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Carnival first cruise line to reach one million Facebook fans

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2011 01 July 2011

On July 1, Carnival Cruise Lines achieved a historic social media milestone, becoming the first cruise line to reach one million fans on its Facebook page. The unprecedented achievement underscores the site's tremendous popularity, as well as the company's commitment to utilizing Facebook as a fan engagement tool, with nearly 300,000 fans "liking" Carnival over the past two months alone.

Carnival was among the first cruise lines to recognize the power of social media when it launched its Facebook fan page in 2007 and the company continually enhances consumers' on-line experience, adding a host of new features and functionalities.

Facebook also played a key role in the May 1 introduction of the new Carnival Magic, culminating in an innovative day-long social media event that chronicled the ship's launch and naming through a series of 11 videos, providing viewers with a front-row seat to the festivities.

The page also serves as the venue for fun promotions and contests such as the current Fun-A-Thon sweepstakes awarding 24 prizes in 24 hours, including a free Carnival Magic cruise. Also featured are interactive weekly polls, exclusive videos, and links to the line's popular YouTube, Twitter and Flickr pages and more.

But most of all, Carnival's Facebook fan page provides the ideal venue for the line's spirited fans to interact with the brand and share their own thoughts and experiences with fellow "Fun Ship" enthusiasts.

"Facebook is so much more than just a social media tool to share company news and information. It is a terrific way to engage our fans with us and with each other in fun, entertaining and interactive ways that capture the essence and spirit of the Carnival brand," said Jim Berra, Carnival's chief marketing officer. "I would like to extend a tremendous thank you to our one million fans as we celebrate this exciting milestone for our company," he added.

Carnival Cruise Lines is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line(r)," with 23 "Fun Ships" operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand. In addition to the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, which debuted in Europe May 1, 2011, the new 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze is scheduled to enter service in June 2012.

Swan Hellenic omits Libya call

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2011 01 July 2011

Following the current Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice against travel to Libya, Swan Hellenic has reworked the Highlights of Ancient World itinerary, to offer alternative ports away from the originally planned calls in Libya, the company said in a statement.

"Whilst always placing guest safety at the forefront of activity, the revised itinerary will still offer fascinating shore excursions to ancient sites, through the introduction of two new ports Rhodes and Kusadasi and extended stays at Sousse , Heraklion and Nauplia. To provide an unforgettable travel experience, there will also be a full day excursion to the Pyramids and Cairo Museum , now offered as part of the inclusive shore excursion programme," Swan Hellenic said.

Costa Favolosa entered service in Venice

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 June 2011 30 June 2011

Fincantieri Marghera shipyard has delivered the new 114,500 gross ton and €510 million to Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s no. 1 cruise company. The Costa Favolosa (www.costafavolosa.com), the 15th vessel comprising Costa’s fleet, the only fleet flying the Italian flag, is a symbol of Italian pride that will sail the seven seas. About 3,000 employees and 7,000 workers from linked industries contributed to the construction of the ship. Most of the companies involved in the shipbuilding activities, about 500, are Italian.

"For us, the delivery of the Costa Favolosa is a twofold source of pride. She’s a wonderful ship, a real 'contemporary enchanted castle' with incredible technological features where our guests will experience a 'fairy-tale holiday'. But it also confirms the soundness of our company. Despite what is not the most favourable worldwide economic situation, our expansion plan continues, with major investments in Italy, thanks to the strength of our brand, guaranteed by more than 60 years of experience, the quality of our product and customer satisfaction," declared Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A.

Royal Caribbean to introduce Art on Royal fleetwide

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 June 2011 29 June 2011

Royal Caribbean International is relaunching the cruise lines art program with the one-of-a-kind Art on Royal. The new exclusive program expands the breadth of onboard art-inspired events, with tours, seminars and auctions. Art on Royal integrates the entire onboard collection aboard Royal Caribbean's fleet of the world's 22 largest and most innovative cruise ships, and features Royal Art Icons, select artists among the entire Royal Caribbean Art Collection, and works by Royal Caribbean Signature Artists Romero Britto and Thomas Kinkade. This exclusive program, developed in partnership with Art Actually, was first piloted aboard Oasis of the Seas; is also currently aboard Adventure of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas; and will be available on most ships by the end of the year.

