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Caitlin Gardner joins Lindblad as Vice President of Brand and Communications

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 January 2024 30 January 2024

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc., the recognized global leader of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, announced today the appointment of Caitlin Gardner as the company's new Vice President of Brand and Communications.

In her new role, Gardner will lead the brand’s external communications and consumer marketing efforts – including print and direct mail, creative services, earned media and media relations, crisis communications, brand initiatives and more. She will also play an integral role in the long-term extension and expansion of the Lindblad Expeditions brand’s strategic relationship with renowned exploration and scientific discovery brand National Geographic.

“Expedition cruising has been on an upward trajectory for years. As pioneers of the space, we’re fostering a best-in-class team, with the talent necessary to lead and redefine the sector for decades to come,” said Noah Brodsky, Chief Commercial Officer, Lindblad Expeditions. “Caitlin's extensive experience in the travel industry and her demonstrated history of achievements make her the right candidate to spearhead our brand efforts as we engage expedition enthusiasts and court new-to-brand adventurers. We are delighted to welcome her aboard.”

Developing a deep background managing cruise communications, PR, and marketing, Gardner spent eight years at Cruise Planners leading communications and digital strategy efforts for the nation’s largest travel advisor franchise. Prior to Cruise Planners, she worked at some of the nation’s leading PR and advertising agencies specializing in hospitality, destination, restaurant, retail, and resort PR. Most recently she was at a Fortune 500 retail grocery company based in the Midwest helping drive a people first culture with a high-performance communications and marketing team.

"I am thrilled to be returning to the world of travel as a leader on the Lindblad Expeditions team,” said Gardner. “I look forward to building upon Lindblad Expeditions' distinguished legacy, the educational travel expertise of National Geographic, and the marketing and sales savvy of The Walt Disney Company to inspire generations of new explorers across the globe. Together, we will build authentic and immersive exploration experiences and drive growth during this extraordinary time in the expedition cruise industry.”

Gardner’s appointment marks a significant moment for Lindblad Expeditions as the company continues to expand and strengthen its team and follows the recent announcement of former executive at The Walt Disney Company Kathi Riddle joining as Senior Vice President of Sales and Revenue Management, as well as the dynamic expansion of Lindblad Expeditions’ sales team throughout 2023.

As the company continues to grow, Lindblad Expeditions currently has several open positions shipboard and shoreside.

Seatrade Cruise Global announces judges for inaugural F&B@Sea Awards

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 January 2024 29 January 2024

Taking place on the 11 April during F&B@Sea, a one-of-a-kind cruise F&B experience, the inaugural F&B@Sea Awards aim to recognise leadership and innovation within the global food and beverage cruise community. Open to both cruise lines and suppliers and sponsored by Campari Group, the awards are comprised of eight different categories, ranging from Most Sustainable Product & Wellness Pioneer to F&B Maverick of the Year.

This year's judges include:

– Kimberly Brock Brown, CEPC, CCA, AAC, American Culinary Federation, Board of Directors member and immediate past National President
– Margie Jones, Collins College of Hospitality Management, Interim Dean, "The Wine Professor"
– Rudi Scholdis, Kenoz Caviar Development Center, Casa de Amalia & Amandine Bistró, Culinary Director, Maitre Cuisinier
– Bret Thorn, Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, Senior Food & Beverage Editor
– Rick Welch, RMW Global Consulting, President
– Katherine Wojcik, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Luxury & Lifestyle, Director of Beverage Programs + Partnerships, Certified Sommelier
– David Yeskel, Several trade and consumer publications, Travel Journalist, “The Cruise Guru”

Ken Taylor, Senior Vice President, MarkeTeam and Holly Payne, Deputy Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Seatrade Cruise Review will be presenting the awards on 11 April 2024.

This year’s awards are sponsored by Campari Group, a major player in the beverage industry with a portfolio of 50+ premium and super premium brands, including Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey, and Grand Marnier.

A spokesperson for the company said: ‘We are thrilled and honored to be a sponsor of the F&B@Sea 2024 awards. At Campari, we believe in celebrating excellence, innovation, and the passion that drives the food and beverage industry. ‘The F&B@Sea awards are a testament to the relentless pursuit of perfection within the industry, and Campari is proud to support and acknowledge these exceptional talents.’

The annual F&B@Sea event takes place April 10-11 at Miami’s Mana Wynwood Convention Center. This two-day event connects cruise lines with suppliers across cruise drinking and dining in a vibrant, immersive marketplace. Plus, attendees will sample goods, witness live demos, and become fluent in F&B trends. F&B@Sea runs in tandem with Seatrade Cruise Global from April 8-11 at Miami Beach Convention Center, with a shuttle bus running between the two venues.

F&B@Sea, now in its second year, was developed in close consultation with cruise lines, food and beverage stakeholders, and culinary leaders with support from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and industry consulting leader MarkeTeam.

Swan Hellenic unveils 2025 cruises worldwide

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 January 2024 29 January 2024

New itineraries of Swan Hellenic will bring rich cultural and wild ecosystem discovery opportunities across West Africa, the Mediterranean and Latin America, as well as the Arctic and Antarctic.

The pioneering company’s 2025 cruises on boutique ice-class ships SH Diana and SH Vega now advance this leading reputation with a choice of almost 60 expertly curated itineraries worldwide.

