PORT CANAVERAL, FLA., July 31, 2021 – To celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s maiden voyage of its newest and most innovative ship, Mardi Gras, Carnival President Christine Duffy and Mardi Gras Captain Giuseppe Giusa led a “Back to Fun” ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming guests on board.  

Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship to set sail with guests from Port Canaveral since the industry-wide pause in operations 16 months ago.

As the line’s newest flagship, Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in the Americas to be powered by eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the first to feature a roller coaster.  The 180,000-ton ship boasts six distinct themed zones with a variety of food, beverage and entertainment options, including dining venues from Emeril Lagasse, Guy Fieri, Rudi Sodamin and its Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal.

“Mardi Gras has been five years in the making so to finally welcome guests on board to experience this one-of-a-kind ship is something that we’ve been looking forward to for a very long time,” Duffy said.  “Not only is Mardi Gras providing a truly unique vacation experience to our guests, it’s so gratifying to be able to play a role helping the local community by providing much-needed jobs and a boost to the economy.” 

Added Giusa, “Today was a truly emotional moment for our entire Mardi Gras team.  Having the distinction as the flagship of Carnival Cruise Line is a great honor and our entire team is ready to provide our guests with the vacation they have been so patiently waiting for. We are ready to get back to fun!”

Mardi Gras will set sail this afternoon at 6 p.m. from Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 3 for a weeklong cruise with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and Nassau, The Bahamas.

​Mardi Gras is the fifth Carnival Cruise Line ship to resume service with additional vessels set to restart operations soon.  By October, 15 Carnival ships will be sailing – more than half its fleet.

Carnival Cruise Line has been sailing from Port Canaveral for more than 30 years and during that time the line has carried millions of satisfied guests. 

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., July 30, 2021 — Holland America Line took delivery of Rotterdam today, July 30, 2021, officially making it the 11th ship in the fleet. A handover ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy the evening of July 29.

The ceremony was attended by the ship’s master, Captain Werner Timmers, and Cyril Tatar, Holland America Group’s vice president of newbuilding services. Giuseppe Bono, CEO, Fincantieri, and several other executives also attended. Video congratulations were extended by Jan Swartz, president of Holland America Group, and Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
 
“Rotterdam looks stunning and will certainly live up to bearing such an iconic name as the new flagship of our fleet, carrying on a tradition of excellence that our guests have loved for nearly 150 years,” said Antorcha. “Thank you to our partners at Fincantieri and our own team members who worked tirelessly to deliver the ship on schedule during what has been the most challenging of times, and also deliver a ship that looks beautiful, is immaculately finished and will be an incredible addition to our brand. We cannot wait to welcome guests on board later this fall.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_PORT CANAVERAL, FLA., July 30, 2021 – It was a historic day of fun as Carnival Cruise Line welcomed visitors on Mardi Gras for the first time today, with local officials, travel advisors and media enjoying an afternoon on the line’s newest and most innovative ship.  Mardi Gras is scheduled to set sail on her maiden voyage on Saturday, July 31, which will also be the first cruise from Port Canaveral with guests since the industry-wide pause 16 months ago. 

The “Sip & Sea” preview allowed guests to tour staterooms and entertainment venues, sample food and beverages and take the first rides on BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, which anchors Mardi Gras’ stunning top deck. The ship’s first guest cruise includes visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Nassau, The Bahamas. 

Guests enjoyed samples from Mardi Gras’ vast array of restaurants and eateries, including first seagoing version of Big Chicken by Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal,  Emeril’s Bistro 1396, the first shipboard restaurant created famed New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse, and a new international street food venue called Street Eats, along with libations from the new Polynesian-inspired RedFrog Tiki Bar, New Orleans-themed Brass Magnolia and others.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held for the new Rudi’s Seagrill developed by celebrated chef Rudi Sodamin, the Heroes Tribute Bar with representatives from the military families support organization Operation Homefront that Carnival partners with, and a colorful new floral statue inspired by a young artist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the cruise line’s longtime charitable cause.

