(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, July 14, 2021 – Today, Crystal Expedition Cruises announced its roster of expedition leaders and naturalist experts for Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural voyages in Iceland. The luxury expedition yacht’s highly anticipated maiden voyage will embark round-trip from Reykjavik on July 17, 2021, the first of five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland, featuring naturalists Boris Wise and Maria Cashin as expedition leaders and Eva Molin Westerholm as assistant expedition leader, along with a cadre of noted scientists, naturalist experts, photographers and more among its expedition team. Wise and Westerholm have assembled an impressive lineup of expedition guides including ornithologist Joe Cockram, marine biologist Lisa LaPoint, glaciologist and geologist Bob Gilmore, historian Captain Ken Burton, photographers Roger Pimenta and Bruno Cazarini, and artist in residence Bruce Pearson to enrich guests experiences aboard Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural voyages in Iceland where rich bird and marine life present fascinating studies against a backdrop of stunning land and seascapes. “To have such a diverse and experienced team of experts leading guests on small group expeditions to provide insights on the wildlife and landscapes of Iceland’s rare and remote places is the heart of the true expedition experience we want to offer our guests,” said Walter Barinaga, Crystal’s director of destination experiences. “Crystal Endeavor was designed to provide unique experiences and up-close encounters with the natural world and this incredible team will certainly enrich that experience by offering our guests a deeper understanding of the special places they visit.” (PRESS RELEASE)_VALENCIA, Calif., July 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard enthusiasts will return to what they love with the line's "Grand Escape Voyages," commencing in October. Cruise vacations range from two to 40-nights, offering guests the chance to enjoy over 40 new 2021 and 2022 voyages, visiting 49 destinations, sailing on board flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria. Guests will revel in the unparalleled Transatlantic Crossing, and then head to the Caribbean, with guests enjoying the flexibility of embarking from either New York, Fort Lauderdale, Hamburg or Southampton. Queen Elizabeth will explore Western Europe, the Atlantic Coast and Asia, while Queen Victoria will sail in Europe and the Baltics. The Cunard fleet will also spend several overnight port calls in destinations including Amsterdam, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Madeira, Dubai and Barbados, offering more time to explore ashore, while on board brings sparkling entertainment, exquisite fine dining and the luxury of doing whatever one pleases. "We are thrilled to announce our new 'Grand Escape Voyages,' as we celebrate Cunard's full return to sailing," said Jamie Paiko, Vice President of Sales, Cunard North America. "These new itineraries will not disappoint our dedicated guests who have eagerly been waiting for the opportunity to sail on their favorite ship. They will once again enjoy our distinctive ocean travel experience, hallmarked by new voyage options and our impeccable White Star Service," Paiko added. Queen Mary 2 Welcomed wherever she sails, flagship Queen Mary 2's style, elegance and freedom of space are legendary. Fresh, light-filled public venues lend the ship an invigorating and airy feel, while contemporary art deco details offer a nod to Cunard's prestigious maritime past. On her signature Transatlantic Crossing, guests even have the coveted option of bringing along their four-legged friends. Queen Mary 2 will treat guests to time on both sides of the Atlantic with her "Grand Escape Voyages," calling at 15 ports in 14 countries. Embarking on 29 new itineraries, she'll complement a series of Transatlantic Crossings with brief cruises in Western Europe and will spend time in the Caribbean, sailing roundtrip from New York, Fort Lauderdale, Hamburg or Southampton. (PRESS RELEASE)_Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel and advocate for sustainable travel, is strengthening its partnership with the California Ocean Alliance (COA), a research, conservation, and education organization, to better understand and protect whales and other marine mammals in Antarctica. A pilot trial was launched in late 2019 but paused due to the pandemic. But as Hurtigruten Expedition’s restarts the 2021/2022 Antarctica season, California Ocean Alliance scientists will be part of several Antarctica sailings onboard the MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery hybrid powered expedition cruise ship. The team will collect acoustic data to study ambient noise conditions, the myriad sounds that marine animals make, and the influence of human presence on the soundscape. The research of how different whales behave near humans will allow Hurtigruten Expeditions - and also other cruise lines - to adapt to ensure they minimize interference with whales. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, July 13, 2021 – Today, Crystal Cruises announced that Crystal Symphony will re-deploy to sail from U.S. homeports in Boston and New York for its new Luxury Bermuda Escapes, a series of seven-night voyages to Bermuda beginning in August. The first four voyages will depart round-trip from Flynn Cruiseport Boston beginning on August 22, 2021, featuring Sunday-to-Sunday itineraries, followed by nine voyages set to depart round-trip from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal beginning on September 24, 2021, featuring Friday-to-Friday itineraries. When Crystal Symphony sets sail in August with reduced capacity, all guests and crew will be vaccinated as a requirement of the company’s Crystal Clean+ protocols, a set of measures established in response to COVID-19. Additionally, Crystal’s guests and crew will follow all local health guidelines and protocols when visiting Bermuda. Crystal Symphony’s Luxury Bermuda Escapes will feature two full days and two nights in Bermuda with the opportunity for travelers to enjoy the service and amenities of luxury cruise travel close to home. These new voyages will replace Crystal Symphony’s previously scheduled 10-night voyages round-trip Antigua and St. Maarten. (PRESS RELEASE)_Stralsund, July 10, 2021 – Today, Crystal Endeavor, the first “Made in Germany” Polar Class 6 (PC6) luxury expedition yacht, cruised out of MV WERFTEN shipyard in Stralsund where she was designed and built accompanied by the sound of Crystal’s beloved sail away song “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. The yacht is now bound for Iceland and her inaugural voyages in the Land of Fire and Ice. A pier-side sail away celebration was held at MV WERFTEN for employees and family members who offered a heartfelt sendoff of waving and wishes of “gute reise” and “bon voyage” to the intrepid new expedition yacht. The ship turned around in the Sudhafen (Southern Harbor) and then entered the Ziegelgraben en route to the Baltic Sea. Crystal Endeavor sailed from Stralsund with a full vaccinated crew and is scheduled for a July 15 arrival in Reykjavík, Iceland. She will depart Reykjavík on her inaugural voyage on July 18 after an overnight in the city on the first in a series of five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland. “Today is a milestone day for Crystal as our new state-of-the-art expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor sails to Iceland from MV WERFTEN to set a new industry standard as the most spacious, most powerful and most luxurious expedition ship in the industry,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. “We want to thank everyone at MV WERFTEN for their partnership and their uncompromising German engineering and design excellence in crafting an intrepid new polar class yacht that will offer our guests incredible adventures to the far reaches of the globe, with the highest standards of safety and sustainable features that demonstrate extreme care for our guests and the world’s oceans and the destinations we visit. (PRESS RELEASE)_Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today announced new dates for its planned closed group CDC test cruise and the long-awaited return of its commercial sailing schedule.
On July 13, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will conduct a simulated sailing to evaluate the cruise line’s cleanliness and safety protocol. A small, private group of pre-selected, fully vaccinated passengers will join a group of fully vaccinated crew members onboard Grand Classica. The sailing will simulate all aspects of the onboard experience, including dining, entertainment, leisure activities and shore excursions. The cruise line plans to resume commercial sailings beginning July 16 and is currently accepting bookings on its website. (PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif., (July 8, 2021) – For the upcoming summer 2021 Alaska sailings, Princess Cruises is announcing onboard entertainment and dining offerings in addition to the award-winning “North to Alaska” local culinary, entertainment and shore excursions series previously announced. Guests can enjoy signature specialty dining, Movies Under the Stars, production shows, Discovery@SEA programs and more. Princess Cruises, the No. 1 cruise line in Alaska, returns to service in the United States with a partial season of Alaska sailings roundtrip from Seattle. Seven-day cruises are scheduled to depart July 25 through September 26, 2021, onboard Majestic Princess - a MedallionClass® ship. (PRESS RELEASE)_CALABASAS, CA – (July 8, 2021) – Luxury river cruise innovator AmaWaterways today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Metropolitan Touring, South America’s leading tour operator, to introduce a new river cruise experience in Colombia. Becoming the first luxury river cruise line to sail the Magdalena River, this alliance brings together the remarkable in-depth destination expertise of Metropolitan Touring and the industry’s leading team of river cruise experts at AmaWaterways. Starting in December 2023, guests will be immersed in unique experiences on shore as well as on board a new custom-built, all-suite, eco-friendly river cruise ship. The new ship and cruise program will incorporate years of design experience from AmaWaterways’ President and Co-Founder Rudi Schreiner — affectionately known as the ‘Godfather of River Cruising’ — plus Metropolitan Touring’s decades of