"Royal Caribbean entertainment spans beyond the stage and onto the ice at the cruise line's signature Studio B ice rink. Home to productions unlike any other, the venue pairs state-of-the-art technology features, like jaw-dropping projection capabilities, lighting and sound, with highly skilled entertainers to bring show-stopping performances to life."
PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Princess Cruises announced today its fourth Culinary Cruise featuring noted food journalist Bill Esparza. The culinary cruise sails the west coast departing out of Los Angeles on Ruby Princess March 22 – 26, 2018. Esparza brings along notable chefs Sabina Bandera and Carlos Salgado to collaborate with the award-winning Princess Cruises culinary team for a week of unique gastronomy experiences including chef-led cooking demonstrations, tequila tastings and cocktail making tutorials, custom shore excursions and Q+A sessions. “I am honored to work with Princess Cruises to bring Mexican flavors and culture to life through authentic culinary programming,” said Bill Esparza. “Princess has a thoughtful approach to immersing guests in its destinations and connecting them to the culture and local food.” Bill Esparza is recent winner of a James Beard award for his coverage of the L.A. taco scene in Los Angeles Magazine and is considered one of the country's leading experts on Mexican food. A noted saxophone player, Esparza has traveled and eaten extensively throughout Mexico, Latin America, and, of course, Southern California. Guests onboard will have the opportunity to experience special menus throughout the ship’s restaurant and bars and learn valuable cuisine skills to bring home with them from our guest chefs who have a varied but traditional background: Sabina Bandera is the Queen of the Cart, La Guerrerense, whose tostadas de mariscos have been proclaimed among the best in the world by the “Sultan of Street Food” himself, Anthony Bourdain. Plain, simple, humble and delicious have been La Guerrerense’s trademarks since she arrived at her food cart in Ensenada when she was 21 years old. Named Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2015, Chef Carlos Salgado opened Taco María in 2013. He decided to honor his family’s culture and legacy by making Mexican-inspired food with a reverence for its origin and roots. Using the best ingredients available and applying the techniques and values he learned in Michelin-starred restaurants, Salgado works to create a syncretic Alta California cuisine that represents Mexican food by putting real corn at the foundation. “Bill Esparza has been lauded as the ‘go to’ expert of Latin American food and culture in the United States,” said Gordon Ho, Princess Cruises senior vice president, global marketing. “As we sail down the coast to Mexico, our guests will enjoy hearing about his food experiences and stories of learning about Mexican food in his grandmother’s kitchen. It’s these types of authentic connections that unite and enrich us when we travel.” Guests will experience the best of the west coast with Princess Cruises on this four-day, four-port California-Mexico cruise. MIAMI (Feb. 10, 2018) – Carnival Cruise Line today announced several significant initiatives designed to further bolster its leadership position on the West Coast: the deployment of Carnival Panorama to Long Beach in 2019 – the first new Carnival ship based in Southern California in 20 years; the grand re-opening of its 146,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Long Beach Cruise Terminal, and a multi-million-dollar port development project in Ensenada, Mexico, that will provide guests with one-of-a-kind experiences ashore. The announcement was made by Carnival President Christine Duffy in Long Beach, California at a VIP ceremony officially unveiling the enhancements to the newly upgraded cruise terminal with travel agents, port officials, local dignitaries and media in attendance. “This is a momentous occasion for both Carnival and the City of Long Beach – not only are we celebrating the grand re-opening of this magnificent cruise terminal, but also demonstrating our commitment to the West Coast with the deployment of the spectacular new Carnival Panorama in 2019 and the announcement of an exciting new port development project in Ensenada,” said Duffy. “The West Coast is an important market with vast growth potential and these initiatives further demonstrate the confidence in our future success in Long Beach. We are very much looking forward to having Carnival Panorama homeported here beginning next year.” “The expansion of the terminal and arrival of this exciting new ship is great news for the city of Long Beach, underscoring Carnival’s longstanding commitment to our community while adding additional opportunities for growing our economy and promoting all that our wonderful city has to offer,” said Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach. “Carnival has been an excellent partner for 15 years and we look forward to working with them for many years to come.” Carnival Panorama to the West Coast In 2019, Carnival will make history when it deploys its third Vista-class ship, the 3,960-passenger Carnival Panorama, on seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, providing an exciting new seagoing vacation option to this vital and fast-growing market. PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 6, 2018) – Having flown the coop for a cruise adventure of her own, Harri the stowaway galah, a rose-breasted female cockatoo native to Australia, has been returned to her family by Princess Cruises for a joy-filled reunion at the Portside Cruise Terminal in Brisbane. The adventure all started as Michelle and Brett Cozzi