(PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif., (February 21, 2023) – The lure of Japan is calling with its ancient temples, cherry blossoms, modern cityscapes and vibrant cuisine with the newly released 2024 Japan cruise season on sale now from Princess Cruises. New for 2024, Royal Princess makes her Japan debut and marks the first Royal-Class ship to sail in the region. The series of cruises offers many opportunities to view the magnificent spring flowers, as well as four breathtaking summer festivals. Royal Princess sails a new Japan & North Pacific Crossing, calling to the northern Tohoku and Hokkaido regions during the magnificent cherry blossom season with the option to combine with the cruise line’s popular Voyage of the Glaciers cruise to witness the majestic glaciers of Alaska. Guests can opt to disembark in Anchorage (Whittier) for a 15-day voyage or continue to Vancouver, B.C. for a 22-day cruise. The cruise departs Tokyo (Yokohama) on April 27, 2024. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2023 – As Carnival Cruise Line prepares to unveil details about Carnival Firenze's introduction to its fleet, guests can now register to be the “first to know” about upcoming itineraries and special sale promotions by clicking here. Carnival Firenze joins the fleet in spring 2024 and will sail from Long Beach, Calif. The ship will offer a variety of cruises year-round, with sailings set for popular destinations in Baja, California and the Mexican Riviera. Detailed itineraries and onboard offerings will be announced shortly. "We embark more guests from California than any other cruise line, and soon Carnival Firenze will provide a great new option for them," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "When the ship joins our fleet, she's going to bring our valued guests a new experience that complements our signature fun with the ship's spectacular Italian atmosphere." The ship will feature the cruise line's new Carnival Fun Italian Style experience, which debuts with the June 2023 arrival of Carnival Venezia in New York. Carnival Fun Italian Style incorporates Carnival’s signature high-energy environment, friendly team members and many familiar venues, plus several new, creative concepts – from Italian-themed restaurants, bars and entertainment. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. By Gerry Barker North Palm Beach Life During a recent cruise on Holland America's Nieuw Statendam, a number of guests had gathered around the ship's cruise director, Gage Griffin. The topic of conversation wasn't the evening's entertainment, or when the next bingo or trivia would start. Instead, they were all trying to guess his age. Even Griffin himself acknowledges his youthful appearance. "I could pass for 16," he says during an interview. In point of fact, he is not only the youngest cruise director in the Holland America fleet, but also the youngest across its parent company, Carnival Corporation. A native of Louisville, KY., you could say Griffin was born to work on the high seas. "My mom loved 'The Love Boat,' " he said. "She had us watch it (on reruns, of course) and we got very invested. We all wanted to be Julie, the cruise director." So much so, Gage, along with his younger siblings, Stevie and Hunter, would "play fake cruise ship in our pool, with a blow-up raft" Later, he got a chance to cruise on the real thing during family vacations. "I thought (working on a cruise ship) looked like so much fun." But, he added, "Watching 'Love Boat' was the biggest inspiration." Gage's other early love was musical theater, which he got involved with at age five. For two years, he performed in the national touring company of "Les Misérables," playing the role of Gavroche, "a child that was supposed to be 8," although he was 11 when the tour started. At Indiana University, Gage majored in broadcast journalism and theater. Upon graduating at 20, he became a TV news reporter and anchor in Atlanta, Ga. While he liked what he was doing, the siren call from "The Love Boat" never left him, so as the pandemic began to wind down, he decided to apply for a cruise job with Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. "I sent in my auditions and didn't think anything would happen," he said. To his surprise, he got offers from all three, but ultimately chose Holland America. "I one hundred percent made the right decision," he said. "It's been the job of a lifetime." He credits his background as playing a key role." Performing and journalism combined to really help me in this job, since I talk to a lot of people, learn a lot of different things and have to convey information in a concise and easy to understand way." So far, he said the job has "exceeded expectations," and loves the positive work environment," adding the "happiness and positivity is so refreshing." When he takes a break and is back home, Gage can't turn it off. "I'm shopping in Target and go around smiling and waving at the customers. People are probably freaked out." Gage has had an opportunity to work on all four classes of Holland America's ships. So what is a typical day for him? Depends on if it's a sea day or a port day. "Sea days very busy," he said. After a morning staff meeting, he'll host a coffee chat with one of the ship's personnel, conduct one of the ships EXC (Explorations Central) talks and deliver announcements throughout the day. It affords him plenty of exercise since he always takes the stairs, and has learned the art of the power nap as well. On port days, he'll frequently get off with the guests to explore, since