expertise in expedition cruising in the Galápagos Islands. “Not since my early university days of exploring the Amazon River have I felt the excitement of discovering a new destination that is so rich in biodiversity and culture, as I found on the Magdalena River in Colombia,” said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “I’m absolutely captivated by the rich history, wildlife and friendly welcome that awaits our guests when our intimate, all-suite ship sets sail in December 2023.” “Colombia has always been a country close to my heart and every trip I’ve made to the Magdalena over many years has been full of amazing, life-affirming experiences that touched my soul. Finding the right partner to develop the first-ever eco-friendly river cruise experience for Colombia was therefore of utmost importance to me and our company,” said Paulina Burbano de Lara, chief executive officer of Metropolitan Touring. “We know that Rudi, Kristin and all the AmaWaterways team share our passion for the River Magdalena and we’re delighted that together we will create innovative and enriching experiences for guests.” Guests will be able to choose between two seven-night itineraries with pre- and post-cruise land programs exploring the magnificent Magdalena River and delving into Colombia’s vibrant cultural and natural heritage. Accompanied by a skilled team, which will include a wellness manager on-board, river cruise travelers on the Magdalena River will enjoy in-depth connections with local nature, wildlife, culture, flavors and people, as well as activities such as kayaking, hiking and birdwatching. “Drawing on each company’s expertise, AmaWaterways and Metropolitan Touring have together created a unique river cruise and land program that will immerse travelers in the beauty of the “River of a Thousand Rhythms,” said Camilo Calderon, General Manager of Metropolitan Touring Colombia. “Our guests will enjoy the modern comforts of an upscale river cruise ship, with exclusive experiences and unparalleled service, hallmarks of both companies, to the very heart of Colombia’s soul.” “It is incredibly exciting to be able to launch a new river cruise destination like Colombia, with such a colorful history and artistic background,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “We are celebrating 19 years of creating authentic river cruise experiences in Europe, Asia and Africa and now, with our world-recognized destination partner, Metropolitan Touring, we will be able to offer our guests an opportunity to explore a fourth continent while discovering the hidden gems of Colombia along the majestic Magdalena River.” Specific itineraries are currently being developed with more details anticipated in the coming weeks. To learn more about AmaWaterways, contact your preferred Travel Advisor or visit AmaWaterways.com/Colombia. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways, Twitter @AmaWaterways, and YouTube at YouTube.com/AmaWaterways. To learn more about Metropolitan Touring, visit www.metropolitan-touring.com/colombia/rio-magdalena. Follow Metropolitan Touring on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. (PRESS RELEASE)_LONDON, July 7, 2021 – Royal Caribbean International set sail from the UK today, welcoming guests on board Anthem of the Seas for the first time in more than a year. The highly anticipated sailing is just the beginning of an adventure-filled summer for UK families who have long missed making memories while on holiday with their loved ones. UK residents will be reunited on Anthem’s 4-night Ocean Getaways and 5- to 8-night British Isles cruises that tour the UK coastline, from Liverpool, England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Kirkwall, Scotland. The world’s largest cruise line also celebrates its return to the UK with the honour of hosting 999 emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces employees on board multiple sailings this summer. These professionals were offered an opportunity to sail aboard Anthem in recognition of their tremendous efforts over the last year. Ben Bouldin, vice president, EMEA, Royal Caribbean commented: “We are delighted to once again sail from the UK, and it’s an honour to host some of the country’s many key workers on board our first sailings. It’s thanks to these individuals, who have worked so hard to see our country through this tough time, that this moment is finally here. I have no doubt they will have an incredible and well-deserved break aboard our UK-favourite, Anthem of the Seas.” Royal Caribbean guests can experience some of the most thrilling activities aboard the award-winning ship this summer, including Anthem’s North Star, an all-glass observation capsule that offers unrivalled 360-degree views of the open ocean from 91 metres (300 feet) above sea level. Back on deck, holidaymakers can sink some hoops or let loose on the dodgems at SeaPlex – the largest indoor active space at sea – learn to freefall with RipCord by iFly, the world’s first sky diving experience at sea, or surf the waves from the comfort of the ship on FlowRider, the cruise line’s popular surf simulator. Guests can refuel and recharge at one of the 26 restaurants or bars on board before taking in one of several unique, showstopping performances. Anthem’s playbill offers