along with four-year-old daughter Georgia were packing for a cruise vacation. The Cozzi’s beloved bird, Harri, was accidentally set free from her cage and flew away from the suburban town of Nundah, Queensland, Australia and presumed never to be seen again. The family was devastated, but little did they know, Harri was about to take a cruise vacation of her own. Sea Princess, one of Princess Cruises 17 ships, was sailing the Tasman Sea when crew members came across the beautiful bird. Officers had Harri scanned for a microchip, and discovered the bird was family pet. The officers made her an honorary crew member with her own laminated crew identification card. Harri enjoyed the remainder of her cruise vacation on Sea Princess complete with her own stateroom, daily meals and world-class service. Meanwhile, as the Cozzi family was enjoying their cruise on sister line P&O’s Pacific Aria off Queensland, word was received from Australian Agriculture Department officials that Harri had been found, and to the entire family’s shock, was on her own cruise adventure to New Zealand. Once back on land and awaiting her return, the Cozzi family learned of Harri’s fantastic journey. During her 14-day New Zealand cruise odyssey, Sea Princess Environmental Officer Tibor Filipovic was Harri’s friendly onboard guardian under the watchful eye of the ship’s Master, Princess Cruises Commodore Giuseppe Romano, as they followed the strict biosecurity guidelines that enabled fully fledged Australian bird citizen Harri to return home. Commodore Romano and Environmental Officer Filipovic said they were pleased to be able to care for Harri during her stay on Sea Princess, and looked forward to returning her to her Brisbane family, despite the crew who has grown fond of their Aussie shipmate. “The entire ship’s company has come to love Harri and she has been a very good shipmate and no trouble at all,” Commodore Romano said. “But we could also see that Harri was missing her human family, so it was a great pleasure to be able to reunite them.” As the journey came to an end, the Cozzi family delivered Harri’s birdcage to the terminal where Sea Princess docked, and then waited patiently while Harri received a pre-disembarkation veterinary check, which, as expected, she passed with flying colors. “We are very excited to have Harri home because she is a much loved member and indispensable part of our family,” Michelle Cozzi said. “We’d hoped for her safe return but after Harri had been gone for a few days, it wasn’t looking good. It was amazing to discover she had been found on another cruise ship. It was just the best news possible.” Harri’s return is the result of a joint effort by Princess Cruises, the Sea Princess crew, and government authorities on both sides of the Tasman Sea. The groups worked together to ensure biosecurity requirements were strictly followed so that Harri could come home. “We are pleased to contribute to such a positive outcome in a story that has captured the imagination of so many people here and around the world,” said Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises senior vice president. “The Sea Princess team set the scene for today’s family reunion with the professional way in which they responded to Harri’s discovery on their ship.” “It has also been a great pleasure to work cooperatively with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and the Australian Department of Agriculture to happily resolve Harri’s stowaway adventure.” This story goes to show that not only people ‘flock’ to Princess Cruises. PRESS RELEASE_Seattle, Wash., Feb. 7, 2018 — Following an inaugural season island-hopping throughout the Caribbean, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam will cross the Atlantic Ocean in late April 2019 and spend the summer and fall exploring northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The new Pinnacle Class ship will homeport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the summer. Offering an enchanting collection of seven- and 14-day itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic, Iceland and North Cape, Nieuw Statendam will visit some of the most scenic and culturally rich ports in the region. In September the ship will head to the warm waters of the Mediterranean on a 12-day cruise from Amsterdam to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Three 10-day cruises roundtrip from Civitavecchia will explore the eastern and western Mediterranean. The ship then departs Civitavecchia Oct. 27 for a 14-day cruise back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Holland America Line is known for offering incredible itineraries that deeply immerse our guests in the places we visit, and for Nieuw Statendam’s inaugural season in Europe we crafted cruises that will deliver an unforgettable experience,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “By offering nearly six months of cruising in the region, we’re able to take the ship from Iceland to Greece and everywhere in between. We encourage everyone to book early because interest has been remarkably high for our newest ship.” PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 8, 2017) – Princess Cruises today revealed the artwork for “The Secret Silk,” the third production created in collaboration with Oscar-, Tony- and Grammy award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”, “Pippin”, “Godspell”). Created by Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion, the “The Secret Silk” artwork was commissioned specifically to reflect the whimsical nature of the production. A remarkable tale of adventure, romance, and enchantment that features familiar music and brings together some of Broadway’s best to transport audiences