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Virtuoso names Melissa Araya as Vice President Cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 March 2022 15 March 2022

Virtuoso, the worldwide network of travel professionals leading the way in luxury experiences, has named seasoned executive Melissa Araya as Vice President, Cruise. Araya rejoined the organization last November and has since become instrumental in leading Virtuoso’s cruise division. In her expanded role, Araya will be tapping into her extensive history with international markets to help further Virtuoso’s strategic growth in its global markets, while utilizing her relationships and customer-centric focus to deliver deeper engagement with its travel agency members, travel advisors and preferred partners.

Since rejoining Virtuoso, Araya has leveraged her vast industry experience to implement the annual sales strategy and budgets, and oversees member production to ensure annual sales goals are met. She has successfully supported the negotiation of multiple agreements around member commissions, while also conducting ongoing reviews of cruise revenue forecasts and collaborating with Virtuoso’s regional general managers to activate global partnerships.

“We’re happy to see Melissa stepping into this expanded role, where she can showcase her experience with elevating and cementing strategic relationships,” said Virtuoso Chief Operating Officer Brad Bourland. “Travel, and cruising in particular, is poised for a strong return and Melissa and her team will play an integral role in ensuring we continue to provide value to our cruise partners by growing our business with them.”

Prior to her return to Virtuoso, Araya held senior level positions with Crystal Cruises, where she was director of Strategic Partnerships (national and key accounts) until her promotion to vice president of Sales and Marketing for international. She also held positions with Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Araya began her career at American Express, where she spent 18 years in executive roles in New York, Mexico City and in the Miami/Latin America region.

Araya will now report to Bourland and will continue working remotely from her home office in Naples, Florida.

Celestyal Cruises appoints David Noyes as non-executive chairman

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 March 2022 15 March 2022

Celestyal Cruises, which specialises in cruises in the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, has appointed David Noyes as non- executive chairman, the company said in a statement.

Noyes has 35 years’ experience in the travel sector and he has held senior positions in e.g. Carnival UK, London Luton Airport and the rail infrastructure owner Network Rail in the UK.

The appointment follows a significant recent investment by Searchlight Capital Partners in Celestyal Cruises and further reinforces its growth strategy. This aims to market the brand globally plus to grow and renew the company’s fleet, Celestyal Cruises said.

Hydi Webb named as Director of PortMiami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 March 2022 11 March 2022

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced yesterday Hydi Webb as the next Director of PortMiami. Webb served as Deputy Port Director from February 2018 to January 2022 before being tapped as Interim Port Director.

After conducting a national search and speaking to candidates from around the country, it was determined that Hydi Webb was the most qualified individual to take over operation of PortMiami. Webb brings nearly 30 years of experience in cruise and cargo management to the world’s largest cruise port, where she has negotiated long-term investment, developed marketing and strategic plans, created international connections, and delivered excellent service to PortMiami and the county, at large. Throughout her career at PortMiami, Webb has held several executive positions, including Manager of Advertising & Public Relations, Manager of Cruise Development, Manager of Business Development, Assistant Director of Business Development and Marketing, and Deputy Director.

“Hydi Webb is beyond qualified to take over operation of PortMiami and shepherd it into a new era of success,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Her expertise, professionalism, and leadership will ensure the port remains a top economic driver for Miami-Dade County, creating new jobs, opening trade networks, and maintaining top safety standards for our community. We are proud to have her take the reins of such an important institution in South Florida.”

New published Canadian cruise procedures clear way for Holland America Line full Alaska and Canada/New England cruise seasons

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 March 2022 08 March 2022

Publication of procedures for the safe resumption of cruises to Canadian ports allows Holland America Line to complete preparation for a full season of Alaska explorations and Canada/New England sailings. Holland America Line will sail itineraries as scheduled that include Canadian homeports and ports of call from late spring through fall.

“The completion of this guidance by Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, and port officials will allow us to sail our Alaska and Canada/New England seasons as planned,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “This is a positive step for everyone who loves to travel to these regions and for all of the businesses in Canada that we support through tourism.

“Many of the protocols Canada is applying were successfully implemented in the United States after the restart of cruising, and they are working well,” Antorcha continued. “We are well-positioned to follow Canada’s direction and continue delivering memorable cruise vacations that include Canadian ports.”

The resumption comes as Holland America Line gets ready to celebrate 75 years of Alaska exploration in 2022. Ships in Alaska use Vancouver, Canada, as a homeport for roundtrip cruises and itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. Cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, to Alaska call at Victoria, Canada.

In Canada/New England, ships cruise between Montreal and Quebec City, Canada, and Boston, Massachusetts. Itineraries range from 6 to 24 nights and call at 13 Canadian ports in Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

"We greatly value our longstanding partnership with Holland America Line, which was the first cruise line to call at the new Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 1986,” said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We’re pleased to see the return of cruising in Canada, and we look forward to welcoming cruise lines, guests and crew back to Vancouver.”

