PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 30, 2018) – Princess Cruises has welcomed the start of the 2018 Alaska cruise season, offering guests more options to experience the best of the Great Land. Princess Cruises takes more guests to the 49th state than any other cruise line, offering unique itineraries, cruisetour options and new guest experiences that bring the history, people and culture of Alaska to life both on land and at sea.

This summer Princess Cruises has seven ships sailing the region including the newly enhanced Golden Princess. Guests will be able to experience the newly designed restaurant space and menu at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria; create, play and huddle at the Camp Discovery youth and teen center; and be entertained while watching a variety of the newest movies, shows and concerts on a more technologically advanced Movies Under the Stars screen aboard Golden Princess.

While onboard all ships sailing Alaska this year, guests will encounter a variety of ways to engage in unique Alaska experiences through the award-winning North to Alaska program, featuring the line’s favorite “Cook My Catch,” an exclusive culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day. Also offered, the crowd-favorite Puppies in the Piazza, where real Alaska sled dog puppies are brought onboard in Skagway for guests to interact with.

PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI (April 30, 2018) – Carnival Cruise Line, which carries more active and retired military personnel than any other cruise operator, joined forces with Operation Homefront Sunday, April 29, 2018, to host a “day date” event for 100 military couples aboard Carnival Miracle at Port Tampa Bay in Florida.

 “We’re always looking for meaningful ways to show our troops how much we appreciate everything they do for our country, and inviting these couples on board for a day of fun is just one small way we can say thank you,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We hope that for the few hours they were on board, everyone felt our admiration and enjoyed a great lunch and a day of FUN, which is our specialty.”

The red carpet was rolled out for the couples who came on board for a day-long escape that included lunch and a comedy show with sets by Carnival Cruise Line comedians Jim Brick and Chase Elstner. To honor the attendees for their service to our country, Carnival also presented their Military Appreciation Salute, a tribute that is held for active and retired military personnel and their families who sail on every cruise. The salute features the showing of the colors (flags), the branch songs and National Anthem, concluding with all members of the military being invited on stage for a group photo.

This event is part of a continuing partnership between Carnival and Operation Homefront, a national non-profit organization that builds strong, stable and secure military families. During its Honor.Family.Fun. program, Carnival focused on the importance of deployed military moms and dads re-learning how to play with their families once they’re back home. Since 2017, these programs have helped raise awareness and funds for Operation Homefront. Carnival will be hosting a series of these events at different home ports this year with locally based military personnel.

“We are thrilled to partner with an amazing team at Carnival Cruise Lines and be able to give these military couples a fun and memorable experience aboard the Carnival Miracle,” said Brig Gen (ret) John I. Pray, Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront.  “All at Carnival share our unwavering commitment to helping military families thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”

Tampa is an important homeport for Carnival Cruise Line and home to Macdill Air Force Base. Carnival operates two year-round ships out of Port Tampa Bay — Carnival Miracle and Carnival Paradise — carrying an estimated 280,000 passengers annually from Tampa, the most of any cruise operator.

PRESS RELEASE_Hamburg, Germany (April 30, 2018) - MSC Meraviglia officially made her maiden call at the port of Hamburg yesterday, marking the start of her new — as well as the brand’s best and most accessible-ever — season in Northern Europe. At the traditional exchange of crests attended by Senator Horch from the City of Hamburg as well as representatives from the Ports and other institutions, media and travel partners, MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately owned cruise line and now for the third consecutive year brand market leader across all of Europe, announced that MSC Grandiosa will be christened in Hamburg on November 2, 2019.

“We are delighted to announce the christening of MSC Grandiosa here in Hamburg. Since our last christening in Germany of MSC Magnifica in 2010, we have, as a company, embarked on a journey of strong growth, and the German cruise guest has embraced our brand and our offering in a strong way. It is only natural that we would look to christen in Germany our next flagship and the first of the Meraviglia-Plus ships to come into service, MSC Grandiosa,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “We hold a special relationship with Germany overall, and we are looking forward to celebrating with our German partners next November as well as welcoming our international guests to this historic port, rich in Maritime tradition and heritage.”

PRESS RELEASE_Seattle, Wash., April 30, 2018 — To celebrate the upcoming debut of its newest ship in December 2018, Holland America Line has launched the Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes for the chance to win a seven-day cruise for two in 2019 aboard the new ship. The sweepstakes runs through June 15, 2018, and the winner will be announced June 30, 2018.
 
