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Carnival's enhanced internet access, including social media packages, to be rolled out fleetwide by early 2016

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 August 2015 10 August 2015

Carnival Cruise Line’s new social media Internet packages – which offer access to a variety of popular Web sites for just $5 a day – are now available on more than half of the line’s ships with fleetwide implementation scheduled by the first quarter of 2016.

Additionally, the line’s new mobile app – currently available on Carnival Breeze and offering an innovative “chat” feature – has been very well received with a third of the ship’s guests actively using the app during their cruise. The app is expected to be available on five additional ships by the end of the year and be fleetwide by summer 2016.

“Fast, affordable and reliable social media channels and the Internet have become essential on today’s cruise ships,” said Gabriela Gonzalez, Carnival’s vice president of guest technology. “We have thoughtfully approached this area to ensure we are providing options that guests sailing throughout our fleet find truly valuable and reliable,” she added.

Currently available on 13 ships, Carnival’s enhanced Internet access offers dramatically increased bandwidth and speed while the cruise industry’s first social media package provides unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest and other popular sites for just $5 per day with discounted plans available for the entire cruise.

Unlike other shipboard Internet packages, Carnival’s social media package is unique in that it allows guests a convenient, flexible and highly affordable option for updating their favorite social media channels during their cruise at one low price.

There’s also a “value” plan that includes unlimited access to the Web for checking email, sports scores, weather updates and a wide range of other applications, and a “premium” package that provides the fastest available connection speed and allows access to video calling sites like Skype.

The new Carnival HUB mobile app currently on Carnival Breeze provides guests with a convenient, at-a-glance view of the ship’s many facilities and features along with updates on events and happenings taking place on board, all available free of charge. Available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the app also includes an innovative “chat” feature that allows guests to exchange messages with their traveling companions using their mobile devices for a flat fee of $5 for the entire cruise.

The app also includes day-by-day schedules of hundreds of on-board events, information on food and beverage venues, searchable deck plans, itinerary details, Sail & Sign account balance and more. Recently added options include the ability to pre-purchase the line’s Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles beverage programs and upload photos to be displayed on Carnival Breeze’s 270-square-foot Seaside Theatre during the voyage. Additional features are scheduled to be added in the future.

American Cruise Lines increases capacity in Pacific Northwest

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 August 2015 10 August 2015

American Cruise Lines, the U.S. river cruise specialist, will more than double its capacity in Columbia and Snake Rivers from the beginning of 2016. Alan Lam reports.

The vintage river cruise operator will move its 150-guest Queen of the Mississippi to its Pacific Northwest region to join the existing operations by the 120-guest Queen of the West.

The paddlewheeler was initially built in 2012 specifically for the Mississippi River operations. The vessel will be renamed prior to commencing its new career.

In recent years, Pacific Northwest has become a popular region for river cruises. American Cruise Lines currently operates 8-day historically themed cruises on the rich tapestry of Columbia and Snake, retracing the epic route pioneering by Lewis and Clark over 200 years ago. It also offers a wine cruise along the Columbia River.

By making this move, the company has not at all undermined its commitment to the traditional Mississippi operations, which still form the bulk of its itineraries. Quite the contrary, the cruise line has recently added the new paddlewheeler, the American Eagle, to this river. Moreover, its newest vessel, the America, will be launched this week at Salisbury, Maryland. The company’s other paddlewheeler, named Queen of Mississippi, is currently under construction and is destined for the Mississippi River.

American Cruise Lines is responding to demands through newbuildings and strategic re-deployments. The growth of river cruising in Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Alaska is driving its expansion.

Carnival UK CMO Tempest to leave - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 August 2015 06 August 2015

Carnival UK has announced that Chief Commercial Officer Gerard Tempest is to leave the business, Travel Weekly reports in a news bulletin.

“Tempest joined Carnival UK in December 2012, and has since introduced a new structure and business strategy. He is due to leave in the coming days,” the report said.

