(PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 13, 2022) – Through a unique sweepstakes, Porsche and Princess fans can win a one-of-one, customized, all-electric Porsche Taycan, part of the cruise line’s recently announced partnership with the Porsche Club of America. The customized high-performance vehicle is emblazoned with the cruise line’s iconic seawitch, in a fashion similar to the design that adorns the bow of every Princess ship. The sweepstakes takes place June 13 through November 30, 2022 and is available to residents of North America*. Entering the sweepstakes is easy -- guests can sail on a Princess MedallionClass cruise, purchase a Princess add-on package, make a MedallionPay shoreside purchase or simply get OceanReady for their upcoming voyage, among more ways. (PRESS RELEASE)_Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s only luxury icebreaker and the only passenger ship to take travelers to the Geographic North Pole, the most northern point of the Earth’s axis of rotation. With eight departures for the summer 2022 and 2023 Arctic season beginning at $35,960 per person, PONANT’s North Pole sailings will take tourists to the farthest corners of the region, where floating pack ice, polar bear sightings, naturalist-led excursions, and scientific collaboration are part of the itinerary. The 16-day exploration begins in Longyearbyen, the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, where winter temperatures drop below 40-degrees Fahrenheit and the glaciers and mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. From there, travelers will sail along the icy coast of Spitsbergen, the last stretch of land before the Arctic ice floe, characterized by rugged mountains and hollowed-out fjords. After four days of carving through the ice floe, where the landscapes are constantly changing, guests will arrive at the Geographic North Pole, a mythical site few people have ever reached. (PRESS RELEASE)_SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, June 8, 2022 – In honor of World Oceans Day, Australia’s award-winning, 100% carbon neutral travel adventure company Aurora Expeditions has released limited staterooms for its exclusive Antarctic Climate Expedition on Feb. 13, 2023. The first of its kind voyage will be led by renowned oceanographer, marine biologist, explorer and conservationist Dr. Sylvia Earle. The purpose of this 12-day expedition aboard the newly christened eponymous Sylvia Earle, hosted in partnership with Ocean Geographic, is to drive awareness of the importance and splendor of the Antarctic while addressing the warming climate and loss of ice in the southern polar region as a direct threat to the future of the planet. (PRESS RELEASE)_A decision rooted in guaranteeing the delivery of brilliant guest and crew experiences, Virgin Voyages will defer the upcoming launch of its third Lady Ship to Q2 2023. Initially scheduled to set sail from Athens mid-August of this year, Resilient Lady will remain in Genoa getting on-board work completed, hitting the high seas next spring. As part of an ambitious launch sequence, Virgin Voyages is now operating two ships, its first, Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean and second, Valiant Lady in the Med. Despite challenges stemming from the pandemic, the new brand introduced two ships in the span of a year, including the launch of its new Terminal V at PortMiami in February.
(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, June 8, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line’s next ship, Carnival Celebration, will feature The Gateway, an entirely new area on two decks that celebrates travel and the excitement of exploring new destinations. The zone was revealed during a virtual press conference today hosted by Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. With design and décor inspired by grand terminals, transportation stations and departure points around the world, the entertainment, dining and shopping zone will feature a promenade highlighted by 12 high-definition multimedia virtual windows displaying unique scenes. The 9.5’ by 5’ windows and the nearly 100’ LED ceiling will be complemented by show lighting and a state-of-the-art sound system to create a truly immersive experience throughout the zone. By day, guests will be entertained with relaxing scenes like a sunny sky, but by night, the zone will take varying nightly themes, transporting guests to far-off places throughout the world. Some of the theme nights will include Abroad in Europe, Far East Voyage and Mexico Lindo. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL, June 9, 2022 – U.S. headquartered small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises announces the debut of its all-suite Star Plus Class Star Pride yacht today, sailing from Athens on a sold-out, eight-day voyage to Barcelona, stopping at ports including Gythion, Corfu, Argostoli, Messina (Taormina), Trapani, and Cagliari. Star Pride is the third and final of Windstar’s Star Plus Class yachts to emerge from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard following a complex lengthening and transformation project. Now, all six of the line’s all-suite and sailing yachts are back in the water cruising while requiring vaccines of all passengers and crew amongst a host of health and safety precautions including testing and high-tech air filtration. The line’s three all-suite Star Plus Class yachts (Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride) underwent major transformations, with an investment of more than $250 million. Star Breeze was the first to launch in June of 2021, with Star Legend as the second in September of 2021, showcasing new suites and expanded outdoor and indoor public spaces. The yachts are also more environmentally friendly with new efficient engines, generators, and advanced wastewater treatment systems. All three yachts increased in maximum capacity from 212 guests to 312 and provide more of what Windstar’s customers want, like additional dining experiences (one is an outdoor barbecue concept with grilling guru Steven Raichlen and the other a Spanish small plates restaurant from Anthony Sasso, one of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide), a true spa and fitness center, an elegant infinity pool, and more outdoor deck areas. “To have completed this project amidst a global pandemic is nothing short of amazing,” said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “We’re grateful to our ownership and to our partners for sticking with it, and to our customers for their excitement and support of these new products. We are seeing our highest guest satisfaction