“Today’s event was five years in the making and it was simply amazing watching everyone enjoy all that this game-changing ship has to offer – live and in-person!” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “Tomorrow is going to be even more exciting as it will be our honor to welcome our first guests on this highly anticipated ship.  Our crew is the best in the business, and they are more than ready to provide our guests with the vacation of a lifetime.”

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

(PRESS RELEASE)_CELEBRATION, Fla. (July 29, 2021) – There’s more magic on the horizon for Disney Wish guests ages 18 and older as Disney Cruise Line unveils even more ways for adults to pamper and play, sip and swim, escape and indulge aboard its newest ship in summer 2022. In addition to a previously announced Star Wars-themed lounge and fine dining experiences inspired by “Beauty and the Beast,” the Disney Wish will debut a variety of brand-new venues for adults, including the fleet’s first outdoor spa retreat, unique salon and barbershop experiences, and a collection of upscale bars and lounges sure to suit the tastes of every guest.
 
“With the Disney Wish, we wanted to design an experience that allows our grown-up guests to relax, recharge and reconnect in unique ways that only Disney Cruise Line can create,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “Not only did we infuse more storytelling and enchantment into the adult-exclusive venues, but we added more variety and made them more accessible than ever before. This ship has truly been designed with adults’ vacation needs in mind, and I know our guests are going to return home feeling refreshed after their Disney Wish vacation.”
 
Outdoor Oasis at Senses Spa
For the first time aboard a Disney ship, Senses Spa will feature a dedicated outdoor relaxation space where guests can unwind in whirlpool spas, rest on plush loungers and find their center during yoga sessions.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, WA (July 29, 2021) – Mix business with pleasure in a whole new way with Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel. The cruise line is launching an alternative to work from home, where you can enjoy fantastic wildlife, nature, and adventure for part of the day and then rely on high-speed WiFi when you need to work.

“With so many people now working from home, we have created the ultimate work from anywhere experience. If your schedule is fairly flexible, you can work in your cabin or any of the open areas onboard the ship when you need to. But for your extended breaks, you can explore national parks like Redwood, Acadia, or bear-watching in Katmai National Park. Or visit the Aleutian Islands, some of the most remote parts of the country. With us, your lunch break can include a hike among the towering trees of the Pacific Coast, joining a local lobster boat along the Atlantic coast, or kayaking the pristine waters of Alaska. We also offer unbeatable backdrops if you work on the balcony while cruising the Alaskan fjords, the Maine coastline, or the West Coast of the United States,” said Storm Tussey-Haverly, Interim President, Hurtigruten Americas.
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Hurtigruten has identified six of its many itineraries worldwide as extra suitable for North Americans ready to take their work-life balance to the next level in regions where WiFi is fast and reliable, even at sea. That includes the U.S. West Coast, numerous Alaska and British Columbia sailings, and from Halifax to Boston. All departures and information can be found at Hurtigruten.com.
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If you book before September 30, 2021, you can save up to $1,500 per person. For full details and to book, please visit Hurtigruten.com, call 866.552.0371 or contact your preferred travel agent.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Miami, July 28, 2021 – Crystal Cruises today announced it has added Miami as a port of call and a port of embarkation for Crystal Serenity’s Luxury Bahamas Escapes* voyages. The addition of Miami begins with the Saturday, August 7 voyage from Nassau with embarkation from the Port of Miami commencing on Monday, August 9. This update to the itinerary will allow travelers to enjoy a U.S. city departure affording ample flight options as well as another port of call for guests sailing on this unique itinerary. The seven-night round-trip Luxury Bahamas Escapes have been extended to early November and now include three ports of embarkation: Nassau on Saturdays, Bimini on Sundays, and Miami on Mondays. In addition, a new 4-night Luxury Bahamas Getaway sailing on November 15 round-trip from Miami has been added that will visit San Salvador and Exuma while also featuring one day at sea. The voyages featuring Miami opened for reservations today.

