First-ever cruise to support U.S. veterans sets sail today

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013

Princess Cruises' first-ever Cruising for a Cause voyage sets sail from Houston today on a cruise to honor veterans and raise funds for two respected veterans' organizations - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc. and Operation Homefront Inc. The first-of-its-kind voyage features an impressive line-up of special guests aboard Caribbean Princess.

The cruise will offer passengers the opportunity to honor those who have served in the military as well as active duty military personnel. Passengers onboard will hear from special guests including retired senior officers from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force; an award-winning war correspondent; and other respected speakers, authors and panelists.

Princess President and CEO Alan Buckelew, a Vietnam veteran himself, will be onboard to host the cruise. He will be joined by special guests including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, USN (Ret.), former Army Chief of Staff General George Casey (Ret.), former Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps General James T. Conway (Ret.), former Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard Admiral James Loy (Ret.), former Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz (Ret.), and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead (Ret.), who will each host military branch gatherings throughout the voyage.

The senior officers' spouses, Deborah Mullen, Sheila Casey, Kay Loy, Suzie Schwartz, Ellen Roughead, and Lt. Col. Bill Keller, USAF (Ret.) – husband of Major General Suzanne Vautrinot, USAF – will take part in a panel discussion centered on the lives of military families and the changing roles and challenges of spouses before, during and after deployment.

In addition, guest lecturers on the cruise will include:

Award-winning journalist and decorated combat correspondent Joe Galloway. He is one of America's premier war and foreign news reporters. A former military affairs consultant for Knight-Ridder newspapers and co-author of We Were Soldiers Once & and Young, Galloway reported for UPI during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star for carrying wounded soldiers to safety during the 1965 battle at la Drang. He will be joined by Medal of Honor recipient Col. Bruce Crandall for a presentation of Reflections from the Battle of la Drang and Beyond.

Speaker and veterans' advocate Justin Constantine. Constantine joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998 after graduating from law school. He left active duty in 2004, but two years later, as a Marine Reservist, volunteered for deployment to Iraq. While on a routine patrol, he was seriously wounded – shot in the head by a sniper. Thanks to the heroic efforts of a young Navy corpsman and his own warrior spirit, Constantine is alive today and as a highly sought-after speaker and veteran's advocate, spreading a message of awareness, courage and resiliency.

The soldier who sent the message ending World War II in Europe, Gregory Melikian. As a young sergeant with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces staff headquartered in France in 1945, Melikian was a telegraph operator under command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. At 3:30 p.m. on May 7, 1945, it was Melikian who was chosen to announce the unconditional surrender of Germany and the end of WWII in Europe.

The cyber side of the military will be the focus of a presentation by Major General Suzanne Zan Vautrinot, USAF (Ret), who commanded the Air Force's component that provides combatant commanders with trained and ready cyber forces.

Passengers will enjoy an evening performance with Jari Villanueva, a retired Air Force bugler from Arlington National Cemetery, who is a foremost authority on Taps and other U.S. military bugle calls. Country singer Rockie Lynne will be a featured performer during the sailing. Lynne, a veteran himself who frequently supports military causes, will perform with his five-piece band as headliners in the ship's Princess Theater, and will also offer an up-close performance in Club Fusion.

Throughout the voyage, representatives from the Veterans History Project will be onboard to assist veterans interested in working with families and friends to record personal accounts of their service experience for preservation with the Library of Congress.

In addition to the line-up of impressive military guests, speakers, and special performers, the cruise will feature unique topic panels, a veterans fundraising walk on deck, and a military film festival. Princess will offer onboard activities such as a Stars and Stripes Sailaway, a Red, White and Blue Gala, and more – to celebrate U.S. veterans.

A portion of each passenger's cruise fare from $100 to $300, depending on stateroom category, will be matched by Princess Cruises and donated equally to the two veterans' organizations.

The cruise launches Princess Cruises' new Cruising for a Cause initiative where the company will dedicate entire sailings to support select charitable causes. This new, industry-leading program will provide the lines passengers, many of whom are looking for opportunities to make positive contributions to their communities and the world, a way to make a difference even as they vacation.

Carnival Cruise Lines partners with New Orleans Saints

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013

Carnival Cruise Lines, New Orleans’ largest cruise operator, today announced that it has scored the new title of Official Cruise Partner of the New Orleans Saints and its first-ever partnership with an NFL franchise.

Carnival, which has a nearly 20-year relationship with New Orleans, will be bringing more of its signature brand of fun to the Big Easy through this new partnership. The line will have the opportunity to create fun in-stadium festivities, social media activities, prize promotions and more for Saints fans. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 13, through the Carnival Cruise to the Game with Your Krewe Sweepstakes, the company will offer local Saints fans the chance to win great prizes including game tickets and autographed New Orleans Saints merchandise through its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/carnival).

Coinciding with the Nov. 17 arrival of New Orleans’ newest ship, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival will also serve as the presenting partner of the “American All-Star Tribute Show” during halftime of that day’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The game will also include an induction ceremony for the newest members of the Saints Hall of Fame.

To celebrate its relationship with the New Orleans Saints and Carnival Sunshine’s U.S. debut, during the game, Carnival will also engage the crowd through a special contest. The company will award one lucky fan at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome a free cruise aboard the totally transformed Carnival Sunshine, which sails on its inaugural voyage from New Orleans the following day. Carnival Sunshine recently underwent a groundbreaking $155 million makeover that added a variety of on-board dining, bar and entertainment innovations for guests to enjoy. The 3,006-passenger vessel will sail from New Orleans on seven-day voyages to the Caribbean through April 2014.

