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P&O Cruises matches ship profiles and ports in summer 2019 programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2017 04 September 2017

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & plc group, will match the profiles of its ships with those of the ports they will call in the Summer 2019 so that the largest ships focus ion the most popular ports and smaller ones on off the beaten tracks ports.

The itineraries include weekly seven-night Norway Fjords cruises on Britannia, Ventura and Azura between April and September and fortnightly 14-night Western Mediterranean cruises on Britannia, Ventura and Azura between May and October

It also features past guest oriented immersive cruising on Arcadia and Aurora and discovery-led itineraries and scenic cruising opportunities on Oriana plus Mediterranean fly-cruise programme on Oceana, which will be based at Malta, combining the best of the Mediterranean.

Theme cruises in 2019 include:

Strictly Come Dancing: unique to P&O Cruises, each Strictly Come Dancing holiday features all the pizzazz of the TV show with professional dancers captivating guests with incredible, show-stopping routines. They also offer up close and personal interviews on board as well as photo and meet and greet opportunities. Dates to be announced in due course.

Formula One Monaco Grand Prix: One of the most high profile and glamorous races on the Formula OneTMcalendar. It is also one of the most demanding tracks in F1TM, as it snakes its way through the narrow streets of Monaco. Guests can watch their favourite drivers go head to head at speeds of close to 200mph from trackside seats . Available on Oceana’s 14-night Central Mediterranean cruise round trip from Valletta departing May 16.

Food Heroes: P&O Cruises Food Heroes will once again take to the high seas to serve up some of the finest gourmet experiences to be had on land or water. The Food Heroes cruises are headlined by some of the brightest lights in the British culinary scene and are a fabulous opportunity for anyone with an interest in food to meet their own food hero, whether it is James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Olly Smith, Atul Kochhar or Eric Lanlard.

Western Mediterranean

The Western Mediterranean continues to be a mainstay of the P&O Cruises summer programme, with a variety of itineraries and durations designed to appeal to everyone. Six ships will operate 19 cruises round-trip from Southampton. Azura, Britannia and Ventura will deliver the classic 14-night itinerary visiting headline destinations in the region, including Rome (from Civitavecchia), Florence & Pisa (from Livorno or La Spezia), Barcelona and Monte Carlo. Oriana and Aurora itineraries will appeal to past guests with longer discovery cruises and calls to smaller and lesser frequented destinations. Highlights include Sorrento, Propriano, Olbia and Calvi.

Central Mediterranean

The Central Mediterranean has long been a popular P&O Cruises itinerary as it includes the iconic architecture of Venice and Dubrovnik in the Adriatic, and Athens (from Piraeus) in the Aegean. In 2019, P&O Cruises will operate five itineraries to this region on three ships - Azura, Arcadia and Oriana. All itineraries are 19 nights and are designed to give guests a well-paced experience with a mix of highlight ports of call and relaxing days at sea. Azura will operate the only Aegean itinerary in September, including calls to Athens (from Piraeus), Mykonos and Santorini. Arcadia and Oriana will both operate the classic Adriatic itinerary, with all cruises featuring Venice and Dubrovnik, as well as calls to Corfu, Split and Messina.

Baltic

As in previous years, P&O Cruises will provide guests with the opportunity to visit some of the very best cities on the Baltic Sea. Azura, Britannia, Arcadia and Aurora will all operate the classic 14-night itinerary from Southampton including a two-day call in St Petersburg. In addition, all cruises will feature calls to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Tallinn, offering guests the most popular destinations in the region.

Arcadia and Aurora will each operate a longer 16-night cruise, designed to balance some of the key destinations as well as lesser frequented ports of call. Both cruises feature the overnight in St Petersburg, but also offer calls to Klaipėda, Visby and Gdynia, while Arcadia will offer a maiden call to Fredericia in Denmark.

Norway Fjords and North Cape

The Norwegian Fjords continue to be one of the most popular itineraries, especially with those new to cruise. In 2019, seven-night cruises will be on Britannia, Azura and Ventura, and will run throughout the season from April to September. The programme has been designed around delivering the best possible Norway Fjords experience and includes a wealth of scenic cruising including one or both of the deep fjords, Flåm and Olden, or a call to the Norwegian town of Ålesund. All cruises feature calls to Stavanger and Bergen on the way to and from the fjords themselves.

