(PRESS RELEASE)_NEW ALBANY, Ind., August 9, 2021 – American Queen Steamboat Company®, part of the Hornblower® Group, announced that the American Queen® welcomes her first revenue guests in 18 months today, becoming the fourth vessel to return to service for the U.S. flagged cruise line. As the world’s largest and grandest paddlewheeler, the American Queen sets sail from New Orleans resuming the 2021 season on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. As the flagship vessel, the American Queen’s return to service is an important milestone as it marks American Queen Steamboat Company’s 10th anniversary of the company closing on the purchase of the storied paddlewheeler (Aug. 8, 2011) almost a decade to the day. “The purchase and restoration of the American Queen ushered in a new renaissance of U.S. River cruising ten years ago,” said John Waggoner, founder and chairman of American Queen Steamboat Company. “Our close-to-home cruise experience resonates more than ever, and I feel such pride seeing how far our offerings have expanded. Today the American Queen embarks from New Orleans, the American Empress® welcomes guests in Clarkston, Wash.; our boutique paddlewheeler, the American Duchess™, is docked under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and our newest riverboat, the American Countess™, is calling on Nottoway Resort in White Castle, La.” American Queen Steamboat Company bookings for 2021 and well ahead into 2022 and 2023 continue to reflect pent-up demand for cruising close-to-home. In addition, the cruise line reports 10+ record-breaking individual booking days in 2021, and the current sailing season is almost sold out with limited availability on remaining 2021 Thanksgiving- and holiday-themed voyages. American Queen Steamboat Company is also offering the FREEDOM sale, a bonus savings of up to $2,000 on select 2022 bookings made by August 31, 2021. Tourism represents the second-largest economy on the Mississippi River according to The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), a coalition of 101 mayors. The return of the American Queen Steamboat Company fleet to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers is a welcome boost to the region’s hospitality industry. “American Queen guests will have an immediate economic impact on the port cities she calls on from pre-cruise hotel stays to visiting attractions and patronizing small businesses along the river,” shares Shawn Bierdz, president of American Queen Steamboat Company. “To meet the needs of having the entire fleet operational, our company is up to over 500 team members once again and continuing to grow with open shipboard and shoreside positions.” American Queen Steamboat Company began a phased restart in March under SafeCruise™ protocols and became the only fully vaccinated U.S. river cruise line for both guests and crew effective July 1. The 100% vaccination policy allows guests the freedom to cruise with confidence in accordance with the most current CDC guidelines. All guests must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination with their vaccination card prior to pre-cruise hotel check-in. SafeCruise policies are subject to municipality and state rules based on current regional conditions and may be modified without advance notice to adhere to local health and safety guidelines. For more information on American Queen Steamboat Company or to book a cruise on the American Queen, American Duchess, American Empress and American Countess, please visit www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com, call 888-749-5280 or contact your travel agent. (PRESS RELEASE)_Geneva, Switzerland – (August 9, 2021) – MSC Seashore has welcomed her first guests as MSC Cruises’ most innovative next-generation ship to-date and the 19th ship to join the line’s fleet, becoming its newest flagship. Embarking guests in Barcelona, Spain, Marseille, France and Genoa, Italy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively, more guests will be welcomed on board the first Seaside EVO ship today in Naples, Italy as part of her inaugural seven-night western Mediterranean itinerary. MSC Seashore will then call Messina in Sicily, for Taormina and Mount Etna, then on to Valetta in Malta, and then Barcelona, Marseille and back to Genoa. Discover the new ship here. Following her summer season in the western Mediterranean, MSC Seashore will complete an 18-night transatlantic Grand Voyage cruise to Miami, where she will become MSC Cruises’ newest ship to cruise from the U.S. For more details on the Grand Voyage, see here. Once arrived to her new homeport in Miami, MSC Seashore will offer seven-night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean with two different itineraries. The first, in the West Caribbean, calls Ocho Rios in Jamaica, George Town in the Cayman Islands, Cozumel in Mexico. The second, in the East Caribbean calls San Juan in Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie on the island of St Thomas, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. A highlight of every cruise on MSC Seashore is a call at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ new private island in The Bahamas. Surrounded by 64 square miles of marine reserve, Ocean Cay offers guests a unique opportunity to enjoy the island’s natural beauty, discover local marine life and soak up the spirit of The Bahamas. With MSC Seashore docking at the island from early morning into the evening — and in some instances overnight — MSC Cruises’ guests can spend a full day enjoying two miles of pristine, white sand beaches and a variety of ocean discovery activities including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, thrilling wave runner rides and more. For more details on MSC Seashore’s winter itineraries in the Caribbean visit here and to find out more about Ocean Cay visit here. Some of the key highlights of MSC Cruises’ newest flagship include:
