Royal Caribbean to sail in the Black Sea for the first time in 2015

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 27 February 2014 27 February 2014

In June 2015, Rhapsody of the Seas will mark Royal Caribbean’s first time in the Black Sea, offering vacationers three round-trip sailings, 10- and 11-night in duration, from Istanbul, Turkey. Guests will join the ship in making maiden port calls at Burgas, Bulgaria; Odessa, Yalta and Sevastapol, Ukraine; and Sochi, Russia, with overnight stays in Odessa, Sochi and Istanbul. Rhapsody of the Seas’ arrival at Istanbul will be preceded by a series of sailings that will reposition the ship from Sydney, Australia, to the Black Sea on Apr. 17, 2015. The ship will sail Australia’s north coast to Singapore; follow the Indian sub-continental coast to Dubai; and transit the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean to arrive for the summer season on June 1.

From July to mid-November, Rhapsody of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, and sail 7- to 11-night Greece and Turkey itineraries. The 7- and 9-night itineraries focus on smaller ports such as Katakolon, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini in Greece; and Bodrum, Turkey. Rhapsody of the Seas will then reposition to Sao Paolo, Brazil, for the winter season on a Royal Caribbean trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage, departing from Barcelona, Spain, on Nov. 19.

Rounding out Royal Caribbean’s summer 2015 Europe season, Splendour of the Seas will return to homeport at Venice, Italy, for the 10th consecutive summer season, and sail 7-night Adriatic and Greek Isles round-trip itineraries for an extended season through November. A special 12-night itinerary from Barcelona to Venice will kick off the season and sail on May 4 to the French and Italian rivieras as well as Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia.

Royal Caribbean to deploy two Radiance-class ships to Alaska in 2015 season

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 27 February 2014 27 February 2014

Summer 2015 will mark Royal Caribbean International’s 26th year in taking vacationers to experience the wilderness of Alaska. Royal Caribbean will deploy two Radiance-class ships, Radiance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, to the Last Frontier and offer more oceanview and balcony staterooms for guests to take in the unfolding landscape on an Alaska vacation. For a more immersive Alaska experience, vacationers also can choose a Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour to explore deeper inland and encounter the multitude of wildlife that call Alaska home, or delve into the beauty and exceptional towns and cities of the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and the Okanagan Wine Valley. Radiance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas’ 2015 Alaska seasons are now open for bookings.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean announced that Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas will join Anthem of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Vision of the Seas to total eight Royal Caribbean International ships to sail Europe in summer 2015. Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas will take guests on a range of Greece, Turkey and – for the first time for the cruise line – Black Sea itineraries that unveils the unique colors and cultures of the region. Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas’ summer 2015 Europe seasons also are now open for bookings.

From May to early-September 2015, Radiance of the Seas will alternate northbound and southbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier cruises, both seven-night itineraries from Vancouver, B.C. and Seward, Alaska, respectively. Guests will cruise the Inside Passage and by Hubbard Glacier, and call at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Skagway. On a special Sept. 4, 2105, sailing, Radiance of the Seas will sail a seven-night round-trip itinerary from Vancouver; cruise Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier; and call at Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Ketchikan. For its part, Jewel of the Seas will sail seven-night round-trip itineraries from Seattle, Wash., which cruise the Alaska Inside Passage and also Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier, and call at Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, B.C.

Additionally, vacationers can select among four Jewel of the Seas’ sailings that explores the California Coast, ranging from six to eight nights in duration, at the beginning and end of the ship’s Alaska season. Furthermore, a 14-night westbound Panama Canal sailing, departing May 2 from San Juan, Puerto Rico to San Diego, and a 15-night eastbound trans-Canal sailing, departing Oct. 10 from Los Angeles to San Juan, will bookend Jewel of the Seas’ 2015 Alaska and California season.

Vacationers also can explore Alaska’s interior on a variety of exciting Royal Caribbean Cruisetours, which combines a sailing aboard Radiance of the Seas with a three- to six-night land tour adventure. Royal Caribbean takes care of all the planning, transportation and lodging on fully escorted tours that spend at least one night in Denali National Park and one leg on the Wilderness Express, a plush, glass-domed train cars that offer panoramic views of the grand Alaskan frontier. Vacationers also can combine a Radiance of the Seas or Jewel of the Seas’ Alaska cruise with one of four pre- or post-cruise land tours throughout the Canadian Rockies and the Okanagan Wine Valley. For a comprehensive Alaska and the Canadian Rockies adventure, the Ultimate Cruisetour combines both region’s land tour programs with a seven-night cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas for a 19-night grand adventure on land and sea.

