(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Fla. — January 16, 2019 — Virgin Voyages, the new lifestyle brand set to disrupt the travel industry, today released several designs and images of their RockStar Suites. The new company is throwing out traditional clichés on luxury and formalities, and instead bringing Rebellious Luxe to life at sea with their RockStar Suites designed by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio as the pinnacle of that experience. Highlights of the Massive Suite, the top suite aboard the Scarlet Lady, include its very own guitar-clad music room, views of the ocean from every corner of the suite, and a massive terrace complete with its own Peek-a-View outdoor shower, hot tub, hammocks and a runway outdoor dining table, where a staircase will help Sailors make their way on top of the table for dancing. “Virgin has always avoided stuffy formalities and brought a lot of excitement and a bit of rebelliousness to our customer experiences,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group. “'With these glamorous suites, Virgin Voyages is bringing rock and roll to the high seas and spoiling our Sailors like the rockstars they are.” “We have combined brilliant design and Virgin Voyages’ epic Sailor experience vision to create a completely new version of luxury-- Rebellious Luxe, which is at the intersection of luxury and a rebellious attitude that makes everything we do different, indulgent and meaningfully relevant to our Sailors. Whether they want to sleep all day, praise the sun with yoga at dusk or party all night, our RockStar Suite Sailors can live out their fantasies aboard the Scarlet Lady,” said Tom McAlpin CEO of Virgin Voyages. RockStar Suite Design Virgin Voyages’ RockStar Suites bring a fresh take to yachting glamour steeped in the Virgin brand’s rock and roll heritage. Inspired by mega yachts and rock and roll style icons like Grace Jones, the RockStar Suites feature Tom Dixon’s iconic retro-futurism designs with a palette of deep blues used with iridescent dichroic elements to echo the colors of the sky and sea when sailing. Touches of yacht materiality are sprinkled throughout the suites with real leather finishes, marble-clad bathrooms and Terrazzo flooring. The suite’s design features nautical nods with a brass glam station and accenting beauty counter and bedhead lighting. The supremely modern suites boast high-quality design elements and bespoke Tom Dixon furniture pieces. Because music is the soundtrack to the soul, each suite is equipped with a vinyl turntable. (PRESS RELEASE)_Geneva, Switzerland (January 16, 2019) – Uninterrupted ocean views, crystal clear waters, soft white sandy beaches with blue skies and sunshine – this dream of paradise will become a reality for MSC Cruises guests when they visit Ocean Cay (pronounced “key”) MSC Marine Reserve. MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company, today revealed more details of this one-of-a-kind island experience that will await guests starting November 9th this year. Imagine a tranquil morning spent relaxing in a cabana on the beach followed by a snorkel tour to discover the coral and taking in the colorful fish and abundant marine life. The afternoon is spent taking part in beach activities, perhaps a game of beach volleyball or shopping for souvenirs. As the sun starts to set, move to one of the beach bars to sip on a cocktail, taking in the stunning sea views and an atmosphere of peace and serenity. Finally, finish the evening with a movie under the stars before returning to the comfort of your ship. Simply magical! With Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises is transforming a former industrial sand extraction site into a flourishing marine reserve and private island destination that will exist in harmony with the local ecosystem. Ocean Cay has been designed to immerse guests in the natural beauty of their surroundings. The vision is to create a sustainable destination with activities that allow guests to connect with nature and provide opportunities to learn about the protection of the oceans and the importance of preserving coral reefs through dedicated edutainment programs. The island is surrounded by 64 square miles of protected waters, and a coral nursery is being established to encourage and sustain the growth of new coral. Plans are underway for a marine laboratory to be situated on Ocean Cay for researching climate change-resistant coral in hopes of providing insights to similar island habitats. (PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Jan. 10, 2019 — With Holland America Line’s new Come Sail O-Way sweepstakes in partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine, one lucky winner and a guest will have the chance to bask in the sun of the Caribbean or Mexico on a seven-day cruise in 2019. The premium cruise line launched the sweepstakes with the magazine to celebrate the delivery of Nieuw Statendam, its newest Pinnacle Class ship. To enter the Come Sail O-Way sweepstakes, participants must visit SailOWaySweeps.com and complete an entry form. Participants can receive an extra entry in the sweepstakes by sharing their sweepstakes entry on Twitter or Facebook. The sweepstakes runs through Feb. 17, 2019. “Holland America Line and O, The Oprah Magazine wanted to come together to celebrate our brand-new ship, Nieuw Statendam, in a big way by giving someone the chance to win a cruise on any of our ships sailing to the Caribbean or Mexico,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Our partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine was founded on our mutual belief that travel can be inspiring and transformative, and we’re excited that this sweepstakes will allow someone to discover that feeling as our guest.” The grand prize winner will receive a seven-day cruise for two to the Caribbean or Mexico in a verandah stateroom. Winners can choose from among the many Holland America Line ships in those regions, including Nieuw Statendam. The new ship will be exploring the golden beaches and sun-kissed skies of the Caribbean on roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida, cruises now through April. Holland America Line and O, The Oprah Magazine Partnership