Cunard Line’s QE2 Bid Farewell by Her Majesty The Queen
May 30, 2008 by Paula ·
Cunard Cruises have today confirmed the visit of Her Majesty The Queen to bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth 2 in Southampton on Monday 2nd June 2008. QE2 is due to leave the Cunard fleet in November before starting a new life in Dubai as a first class hotel and entertainment destination.
The Queen will start her bid farewell with a tour of the ship as well as meeting many crew members before attending a reception and lunch onboard. To finish she will be presented with 55 red roses to mark 55 years to the day since The Queen’s Coronation.
Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Carol Marlow, comments:
“We are delighted and honoured that Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to visit QE2 to wish her farewell. Her Majesty has taken a close interest in the ship over the last forty years, having launched the ship, visited twice and reviewed the ship four times, including during the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of D Day. I am certain this final visit will be a memorable occasion for all involved”.
Doug Morrison, Port Director, ABP Southampton, says:
“It’s wonderful to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and Baroness Thatcher to bid farewell to QE2. This event, and the recent meeting of Cunard’s three Queens in April for the last time ever, have both highlighted the important role that the Port of Southampton has played historically, and will continue to play, as Cunard’s homeport.”
Ocean Village Advertising Campaign
May 29, 2008 by Paula ·
Ocean Village has revealed its new advertising campaign to be launched on the 2nd June. The campaign is designed to support its Caribbean winter 2008/2009 season and will include radio broadcasts and television broadcasts with a focus on Granada, Central and Meridian TV. Their total marketing spend is £1million.
The campaign is to target 35-54 year olds and reinforce Ocean Village’s easy-going, casual cruising message with the cruise line’s strap line ‘the cruise for people who don’t do cruises.’
The new Ocean Village brochure is to be launched on 2nd June and will feature the company’s Caribbean 2008/2009 itineraries and the new Mediterranean summer 2009 itineraries.
Comments Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing, Ocean Village, ‘Building on the success of our first foray into TV advertising in January this year, the new Caribbean campaign aims to demonstrate to cruise virgins just how much cruising has lightened up, loosened up and left the days of bow ties and tiaras far behind. The ad projects a distinctive, quirky brand personality that television audiences can already recognise and identify as inalienably Ocean Village. The campaign puts our Caribbean holidays on TV for the first time and we’re delighted to be partnered by The Co-operative Travel in the north and midlands and Cruise Thomas Cook in the south, both of which have shown real commitment to driving growth in the UK cruise market.’
Azamara Cruises Head for Asia
May 28, 2008 by Paula ·
In 2009-2010 Azamara Cruises will offer a series of 14-18 night Southeast and Northeast Asian cruises and two 24 night repositioning cruises. Azamara will also offer guests the chance to spend seven nights in China on a cruise tour before or after their sailing.
Cruise ship Azamara Quest will stay overnight in 10 ports during its Asia season. Ports include the likes of Bangkok, Shanghai and Mumbai. She will also make day visits to 11 other ports during her travels. This means that the total number of ports Azamara Quest will visit is 21 in 13 different countries.
Another exciting highlight to their programme is the special 18 night cruise over the Christmas and New Year period which stops overnight in six different ports including Bangkok. Azamara Cruises are also offering a one-tome Northeast Asia sailing from Hong Kong to Shanghai in March 2009 that will feature overnight stays in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.
Royal Caribbean Reveals Project Genesis
May 23, 2008 by Paula ·
Royal Caribbean has today announced a new class of ships to be launched. Previously referred to as ‘Project Genesis’, the new class of cruise ship has now been announced as the Oasis-class.
Royal Caribbean held a ‘Name that Ship’ contest where entrants entered names for the two new cruise ships. The winning names were selected from more than 91,000 entries with the winning names being Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas which will both be a part of the Oasis-class of ships.
“Our customers are remarkably passionate about Royal Caribbean,” said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “This naming contest has been a fantastic expression of their interest and commitment. We are thrilled to announce these two names and grateful to USA Today for partnering with us.”
“Taking into account the remarkable sea-going destination Oasis of the Seas will be, the name selection evokes an appropriate feeling of verdant comfort and luxury,” said John Maxtone-Graham, maritime historian. “I was very pleased with the final selection and for being invited to take part in the contest.”
Oasis of the Seas will be launched in late 2009 and will be the largest cruise ship in the world weighing in at 220,000 gross tons over 16 decks. The cruise ship will feature 2,700 staterooms allowing a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400. Allure of the Seas her sister ship will join her in 2010.
Ocean Village Adds New Perks
May 6, 2008 by Paula ·
Ocean Village are due to be offering a concierge lounge onboard both Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two. The lounge will offer many perks to make your cruise the most enjoyable it can be.
The lounge will be located under the ships’ bridges where there will be free internet access, luxury continental breakfasts, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks and canapés on offer. There will also be the opportunity to book spa treatments and make restaurant reservations.
Passengers who have booked pricier AA grade suites and BB grade mini-suites will be able to benefit from the concierge lounge. There will be an additional one-off fee of £70 per adult whilst children under 16 years of age will not have to pay but must be accompanied by an adult.
Azamara Cruises One Year Old
May 6, 2008 by Paula ·
Today Azamara Cruises is tempted to paper the walls of their Miami offices to mark their one year anniversary. It’s a year ago today that Azamara Cruises first set sail and with the traditional symbol for a first anniversary being paper what better way to mark the occasion.
“We’re thrilled with how far we’ve come in just one year, and honored by the recognition our deluxe brand has received from our guests, our travel agent partners, and the press,” said Azamara Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “The extraordinary staff on both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest has worked tirelessly to ensure that every guest receives the vacation experience we’ve promised since the brand’s launch.”
“Azamara Cruises was expressly designed for travel enthusiasts who appreciate what a cruise vacation has to offer, but are looking for something a little different, and a little more special,” said Hanrahan. “And what’s special about Azamara is its distinctive combination of impeccable service, exceptional cuisine, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, with immersive shore excursions.”
Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest are both currently cruising the Mediterranean on exotic itineraries including visits to the Channel Islands, Germany and Spain. This autumn Azamara Journey is to begin two new Panama Canal sailings followed by Caribbean cruises in March 2009. In November Azamara Quest will set off on a mixture of Asian cruises including Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia visiting destinations such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore and Athens.
Azamara Cruises is owned by Celebrity Cruises, part of Royal Caribbean International.
