Princess Cruises appoints Brian O'Connor Vice President of Public Relations

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 14 April 2015 14 April 2015

Princess Cruises has appointed Brian O’Connor to the role of vice president, public relations, effective June 1. He succeeds Julie Benson who will retire May 29, after 32 years of service. In this role, O’Connor will lead the team accountable for media relations, publicity, social media, community relations, ship introductions and special events. He will drive messaging for product and program launches and be responsible for issues management and crisis communications. He will also oversee the collaboration among the international public relations teams in the United Kingdom, Australia and throughout Asia.
 
“Brian brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning and creative campaign development to this integral role for Princess Cruises,” said Gordon Ho, senior vice president of global marketing and North America sales. “Princess will benefit from his leadership and his track record of developing and executing high-profile initiatives that will shape the narrative of our global brand and increase awareness among key audiences including media, retailers, consumers and employees,” added Ho.
 
O’Connor joined the company in 2006 as director, public relations for Cunard Line elevating awareness for the brand in North America through such high-profile initiatives as Queen Mary 2 appearing in the premier episode of the hit series Mighty Ships created by Discovery Channel, the Britannia Ball gala fundraiser for the New York City Opera and the first performances by James Taylor and his band on a transatlantic crossing. He’s supported the launch of Queen Victoria with press events by partnering with NYC & Company and staging the first three Queens Cunard Royal Rendezvous in New York in 2008. He was promoted to director, marketing and public relations in 2009 and supported the launch of Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
 
In 2012, O’Connor was appointed vice president, North America sales, responsible for leading the field sales team representing both Princess and Cunard.  He is credited with strengthening trade relations and growing distribution with North America retail partners. As he transitions from sales he will complete his service as chairman of the CLIA Trade Relations Committee.  Interviews to identify his successor are underway.
 
Prior to joining Cunard, O’Connor served as director of public relations at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, where he was accountable for publicity and media relations for more than 125 events annually ranging from red carpet charity galas and political fundraisers to numerous award shows including The Golden Globe® Awards.
 
In addition to positions held at Princess and Cunard, O’Connor is a past president and five term board member of the Public Relations Society of America – Los Angeles Chapter (PRSA-LA). He is also a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington’s protocol officer training and certification and is a member of Protocol Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA).
 
O’Connor is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Communication Arts & Sciences.

Norwegian Cruise Line adds complimentary restaurants across fleet

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 14 April 2015 14 April 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line announced yesterday that many of the line’s popular Asian dining venues can now be enjoyed on a complimentary basis across the fleet. Guest favorites like Shanghai’s Noodle Bar aboard Norwegian’s Breakaway Class ships and Norwegian Epic, Jasmine Garden aboard Norwegian Jade, Chin Chin aboard Norwegian Jewel and more will join the extensive list of complimentary dining venues available to Freestyle cruising guests.

As a part of the Norwegian NEXT program, Norwegian Cruise Line is investing significantly into enhancing guests’ dining experience onboard and offering even more culinary options to provide the best cruise vacation experience.  As a part of these new initiatives, the cover charge and à la carte pricing for many Asian dining concepts across the fleet has been eliminated to further enhance guest satisfaction and provide guests more freedom to create their ideal cruise vacation.

"Norwegian’s Freestyle Dining is the most fun and flexible way for guests to enjoy some of the best dining experiences at sea, when they want and how they want," said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are thrilled to continue that legacy by providing guests with more of the food they have come to love and enjoy with the introduction of fleetwide complimentary Asian cuisine."

Guests cruising aboard Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising ships can indulge in favorites like fried rice, spicy seafood udon noodles, steamed pork dumplings and more free of charge at the following venues:

– Orchid Garden, Norwegian Gem

– East Meets West, Pride of America

– Lotus Garden, Norwegian Pearl

– Shogun, Norwegian Spirit

– Chin Chin, Norwegian Jewel

– Bamboo, Norwegian Dawn

– Jasmine Garden, Norwegian Jade

– Ginza, Norwegian Star

– Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic

– Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, Norwegian Epic

– Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian’s popular Teppanyaki restaurants will continue to provide guests with the showmanship and culinary delights of Japanese iron-griddle cooking for a per guest cover charge, and Sushi venues across the fleet will retain nominal à la carte pricing.

Argentine port city of Mar del Plata hosted first hemispheric cruise conference

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 14 April 2015 14 April 2015

The first three-day hemispheric conference on cruise tourism and social responsibility (Primera Converencia Hemisférica sobre Turismo de Cruceros y Responsabilidad Social Empresarial) has just taken place in the Argentine port city of Mar del Plata. Alan Lam reports.

The international conference, held on the 8 to 10 April in the port’s cruise terminal (Terminal de Cruceros “Eduardo Tomás Pezzati”), was attended by representatives from various tourism enterprises of the members of Organization of American States, including those of Tourism Ministries of these countries. Cruise lines operating in the region and many Latin American port authorities were among the attendees who discussed various aspects of cruise tourism development in the Americas.

“It will be three intensive days of hard work, promotion and learning,” said Pablo Fernández, President of Mar del Plata Tourist Board, prior to the convention. “We will generate dialogues, debates and discussions on everything that has to do with cruise tourism, from port security to commercial activities.”

One of the main objectives of the conference was to establish a forum for analysis, discussion and exchange of experiences on policies, strategies, cruise operations and social responsibility of all those involved in the business. Moreover, it also aimed to identify practices that would attract cruise businesses and investments in the way that they would benefit communities and destinations, at the same time protect the environment.

Ports and destination development of the region was a focal point of much discussion, side by side with sustainability and social responsibility.

The conference spoke of regional collaboration in developing cruise business and overcoming challenges of the future.

Costa Cruises inaugurates the 2015 season from Trieste

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 11 April 2015 11 April 2015

On April 10, Costa Mediterranea (85,700 gross tons and 2,680 total guests) kicked off Costa Cruises 2015 season in Trieste, Italy.

Costa Mediterranea arrived at Trieste after a transatlantic crossing that departed March 20 from Miami, Fla. The ship will leave on April 11 to begin its season of cruises in the Adriatic Sea. In total, during these two days, Costa Mediterranea will bring to Trieste more than 3,600 guests (1,400 disembarking and 2,200 embarking) coming from different countries, including Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria and Japan.

From April 11 to Nov. 21, 2015, Costa Mediterranea will depart from Trieste every Saturday, with a total of 33 calls. The ship will sail two different seven-day itineraries, visiting the most beautiful destinations in Croatia, Montenegro and Greece, and, beginning May 9, calling at Venice, Italy.