Building on the success of the exclusive partnership started in 2017, Holland America Line and O, The Oprah Magazine continue to work together to unite the soul-stirring power of travel with O's deep commitment to connection and personal growth. On Holland America Line cruises, guests can take part in a variety of engaging programming developed with the magazine's editors including O’s Reading Room, Just Breathe morning meditations, inspirational O content on stateroom TVs, and select items from “Oprah’s Favorite Things” featured in the retail shops on board. About Nieuw Statendam Nieuw Statendam was delivered from Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard Nov. 30, 2018, and currently is sailing throughout the Caribbean. Come summer and fall, the ship will explore Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The new 2,666-guest ship has an ambiance that balances fresh, contemporary styling in perfect harmony with the line’s renowned classic elegance. At the helm of the design and interiors are internationally acclaimed hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten, one of the world’s leading architects working in the cruise industry. Nieuw Statendam offers an abundance of unforgettable dining options. Award-winning cuisine is served in the stunning dining room; and an array of specialty restaurants feature exclusive experiences such as steak and seafood at Pinnacle Grill, authentic Italian cuisine in Canaletto, the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia at Tamarind and Nami Sushi, and a contemporary twist on French seafood classics in Rudi’s Sel de Mer. The innovative Music Walk on Nieuw Statendam showcases a variety of live musical experiences and genres unlike any other at sea, including Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club. Come Sail O-Way sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Québec) who are 21 years of age or older as of the date of entry. For more information, contact a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit SailOWaySweeps.com or hollandamerica.com. (ROYAL CARIBBEAN)_Royal Caribbean continues to push the boundaries in entertainment with the debut of cutting-edge productions on stage, in the air, under water and on ice on board Symphony of the Seas.
(PRESS RELEASE)_PASADENA, CALIF. (January 1, 2019) – Building upon its distinction as the leader in West Coast cruising and celebrating the arrival of the new Long Beach-based Carnival Panorama later this year, Carnival Cruise Line kicked off 2019 in grand style with its first-ever float in the world-famous Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
Modeled after the new 133,500-ton Vista-class ship, the float cruised down the five-mile parade route this morning delighting the crowd of 700,000 who jammed along with the float riders to a Carnival nine-piece band playing “Uptown Funk” and “I’ve Got a Feeling” as well as the estimated 80 million television viewers watching at home. Aptly named “Come Sail Away,” the colorful, highly detailed 55-foot-long ship-shaped float featured floral-inspired reproductions of signature Carnival features like the iconic red and blue funnel, a water park and fun-filled Lido Deck party, and the line’s newest attraction -- the first-ever trampoline park at sea, in partnership with Sky Zone with jumpers on a working trampoline built into the front portion of the float. The float also included a replica of the Carnival AirShip flying overhead, just like the blimp that will embark on a month-long tour of California to promote Carnival’s continued expansion in Long Beach, as well as new cruise itineraries from San Diego and San Francisco. Decorated with flowers, seeds and plants from 100-plus countries representing the global array of nations that Carnival employees hail from, the floral masterpiece also featured a BlueIguana and RedFrog from their namesake watering holes, with scuba divers at the water line blowing actual bubbles as the float sailed down the parade route. The “Come Sail Away” float was a favorite throughout the week of media coverage leading up to the parade. Dozens of broadcast segments featured the float’s trampoline, the unique cruise ship details, the Rose Parade Queen christening the ship in a maritime-themed naming ceremony, and former Miss USA Deshauna Barber, who served in the U.S. Army and was the featured guest on the float in a salute to members of the armed services. In conjunction with West Coast debut of the Carnival AirShip, consumers can enter a sweepstakes at www.carnival.com/choosefun for a chance to win a free cruise as well as other prizes each week during the month of January. Additionally, for anyone who takes a picture of the AirShip and posts it on social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun, Carnival will make a $2 donation to its longtime charity partner St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® up to a maximum donation of $20,000. Designed by Carnival’s in-house creative team and Fiesta Parade Floats, construction of the maritime marvel began in mid-November and encompassed 10 designers collectively working hundreds of hours right up until parade time. Dozens of volunteers, including Carnival travel agent partners, joined the designers to decorate the float. On Jan. 2, “Come Sail Away” will be seen close-up by more than 200,000 spectators who attend the traditional post-parade viewing party in downtown Pasadena with the Carnival AirShip flying over the city, as well. “We’re the number one cruise line from the West Coast and what better way to celebrate this distinction and the arrival of Carnival Panorama than by our first-ever Rose Parade which truly captures the essence of what Choosing Fun on a Carnival cruise is all about,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Panorama is set to debut with a special three-day cruise from Long Beach on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by the launch of year-round, seven-day Mexican Riviera service on Dec. 14, 2019. The ship joins Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration to carry upwards of 600,000 guests annually from the West Coast – more than any other cruise operator. |
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