Arcadia and Aurora will continue to offer a more immersive 12-night experience with plenty of ports and scenic cruising, including calls to Olden and Flåm as well as Geiranger, Skjolden and Eidfjord. Oriana will offer a unique 18-night Discovery cruise to the very top of Norway and beyond, including a sail-by of the North Cape followed by a call and scenic cruising in Longyearbyen in Svalbard. The cruise will also offer calls to Leknes and Honningsvåg.

Iceland

P&O Cruises will continue to visit this spectacular destination in 2019 with three cruises throughout June and July. The key destination is Reykjavik, and both Ventura and Arcadia will offer an overnight stay here, as well as calls to Akureyri and Isafjördur. Arcadia travels to Iceland via the Norwegian Fjords, whilst Ventura includes a call to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands, plus calls to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Oriana also offers calls to the headline Iceland destinations of Reykjavik, Akureyri and Isafjördur, and complements these with calls to Tórshavn, and Killybegs in the Republic of Ireland.

Atlantic Islands

The Canary Islands are a mainstay of the summer programme, delivering relaxation and sunshine in durations ranging from 11 to 16 nights. All itineraries include a strong mix of popular destinations including Madeira, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria or Tenerife.

Azura, Britannia and Ventura will cruise the classic Atlantic Islands itinerary in either 11, 12 13 or 14 nights, including calls to Madeira on the way to the Canary Islands, and either La Coruña or Lisbon on the return leg.

Oriana and Aurora will offer longer duration cruises of 16 nights, delivering either an immersive Atlantic Island experience including an overnight in Madeira, or a more expansive itinerary that includes two calls to the Azores, Ponta Delgada and Praia da Vitória.

Atlantic Coast

The Iberian coast and the south of Spain offer a wealth of mainstream and discovery ports to appeal to past guests and newcomers alike. Azura, Ventura and Oriana will all operate a 12- or 13-night Iberian cruise stretching to southern Spain, with Azura travelling as far into the Mediterranean as Valencia. All cruises also offer calls to Cartagena and Gibraltar, as well as either Lisbon or La Coruña. Oriana will also operate a longer 16-night cruise which calls into three Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza.

British Isles

Oriana will offer a holiday experience a little closer to home in 2019, with a 13-night British Isles cruises in June. Oriana’s cruise will offer calls to Scotland and Ireland, including Glasgow (from Greenock), Lerwick, Cork (from Cobh), Dublin and Killybegs, as well as stretching beyond the British Isles to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.

Canada/North America

P&O Cruises will once again provide guests with the opportunity to witness one of the most iconic seasonal changes in the world; the autumn colours of Canada/New England. Aurora and Arcadia will each operate a cruise in September 2019, with Arcadia offering a new immersive 24-night Canadian itinerary, including an overnight in Quebec. Meanwhile, Aurora will offer a longer 30-night itinerary with a series of Canadian calls followed by three full days in New York.

Arabian Gulf

The Arabian Gulf is a new and exciting destination for P&O Cruises and is the first new programme since the introduction of fly-Med in 2014. As part of the planning for summer 2019, four new extended repositioning cruises will be added to the programme, combining the unique Arabian Gulf positioning from Dubai to Malta cruise via the Suez Canal, with the start of Oceana’s Med fly-cruise programme.

No-fly Caribbean

P&O Cruises range of long Caribbean cruises in the winter provide guests with the opportunity for complete relaxation without the need for a long-haul flight. Embarking in Southampton, Arcadia will operate the first of these winter cruises, departing at the end of October for 28 nights, and offering a selection of the very best Caribbean islands.

Mediterranean fly-cruise programme

Departing weekly from Malta, Oceana will once again deliver a Mediterranean fly-cruise programme, offering a choice of Western, Central and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries throughout the season and offering calls to the very best that the Mediterranean has to offer.

The Central Mediterranean itineraries will continue to feature the headline destinations of Venice and Dubrovnik, as well as calls to other Adriatic ports such as Zadar, Hvar, Kotor and Split. The Eastern Mediterranean itineraries will offer a wealth of Greek destinations, including Athens (from Piraeus), Katakolon and Heraklion, as well as a call to Sarandë in Albania.

