Enhanced Mediterranean Service
August 30, 2008 by Paula ·
Grand Alliance has announced that they are to enhance their service between the Mediterranean and Asia. They will be adding Valencia as a port of call so that they can cater for customers needs.
The new service will begin in the second full week of August 2008 and will call at a variety of ports in the following order: Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, Jeddah, Damietta, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Damietta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan.
The Grand Alliance was formed in 1998 and is a consortium in global container shipping. Hapag-Lloyd is a member of this consortium.
Refurbishment for Pacific Sun
August 29, 2008 by Paula ·
P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Sun is to head to Brisbane to undergo scheduled maintenance work and refurbishment.
Pacific Sun will dock from Saturday 30th August 2008 for 12 days before sailing on a South Pacific cruise on Saturday 13th September 2008.
As well as maintenance work P&O are taking the opportunity to improve the interior of Pacific Sun with the addition of an adult’s only Oasis Spa and ocean-view gym.
NCL Awarded for Social Responsibility
August 20, 2008 by Paula ·
Norwegian Cruise Line has been named as a finalist in the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s 2008 World Savers Awards.
The awards recognize companies from around the world for their leadership and social responsibility. They are recognized in five key areas which include poverty alleviation, cultural and environmental preservation, education, health and wildlife conservation.
“Sustaining maritime ecosystems is among NCL’s highest priorities,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s CEO. “The protection of the oceans on which NCL makes its living is of paramount importance to the company and so it is with great pride that we accept this recognition from Condé Nast Traveler for our efforts.”
Norwegian Cruise Line has been recognized for all their hard work including their recycling, environmental protection technology and waste processing equipment. They also try to promote positive environmental habits amongst its young cruisers to make them aware of the importance of environmental issues.
Carnival Takes on San Diego
August 20, 2008 by Paula ·
Carnival Cruise Lines are to send Carnival Elation on a brand new three and four day cruise from San Diego due to begin in February 2009.
All three day cruises will depart on Thursdays to Ensenada and all four day cruises will depart on Sundays and visit two ports, these ports being Ensenada and Catalina Island.
Carnival already offers a similar and successful experience onboard Carnival Paradise. These short cruises are from Southern California and depart on Fridays and Mondays.
“Between the two ships, consumers will have a choice of two very popular departure points, Long Beach and San Diego, as well as four different departure days each week to select from,” said Terry Thornton, Carnival’s senior vice president of marketing planning. “These will be the only ships in the Southern California market offering three and four-day cruises starting in 2009, and with short getaways currently a trend among North American consumers, combined with the inherent value of a cruise, these voyages represent an extremely desirable vacation choice,” he added.
Oceania Begins Marina Construction
August 18, 2008 by Paula ·
Oceania Cruises has begun construction on new cruise ship Marina. Marina will be the first ship of the new Oceania-Class.
A ceremony was held to mark the commencement of the construction of Marina.
“Marina will not be just a ship, she will be a place of beauty that offers our guests unparalleled comfort, amenities and a culinary experience that is beyond compare. Marina, along with her sister-ship, will be the most beautiful ships to sail the seven seas,” added Del Rio.
The Oceania-Class will be a new class of mid sized cruise vessels providing guests with comfort, convenience and a variety of luxury amenities. The new cruise ships within this class will accommodate 1,252 guests in 626 staterooms and suites. There will be more than 780 staff members onboard to look after the guests.
Marina will make her debut in September 2010.
Costa Cruises Ship Visits in Dover
August 8, 2008 by Paula ·
In August and September 2008 Costa Cruises are to be hosting several ship visits for agents to get a closer look at what Costa Cruises is all about and four of the fantastic cruise ships on offer. The ship visits will take place onboard Costa Marina, Costa Mediterranea, Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria.
September will be the last opportunity to see Costa Victoria for two years as she will not be returning to the UK in this time.
There are four ship visits scheduled for when they dock in Dover between 31st August and 16th September. The dates for the ship visits are:
Costa Marina on 31st August 2008 in Dover
Costa Atlantica on 3rd September 2008 in Dover
Costa Victoria on 6th September 2008 in Dover
Costa Mediterranea on 16th September in Dover
The ship visits include a guided tour of the cruise ship, a presentation into the insight of Costa Cruises, lunch and coffees as well as free time to explore the cruise ships at your own accord.
Ventura to the Rescue
August 6, 2008 by Paula ·
P&O Cruises’ Ventura rescued an injured yachtsman whilst on a Mediterranean cruise at the weekend. Ventura the newest addition to P&O’s fleet responded to an urgent call from a French man who had fallen and broken his hip. The cruise ship changed course when traveling to Malaga and rescued the man, he was treated onboard by medical staff before being taken ashore when Ventura docked in Malaga.
The cruise ship then continued its 16 night Mediterranean cruise as planned.
Silversea Cruises 2009 Brochure
August 5, 2008 by Paula ·
Silversea Cruises has launched its new full-colour Voyage Atlas for 2009. The brochure will focus on the luxury and exotic destinations for all four of its cruise ships and new expedition ship.
The brochure will be available in print and online and will offer over 130 fascinating itineraries and an additional 26 expeditions. The schedule for 2009 will cover seven continents, over 80 countries with more than 300 destinations. The brochure will cover all relevant information including deck plans and shore excursions.
The four cruise ships are Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. The new expedition ship is Prince Albert II.
“Our new Voyage Atlas provides a window into an exclusive world where easygoing luxury, exploration and discovery blend together to create the most enriching travel experience,” said David Morris, Silversea’s executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. “For our guests, luxury travel is a lifestyle of countless indulgences — from the serenity of breakfast on a private veranda or a soothing body wrap and massage, to an exciting adventure by Zodiac craft to discover an isolated culture. With Silversea, the possibilities are endless.”
Disney Awarded Worlds Best
August 5, 2008 by Paula ·
Disney Cruise Line has been awarded by Travel + Leisure magazine’s ‘2008 World’s Best’. The ‘World’s Best’ is an annual award voted for by the readers that recognizes the best in travel for a variety of areas including hotels, airlines and cruise lines.
Disney Cruise Line has been recognized as third in the ‘large ship’ cruise line category. They were judged on their cabins, service, itineraries, food, destinations, activities and overall value.
“We are delighted to be recognized in the Travel + Leisure magazine “2008 World’s Best” awards as one of the top three large-ship cruise lines and the highest ranked cruise line catering to the family market,” said Tom McAlpin, President of Disney Cruise Line. “This recognition further enhances our position as the best cruise line for an unparalleled family vacation and motivates us to continue to elevate the Disney Cruise Line experience even higher.”
Sea Trials Complete for Ruby Princess
August 5, 2008 by Paula ·
Princess Cruise’s Ruby Princess has completed her sea trials in preparation for her debut on November 8th. This is a major milestone for the new cruise ship as she was put through her paces on a four day sea trial. Ruby Princess had to carry out a series of maneuvers over the four days to test her navigational equipment, propulsion and steering.
Ruby Princess is now back in the shipyard under going some more exterior and interior finishing in time for her maiden voyage; a seven day Western Caribbean cruise in November.
Ruby Princess is set to feature 900 cabins with private balconies, a ‘Movies Under the Stars’ which is a giant outdoor movie screen, ‘The Sanctuary’ which is an adult-only retreat and plenty of top restaurants filled with cuisine to leave you wanting more. Ruby Princess is to play host to similar features as those of her sister ships Emerald Princess and Crown Princess so it all promises to be very exciting.