Costa brings local flavors onboard Costa neoRiviera with Mediterranean Food Festival

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 27 February 2014 27 February 2014

To celebrate the inaugural neoCollection season in the Mediterranean, Costa Cruises is bringing local cuisine and wines to Costa neoRiviera with an exciting Mediterranean Food Festival. On the first five sailings of the Mediterranean 2014 season, guests will have the opportunity to savor delicious dishes and enjoy the Mediterranean's most flavorful ingredients through seminars, cooking demonstrations, specialty menus and shore excursions.

The Mediterranean Food Festival will take place on sailings departing from Savona, Italy, April 11 and 22 and May 3, 14 and 25. During the 11-day voyages, Costa neoRiviera will call at Toulon, France; Salerno and Livorno, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Porto Empedocle, Sicily; with an overnight call at Barcelona, Spain. The May 3 departure also includes a visit to Genoa, Italy.

"Our new neoCollection cruises are about incorporating immersive experiences on every voyage, and the Mediterranean Food Festival will enable guests to learn about and taste the exceptional local flavors," said Scott Knutson, vice president sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. "As Europe's number-one cruise line, it's important to make guests feel like they are a part of the European culture no matter where they come from."

The cruises will feature exclusive food and wine options, chosen in partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo in Italy. The university is a popular and successful cooking school and home to the most important cultural food center in Italy.

The seminars will cover a variety of topics including "The History of Pasta and its Shapes;" "Wines of the Sea" featuring wines of coastal areas and Mediterranean islands; "The Mediterranean's Extra Virgin Oils" showcasing oils from Spain as well as the Italian regions of Liguria, Tuscany, Campania and Sicily, Italy; and "Typical Desserts of the Mediterranean."

At Salerno, Italy, natives of the Amalfi Coast will come aboard to host a cooking demonstration for guests on how to prepare handmade fusilli. Those interested in a shoreside culinary experience can book a tour in Barcelona or Salerno to a carefully selected local restaurant.

The Mediterranean Food Festival is part of Costa Cruises' all-new neoCollection itineraries featuring "slow cruising," a new style of cruising with longer, leisurely itineraries and extended time in port. In addition to a more intimate and exclusive onboard atmosphere on its two smaller ships, Costa neoRiviera and Costa neoRomantica, Costa's neoCollection features custom-developed small-group immersive shore excursions.

Cruise fares begin at $1,149 per person, double occupancy, for the 11-day voyages featuring the Mediterranean Food Festival.

Cruise line Presidents and CEOs to lead new 'Regional State of the Industry' sessions at Cruise Shipping Miami

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 26 February 2014 26 February 2014

In addition to Cruise Shipping Miami's highly anticipated "State of the Global Cruise Industry" led by the heads of the four largest cruise corporations, three additional new panels of cruise line chief executives will analyze critical issues and trends in the world's largest cruise markets  the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia.

As the rapid globalization of the cruise business continues, understanding the complex trends and forces shaping the industry becomes ever more challenging. Responding to that challenge, UBM, organizers of Cruise Shipping Miami 2014, created three panels that will examine and discuss the three major cruise markets.

"The plenary session Tuesday morning will paint the global big picture, and the new sessions will provide a tightly focused view of the cruise business within each region in 2014 and beyond," said Daniel Read, director of UBM's Cruise Events Portfolio. "The regional discussions will look at how each market might develop in the coming years, trends in consumer sourcing and the impact of new port developments and infrastructure."

Tuesday afternoon the "State of the Industry: The Americas" will feature Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; Rick Sasso, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises USA; and Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

Wednesday morning the "State of the Industry: Asia & Australasia" session will empanel Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; Tammy Marshall, senior vice president of Carnival Australia; and Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

Wednesday afternoon's panel will discuss the "State of the Industry: Europe," featuring Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises; David Dingle, chief executive officer of Carnival UK; Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises and chairman of CLIA Europe; and Richard Vogel, chief executive officer of TUI Cruises.

Organizers expect to announce additional top-level regional panelists soon.

The "State of the Global Cruise Industry" will kick off the sessions Tuesday morning, March 11. Moderated by the BBC America's Katty Kay, it will feature Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc; Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Kevin Sheehan, CEO and president of Norwegian Cruise Line; and Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

Cruise Shipping Miami, scheduled March 10-13, 2014, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, is the global flagship of UBM's Cruise Events Portfolio, which includes the annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific and the biennial Seatrade Med Cruise Convention.