a major part of his job is to know everything about the ports of call. On those rare occasions when conditions force a port cancellation, Gage said, "It's all hands on deck to rapidly plan a whole new sea day." Rather than being stressful, "weirdly, it's almost my favorite," he said. "It's like a bonus for the guests and we get to do some special events." So, why is Holland America a great choice for a cruise? "People are amazed by artwork and design," he said, and since their ships are relatively smaller, "they feel more like a village than a city, with a family feel." He added that the line "represents classic cruising, with itineraries second to none to all seven continents." He summed it up: "We're not trying to create tourists -- we want to create travelers, helping people understand the places we go." While his typical contract is four months, Gage requested an extension and stretched it to almost 10 months, saying, "I love this job so much, if I could, I would work 12 months a year." Given his performing background, he said he's ready to stand in for any of the singers and dancers should the need arise. And just in case you were wondering how old this cruise director that could pass for 16 really is, we can reveal it now: He's 24. That little factoid might come in handy on a future Holland America trivia session. (PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Feb. 17, 2023 -- Travelers looking to book a memorable family getaway can take advantage of Holland America Line’s “Time of Your Life” wave season promotion that includes a kids cruise free perk. This is in addition to receiving a free stateroom upgrade, fare discounts and reduced deposits -- plus tours, beverages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi when booking the “Have It All” premium package. “Time of Your Life” is available on select April 2023 through April 2024 cruises. With the promotion, kids aged 5 to 18 sailing as the third and fourth guests in the same stateroom cruise for free, making a bucket-list family vacation more affordable (*taxes, fees and port expenses are additional). “A cruise is one of the easiest ways to explore the world as a family, and with our wave promotion it’s even more affordable to take a vacation to a dream location like Alaska or Europe,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer, Holland America Line. “Cruising caters to all ages, so there’s something for everyone on board and ashore. You unpack once while visiting multiple destinations, all meals are planned, evening entertainment is complimentary and adults can relax while the kids meet new friends in the Club HAL youth program. The best souvenirs will be the memories you bring home.” (PRESS RELEASE)_Geneva, Switzerland, February 16, 2023 - The MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have organized an urgent response to support the population in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. A wide effort is underway across the MSC family and the company is closely coordinating with the Turkish authorities, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Vatican. MSC Aurelia, normally used as a passenger and vehicle ferry, departed from the Port of Naples on February 16 heading for the port of Iskenderun (Alexandretta).
MSC Aurelia, with a cargo capacity of 40 trucks and 400+ cars, loaded basic necessities and first aid items collected by the MSC Group and the MSC Foundation, together with the Rava Foundation. The cargo onboard includes 60 pallets of medical supplies, food, hygiene items, warm clothing and blankets, as well as toys and crayons for children. An additional 50 boxes of thermal shirts are being carried on behalf of the Vatican (PRESS RELEASE)_PROVIDENCE, RI, Feb. 16, 2023 – Poseidon Expeditions, which focuses on remote polar cruise exploration in the high latitudes, has opened reservations for May 2024 through September 2024 cruises in the Arctic and October 2024 through February 2025 departures in the Antarctic, all aboard the 114-passenger Sea Spirit. All-new “super” early booking rates are available through the end of May 2023 for all Arctic and Antarctic cruises in 2024-2025, with discounts as generous as 20 percent off the regular rates, depending on category reserved. From June through the end of October, these discounts will be reduced by five percent, still a considerable savings for polar adventurers. (PRESS RELEASE)_Carnival Cruise Line has a unique new member joining the top ranks of its loyalty club – a retired U.S. Army service dog named Sarge. While sailing on Carnival Celebration last week, Sarge reached Diamond status of the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club – though in this case, the “P” could also stand for “pooch.” The 14-year-old Belgian Malinois just completed his 55th cruise and was honored during Carnival Celebration’s Platinum and Diamond loyalty event, for spending more than 200 nights at sea. “What could be more fun than celebrating a beloved four-legged friend as a Diamond cruiser?” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re proud to celebrate and support veterans at Carnival, as the cruise line that carries the most service members, and I’m delighted to count Sarge among them.” Sarge spent most of his life serving in the military, and now lives and travels with his owner, Justin Marcum, Sr., who is also a Diamond member of Carnival’s VIFP Club. Carnival’s VIFP Club offers a variety of exciting benefits and perks to the line’s most loyal guests. Members have access to a special web portal, where enjoy members-only specials, promotions and other offers. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. (PRESS RELEASE)_ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands (February 16, 2023) – The Buccaneer hotel, St. Croix’s most celebrated and historic property, is inviting travelers to experience A Vibe Like No Other in St. Croix this winter with $200 airfare credits. Guests who book a minimum stay of five nights directly with The Buccaneer will receive $200 in airfare credits per person, as well as 10 percent off their room rate. Bookings must be made for travel through April 30, 2023. Airfare credits, which are being offered through a promotion partnership with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, apply only to guests over 16 years of age and are limited to two credits per room. St. Croix is known as a culinary hotspot in the U.S. Virgin Islands, offering a range of food festivals, tours and other events throughout the year, as well as a robust international dining scene. Historical attractions include the Estate Whim Museum, the Cruzan Rum Distillery and local fortresses dating back to the mid-1700s. Upcoming events on the island include Agrifest 2023, the 51st Annual Agricultural and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Billed as the largest “country fair” in the Caribbean, the event is set for February 18-20. Later in the spring, the St. Croix International Regatta sets off on April 14. To take advantage of the A Vibe Like No Other promotion, bookings must be secured directly with The Buccaneer via telephone (1-800-255-3881), email (reservations@thebuccaneer.com) or via the hotel’s promotions booking engine using the promotion code VIBE2023 before March 1, 2023. Bookings made via other sources cannot be honored and the offer cannot be used on existing bookings. For more information, visit https://www.thebuccaneer.com/offers/st-croix-a-vibe-like-no-other-air-credit-promotion. (PRESS RELEASE)_SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Feb. 15, 2023 - True to its pioneering heritage, Aurora Expeditions aims to explore Greenland's northernmost tip, a location not yet frequented by expedition cruises. The adventure company’s purpose-built ship, the Greg Mortimer, will depart Reykjavik, Iceland on its 14-day East Greenland Explorer on Aug. 15, 2023, sailing through spectacular scenery to Germania Land and on to Kronprins Christian Land in Northeast Greenland. Award-winning, Australian-owned expedition company Aurora Expeditions, with over 32 years of history and purpose-driven exploration, prides itself on its innovative ways and pushing the boundaries of discovery to provide unique, immersive experiences for its expeditioners while maintaining a light footprint. This region is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, amazing icescapes and wildlife delighting passengers traveling on this groundbreaking voyage as it explores these lesser-traveled frontiers. “We invite you to join us and be part of a trailblazing ‘exploratory voyage,’ where the itinerary is driven by nature and Aurora’s genuine spirit of exploration,” said Hayley Peacock Gower, chief marketing officer. “Aurora Expeditions continues to focus on increasing awareness of the thought-provoking and inspiring regions it visits through immersive and educational experiences to create life-long advocates of our planet.” The voyage will depend on the weather and ice conditions, but the goal is to head north towards Kronprins Christian Land, the home of the world's only military dog sled patrol, the Sirius Patrol of Northeast Greenland National Park. The highly-skilled Expedition Team will use their expertise to design the day-to-day activities, exploring on land or cruising along spectacular fjords, making the best use of the prevailing conditions and wildlife opportunities. The East Greenland Explorer expedition begins at $13,795 per person with the opportunity to save 10% when booked and deposited before Feb. 28, 2023. Expedition price includes overnight accommodation with ensuite and breakfast prior to the expedition; Golden Circle and Geothermal Energy tour before embarkation; all meals, snacks tea and coffee during the voyage; beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner; all shore excursions and Zodiac cruises; all lectures; transfers; 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket; port charges, fees, gratuities and Wi-Fi. Optional activity available for this voyage is sea kayaking. By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life February 14, 2023 As our Uber arrived at Port Everglades’ Terminal 26, Pam and I felt an air of both excitement and anticipation — that feeling you get when you experience a new cruise line for the first time. In front of us was Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam, the second of their Pinnacle-class ships launched in December 2018, with Oprah Winfrey named as the ship’s godmother. We learned it’s actually the sixth iteration of that name, which isn’t that unusual when you consider Holland America is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. There was already a long line of guests waiting to check-in, no doubt because we learned later this cruise was totally sold out (capacity is almost 2,700). Over the next seven days, we are scheduled to visit Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Holland’s private island, Half Moon Cay. With the weather turning cold and windy in Florida, we were happy to be heading to warmer climes. READ MORE AT ALL THINHS CRUISE |
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