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Michelle Sutter to serve as Fathom's senior sales leader

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 July 2015 24 July 2015

Fathom, the pioneer in social impact travel, has named 15-year cruise industry veteran Michelle Sutter as a company senior sales leader. In this role, Sutter will be responsible for marketing and business development supporting sales of Carnival Corporation’s Fathom brand that is pioneering the new category of social impact travel. Sutter joined the company in July reporting to David Drier, vice president, sales for Fathom.

“Michelle is a results oriented leader and business partner who successfully cultivates and expands authentic, meaningful relationships,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation. “She is committed to collaborating with travel professional partners to help them grow their businesses by successfully marketing and selling more unique products and services. She also has a demonstrated track record and passion focusing her unique gifts and talents to make a difference in the world – she has chaired several community fundraising initiatives and served on boards benefitting children’s charities and organizations. Her outstanding business development skills coupled with her dedication to societal impact make Michelle an ideal addition to our team.”

Sutter joins the Fathom team from Holland America Line and Seabourn where she was business development manager since early 2013, where she was responsible for increasing travel professional sales and market share for the company and exceeding established revenue objectives on a regular basis. In 2014, Holland America Line recognized Sutter with the prestigious Rookie of the Year Award. Prior to that, Sutter served in several sales roles of increasing responsibility at Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International where she was the recipient of numerous sales awards.

“It is exciting to get in on the ground floor of Fathom, working with a visionary executive team who deeply understands the desire to do good in the world, and who created this unique brand to address the real hunger to help others,” said Sutter. “I look forward to helping travel professionals meet the growing demand from travelers eager to immerse themselves in new cultures where they can learn, serve and flourish while making enduring, sustainable contributions on a scalable and systematic basis.”

A resident of Vancouver, Canada, Sutter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies and Spanish from Simon Fraser University. She also actively supports the Umoja Operation Compassion Society by working with low-income immigrants living in British Columbia. Sutter is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Pullmantur appoints new Director for Latin America

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 July 2015 24 July 2015

Pullmantur Cruises, the Spain and Latin America focused cruise line, has just appointed Alejandro Páez as its new Director for Latin America. Alan Lam reports.

Despite the recent setback caused by the decision of its holding company - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. - not to transfer the originally intended vessel, the Majesty of the Seas, to its Spanish brands, which would have boosted the line’s capacity disproportionately, Pullmantur’s ambitious international expansion programme does not seem to have been hindered, as it continues its incursions into its traditional fertile market territories.

This new appointment not only re-enforces the line’s existing business in Latin America, it aims at further exploring this market, which currently represents at least 50% of the group’s over all revenues.

One of the specific aims of this appointment is to seek out new itinerary opportunities in the Antilles and Southern Caribbean, near Alejandro Páez’s home country of Venezuela, a territory that will be served by the brand’s flag ship, the Monarch, from September.

Educated in the UK and the USA, with a background in marketing, communications, and hotel management, Alejandro Páez has been touted by the group as ideal for this role.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. changes leadership in Singapore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 July 2015 24 July 2015

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announces the appointment of Sean Treacy as Managing Director Singapore & South East Asia, replacing Jennifer Yap who has resigned due to family commitment.

Yap is leaving the company after an office tenure of over eight years. During her leadership, the company’s business in the region has grown over 10-fold and she oversaw the deployment of the region’s largest Voyager Class and Quantum Class ships to Southeast Asia. She is also the Secretary General of CLIA Southeast Asia.

Treacy will take up the role of Managing Director, Singapore & South East Asia for the brands Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, effective August 1, 2015, based in the Singapore office. Having been with the organisation since 2006, he has held a variety of roles within the company, with a focus on Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises in the areas of revenue management and global deployment. His current position is Regional Commercial Director Asia-Pacific, overseeing revenue, deployment, sales, marketing and PR across Australia and New Zealand, based in Sydney. Prior to his time at Royal Caribbean, Treacy has worked for United Airlines where he held numerous roles in Sales and Revenue Management. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Finance and Spanish Literature. Treacy will report to Gavin Smith, Regional Vice-President Asia-Pacific.

Sea Cloud reaches the grand age of 85

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 July 2015 23 July 2015

Sea Cloud Cruises, the Hamburg operator of small, fine sailing cruises will add an exclusive anniversary trip next year to celebrate the 85th birthday of their windjammer legend Sea Cloud. Throughout the cruise, lecturer Patricia Witzigmann will be on board to bring to life the 85 years of her moving history.

Sea Cloud was built to plans drawn up by the renowned American design offices of Gibbs & Cox at the Germania shipyard in Kiel in 1931, for and on behalf of Wall Street broker Edward Hutton. She was initially christened "Hussar". Edward Hutton's wife Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to a fortune and a successful business woman, determined the character of the Tall Ship which has been on the high seas for 85 years. Since 1979, the formerly glamorous private yacht has been a cruise ship travelling the oceans around the Mediterranean, the Lesser Antilles, the Grenadines and Central America with a maximum of 64 guests on board.

