(PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif., (February 18, 2022) - Princess confirms that it is participating in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters through March 31 and is advising guests of the following changes:
· Effective with cruises departing Mar. 1, masks on board will be recommended but not required. There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required. · Additional flexibility for pre-cruising testing requirements will become available. Details will be posted to the Cruise Health section of our website. · Princess will continue to meet the standard of vaccinated cruises. “Princess has proven cruise vacations are safe and healthy for our guests and teams,” said John Padgett, President, Princess Cruises. “Going forward, Princess is prepared to adjust operating protocols to ensure our guests have amazing vacations while always protecting the safety of our guests, team members and destinations.” Padgett added, “We appreciate the ongoing collaboration among multiple government agencies as well as the support of Alaska officials and other delegations.” Please see www.princess.com for additional information and updates. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that it will participate in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters, and is advising guests of the following changes:
“We have had a very successful restart of guest operations thanks to the support of our guests, the commitment of our shipboard team, and the effective protocols we have put in place,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The public health situation has continued to improve, providing confidence about these changes. Our protocols will evolve as we continue to remain dedicated to protecting the public health of our guests, crew and the communities we visit.” Duffy said that Carnival’s highest responsibility and top priority is always compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel. “We appreciate the ongoing collaboration among multiple government agencies, as well as the support of Alaska officials and other delegations,” she added. Los Angeles (February 16, 2022) – Viking® (www.viking.com) has marked the launch of its highly-anticipated expeditions as the new purpose-built Viking Octantis® started its first Antarctic season. The launch of Viking Expeditions is a significant milestone as the company begins its 25th anniversary year; by the end of the year, Viking will have welcomed a second identical expedition ship, as well as two new identical ocean ships, new Viking Longships® in Europe and new purpose-built vessels for the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi rivers. “When we started Viking 25 years ago, we wanted to do things differently—and since then, our mission has resonated with curious travelers. This week alone our guests are enjoying voyages north of the Arctic Circle and south to the Antarctic Peninsula—as well as to many great destinations in between,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Antarctica has always inspired the most intrepid explorers; for many, visiting the ‘White Continent’ is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the arrival of the Viking Octantis, we are offering our guests the opportunity to explore this unique part of the world in comfort and in the most responsible way possible. (PRESS RELEASE)_Fort Lauderdale, FL – Feb. 17, 2022 – American Queen Voyages™, part of the Hornblower® Group, has unveiled its most comprehensive cruise atlas in the line’s 10-year history. Encompassing the 2022-2024 seasons, the 156-page guide is the definitive resource for travel partners and consumers seeking extraordinary Rivers, Lakes & Oceans and Expedition experiences. The atlas illustrates the Discovery Runs Deep™ message from cover to cover with stunning imagery and descriptive narratives highlighting the American Queen Voyages all-inclusive experience over three years, across the eight-vessel fleet and shore excursions in over 120 North American ports. “The new Atlas is another milestone achievement as we continue to introduce the American Queen Voyages brand, comprehensively encouraging a deeper discovery of North America one page at a time,” explained Kari Tarnowski, senior vice president of marketing and sales, American Queen Voyages. “Inspired by the beauty of Rivers, Lakes & Oceans and Expedition experiences with the boldness of our new design, the comprehensive catalogue will help travelers learn about our experiences and travel advisors sell to clients.” (PRESS RELEASE)_Miami (Feb. 17, 2022) – Travelers craving a tropical escape will have more options as new-luxury brand Celebrity Cruises® takes its 2023-2024 Caribbean season to new heights with the addition of its newest ship, Celebrity Ascent℠. With eight ships navigating the idyllic island region, including three from the award-winning Edge® Series, and itineraries ranging from 4-12 nights, guests will have more options to choose from when planning their dream vacation. Celebrity Ascent Makes Her Caribbean Debut Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in the award-winning Edge Series, which made her way from concept to construction on November 22, 2021, will make her highly anticipated maiden voyage on December 3, 2023. After departing from Ft. Lauderdale, she will explore the exquisite waters of the Eastern Caribbean for the first time. While guests soak up her luxurious new features, she’ll transport them to some of the most sought-after destinations in the region including Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. (PRESS RELEASE)_CELEBRATION, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2022) – New enchantment awaits families aboard the Disney Wish, setting sail this July. From indulging in “Inside Out”-inspired treats to going on a picnic with “Frozen” friends to immersive shows featuring Disney Princesses, villains and heroes, the newest Disney Cruise Line ship has been expertly designed to deliver endless fun for the whole family. “Family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When