(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL - April 26, 2022 - Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s irresistible and award winning cruise line that hit the high seas in 2021, is now setting its sights on Australia and New Zealand, today announcing its plans to go down under starting in 2023. Resilient Lady, the newest ship in Virgin Voyages’ four-ship fleet, is saying “Ahoy!” and inviting Aussie adults to experience the glamour and unmatched service and experience synonymous with the Virgin brand in one of the world’s premier bucket-list destinations. After a sunny season sailing around Greece, Resilient Lady will set off on a trans-continental voyage, giving Aussies the chance to sail the high seas from Athens to Sydney in style. Included in the 44-night haul are three individual itineraries: “Ancient Athens to Modern Dubai,” “Dubai Delights to Singapore Sights,” and “Singapore, Bali and Australia.” After this epic journey home, the ship will arrive at Station Pier in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Once there, Sailors will have the opportunity to Set Sail the Virgin way, experiencing the exclusively adult voyages filled with super yacht style and imagined by a creative collective of the world’s most renowned interior designers. Resilient Lady will then set off on a journey of exploration, taking Sailors to stunning destinations across Australia including Hobart and Burnie in Tasmania, along with Sydney in New South Wales. She’s also set her sights on New Zealand with itineraries that include ports of call in Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. (PRESS RELEASE)_CALABASAS, CA – (April 25, 2022) – Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways today announced that it has extended its 2022 and 2023 Portugal river cruising season with 14 additional sailings round trip from Porto on board AmaDouro. With cruises available through the end of December, guests now have the opportunity to experience the joys of this popular destination in the early winter season with temperate weather, fewer crowds and charming Christmas markets, complemented by stunning landscape and delectable food and wine tasting experiences. “Full of rich culture, inspiring architecture and enticing cuisine, our Portugal sailings have always been extremely popular. This demand inspired us to extend both our 2022 and 2023 season through until the end of December, giving guests another reason to travel and experience all that Portugal has to offer during this special time of year,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “The extended season opens up a new opportunity for our travel partners to reserve groups to visit Portugal’s festive Christmas markets, delightful vineyards and historic sites during this quieter period!” (VIRGIN VOYAGES NEWS)_With three ships in the water by this summer, we are delighted to announce that our fourth lady ship will be officially joining our epic fleet. Welcome to the Crew, Brilliant Lady. First came Scarlet Lady, a name chosen to honor one of Virgin Atlantic’s flagship aircrafts. Next were Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady, two sister ships with names that celebrate women’s strong, fierce, and independent spirits. These beautiful vessels are helmed by two beautiful and diverse mermaids to match. With all three ships in the water by the end of this summer, Virgin Voyages is delighted to welcome our fourth Lady Ship to the fleet: Brilliant Lady. Like Brilliant Lady’s predecessors, Virgin Voyages was extremely thoughtful when selecting a name that would boldly stand alongside her sister ships. We sought out a name that exemplifies our brand’s values and ethos, the truest representation of our mission to “Create an Epic Sea Change For All.” As our goal has always been to create a bright and radiant experience for our Sailors — much like the sparkling seas Brilliant Lady will sail on — it was only appropriate that our fourth ship name reflect that. Brilliance — which means both radiance along with exceptional talent and intelligence — was purposefully chosen for the duality of its meaning. On every sailing, Virgin Voyages’ ultimate goal is to leave our Sailors with a glowing review and having enjoyed one of the best vacations of their lives. In naming the ship Brilliant Lady, we also aimed to highlight the powerful intelligence of women across the globe. Brilliant Lady represents the smart, thoughtful, boundary-pushing minds of women around the world — unafraid of owning their intelligence, aware of their importance, and confidently in touch with their own sense of self worth. Brilliant Lady’s mermaid, destinations and itineraries will be announced soon, but until then, Sailors can set sail the Virgin way aboard Scarlet Lady from Miami (available now) on Valiant Lady starting May 15 from Barcelona, and on Resilient Lady starting August 14 from Athens. (PRESS RELEASE)_FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., Apr. 25, 2022 – New luxury-expedition cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages and innovative ELi Technology are partnering to introduce cutting-edge ELi Code to the cruise industry. ELi Code distills and delivers a brand or establishment’s essence and immediately serves information and key services to customers with a tap on their mobile devices. Atlas Ocean Voyages is the first cruise company to utilize the new ELi Code at the upcoming Seatrade Cruise Global 2022, being held from April 25–27 on Miami Beach, Fla. Learn more about Atlas Ocean Voyages and ELi Technology at www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com and www.EliTechnology.us, respectively. "We saw ELi Code as a new, upcoming technology that can help convey Atlas Ocean Voyages’ essence and information to the luxe-adventure traveler in a more connected and succinct way," said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. "ELi Code’s flexibility and versatility is a powerful function that helps us go beyond the website and dynamically deliver what the consumer wants to see." (PRESS RELEASE)_Palma de Mallorca, 21st April 2022. In a cruise industry first, Musement, an international tours and activities business, is powering a new digital platform for P&O Cruises and Cunard to offer cruise guests thousands of tours, activities and attraction tickets. The cruise line endorsed experiences complement P&O Cruises and Cunard’s existing range and offer alternative options for guests wishing to