holidaymakers live entertainment from bow to stern, including world-leading, full-scale show productions that blur the line between technology and entertainment at Royal Caribbean’s game-changing multidimensional venue, Two70, and West End smash hit “We Will Rock You” in the Royal Theater. Anthem’s triumphant return to UK shores comes after six years of delivering cruises in the U.S. and Caribbean. Sailing with fully vaccinated crew, the limited summer itineraries are open for bookings and only available to UK residents 18 years and older who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and children under the age of 18 with negative test results. The many layers of health and safety measures, including the vaccination policy and testing requirements, can be viewed here. For more information on Anthem’s series of summer cruises, visit the Royal Caribbean website. (PRESS RELEASE)_FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., July 07, 2021 – Luxe-adventure cruise brand Atlas Ocean Voyages announced the appointment of industry veteran and entertainment headliner Sean O’Shea as World Navigator’s inaugural Entertainment Director. Sean will lead the casually elegant cruise brand’s entertainment and convivial ambience aboard Atlas’ first small, luxury expedition ship. Additionally, Alyssa Logan has been named World Navigator’s Adventure and Club Director and will manage the innovative shoreside experiences designed for fun-seeking, discerning travelers, for which Atlas is known. Alyssa and Sean will both welcome guests aboard World Navigator when she launches on August 4 for her inaugural Egypt and Greek Isles season, which alternates departures from Athens (Piraeus) and Cairo (Alexandria.) For more information about Atlas Ocean Voyages, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. “We are happy to have Sean as the inaugural Entertainment Director and Alyssa as Adventure and Club Director,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Sean and Alyssa are both accomplished cruise ship executives and they will play integral roles in solidifying World Navigator’s lively and fun onboard and immersive shoreside experiences.” Sean brings more than 20 years of onboard and shoreside experience to Atlas Ocean Voyages. He has traveled the world; entertained globally; and draws from his extensive travel and cruise leadership experience to create engaging and compelling programs to entertain guests. Sean has also headlined in many major shoreside venues; served as Cruise Director on multiple small, luxury ships; and played the large theaters on many cruise ships. Throughout, he has worked with production teams, musicians and technical staff from diverse cultures and backgrounds to deliver unforgettable entertainment programming. “It’s my sincere pleasure to lead the inaugural entertainment program for World Navigator,” said Sean. “Alyssa, the World Navigator team and I will deliver an unforgettable luxe-adventure voyage both on board and in the remote and captivating destinations where we visit. We look forward to welcoming guests on what will be an extraordinary inaugural season.” Alyssa is also an industry veteran and has led land programs on six continents. Her cruising career aboard cruise ships includes Land Programs Manager, Future Cruise Consultant, and Cruise Director for multiple luxury cruise brands. Alyssa will arrange and execute World Navigator’s immersive land programs and help guests book their next Atlas luxe-adventure voyage with enticing, exclusive onboard offers. She continues her Atlas career with this latest appointment, after serving as the cruise brand’s North American Sales Manager. Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxe-adventure expedition cruise brand designed for discerning, fun-seeking travelers to immerse in unique and awe-inspiring moments in remote and captivating destinations. World Navigator fosters a refined and convivial ambience and features the most-modern hygiene and cleanliness measures incorporated into her state-of-the-art design. At 9,930 GRTs, World Navigator features SeaSpa, the first L’OCCITANE spa at sea, and is Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified. World Navigator will be joined by World Traveller and World Seeker in 2022 and World Adventurer and World Discoverer in 2023. Atlas’ signature All Inclusive All The Way provides all guests a complete and seamless experience by including complimentary round-trip air travel, choice of a shore excursion at every port, unlimited premium wine and spirits, international beers and coffees, prepaid gratuities, polar parkas, emergency medical evacuation insurance, Wi-Fi, L’OCCITANE bath amenities, and regionally inspired gourmet dining. In every stateroom, guests enjoy binoculars to use on board, personalized en suite coffee, tea and bar service, and butler service in suites. Atlas welcomes travelers to ‘come back to something brand new’ in the brand’s ongoing marketing campaign “At Last… Atlas” (www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com/itstime.) To learn more, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. Travel Advisors can call 1.844.44.ATLAS (1.844.442.8527) to book their clients on an unforgettable luxe-adventure expedition. |
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