On her 85th birthday, Sea Cloud will sail together with her younger sister Sea Cloud II to the Iberian coast where they will travel together on a common course for 5 days. The trip starts in Lisbon on the Tagus. What a sight to behold then, Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II sailing majestically along in front of Belem Tower, a World Heritage Site.

After a day at sea, where the sailing sisters may even compete, they arrive in Cadiz, one of the oldest cities in Europe. In addition to a beautiful cathedral and baroque buildings there are many cosy tapas bars. The wine and sherry cellars of Jerez de la Frontera are just a stone's throw away.

They continue to Malaga with its beautiful old town and botanical gardens. The highlight of the day: Sea Cloud II will invite all the guests of Sea Cloud on a ship’s tour. After another day at sea, Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II must say ‘au revoir’ to each other in Valencia, as Sea Cloud II sets course for the Balearic Islands.

For the guests of the birthday girl Sea Cloud and the culmination of the anniversary tour: there will be a special evening in Barcelona exclusively for guests of Sea Cloud set in a masterfully designed building by the architect Antonio Gaudí. There will be a cocktail reception and a concert in these special surroundings.

When we sail: Sea Cloud, Lisbon - Barcelona, 20th to 27th April 2016, from € 2,995 per person in a twin outside cabin or Sea Cloud II, Lisbon - Palma de Mallorca, 20th to 28th April 2016, from € 2,995 per person in a twin outside cabin.

Since 1979, Sea Cloud Cruises has been one of the top names in the world of cruising. The 84-year-old four-master Sea Cloud and her younger sister Sea Cloud II are regularly elected among the top five boutique ships by the Berlitz Cruise Guide.

Princess Cruises announces exclusive celebrity Chef partnership with Curtis Stone

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 July 2015 23 July 2015

Princess Cruises today announced a new exclusive partnership with esteemed restaurateur, New York Times bestselling author and television personality Chef Curtis Stone. This collaboration will serve up new culinary offerings designed by Chef Stone, dedicated to fresh flavorful cuisine, ultimately creating memorable experiences as guests travel the world.

Internationally known, Chef Stone began his cooking career at the age of 18 in his homeland of Australia and later honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in London. He has appeared on a number of top-rated cooking programs, most recently starring as a mentor on Food Network’s All-Star Academy and is host of the Network’s brand-new show Beach Eats (premiering August 12). His first solo restaurant, Maude, opened to rave reviews in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2014 from respected outlets such as Time, Travel +Leisure, Eater LA, Los Angeles Magazine, Angeleno and more. Curtis is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written six cookbooks, his most recent Good Food, Good Life.

Guests will be invited to enjoy three special offerings developed by Chef Stone, available only on a Princess cruise vacation, including:

– “Crafted by Curtis” menu items available in the main dining room across the entire fleet
– A new specialty restaurant concept and menu designed by Chef Stone
– A special Chef’s Table by Curtis Stone experience

This new partnership adds to the cruise line’s "come back new" brand promise, designed to elevate the onboard guest experience. “Crafted by Curtis” menu items offered in the main dining rooms will debut aboard Golden Princess in the fall and roll out fleet-wide through the end of 2015. Chef Stone’s first restaurant at sea will debut in December aboard Emerald Princess, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to the Caribbean and Ruby Princess, sailing from Los Angeles on cruises to Hawaii and Mexico. The rollout will continue on Coral Princess cruising the Panama Canal and then Sun Princess, which will bring Chef Stone’s restaurant to his home country, Australia. Curtis Stone’s Chef’s Table experience will debut across the fleet beginning in early 2016.

“We take tremendous pride in preparing and serving our guests freshly made dishes served with passion and care,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “This is an exciting step for Princess and sure to delight our guests since Chef Stone also believes that great meals bring people together to create lifelong memories, much like travel.”

She added, “This partnership will appeal to Princess guests around the world and most certainly to those enjoying Australia-based cruises since Chef Stone hails from Oz and is incredibly popular in his homeland.”

“Just the word ‘cruise’ puts me in my favorite mood – relaxed. Princess Cruises is known for visiting great worldwide destinations - I’m set on bringing a new culinary experience to the sea to enhance and complete a cruise vacation,” said Chef Curtis Stone. “Since I travel often, I know that discovering delicious food and sharing a great meal can create some of the most memorable moments and I’ve designed my restaurants with this in mind. It’s important to me that guests have the experience that I would want and food that I’d be thrilled to eat myself, at sea or anywhere else in the world,” added Stone.

More program details, including the menu items, specialty restaurant name and concept, as well as a complete roll out schedule will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.princess.com/curtis-stone.