(PRESS RELEASE)_SEATTLE, WA, August 8, 2021 – U.S. headquartered small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has welcomed back 342-guest flagship Wind Surf to the sea. The largest sailing ship in the world departed today from Barcelona on an eight-day voyage to Lisbon, stopping at ports including Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Almería, Málaga, Gibraltar, and Cadiz. Four of the line’s six yachts are now back in the water cruising. Windstar is returning to operations in a phased manner, with its fleet of six yachts debuting on various dates through November, while requiring vaccines of all passengers amongst a host of health and safety precautions including testing, social distancing, masks, and high-tech air filtration. On June 19, Windstar’s Wind Star yacht resumed revenue operations in Greece, and on July 10, Windstar’s Star Breeze began sailing in the Caribbean. On July 15, Wind Spirit resumed operations in Tahiti. All yachts are sailing with vaccinated guests and crew. . For more details on Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com. (PRESS RELEASE)_NASSAU, BAHAMAS, August 6, 2021 – As part of Carnival Cruise Line’s highly anticipated return to guest operations, the line’s newest and most innovative ship, Mardi Gras, arrived in Nassau, Bahamas, today, marking the ship’s third port of call on its maiden voyage. This is the first time Carnival Cruise Line has called on Nassau in 16 months. Mardi Gras pulled into port flying the Bahamian flag, a symbol of Carnival’s commitment to The Bahamas. The seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise departed Port Canaveral July 31. Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in the Americas to be powered by eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Considered the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology, LNG is among the cleanest fuels in the world, significantly reducing emissions with cleaner exhaust. The ship also features BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. “We are excited to make this inaugural call in Nassau and we are delighted to bring a new level of environmental sustainability to the many ports in The Bahamas and Caribbean,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The restart of our cruising operations in The Bahamas calling on five different Bahamian ports has such wide-reaching economic impact and on behalf of Carnival, I would like to personally thank our partners in Nassau and The Bahamas for their hospitality in welcoming our guests.” “Carnival has enjoyed a very close relationship with The Bahamas for nearly half a century,” said Domenico Rognoni, Carnival’s senior vice president, ethics and compliance officer who also serves as the Deputy Chair of The Bahamas Shipowner Association. “Our first-ever ship was the original Mardi Gras, and its maiden voyage was to the Bahamas, so we believe that rekindling history in this way and registering the new Mardi Gras with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA), is a fitting demonstration of both the value of this relationship for Carnival and our ongoing commitment to the country.” “We are proud of our close collaboration and relationship with Carnival Cruise Line, and we thank them for making the Bahamas its flag of choice for this innovative vessel,” said Captain Dwain Hutchinson, BMA managing director and CEO. “As the world’s largest flag for passenger ships, we have a deep understanding and extensive knowledge of this sector, and we continue to take a proactive stance and advocacy on passenger ship matters on the international regulatory stage.” “The tourism and shipping sectors are two of the major financial contributors to the Bahamas’ economic development, and our longstanding relationship with Carnival, the world’s largest cruise line, embodies both of these,” said BMA chair Denise Lewis-Johnson. “We value the continued trust that Carnival has shown to the Registry by flagging its newest ship, Mardi Gras, the first LNG-powered cruise ship to operate in the Americas and Caribbean, with The Bahamas. This choice is testament to the quality and expertise of the BMA team. We look forward to continuing to welcome the ship, its crew and passengers to our shores and sharing our world-renowned Bahamian hospitality and customer service.” Mardi Gras guests can enjoy a host of entertainment experiences throughout the ship’s 19 decks and six distinct themed zones, including the first shipboard version of the hit TV show Family Feud, and more than two dozen restaurants with venues from Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodiman and the