(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, February 27, 2020 – Today, Crystal announced that it has selected the French skincare company, Caudalie, to furnish the line’s bath amenities across its entire fleet of award-winning ships. Representing the very best in French-made skincare, Caudalie’s products are natural, luxurious and highly effective. Originating in Bordeaux, the brand uses grape seed extracts to create its proprietary formulas made with powerful antioxidant benefits while being highly naturally formulated. They are free of parabens, phenoxyethanol, mineral oils, sodium laureth sulfate, synthetic coloring agents and animal-based ingredients (except honey and beeswax).

“Caudalie’s philosophy of constant innovation and development of better techniques and products to benefit customers and the environment is one with which Crystal closely aligns,” said Toni Neumeister, Crystal’s senior vice president of hotel operations. “The quality of the products is in line with what is found in the world’s finest spas and hotels, all created with the health of people and the planet in mind. We are thrilled to partner with Caudalie and are certain that guests will love the new amenities.”

Beginning in the spring of 2020 aboard the sister ships of Crystal River Cruises, refillable bottles of Caudalie shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion will be placed in every guest suite, followed in the summer aboard Crystal Esprit and in the fall on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity and will be aboard Crystal Endeavor at launch.

“We are extremely excited for the Caudalie brand to be part of the Crystal family. Both brands are synonymous with quality, excellence and guest satisfaction,” said Bertrand Thomas, who founded the Caudalie brand with his wife Mathilde. “We cannot wait for Crystal’s guests to be able to use our line of products in such an idyllic setting.”

Caudalie’s luxurious bath amenities are eco-friendly with packaging that is made with plant-based plastics and/or recycled paper whenever possible. Caudalíe is a member of the “1% for the Planet” social movement and donates one percent of its global turnover to ecological and environmental protection and reforestation projects.

Crystal’s guest will continue to enjoy ETRO bathrobes and slippers.

Additional Sustainable Amenities Initiatives  

In addition to the new bathroom shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion, Crystal has reimagined other amenities with a careful consideration to sustainability. Disposable shower caps made with biodegradable corn will be placed in each guest bathroom, while non-plastic cotton swabs are also currently being sourced. Shoe cloths placed in all guest closets are made of responsibly farmed cotton and accompany the reusable fabric laundry and dry-cleaning bags Crystal introduced years ago. Single-use plastic sewing kits will also be replaced with fully stocked sewing baskets crafted from wood upon request.

It's been almost a year since Carnival Cruise Lines announced their exclusive partnership with the highly popular game show "Family Feud." Now set to debut on Mardi Gras, scheduled to launch in November, it was "time to play the "Feud" last week at Carnival Studios, their giant production facility in Davie, Florida.

The live run-through consisted of two shows -- the regular version Face Off and a round of Fast Money. Two teams were recruited -- one composed of media and one of travel agents. Members of the media, travel reps and Carnival employees comprised the studio audience, who cheered and clapped their encouragement.

Taking the Steve Harvey host role was Matt Mitchum, the newly-appointed cruise director for Mardi Gras. A native of Birmingham, England, Mitcham has been with Carnival since 2009 and has played a key role in
developing a number of innovative entertainment programs, including the sailaway parties.

Both teams went at it hot and heavy, but the eventrual winner was Travel. 

For the onboard version, it was explained that guests will be handed a raffle ticket, and the teams would be assembled by a randon drawing. There will be different versions of show as well -- one that's family-friendly, and one for adults.

In an earlier press release, Rick Glankler, president of commercial operations for Fremantle -- the show's producer -- said, “Our show has been wildly successful for more than 40 years, but it’s never been showcased at sea, so this is an unbelievably exciting opportunity for us. Carnival’s audience is perfectly aligned with our show, and we cannot wait to give Mardi Gras’ guests the chance to play Family Feud Live.”

Mardi Gras, named after Carnival's first ship, will be the largest ship in its fleet at 180,000 tons, and the first of its XL-Class ships. With a capacity for over 5,000 passengers, it will feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, as well as Emeril’s Bistro 1396, the first seagoing restaurant by famed New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse. It will also be the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), part of Carnival Corporation’s “green cruising” -- GERRY BARKER
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(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, Feb. 25, 2020 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL), working in partnership with St. Maarten port representatives, has taken a significant step in advancing its relationship with the highly-rated cruise destination of St. Maarten. As an initial effort, RCL has modified its itineraries by adding 15 port visits to the island in 2020 that will increase the number of cruise arrivals there to more than 68,000 guests.

Traditionally, the St. Maarten vacation destination experiences its peak in visitor arrivals between December and March. Between May and December, there is a reduction in those visitor arrival numbers that impact the island’s tourism-based economy. Additional RCL guest arrivals during the May to December period help moderate the highs and lows of St. Maarten’s tourism season fluctuations.

