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P&O Cruises and Cunard Line launch new fares in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 October 2013 31 October 2013

P&O Cruises and Cunard Line, both parts of the Carnival Corp & plc group, say they launch new premium value fares along with new Early Savers for sailings from spring 2014 that will replace the current Vantage and Getaway fare structure.

•New premium value headline fares introduced with lower prices on 100,000 cabins across 200 cruises

•New Early Saver fares launched on 90,000 cabins on 178 cruises

P&O Cruises and Cunard Line have launched two new fare types giving customers a choice of premium fares that are inclusive of their most preferred added value benefits, and new lower-priced Early Saver fares which still include some benefits.

Effective from 4 November, 2013 the new fares apply to bookings for the spring 2014 programme and beyond.

The P&O Cruises Select Price and the Cunard Fare are the new headline fares offering premium value with flexible booking conditions. On many cruises, these fares are lower than the Vantage Fares which they replace. Customers will be able to specify their cabin number and have the highest priority choice of dining time and table size, as well as cabin upgrades should they become available. Uniquely to P&O Cruises and Cunard, the fare is also inclusive of shuttle buses (where available in ports of call) and a choice of one of: onboard credit, car parking or coach transfers to the port of Southampton. These fares are available on all cruises at all times.

Early Saver fares offer customers further price reductions, limited added value and flexible booking conditions. Customers will be able to choose their grade and location of cabin (the specific cabin number will be at the discretion of P&O Cruises/Cunard), with a lower priority of dining time or table size. Early Saver fares may be offered on specific cruises and availability will vary.

Other promotional fares may be introduced from time to time, including limited late availability deals that will come with no choice of cabin, dining time or table size and very restrictive booking conditions.

The current Vantage and Getaway Fare structure will continue to be available for all cruises departing up to the start of the spring 2014 programme. For those customers already booked on a Vantage Fare or Getaway Fare, the booking terms and conditions will remain the same. All Vantage Fare bookings will continue to be protected by the Price Promise.

Carnival UK chief commercial officer Gerard Tempest said: “P&O Cruises and Cunard are two of the cruise industry’s most recognised and loved brands. From value packed lead fares to tantalising early savers and other limited availability deals, customers will be able to experience our ships on a fare type that is most suited to their needs.”

Norwegian teams up with the New York Knicks

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 October 2013 30 October 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line and the New York Knicks announced today a new marketing partnership naming Norwegian the "Official Cruise Line" of the team. Norwegian will be featured on digital platforms and in-arena during the Knicks home games at the completely transformed Madison Square Garden.

"New York is a key feeder market for Norwegian Cruise Line. With the recent introduction of Norwegian Breakaway sailing year-round from New York and the upcoming launch of her sister ship Norwegian Getaway in Miami, the time was right to align with a premier sports team in New York that could showcase our product offering to their fans in fun and innovative ways," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "New York Knicks fans are some of the most passionate in basketball and enthusiastically support their team. Therefore, we want to make sure that they choose Norwegian when they are thinking about a cruise vacation."

"We are proud to welcome Norwegian Cruise Line as a new Knicks marketing partner, they join a lineup of industry leading companies that are aligning their brands with the team this season," said Ryan O'Hara, president, content distribution and sales, The Madison Square Garden Company. "This partnership provides prominent brand exposure to Norwegian with our passionate Knicks fan base and offers exciting content and opportunities for our fans."

The marketing partnership includes Norwegian Cruise Line branding on the Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue marquees outside Madison Square Garden, as well as integration on The Garden's new multimedia display, Gardenvision, inside the Arena. Norwegian will sponsor on-court promotions during select Knicks home games where fans will have the opportunity to win prizes ranging from Norwegian's recently introduced gift card to a seven-day cruise. Additionally, Norwegian is sponsoring the "Upcoming Voyages" Gardenvision in-game feature and is the presenting partner of the Knicks "Post-Game Digital Platform" which can be found at KnicksNow.com, as well as on the team's mobile app. Content features post-game recaps, including player interviews, game highlights and more.

Noordam to cruise in Western and Central Mediterranean in summer 2014

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 October 2013 29 October 2013

Holland America Line says its Noordam will operate Western and Central Mediterranean itineraries in spring and summer 2014. The new itineraries will allow for longer voyages, including the introduction of three new 11-day itineraries with several departures each and numerous Collectors' Voyages up to 33 days, the company said in a statement. The ship will not operate in the Eastern Mediterranean in the coming summer.

From April through October 2014, the ship will sail between Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, and Barcelona, Spain, or Venice, Italy. The 11-day itineraries feature a combination of calls in Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Tunisia, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. Guests who want a longer vacation can combine two or three back-to-back voyages to form a 22- or 33-day Collectors' Voyage. These extended itineraries offer a more in-depth cruise and allow for extra time ashore to become immersed in the culture and history of the Mediterranean.

The central and western Mediterranean cruises feature a variety of popular ports in 10 countries so our guests can explore the top highlights of the region, said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest programs. For travelers with more time, the different itineraries can be combined into an ultimate Mediterranean cruise experience with few, if any, repeated ports.

