PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 6, 2018) – Princess Cruises guests sailing all over the world will be able to spectate and cheer on their favorite team during the single biggest tournament of the most popular sport on the planet – the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Broadcasting all 64 soccer games aboard nine cruise ships, the matches start June 14, culminating with the final in Moscow on July 15. Games will air on the cruise line’s signature Movies Under the Stars outdoor screens, which have space for hundreds of guests to catch the action and watch the ball hit the net. “After our guests return to their cruise ship from a day of exploring exciting destinations, they will be thrilled to watch the worldwide phenomenon of the FIFA World Cup,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “What better way to enjoy this dynamic, global tournament than on our giant outdoor movie screens against the backdrop of sea and sky.” 2018 FIFA World Cup™ games will be shown aboard: Sea Princess (World Cruise) Crown Princess (Mediterranean) Diamond Princess (Japan) Emerald Princess (Alaska) Majestic Princess (Taiwan and China) Pacific Princess (Northern Europe) Regal Princess (Scandinavia and Russia) Royal Princess (British Isles) Sapphire Princess (Northern Europe) Soccer fans will also enjoy themed entertainment and activities, including interactive game play with PlayStation units on Movies Under the Stars®, obstacle course competitions, and penalty shoot outs for prizes, such as specialty dining, with a small entry fee going to charity, plus swag giveaways, themed bites and beverages. PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI – June 6, 2018 – From Alaska to Italy and the oceans between, Celebrity Cruises is excited to celebrate Pride Month by hosting its second annual Pride Party at Sea, with Olympic Bronze Medalist Adam Rippon and Two Time Men’s figure skating Olympian Johnny Weir serving as ambassadors for this year’s festivities. To kick-off the party, Celebrity also hosted a pride parade at sea on board each ship. Festivities began on board Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Reflection yesterday, June 5, in Sicily, Italy, and Cartagena, Spain, respectively. “Celebrity Cruises has been and always will be dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusivity and equality, and part of the dedication includes knowing when to take time to celebrate the hard work and successes of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Pride Month is the perfect time to celebrate and, with all of the fun we had last year, it made perfect sense that we’d continue the tradition, only this time it will be twice the fun and twice the party.” Rippon, who is currently sailing on board Celebrity Summit for the celebration, which took place at sea, said: “I’m honored to be an ambassador for Celebrity Cruises’ second annual Pride Party at Sea! It’s great to collaborate with a brand like Celebrity that is so dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.” The party took place in tandem across the award-winning Celebrity fleet, with each ship “handing off the party baton” to the next to keep the festivities running across hemispheres and time zones. In the end, the party traveled more than 10,000 miles to nine ships around the world. Thousands of guests attended the inaugural event last year – which the brand planned as a show of solidarity with and an effort to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community – with Tie The Knot co-founder Justin Mikita serving as ambassador. To learn more about Celebrity’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and support of the LGBTQ+ community, visit www.celebritycruises.com/specialty-cruises/lgbt-gay-cruise-vacations. Mariner of the Seas is being amped up with $120 million worth of bold, new features and experiences. When complete, Mariner will offer exciting 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, giving thrill seekers a break from their ordinary routine and adding adventure to their weekends. The transformation will include an out-of-this-world and first-of-its-kind virtual reality bungee trampoline experience at sea, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, a tiki-chic lounge and a wide range of dining experiences.
PRESS RELEASE_Monfalcone, Italy (June 4, 2018) – Today, MSC Cruises officially took delivery of its new flagship MSC Seaview, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The delivery ceremony took place in the presence of Gianluigi Aponte, the ship owner as well as Founder and Executive Chairman of MSC Group. Also present at the ceremony were Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, other members of the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families, Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, as well as other regional and local authorities and dignitaries. Coming on the heels of her sister ship, MSC Seaside — which launched at the end of 2017 in Miami — MSC Seaview is ready to start sailing her inaugural season in the Mediterranean. The ship, representing a key highlight for 2018 as she is the one MSC Cruises new build coming into service this year, is also the third MSC Cruises new build to come into service in just 12 months, the second ship to be built by Fincantieri, and the 15th ship to join the MSC Cruises global fleet. With her iconic “beach condo” design and generous outdoor public spaces, MSC Seaview is a game changer, bringing guests closer to the sea and ensuring they are able to enjoy the outdoors during their cruise. During her inaugural season, MSC Seaview will cruise the Mediterranean. She then heads to South America for the winter season, further strengthening the Company’s position in two markets in which MSC Cruises is the leading cruise brand. “MSC Seaview will bring yet another new distinctively innovative MSC Cruises product to the market as she boasts cutting edge design, and features the latest marine and environmental technology,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “She is an example of our commitment to bring the best and most innovative tonnage to the market, and our ambition to set each time a new standard in the industry. The Seaside class is yet another brand new, highly-innovative prototype that we introduce – the 5th to date, since we entered the cruising industry only 15 years ago. Moreover, I am proud to say, together with her sister ship MSC Seaside, it is the biggest ship ever built in Italy.” PRESS RELEASE_Los Angeles (June 4, 2018) – Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) today announced a new river cruisetour itinerary that will allow guests the rare opportunity to experience The Passion Play in Oberammergau, which is performed only every 10 years. Traveling between Munich and Budapest from May through October 2020, the Oberammergau, The Passion Play itinerary will focus on the 42nd installment of The Oberammergau Passion Play and will allow guests to explore destinations in Germany, Austria and Hungary. “We are committed to providing our guests with opportunities that bring local culture and history to life both onboard our ships and onshore,” said Richard Marnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Viking. “To help our guests learn about a destination through ‘Working World,’ ‘Local Life,’ or ‘Privileged Access’ experiences, such as this historic performance, is what we call ‘The Viking Way’ of exploration.” On the 10-day journey, guests will experience a performance of The Passion Play, a depiction of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ performed by local citizens of Oberammergau once every decade since 1634. Sailing on Viking’s award-winning 190-guest Viking Longships, guests will be able to immerse themselves in the rich culture during each port of call along the Danube River. In addition to The Oberammergau Passion Play performance, highlights from the new Oberammergau, The Passion Play itinerary include:
PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 4, 2018) – Princess Cruises guests sailing onboard Crown Princess in the sought-after Mediterranean this summer will not only enjoy the iconic sites, from Barcelona to Rome to Athens, they will also be enveloped by new onboard offerings after an extensive ten-day dry dock. Completed last month, these enhancements in Freeport, Bahamas at Grand Bahama shipyard continue the line’s “Come Back New Promise” campaign focused on investing more than $450 million across the global fleet.