onboard, the new show was created and directed by Tony Award-nominated John Tartaglia (“Avenue Q”, “Sesame Street”). “The Secret Silk” debuts exclusively on Royal Princess starting in mid-February 2018, while the ship is sailing the Caribbean. “The Secret Silk” is the story of an Asian folkloric tale with a contemporary spin, featuring inspired performances through the use of music, dance, puppetry and special effects. Adapted from the ancient fable “The Grateful Crane,” the story features Lan, a beautiful, selfless young woman who possesses a magical gift, secretly creating brilliant silk fabrics. Audiences will be introduced to original life-size puppetry from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, and an original song, “Sing to the Sky,” both created exclusively for the production. “Working on the poster design for The Secret Silk has been a wonderful creative opportunity,” said artist Katie Rodgers. “I love taking a script and seeing where the words take me artistically. ‘The Secret Silk’ has an air of mystery to it which I love to recreate with my paintings." Rodgers is the artist and illustrator behind the fanciful world of Paper Fashion. Since childhood, Rodgers has been bringing her imaginations to life through fantastical artwork which effortlessly dances around the tiles of Instagram. Known for her elegant and often animated Shadow Dancers, her work has been commissioned by the likes of Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Estee Lauder, Perrier Jouet, Disney, Focus Features, Harper's Bazaar, and Swarovski, among others. “The Secret Silk” premieres aboard Royal Princess, followed by Island Princess in May 2018 for the Alaska season, and Diamond Princess sailing Japan in fall 2018. Actress and avid traveler Shay Mitchell is Royal Caribbean's "Adventurist," the adventure adviser and storyteller for the world's most adventurous cruise line, Royal Caribbean International. In this video, Shay visits one of our personal favorites, St. Maarten. PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI, FL February 7, 2018 – Today, Azamara Club Cruises® announces a new onboard entertainment playbill with cabaret style performances and musicians from Feinstein’s/54 Below, as well as short opera vignettes and theatre shows from Magic City Opera and City Theatre. The refreshed entertainment concepts and visiting talents are part of the brand’s commitment to offering guests carefully-curated onboard experiences. The specialized programming will be offered onboard Azamara Journeyâ and Questâ starting in February 2018 as well as the Azamara PursuitSM after the inaugural sailing in August 2018. “We look forward to providing guests with vibrant onboard entertainment to enhance their experience while sailing with us. Our new entertainment launch will bring to life classic and short plays, along with short operas and shows, by using music, Broadway stars and entertainers that engage and enthrall their audiences,” said Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. In collaboration with Azamara, Ryan Stana, CEO of RWS Entertainment Group also noted, “The cruise line industry has seen a surge of enthusiasm and momentum behind innovations from itineraries to onboard technologies. Through the partnership with Azamara Club Cruises and Feinstein’s/54 Below, we are excited to bring a new view to entertainment programming as well. This is the first overarching branded guest entertainer experience at sea and it will be unique and different in our industry.” The new experience produced by RWS will transform the Cabaret Lounge onboard to reflect the elegant and intimate Feinstein’s/54 Below performance space in New York City and will feature drinks inspired by their signature cocktails, service style and ambience. 54 Below at Sea: New York City’s premier cabaret club Feinstein’s/54 Below is bringing their talent and over-the-top performances to Azamara, with a collection of Broadway’s amazing cabaret stars, comedians and instrumentalists. Unlike traditional Broadway shows, performances will be in an intimate setting that inspires and engages audiences. Top talent includes entertainers Daniel Reichard, the original Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, Christine Pedi radio host Sirius XM – On Broadway, and David Kaplan who New York Times called one of the best classical music performers. Azamara Club Cruises has also partnered with two extraordinary entertainment groups: City Theatre and Magic City Opera for a series of short plays and opera cabarets. This collaboration further enhances and diversifies Azamara Club Cruises’ entertainment portfolio. City Theatre: One of Miami’s most famous and critically acclaimed acting troupes will transport guests with their famous and creative “Shorts on Ships.” Known for being the largest troupe dedicated to ten-minute plays, the shorts draw on human emotion and cultural conversations to evoke strong audience responses – from laughter and tears to introspection! Magic City Opera: This contemporary take on the short opera vignette experience unites music, drama, visual and literary effects. The Magic City Opera continues the great tradition of using opera as a social event and hopes to inspire onboard guests to mingle after the show and to discuss the creative arts experience. Aside from the three new entertainment offerings, Azamara will continue to offer entertainment and experiences such as live local entertainment, movie nights, AzAmazing Evenings and White Night celebrations, as well as our new musical trios that will entertain throughout the ship. The Living Room will still play host to musical evenings including the guest-favorite ABBA Night. |
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