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Norwegian Getaway to feature first Grammy Experience at sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 March 2013 12 March 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has partnered with The Recording Academy to feature the first GRAMMY Experience at sea onboard its newest ship, Norwegian Getaway, set to launch in February 2014. As part of the partnership, Norwegian Cruise Line has been named "Official Cruise Line Partner of the GRAMMY Awards." In addition, the companies will partner on the first GRAMMY-themed cruise that is scheduled to set sail in the fall of 2014.

The GRAMMY Experience will be located on Deck 8 on Norwegian Getaway and will feature artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. In the evenings, the venue will feature live performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, among others.

"Partnering with The Recording Academy and its prestigious GRAMMY Awards to bring the first GRAMMY-branded experience at sea on board Norwegian Getaway is a huge coup for us as we continue to innovate with entertainment," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's Chief Executive Officer. "This GRAMMY venue with nightly performance by top-notch musicians elevates the offerings on Norwegian Getaway to a whole new level."

"The Recording Academy is always looking for unique ways to elevate the GRAMMY brand and extend the GRAMMY experience throughout the year," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This new partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line allows us to continue expanding our brand's reach globally and bring new forms of GRAMMY-themed entertainment to music fans everywhere. We couldn't be more pleased with this new alliance between one of the leading cruise lines and one of the most credible and recognized brands in music."

More details regarding the GRAMMY Experience venue, performances and the GRAMMY theme cruise will be revealed in the coming months.

Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, the 4,000 passenger Norwegian Getaway will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami. The ship represents an opportunity for the Norwegian guest to "get away" from the routine of work, school, and daily stress, and find a true respite at sea that reflects the energy and culture that Miami is known for worldwide. Norwegian Getaway's hull artwork was designed by popular Miami modern artist and muralist David "LEBO" Le Batard.

To date, the company has revealed the ship's groundbreaking design, including an open-air boardwalk, The Waterfront, and 678 Ocean Place; a wide range of indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks that will create a whole new complex at sea that enhances guests' connection with the ocean. Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian will also create and oversee the opening of his seafood restaurant, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian.

The ship will feature a rich mix of stateroom options, including The Haven by Norwegian, comprised of 42 Suites at the top of the ship in an exclusive, private key-card enclave and 22 additional Suites located throughout the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; a wide range of Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and Mini-Suites; along with Spa Balcony, Mini-Suites and Suites in close proximity to the spa. Norwegian Getaway's sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will begin sailing from her year-round home port of New York City in May 2013.

Norwegian Getaway will sail seven-day cruises from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean beginning on February 1, 2014, with ports of call including Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Attica sells Superfast VI to Genting for €54 million

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 March 2013 11 March 2013

Attica Holdings S.A., the Greek parent company of Superfast Ferries, says it has contracted to sell to Genting Group the RoPax vessel Superfast VI for a total cash consideration of €54 million.

Genting group are the parent company of Star cruises and they also have a stake in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

“The delivery of Superfast VI is scheduled to take place at the beginning of April 2013. Superfast VI will be replaced in the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route by another vessel of the Group's fleet,” Attica said in a statement.

From this transaction, Attica Group is expected to book capital losses of approximately €6.3M, which will appear in the company's 2012 financial results. After the repayment of the bank debt and all other expenses, the remaining cash is expected to reach €21 million, it said.

The ship is of 30,728 gross tons and it was built in Germany in 2001. Originally Attica built 12 of these fast ropax ferries, of which four remain in service with the company.

Telegraph Cruise Show in London 23 to 24 March

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 March 2013 08 March 2013

The Daily Telegraph Cruise Show 2013 will take place during the weekend 23 to 24 March at the Olympia exhibition centre in the west end of London. More than 100 cruise brands will be present and there will be talks on small ship cruises, river cruises plus destinations and deals. Various cruise industry experts will be present to answer the questions visitors may have.

Celebrity Cruises unveils 2014 cruises from Southampton and Harwich

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 March 2013 08 March 2013

Celebrity Cruises has today announced its 2014 sailings from the UK with brand new itineraries to Spain and the Canary Islands and to the Norwegian Fjords. The new sailings will go on sale from 21 March 2013.

Both Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Infinity will return to their summer homeports of Southampton and Harwich respectively. Marking the second year running of the two ships being based from the UK, Celebrity Eclipse, recently voted best large ship by consumers in the 2013 Cruise Critic UK Cruisers’ Choice Awards, returns to Southampton for its fifth season in 2014.

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises - UK and Ireland, commented: “It is always an exciting time when we announce our new sailings and the new destinations and experiences that our guests can enjoy. The 2014 summer season sees the UK playing host to two of the six Celebrity Cruises ships based in Europe plus new additions to the sailings, including more overnight stays, allowing guests to experience the local nightlife and explore the regions more fully. Our 2014 UK departures set the bar high when it comes to offering a modern luxury holiday without the hassle of flying and we are pleased to continue to offer our guests new and exciting destinations.”

Celebrity Infinity will repeat the increasingly popular 12-night European Immersive Wine Cruises for the third consecutive year, taking in some of Europe’s most renowned wine producing regions. New for 2014 is an overnight stay in La Rochelle in France for the world-famous Bordeaux region. In addition, the ship will sail a series of new 14-night Iceland and Fjords cruises, as well as an 11-night British Isles cruise, visiting ports including Waterford (Ireland) and Holyhead (Wales). A longer 14-night British Isles cruise, with an overnight in Dublin (Ireland), also allows guests to make the most of the city’s nightlife.

When Celebrity Eclipse returns to its summer homeport for the fifth season, it will include a new 10-night itinerary to Spain & Canary Islands and further highlights, including:

14-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise which also takes in a stop at Le Havre on the 70^th anniversary of the D-Day landings in nearby Normandy. Prices from £1,249 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom)
14-night Canaries & Azores sailings with calls including Ponta Delgada (Azores), Tenerife (Canary Islands) and Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), from £1,199 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom)
14-night Mediterranean sailings taking in the summer sun at ports including Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), Malaga (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal). Available from £1,199 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom)
The eight-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary which includes calls in Bergen, Flam and Geiranger (Norway). Available from £749 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom)

Guests onboard both ships can relax in the onboard Elemis AquaSpa or solarium, head to the Celebrity iLounge internet café to use, learn about or buy a range of Apple products, or enjoy the collection of original, contemporary art. Culinary onboard offerings include healthy-eating specialty restaurant Blu, an ice-topped Martini Bar and the award-winning Qsine, the novel restaurant first introduced to Celebrity Eclipse to much acclaim.

“Meine Nacht” attracts 1,000 travel agency staff in seven cities

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 March 2013 07 March 2013

TUI Cruises, the German premium market cruise line, has held a series of events called “Meine Nacht (“My Night’) to promote the company to members of the travel trade.

The events took place at the end of February in Hannover, Dresden, Berlin, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart and Munich and about 1,000 travel professionals attended them.

Students from the Art School at Wandsbek and School of Design at Schwerin had created artistic impressions of the Mein Schiff fleet that decorated the venues were the events were held.

TUI Cruises arranged the series of events for a second time. It has a fleet of two vessels plus two newbuildings on order that will be delivered in 2014 and 2015 respectively.