“In order to grow our partnership, we are taking the proactive step of enhancing our Eastern Caribbean itineraries by replacing a day at sea and adding a coveted visit to St. Maarten,” said Vice President of Port Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Joshua Carroll. “It’s part of our culture at Royal Caribbean to focus on continuous improvement and this extends to our relationships with destination partners. It makes perfect sense for us to embrace the win-win opportunities with the additional port calls by Freedom of the Seas that brings not only economic benefit to a great partner like Port St. Maarten, but also offer our guests an amazing travel destination.”

“For an innovative ship like Freedom of the Seas to expand its calls here translates into a significant investment in economic development and tourism jobs,” said Senior Port St. Maarten Manager, Roger Lawrence. “We look forward to working with Royal Caribbean as we continue to improve the port infrastructure to benefit all of our key tourism stakeholders to sustainably build on the numbers of visitors who appreciate our leisure travel offerings.”

Beginning in May 2020 and running through December 2020, St. Maarten tourism officials anticipate that Royal Caribbean vacationers on the newly amplified Freedom of the Seas will have a front row seat to take advantage of its beaches, snorkel and adventure experiences.

“With many of our first-time visitors, the cruise experience to St. Maarten is the window through which they are introduced to the wonders of our island with its dynamic Dutch/French Caribbean culture, its idyllic beaches and engaging tour options,” said Lawrence. “Since Hurricane Irma, we have made tremendous progress with our tourism infrastructure and we welcome Royal Caribbean’s renewed focus and commitment to increase the number of visits to our port. With the thousands of additional Royal Caribbean guests now projected to visit, the potential is there for them to become St. Maarten’s greatest vacation champions.”

Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. A bolder and reimagined Freedom of the Seas will redefine island hopping following a $116 million amplification. High-energy features and guest favorites onboard include The Perfect Storm duo of waterslides, a redesigned Caribbean poolscape, a new take on a signature venue with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and completely transformed kids and teens spaces.

(PRESS RELEASE)_CELEBRATION, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2020) — In summer 2021, Disney Cruise Line will sail a variety of itineraries around the world including a return to Greece – back by popular demand – and exciting and varied European destinations, Alaska ports and tropical locales. Plus, Disney Cruise Line will visit three first-time ports of call in Greece, Sweden and Norway.

Bookings open to the public on Feb. 28, 2020. More details can be found on the “Summer 2021 Itineraries” page of disneycruise.com.

Explore the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Beyond

In summer 2021, a new collection of itineraries is part of Disney Cruise Line’s grand tour of Europe. From May through July, the Disney Magic will visit captivating locales in the Mediterranean including the Greek Isles, Spain and the French Riviera. From late July through September, the ship will transport guests to bucket-list destinations in the British Isles, northern Europe, the Baltic, Iceland and Norwegian fjords.

The Disney Magic will return to the awe-inspiring beauty of Greece in summer 2021, where guests can marvel at the stunning landscapes and archeological wonders of the region, like Santorini with its iconic whitewashed cliffside dwellings and Mykonos with beautiful beaches along the azure Aegean Sea. Four special voyages will visit the Greek Isles, with cruises ranging from eight to 11 nights.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Feb. 24, 2020) -- Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world’s leading luxury ocean cruise line, hosted an elegant and glamorous christening gala in Miami to welcome its newest ship that defines Luxury Perfected, Seven Seas SplendorTM. 
 
Exclusive guests, including travel partners, local community leaders, media and luxury travelers, were invited to the private black-tie evening ceremony on board Seven Seas Splendor to celebrate the all-suite, all-balcony luxury cruise ship. In addition, more than 35,000 people watched the ceremony broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube.

“Seven Seas Splendor is the epitome of luxury perfected,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Every ship we launch gets even better, and Seven Seas Splendor is magnificent. The collaboration between the designers, engineers, craftsmen, hotel and restaurant teams, and the crew onboard, all brings the renowned Regent experience to life on this beautiful ship. Seven Seas Splendor is a celebration of excellence, friendship, success and luxury.” 

Seven Seas Splendor is helmed by 30-year veteran Captain Serena Melani, the first woman to captain a newly built ocean cruise ship. In acknowledging this pioneering honor during her remarks, Captain Melani told the audience following a standing ovation that women can achieve any goal with perseverance and hard work, and that the ship’s 550 crew members deserve recognition for providing luxury travelers with the highest levels of personalized service and comfort on board.  

Another woman trailblazer followed Captain Melani on stage. Honorary Godmother Christie Brinkley delivered the traditional maritime blessing -- “I hereby name this ship Seven Seas Splendor. May God bless her an all who sail on her” -- which officially christened the vessel. The world-famous supermodel, glamorous actress, proud mother and successful entrepreneur then depressed a button which sent a 15-liter Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut champagne smashing against the ship’s hull to symbolically welcome the newest member of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet.