Sailing on a series of Mediterranean voyages for the 2018 summer season, Princess guests will return from touring ancient civilizations and historical museum collections to find new culinary offerings, upgraded accommodations, relaxing options in the Lotus Spa and more. After a summer in the Mediterranean, Crown Princess takes Princess guests to the Caribbean where award-winning shore excursions and fascinating onboard programs bring the culture and colors of the islands to life. “Crown Princess first debuted in 2006 with several industry-first offerings, including our revered adults-only Sanctuary,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “Now, 12 years later, we’re continuing our commitment to offer Crown Princess guests the next evolution of signature Princess product innovations while they cruise to their bucket-list destinations.” Crown Princess now proudly displays the line’s signature logo on her bow and has new and enhanced offerings onboard including: PRESS RELEASE_Seattle, Wash., June 1, 2018 — The season’s first batch of Copper River king salmon arrived in Seattle in late May, and Holland America Line was among the first to secure a supply of the premium fish on Eurodam. Frits Van Der Werff, vice president, food and beverage experience, personally inspected the salmon before taking delivery of the valued shipment. Known as a rite of spring in Seattle, the arrival of the fresh Copper River king salmon from Cordova, Alaska, kicks off the annual salmon season. Seattle’s Hometown Cruise Line is serving the prized salmon in the Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurant on all seven ships sailing in Alaska this summer. With prices for Copper River king salmon expected to reach an all-time high this season, the delivery is an extra special treat for guests dining in Pinnacle Grill. Copper River king salmon is highly prized for its delicate flavor, and the Pinnacle Grill menu will feature one of seven unique salmon recipes each night throughout the season. “Every year, salmon lovers and foodies eagerly await the arrival of the prized Copper River king salmon, and we’re excited to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy a delicacy they might not have access to at home or never had the opportunity to try,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “At Holland America Line we’re dedicated to giving our guests an authentic experience reflecting the destinations we are visiting, and an important part of that is the local cuisine.” Holland America Line’s culinary team created the traditionally simple dishes featuring Copper River king salmon to bring out its flavors using seasonal ingredients. The salmon dishes are:
Salmon plays prominently in Holland America Line’s culinary programming in Alaska — from the menus and America’s Test Kitchen shows on board to salmon-focused EXC Tours (shore excursions) ashore. Ships sailing in Alaska are Amsterdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam, Westerdam and Zaandam. PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 1, 2018) – Global destination leader Princess Cruises will bring the flavors and fun of Mexico in 2019 and 2020 with cruises to top ports of call and enhanced onboard culinary offerings, entertainment options and shore excursions. With more than 50 years of experience sailing the region, Princess Cruises brings guests to the best ports in Mexico including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas. Highlights for the 2019-2020 season include the introduction of one of the line’s newest ships to Mexico, Royal Princess, for her first full season based in Los Angeles. Royal Princess will offer 27 total departures including seven-day Mexico itineraries, plus opportunities offering guests more time in port with an overnight in Cabo San Lucas on every 5-day Cabo San Lucas Getaway sailing. As the only cruise line to sail year-round out of San Francisco, Princess also offers Grand Princess roundtrip 10-day Mexico itineraries in 2019. Star Princess will make her return to the west coast in 2019 as well, featuring 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez with roundtrip departures out of Los Angeles with an overnight in Cabo San Lucas. “Sailing the waters of Mexico honors the heritage of Princess cruising, with our first voyage in 1965 to the Mexican Riviera,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “Now, we provide guests more opportunities to experience the best of the region through culinary partnerships and immersive shore excursions, all while enjoying longer stays in port.” Developed in collaboration with Bill Esparza, noted author and leading expert on Latin American cuisine, the line’s enhanced shore excursion offerings along the west coast take guests off the beaten path, on culinary adventures featuring the local flavors of the region. Esparza has developed culinary shore excursions for Princess in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. “Developing excursions for Princess guests presented a unique opportunity to provide exposure to local chefs and flavors from Latin America that can only be found on the west coast,” said Esparza. “I wanted to present guests with new ingredients, off the beaten path experiences and personalities from around the region to provide the most authentic look into this part of the world.” Guests booking Mexico cruises will also be introduced to the flavors, colors and traditions of Mexico through onboard programming including live mariachi performances, an authentic Mexican buffet, culinary demonstration, margarita making demonstration, tequila tastings, local crafts and activities and a celebratory Mexican Fiesta event. Princess Cruises is a recognized destination leader in the cruise industry, named “Best Cruise Line for Itineraries” numerous times by Recommend magazine. More details about offerings to Mexico can be found at http://www.princess.com/mexico/ |
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