(PRESS RELEASE)_​WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – April 29, 2020 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today announced its support of the Folding @ Home Project (FAH), dedicating its unused computing power to help researchers find a cure for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As the first cruise line to officially participate in this innovative project, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is calling on its industry partners and peers to lend their own resources, joining the fight against COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented global impact, and when we learned about the unique Folding @ Home initiative, we immediately knew we had to help,” said Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “We have an enormous amount of idle computing power at hand, given our ships are currently restricted from their normal operations, and this program gives us a way to utilize those resources, helping researchers who are working around the clock to find a coronavirus cure. We’re proud to be part of this project, and we are asking our industry partners and peers to commit their resources to the effort, so we can help save lives, most importantly, while also putting the tourism industry on a path to recovery.”

Folding @ Home is a distributed computing project that helps researchers conduct simulations to analyze the protein folding process and movements in various diseases, including COVID-19. Through the project, scientists can use donated computing power from anywhere in the world to run simulations, study the virus, and find a vaccine. The software is free and available to download for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the more computers donated to the cause, the more simulations scientists can run.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line joined the FAH project in early April and has donated computer resources from its offices, as well as Grand Classica and Grand Celebration. While the cruise line’s contributions have already made an impact, researchers need access to more computing power to find a cure.

“Now more than ever, the travel industry needs to band together and donate our resources to help researchers find a vaccine and successfully end this pandemic,” added Khosa.

To join the FAH Project, visit https://FoldingatHome.org/covid19. For more information on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, visit: https://www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com or call 888-530-2775 (English) / 888-530-2776 (Español). Follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(PRESS RELEASE)_WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – April 24, 2020 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today announced an update to its sailing schedule. Sailings will resume onboard Grand Celebration on June 13th and onboard Grand Classica on July 10th.

“We appreciate the support of our valued guests, partners, regulatory agencies, staff, and crew during this challenging time,” said Oneil Khosa, CEO, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “We are utilizing this time to ensure that we are ready for our guests once we resume cruising. Travelers will be seeking a quick and safe getaway once leisure travel fully restores, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard for a unique, short-cruise getaway to paradise!”

Travelers that choose to set sail with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line this summer can expect delectable dining, exciting entertainment options, and signature amenities while sailing to Grand Bahama Island or Nassau.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is continuing to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and is in communication with all affected guests, as well as its travel advisor partners. All guests booked on a canceled sailing will receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit through the cruise line’s updated Sail with Ease Policy. Future Cruise Credits will automatically update in the cruise line’s system, and guests are only required to call customer service to transfer their cruise to any future sailing date through December 31, 2021.

While the cruise line encourages all impacted guests to take advantage of the Future Cruise Credit, those who wish to receive a refund are entitled to 100 percent of their two-night cruise or Cruise & Stay package price. 

For more information, consumers and travel advisors should call Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Customer Service Team at (800) 374-4363 or visit the website, www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com. Follow Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line on Facebook at Facebook.com/BPCruiseLine, Instagram @BahamasParadiseCruiseLine, and Twitter @BPCruiseLine.

(PRESS RELEASE)_NEW ALBANY, Ind., April 20, 2020 – Victory Cruise Lines (VCL), operated by American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC), a Hornblower® Family Company, announced that it will extend its temporary suspension for all operations on board the Victory I through June 30, 2020 and cancel all planned itineraries for the Victory II for the remainder of the 2020 season. The Victory I will resume service on July 5, 2020. The decision was made following continued, wide-spread governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions and an extended no sail order through Canadian waters through June 30.

VCL thanks its guests, travel agent partners, vendors and team members for their patience and understanding during this rapidly evolving situation. The decision to suspend service was a difficult choice but necessary in response to Canadian mandates.

“Our top priority remains the health and safety of our guests, team members and crew,” shares John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “We came to the difficult decision to consolidate the Victory II itineraries with Victory I due to the shortened nature of our 2020 season, as a result of the ongoing travel restrictions and port closures. It is our hope that in doing so, we can prioritize delivering the extraordinary Great Lakes sailing experience that our loyal guests have come to expect from the VCL brand.