As part of its Crystal Clean+ measures, Crystal guests 12 and over must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding a Crystal ship, however, due to Florida state law, the company will adjust this policy for the Miami port of embarkation and will highly recommend, but not require, that all guests be fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated guests must be pre-approved after initial waitlist, are subject to capacity control, and proof of valid travel insurance is required. Unvaccinated guests will need to adhere to specific protocols and further testing requirements in addition to certain restrictions during their journey, which can be found here. Some of these restrictions for unvaccinated guests include mandatory mask requirement in all public areas except when eating and/or drinking, no access to certain public areas including specialty restaurants, lounges and night clubs, Crystal Life Spa and Crystal Life Fitness and they may not be able to go ashore at certain ports or attend gatherings onboard such as the Crystal Society party, etc. Dining will be assigned in a socially distanced area. Unvaccinated guests will be identified by a red bracelet while vaccinated guests will be identified by a green bracelet to assist the officers and crew in enforcing restrictions. These details will also be communicated in advance and must be agreed upon as a condition of travel.

(PRESS RELEASE)_SEATTLE, July 27, 2021 – Carnival Cruise Line begins its weekly Alaska cruises from Seattle today and the company held a “Back to Fun” ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming guests back on board.

Carnival Miracle will set sail this afternoon at 4 p.m. from the Port of Seattle for a weeklong cruise with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, as well as a full day cruising Tracy Arm Fjord.

“We are delighted to resume our Alaska sailings and offer guests an opportunity to experience all the beauty of the Alaskan coast while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The restart of cruising in Alaska has such a dramatic, wide-reaching impact on the state and on behalf of Carnival I would like to personally thank our partners at the Port of Seattle, and Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Don Young for their tremendous efforts in making our resumption of service a reality.  Likewise, thank you to Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell and the entire Washington state congressional delegation for working so closely with the Alaska delegation and demonstrating first-hand that promoting travel and tourism is truly a bipartisan issue.”

Added Carnival Miracle Captain Vito Giacalone, “To say that these past 16 months have been challenging would be an understatement and we’re so excited to welcome our guests on board again and provide them with the incredible Carnival vacation they’ve been waiting for.”

Carnival Miracle is the line’s fourth ship to return to guest operations following the resumption of service of Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston and Carnival Horizon from Miami. Mardi Gras, the line’s newest and most innovative ship, sets sail from Port Canaveral July 31.  Additional ships will resume service in August and by mid-October 15 Carnival ships – more than half its fleet - will be operating.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

(PRESS RELEASE)_​NEW ALBANY, Ind., July 27, 2021 – Victory Cruise Lines®, sister brand of American Queen Steamboat Company®, a Hornblower® Group company marks its expedition experience debut with the new Ocean Victory™ in 2022. Created for intimate access with an innovative X-Bow design, the vessel sails 12 and 13-day journeys through the less-traveled regions of Alaska’s Inside Passage led by a seasoned expedition team. Like-minded explorers will deploy kayaks and Zodiacs with expedition leaders, view wildlife from sliding observation platforms, witness marine research by California Polytech University students in real-time and have engaging discussions with First Nation leaders. Accommodating only 186 guests, the focus of the expedition program is exploring Alaska up close. 

“My most memorable travel experiences have always been journeys of complete immersion – whether it’s in a culture, an ecosystem, region or simply being immersed with my family and fellow travelers,” shares John Waggoner, chairman of Victory Cruise Lines. “Alaska is such an incredible destination, and our Ocean Victory expedition sailings were created to deliver an unmatched level of immersion for guests to experience this singular region like never before.”

The Ocean Victory inaugural Alaska season expedition program highlights include: 

Anan Creek Bear and Wildlife Observatory: Guests will venture into the Alaskan wilderness for a once-in-a-lifetime look at the forest’s wildlife in their natural habitat. They will have the opportunity to travel by jet boat from Wrangel through the Eastern Passage to the Anan trailhead. Anan Creek provides the perfect landscape for an observatory, as it is one of the largest salmon runs in Southeast Alaska. This makes it a prime location for the local bear population to feed, as well as bald eagles and harbor seals. At the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory, guests will experience up-close views of these majestic creatures.

