From the Disney Parks Blog Author: Ashley Long, cruise director, Disney Cruise Line Mar. 23, 2022 – Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! Can you tell I’m excited that Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is coming to the Disney Wish? Today, I am thrilled to share a special first look with you. This magical experience provides pixie-dusted makeovers for kids ages 3 to 12, complete with hairstyling, makeup, costumes and accessories — is truly beloved by Disney Cruise Line guests. The team at Walt Disney Imagineering has created a storybook salon for our newest ship, which sets sail this summer. The venue will feature beautiful wood detailing, chandeliers with candle lights and design elements inspired by Cinderella. In addition to the styling space seen above, there will also be plenty of photo spots to capture each precious moment. In addition to the guest-favorite princess, pirate and knight transformations already available, the Disney Wish will offer a selection of brand-new looks coming soon to the entire Disney Cruise Line fleet! For the first time ever, young cruisers will be able to become Captain Minnie Mouse and Captain Mickey Mouse with these adorable makeovers inspired by the characters’ signature Disney Cruise Line looks. And children wishing to trade in their legs for fins can soon choose this new Ariel look – the perfect outfit for watching our original “The Little Mermaid” stage show aboard the Disney Wish! Of course, an outfit is not complete without accessories! A nautical headband or captain’s hat will complete the new Minnie and Mickey makeovers, while little Ariels can sparkle head to toe with the matching necklace and tiara. We’re so excited to see all of the captains and mermaids aboard our ships when these new offerings are introduced across the fleet this summer. For more information about Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or to make a reservation, visit disneycruise.com. In the coming months, I’ll share more details about exclusive products and packages you’ll find aboard our newest ship. Stay tuned! (PRESS RELEASE)_Miami, FL, March 23, 2022 – Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced the appointment of Frank Del Rio Jr. as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for the brand. As Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Del Rio will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities across the globe and lead the teams based in the brand’s offices in Miami, Southampton, Sydney, and Sao Paulo. This appointment marks Del Rio’s return to the company and a continuation of his 14-year tenure, which ran from 2003 through 2017.
During his time at Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and ultimately at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Del Rio rose to the rank of Senior Vice President and led all aspects of Port and Destination Services along with Onboard Revenue. During this period, Del Rio spearheaded tremendous leaps in innovation and product development, achieved significant financial efficiencies and organizational synergies, and drove record-breaking and industry-leading results in the form of revenue increases. “I’m delighted to add Frank and his many talents to the already stellar team at Oceania Cruises. His passion, enthusiasm, and day-one familiarity with the brand, our guests, and our travel partners will take us from strength to strength,” stated Howard Sherman, President & CEO of Oceania Cruises. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, March 23, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line is revealing a new Miami-themed zone aboard Carnival Celebration, which will arrive to PortMiami this November. Named after the address of Carnival’s original headquarters, 820 Biscayne will celebrate the culture, architectural styles and flavors of the home city where the line was founded in 1972. On Deck 8, in the same location as La Piazza on sister ship Mardi Gras, 820 Biscayne will feature a similar layout and venues but with influences and design elements that reflect the urban-meets-laid back vibes of Miami, perfect for relaxing and people watching or enjoying fresh sea air and ocean views. Bringing Miamian food and beverage offerings to the fleet, 820 Biscayne will feature:
(PRESS RELEASE)_Le Ponant, the company’s iconic three-mast sailing yacht, launches a new itinerary, ‘The Seychelles under the trade winds,’ with 11 departures in the Winter 2022-2023 season. Following a complete refit led by Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio, Le Ponant now accommodates just 16 staterooms, offering an intimate sailing adventure in the Seychelles archipelago. Sailing roundtrip from Mahé, the nine-night itinerary explores a new island each day including two new ports of call for PONANT – the African Banks north of the Amirante Islands and Thérèse Island. Fringed by white sandy beaches, these uninhabited islands will be exclusive hosts to PONANT guests for the day. Venturing as close as possible to the fauna and flora of the Seychelles, an expedition leader, three naturalist guides, and a free diver instructor will be on ship to lead excursions, conferences, and discussions on the region’s biodiversity. Highlighted activities include scuba diving, free diving initiation, yoga at sunrise and sunset led by a yoga expert, meditation, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and outings in glass-bottomed kayaks. As a prelude to the Seychelles, guests also have the option to book a one-night pre-cruise program – sleeping under the stars in an eco-lodge nestled into the dunes on the Arabian Peninsula desert. Rates start from $10,890 per person. The itineraries depart from November 22, 2022 – February 20, 2023. For more information, please find the full itinerary listed here. Le Ponant Having been completely renovated with a sleek sophisticated design by the Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio, the end result is an intimate setting with only 16 staterooms for a maximum of 32 guests. Le Ponant, a symbol of PONANT’s ongoing commitment to responsible tourism since the beginning, is now fitted with the latest technological innovations to reduce her impact on the region. Le Ponant, which will navigate under sail as often as possible, includes other improvements such as a dockside connection, an innovative system of SCR filters to eliminate fine particles and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, waste sorting, and a state-of-the-art water treatment system. No detail has been overlooked to preserve and honor the local heritage and community. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, March 18, 2022 – Fifty may be a golden year, but instead it is steel that’s making Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th birthday extra special as the first metal was cut today for Carnival Jubilee which will be arriving to Galveston, Tex. in November 2023. The festivities took place in Papenberg, Germany, as Carnival Cruise Line and Meyer Werft representatives attended the ship’s steel cutting ceremony, representing the first significant milestone in the vessel’s construction. The steel cutting ceremony, a maritime tradition, was made uniquely celebratory by Carnival Jubilee’s shipbuilders, as confetti and a champagne toast heightened the excitement of starting construction on the world’s latest fun ship. At the shipyard’s laser center, silhouette of the ship was cut from the steel and signed by everyone in attendance. A special plaque was also cut from the same piece of steel to commemorate Carnival’s 50th birthday (PRESS RELEASE)_Calabasas, Ca. – (March 18, 2022) – AmaWaterways is welcoming the arrival of its 2022 European season with strong reservations and easing of entry requirements signaling a rebound of international travel. The extraordinary AmaMagna on the Danube River became the first of its 21-ship European fleet to start the spring season on March 6th in Budapest. The launch of the new season in Europe continues from March 17th onward with five ships dedicated to the popular Tulip Time cruises, five ships cruising the scenic rivers of France and another ten ships welcoming guests on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube and Douro rivers. With an average of fewer than 150 guests on board, an abundance of personal space and a personalized way of experiencing some of the world’s most fascinating destinations, AmaWaterways is experiencing a strong growth in demand from both returning guests and travelers new to river cruising. “After missing many celebrations with family and friends over the past two years, there is incredible pent-up demand, with travelers anxious to pack their bags and start fulfilling their travel ‘must do’ list,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “A desire to step away from the day-to-day and reconnect with the world is driving demand for longer cruises, itineraries that include exclusive events and those that take guests to more exotic destinations like on our 11-night Secrets of Egypt & The Nile cruise and land itinerary, our Mekong River cruises or our Africa Safaris & Wildlife cruises.” (PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., March 17, 2022 — Holland America Line is enhancing the preboarding guest experience and making embarkation easier by adding the use of mBark facial recognition and the VeriFLY vaccine verification program in all U.S., Canadian and European homeports. mBark is a mobile system that enables guests to check in for their cruise in less than 10 seconds, while the VeriFLY digital wallet for COVID-19 credentials offers a proven solution for proof of vaccination and test results. “Holland America Line continues to look for ways that make the cruising experience better for our guests as we navigate protocols and best practices for today’s travelers,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “We recently completed testing with VeriFLY and mBark on a few sailings, and the most common comment from guests was, ‘That’s it?’ because it’s so fast and efficient.” (PRESS RELEASE)_To commemorate Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th birthday celebration, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald is taking his fans on a trip down memory lane. His new video series, “Between Two Banners,” is a historic and FUN-filled journey that delves into a half century of Carnival stories as told by those who have been with the brand throughout the last five decades. Over the next three weeks, fans will hear John reminisce with former and current Carnival team members as they relive some of their fondest memories while working with the brand. The interview series, which will air at noon ET on the dates listed below on John’s Facebook page, kicks off on March 21 with Terry Thornton, retired senior vice president of nautical and port operations. The series culminates in a special three-part interview with Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison, who, with his father Ted, founded Carnival Cruise Line with the launch of the original TSS Mardi Gras in March 1972. The full interview schedule is:
Heald joined Carnival Cruise Line as a bartender aboard the since-retired Carnival Holiday nearly 35 years ago. His quick wit and engaging personality made him a natural for the entertainment world, and in 1989 he joined the entertainment department as a social host. He was promoted to cruise director a year later. As the line’s Brand Ambassador, he emcees unique events, hosts special voyages and keeps fans engaged through his highly popular Facebook fan page, which has close to 400,000 fans. For more 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. (MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA)_With the launch of Margaritaville at Sea right around the corner, the all-new floating island vacation is offering a special deal on top of its current offer in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. For a limited time, guests can elevate their resort at sea experience and choose between a $50 spa credit at the St. Somewhere Spa or a 2-for-1 dinner at JWB Prime Steakhouse onboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Guests who book before March 18th can also redeem an extra five free drinks on sailings before June 30th. For more, go to the website at BookParadise.com. |
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