MSC Cruises USA Appoints new EVP & Chief Commercial Officer Lynn Torrent, COO Ken Muskat to leave

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 04 May 2022 04 May 2022

MSC Cruises USA has appointed experienced cruise industry leader Lynn Torrent as Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), leading commercial efforts across sales, marketing, revenue management and contact center functions. She will join the cruise line on May 9th, reporting directly to MSC Cruises USA President Rubén A. Rodríguez. The new role is part of a broader organizational realignment to integrate commercial functions and support growth opportunities and priorities, including internal promotions and active recruiting for the key position of Senior Vice President, Sales & Trade Partnerships (reporting into the newly established CCO role).

With a long and successful career leading commercial functions and growing brands in cruise and leisure travel markets, Torrent is ideally suited for the new CCO role. Her relevant experiences include leading Costa Cruise Lines in the US, and a successful progression of senior executive roles at Carnival Cruise Lines during a period of high growth for the brand, culminating in the role of EVP overseeing all commercial functions. More recently, Torrent was Division President at Apple Leisure Group, a vertically integrated leisure travel and hospitality management company.

The Company is also announcing today that EVP & Chief Operations Officer Ken Muskat will leave MSC Cruises to pursue new opportunities outside of the organization. Muskat will remain with the Company through the end of August, supporting the transition to the new management structure.

Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “I am very excited for Lynn to join our talented team and bring her proven leadership and expertise to support our rapid growth in the US market. Her deep experience and proven skills will help us increase the effectiveness and impact of our commercial efforts, and sharpen our focus on further developing the key capabilities required to meet our aspirations.”

“Today, together with the rest of the MSC family, I want to thank Ken for his many important contributions to MSC Cruises. We all hoped that Ken would remain with the Company, as he considered new international opportunities with MSC Cruises. In the end, Ken decided to pursue opportunities outside of MSC Group. I am especially grateful for his dedication and partnership in the last two years – to MSC Cruises, to all of us, and to our travel agent partners. He is a good friend to many of us, and in many ways will always be a member of the MSC family.”

MSC Cruises is announcing two new promotions at the senior leadership level:

Suzanne Salas will now serve as SVP, Marketing & eCommerce, recognizing her leadership in developing the Company’s marketing capabilities and launching marketing programs that are rapidly building brand awareness and stimulating growth in traffic, leads and bookings. Her new title reflects MSC Cruises’ efforts to build eCommerce and digital marketing capabilities, critical to the brand’s rapid growth across all channels. In the new structure, Salas will report directly to Lynn Torrent, as will other commercial leaders.

Albino di Lorenzo has been promoted to SVP, Port Operations & Government Relations, North America & Caribbean. He will lead port and terminal operations across MSC Cruises’ growing set of US home ports and itineraries, including the operations of the Company’s new PortMiami terminal, set to be the largest cruise terminal in North America when it opens. Working closely with corporate leadership in itinerary development for the region, he will also join MSC Cruises USA Chairman Rick Sasso in the Company’s continued efforts to reinforce and nurture strong relationships with government and port leaders across the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and North America. Di Lorenzo will report directly to Rubén A. Rodríguez, as will other operations leaders.

Pearl Seas Cruises begins season in New England, Canada and The Great Lakes

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 04 May 2022 04 May 2022

Pearl Seas Cruises announced the 2022 cruise season aboard 210-passenger Pearl Mist, will begin this week. Pearl Seas will celebrate the return to the water with a season of small ship cruises in New England, Coastal Maine, the Canadian Maritimes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, plus a full summer on the Great Lakes.

The 2022 season opens May 7th, with a departure of Pearl’s 7-Night Maine Coast & Canadian Harbors cruise, roundtrip from Portland, ME; followed by the Line’s longest itinerary, a 15-Night Canadian Maritimes & St. Lawrence Seaway cruise, from Portland, ME to Toronto, Canada. Both itineraries operate again in the fall when Pearl also offers 10-Night Canada & New England Fall Foliage cruises between Quebec, Canada and Portland, ME.

Pearl’s 2022 summer season will be spent exploring The Great Lakes. From June through August, Pearl Seas offers two of the best Great Lakes cruise experiences available: an 11-night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay itinerary and a shorter 7-night Great Lakes itinerary – both cruises operate between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada, and visit numerous American and Canadian ports of call. Pearl’s first official 2022 Great Lakes cruise departs from Toronto on May 29th, 2022 and the entire Great Lakes summer season is nearly sold out.

“After a long hiatus, we look forward to exploring again with our guests, and to visiting and supporting the many communities and shore side partners we work with in each region we cruise. We anticipate a great season exploring the historic and picturesque coastal towns throughout New England, Canada, and The Great Lakes,” said Carter Robertson, President of Pearl Seas Cruises.

