(PRESS RELEASE)_Porto, Portugal, Nov. 12, 2019 – World Explorer is the first cruise ship to employ hydrojet technology to bring guests closer to marine wildlife by minimizing underwater noise. A technology initially developed for naval warships, the two onboard Schottel SPJ 82 Pump Jets can propel World Explorer at a near-silent cruising speed of five knots without scaring sea life away. Sailing under the Mystic Cruises brand, World Explorer – and sister-ship World Voyager, launching in 2020 – incorporates the hydrojet drive among many innovations that help maximize safety and minimize the ship’s environmental impact when bringing guests to some of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations. Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator, launching in 2021, also will be equipped with the innovative propulsion system and other innovative technologies. Atlas Ocean Voyages is the distributor of Mystic Cruises in North America and both are subsidiaries of Mystic Invest Holding. “Our goal is to build one of the cleanest, safest and quietest ships in our category,” said Mário Ferreira, Chairman of Mystic Invest Holding. “We designed our cruise ships to bring our guests closer to and experience more of a destination, while ensuring that we do our part to help sustain these unparalleled places so we can bring future generations to enjoy them too.” Unlike propellers, hydrojets diminish vibrations and cavitation and significantly decreases underwater noise. Sea life is highly sensitive to noise – which travels farther and louder in water – and tends to scatter when they hear propeller-only, propulsion ships. Each hydrojet pumps water in and out to produce drive and, like azipods, can be directed 360 degrees in order to navigate the ship along pristine shorelines or dynamically position by GPS without the use of the ship’s twin four-blade propellers. For a video about how the Schottel SPJ Pump Jet works, please visit https://www.schottel.de/marine-propulsion/spj-pump-jet/. In some destinations, guests will enjoy the thrill of wet landings aboard one of 18 custom-designed Zodiac MilPro Mark V inflatable boats. To ensure safer gasoline containment, each Zodiac is constructed with a special, reinforced bow chest that accommodates a larger-capacity gasoline bladder to deliver more than three times the average operational range. Each Zodiac also features 12 anti-skid panels – four more than average – to ensure safer guest embarking and disembarking anywhere along the buoyancy tube. Furthermore, World Explorer and her sister ships are designed with an onboard gasoline storage and pumping system that make Zodiac fueling operations even safer. Conservation is also top of mind. Still and sparkling water in refillable glass bottles are delivered daily to staterooms and suites. Single-use plastics in forms of straws, cups, stirrers, etc. will not be offered and waste that cannot be repurposed or reclaimed will be stored in a dedicated and refrigerated hold for landing with a responsible handler in port. As previously announced, FarSounder’s Forward-looking Sonar are installed at the front of the 1B-Ice Class certified hulls to ensure safe navigation through harbors, rivers, and ice fields. Each ship is also equipped with two C25:33L8P main engines and a Bergen C25:33L6P auxiliary dual generator. These connect to a low voltage AFE “SAVeCUBE” power electric system, which provides maximum fuel efficiency while operating at variable speeds and consumes as low as one-fifth the marine diesel oil compared to conventional engines. Atlas Ocean Voyages is a Luxe Adventure cruise brand that is creating a community of new world explorers by delivering authentic and thrill-seeking, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the world’s most sought-after and remote destinations. Opening for reservation in Jan. 2020, the company’s first ship, World Navigator, will start sailing exciting itineraries in 2021. Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator will be joined by sister-ships World Traveller, World Adventurer, and World Seeker in 2022 and 2023. For the latest news and more information about Atlas Ocean Voyages and World Navigator, please register on www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com, and follow @AtlasCruises on Facebook and Twitter, and @AtlasOceanVoyages on Instagram. (ROYAL CARIBBEAN)_Royal Caribbean International’s $165 million amplification of Oasis of the Seas takes shape in Cadiz, Spain. Set to debut in Miami on Nov. 24, the Oasis Class ship will deliver a lineup of new experiences, including the 10-story Ultimate Abyss. Watch how the tallest slide at sea is retrofitted to one of the world’s largest ships! (PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Nov. 14, 2019) – Carnival Cruise Line today announced Carnival Kitchen, an engaging and hands-on culinary experience led by the line’s talented chefs, debuting on Carnival