(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL, June 17, 2021 – Crystal Expedition Cruises today announced the full roster of 2023 voyages as well as two early January 2024 itineraries for its luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor.  The first ever “Made in Germany” Polar Class Six (PC6), all-suite, all-verandah ship will feature 27 world-spanning itineraries, taking guests on adventurous journeys to new and remote corners of the globe in bespoke luxury and comfort on the line’s state-of-the-art vessel.

Thoughtfully crafted itineraries range from 10 to 28 nights and will offer intrepid travelers a diverse range of adventures including expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic; South America and offshore islands; Cape Verde and the Canary Islands; the Mediterranean and Western Europe; the British and Scottish Isles; Iceland and the Faroe Islands; Norway, the North Cape and Svalbard; the Russian Arctic and the Northeast Passage; Japan and the Inland Sea; the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago; and Australia including New Year’s Eve in Sydney.

“Our remote expeditions offer guests access to lands few people have ever laid eyes on, let alone set foot upon, and several you would be hard-pressed to find on a map,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. “A number of places we visit are uninhabited by people but are incredibly alive with wildlife, and our immersive expeditions allow guests an up-close and intimate level of discovery, along with unparalleled comfort and luxury in the world’s remote locations. Balancing our remote expeditions are voyages that explore beloved destinations in a new way because of the size of the ship and the access it allows, as well as new destinations that offer intriguing cultural sights and natural beauty. With three types of voyages - Remote Expeditions, Destination Explorations and Cultural Discovery - there is a unique itinerary for every type of adventurer.”

Itinerary highlights include a variety of unique polar expeditions including rare explorations of the remote Ross Sea in Antarctica and an epic 19-night expedition to the Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica showcasing all the region’s major highlights in one spectacular journey. A transit of the Northeast Passage reveals untouched lands teeming with wildlife, while expeditions to Russia’s Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya offer a chance to see polar bears, walrus, whales, seals and Arctic foxes.
Immersive cultural journeys of Japan in the autumn season explore historical sites, famous gardens and landscapes dressed in a symphony of red, yellow and orange foliage. Crystal Endeavor cruises the River Thames close to Tower Bridge in London, docks in the city center in Edinburgh and cruises into the heart of Seville, Rouen and Bordeaux. In Indonesia, the Raja Ampat archipelago offers some of the world’s ultimate snorkeling experiences in a wonderland of rare corals and colorful fish.

(PRESS RELEASE)_SANTA CLARITA, Calif., (June 17, 2021) – Following collaboration with government officials, and evolving guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Princess is announcing its intent to return to service in the United States sailing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Ft. Lauderdale this fall.

Starting between September 25 and November 28, 2021, cruises onboard eight Princess MedallionClass™ ships will once again take guests to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast.

• Majestic Princess and Grand Princess: Los Angeles once again provides the springboard to a variety of destinations, including the California Coast and Mexico on seven-day cruises, and the Islands of Hawaii on 15-day cruises. Also available are three- to five-day Getaway cruises to the California Coast and Mexico.
• Ruby Princess: Sailing out of the iconic Port of San Francisco, Ruby Princess will start with seven-day California Coast cruises before adding 15-day cruises   exploring four distinct island jewels in Hawaii and 10-day Mexico cruises to the lineup.
• Enchanted Princess: Begins with two brand new cruises from Ft. Lauderdale to start her existing inaugural season of 10-day cruises to the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.
• Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess: From Ft. Lauderdale, guests can island hop through the Caribbean with three-, five-, seven- and 14-day cruises available in the Eastern Caribbean that visit some of the best-known beaches in the world and the Western Caribbean that allows guests to explore Ancient Mayan Ruins and the beauty of unspoiled coral reefs and underwater caves.
• Crown Princess: Travels to the Panama Canal, from Ft. Lauderdale on a series of 10-day cruises to this iconic cruise wonder of the world.

 “As we continue our return to service, it is a thrill for us to be able to bring more cruise vacation options to our travel-starved guests,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We appreciate the support of government and port officials who we worked closely with to make these travel opportunities available, in a thoughtful and safe way, for our guests.”
 Dining, entertainment, and shore excursion details are currently being finalized and will be communicated in the coming weeks.

