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Royal Caribbean unveils Legend of the Seas' 2015 Singapore itineraries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 August 2014 21 August 2014

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled the details of its new Singapore season for Legend of the Seas in 2015, which offers a series of scenic itineraries to a rich variety of destinations in Asia from June to November.

The 2,074-guest Legend of the Seas which homeported in Singapore from 2008 to 2013, will return here on June 25, 2015, sailing a variety of three- to 10-night itineraries to attractive exotic destinations throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan till November, as follows:

– A 3-night cruise during the June school holidays that will call at Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang)
– A 3-night cruise and 5-night cruise over the September school holidays that visit Penang, Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and Ko Samui
– Two 10-night cruises to Ko Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (overnight), Sihanoukville, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My)
– Three 10-night one-way cruises to Ko Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Nha Trang, Hue/Danang (Chan May) and Hong Kong
– Two 10-night one-way cruises from Hong Kong to Taipei (Keelung), Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu. Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara) and Singapore

Vacationers also can choose among two consecutive 14-night itineraries in September, a southbound sailing from Singapore to Perth (Fremantle), Australia that will call at Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Langkawi, Phuket, Bali (Benoa), Lombok, Broome and Geraldton, followed by a northbound return to Singapore with the same ports-of-call.

With Mariner of the Seas also sailing from Singapore in the winter season of 2015/16, Legend of the Seas’ new season will mark the first time that the cruise line will offer year-round sailings from Singapore.

Legend of the Seas’ new and classic offerings

Having undergone an extensive US$50 million revitalization in Singapore last year, Legend of the Seas now offers guests seven delicious dining options, including the cruise line’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café gourmet deli and the exclusive Chef’s Table, a multi-course dining and wine-pairing experience hosted by the executive chef and sommelier. Most exciting has been the addition of the Centrum aerial-acrobatic extravaganza, making the ship’s central five-deck atrium an unexpectedly spectacular entertainment venue. Every stateroom have also been renewed and new ship-wide technology enhancements such as the oversized LED movie screen poolside, digital signages, flat-panel televisions in staterooms and shipwide WiFi service, offer guests the most contemporary vacation experience. Suite guests and Crown & Anchor Society members also respectively enjoy exclusive access to the new Concierge Club and Diamond Club lounges, while the youngest guests – age six- to 36-month old – can rest soundly in the ship’s new Royal Babies & Tots Nursery.

All these are on top of her signature amenities such as the rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, Centrum boutiques, Romeo and Juliet Main Dining Room, Anchors Aweigh Lounge and That’s Entertainment Theatre.

American Queen Steamboat Company launches new website

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 August 2014 21 August 2014

The American Queen Steamboat Company, owner and operator of the country’s grandest riverboat fleet, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website showcasing sailings through America’s heartland and the Pacific Northwest. Highlighting the American Queen and American Empress experience online, the website was designed with digital advertising partner, Fuseideas. The new webpage boasts a fresh look with more interactive components than ever before, allowing future guests and travel agents to seamlessly research and request their next river cruise.

“Fuseideas was pleased to partner with American Queen Steamboat Company to design and construct a modern website using advanced Content Management tools and technology to not only assist staff in updating itineraries and general site content, but also ensuring it serves a valuable marketing tool to grow their business.” shares Fuseideas CEO Dennis Franczak.

Of the many enhancements, users will most enjoy the improved search function with more query options and faster results. Voyage content includes expanded information on themes and special events. Vessel details are more comprehensive than ever, with new videos for the American Queen and American Empress highlighting the brand’s onboard hospitality and hop-on, hop-off shore excursions. Enhanced stateroom descriptions combine deck plans, images and other useful information neatly one page. Additionally, a list of special offers encourages users to take full advantage of value cruises and sign up for monthly newsletters. The Travel Agent section of the website has received an upgrade as well, with increased access to marketing materials and sales support.

Carnival Pride to operate special 10- to 14-night Caribbean sailings, 5-night Bermuda cruises from Baltimore and San Juan in 2015-2016

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 August 2014 21 August 2014

For the first time, Carnival Pride will operate a series of 10- to 14-day Caribbean cruises round-trip from Baltimore and one-way between Baltimore and San Juan featuring some of the region’s most breathtaking destinations, as well as new five-day Bermuda cruises and unique six- and eight-day Caribbean/Bahamas voyages, beginning in October 2015.

“Our guests and travel agent partners have been seeking more varied options from the Northeast – particularly longer length voyages – and we’re delighted to expand our schedules from Baltimore and San Juan to provide these attractive ‘Fun Ship’ cruise offerings from these ports,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “These new voyages not only provide vacationers with an abundance of five- to 14-day cruise choices but also feature a wide range of spectacular island destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda,” he added.