The Western Mediterranean itineraries will all offer two headline Italian ports, either a combination of Rome (from Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (from Livorno) or Naples. There are also calls to the French Riviera or Sardinia and Corsica across the programme.

Short breaks

Short cruises are a staple of the P&O Cruises programme throughout the year, providing guests with an opportunity for a short getaway or celebration.

The majority of short breaks are Bruges (from Zeebrugge) and St Peter Port in Guernsey, which feature across the two, three and four night durations. In addition, Azura will offer a four night cruise in March to Amsterdam, including two full days in port.

More evening and overnight calls

To allow guests to experience the vibrant nightlife in a destination, P&O Cruises is offering evening calls in 15 ports and overnights in nine popular destinations including Amsterdam, Boston, Dubai, Madeira, New York, Quebec, Reykjavik, Rotterdam and St Petersburg.

Seabourn and Fincantieri celebrate launch of Seabourn Ovation

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2017 04 September 2017

On September 1, Seabourn marked a major construction milestone with a traditional coin and launch ceremony for its newest ship, Seabourn Ovation, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy. Seabourn Ovation is set to welcome guests and begin sailing in May 2018.

The time-honored coin and launch ceremony is an enduring maritime tradition that calls for a "madrina" to preside over the celebratory events. Serving in this significant role was Jan Stearman, Seabourn's longest-serving female shipboard team member, who joined the company 22 years ago, and a well-known and respected cruise director. Along with Seabourn President Richard Meadows, Fincantieri Shipyard Director Paolo Capobianco and Seabourn Ovation Captain Stig Betten observed the welding of two commemorative gold coins to the ship's mast. Stearman then cut the ship's cord to allow water to flow into the ship's building dock. The ship will be "floated out" from its dry dock and moved to its outfitting dock at the shipyard, where it will undergo final construction until the ship is delivered in 2018.

"Watching the coin ceremony and seeing Seabourn Ovation officially touch the water for the first time today was a very special moment for all of us at Seabourn, representing a significant step toward the further expansion of our luxury fleet," said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. "Many guests and partners across the travel industry have expressed their enthusiasm for the arrival of this incredible ship following the successful debut in December 2016 of her sister ship, Seabourn Encore."

Following the ship's delivery, Seabourn Ovation will embark on an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5, 2018, from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will go on to spend the majority of her maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm, which will include the line's signature three-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords and British Isles.

Like its sister ship Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation is being fashioned by notable hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany with contemporary interiors, modern design elements, and innovations consistent with Seabourn's reputation for understated elegance. The new ship will round out the current planned expansion of the line's award-winning and highly acclaimed fleet.

Seabourn Ovation will maintain the line's high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly intuitive and personalized service for each guest on board. The 40,350 gross ton ship will carry just 600 guests, based on double occupancy. The all-suite ship will offer a number of desirable in-suite amenities to provide guests with a "home away from home" onboard experience. In every luxurious suite will be a private veranda, providing sweeping oceanfront views and spacious enough for private al fresco dining. Featuring striking design and sophisticated décor, each suite will include a comfortable living area with sofa seating and a desk/dining table; elegant bedding; a walk-in closet; in-suite entertainment options with a wide selection of movies, music, broadcast television and radio channels; and a superbly-appointed marble bathroom with separate bath and shower and luxury bath products, including the new exclusive Seabourn Signature Scents by Molton Brown. A personal bar and refrigerator will be stocked according to guest preferences, coordinated before arrival.

Guests who sail on Seabourn Ovation will also find a number of innovative offerings and programs, including partnerships with a select group of companies and individuals whose dedication to superior quality, exceptional service and consistent customer satisfaction matches Seabourn. These programs include 'An Evening with Tim Rice', the new evening entertainment experience created exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative Productions; Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 50's and 60's. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of iconic dishes. Guests will be treated to table-side preparations of Caesar salad and ice cream sundaes, as well as a range of other favorites like premium steaks, whole roasted chicken, and Lobster Thermidor, presented à la carte.

Seabourn will continue to reveal updates about Seabourn Ovation via the dedicated microsite: http://ovation.seabourn.com. Filled with imagery, details and news of the ship's continuing progress, the microsite offers an inside look at the next addition to the newest overall fleet in the ultra-luxury cruise category. In addition, the line has created a video previewing the array of onboard experiences, thoughtful elements, and inspiration and passion driving the creation of Seabourn Ovation.