surveys on the new Star Class yachts, with the highest Net Promoter Scores in our brand’s history. Our guests and travel advisors really love the product we created on Star Class.” The three all-suite yachts, together with Windstar’s three classic sailing yachts, remain small enough to continue to visit the special small ports and waterways of the world. For more details on Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com. (PRESS RELEASE)_In 2023, PONANT will once again collaborate with Smithsonian Journeys on a series of co-branded sailings. Each of the 21 departures will be led by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts—whether an art historian, a solar astrophysicist at NASA, or a North African international relations expert—whose expertise and knowledge will shed new light on the destination and deepen travelers’ immersion in place. Among the new sailings is a nine-day journey along the Arabian coast, January 6 - 14, 2023, with stops in the futuristic cities of Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, as well as lesser-known regional jewels like the island of Sir Bani Yas, a protected nature reserve home to the wildlife-rich Arabian Wildlife Park, and Oman’s “Norway of Arabia”–a.k.a. the peninsula of Musandam, which features soaring fjords. The trip’s Experts include Karl Eikenberry, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, who will lead discussions centered on Middle East affairs and help travelers develop a more nuanced understanding of the region. The journey begins in Dubai, where travelers can ascend the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, discover the palm tree-shaped archipelago of Palm Jumeirah, venture into the Spice and Gold Souks, and tour the Dubai Museum. The next stop is Sir Bani Yas, a wildlife reserve with a flourishing population of oryxes, cheetahs, and gazelles. In Doha, travelers will tour the gleaming capital, taking in magnificent views of Doha Bay, touring the lively district of Souq Waqif, and visiting the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I. M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre pyramid. Speaking of the Louvre, travelers will also see the Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi, home to objects and works from civilizations all over the world, plus the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a grand vision in marble, gold, and glass. The ship will then drop anchor in Khasab, a fishing village surrounded by the fjord-like khors of the Musandam Peninsula, where travelers have the option to explore these narrow inlets aboard traditional dhow boats. After sailing south along Oman’s eastern coast, the ship will arrive in the city of Fujairah, which sits on the rugged foothills of the Hajar Mountains and is home to treasures like the Al Bidiyah Mosque, one of the oldest in the UAE, and the impressive Fujairah Fort, the largest castle in the region. The voyage ends in Muscat, Oman, which unlike Dubai and Doha, doesn’t have any skyscrapers or flashy developments, but rather, mountain houses, coastal forts, and mud huts, featuring motifs like arched windows and fort-like exteriors. Here, travelers can visit the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman and tour the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. (PRESS RELEASE)_SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, JUNE 9, 2022 – Australia’s 100% carbon neutral adventure travel company Aurora Expeditions has announced its 2023/2024 Antarctica season and 2023 Arctic and British Isles voyages aboard the new Sylvia Earle, giving intrepid travelers even more options to explore the white continent and beyond. Aurora Expeditions’ new Antarctica season features dozens of departures across two purpose-built expedition ships, the Greg Mortimer and brand-new Sylvia Earle, which will make her debut voyage on the Subantarctic Safari Nov. 4 - 20, 2022. “We are thrilled to launch our new Antarctica season, where we have continued to build on our pioneering heritage in exploring this region,” said Hayley Peacock-Gower, Chief Marketing Officer of Aurora Expeditions. “Alongside our well-loved classic itineraries, we have continued to innovate and offer new and varied ways for our expeditioners to discover this awe-inspiring destination, whether it be via our numerous fly-sail options, voyages ranging from nine to 24 days, or the introduction of new itinerary combinations that are not offered by other operators in the market. In the Arctic and British Isles, Aurora Expeditions’ expeditioners are also being given a wealth of new wild and remote voyages to choose from, all sailing on our brand-new vessel, the Sylvia Earle.” (PRESS RELEASE)_FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – June 6, 2022 – American Queen Voyages™, part of the Hornblower® Group, has unveiled a new website www.aqvoyages.com for consumers and travel advisors to create, plan and book an extraordinary experience exploring North America. Bringing together the cruise line’s Rivers, Lakes & Oceans and Expedition products under one digital umbrella for the first time, the new American Queen Voyages website design delivers an inspiring and functional experience across all platforms. The compelling layout embraces the tagline “Discovery Runs Deep™,” and emphasizes the beauty of comprehensively exploring North America. On the new website, travelers can filter their searches to hone in on desired dates, ships, types and destinations under the Voyage feature. Now, the site incorporates the ability to buy a voyage online, another first in the company’s history. Guests are able to secure their cruise directly in the booking engine, including the specific stateroom through an interactive deck plan, which allows passengers to explore what the vessel offers on each deck and in each cabin. (PRESS RELEASE)_Last minute summer travelers rejoice! Celebrity Cruises, recognized worldwide for their ultra-modern ships, luxurious onboard experiences, and global itineraries, just launched their biggest offer of the year – their first-ever semi-annual sale. Available from June 2-15, 2022, the deal offers a BOGO 60% off the second guest for nearly all sailings from June 4, 2022, to April 30, 2024.
While the offer is strictly available to North American travelers, it covers a multitude of global sailings, including in-season Alaskan cruises; Caribbean expeditions from the Bahamas and Mexico to Grand Cayman and Bermuda; and European adventures like Italian Riviera and France, Italy and the Greek Isles, Iceland and Ireland, and even the Norwegian Fjords. |
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