One-of-a-Kind 10- to 14-Day Caribbean Cruises

Carnival Pride will operate a series of 10-, 11- and 14-day cruises either round-trip from Baltimore or one-way between Baltimore and San Juan in 2015 and 2016. The voyages include an 11-day exotic southern Caribbean cruise from Baltimore to San Juan departing Jan. 17, 2016, with stops at Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, and St. Croix; a 10-day exotic eastern Caribbean cruise from San Juan to Baltimore departing Jan. 28, 2016, calling at St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia; St. Kitts and St. Maarten; and a 14-day eastern Caribbean cruise round-trip from Baltimore March 13, 2016, featuring eight different island destinations: Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Antigua and St. Maarten.

During these voyages, guests can relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, enjoy a host of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities, experience unique Caribbean cultures and visit centuries-old landmarks and attractions.

New Five-Day Bermuda Cruises, Six- and Eight-Day Sailings

Carnival Pride will also offer two five-day Bermuda cruises in 2015-16 – one departing Oct. 26, 2015, and another April 10, 2016. These cruises spend two full days at Heritage Wharf, where guests can marvel at the island’s legendary pink sand beaches, enjoy a variety of watersports and visit historic sites such as the Royal Naval Dockyard and Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere.

Additionally, three six-day Bahamas cruises operating round-trip from Baltimore and featuring visits to Freeport and Nassau will be offered. These value-packed cruises, which depart Nov. 30 and Dec. 20, 2015, and Feb. 14, 2016, provide consumers with a new short duration cruise option from Baltimore at an incredible value.

Carnival Pride will also offer a new series of eight-day exotic eastern Caribbean voyages departing from Baltimore and featuring Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, each offering gorgeous beaches and excellent watersports. Departure dates for these voyages include Oct. 18 and 31, and Dec. 26, 2015, and Feb. 20, and April 15 and 23, 2016.

A special six-day East Coast U.S. and Bahamas cruise from Baltimore featuring the line’s first-ever scheduled in-transit call to Charleston, S.C., as well as Port Canaveral, Fla., Nassau, and Freeport, will be offered Nov. 22, 2015.

Exciting Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations

This fall, Carnival Pride will undergo a multi-million-dollar makeover that will add a variety of dining, bar and entertainment innovations that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative. New features will include Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Cantina serving authentic Mexican fare, EA SPORTS Bar with a 16-monitor video wall and 24/7 sports ticker, and two poolside watering holes – RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

Sure to be a hit with guests of all ages will be WaterWorks featuring Green Thunder, the fastest and steepest slide at sea, as well as the line’s signature Twister slide and a water spray park. Also added will be Bonsai Sushi serving authentic Asian specialties, RedFrog Pub serving Carnival’s own private label draft beer, ThirstyFrog Red, Library Bar with self-service wine dispensers, and Cherry On Top, offering bulk candy, apparel and other items. New entertainment options such as Hasbro, The Game Show with larger-than-life adaptations of the company’s iconic games, and Playlist Productions where talented performers interact with spectacular staging and special effects, will be added, as well.

TUI Cruises’ third Full Metal Cruise sells out in hour

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 August 2014 20 August 2014

Full Metal Cruise III of TUI Cruises, the German premium market cruise line, sold out in an hour, the company said in a statement. The cruise will take place in August 2015 and it follows Full Metal Cruise II four months earlier, which has also been sold out. The events are created together with ICS Festival Service.

Head office of Titanic owner opens as spa hotel

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 August 2014 19 August 2014

The building that was the head office of Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, always known by its trading name of White Star Line, has opened as a spa hotel.

Called 30 James Street, referring to the address of the building in Liverpool, England, which housed the White Star Line head office since the building was opened in 1896 till the demise of the company in 1934, has been converted to a 64 room spa hotel. A Champagne bar with a 100 foot balcony has already opened its doors, while a restaurant is due to open in September. It will be called Carpathia Restaurant, in honour of the Cunard Line vessel that rescused 705 survivors of the Titanic disaster in the morning of 15 April 1912.

It is located across the street from the Pier Head, where many White Star Line ships sailed from and which today houses a temporary Liverpool Cruise Terminal building and the floating jetty itself. Cunard Building, also across the street from 30 James Street and headquarters of Cunard Line from 1917 to the late 1960s, will be converted permanent cruise terminal and it is due to open in 2015.

White Star Line was founded in 1869 in Liverpool and in 1902, it passed into the ownership of International Mechantile Marine, a conglomerate owned by the US banker John Piercepont Morgan.

After the First World War, it returned to British ownership and was effectively forced to merge with Cunard Line in 1934 as the depression had badly hurt the business of both companies and Cunard needed state funding to resume work on the first Queen Mary, which was completed in 1936.

The last White Star Line ocean liner in service was the 27,666 gross register ton motorship Britannic, which was built in 1930 and retired in 1960.