For guests that are booked to depart on the Victory I before June 30, 2020 and those booked onboard the Victory II, no action is necessary at this time. The VCL customer service team will reach out directly to  guests and travel agents in the coming days to answer any questions and advise on their available options, which include the opportunity to rebook on a later date, a 125 percent cruise credit or a full refund.

For more information on Victory Cruise Lines and its current policies, please visit: https://www.victorycruiselines.com/alerts/

(PRESS RELEASE)_FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., Apr. 20, 2020 – Atlas Ocean Voyages, the luxury, all-inclusive adventure and expedition company, today announced that it will unveil its inaugural winter 2021/22 Antarctica season in early-May 2020. The Luxe-AdventureSM travel brand will launch sales of its Antarctica season ahead of schedule to provide Travel Advisors more opportunities to take advantage of the most immediate and generous program called GET PAID NOW. GET PAID NOW immediately assists Travel Advisors with up to $750 per deposited booking, and their clients receive up to $2,000 savings and more on an exhilarating Luxe-Adventure journey aboard World Navigator. World Navigator, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ first expedition ship launching in mid-2021, will embark on her maiden Antarctica LuxpeditionSM in November 2021 and bring adventurers and like-spirited travelers to the southernmost, most isolated continent for towering icebergs, waddling penguins, playful seals, breaching whales and more.

            “Travel Advisors have always been an indispensable partner for cruise lines and now, they need our support more than ever,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Atlas Ocean Voyages created GET PAID NOW to support our valued Travel Advisor community as we navigate these unprecedented times. And we’re opening up our 2021/22 Antarctica season sales early, on May 4, so Travel Advisors can offer more destinations – and more choices – when discussing future travels with their clients. We will all travel again and small, safe, luxury expedition ships like World Navigator will help lead the cruise industry’s recovery.”

            “We know Travel Advisors are working extra hard these days planning future dream vacations and travel experiences for their clients,” said Brandon Townsley, Vice President of Sales and Trade Partnerships for Atlas Ocean Voyages. “To support them and recognize their efforts, we want Travel Advisors to GET PAID NOW for selling a Luxe-Adventure journey to the end of the earth aboard one of World Navigator’s2021/2022 Antarctica voyages.”

            Atlas Ocean Voyages’ GET PAID NOW recognizes Travel Advisors for their critical role in fulfilling their clients’ curiosities and dreams. GET PAID NOW is applicable for all Atlas Ocean Voyages’ itineraries, including the inaugural 2021/22 Antarctica season, and is combinable with all current Atlas Ocean Voyages promotions. For every booking with deposit, Travel Advisors will receive:
·   A $750 gift card per suite NOW
·   A $500 gift card per Horizon and Veranda stateroom NOW
·   15% commission
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Adventurers and like-spirited travelers enjoy:
·   $1,000 savings plus FREE business-class air travel per suite guest
·   $500 savings plus FREE economy-class air travel per Horizon- or Veranda-stateroom guest
·   Free changes to any itinerary, departing before March 31, 2022.

            Travel Advisors can visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com for more information, and call 1-844-44-ATLAS (1-844-442-8527) to book their clients on an unforgettable Luxe-Adventure journey. To register as an Atlas Ocean Voyages Advisor, please visit www.atlasoceanvoyages.com/contact-travel-advisors/.

            Atlas Ocean Voyages is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Safety is the basic building block of World Navigator and the ship is rated Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B and utilizes underwater forward-looking radar to confidently ply icy polar waters. 

            Additionally, the ship’s exclusive, alternate hydrojet propulsion system helps World Navigator quietly cruise into wildlife-rich Antarctic harbors and calderas without disturbing marine animals. Guests will be able to see Antarctic wildlife closer from World Navigator’s Water’s Edge Lookout, the lowest expedition ship’s bow observation area in the industry and the only one with heated benches for extended marine-life spotting and admiring the pristine Antarctic scenery. Atlas Ocean Voyages’ ships are also among the first to employ the latest conservation and sustainability technologies – leaving nothing behind but footprints in the snow – to help preserve the breathtaking locales and waters they ply for future generations to enjoy. 