Carnival UK chief executive David Noyes was quoted as saying: “In Gerard's tenure we have seen a significant improvement in our commercial performance. The last year has seen us deliver some spectacular events, most notably Britannia’s naming and Cunard’s 175 celebrations.

Carnival UK operates the brands of Carnival Corporation & plc in Britain and manages P&O Cruises sand Cunard Line.

Viking River Cruises and PBS' MASTERPIECE extend partnership for additional year

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 August 2015 06 August 2015

Viking River Cruises announced Tuesday it has renewed its national corporate sponsorship of PBS’ celebrated series MASTERPIECE for another year. The announcement comes on the heels of MASTERPIECE earning 17 nominations for the 2015 Primetime Emmy® Awards. The new sponsorship deal will extend through 2016 and will support programming that includes the sixth and final season of the Emmy® Award-winning series Downton Abbey, as well as the hit series Mr. Selfridge, the Emmy®-nominated Sherlock, the popular new series Poldark and the upcoming Indian Summers. Viking first came onboard as a MASTERPIECE national corporate sponsor in 2011. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.

“It is our view that successful partners should enjoy growth together, and that is certainly the case for our partnership with MASTERPIECE,” said Richard Marnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Viking River Cruises. “Together with MASTERPIECE, we engage with audiences of people who strongly believe in enriching their lives through the arts, culture, history and exploration. We are proud to continue our relationship with MASTERPIECE, and we congratulate them on this year’s Emmy nominations.”

"MASTERPIECE and Viking River Cruises has been a dream partnership; our viewers and their current and potential travelers are cut from the same cloth,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “Viking's support of our expanded MASTERPIECE schedule, including Wolf Hall and Grantchester, has worked well for everyone. Sail on, Viking!"

"We are thrilled that Viking has extended their corporate support of MASTERPIECE," added Suzanne Zellner, VP Sales for WGBH's Sponsorship Group for Public Television. "Viking’s long-term partnership with MASTERPIECE demonstrates that PBS sponsorships work, and help build business for sponsors."

In addition to its MASTERPIECE sponsorship – and as a response to the incredible popularity of Downton Abbey – Viking also offers its guests an optional excursion to Highclere Castle, the setting of the hit series. The Oxford & Highclere Castle pre- or post- trip experience is available for guests on the Cities of Light or Paris & the Heart of Normandy itineraries. Co-created with the owners of Highclere Castle, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Viking guests spend three days in the rolling hills of England’s countryside, with a champagne welcome and special tour of the famous home.

As a response to increased traveler demand for Viking’s destination-focused cruises, the company expanded its river offerings in 2015 with the launch of new award-winning Viking Longships and new European itineraries. Since entering the North American market in 2000, Viking has continued to set industry standards with best-in-class river cruise ships, award-winning service, outstanding quality and all-inclusive itineraries offered at a competitive price.

In early 2015, Viking officially expanded into the ocean cruise market and with the launch of its first ocean ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star – marking the arrival of the travel industry’s first entirely new cruise line in a decade. In June, Viking “floated out” its second ship, Viking Sea at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. Viking Sea is set to launch in early 2016, and the company’s third ship on order, Viking Sky, is currently under construction for debut in early 2017. All three ships will sail popular routes in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

Breakdance to Mozart shows drops in on board Mein Schiff 3 from Berlin stage

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 August 2015 06 August 2015

A show that ranged from breakdance to the music of Mozart and acrobatics that went to sea on board Mein Schiff 3 of TUI Cruises has returned back home to Wintergarten Variete in Berlin, the Hamburg based cruise shipping company said in a statement.

The show, which was staged on Mein Schiff 3 on a seven night cuise in the Mediterranean that ended on 2 August, was the result of cooperation between the cruise line and the composer and director Christoph Hagel, the break dance group DDC Company and BASE Berlin, a pool of artists that spans a wide range who are located in the German capital.

The aim was to broaden the offering of entertainment, said Thomas Schmidt-Ott, Director Arts & Entertainment at TUI Cruises.