Five Finger Whale Lighthouse: Historic Five Finger Whale Lighthouse is located at the confluence of Stephen’s Passage and Frederick Sound in Southeast Alaska. The island on which it sits, and the surrounding waters, are a home to nesting seabirds, foraging songbirds, bald eagles, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, harbor porpoise, transient killer whales and large numbers of humpback whales.

Kake Tlingit Village: Experiencing the traditional culture of Kake, guests will be welcomed with warmth by the Tlingit residents and encouraged to participate in their long-standing traditions. Just a short walk from the dock is the community hall, where a carving or weaving demonstration will take place. Then, guests can step out onto the dancefloor where local dancers will perform traditional songs and dances before gazing at the world’s largest one-tree totem. 

Petersburg: In Petersburg, the Ocean Victory docks right beside Alaska’s largest home-based halibut-fishing fleet, which calls this shallow, protected harbor home. These abundant waters and endless supply of ice from nearby LeConte Glacier led Norwegian fisherman Peter Buschmann to build the region’s first cannery and invite his fishing countrymen to join him. Hence the town’s name and its strong Norwegian culture. With large cruise ships unable to access Petersburg, Ocean Victory’s smaller size allows guests the unique opportunity to call on this charming, authentic Alaskan village.

Waterfall Coast: Guests will be challenged to keep track of the vast number of waterfalls encountered along Baranof Island’s beautiful eastern coast, the little known “waterfall coast.” Ocean Victory’s many observation areas invite guests to enjoy this scenic landscape from on board or right at water level by kayak or Zodiac. This almost hidden shoreline is also prime for wildlife discovery from seals and deer to tidepools ready to reveal secret worlds and treasures.

The brand new, expedition Ocean Victory will sail between Vancouver, B.C. and Sitka, Alaska on 12 and 13-day journeys and feature ports of call that larger ships cannot access, including Baranof Island’s eastern coast. Ports of call include: a pre-cruise hotel stay in Vancouver, B.C.; Canadian Inside Passage; Fiordland (Kynoch Inlet); Ketchikan/Metlakatla; Misty Fjords National Monument; Wrangell/Stikine River Wilderness; Waterfall Coast/Baranof Wilderness; Petersburg/Le Conte Glacier; Tracy Arm/Endicott Glacier; Kake/Frederick Sound/Five Finger; and Sitka, Alaska. Sailings available in May; June; July; Aug.; Sept. 2022.

Fares start at $3,699 per guest, plus port fees, taxes and gratuities with FREEDOM savings available on select bookings through August 31, 2021 and can be accessed with the offer code: FREEDOM.

For more information on Victory Cruise Lines’ 2022 itineraries, sailing dates and to book a reservation, contact your travel professional or call 888-907-2636 or visit www.victorycruiselines.com.

(PRESS RELEASE)_​July 24, 2021 – After successfully completing a closed group test sailing, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today marks a major milestone, resuming commercial operations and welcoming passengers back onboard after an extended 16 month pause. The family-owned and operated cruise line’s flagship vessel, Grand Classica, will set sail this afternoon from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island, marking the return of the line’s popular two-night ‘micro-cation’ cruise vacations. 
 
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all passengers and crew, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has implemented extensive cleanliness protocol, and will adhere to all policies outlined and required by the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.  Guests onboard will experience a clean, safe, enjoyable, close-to-home Bahamas vacation, with a full sailing schedule of back-to-back two-night round-trip cruises.
 
For more information on the cruise line’s policies and procedures, or to book a cruise, please visit www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com, follow the cruise line on Facebook at Facebook.com/BPCruiseLine, Instagram @BahamasParadiseCruiseLine, and Twitter @BPCruiseLine.