organise their time on shore. Available in hundreds of ports of call, experiences can be booked from the moment a cruise reservation is confirmed, right up to the last minute in a destination. The digital platform will be rolled out across the entire P&O Cruises and Cunard fleet throughout the summer and guests will be able to access the new digital platform via their P&O Cruises or Cunard account, pre-departure emails and onboard. (PRESS RELEASE)_Boston – April 22, 2022 – American Queen Voyages™, part of the Hornblower® Group, celebrated another company milestone calling on Flynn Cruiseport Boston, marking the first time a Lakes & Oceans vessel has visited the historic New England port. Ocean Navigator™, the final Lakes & Oceans vessel returning to the cruise line’s fleet, is currently sailing the Eastern Seaboard on a 17-day Savannah to Halifax voyage enroute to the Great Lakes, where she will make her exclusive downtown Chicago Navy Pier debut on May 18. The 202-guest boutique coastal ship was greeted by Massachusetts Port Authority Deputy Port Director Lauren Gleason, who toured the vessel, visiting with guests, officers and crew. “New England is ideal for cruisers to explore by boutique coastal vessel due to our smaller waterways and quaint towns, and we are delighted to welcome Ocean Navigator to Flynn Cruiseport Boston,” said Gleason. “Boston is the epicenter of the region, and our rich history offers the encounter travel experiences American Queen Voyages passengers seek during their journey.” While visiting Boston, American Queen Voyages guests explored the North End, Boston Common and other iconic parts of the city. Sister ship Ocean Voyager™ will visit Flynn Cruiseport Boston on April 24. (PRESS RELEASE)_Following the news that the CDC has eliminated all cruising warnings since the start of the pandemic, river cruising is perfectly poised to make a comeback this summer. Here is how you can explore lesser traveled-areas of the United States on the American Queen Voyages Ohio River Cruises. Offering various nine-day routes along the river, guests are given the unique opportunity to witness America’s heartland like never before and see nature’s beauty unfold along the way. Onboard the luxurious American Duchess or American Queen Voyage’s newest edition, American Countess, passengers are welcomed to peacefully drift past rolling meadows, charming farms, rustic railroad bridges and towering bluffs, taking in the history and culture of towns that started this country. See below for details on American Queen Voyages different routes: (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (April 21, 2022) – Celebrity Cruises® today announced their exclusive retail lineup onboard the highly anticipated new-luxury ship Celebrity BeyondSM, curating an immersive lifestyle shopping experience that showcases notable fashion brands, wellness collaborations and sustainable offerings rivaling high-end shopping destinations on land. Open for business from Celebrity Beyond’s official launch on April 27, guests on Celebrity Beyond will have access to a variety of well-known, first-at-sea luxury goods including high-fashion by Stella McCartney, beauty products from goop, gourmet chocolate from Maison du Chocolate, and many more. The Celebrity Shops, which cover more than 21,000 square feet across two decks, also feature fine jewelry, watches and fragrances to beauty products and clothing from such iconic luxury retail brands as Bvlgari, Cartier, Elemis, Marni, Montblanc and Panerai, to name a few. The luxury retail offerings are complemented by authentic destination-inspired collections and additional responsible retail experiences. “Our vision was to create a retail experience that mirrors Celebrity’s own purpose-driven commitments from supporting women, diversity, and sustainability to celebrating local culture and traditions,” said Brian Abel, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Celebrity Cruises. “It’s a thoughtful collection designed to make our shops a destination in themselves and a gathering place for fans of both iconic and up-and-coming brands.” (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, April 22, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line is highlighting its environmental efforts on Earth Day by recognizing its industry leadership and significant reduction in food waste since its restart of guest operations. As Carnival nears the return of its full fleet, it becomes the first major cruise line to employ bio-digesters across its entire operation, with the intention of lawfully discharging only processed food waste. Carnival installed more than 200 bio-digesters so every ship sailing is fully-equipped for galley crew to use them. Currently, 22 Carnival ships are serving guests and Carnival Splendor’s restart on May 2 will complete the full 23-ship fleet’s return. A bio-digester is an enclosed container converting food waste into liquid at an accelerated rate – breaking down 99 percent of the food put into it, with only a fine, silt-like material remaining. By utilizing beneficial microorganisms, plus oxygen and warm water, digesters can process anything that can be consumed by a human. (PRESS RELEASE)_LONDON (21st April, 2022) – Celebrity Cruises’ breathtaking new-luxury ship, Celebrity Beyond, the latest in the industry-transforming Edge Series®, reached Southampton today, marking the long-anticipated arrival of the brand’s newest, and most luxurious ship, before it officially sets sail on its maiden voyage through Western Europe on 27th April. A next generation ship that embodies the intersection of architecture and design, Celebrity Beyond goes further than imagined possible for a cruise ship, giving guests endless opportunities to disconnect from the world -- while simultaneously reconnecting with the world that surrounds them. With its innovative, inspirational design from the world’s leading architects and interior designers, fine dining experiences from Michelin starred chefs, world renowned wellness partners, exquisite art, cutting-edge entertainment and luxury brand retailers, along with Celebrity’s uniquely intuitive service, Beyond shatters every preconceived notion of the cruising experience, representing the future of new luxury travel at sea. |
ABOUTStay current with the latest news from the cruise lines. Follow Gerry Barker
on All Things Cruise. Follow Gerry on Splash Magazines Worldwide
REVIEWSFEATURESMORE COVERAGEArchives
April 2024
Categories |