Departing April 4, May 18, July 1 and Aug. 14, the Mediterranean Explorer voyage sails from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome). The cruise begins with an overnight at Barcelona and continues on to Marseille (Provence), France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Calvi, Corsica; Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia, and Palermo and Naples, Italy. The ship sails the reverse itinerary, ending with an overnight at Barcelona, May 7, June 20, Aug. 3 and Oct. 8.

The Adriatic Dream itinerary departs April 15, May 29, July 12 and Aug. 25 from Civitavecchia (Rome) and sails to Venice, where guests enjoy an overnight before disembarking. Along the route the ship calls at Messina, Sicily, Italy, after scenic cruising along the Strait of Messina; Valletta, Malta; Argostolion and Kerkira (Corfu), Greece; Kotor, Montenegro, and Dubrovnik, Korcula and Split, Croatia.

The Mediterranean Dream cruise departs April 26, June 9, July 23 and Sept. 5 from Venice and sails to Civitavecchia (Rome). This itinerary features six calls throughout the beautiful Greek Isles, including Katakolon (Olympia), Navplion, Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini. The ship also calls at Kusadasi, Turkey, home to Ephesus, and Naples, Italy.

The Sept. 16 Venetian Adventure voyage sails round-trip Civitavecchia (Rome) with an overnight at Venice mid-voyage. The ship also calls at Messina after scenic cruising along the Strait of Messina, Valletta, Kotor, Split, Dubrovnik and Kerkira (Corfu).

A round-trip Civitavecchia (Rome) Mediterranean Dream cruise departs Sept. 27 and calls at Katakolon (Olympia), Navplion, Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini and Naples.

Travelers looking to explore more of the Mediterranean can book a longer Collectors' Voyage that combines two or three of the 11-day cruises. For example, the 33-day Best of the Mediterranean cruise departs April 4 and combines the April 4, 15 and 26 departures. The 22-day Mediterranean and Adriatic Explorer combines the May 18, 29 and June 9 sailings. Each month through September will offer a combination that features 22- to 33-day Collectors' Voyage options.

The new Noordam itineraries replace the previously published cruises that included Egypt, which was cancelled due to continued unrest in the area.

Norwegian supports UK cancer charity

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 October 2013 28 October 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line says it has been flexing its green-fingers by completing a charity gardening project run in conjunction with CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people. "The cruise line’s UK gardening project team took part in a two day gardening event from 8 - 9 October 2013, following a period of fundraising to buy plants and flowers which were then used to transform the garden of a Surrey family," the company said in a statement.

Five year old daughter Ciana has been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Due to the overgrown foliage and mud in their garden, Ciana and her younger sister Lexi, aged three, were unable to play outdoors. Members of the Norwegian Cruise Line UK gardening project team came on board to spend two days transforming their garden into an ideal space for playtime.

The team was made up of volunteers from Norwegian, including Francis Riley, vice president and general manager international. Francis said, “They were a fantastic two days for everyone involved, as we could see just how much difference we were making for the girls. Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to helping those who are in need of additional assistance, from large scale fundraising projects to small ones that can have such a huge impact and make a real difference. What is impressive is that the whole Norwegian team played a part in one shape or another in bringing this project alive.”

CLIC Sargent fundraising manager Nicola White said: “We are really pleased that Ciana and her family are going to have a lovely new look garden. It really makes a difference to people to be able to relax together in a pleasant outside space. It is hard to find the time and energy to do these things when you are coping with cancer.”

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families, providing clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help them cope with cancer and get the most out of life. CLIC Sargent is there from diagnosis onwards and aim to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement.

AIDA to homeport in Tampa

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 October 2013 25 October 2013

The Tampa Port Authority (TPA) has announced that AIDA Cruises will home port two of its ships in Tampa – AIDAvita for the 2014/15 and AIDAmar for the 2015/16 cruise season. The cruise line, headquartered in Germany, is "the embodiment of casual cruising."

As part of AIDA Cruises’ new Caribbean butterfly route, providing customers with unique new cruise experiences and destinations, the AIDAvita will begin sailing the first of four Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa in December 2014, and then the following season, in 2015, AIDAmar will sail seven cruises out of Tampa. AIDA Cruises’ entry into the Tampa market means that the Port of Tampa will now home port ships from five of the world’s most popular cruise lines.

AIDAvita, the second ship in the AIDA fleet, was launched in 2002, and has a 1,266-passenger capacity and crew size of 384. Launched in 2012, AIDAmar, a Sphinx Class ship, has a 2,194-passenger capacity and 609 crew.

"AIDA Cruises’ announcement to come to Tampa is a milestone for us, not only at the port, but for all of our tourism and economic development partners in the region," Paul Anderson, TPA president and CEO, said. "We are thrilled to welcome AIDA to Tampa Bay and we know this will be the beginning of a long and rewarding relationship with this fine cruise line that has recognized our strong and distinct market and has decided to be a part of the growth we are experiencing in the region," he said.