line’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal. Mardi Gras sails year-round from Port Canaveral, offering seven-day itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. For additional 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. (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL August 6, 2021 – Today, Crystal Expedition Cruises announced two new September voyages exploring the Land of Fire and Ice for Crystal Endeavor including the addition of a sixth 10-night Luxury Iceland Expedition scheduled to embark September 5 round-trip from Reykjavík. The company also added a new 13-night voyage Iceland to the Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic that will begin on September 15 with an overnight in Reykjavík before departing to explore Iceland, the Arctic Circle, Faroe Islands, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, with a call in remote Fair Isle, concluding with overnight calls in Edinburgh (Leith), where Crystal Endeavor will dock for the night just steps from the Royal Yacht Britannica followed by a cruise up the River Thames to dock in the heart of London. These new voyages replace previously scheduled itineraries that included calls in Norway, which has now imposed new travel restrictions. “Iceland has proven to be an exceptional destination for the launch of Crystal Endeavor’s expedition experiences with abundant opportunities for sea kayaking, Zodiac cruising, waterfall and volcano viewing and nature hikes including across the Arctic Circle,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. “The feedback we are receiving from guests is that they’ve been thrilled with Iceland as a destination and the unique up-close adventures we are able to launch directly from the ship as well as the extraordinary wildlife encounters. Additionally, Reykjavík offers travelers convenient air options, just six hours from New York City and three hours from London, with frequent non-stop flights from many major cities in the U.S. and Europe.” Crystal Endeavor has been cruising Iceland since her debut on July 17. (ROYAL CARIBBEAN)_Take a look at the latest update on the construction of Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, in Saint-Nazaire, France at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. Wonder will be the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s game-changing Oasis Class when it debuts in March 2022, building on the signature features and experiences the unmatched ships have touted since first revolutionizing the cruise industry more than a decade ago. Families and travelers of all ages can look forward to favorites and new adventures, including the eight renowned neighborhoods, the Ultimate Family Suite, complete with an in-room slide and more; immersive, interactive spaces dedicated to kids and teens; the Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea; and Italian trattoria Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar.
(PRESS RELEASE)_SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (27/07/2021) -- Australia’s award-winning adventure cruise company Aurora Expeditions has joined forces with travel’s leading luxury network Virtuoso® as one of the newest suppliers of its exclusive global preferred partner portfolio to expand and reach a new global audience. Innovators in small-group, expedition-style travel, Aurora Expeditions travels to some of the most incredible places on Earth offering guests the chance to explore some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. This remarkable ‘by-invitation-only’ partnership brings Aurora Expeditions together with Virtuoso’s incomparable list of travel advisors in Asia-Pacific and expands it to the more than 50 countries where Virtuoso operates. “Becoming part of Virtuoso’s global network is a milestone accomplishment for Aurora Expeditions,” says Aurora Expeditions CEO Monique Ponfoort. “We’ve been afforded the opportunity to work with their incredibly talented and reputable member agencies in other areas of the world such as the Asia-Pacific, and our home country of Australia, so adding the Global Team and its adventurous client base to the mix is a true honor for us.” "Virtuoso is thrilled to expand our relationship with Aurora Expeditions to now include a reach that goes beyond our initial offerings to the Asian-Pacific market," says Beth Butzlaff, Vice President, Global Partner Relations, Virtuoso. "Aurora's passion for adventure, one of the leading drivers of post-pandemic travel, conservation and perspective-altering experiences, are what our advisors and their clients continue to seek out and embrace with open arms." “The expedition and luxury travel space has evolved in a significant way. In a new landscape where travelers are looking for more life-changing and transformative experiences, Aurora Expeditions helps to ignite this curiosity. Our shared value of experiential travel resonates with the Virtuoso family, making Aurora an ideal fit for our network,” said Matthew d. Upchurch, Virtuoso, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Virtuoso travel advisors can access the Aurora Expeditions profile which includes voyages, pricing sheets, images, trip notes and other relevant collateral via their portal. Traveling to awe-inspiring places including Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands, the