Panorama in December. Guests sailing on Carnival’s newest ship can enjoy more than 15 onboard cooking classes inspired by the expansive array of international cuisines showcased on Carnival Panorama. “We’re committed to providing our guests with memorable onboard experiences, and now, they’ll have the opportunity to explore the art of cooking alongside our incredible culinary team in a fun, informative and interactive atmosphere,” said Cyrus Marfatia, vice president of culinary and dining for Carnival Cruise Line. “We’ve created a diverse selection of experiences that cater to every type of palate, so whether our guests want to learn how to master their favorite foods or want to try something new, Carnival Kitchen has it all.” Sample Carnival Kitchen offerings include: · Carnival Classics Workshop Class with Dinner: discover the secrets behind Carnival’s most beloved dishes including tuna tartare from Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, saffron risotto from the Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, and of course, the cruise industry’s most popular dessert, Carnival’s warm chocolate melting cake. · The Orient Unknown Class with Dinner: master the flavors of the Far East by exploring the world of savory noodle dishes, silky soups, succulent satays and divine desserts that take participants on a journey through the cuisines of Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines and more. · Cake Workshop: follow step-by-step instructions to create a confectionary masterpiece from layering and filling to using hand-made fondant, ornate and edible decorations and more. · Pasta Master Class: explore the art of Italian cooking and preparing homemade pasta by mixing, rolling and molding fresh dough into creative and unique shapes and pair them with delicious sauces from scratch. Additional classes include sushi rolling, pizza making and pie baking, among many others, and participants have the opportunity to indulge in tastings and sample their creations. One-hour and two-hour morning, afternoon and early evening sessions are available primarily on sea days and can accommodate up to 18 guests at a time. Reservations can be made on Carnival.com pre-cruise or at any restaurant once on board. Located on Deck 4 aft, Carnival Kitchen boasts nine marbled-granite cooking and prep stations with individual sinks, refrigerators and stove tops as well as all tools, utensils and ingredients necessary to create a memorable meal. The space is accented with white and grey pattern-tiled floors and steel ceilings and walls as well as a dedicated dining area within the Carnival Kitchen for guests in the evening classes to enjoy a themed sit-down dinner included in the price once the classes commence. Class prices range between $30 and $59, and Carnival Kitchen-branded items are available for purchase onboard. A look at Carnival Kitchen can be viewed in the virtual video here: https://youtu.be/Bb9YRYU2hOA Carnival Panorama features a number of innovations including the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea, a massive WaterWorks aqua park, the popular bike in the sky SkyRide and dining venues like Bonsai Teppanyaki and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse with barbecue favorites from Food Network star and longtime partner Guy Fieri along with craft beers brewed on board. A wide range of staterooms and suites are available as well, including spa staterooms with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-spacious staterooms in Family Harbor and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms with access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool. Carnival Panorama debuts with a special three-day voyage on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by year-round Mexican Riviera cruises beginning Dec. 14, 2019. Voyages depart from the newly renovated Long Beach Cruise Terminal and feature stunning destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. When it comes to the game of Sorry, Pam and I are experts. We play it almost every week, accompanied by hor d'oeuvres and cocktails. So when we found out Carnival Miracle was staging a game onboard, via their partnership with Hasbro, we jumped at a chance to play. Life-size Sorry -- how cool is this! Hosted by DJ Chris, he formed us up into four teams -- Red, yellow, blue and green -- just like the board version. A woman joined us and we became the Yellow Team. DJ Chris, in the red shirt and shoes, explained the rules, while Gerry (the man in black) thinks, "We got this!" The cards were a little bigger than we were accustomed to. DJ Chris drew them one a time, and we moved accordingly. The action got heated as the teams jockeyed for position. Just when you thought you were home, another team bumped you back and you had to start all over again. It was nip and tuck, but in the end, Team Yellow won!! Here we are for the trophy presentation. DJ Chris is almost as excited as we were! Our "Sorry Champions" trophy, which we now proudly display
