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CLIA joins efforts to stop illegal wildlife products trade

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 January 2017 18 January 2017

Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), American Society for Travel Agents (ASTA), and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), announced today they will be working to help travelers recognize and avoid purchasing the illegal wildlife products that are decimating global populations of elephants, rhinos, tortoises and other endangered species.

These actions support the mission of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (the Alliance), a public-private partnership in which corporate and non-profit member organizations, including WildAid and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), work together with governmental entities to raise awareness about the dangers of wildlife trafficking and to stop consumer demand for endangered species products. Together, the Associations serve more than 25 million travelers annually.

The announcement comes as the Alliance releases its “Know Before You Go / Ask Before You Buy” digital toolkit, which provides travel and tourism industry leaders with resources they can use to engage travelers in the fight to stop wildlife trafficking. The toolkit materials were developed through the Alliance coalition that includes travel companies, non-profit leaders WildAid, WWF, and TRAFFIC, Discovery Communications, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The toolkit includes educational pamphlets, public service announcements, and infographics, that highlight the importance of ending demand for illegal wildlife products with beautiful and powerful imagery.

As new members of the Alliance, CLIA and ASTA have made commitments to distribute wildlife trafficking educational material to its member companies, encourage members to adopt policies that support the Alliance’s mission, and lend the voice of their vast networks to speak on this critical issue. ATTA made similar commitments to the Alliance last spring. All three Associations have shared the toolkit with their member travel companies—a critical sector in the fight against wildlife trafficking—to educate travelers on how to avoid purchasing illegal wildlife products and do their part to stop the demand that fuels poaching and threatens endangered species.

Norwegian Bliss to feature two observation lounges

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 January 2017 12 January 2017

Norwegian Bliss, the latest newbuilding of Norwegian Cruise Line, will differ from the other members of the class by the fact that it will feature an observation lounge for all passengers and another one for Haven passengers.

The ship will feature a180 degree Observation Lounge, located at the front of the ship on deck 15. Spanning 20,000 square feet, the sprawling Observation Lounge will be a breathtaking experience, offering floor-to-ceiling windows that will be the perfect spot from which to take in the stunning sunset views of the beautiful islands of the Caribbean during her winter season or the awe-inspiring glaciers and vistas of Alaska in the summer.

The lounge, designed with rich woods and a silver and gray color palate, will offer an abundance of plush, modern seating including couches and chaise loungers to take in the view, along with a 360 degree polished aluminum and quartz-topped ceiling

Guests staying in The Haven on Norwegian Bliss will take in luxury, style and stunning views with their very own exclusive two-story Haven Observation Lounge, a brand new feature for The Haven, which will feature expansive 180 degree views from two decks, the same as the ship’s officers’ experience from the Bridge, and beverage service.

Meyer Werft lays keel of World Dream

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 January 2017 12 January 2017

Executives from Genting Hong Kong and Meyer Werft shipyard celebrated the keel laying of World Dream, the second new ship for Asian premium cruise line, Dream Cruises, during a special event held in Papenburg, Germany on Tuesday, January 10. A significant milestone in a vessel’s timeline, this traditional ceremony mark’s the formal recognition of the start of a new ship's construction, the two companies said in a joint statement.

“After the successful debut of Genting Dream last November and the wonderful reception the ship has experienced from our guests, we are excited to start the construction process on World Dream,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Genting Hong Kong. “World Dream will push the bar even higher for the cruise industry through her quality construction and customized design, best in class service and diverse range of entertainment, dining, leisure and recreation options – all complemented by Dream Cruises’ Asian at Heart, International in Spirit hospitality.”

During the official ceremony, block number 3, one of 92 blocks that will eventually complete the 151,000 tonnage ship, was lifted into the building dock to officially start the block assembly for World Dream. In keeping with tradition, Thatcher Brown, President of Dream Cruises, laid the customary "lucky coins" under the keel block of the new vessel as a symbol of good fortune and to bless the ship.

When World Dream joins her sister ship Genting Dream this November 2017, Dream Cruises will have the newest fleet, 100% dedicated to the Asia cruise market. “Genting Hong Kong is proud to build on its commitment to the Asian cruise and tourism industry. We are equally pleased to offer our valued travel partners and guests more destination choices and vacation experiences,” said Thatcher Brown.

Carnival Cruise Line will reposition three ships 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 January 2017 12 January 2017

Carnival Cruise Line will reposition three of its newest and largest ships to new homeports in 2018, expanding upon the exciting variety of cruise options available from Galveston, Texas, Port Canaveral, Fla., and Miami. In September 2018 Carnival Vista will move to Galveston; Carnival Breeze will reposition to Port Canaveral; and Carnival Magic will shift to Miami.

Carnival Vista to Offer Two Week-Long Caribbean Itineraries from Galveston

Beginning Sept. 23, 2018, the newest ship in Carnival’s fleet, the 133,500 gross ton Carnival Vista, will begin sailing from Galveston and offer two different seven-day western Caribbean itineraries departing every Sunday and visiting the region’s most popular destinations. The first itinerary includes calls at Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, while the other features visits to Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Belize, and Cozumel.

Carnival Breeze to Offer Seven-Day Cruises Year-Round from Port Canaveral

Carnival Breeze will kick off its new Port Canaveral-based program with a one-time six-day cruise to Nassau; Amber Cove (Dominican Republic); and Grand Turk on Sept. 30, 2018, followed by the start of year-round alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises beginning Oct. 6, 2018. Those voyages will depart every Saturday with eastern Caribbean itineraries calling at Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk. Western Caribbean voyages will feature Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay and Costa Maya, part of Carnival’s exclusive Cozumel Plus itineraries offering extended stays in Cozumel and a variety of unique and interesting shore excursions on the island and on the Mexican mainland.

Longer Length Carnival Journeys Cruises on Carnival Breeze

For guests who desire a longer length experience, Carnival Breeze will operate two Carnival Journeys cruises. On Sept. 16, 2018, as the ship repositions from Galveston to Port Canaveral, it will operate a 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise calling at Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curaçao, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica and St. Maarten.

Another 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise operating round-trip from Port Canaveral Saturday, Nov. 3-17, 2018, includes stops at eight Caribbean destinations including St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, St. Maarten, Tortola, and San Juan.

Carnival Magic to Offer Seven-Day Caribbean Cruises from Miami

Carnival Magic will launch a year-round schedule of seven-day alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises departing Sundays from PortMiami beginning Sept. 30, 2018. Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk. Western Caribbean sailings will feature Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel. Carnival Magic will also offer a special seven-day Cozumel Plus holiday cruise departing Miami Dec. 23, 2018, and calling at Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay and Grand Cayman.

Norwegian Bliss to operate seven night cruises from Miami winter 2018-19

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 January 2017 11 January 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line, the contemporary market unit in Norwegian Cruise Line Holding, Ltd group (NCLH), said that Norwegian Bliss, the brand's 16th ship, would set sail for Miami for the winter of 2018 after inaugural summer season in Alaska. Beginning on 17 November 2018, Norwegian Bliss will sail seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises each Saturday from PortMiami, featuring calls in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas, the company said in a statement.