we set out to design the next generation of Disney cruise ships, we wanted to provide families with more opportunities than ever to make lasting memories together and to experience Disney storytelling in completely new ways. Whether it’s a new take on a guest favorite experience, like our signature sweets shop, or an immersive show in a first-of-its-kind venue like Luna and Hero Zone, there will be no shortage of family fun aboard the Disney Wish.” Inside Out: Joyful Sweets Inside Out: Joyful Sweets will emphasize the sweeter side of life. In this dazzling dessert shop inspired by the Pixar film, guests will find an abundance of handmade gelato, ice cream, candy and novelty treats for purchase. This brightly colored wonderland, designed to resemble the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind where her emotions guide her through everyday life, will feature sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures. The shop will offer nearly 40 flavors of gelato and ice cream, with daily handcrafted gelato specials in decadent combinations like peanut butter pretzel and white chocolate raspberry. Whipped cream, fruit compotes and sauces will be freshly made in-house to complement a wide selection of tasty toppings. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Feb. 15, 2022 – Kicking off its year-long 50th birthday festivities, Carnival Cruise Line is revealing details on its Sailabrations cruises that will begin later this week and run through March 10, 2022. The commemorative birthday sailings will feature at-sea ship meetups, as well as special entertainment and programming. “We only turn 50 once, so we had to go big, and what’s bigger than a year-long birthday celebration that begins with our special Sailabrations cruises,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “From the minute our guests walk into our terminals, they’ll know they are at the biggest and best birthday party ever.” Before stepping on board, guests will be welcomed into Carnival’s cruise terminals-turned-birthday parties with fun music, signage and décor. Upon embarkation, the celebration begins as each ship will host a 50th Birthday Bash Sailaway Party where guests are invited to wear their favorite Carnival gear, vintage or modern, as Playlist Productions cast members join the ships' Cruise Director, Fun Squad and DJs to rock to festive tunes. (PRESS RELEASE)_New York, NY (February 15, 2022) – City Experiences announced today the launch of Venture Ashore, the largest independent cruise excursions provider in the world, delivering uniquely curated amazing experiences for cruise travelers led by professional guides in hundreds of ports worldwide. Venture Ashore cruising excursions are offered in 111 countries and counting with departures from over 500 ports of call worldwide featuring over 5,000 individual tours. Venture Ashore is the newest addition to the City Experiences portfolio of brands, and backed by Hornblower Group, supporting the company’s overall business strategy in becoming a global transportation and experiences leader. “We are thrilled to launch Venture Ashore and share with travelers our collection of tour offerings that will fully immerse you in the sites, sounds, tastes, passions and cultures in cruise destinations around the globe by creating personal connections and one-of-a-kind encounters,” said Rinat Glinert, chief operating officer, Venture Ashore. “We are all about building a community of like-minded travelers through developing unparalleled guest experiences that will create lifetime memories. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly adventure, a bespoke private tour, or a fun way to explore a port of call with new friends, Venture Ashore has something for everyone.” Related: See Our Coverage of the Virgin Event Here Drone Video Provided by Virgin Voyages (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL, FEB. 14, 2022 – Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s epic new cruise line, celebrated the long-awaited grand opening of Terminal V at PortMiami yesterday, ringing in the occasion with a mermaid-studded soiree. Sir Richard Branson, joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Virgin Voyages’ CEO Tom McAlpin, made a splash with a memorable ribbon cutting ceremony marked by mermaid aerialists and a grand entrance via Virgin branded electric Moke vehicles.
With a street address of 718 N Cruise Blvd. – cleverly earmarked to celebrate Sir Richard Branson’s birthday on July 18 – the opening of Virgin Voyages’ own cruise terminal represents a major milestone in the brand’s history and the first time Scarlet Lady sailed from her new home. “Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing Scarlet Lady in her home port here in Miami has been such an incredible experience. The team at Virgin Voyages has created a stunning building that delivers on our commitment to being better stewards of the earth with its LEED Gold Certification,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. (PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Feb. 14, 2022 — Dear Alaska, you amaze me … Fans who declare their love for Alaska in a letter or poem can enter to win one of 10 suites, including a grand prize Neptune Suite, on a 2022 cruise to the Great Land in Holland America Line’s “Love Letters to Alaska” contest. This year, the premium cruise line celebrates 75 years of Alaska exploration, and the Love Letters contest is a tribute to the beloved cruising region. Launching on Valentine’s Day and running through March 15, 2022, entrants can visit www.loveletterstoalaska.com and tell Holland America Line why they love Alaska or why they would like to visit Alaska. Participants can get creative and write a poem professing their love for Alaska, an emotional letter detailing the ways Alaska moves them or an inspiring note on why Alaska would be a once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation. Holland America Line’s own love letter can be seen on the Love Letters to Alaska page on hollandamerica.com. |
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