Building on the Polar, West Africa and Latin America voyages trailblazed to date, the big developments for 2025 are an extraordinary Amazon River exploration odyssey in Brazil and two original new cruises of the Mediterranean, where the Swan Hellenic cultural expedition cruise tradition began.

The new Mediterranean cruises explore some of the most inspiring sites of ancient and medieval culture, many with UNESCO World Heritage status. Most of these can only be accessed by smaller ships such as SH Diana, which also brings cruise guests the pleasure of mooring in the heart of Venice.

The first is the 10-night “Contrasts of Mediterranean Culture” aboard SH Diana. Departing Palermo for Venice on 20 August 2025, its imaginative itinerary follows almost the entire length of the Sicilian, Montenegrin and Croatian coasts. Exploring Lipari, Giardini Naxos and Taormina, Gallipoli, Monopoli, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Hvar and Rovinj, guests will be immersed in the landscapes, cultures and histories of the many peoples who have settled these shores over the millennia.

The drily named “Exploring South America from Barbados to Brazil” on SH Vega follows an exceptional 19-night itinerary. Sailing from Bridgetown on 12 October 2025 in the Caribbean all the way down to Salvador de Bahia, this incomparable voyage takes in many of South America’s most famous but also undiscovered and inaccessible cultural and natural wonders. From Port of Spain, Georgetown, Paramaribo, Îles du Salut, Belém, the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Fortaleza and Recife. However, the highlight of this superlative cruise lies in an amazing four-day detour up the Amazon River to Macapa, Iquiqui and Gurupa in the heart of the jungle, returning through the otherworldly Breves Narrows, upriver from Belém in the Thousand Islands region.

For many, Swan Hellenic’s in-depth explorations of the Arctic and Antarctic will continue to be the major attraction. But others will be just as strongly drawn to its one-of-a-kind voyages in exotic regions between the poles, most of which can be daisy-chained to create unforgettable personalised odysseys.

Full details of all these expert-led 2025 cruises are already available on the Swan Hellenic website.

Patrizia Iantorno, Chief Commercial Officer of Swan Hellenic, says: “We’re delighted with the itineraries our specialists have curated for 2025. They not only build on our pioneering 2023 and 2024 cultural expedition cruises, but also bring entirely new opportunities for curious minds to expand their horizons in 2025."

Norwegian Cruise Line to operate brand-new Caribbean cruises from New Orleans and Port Canaveral this fall

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 January 2024 25 January 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) revealed today new Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries for Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, Fla.

As a result of guest demand for warm-weather destinations this fall, the Company is opening for sale new 7-night round-trip cruises to the Western Caribbean from the Big Easy starting on Oct. 20, 2024 aboard Norwegian Getaway, as well as voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Fla. beginning on Oct. 30, 2024 on Norwegian Epic. Returning from Europe following a summer season of Mediterranean and Greek Isles voyages, the ships’ new fall itineraries will offer guests more opportunities to island hop and visit multiple crystal-clear waters and sunny skies throughout the Caribbean, including NCL's private destinations, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize. The new cruises will open for sale in February.

“The Caribbean continues to be a hotspot for our guests all around the world, especially during the fall and winter seasons,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are constantly looking to provide our guests with the best vacation possible especially from accessible homeports, and it was a no-brainer to bring two of our largest ships to sail more picturesque, tropical cruises from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, Fla.”

Norwegian Getaway returns to New Orleans on Oct. 20, 2024 for a season of Western Caribbean voyages.

Norwegian Getaway, the second ship in the Breakaway Class, features 40 restaurants, bars and lounges; the Waterfront, a wrap-around walkway to take in sweeping ocean views; the Mandara Spa and Salon with a rejuvenating Thermal Suite; a variety of spacious accommodations; and world-class entertainment. The ship also offers thrilling top-deck activities for families including a sports complex, an open-air ropes course and the Aqua Park which features five multi-story waterslides, two swimming pools, four hot tubs and two drop slides, the Free Fall and the Whip, for the ultimate wet and wild fun.

As one of the largest ships in the NCL fleet with a length of 1,081 feet and guest capacity of 4,100, Norwegian Epic boasts 19 bars and lounges; 15 complimentary and specialty restaurants; an expansive Mandara Spa and Salon; the adults-only exclusive oasis, Posh Beach Club; and the thrilling Aqua Park complete with two pools, five hot tubs, three multi-story water slides, the 200-foot Epic Plunge and a kid’s pool. As the first ship to debut the revolutionary Studio Staterooms and the luxury private keycard access only enclave, The Haven by Norwegian®, Norwegian Epic also features a variety of accommodations as well as show-stopping entertainment every night including guest-favorite “Burn the Floor,” The Cavern Club and Deal or No Deal.

Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic’s Caribbean sailings will be available on www.ncl.com in February, and can be booked with NCL’s value-added program, Free at Sea, which provides guests with complimentary amenities including unlimited open bar; free Wi-Fi; specialty dining and shore excursion credits; and free airfare for the second guest on select cruises.

SunStone's Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey return to operation

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 January 2024 25 January 2024

SunStone Maritime Group A/S has announced the reactivation of two Infinity Class Expedition vessels with multi-year charters signed for the Ocean Explorer and the Ocean Odyssey. The Ocean Explorer will return to polar cruising in October 2024, when Quark Expeditions, a long-term client of SunStone, adds the vessel to its fleet of expedition vessels. The Ocean Odyssey will operate outside the cruise market.