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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Sting brings songs from his new Broadway musical, “The Last Ship,” aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2

(News Release)
Grammy® Award-winner Sting was aboard Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 in
New York to perform songs from his latest album and new play, “The Last Ship,” in
the Royal Court Theatre on 28 October 2014. Photos Credit: Kevin Mazur/Wireimage

29 October 2014 – Sixteen-time Grammy® Award-winning musician Sting performed songs from his latest album, “The Last Ship,” and new Broadway musical of the same name in New York on board Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 on 28 October 2014.

The one-off performance took place in front of an invited audience in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre just two days after the musician made his official debut as a Broadway composer. To view photos and video highlights of Sting’s visit, click here.

Set in his hometown of Wallsend on Tyneside in the North East of England, “The Last Ship” draws on Sting’s memories of growing up next to the Swan Hunter Wigham Richardson shipyard.  Over the years, 15 of Cunard’s ships were built there, including the four-funnelled Mauretania, once the biggest ship in the world.

“Cunard is one of the most famous names in shipping and a lot of very notable ships were built on Tyneside – Mauretania and Carpathia, to name but two.  There’s a great lineage,” said Sting while visiting Queen Mary 2

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of Quantum of the Seas

Global Cruise Line Debuts The World’s First Smartship

(Royal Caribbean International took delivery today of the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet, Quantum of the Seas, from Meyer Werft Yard. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain (pictured right) and Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer (pictured left) attended the official signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany.)
 MIAMI, October 28, 2014 – Royal Caribbean International took delivery today of the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet, Quantum of the Seas, from Meyer Werft Yard.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain (pictured right) and Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer (pictured left) attended the official signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany.

With Captain Srecko “Felix” Ban at the helm, the ship will begin her journey today to Southampton, U.K., where she will welcome her first guests on November 2, for a trans-Atlantic voyage to her home port of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey.

Fans and enthusiasts are invited to follow Quantum of the Seas’ through daily webisodes on RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com and also by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter.
Quantum of the Seas will sail from New York harbor to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for her inaugural season before departing for her new homeport of Shanghai (Baoshan), China, in May 2015. Sister-ship Anthem of the Seas will debut in Southampton in April 2015 and sail Mediterranean itineraries.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Three Holland America Line ships offer a premium experience in Mexico and Hawaii from Fall 2014 through Spring 2015

Ultimate itineraries deeply explore both Mexico and Hawaii

Seattle, Wash. -- From fall 2014 through spring 2015, Holland America Line heads to the tropics of Hawaii and explores the spirit of Mexico with a variety of itineraries ranging in length from seven to 18 days. Two ships will sail the azure waters of Mexico, while ms Veendam weaves among the stunning Hawaiian Islands.

“Holland America Line carefully crafts our itineraries to showcase the best of each region, and the Mexico and Hawaii itineraries are the ultimate journey for any traveler looking to visit these destinations,” said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest programs.

“From our onboard enrichment programming to the selection of ports, guests cruising on one of our elegant mid-size ships will have the most immersive and memorable experience possible.”

The line’s cruises to Mexico on ms Veendam and ms Statendam from October 2014 through March 2015 visit some of the most beautiful ports in the country and conveniently sail roundtrip San Diego, Calif. Veendam sails seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, with scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena. Statendam offers a 12-day Sea of Cortez adventure that highlights six Mexican ports and an overnight at Puerto Vallarta.

Chef Guy Fieri to join Carnival Cruise Lines for game day fun at the Dallas Cowboys' Oct. 19 game

Carnival Cruise Lines - How to Make Guy Fieri's Texas Burger
Learn how to make Guy Fieri's very own "Big Tex Burger". You can even order it off of the secret menu at Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival Triumph! To learn more about Guy Fieri's burgers aboard…
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Food Network Star to Visit Fan Tailgates, Judge a Burger Battle at AT&T Stadium

MIAMI – Chef, restaurateur and best-selling cookbook author, Guy Fieri will be joining Carnival Cruise Lines, Texas’ largest cruise operator and the Official Cruise Line of the Dallas Cowboys, for a Carnival Tailgate Takeover at the October 19 Cowboys game. Fieri, whose Guy's Burger Joint dining venues are featured on select Carnival ships, will visit with tailgaters, and host a Burger Battle as part of the cruise line’s pre-game activities that also include a concert by country music superstars Rascal Flatts.