"Royal Caribbean International has compiled one of the world's largest private art collections, valued at $120 million, on display aboard our fleet of ships for our guests enjoyment," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International. Guests have always marveled at our art and many have inquired into how to purchase them. Art on Royal will offer guests the opportunity to take home a lasting work of art as a memory of their cruise vacation, as well as provide a broad menu of enriching, art-inspired programs, featuring Royal Caribbean Signature Artists and Royal Art Icons pieces. This new art program is part of the Royal Advantage, Royal Caribbean's commitment to deliver a compelling and most contemporary vacation experience.

Unique to Royal Caribbean are Royal Caribbean Signature Artists, who include pop-culture icons such as Romero Britto and Thomas Kinkade. The BRITTO Gallery aboard Allure of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas – and soon to be added to Splendour of the Seas – offers the artists contemporary masterpieces that evoke a spirit of hope and convey a sense of warmth. The Thomas Kinkade Gallery aboard Mariner of the Seas features expressions of love, home, family, peace, community and the beauty of nature by one of the most collected living artists in history.

Through the unique Art on Royal program, guests have the opportunity to view and purchase a one-of-a-kind piece, as well as enjoy events on select sailings throughout the year. In addition, Art on Royal offers a range of gifts, souvenirs and high-valued originals, including limited-edition signed photography, prints and objects, one-off unique pieces, wall pieces and reliefs, miniatures, and artist commissions.

Art on Royal is managed by Art Actually and is inspired by the art that is on permanent display across the Royal Caribbean fleet of cruise ships. This extensive art collection has been compiled over a period of 20 years and contains thousands of unique art works by hundreds of established and emerging artists. The Royal Caribbean Art Collection is one of the largest private collections to be on display in its entirety on a constant basis.

Based in Miami and founded by the owners of ICArt, the curators of the Royal Caribbean Art Collection, Art Actually has created the unique shipboard art program, Art on Royal, to deliver both enrichment and a commercial perspective to Royal Caribbean guests. More information is available at www.ArtActually.comor by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

P&O Cruises replaces Tripoli in winter itineraries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 June 2011 26 June 2011

Due to the current unrest in Libya P&O Cruises has cancelled all three scheduled calls to Tripoli.

Adonia's call to Tripoli on December 30, 2011 has been replaced with a call to La Goulette, Tunisia on December 31, 2011. To accommodate this change it has been necessary to alter the call dates for Haifa, Ashdod and Malta. The amended itinerary is as follows:

Departing on December 20, cruise no. D115 calls in Piraeus, Limassol, Ashdod, Haifa, Port Said, Alexandria, Malta, La Goulette, Salerno and Naples.

Prices start at £2,239 per person based on two sharing an ocean view cabin, including flights.

The call to Tripoli on January 11, 2012 as part of Oriana’s X201 world cruise departing on January 5, 2012 has also been cancelled and is replaced by Naples and Malta.

The full world cruise is priced from £8,804 per person based on two sharing an inside cabin, and includes £500 per person on board spending money.

The 18 night Southampton to Dubai sector of the world cruise (XAQ) departs on January 5, 2012, and the amended itinerary is as follows:

Southampton, Oporto, Naples, Malta, Port Said, Suez Canal, Suez, Sharm el Sheikh, Muscat and Dubai.

Prices start at £1,687 per person based on two sharing an inside cabin, cruise only, and includes £45 on board spending money.

Oceana’s Tripoli call on March 3, 2012 on cruise E203 has been replaced with Alexandria. Departing Southampton on Sunday February 26, 2012, the ports of call in the 24 night cruise are now Southampton, Cadiz, Alexandria, Port Said, Limassol, Ashdod, Haifa, Piraeus, Katakolon, Messina, Valencia, Lisbon, Southampton. Prices start at £1,859 per person

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing on a full board basis including all main meals, entertainment and most facilities.

P&O Cruises will continue to monitor the situation in Libya and if it improves and it is deemed safe to call in Tripoli, it will return to the original published itineraries.