“Gorgeous is the word I use to describe Seven Seas Splendor,” Brinkley said. “All the details on this ship are amazing, from the artistic style of the Italian marble, the artwork and chandeliers, to the sculpture of the mythical dragon outside Pacific Rim. Every inch of this light and bright ship is filled with luxurious details. My parents had cruised on Regent ships. If they were here today, they would be so excited and proud for me to be Godmother to Seven Seas Splendor.”

To conclude the celebration, guests were treated to an unforgettable concert by four-time GRAMMY-award winning British singer-songwriter, Seal, whose performance wowed the audience. Seal’s multi-genre set featured his hit songs “Kiss From A Rose” and “Crazy,” as well as classics from his most recent 2017 album Standards, which was inspired by his love of Rat Pack-era jazz, swing, and rhythm and blues. He performed several Frank Sinatra signature songs, including “Luck Be A Lady,” “That’s Life” and “It Was a Very Good Year,” as well as Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and the classic R&B song, “I Put a Spell on You.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Feb. 20, 2020) – Carnival Cruise Line today announced that it has signed a five-year agreement with the City of Norfolk to operate seasonal cruises from the Half Moone Cruise Center through 2025.

The announcement was made at a press conference by Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander who was joined by Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Nautical and Port Operations Terry Thornton. 

As part of the agreement, the City of Norfolk has agreed to make investments at the Half Moone Cruise Center to accommodate larger vessels and provide an enhanced guest experience including a new boarding bridge that will streamline the embarkation and debarkation process and a host of other improvements. 

At the press conference, Alexander and Thornton also announced that 130,000-ton Carnival Magic will become the largest cruise ship to ever sail from Norfolk when it launches a series of 12 cruises from the port in 2021 that will carry nearly 50,000 guests. 

“Norfolk has been a valued partner for nearly 20 years, and we’re delighted to expand upon this relationship with this five-year contract that will bring exciting new choices from the Half Moone Cruise Center,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our cruises from Norfolk have been very well received by our guests, and this new agreement speaks volumes about our confidence in growing this market.”

Added Mayor Alexander, “This is an exciting announcement.  Carnival Cruise Line ships have become a welcome addition to our skyline. This commitment strengthens that partnership and solidifies Norfolk’s position as a true Mid-Atlantic cruise port.”

Variety of Onboard Dining, Bar and Entertainment Choices

Carnival Magic introduced many of the line’s signature elements now featured across the fleet, including the Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub, the Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant and SkyCourse, a suspended ropes course with breathtaking views to the sea 150 feet below.

The ship also offers hundreds of balcony staterooms and suites – perfect for watching the passing scenery – along with a complimentary children’s programs in three age groups, luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, the Ocean Plaza indoor/outdoor dining and entertainment promenade, a Serenity adults-only retreat and a WaterWorks aqua park with two massive slides, a tipping bucket and a kiddie splash zone.

Four- to Eight-Day Voyages to Tropical Destinations

Carnival Magic’s 2021 schedule from Norfolk offers vacationers a variety of options, from short getaways to The Bahamas and Bermuda to longer length voyages to the Caribbean, all departing from this convenient and centrally located homeport.

The schedule includes:

·       May 16 and June 5:  six-day cruises to Freeport, Nassau and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay
·       May 22 and 31, June 11, and Oct. 4 and 30: five-day voyages featuring Freeport and Nassau
·       May 27: four-day long weekend sailing to Bermuda returning on Memorial Day
·       Sept. 29: five-day voyage to Bermuda
·       Oct. 9: eight-day cruise to Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Thomas
·       Oct. 17: six-day voyage to Bermuda
·       Oct. 23: seven-day sailing visiting Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

Prior to the start-up of its Norfolk schedule in 2021, Carnival Magic will offer a series of sailings in the Mediterranean and undergo a two-week dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, before repositioning to the U.S.

WHAT:   Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is inviting listeners of iHeartRadio’s Y100, Miami’s No. 1 hit music station, to call in daily starting February 24th for the chance to win a free weekend cruise for two to Nassau*. In addition to experiencing the cruise line’s award-winning amenities, including full-service spas, al fresco dining and nightly entertainment, winners and their guests will get to party alongside special cruise host Y100’s Frankie P!

WHEN:  Contest runs February 24 – March 27, 2020; cruise departs April 25, 2020.

WHERE:  MV Grand Classica departing from the Port of Palm Beach; One E. 11th St., Riviera Beach, FL 33404

For more information on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line or to book, visit: www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com or call 888-530-2775 (English) / 888-530-2776 (Español). Follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. -- PRESS RELEASE

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Feb. 19, 2020) – Let the fun begin! Giving Carnival Radiance cruisers a peek at all the fun they have in store, Carnival Cruise Line announced that longtime guest favorites Lee Mason and Katie Eastham will serve as the ship’s cruise director and entertainment director duo when it debuts in April in connection with Carnival Victory’s $200 million bow-to-stern transformation.