 Princess cruises sailing through 2021 are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. Crew vaccinations will be in accordance with CDC guidelines.
 We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC as well as local, state and federal officials in the ports we sail from and those we visit and will adjust our on board protocols and vaccination requirements, as necessary. Should our vaccination approach change, we would notify guests prior to final payment.

 CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE

As of now and subject to change as CDC guidance, medical, and public health guidance evolves, the line’s Cruise Health program provides steps to enhance public health. Please check regularly, as there will be updates as new procedures are finalized and existing protocols may evolve.
​
 Updates to the cruise line’s Cruise with Confidence program are also being implemented, providing peace of mind for booked guests who may encounter an unexpected trip cancellation or interruption due to COVID-19. Guests can cancel for any reason up to 30 days before departure and receive a Future Cruise Credit for any cancellation fees and a refund of additional funds received to the original payment method. As an enhanced benefit, guests may cancel and receive the same Future Cruise Credit and refund within 30 days

(PRESS RELEASE)_Los Angeles (June 17, 2021) – Viking® (www.viking.com) announced today new details about its upcoming Welcome Back voyages in the Mediterranean that launch in July 2021. Over the course of summer and early fall, Viking will homeport three sister ships—the Viking Star®, the Viking Sea® and the company’s newest ship, the Viking Venus®—for three different 11-day itineraries that explore the Mediterranean, roundtrip from the Maltese capital city of Valletta, a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Viking also announced today that it has partnered with Lufthansa to offer non-stop flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to Malta, exclusively for Viking guests.

               Viking’s announcement comes as the Maltese Government has eased rules for the arrival of international travelers, including Americans. Like many countries, Malta has developed a traffic light system for arriving travelers. Beginning today, June 17, Malta has added most U.S. states and territories – covering the vast majority of the population – to its “Amber List.” Travelers from the Amber List may arrive in Malta with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test having been conducted at least 72 hours prior to arrival. Full details of Malta’s Traffic Light System for travelers can be found on Visit Malta’s website here. Yesterday, the European Union recommended that its member countries begin lifting restrictions on American travelers, with a formal announcement expected on Friday. Additionally, on June 7, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it has eased travel recommendations for 110 countries and territories. As part of the new recommendations, the CDC specifically ranked Malta as “Level 1” or the lowest for risk of COVID-19.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Los Angeles (June 15, 2021) – Viking® (www.viking.com) welcomed American guests on board for the first time in 15 months today in Bermuda, as the company continues its successful restart of operations. Guests boarded the award-winning Viking Orion® in Hamilton and will sail the new Bermuda Escape itinerary. Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, exclusively available for vaccinated guests, this is the first of eight roundtrip sailings from Hamilton planned for summer 2021. After departing the capital city, the eight-day journey continues with scenic sailing around the British island territory and an overnight call in King’s Wharf. 

              “Today is an extraordinary milestone as the world continues to reopen for international travel. On behalf of the entire Viking family, we are delighted to welcome our loyal American guests back on board,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We applaud the government of Bermuda for its collaboration and support as we have restarted our operations. Bermuda has been a favorite destination among our guests since our ocean ships began calling there in 2017, and we look forward to introducing even more Viking guests to the island’s history, culture and phenomenal natural beauty.”

Viking successfully restarted operations in May and has been sailing in England with British guests since May 22. Later this month, Viking will launch Welcome Back sailings around Iceland and in the Mediterranean – and will restart its European river operations in July 2021 with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine. 

Those who sail Welcome Back voyages will also experience Viking’s industry-leading health and safety program. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health & Safety Program was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C. Bono, M.D., Viking’s Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps—and most recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean ship—and a strong network of dedicated shoreside labs for Viking river ships in Europe—all guests and crew will receive frequent quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitization and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey. A complete overview of the Viking Health & Safety Program can be found at: www.viking.com/health-safety.

