, the two onboard Schottel SPJ 82 Pump Jets can propel World Explorer at a near-silent cruising speed of five knots without scaring sea life away. Sailing under the Mystic Cruises brand, World Explorer – and sister-ship World Voyager, launching in 2020 – incorporates the hydrojet drive among many innovations that help maximize safety and minimize the ship’s environmental impact when bringing guests to some of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations. 

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator, launching in 2021, also will be equipped with the innovative propulsion system and other innovative technologies. Atlas Ocean Voyages is the distributor of Mystic Cruises in North America and both are subsidiaries of Mystic Invest Holding.

“Our goal is to build one of the cleanest, safest and quietest ships in our category,” said Mário Ferreira, Chairman of Mystic Invest Holding. “We designed our cruise ships to bring our guests closer to and experience more of a destination, while ensuring that we do our part to help sustain these unparalleled places so we can bring future generations to enjoy them too.”

Unlike propellers, hydrojets diminish vibrations and cavitation and significantly decreases underwater noise. Sea life is highly sensitive to noise – which travels farther and louder in water – and tends to scatter when they hear propeller-only, propulsion ships. Each hydrojet pumps water in and out to produce drive and, like azipods, can be directed 360 degrees in order to navigate the ship along pristine shorelines or dynamically position by GPS without the use of the ship’s twin four-blade propellers. For a video about how the Schottel SPJ Pump Jet works, please visit https://www.schottel.de/marine-propulsion/spj-pump-jet/.

In some destinations, guests will enjoy the thrill of wet landings aboard one of 18 custom-designed Zodiac MilPro Mark V inflatable boats. To ensure safer gasoline containment, each Zodiac is constructed with a special, reinforced bow chest that accommodates a larger-capacity gasoline bladder to deliver more than three times the average operational range. Each Zodiac also features 12 anti-skid panels – four more than average – to ensure safer guest embarking and disembarking anywhere along the buoyancy tube. Furthermore, World Explorer and her sister ships are designed with an onboard gasoline storage and pumping system that make Zodiac fueling operations even safer.

Conservation is also top of mind. Still and sparkling water in refillable glass bottles are delivered daily to staterooms and suites. Single-use plastics in forms of straws, cups, stirrers, etc. will not be offered and waste that cannot be repurposed or reclaimed will be stored in a dedicated and refrigerated hold for landing with a responsible handler in port. 

As previously announced, FarSounder’s Forward-looking Sonar are installed at the front of the 1B-Ice Class certified hulls to ensure safe navigation through harbors, rivers, and ice fields. Each ship is also equipped with two C25:33L8P main engines and a Bergen C25:33L6P auxiliary dual generator. These connect to a low voltage AFE “SAVeCUBE” power electric system, which provides maximum fuel efficiency while operating at variable speeds and consumes as low as one-fifth the marine diesel oil compared to conventional engines.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a Luxe Adventure cruise brand that is creating a community of new world explorers by delivering authentic and thrill-seeking, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the world’s most sought-after and remote destinations. Opening for reservation in Jan. 2020, the company’s first ship, World Navigator, will start sailing exciting itineraries in 2021. Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator will be joined by sister-ships World Traveller, World Adventurer, and World Seeker in 2022 and 2023. For the latest news and more information about Atlas Ocean Voyages and World Navigator, please register on www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com, and follow @AtlasCruises on Facebook and Twitter, and @AtlasOceanVoyages on Instagram.