In charge of leading the fun on board, Mason’s energetic personality and Eastham’s playful nature will spearhead Carnival Radiance’s vast array of entertainment offerings from the line’s award-winning Playlist Productions shows, including the new-to-fleet Rock Revolution and Broadway Beats as well as Celestial Strings and Soulbound, to legendary deck parties, hilarious performances at Punchliner Comedy Club and audience favorites such as Hasbro, The Game Show.

            “As cruise director and entertainment director, you have to have more energy than all of our guests combined, and as you can imagine, that is tough to come by,” said Chris Nelson, vice president of entertainment for Carnival Cruise Line. “Lee’s and Katie’s talents are obvious – within seconds of talking with them, you can feel their enthusiasm and see their expertise. We can’t wait to watch this powerhouse duo bring the new Carnival Radiance to life.”

Known throughout the fleet for his outgoing personality and million-watt smile, Mason joined Carnival in 2016 and has since served as cruise director for eight Carnival ships, most recently Carnival Splendor in Australia. The Cumbria, England-native has earned a number of accolades at Carnival as well as notoriety for helping to raise $40,000 in one cruise at the onboard Groove for St. Jude fundraiser, the most raised in 2019.

Also an award winner, Eastham is a versatile leader who has proven her perseverance, innovation and creativity at Carnival since 2012. As driven as she is organized, the native of Cheshire, England, has worked on 12 ships serving as entertainment director and mentoring many of the company’s newly promoted entertainment directors.

The third in the line’s Sunshine class, Carnival Radiance’s dry dock will add a host of eateries including Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse created by Food Network star Guy Fieri, the classic American steakhouse Fahrenheit 555 and the first Big Chicken restaurant at sea created by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal. The ship will also feature a number of new entertainment venues including a WaterWorks aqua park, Serenity Adult Only Retreat, Cloud 9 Spa and a new Liquid Lounge.

Carnival Radiance will debut on her inaugural voyage, a 10-day Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona on April 29, 2020, kicking off a summer schedule of nine- and 12-day sailings visiting top destinations throughout the region.

The ship will then reposition to New York from June through September, Norfolk in October and November, Port Canaveral through May 2021, and then Galveston, marking the line’s fourth ship at the port carrying an estimated 900,000 guests annually, more than any other cruise operator.

APPROACHING THE PANAMA CANAL_Guests crowd the deck of Carnival Miracle last October as the ship approaches the entrance to the Panama Canal en route to Long Beach, Calif. See more photos and video of our experience HERE.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, February 17, 2020 – Crystal has once again taken top honors awarded by travel advisors, winning gold and silver in six prestigious categories in the 2020 Travvy Awards. During a gala ceremony held in New York City last week, Crystal and its brand experiences were among the travel industry’s best and brightest honored at the sixth annual Travvy Awards, hosted by travAlliancemedia and voted on by thousands of actively working travel professionals. Earning Gold Awards were Crystal Cruises for “Best Luxury Cruise Line” and Crystal Esprit for “Best Small-Sized Cruise Ship,” as hundreds of individual awards were given to destinations, hotels, tour operators and services and more.

                “The acclaim of our travel partners – the preeminent experts in our industry and the most trusted resources for our guests – is always an honor that we do not take lightly,” said Carmen Roig, Crystal’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. “These professionals see the ever-evolving landscape of global travel and are savvy to the desires of luxury travelers, and the fact that they continue to choose Crystal as the best of the best is extremely gratifying. We are humbled by their vote of confidence and thank the travel partner community for their continued support.”

                Also honored in the 2020 Travvy Awards were Silver Award-winning Crystal River Cruises, for “Best River Cruise Line”; Crystal Symphony for “Best Luxury Cruise Ship,” “Best Cruise Mid-Size Cruise Ship” and “Best Cruise Ship Overall.”

Crystal Cruises’ ocean-going global experiences continue to represent the heart of the long-celebrated travel innovator’s brand, which remains the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary of luxury cruising this year, the industry-leading company continues to redefine luxury travel, expanding its global offerings to new waters and experiences. Across all of its brands – Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and the upcoming Crystal Expedition Cruises – the company remains dedicated to a superlative, seamless guest experience highlighted by personalized service.

Crystal also maintains a steadfast commitment to the travel advisor community, offering travel pros a bevy of tools to equip them to sell Crystal and grow their luxury business. Crystal’s Partner Resource Center and Travel Advisor University are filled with resources to educate travel partners including videos and webinars; personalized URL services; sales and marketing kit; CruiseBuilder 2.0 and training modules that will keep them up to date on the most recent developments of the ever-evolving Crystal brand.