“As people return to travel this summer, we know some will choose to stay a little closer to home,” Antorcha said. “Our Alaska land and sea packages and our Canada/New England sailings are great ways to resume exploring the world without traveling a great distance.”

The line’s first ship to arrive in Canada is Koningsdam, which calls at Victoria April 9 en route to Vancouver for an April 10 arrival. On the eastern seaboard, Zaandam calls at Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 17 while on a 9-night Atlantic Coast cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Montreal.

Alaska cruises sail from Vancouver and call at Victoria

In 2022, Holland America Line will resume cruises to Alaska from the port of Vancouver and between Vancouver and Whittier.
– 7-night “Glacier Discovery Northbound” and “Glacier Discovery Southbound” itineraries between Whittier and Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska.
– 7-night “Alaska Inside Passage” cruises sail roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam and Zuiderdam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.
– 7-night “Alaskan Explorer” cruises sail roundtrip from Seattle aboard Eurodam and Westerdam. Ports include Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait and Sitka.

Canada/New England cruises resume for summer and fall

From May through October, Nieuw Statendam and Zaandam offer a series of six to 24-day departures between Boston and Quebec City or Montreal.
– 7-night “Canada & New England Discovery” cruises between Montreal and Boston in summer and fall. Ports include Bar Harbor, Maine; and the Canadian destinations of Quebec City; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
– 6- or 8-night “Canada & New England Discovery” cruises between Quebec and Boston in the fall. Ports include Bar Harbor, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax.
– 10- and 11-night “Newfoundland and New England Discovery” cruises between Quebec and Boston visit a combination of Bar Harbor; Halifax; St. Johns, Corner Brook and St. Anthony, Newfoundland; and Baie-Comeau and Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec. The 11-day includes an overnight at Quebec.
– 24-night “Canada, New England and Iceland” departing Aug. 3, 2022, roundtrip from Boston. Calls at Sydney, Corner Brook, St. Anthony, St. Johns, Halifax, Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Red Bay, all in Canada; along with Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland; Isafjordur, Seydisfjordur, Djupivogur, Reykjavik and Grundarfjordur, Iceland; and Bar Harbor.
– Leisurely 9-night repositioning cruises along the Atlantic Coast between Montreal and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in May and October feature calls at Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney and Quebec. A 14-night cruise in fall from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale adds Portland, Maine; and Charlottetown, Gaspe and Saguenay, Canada.

Celebrity Cruises achieves 32 percent female bridge officers

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 March 2022 08 March 2022

With a long history of championing diversity and inclusion, Celebrity Cruises today set a new benchmark in the cruise industry, announcing that one third of its bridge officers are now female, in an industry where less than 2% of mariners are women. As a display of its commitment to equality, advancement and the accomplishments of women, the brand is changing its global “X” logo to “XX” on its social media channels in honor of the female chromosome for International Women’s Day. Celebrating all those who identify as female, this symbolic display supports this year’s #BreakTheBias international theme.

The “XX” logo was also projected onto Celebrity Beyond, the company’s highly anticipated flagship under final construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France in preparation for its April 2022 debut and set to be helmed by female captain Kate McCue. When McCue maneuvers Celebrity Beyond from the shipyard, she will become the first woman to helm an inaugural cruise ship sailing, an industry honor commonly referred to as being the “start up” captain.

With a penchant for rising above the industry norms, Celebrity has made maritime history for its progressive thinking and barrier-breaking initiatives. In 2015, President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, a catalyst for change in the 200-year-old industry, appointed Captain Kate McCue as the first – and still only – American female ship captain, starting an intentional effort by the brand to attract more women to the industry and into leadership roles across its fleet.

The cruise line further captured the world’s attention on International Women’s Day 2020, when the first all-female bridge and officer team led by Captain Kate departed on a history-making sailing on board the award-winning Celebrity Edge. Made up of 26 women representing 16 different countries, the all-female bridge and leadership team reunited virtually on International Women’s Day 2021, one year after their glass ceiling-shattering achievement, to reflect on the historic sailing and discuss the challenging year that followed amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Then, on June 26, 2021, Captain Kate led the Celebrity fleet – and the industry – back into operation when Celebrity Edge became the first cruise ship to sail with guests from a U.S. port in more than a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

“Looking back at how far we’ve come in six years is quite extraordinary, and speaks volumes to the leadership and shared vision of the talented men and women I work with every day,” said Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “Now, we have incredible women from 19 countries and at all levels of maritime leadership to inspire girls in this awe-inspiring industry that opens up the world with the transformative power of travel. We are so proud to pioneer this path and keep at this work so everyone who dreams of a career on board a cruise ship - whether they identify as male or female - encounters a new standard across the seven seas.”

When Captain Kate takes the helm of Celebrity Beyond this spring, she will be surrounded by an accomplished nine-person Bridge team, including four female officers: Chief Officer Rachel Arnold (UK); Second Officer Dionysia Giapappa (Greece); Third Officer Gifty Adu Gyamfi (Ghana); and Third Officer Antonina Kolodziejczyk (Poland).