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Carnival appoints John Padgett as Princess Cruises President

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 October 2021 13 October 2021

Carnival Corporation & plc, the Anglo-American cruise shipping group, has appointed John Padgett as President of Princess Cruises with immediate effect, Carnival said in a statement.

He succeeds Jan Swartz in this position and will oversee all performance and operational functions of Princess Cruises and its global fleet of 14 ships sailing cruise guests to nearly 400 destinations around the world annually.

Padgett will report directly to Swartz, who remains as group president of Holland America Group, which includes the company's Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn and P&O Cruises Australia brands.

Swartz has served as president of Princess Cruises since 2013, guiding the brand's strategic growth as the world's leading international premium cruise line and its emergence as a leader in innovating the total guest experience for cruise vacations.

Since July 2014, Padgett has served as chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation, responsible for guest experience innovation, development, creation and operations integration. In this role, he helped transform the approach to creating differentiated guest experiences based on personal interactions and tailored to the interests and preferences of individual guests, further enhancing one of the world's most popular vacations.

Padgett key player in Medallion class experience development

Headlining the 2017 CES show with Princess Cruises' innovation and creating an extensive patent portfolio, Padgett and his innovation team also created original TV and digital content programming highlighting the extraordinary experiences guests enjoy while on a cruise vacation for over 900 million viewers around the world, expanding awareness and demand-generation for cruising. In his new role, Padgett will also retain leadership of the corporation's innovation unit.

Specifically for the Princess Cruises brand, Padgett has been a key player in the development and implementation of the Princess MedallionClass® experience delivering a more personalized, simplified and connected onboard experience for all guests and crew that is now available on the entire Princess fleet.

This includes the creation and development of the award-winning Medallion® wearable device and the enabling OCEAN® platform that enhances and personalises the overall cruise experience ranging from world-class dining and beverages, entertainment and spas to on-shore excursions, merchandise and hotel guest services. Throughout the fleet transformation, Padgett became connected with thousands of Princess guests, travel agents and destination partners spanning the world.

"John is the mastermind behind our state-of-the-art OCEAN platform and was a key player in our fleet transformation, working closely with Princess team members in virtually every area of our operation to enable the MedallionClass experience for all our guests," said Swartz. "John's vision, drive and performance, combined with his commitment to providing the best guest experience in the industry, have helped position Princess for success well into the future. We warmly welcome John to the role and look forward to his stewardship as we navigate this fast-changing, dynamic environment."

Prior to becoming chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation, Padgett worked for 18 years with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts where he spearheaded the invention, development and implementation of guest engagement innovations that include the MagicBand, FastPass+ and Disney's Magical Express, among others.

Padgett earned a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in finance from Virginia Tech and holds over two dozen patents and multiple innovation awards.

Carnival increases loan facility refinancing

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 October 2021 11 October 2021

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, said it had increased a term loan facility to $2.3 billion from an original figure of $1.5 billion.

The facility will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to adjusted LIBOR with a 0.75% floor, plus a margin equal to 3.25% and will mature in 2028. “The refinancing transaction will generate annual interest savings of over $135 million and extend maturities,” the company said in a statement.

The funds would be used to redeem part of a 11.25% term loan facility due in 2023.

Azamara to operate series of southern Africa cruises early 2022

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 October 2021 11 October 2021

Azamara, the destination focused boutique cruise line, said it would operate a series of cruises in the waters of southern Africa in the beginning of next year.

Azamara Pursuit will offer a series of mainly 12 night cruises from the beginning of January to the end of March.

In addition, there will be 21 night positioning voyages to and from Lisbon before and after the southern Africa programme.

Majestic Princess makes maiden call at the Port of Los Angeles

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 October 2021 07 October 2021

Princess Cruises celebrated the arrival and return to service of Majestic Princess at the Port of Los Angeles on October 6. Princess Cruises and the Port of Los Angeles highlighted the positive multi-dimensional impact cruising has on Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Every cruise ship visit infuses more than $1 million into the local economy.

“We’re pleased to welcome guests aboard Majestic Princess today and celebrate the ship’s maiden voyage from the West Coast,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We have we been sailing out of Los Angeles since our cruise line first began in 1965, and our guests and crew are helping the City of Angels generate substantial revenue for local businesses with our West Coast cruises homeporting from here year over year.”

Princess Cruises, Los Angeles’ hometown cruise line and leader on the West Coast, sails more frequently than any other cruise line in this region, contributing $594 million to the Los Angeles economy in 2019. Over the past decade, Princess had more than 700 ship visits in Los Angeles – the most of any line. The cruise line is also known for its co-starring role on the hit TV series “The Love Boat” and frequently sailed with the beloved cast members and famous guests stars from the Port of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera.

“Our popularity as a leading west coast cruise port is directly connected to the longstanding partnership we have had with Princess Cruises,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “The convenient and premium vacation experience that travelers enjoy on Majestic Princess and other Princess vessels have helped the Port of Los Angeles evolve into a year-around cruise port, and we are excited to be forecasting a record 200 sailings in 2022.”

Majestic Princess just completed a partial summer season in Alaska and is scheduled to depart from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on 14 roundtrip departures through the end of the year. Cruise itineraries include the Mexican Riviera, California Coast and West Coast Getaways, ranging in length from three to 10 days.

Majestic Princess offers a MedallionClass vacation, delivering the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising. It begins with OceanMedallion, a quarter-sized, wearable device that enables everything from touch-free boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship.

Princess Cruises sailings onboard Majestic Princess from the Port of Los Angeles are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. All fully vaccinated guests must also produce a negative, medically observed Covid-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within two days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.

[Editor's note: we are currently onboard the Majestic Princess sailing to San Diego and Ensenada]

Explora II production starts at Fincantieri

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 October 2021 07 October 2021

The first steel of Explora II, the second of four new-concept luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Explora Journeys, the new luxury brand of the cruise division of MSC Group, has been cut at the Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard near Naples.

The order for this class of four 64,000 gross ton ships that was announced in 2018 is worth a total of over €2 billion.

Explora I is under construction in Monfalcone, while Explora II will be completed at the Sestri Ponente (Genoa) yard, with deliveries respectively in 2023 and 2024.

The vessels will feature latest maritime and environmental technologies and solutions available. Each equipped with 461 guest suites, they will also showcase a highly-innovative design, also under the guests’ comfort and relaxation profile, MSC Group said in a statement.