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Viking River Cruises and PBS' MASTERPIECE extend partnership for additional year

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 August 2015 06 August 2015

Viking River Cruises announced Tuesday it has renewed its national corporate sponsorship of PBS’ celebrated series MASTERPIECE for another year. The announcement comes on the heels of MASTERPIECE earning 17 nominations for the 2015 Primetime Emmy® Awards. The new sponsorship deal will extend through 2016 and will support programming that includes the sixth and final season of the Emmy® Award-winning series Downton Abbey, as well as the hit series Mr. Selfridge, the Emmy®-nominated Sherlock, the popular new series Poldark and the upcoming Indian Summers. Viking first came onboard as a MASTERPIECE national corporate sponsor in 2011. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.

“It is our view that successful partners should enjoy growth together, and that is certainly the case for our partnership with MASTERPIECE,” said Richard Marnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Viking River Cruises. “Together with MASTERPIECE, we engage with audiences of people who strongly believe in enriching their lives through the arts, culture, history and exploration. We are proud to continue our relationship with MASTERPIECE, and we congratulate them on this year’s Emmy nominations.”

"MASTERPIECE and Viking River Cruises has been a dream partnership; our viewers and their current and potential travelers are cut from the same cloth,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “Viking's support of our expanded MASTERPIECE schedule, including Wolf Hall and Grantchester, has worked well for everyone. Sail on, Viking!"

"We are thrilled that Viking has extended their corporate support of MASTERPIECE," added Suzanne Zellner, VP Sales for WGBH's Sponsorship Group for Public Television. "Viking’s long-term partnership with MASTERPIECE demonstrates that PBS sponsorships work, and help build business for sponsors."

In addition to its MASTERPIECE sponsorship – and as a response to the incredible popularity of Downton Abbey – Viking also offers its guests an optional excursion to Highclere Castle, the setting of the hit series. The Oxford & Highclere Castle pre- or post- trip experience is available for guests on the Cities of Light or Paris & the Heart of Normandy itineraries. Co-created with the owners of Highclere Castle, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Viking guests spend three days in the rolling hills of England’s countryside, with a champagne welcome and special tour of the famous home.

As a response to increased traveler demand for Viking’s destination-focused cruises, the company expanded its river offerings in 2015 with the launch of new award-winning Viking Longships and new European itineraries. Since entering the North American market in 2000, Viking has continued to set industry standards with best-in-class river cruise ships, award-winning service, outstanding quality and all-inclusive itineraries offered at a competitive price.

In early 2015, Viking officially expanded into the ocean cruise market and with the launch of its first ocean ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star – marking the arrival of the travel industry’s first entirely new cruise line in a decade. In June, Viking “floated out” its second ship, Viking Sea at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. Viking Sea is set to launch in early 2016, and the company’s third ship on order, Viking Sky, is currently under construction for debut in early 2017. All three ships will sail popular routes in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

Breakdance to Mozart shows drops in on board Mein Schiff 3 from Berlin stage

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 August 2015 06 August 2015

A show that ranged from breakdance to the music of Mozart and acrobatics that went to sea on board Mein Schiff 3 of TUI Cruises has returned back home to Wintergarten Variete in Berlin, the Hamburg based cruise shipping company said in a statement.

The show, which was staged on Mein Schiff 3 on a seven night cuise in the Mediterranean that ended on 2 August, was the result of cooperation between the cruise line and the composer and director Christoph Hagel, the break dance group DDC Company and BASE Berlin, a pool of artists that spans a wide range who are located in the German capital.

The aim was to broaden the offering of entertainment, said Thomas Schmidt-Ott, Director Arts & Entertainment at TUI Cruises.

TUI Cruises to offer cruises from Singapore in winter 2015-16

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 August 2015 05 August 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, will offer for the first time cruises from Singapore in the winter of 2015-16, the company said in a statement.

Three 7-night itineraries will be on offer, one focusing on Thailand, the other one on Vietnam and the third one on Malaysia. They are offered as fly cruises and also on cruise only basis.

TUI Cruises will base Mein Schiff 1 in Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre to operate the cruises. The company currently has four ships in service and further four newbuildings on order.

AmaWaterways celebrates AmaSerena christening

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 August 2015 04 August 2015

AmaWaterways today celebrated the christening of its new 164-passenger vessel AmaSerena. The line’s co-founders, Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, were joined by the ship’s godmother, Michelle Fee – CEO and Co-Founder of Cruise Planners – for a series of festivities in Vilshofen, Germany at the conclusion of the ship’s Melodies of the Danube sailing. Local dignitaries, including Mayor Florian Gams and 2nd County Commissioner, Rainmund Kneidinger, helped officially welcome the vessel to the fleet.