During the pause in cruise operations, Pearl Seas greatly expanded the onboard and onshore enrichment programs offered along each itinerary. For the 2022 season, the company has added many new active experiences from kayaking to hiking, to more unique local experiences like lobster fishing, seal watching, and glass-bottom boat tours. Daily shore side adventures include visits to: Niagara Falls, with boat tour of Horseshoe Falls; Mackinac Island, with lunch at the Grand Hotel; and Prince Edward Island, the majestic setting for Anne of Green Gables. Guests can also enjoy a visit to Bar Harbor, with an exploration of Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain; whale watching in the Bay of Fundy; and a walking tour of Lunenburg, “the prettiest town in Canada,” (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), among many other wonderful experiences.

Guests aboard Pearl’s small ship, the Pearl Mist, will enjoy views from 100% private balcony accommodations, and all cruises offer all-inclusive dining, complimentary cocktails each evening, complimentary beer & wine with lunch and dinner, as well as onboard enrichment programs, entertainment, and daily small-group excursions with private transportation.

Pearl Seas Cruises delivers highly personalized service and well-curated itineraries exploring, The Great Lakes, the Canadian Maritimes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and New England–highlighting coastal Maine. Among others, Pearl Seas Cruises has been awarded Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Award for Best Small Ship Line in the U.S. & Canada, as well as Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards for Best Great Lakes Itinerary, and Best Contemporary Small Ship.

Cunard publishes Winter 2023/24 itineraries, Queen Anne maiden season

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 04 May 2022 04 May 2022

Cunard has published its programme from 23 October 2023 to 14 May 2024 that comprises more than 100 cruises and includes the maiden voyage of Queen Anne, the fourth ship of the company.

Queen Anne is scheduled to call at more than 30 ports across the world during her maiden season, all sailing out of Southampton. “Following her maiden voyage to the enchanting city of Lisbon, the newest Queen will embark on a collection of enticing sailings in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Northern Europe as well as an Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing,” the company said in a statement.

In 2024, Queen Victoria will embark on a 107-night World Voyage, departing Southampton on a full circumnavigation.  The ship will sail westbound to North America, including a transit of the Panama Canal, onwards to Australia, Asia, and returning to Europe via South Africa, visiting 32 destinations across its voyages.

Queen Mary 2 will start the season with an eastbound Transatlantic voyage  and then sail on a 108 night World Voyage from Southampton, heading out via Suez and back via South Africa.

Queen Elizabeth will operate a series of fly cruises from Barcelona, followed by a move to Singapore and then to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.

Azamara Onward officially joins Azamara fleet following Monte Carlo naming ceremony

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 03 May 2022 03 May 2022

Azamara, an upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion experiences, has officially added Azamara Onward to its now four-ship fleet today following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful.

“We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests and travel partners,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “This is an exciting new chapter for our company, and we are so thankful for our hardworking team both onboard and offshore, for making this possible. Together, we look forward to bringing Azamara Onward and our love of travel further than ever before, to connect even more guests with the many people and cultures of the world.”

Prior to the ceremony, Azamara Onward ventured from Barcelona to Monte Carlo on an exciting five-day pre-inaugural voyage, stopping in Marseille, France and Porto Venere, Italy along the way. Upon arrival to the port of Marseille, guests had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the destination through a ‘Marseille City Sights’ shore excursion, discovering the immutable charms and rich history of Marseille, one of France’s most colorful ports.

Upon arrival to Porto Venere, Italy, guests were welcomed to Azamara’s signature AzAmazing Event where they were greeted shoreside by an immersive cultural celebration complete with live Italian opera entertainment alongside delicious local cuisine and a leisurely stroll discovering unique medieval corners along the carrugio, or main street of the romantic town. Guests then set off to explore the Cinque Terre through two specially curated shore excursions, ‘Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre’ and ‘Best of Cinque Terre,’ exploring the region’s colorful villages, enjoying extraordinary local wines and savory delicacies and venturing up to the famous Chiesa di San Pietro for picture-perfect panoramic views. The voyage concluded in Monte Carlo with a signature White Night Party celebration, an onboard evening soirée where cruisers enjoy a celebratory feast with the Azamara team and crew before dancing late into the night.

On the embarkation day of Azamara Onward’s maiden voyage, the ship’s traditional christening ceremony was held shipside at the Port of Monte Carlo, attended by Azamara’s loyal partners, with a warm welcome toast by Cruise Director Eric De Gray and musical performance by Chœur d’enfants. Azamara President, Carol Cabezas and honorary Godmother, Beth Santos, each delivered meaningful words to attendees followed by the Godmother’s ceremonial bottle breaking tradition to close out the christening of Azamara Onward and to bring good fortune to the vessel in its future voyages.

“I am so honored to have been selected as Godmother of Azamara’s newest ship, Onward,” says Beth Santos, CEO of Wanderful. “This is such a symbolic moment not just for Azamara, but for the entire travel industry. Following two years of pause, we look forward to pressing onward with new mindsets, new adventures, and new opportunities to learn how we can be better travelers.”

Following the naming ceremony and traditional christening, the vessel will set sail for an eleven-night maiden voyage throughout the Mediterranean, departing from Monte Carlo and concluding with an overnight stay in Ravenna, Italy.