(PRESS RELEASE)_VALENCIA, Calif., June 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard resumes operations from July 19, 2021 as Queen Elizabeth welcomes guests on board for a series of UK voyages from Southampton, England; and beginning October 13, 2021, sailing internationally with new voyages including to the Iberian coast and the Canary Islands. Queen Elizabeth will then leave the UK in mid-February to resume her previously scheduled season in Japan from April 13, 2022.

Queen Mary 2 will resume sailing with a Transatlantic Crossing on November 14, 2021 as per her existing schedule, and will now sail on a series of voyages around the Caribbean between January and April 2022, with embarkation options from Southampton, New York and Hamburg before resuming her existing published schedule on April 24, 2022.

Queen Victoria will embark on three new voyages departing from Southampton from April 22, 2022 which includes Western Europe, the Baltics and the Iberian Coast before resuming her existing published schedule on May 20, 2022.

"On July 19 Queen Elizabeth's crew and I will be welcoming guests on board as at long last we start our return to sailing," said Simon Palethorpe, president of Cunard. "This will be a momentous day for Cunard as after a long pause we finally get back to doing what we love doing, hosting guests for fantastic vacations. To say we cannot wait would be an understatement!"

"Sadly, the path for a return to sailing across international waters is less clear and we are extremely sorry for the huge disappointment cancellations will cause for all guests who have been affected. Unfortunately, there are simply too many international ports of call affected by the ongoing complexities of COVID-19, which has sadly led to this decision." 

"We're really excited about the new itineraries mentioned, such as Queen Mary 2's sailings around the Caribbean, and hopefully these will appeal to those looking for some much needed winter sun and those looking for adventure later this year and in 2022."

Due to the ongoing complexities of navigating global travel, Cunard has today announced that they will be cancelling the following voyages:

Queen Elizabeth's sailings from the UK to Australia and her homeport season in Australia from October 18, 2021 up to and including March 9, 2022. 

World Voyages on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in 2022 are now cancelled.

Queen Victoria's sailings from September 10, 2021 up to and including April 29, 2022 are now cancelled.  
However, five of Queen Victoria's sailings will transfer onto identical voyages on sister ship Queen Elizabeth. These voyages are V126, V128, V129, V130 and V201.

All guests whose cruises have been cancelled will automatically receive a Future Cruise Credit worth 125% of the standard deposit terms, and 100% of any additional monies paid.

Alternatively, 100% refund is available through completing the form on www.cunard.com
All new itineraries mentioned above will go on sale in July.

For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.
​
For Travel Agents interested in further information, please contact your Business Development Manager, visit OneSource or call Cunard toll free at 1-800-528-6273.

(PRESS RELEASE)_​MIAMI, June 16, 2021 – An iconic day for the cruise industry’s next iconic ship took place on Monday, June 14 when Royal Caribbean International marked the start of construction on its first Icon Class ship. To celebrate the milestone, the world’s largest cruise line held a steel-cutting ceremony at Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku, where the revolutionary ship’s name was revealed as Icon of the Seas. 

In attendance at the ceremony was Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; and Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku. The initial step in the ship’s years-long journey to completion also officially begins Royal Caribbean’s next chapter in building a clean-energy future as the leader in innovative ship design. Debuting in fall 2023, Icon will be the cruise line’s first of three ships to be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). LNG and the state-of-the-art ship’s additional environmentally friendly applications, such as shore power connection, will boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint. More details about Icon’s advanced environmental technologies will be revealed at a future date.

“We made our commitment to making clean power at sea a reality – and soon the norm – when Icon Class was first announced in 2016, and we’re excited to see construction underway on what will truly be a ship unlike any other,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Our decades of work in ocean conservation, energy efficiency and continuous improvement will be evident all throughout Icon. We look forward to revealing more of the game-changing features our guests and crew have in store as she begins to take shape.” 
​
Royal Caribbean is already known for its decades of work in making strides on energy efficiency and reduced emissions through such technologies as air lubrication, which sends billions of microscopic bubbles along the hull of a ship to reduce friction, and advanced waste heat recovery systems that turn waste heat into extra energy, up to 3 megawatts, to help power the ship’s operations. Use of such technologies, including LNG, will result in further reduced emissions overall, virtually zero sulfur dioxides and particulates, and a significant reduction in the production of nitrogen oxides.