“It is an exciting time for AmaWaterways as we welcome AmaSerena, our most innovative ship to-date, to our European fleet,” said Karst. “AmaWaterways takes great pride in selecting its godmothers and we are honored to have Michelle Fee join our family. She has been a fantastic partner of ours over the years, always supporting AmaWaterways and encouraging her network of franchise owners and travel professionals to do the same.”

It was a festive occasion complete with live music, local entertainers and authentic Bavarian cuisine. Traditions including the signing of the ship’s guestbook, a prayer by the abbot, and the ship’s official christening preceded a closing ceremony with fireworks.

AmaSerena’s addition was previously announced in August 2014 and now she joins the AmaWaterways fleet alongside sister ships AmaReina, AmaPrima, AmaCerto and AmaSonata. The ship’s spacious accommodations feature the line’s first-ever connecting staterooms, upholding AmaWaterways’ commitment to providing the most innovative designs on the market. Guests sailing aboard AmaSerena will enjoy the comfort of signature twin balconies, salon and spa services, sun decks, multiple dining venues, including The Chef’s Table restaurant, and intimate wine rooms, as well as fitness rooms and heated sun deck swimming pools with swim-up bars.

“I am proud to have this opportunity to carry on a long tradition,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “Serving as Godmother for AmaWaterways’ AmaSerena is being a part of history and advancing the travel industry.”

AmaSerena’s christening voyage embarked July 29 from Budapest. During the seven-night journey along the Danube, the ship visited some of Europe’s most captivating destinations including Bratislava, Vienna, Linz and Passau. Future itineraries for AmaSerena include The Enchanting Rhine, Magnificent Europe and The Romantic Danube, visiting France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other extraordinary locations.

A ship’s christening is a long-standing tradition within the cruise industry originating more than 4,000 years ago. The momentous ceremony features the blessing of the ship by an appointed Godmother and often concludes with the breaking of a champagne bottle against the ship’s hull.

Princess Cruises debuts The Voice of the Ocean

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 August 2015 04 August 2015

Princess Cruises brings the excitement and spectacle of TV’s wildly popular international singing competition to the high seas, live and on-stage, with The Voice of the Ocean. The show comes to life throughout the cruise with auditions, mentor rehearsal sessions, the iconic “I Want You” chairs, three charismatic team coaches and ultimately a live finale performance where guests choose the winner.

The Voice of the Ocean singing competition experience aboard Princess Cruises includes:

– Karaoke try out sessions at the beginning of each cruise, for vocalists who are 16 years or older. There will be two opportunities to audition during open karaoke in one of the ships lounges or showrooms. Fellow guests and cruise staff will decide who moves on to compete.

– Selected singers are assigned a mentor who will meet with them during the cruise to rehearse with the Princess Band and back-up singers to prepare for the best possible performance. The mentors will be a Princess musical entertainer or vocalist.

– The Voice of the Ocean Live Show, hosted by the Cruise Director on the last night of the cruise will feature up to nine contestants performing in the Princess Theater for an audience that includes three high-profile team coaches that may include one of our guest entertainers, the Hotel General Manager or even the Captain. Just like the hit TV show, the trio of coaches will listen but not see the performer as they decide to turn their “I Want You” chair to choose the singer to be on their team. Once teams are chosen coaches will then each pick one finalist. From the three finalists, the audience votes for the winner who will be awarded a trophy and most importantly, the title The Voice of the Ocean.

“Whether guests are up on stage or in the audience deciding who gets their vote, we know The Voice of the Ocean will be a huge hit with Princess guests,” said Adrian Fischer, vice president, entertainment for Princess Cruises. “Guests will feel like they are part of the globally popular TV show performing on a high tech set almost identical to the hit show, including rotating red chairs and a live Princess band with back-up singers. We’re excited to discover and foster undiscovered talent and offer guests a whole new way to express their love of music and performing.”

The vocal competition will debut aboard Regal Princess in October, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in November. Eight additional ships will offer The Voice of the Ocean rolling out between January and May of 2016.

This new partnership adds to the cruise line’s "come back new" brand promise, designed to elevate the guest experience by creating enriching moments and lifelong memories. For more information about The Voice of the Ocean, or to watch a pilot video shot aboard Star Princess, visit princess.com/voice.