Costa Cruises launches a new WeChat Mini Program  

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2017 04 September 2017

Costa Cruises – one of 10 brands from Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest leisure travel company – has announced the launch of a new WeChat Mini Program onboard Costa Asia's industry-leading fleet in China. With WeChat, a leading online social communication platform in China, Chinese guests will be able to enjoy hassle-free mobile payment and enhanced onboard experiences, starting September 2 onboard Costa Atlantica.

WeChat (also known as Weixin in China) is an integrated lifestyle-changing platform for instant messaging, commerce and payment services from Tencent Holdings Limited, a leading provider of Internet value added services in China. As of second quarter 2017, there were over 963 million monthly active users on WeChat and Weixin.

Representing a first in the global cruise industry, Costa Cruises launched the first Mini Program to book and pay for a cruise itinerary on the WeChat platform on August 8. The Mini Program is the innovative feature that allows WeChat users to instantly open and access services inside WeChat without having to download the full standalone mobile app, providing a faster and better user experience. The latest announcement features an enhancement of the WeChat Mini Program to also include onboard entertainment booking and payment, among other functions. With the new WeChat Mini Program, guests will be able to browse and book specialty restaurants, spa, duty-free shopping and other onboard services through complimentary intranet service, without subscribing to onboard internet services.

"As a pioneer in the Chinese cruise industry, Costa Cruises constantly innovates to enhance the guest experience," said Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Group Asia. "With China being one of the world's leaders in mobile and digital advancements, we see great potential in leveraging WeChat's leading position and technologies to not only facilitate hassle-free payment, but also provide a more immersive and digitized onboard experience for our guests.”

As the brand that brought cruising to China in 2006 and the leader in the Chinese cruise market today, Costa Cruises operates year-round in China and has provided cruise vacations for over two million Chinese guests with differentiated products, including its popular “Italy at Sea” offering, through four ships based across North, East and South China. Costa Cruises, along with Carnival Corporation, will continue to maintain its leadership in developing a healthy eco-system in the Chinese cruise industry.

Carnival, Arison family pledge minimum of $2 million to Hurricane Harvey relief

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 August 2017 31 August 2017

Carnival Cruise Line, its parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation are pledging a minimum of $2 million to relief and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2004.

Carnival Cruise Line and Carnival Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Carnival Corporation, are each donating $500,000 to Harvey disaster relief efforts, for a total donation of $1 million from the company. Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine are matching the corporation’s commitment with a $1 million donation from the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation.

To help generate additional relief funds, cruise guests sailing on certain Carnival Cruise Line cruises will have the option to make a donation when they check in for their cruise, while the corporation’s brands and employees will be participating as well.

“Our hearts go out to all those who have been impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, and all of us throughout the Carnival Corporation family feel a responsibility to do our part in supporting relief and rebuilding efforts in a region that we call home and where so many of our guests and business partners live and work,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We are very committed to the Gulf Coast as a vibrant and special part of the North American cruise industry, and our commitment will remain as strong as ever during the region’s recovery process. We know this storm is still active, so we will continue to hold positive thoughts for everyone in the region while exploring ways to support affected communities as they recover and rebuild.”

Carnival group’s TV show enters second season

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 August 2017 29 August 2017

A year following the debut of its first original travel experience programming, Carnival Corporation & plc the world’s largest cruise shipping company, has announced at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Global Convention that its hit series have been extended for a second season on ABC stations and NBC.

Season two of “The Voyager with Josh Garcia” premieres on NBC stations beginning Saturday, September 30. “Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin” and “Vacation Creation with Tommy Davidson and Andrea Feczko” make their new season debuts on ABC stations the following week on Saturday, October 7, the cruise shipping company said in a statement.

“Based on the exceptionally positive viewing results and the overall increased interest in cruise vacations following our shows’ inaugural year, we are extending our programming and growing our content library for the 2017-18 season,” said John Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation & plc, which includes the world’s leading cruise line brands.

“Championing the extraordinary experiences that our guests enjoy while on a cruise vacation via original programming is key to expanding the market’s awareness and generating demand for cruising,” he added.