whenever we break out our Sorry game. Do you believe in (Carnival) Miracles? We do! By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER On our 13-day cruise aboard Carnival Miracle to the Panama Canal, there were a number of highlights, not the least of which was our first full transit of the Canal. The Walled City in Cartagena was amazing, as were the volcanoes in Guatemala and the sailboat ride we took in Cabo San Lucas. With so much time spent on the ship -- more than half the time were days at sea -- another highlight emerged as well: Miracle's Cruise Director, Chloe Loddo. Having taken dozens of cruises, we are used to cruise directors who are energetic, upbeat and keep things moving. But Chloe takes all that and more to a whole new level. She seemed to be everywhere: Hosting shows, greeting guests, dancing, entertaining and overall being the poster girl for Carnival's mantra, "Choose Fun." We were so impressed we asked to do a sit-down interview to discover how she's able to harness all that energy. Surprisingly, she hasn't always been that way. "It's funny," she said. "I used to be really shy when I was growing up -- I was a bookworm. My mother was worried I would be in the playground reading a book and not interacting with the other children." She attributes part of that to a speech issue. "I had a bad stammer when I was little. I couldn't get my consonants out. I struggled. My brain would go too quick and my mouth couldn't keep up." But it also had a positive effect as well. "Because of my stammer, I danced and acted, and that helped me push through it." She added, "My dad happens to be a speech therapist, and that helped, along with acting Shakespeare. Shakespeare helped me slow down. I did so many plays where the director said 'slow down.' " But growing up in Gilbraltar, the theater wasn't her only love. Chloe also aspired to be a writer. "Writing was always a big thing for me," she said. "I used to express myself through my dancing and writing." While working on earning dual degrees in English Literature and Drama, she got a chance to do the latter through a work experience program at a local newspaper. "It lasted two weeks and they asked me to come back in the summer. I did reviews of shows, wrote a 'Woman of the Week' column and covered a big court case as well." While journalism was her goal, her life, as so often happens, was about to take a hard right turn. Her husband was a dancer, and landed a job on Carnival Sensation. "I went on a cruise with him during my winter term break, and he asked me if we wanted to do this together." "I thought this could be really fun -- travel a little bit, save some money. I applied online, got an interview in London and got the job." In 2010 she graduated from university and a week later, was serving as social host ("what they called us back then") on Carnival Imagination out of Miami. What started as a lark evolved into a career. "I thought I would do it for a few contracts and it would be really cool to get to assistant cruise director. I never thought I would become a cruise director." She added, "I've really grown up with this company, and have had so many great mentors over the years." In the meantime, her husband has since retired from dancing and works at a university. During our cruise, it was obvious she has tremendous people skills -- as well as an amazing memory. She can meet somebody once and call them by name the rest of the cruise. For the former, she credits Disney. "This is going to sound really cheesy," she said, "but I love Disney movies. I'm a big Disney fan and just a happy human -- Disney movies gave me this happy, positive attitude. I'm just positive and happy all the time, which drives some people nuts." While writing has had to take a backseat, it's still in her plans. "I want to get back to writing but now I just don't have time," she said. "I try keeping a diary, but I can barely read a book." When she does take vacation, she reads. "On my last vacation, I read seven books. I binge read." She said she gets by with five hours of sleep a night, and works five months straight with two months off, but wouldn't trade it for anything. She also gave a lot of credit to the great team she works with. Soon, she will be leaving Carnival Miracle and joining Carnival Spirt in Australia. "I'll be with the Aussies for a while." "I genuinely love what I do," she said. "For me, it's all about the people having a great vacation, and I pour everything I have into the job every single day. It's an intense working environment -- you're with people 24/7 and don't get a day off. But I'll keep deep doing it as long as I love it." Judging by how many guests went out of their way to give her a goodbye hug on Miracle, the feeling is mutual. Click on a Photo for Full-Size Image
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