            Atlas Ocean Voyages is an all-inclusive, luxury travel brand that will be defined by simple elegance and will deliver authentic, thrilling, and once-in-a-lifetime Luxe-AdventureSM experiences in the world’s most sought-after and remote destinations. Adventurers and like-spirited travelers will find community aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages’ small, expedition ships and come together in welcoming and lively venues to share their day’s exploits. Guests stay in one of 98 luxe suites and staterooms, all with an ocean view and most with a private balcony. All Atlas Ocean Voyages journeys include complimentary gratuities; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; L’Occitane bath amenities; Wi-Fi; a free shore excursion in select ports on every itinerary; coffee and tea service in every room; meals and snacks; and butler service in suites; as well as parkas for guests to take home and wet-landing boots for use aboard polar itineraries. For the latest about Luxe-Adventure journeys, follow @AtlasCruises on Facebook and Twitter, and @AtlasOceanVoyages on Instagram.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., April 17, 2020 — Holland America Line is commemorating its 147th anniversary Saturday, April 18, 2020, by honoring its rich legacy, taking care of each other in the present and looking forward to its next chapter. With travel paused globally, the premium cruise line is reflecting on the resilience that has been exhibited throughout the company’s history, enduring challenging times many times before and emerging even stronger thanks to loyal guests, dedicated crew and employees, and the support of travel advisors.
 
Founded April 18, 1873, as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company, the brand has welcomed more than 150 ships throughout the years. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Ryndam, is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and scheduled for delivery in late spring 2021. While the cruise line has paused its global operations through June 30, only one other time in company history did operations cease. During World War II, all passenger voyages stopped, and ships were called to serve in the Allied war effort.
 
“It’s important during these challenging times to still celebrate important milestones, and our 147th anniversary reminds us that Holland America Line has one of the deepest histories and richest legacies in the cruise industry,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We stand on a solid foundation built by those that came before us over nearly a century and a half, and just as they weathered uncertain times, we will as well. Holland America Line will be back taking guests around the world as soon as we can, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back on board.”
 
Since 1873, Holland America Line has traveled to all seven continents, offered decades of world cruises and explored Alaska for more than 70 years. Each time a new ship joins the fleet it’s a celebration of this legacy and marks the next chapter in the company’s history. Learn more about the company’s history at https://youtu.be/BCdm7usWixI.
 
To help our loyal guests look forward their next cruise, new short-term Book with Confidence cancellation policies are available for cruise bookings with departure dates through Oct. 15, 2020, and a generous Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) is always available for purchase right up until the cancellation policy for a booking is in effect. CPP permits cancelling for any reason and provides cash refunds. Additional offers that feature perks and savings will have cruisers dreaming of travel in 2021 and beyond. 
 
A special 147th Anniversary Edition Gift Card is available for a limited time at hollandamerica.com. When purchased by May 31, 2020, a bonus $100 will be added with purchase of a $500 gift card or a $200 bonus with the purchase of a gift card for $1,000 or more.
 
To see the commemorative tributes to Holland America Line’s 147th Anniversary, visit all of Holland America Line’s social media channels: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Los Angeles (April 16, 2020) – Viking (www.viking.com) today opened reservations to the public for its new Mississippi River cruises, which will launch in 2022. The company’s first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, will debut in August 2022 and will sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul. Viking’s arrival will bring modern river cruising to the Mississippi and will represent a major commitment to tourism and economic development in many communities along the river. Currently scheduled ports of call on Viking’s new Mississippi River cruises comprise seven U.S. states: Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Darrow, New Orleans and St. Francisville); Mississippi (Natchez and Vicksburg); Tennessee (Memphis); Missouri (Hannibal, St. Louis); Iowa (Burlington, Dubuque and Davenport); Wisconsin (La Crosse); and Minnesota (Red Wing, St. Paul). As part of an exclusive preview promised by Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen, past Viking guests have been able to book the new Mississippi River cruises since March 30, 2020 and some departure dates are already nearly or completely sold out. As of today, all inaugural sailings of Viking Mississippi’s 2022-2023 season are now available to the public for booking.

