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Carnival Cruise Line cancels more cruises, currently sees 16 ships in service in US in 2021

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2020 18 November 2020

Carnival Cruise Line, the US focused contemporary market unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, said it had decided to cancel more cruises and expects to have 16 ships in service in 2021.

The cancellations are part of its plan to meet the requirements of the Framework for Resuming Cruise Ship Operations Order issued on October 30 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“In total, 16 Carnival ships are currently following the CDC process for an eventual resumption of guest service in the US in 2021, including Carnival Conquest, Dream, Ecstasy, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Liberty, Miracle, Panorama, Pride, Sensation, Sunrise, Sunshine and Vista. Mardi Gras, which is under construction in Finland, will also enter service in 2021,” the company said in a statement.

Carnival cruise Line has notified guests and travel agents that it has cancelled additional cruises for the first part of 2021, including:

All embarkations from US homeports from Jan. 1-31.

Additionally, Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Mobile, New Orleans and San Diego embarkations through Feb. 28.

Embarkations on Carnival Legend out of Tampa through March 26.

Carnival is in the process of building a gradual, phased in approach to resume guest operations, which will focus initially on Miami and Port Canaveral, to be followed by Galveston. Consistent with CDC protocols, Carnival Horizon arrives in Miami this week, and Carnival Breeze will be the next ship back to the U.S.

With this announcement Carnival's operations are paused in the US through Jan. 31, 2021. In addition, Carnival had previously cancelled certain other itineraries on four ships (Magic, Paradise, Valor, and Victory/Radiance) that are scheduled for required dry docks in the first half of 2021, with the plan to return them to operations after maintenance work and upgrades are completed. Carnival previously cancelled operations in Australia through March 2, 2021.

"We are committed to meeting the CDC requirements and keeping our guests and business partners informed of our progress," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "The entire Carnival team appreciates the great support of our guests, travel advisors and business partners, and local officials in our homeports and destinations."

Cunard’s 2022 cruise programme goes on sale

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2020 18 November 2020

Cunard said its 2022 voyage schedule for its three ships - Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth - is now on sale.

The programme covers some 35 countries feature in the 162 newly launched itineraries, covering north of the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, via the Panama Canal.

Highlights include Queen Elizabeth returning to Alaska with seven and 10 night voyages, departing from and returning to Vancouver, visiting Glacier Bay, Haines, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria. Ten night Alaska voyages start at £1,399 per person.

From Alaska, Queen Elizabeth will journey through the Panama Canal, across to the Mediterranean, where she will embark on a series of seven and 14 night fly-cruises, departing from Barcelona.

Along with iconic transatlantic crossings, Queen Mary 2 will be visiting the North Cape for the first time spending three days in Tromso, with opportunities to see the Northern Lights, and calls to Bergen, Trondheim, Alesund and Stavanger.

Queen Victoria’s highlights include four night cruise breaks departing from Southampton, all scheduled to include a weekend, visiting destinations including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and St Peter Port.

Cunard president Simon Palethorpe said: “We are delighted to offer such a broad range of voyages in 2022 from four night European city breaks to week-long fly-cruises in the Mediterranean to a five week adventure sailing from Alaska to Spain.”

“There has been high demand for our 2021 voyages so we know how much our guests are anticipating travelling again on Cunard’s iconic ships with many future highlights including a welcome return to Alaska.”

“Guests are able to plan for their Cunard holidays in 2022 with extra peace of mind due to our flexible booking options which provide the opportunity to move a booking unlimited times before the balance is due.”

Carnival, NCLH tap markets for funds

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2020 18 November 2020

Carnival Corporation & plc and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) have both tapped the financial markets to raise funds.

NCLH said it has priced its underwritten public offering of 40,000,000 ordinary shares at a price to the public of $20.80 per share.

“The Offering is expected to close on November 20, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes,” NCLH said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Carnival Corporation & plc said that Carnival Corporation priced a registered direct of an aggregate of 57,426,860 shares at a price of $18.05 per share to a limited number of holders of its 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023.

“The Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to repurchase from such Holders an aggregate of $499,364,000 principal amount of its Convertible Notes in privately negotiated transactions,” the company said.

“On a net basis, the Corporation will not receive any proceeds from the Transactions and will pay customary fees and expenses in connection therewith. Therefore, the Transactions will not have a material impact on the Corporation's cash position. Following the Note Repurchases, an aggregate of $627,547,000 principal amount of the Corporation's Convertible Notes will remain outstanding,” it added.

Photo credit: NYSE.com

SeaDream cancels sailings for the rest of the year

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2020 17 November 2020

SeaDream has decided to cancel sailing for the remainder of 2020 after positive Covid-19 test results. "Multiple negative PCR tests were required before the guests boarded, but this was not sufficient to prevent Covid-19 onboard. SeaDream successfully operated more than 20 sailings during the pandemic without any cases and further improvements were made to protocols before the Barbados season. The company will now spend time to evaluate and see if it is possible to operate and have a high degree of certainty of not getting Covid. 7 guests and 2 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19 by Barbados health authorities," the company said in a statement.

Kari Tarnowski named SVP of Marketing for American Queen Steamboat Company

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 November 2020 16 November 2020

Hornblower Group announced today that Kari Tarnowski has been named senior vice president of marketing for American Queen Steamboat Company. Tarnowski joins the company after serving as vice president of marketing for Crystal Cruises.

“We are thrilled to have Kari join the Hornblower Family as senior vice president of marketing for American Queen Steamboat Company,” said Kristina Heney, chief marketing officer, Hornblower Group. “Kari has enjoyed an impressive career bringing with her valuable experience in the cruising industry and we are sure she will have a great impact on our operation. I am confident her considerable talent and leadership skills will help us drive business growth and build upon the loyal fanbase of our customers.”

As senior vice president of marketing, Tarnowski will be responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s overall marketing strategy including multi-channel customer demand generation, brand positioning, public relations, customer insights, guest feedback, loyalty and retention, competitive analysis and partnership marketing. Tarnowski will work closely with the Hornblower Group leadership team to build a first-class marketing organization that emphasizes consumer experience and competing through technology and performance marketing methods to attract and acquire customers. Tarnowski will lead the development of new channels for growth, design and communicate the portfolio of American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines brands and create business partnerships that open the door to new revenue streams.

“I’m excited to join the Hornblower Group and lead the marketing strategy behind American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines as we prepare to welcome back our customers,” said Tarnowski, “I look forward to working together with the leadership team and bringing my background in the travel and cruise industries to help establish clear marketing goals for the company that will both strengthen and enhance the division as we continue to provide a best-in-class experience for our guests.”

Tarnowski joins Hornblower Group with her more than two decades of strategic marketing experience in the cruise and hotel industries. Tarnowski joins American Queen Steamboat Company from Crystal Cruises, where she served as vice president of marketing leading their marketing efforts including advertising, digital, direct mail, loyalty programs and marketing communications. Additionally, Tarnowski’s experience in the cruise industry extends through her senior marketing roles she previously served for luxury cruise lines including Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises. Previous to Crystal Cruises, Tarnowski was chief marketing officer for Elite Island Resorts where she led marketing efforts for 10 all-inclusive resorts across five islands in the Caribbean. She also served as senior vice president of marketing for Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Tarnowski also played a key role in the inception Hotels.com, where she was part of the company’s launch team in 2002.