As part of Carnival’s multi-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, the cruise line’s “Fun Crew” tours the stadium lots on branded golf carts at all home games, offering exciting prizes to fans, including the chance to win one of many cruise vacation giveaways. At the October 19 game, Fieri will climb aboard with the crew to meet fans. He’ll also host Carnival’s Gameday Burger Battle, in which local contestants, working with chefs from Legends Hospitality, will create their best tailgate burger. Fieri will choose a grand-prize winner who will receive a Caribbean cruise for two on a Carnival Fun Ship.

Royal Caribbean raises the bar on award-winning Oasis-class ships with Royal Advantage enhancements


Dynamic New Culinary Concepts, Broadway Show and Exciting Retail Offerings, to Debut on Oasis-Class

MIAMI, Oct. 14, 2014 – Sailing aboard the world’s largest and most exciting cruise ships will now come with even more bragging rights. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas emerges from a 14-day drydock today with a new look including reimagined dining, game-changing high-speed internet, exciting new retail offerings, a new popular and favorite Broadway show, new suites with exclusive suite dining and lounge. 


Sistership Allure of the Seas will follow suit in May 2015 with nearly identical enhancements. During their respective drydock, each ship’s seven neighborhoods will be enhanced as part of the cruises line’s Royal Advantage commitment to deliver the best vacation offerings and to introduce guests to even more new features and personalized experiences that can only be found when sailing with Royal Caribbean.

“Royal Caribbean’s legacy of innovation brought the revolutionary Oasis-class ships to life and in that spirit, during the Oasis of the Seas’ and Allure of the Seas’ drydocks we are adding features and experiences to wow our guests even more,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, executive vice president, Operations, Royal Caribbean International.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Princess Cruises launches 50th anniversary “Inspiring Stories” contest

Winner Will Ride on Princess’ Rose Parade® Float on New Year’s Day

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 6, 2014) — Princess Cruises is inviting past guests to join in celebrating its 50th anniversary by participating in an “Inspiring Stories” essay contest and sharing a moving experience that occurred on a Princess cruise vacation.


The winner will ride on the line’s first-ever float in The Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif.

The author of the winning entry, and up to three guests featured in the story, will be awarded a four-day trip to Pasadena, Calif., to join the cast members of The Love Boat as they “cruise” down the five-and-a-half-mile parade route on January 1, 2015.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

MASTERCHEF cruise on Holland America's Westerdam leaves on Nov. 8

(News Release)


Foodies and fans of America's most-watched cooking competition series MASTERCHEF (Mondays, 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX) will hone their culinary skills while getting up close and personal with their favorite series talent on the first MASTERCHEF Cruise.

The seven-night Caribbean culinary cruise, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, from Nov. 8 to 15 (2014) on Holland America Line's Westerdam will feature more than  15 hours of event programming including Mystery Box Challenges, MasterChef Trivia, Tag Team Challenges, cocktail parties, meet and greets, demonstrations and more.

Presented by Shine America, producers of the television series, and events company Life Journeys, the MasterChef Cruise features culinary events and demonstrations with world-class Michelin-Star Chef and MASTERCHEF judge Graham Elliot; series winners Christine Ha and Luca Manfe; the first-ever MASTERCHEF JUNIOR winner Alexander Weiss; previous season contestants Becky Reams and Bri Kozior and the current season's winner.

Carnival Miracle to begin year-round Mexican Riviera program; will deliver hurricane relief supplies

(News Release)

            MIAMI (October 1, 2014) – Carnival Miracle will depart Saturday, Oct. 4 from Long Beach, Calif., on the first voyage of a new year-round cruise program to the Mexican Riviera.  The ship will be the first to call at Cabo San Lucas on October 6 following Hurricane Odile and will be loaded with relief supplies provided by Carnival for local residents. 

Carnival Miracle’s new year-round Mexican Riviera program will encompass three different week-long itineraries, including a new three-port, seven-day cruise featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

During the ship’s first visit to Cabo San Lucas, the crew will be off-loading several pallets of bottled water, canned food, cereal, diapers, paper products, personal items and other supplies for local residents.