To enter the Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes, participants must visit HALNieuwStatendamSweeps.com and fill out the entry form. Once that form is complete, one additional entry can be earned by sharing the sweeps on Facebook or Twitter, for a total of two entries.
 
“We’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of Nieuw Statendam, and we want to share our enthusiasm by giving someone the chance to win a cruise on our beautiful new ship,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Nieuw Statendam is going to be an incredible addition to our fleet and this sweepstakes is a way for us to do something special for our loyal guests and fans.”
 
The grand prize winner will receive a seven-day cruise in 2019 for two to the Caribbean or Europe in a verandah stateroom aboard Nieuw Statendam. The new ship will be exploring the golden beaches and sun-kissed skies of the Caribbean on roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida, cruises through April.  Following an inaugural season in the Caribbean, Nieuw Statendam will cross the Atlantic Ocean and spend the summer and fall exploring northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The ship returns to the Caribbean in October 2019.
 
Nieuw Statendam Sets Sail sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Québec) who are 21 years of age or older as of the date of entry. For more information, contact a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI, Florida – April 26, 2018 – Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, today celebrated the groundbreaking of the new and dedicated Norwegian Cruise Line terminal at PortMiami.  The Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners approved the project on April 10, 2018, with construction beginning May 1.  Present at the ceremony, which took place at PortMiami’s Terminal B, were Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, Howard Sherman, executive vice president of onboard revenue and destination services, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, Miami-Dade County commissioner Rebeca Sosa, PortMiami director and chief executive officer Juan Kuryla, Florida State Representative Cynthia Stafford and leading executives from the architecture and construction firms on record, Bermello Ajamil & Partners and the NV2A-Haskell joint venture. The state-of-the-art terminal is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2019, as Norwegian Encore, the newest ship of the Breakaway Plus class, debuts in Miami with seasonal cruises to the Caribbean.

“This iconic terminal represents our continued partnership with Miami-Dade County, our commitment to excellence and Miami as a world capital,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.. “As a global cruise company we’re transforming and elevating guest experiences through design and innovation on our ships, and this new terminal at PortMiami is the next step in that journey. We are honored to be here today alongside the team dedicated to making this dream a reality.”

At nearly 166,500 square feet, the Norwegian terminal will accommodate ships of up to 5,000 passengers and will feature state-of-the-art technology to support faster and more efficient embarkation and disembarkation, as well as expedited security screening and luggage check-in.  A dedicated lounge and service area will offer a warm and welcoming arrival for guests, and a new parking garage and valet parking area with direct access to the terminal will streamline the entire arrival and departure process for more efficiency.

PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI (April 26, 2018) – Let the battle begin!  Carnival Cruise Line today announced that Jake Elliott, kicker for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, and Queen Latifah, Grammy-award winning musical artist, acclaimed actress and godmother of the new Carnival Horizon, will face off in a special edition of Lip Sync Battle as part of the ship’s naming ceremony. 

The invitation-only event, which will take place in New York City on May 23, will celebrate the ship’s U.S. arrival and benefit one of Carnival’s primary charitable partners, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, based in Elliott’s adopted hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Part of the line’s popular reproduction of the hit Paramount Network series, Lip Sync Battle: Horizon will feature Elliott and Latifah who are sure to bring the house down with their unique interpretations of today’s pop hits, accompanied by Carnival Horizon’s Playlist Productions cast, all to a packed house in the ship’s Liquid Lounge.

PRESS RELEASE_Seattle, Wash., April 24, 2018 — Seattle’s Hometown Cruise Line, Holland America Line, sponsored Guest Chef Night with Ethan Stowell on Thursday, April 19, at FareStart Restaurant in Seattle. President Orlando Ashford and a team of executives put their serving skills to the test when Holland America Line Culinary Council member Ethan Stowell was the featured chef for the organization’s weekly Guest Chef Night. Ashford and colleagues served Stowell’s three-course meal to guests who came out for the event, which raises funds to support FareStart’s foodservice job training and job placement programs.
 
Guest Chef Night occurs every Thursday night when a different guest chef works with the FareStart students to prepare a three-course meal for over 200 guests served at the FareStart Restaurant. Community volunteers — Holland America Line’s executives for this event — serve the diners, and 100 percent of the proceeds and donations from the evening go back to fund student services and training.
 