Arctic (European and Canadian), Alaska, the Russian Far East, Costa Rica, Baja California and West Papua, Aurora’s unexampled adventures are led by an outstanding team of experienced expedition leaders. Soon announcing the maiden voyage of its newest ship named after world-renowned marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Aurora Expeditions joins Virtuoso’s carefully curated list of luxury travel partners including airlines, hospitality, cruise lines, tour operators and tourism boards. (PRESS RELEASE)_SEATTLE, WA, August 5, 2021 – Windstar Cruises has chosen Stijn Creupelandt, a 20-year veteran of the luxury cruise industry, as the small ship cruise line’s new vice president of hotel operations and product development. Creupelandt will be in charge of the overall leadership, management, and operation of the Windstar guest experience, including all onboard hotel services, entertainment, wellness + spa, shore excursions, guest relations, food + beverage, and customer loyalty. “I’m thrilled to welcome Stijn to the Windstar family,” said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “We’re fortunate to add his luxury cruise experience and astute cultural understanding to our executive team, and I’m confident Stijn will continue to build upon the award-winning service, the once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions, the amazing food, and all of the 180 degrees from ordinary experiences that Windstar is known for.” Creupelandt will be based in the company’s new Miami headquarters, reporting directly to Prelog. He will work in tandem with newly-promoted Vice President of Marine & Technical Operations Paul Barrett to manage all of the operations aboard Windstar’s fleet of six yachts. Windstar announced earlier this year that the company will be moving its office from Seattle to Miami in June of 2022, with some corporate positions moving to Denver and others operating remotely from the Seattle area. The Miami office will accommodate mostly cruise operation functions and some direct supporting teams to operations. Creupelandt was most recently the director of hotel services at Seabourn Cruise Line, before that serving as the director of human resources and in other roles throughout his 20-year career there. He holds a college degree in hotel catering from Ter Duinen in Koksijde, Belgium, as well as a master’s in hotel management from the Higher Institute for Hotel Management, ISGH in Namur, Belgium. For more details on Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com. (PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (Aug. 5, 2021) – More guests choose Princess than any other cruise line to experience the incredible glaciers, wildlife, fresh seafood and the local culture of Alaska. The newly announced 2023 cruises and cruisetours program offers something for everyone to explore this destination, including the top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary, award-winning “North to Alaska” enrichment program and the ultimate experience of combining a cruise with a land tour including scenic rail travel and stays at Princess-owned wilderness lodges. The 2023 Alaska cruises and cruise tours season, on sale Aug. 18, features six MedallionClass ships, including the cruise line’s newest Discovery Princess, returning to Alaska for a second season. With 145 departures, 14 unique itineraries, five glacier viewing experiences and departing from four convenient departure ports, cruise offerings include:
(PRESS RELEASE)_AMBER COVE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, August 4, 2021 – As part of Carnival Cruise Line’s highly anticipated return to guest operations, the line’s newest and most innovative ship Mardi Gras arrived in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, today, marking the ship’s second port of call on its maiden voyage. Mardi Gras’ leadership team joined local government officials for a ceremonial plaque exchange to commemorate the arrival of the line’s flagship. The seven-day Caribbean cruise departed Port Canaveral July 31. “We are delighted to begin our Mardi Gras sailings and offer guests an opportunity to experience all of the beauty of Amber Cove while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The restart of cruising in Amber Cove has such a wide-reaching impact and on behalf of Carnival, I would like to personally thank our partners at Amber Cove for their hospitality in welcoming our guests.” Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in the Americas to be powered by eco-friendly Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and features BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. Guests can enjoy a host of entertainment experiences throughout the ship’s 19 decks and six distinct themed zones, including the first shipboard version of the hit TV show Family Feud, and more than two dozen restaurants with venues from Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodiman and the line’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal. Mardi Gras will sail year-round from Port Canaveral, offering seven-day itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean. For additional 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. |
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