                “At a time where many of us are at home, looking for inspiration to travel in the future, I am pleased to introduce a new, modern way to explore this great river. We invented the concept of modern river cruising when we got our start 23 years ago—first on the rivers of Russia and then in Europe. Since then, many people have come to appreciate the unique exploration that comes with river cruising—but currently there are very few options to do so on American rivers,” said Hagen when the new Mississippi River cruises were announced on March 30, 2020. “Our guests are curious travelers, and they continue to tell us that the Mississippi is the river they most want to sail with us. The Mississippi River is closer to home for many of our guests, and no other waterway has played such an important role in America’s history, commerce and culture.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – April 3, 2020 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today announced an update to its sailing schedule, canceling sailings through May 6, 2020. Grand Celebration will resume operations on Friday, May 8, 2020 – welcoming travelers just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. The official statement from Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, is as follows:

“At Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, the wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. While we understand that this news is disappointing for many of our valued guests, we believe that further suspension is necessary to ensure their continued safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are in communication with all guests booked on a canceled sailing, as well as with our travel advisor partners, and we are offering a 125 percent Future Cruise Credit for all guests booked on a canceled sailing. We wish everyone the very best at this time and look forward to providing you a better way to getaway again soon.”

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s updated “Sail with Ease” policy provides an automatic Future Cruise Credit of 125 percent to two-night cruise and Cruise & Stay guests affected by the extended pause on sailings. Future Cruise Credits will automatically update in the cruise line’s system, and guests are only required to call customer service to transfer their cruise to any future sailing date through December 31, 2021.

While the cruise line encourages all impacted guests to take advantage of the Future Cruise Credit, those who wish to receive a refund are entitled to 100 percent of their two-night cruise or Cruise & Stay package price, including taxes, fees, charges, and any pre-paid amenity or package. 

To reach Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Customer Service Team, please call (800) 374-4363.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Los Angeles (April 3, 2020) – Viking (www.viking.com) today announced the official launch of Viking.TV (https://viking.tv/), a new digital platform designed to provide enriching cultural content and livestreaming video experiences from around the world. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President Karine Hagen in a video for current and past Viking guests, posted on the homepage of Viking.TV.

                “Right now, we are all staying at home instead of traveling together, but that does not have to mean that the only thing we can do is watch the news,” said Karine. “My father, Torstein Hagen, and I felt that if we cannot for the time being bring our guests to the world, let’s bring the world to our guests. Viking.TV is a way for us to continue exploring the world in comfort—from the comfort of our homes. And as soon as actual travel is less complicated again, we are ready to welcome you onboard.”

                Viking.TV was conceived as a way to build community, stay connected and share positive experiences at a time when people are staying home, rather than traveling. In addition to housing a library of enriching content that Viking guests would have enjoyed onboard their respective cruise itineraries, Viking.TV will also feature live content from a variety of experts, cultural partners and notable individuals. Each day at 11 a.m. PT in the “Conversations with Karine and Friends” section of Viking.TV, there will be a livestream conversation, demonstration or virtual tour where viewers can participate by submitting questions in real time. All content sessions will be archived for anyone who cannot view at the original time of broadcast. The schedule of daily participants will be announced every Sunday, and viewers can expect the following themes each day:

Museum Mondays – Viking is a longtime sponsor of Oslo’s Munch Museum and hosts “Munch Moments” onboard its ocean ships every afternoon, showcasing a curated collection of Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch. On Viking.TV, Museum Mondays will take the place of the onboard event, and viewers can expect streamed sessions with the museum’s director and various curators, providing virtual privileged access to exhibitions, experts and restoration facilities. Additional museums may also participate in the future.