“Holland America Line and Ethan Stowell Restaurants are both very involved in giving back to the local community and have supported FareStart in the past, so Ethan’s participation in Guest Chef Night presented the perfect opportunity to partner together and assist the important work of FareStart,” said Ashford. “It was a fantastic experience to serve diners with Ethan’s incredible menu that was prepared by FareStart students. The Holland America Line team was honored to be part of this special night and even more so to share in the graduation of two students from the FareStart program.”
 
Guests who attended Stowell’s Guest Chef Night were treated to a signature menu that started with Salami and Castelvetrano Olives followed by a Little Gem Salad with tarragon, hazelnuts, goat cheese and haricot vert; and an entrée of King Salmon with asparagus, spring onions and baby turnips or a vegetarian selection of Gnocchi with asparagus, mushrooms and spring onions. Dessert was a choice of a delicious espresso or vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookie sandwich.
 
Patrons pay $29.95 per person to attend Guest Chef Night and enjoy a meal prepared by some of the area’s most acclaimed chefs. Since 1992 Guest Chef Night has raised more than $6 million to support job training, placement and support for adults who are turning their lives around.
 
About Ethan Stowell, Culinary Council Member
With an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants, Stowell has helped to change the face of the Seattle food scene. He was named one of the “Best New Chefs in America” by Food & Wine in 2008 and chosen as one of the “Best New Chef All-Stars” in 2013.
 
As part of Holland America Line’s Culinary Council, Stowell joins an elite team of world-renowned chefs, including Master Chef and Culinary Council Chairman Rudi Sodamin and international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Andy Matsuda and Jacques Torres. No other cruise line has a team of seven global culinary experts partnering with it to enhance all aspects of the dining experience.
 
Stowell works collaboratively with the Holland America Line’s culinary team to create a narrative that brings the flavors of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest on board its seven ships cruising in the region. Across all ships, guests are able to choose Stowell’s regionally inspired dishes in the dining room, New York Pizza and select stations at Lido Market. To learn more visit ethanstowellrestaurants.com.
 

PRESS RELEASE_SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 24, 2018) – Destination lovers seeking new worldwide travel experiences need to look no further than Princess Cruises and the cruise line’s 2020 World Cruise. Offered on the intimate 670-guest Pacific Princess, cruisers will visit 42 destinations on five continents and come back holding once-in-a-lifetime memories from around the globe.

Due to popular demand of the 2019 World Cruise, the 2020 111-day roundtrip voyage offers similar routing to the 2019 cruise, including South Africa and departs Ft. Lauderdale on January 5, 2020 and Los Angeles on January 20, 2020. Princess Cruises also offers a 96-day Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale segment, departing Los Angeles on January 20, 2020, as well as shorter, multi-day segments along the journey.

“We’ve been offering World Cruises since 1998 and our team of destination experts knows how to create the best worldwide itineraries like no other in the cruise industry,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “Our Captain, officers and crew regularly hear from guests the impact the World Cruise has on them, as they share their appreciation for taking them to places they never in a million years thought they would experience.”

Fun facts and Princess Cruises firsts for the 2020 World Cruise include:

• Cruise to 42 destinations, 26 countries on five continents
• 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the first visit to Stone Town in Zanzibar
• Pacific Princess will sail 34,287 nautical miles in 111 days
• The World Cruise crosses the Equator four times
• First time Princess Cruises on a World Cruise visits Kaikoura, New Zealand; Praslin, Seychelles Islands; Mayotte Island, (French protectorate); and Zanzibar, Tanzania
• First call to Melbourne on a World Cruise for Princess Cruises
• 12 late-night stays to maximize time in port, including Melbourne, Tahiti, Phuket and an overnight in Cape Town, South Africa

 The 2020 World Cruise aboard Pacific Princess goes on sale on Wednesday, April 25, with rates starting at $22,999/person. Guests booking the 96- or 111-day World Cruise before March 31, 2019 receive early booking perks such as a $1,000 onboard credit per person for guests booking a balcony, mini-suite, Club Class mini-suite and suite; $500 onboard credit per person for guests booking an interior or oceanview and complimentary gratuities for any category.

Past Princess guests are also eligible for a savings of up to $1,000 per person. More information about the 2020 World Cruise is available at www.princess.com/world.