“Carnival cruise vacations provide an environment where people can create memories together and share special moments,” said Jim Berra, chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Lines. “We’re excited to extend our long-standing relationship with New Orleans and to partner with the Saints organization, which shares our passion and enthusiasm for fun, excitement and great memories.”

“Both Carnival Cruise Lines and the New Orleans Saints are committed members of the greater New Orleans community who share the objective of enhancing the combined economic impact of our partnering brands on the City and Gulf South Region,” said Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson LeBlanc. “We are thrilled to join with Carnival as they add another element of excitement to our game day experience while enhancing the appeal of the tourism industry for our region.”

Carnival introduced year-round cruising from the Big Easy in 1994 and including Carnival Sunshine operates two ships year-round from New Orleans carrying more than 330,000 passengers annually – more than any other cruise operator.

STX Finland confirms 670 job losses by end-June 2014

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013

STX Finland, the Finnish cruise ship and ferry builder in the STX Europe in Norway group that again is part of STX Offshore and Shipbuilding in South Korea, has confirmed thsat a total of 670 jobs would be lost at the company.

Of the total, 620 persons would be made redundant in Rauma, where the company will close down its shipyard that has mainly built ferries as it had announced earlier. A further 50 persons would lose their jobs in Turku, where the company retains a shipyard that currently has two cruise liners on order for TUI Cruises in Germany.

In addition, 80 persons at the Rauma yard would be offered jobs at Turku, some 60 miles south from the city where the shipyard will be closed down. The measures would be completed by the end of June next year.

Both shipyards have made losses and the reduction in personnel, which will number 1,655 after these cuts, is aimed to scale down the operations of STX Finland to match with expected demand.

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding is in itself facing financial difficulties and it has put its units in Europe up for sale. STX Europe recently sold its 50% stake in Aker Arctic, which has a shipyard in Helsinki that focuses on building tonnage for use in Arctic waters, to its Russian venture partner that already owned the other 50% of the shares in the company.

The South Korean group owns 100% of STX Finland and 64% of STX France through its STX Europe unit in Oslo.

 

Windstar Cruises announces 2015 winter voyages

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 November 2013 04 November 2013

Windstar Cruises' 2014-2015 Winter Caribbean and Panama Canal voyages open for sale today. Windstar's three sailing yachts will explore the warm waters of the islands and Latin America with four unique voyages, including Classic Caribbean, a new seven-day round trip itinerary from St. Maarten. Windstar's 2015 Winter Collection, showcasing voyages from December 2014 – March 2015, is rounded out with the recently announced Southeast Asia & Arabia voyages on the all-suite Star Pride.

"Yacht style cruising is the perfect way to explore the pristine beaches of the Caribbean, with every voyage offering Windstar's signature beach barbecue, an exclusive party on shore in Windstar's intimate and exclusive style. Guests can also enjoy the tropical waters right from the yacht, with Windstar's Watersports Platform which offers complimentary sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other water games.

The Caribbean and Panama Canal voyages include:

Classic Caribbean

From the stunning drama of the Pitons, to the captivating charm of Les Saintes, this seven-day cruise showcases the best of the Caribbean in one voyage. Wind Surf sails roundtrip from Philipsburg, St. Maarten, with visits to Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Les Saintes, Guadeloupe; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Gustavia, St. Barthelemy. Highlights include the pink beaches of Barbuda and scenic cruising past the Pitons.

Jewels of the Windward Islands

Sail to little-known isles that are off the tourist radar such as the unspoiled Grenadines and the rugged natural beauty of St. Lucia. Wind Star offers seven-day sailings round trip from Bridgetown, Barbados with stops at Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; St. George's Grenada; Mayreau, Tobago Cays, St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Mayreau, St. Vincent & the Grenadines; and Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Highlights include Grand Etang National Park on Grenada and scenic cruise past the Pitons.

Yachtsman's Caribbean

Experience a yachtsman's paradise while visiting exclusive ports like glamorous St. Barts and the enchanting British Virgin Islands. Sail on Windstar's flagship, Wind Surf on a seven day round trip from Philipsburg, St. Maarten, calling on Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (overnight); Soper's Hole, Tortola, B.V.I; Jost Van Dyke, B.V.I. (overnight); Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear Beach, B.V.I. (overnight); and Gustavia, St. Barthelemy. Highlights include local treasure at Soper's Hole Wharf and a sail by The Baths.

Passage Through Panama

Explore the natural and man-made wonders of beautiful Costa Rica and the impressive Panama Canal on this seven-day sailing from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica or Colón, Panama. Wind Spirit will visit Bahía Drake, Costa Rica; Golfito, Costa Rica; Isla de Coiba, Panama; Panama Canal Transit; and San Blas, Panama. Highlights include Corcovado National Park and Golfito's rainforest.

Star Pride, Windstar's first all-suite power yacht, will spend its Winter season in Southeast Asia & Arabia, sailing the following voyages:

· Wonders of Arabia – From Athens, Greece to Dubai, UAE this 18-day voyage showcases the Red Sea, the Nile, and the rose-colored ruins of Petra.

· Pearls of the Indian Ocean – On this 15-day voyage from Dubai, UAE to Singapore guests enjoy everything from India's colorful cities to the tranquil beauty of Thailand's beaches.

· Singapore & the Malay Peninsula – long days in port and blissfully beautiful destinations can be found on this 10-day round trip voyage from Singapore.

· Treasures of Southeast Asia – This 14-day voyage roundtrip from Singapore explores the ancient trading city of Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Hue, and Halong Bay.

· Vietnam Unveiled – Guests can visit Imperial Hue, ancient Hoi An, breathtaking Halong Bay, and amazing Ho Chi Minh City on this 10-day voyage from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Hong Kong.