(PRESS RELEASE)_NEW ALBANY, Ind., June 14, 2021 – American Queen Steamboat Company®,  part of the Hornblower® Group, is proud to announce the American Empress ®  will embark on the first sailing of the 2021 Pacific Northwest season today. This sailing is the first overnight river cruise with 100% COVID-19 vaccinated guests and crew in the United States. It also marks a return to cruising on the Columbia and Snake rivers for American Queen Steamboat Company, which is almost sold out for the 2021 season. Sailing from Portland, Ore. (Vancouver, Wash.) to Spokane, Wash. (Clarkston, Wash.) or reverse, the popular Pacific Northwest Splendor itinerary showcases the lush natural beauty and historic sites of the region.

 “Today is an important milestone for both American Queen Steamboat Company and Pacific Northwest tourism as we restart operations in the region and cruisers can once again relish the majestic beauty of the Columbia and Snake rivers,” shares Shawn Bierdz, president of American Queen Steamboat Company. “We look forward to safely welcoming guests on board the American Empress to sail through this diverse environment and discover the communities that make it such a unique travel experience.”    

American Queen Steamboat Company was the first U.S.-based cruise company to announce a 100% vaccination policy for guests and crew in February, which will go into effect fleetwide, including Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland river departures, after July 1, 2021. The U.S.-flagged American Queen Steamboat Company resumed cruises with the newly christened American Countess™ and boutique-style American Duchess ™, in March 2021.

To adhere to our 100% vaccination policy, all guests onboard American Empress must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in by providing a valid vaccination card or an image of a valid vaccination card. Guests who fail to provide proof of vaccination at check-in will be denied boarding and subject to full cancellation penalties.

SafeCruise™ health and safety protocols continue on the American Empress including pre-cruise COVID-19 testing of all guests and crew; however, masks are no longer required onboard for guests after embarkation. Adhering to the current CDC federal transportation mandate which includes buses, guests must continue wearing face masks on shore excursion motorcoaches. Additionally, American Queen Steamboat Company continues to work with leading health advisors, including a partnership with VIKAND Medical Solutions, and under the discretion of the CDC on evolving guidelines to protect guests, crew and the communities the vessels visit. For additional questions, please visit the American Queen Steamboat Company website for ongoing health and safety protocols.

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)_By popular demand, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has extended its BOGO offer through June 28. Each traveler who books a two-night Bahamas cruise with the family-owned boutique cruise line will receive 50 percent off for the second guest and can choose between two perks: $50 onboard credit or Kids Sail Free.
 
In addition, giving travelers yet another reason to book a summer escape, the cruise line has rolled out its own version of the PPP – the all-new ‘Paradise Premium Package’ – which can be combined with the BOGO offer. The PPP gives guests the opportunity to add on a value-packed line-up of amenities worth more than $300, for just $99 per person per day, including:
 

• One shore excursion
• 10 drinks per person
• One specialty dinner for two
• One champagne breakfast for two
• WiFi for up to two devices

“Travelers today are seeking unique vacation experiences with the very best deals, and I’m thrilled to announce our new focus on offering a more inclusive experience than ever before, further enhancing our two-day micro-cations. The Perfect Getaway just got a little better,” said Francis Riley, chief commercial officer.
 
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is the originator of the two-night cruise ‘micro-cation,’ offering short, close-to-home Bahamas vacations with al fresco dining; full-service spas; interactive kids’ programs; various entertainment options; and the popular Par-a-Dice Casino for a chance to win big. Unique dining venues onboard include: The Rock Grill, a memorable experience where guests can cook their own meals on hot lava rocks, and Admiral’s Steak & Seafood, featuring mouth-watering dishes like Angus Beef Carpaccio and Peruvian Sea Bass.
 
This limited-time offer is now available online; Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is accepting bookings for cruises beginning July 2, 2021.

 Grand Classica departs from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island beginning July 2nd.
​
Some restrictions apply.  For information or to book a cruise, visit www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com/. Follow Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line on Facebook at Facebook.com/BPCruiseLine, Instagram @BahamasParadiseCruiseLine, and Twitter @BPCruiseLine.