Celebrity Solstice brings Celebrity Cruises' houseflag to Malaysia for first time

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 November 2012 22 November 2012

Celebrity Cruises visited Malaysia for the first time today in Port Klang, with the maiden call of its Celebrity Solstice. The 122,000 gross ton ship with over 2,700 international guests onboard arrived at Port Klang in the morning. She is on a 12-night cruise from Dubai to Singapore before heading to Australia, the company said in a statement.

An official ceremony was held onboard the ship to welcome her arrival, with plaque exchanges between H.E. Dato’ Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism Malaysia and Captain Ioannis Berdos of Celebrity Solstice. Mr Let Boon Waat, Celebrity Cruises’ Representative in Malaysia said, “We are pleased to bring Celebrity Solstice to Port Klang today to let her guests discover the attractions of Malaysia. It is also an opportunity for us to showcase our award-winning luxurious ship which offers attractive itineraries in Australia and Alaska for her upcoming seasons.” 

Port Klang is the gateway to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. The cosmopolitan city is a top sightseeing spot for locals and international tourists alike, with its many colourful markets and vast shopping malls. It is also home to the soaring Petronas Towers, the world's second-tallest buildings which offer incredible views of the city and its surrounding areas. No trip to Kuala Lumpur would be complete either without a visit to the famous Merdeka Square. These iconic tourist spots are included in Celebrity Cruises’ shore excursions in Kuala Lumpur.

The 2850-guest Celebrity Solstice which was launched in 2008 as Celebrity’s first Solstice Class ship and has since won numerous industry accolades, features the industry’s first half-acre Lawn Club with real grass and Hot Glass Show with live glassblowing demonstrations, 10 varied restaurants such as Blu, luxurious spa and unique entertainment designed for the state-of-the-art theater. Guests onboard will enjoy exquisite cuisine, unparalleled service of a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1,

She has been alternating between Europe in summer and the Caribbean in winter.

From December to March, Celebrity Solstice will offer 11- to 18-night cruises out from Sydney, Perth and Auckland with stopovers at Cairns, Airlie Beach, Brisbane, Melbourne, Milford Sound, Christchurch, Hobart, Adelaide, Albany and more. There are also multiple overnight stays in ports like Sydney and Bali. Thereafter she will be embarking on her first Alaskan season next summer, the first of her class to do so, the company said.

Keukenhof Garden to produce tulip to celebrate Holland America's 140 years

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 November 2012 22 November 2012

Holland America Line says it is partnering with the world-famous Keukenhof Spring Gardens in the Netherlands to develop an exclusive tulip in celebration of its 140th anniversary in 2013.  Master grower Jan Pennings, exhibitor at Keukenhof Gardens, chose to create a white petal variety to honour the company, which was originally founded in Rotterdam on 18 April 1873 as a transatlantic cargo and passenger company.

To launch the planting of the new tulip, which will be harvested next spring, Jan Pennings handed over the first bulbs to Holland America Line Captain Edward van Zaane and Martin Schröder, Loyal Mariner and member of the Holland America Line Dutch advisory board. The event took place last week, on Friday 16 November 2012, by a windmill that was donated to Keukenhof Gardens by Holland America Line in 1957. The tulips are scheduled to bloom in spring 2013.  An official christening and naming of the new tulip will be held in April 2013 at Keukenhof.

Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world's largest flower garden, situated near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Approximately seven million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually around the park. Keukenhof is only open for two months per year, from 21 March through to 20 May, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world. 

Royal Princess to feature upgraded Sanctuary, adult pool

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 November 2012 22 November 2012

When Princess Cruises new Royal Princess debuts next June, passengers will find that two of the lines signature features have been enhanced to provide passengers with the ultimate in relaxation. Both The Sanctuary and the lines popular adults-only pool also will offer private cabanas for the first time, the company said in a statement.

Located near the forward end of the top deck, these two areas together provide a peaceful haven for passengers looking to recharge. With a new look at feel, the larger Sanctuary will feature fresh décor plus two new private cabana options along with the its plush loungers and Serenity Stewards. Meanwhile, the Retreat Pool will provide a serene spot for a dip, along with its new poolside cabanas.

The private spa-inspired setting of The Sanctuary and the calm atmosphere of our adults-only pools have made them among the more popular areas on our ships, said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. So aboard Royal Princess were taking both of these areas and giving them a new twist.

The three new private cabana options will give passengers the opportunity to personalize their relaxation time, with elegant Sanctuary and Lotus Spa cabanas in The Sanctuary, while the Retreat Pool offers poolside cabanas, perfect for enjoying an extra special day at the waters edge. Cabana guests looking for a gourmet treat can order one of the ships new cabana picnic baskets, packed with artisan edibles paired with a premium wine. 

The Sanctuary:  This oasis of tranquility will feature all the special touches that have made The Sanctuary so popular since it was first introduced on Crown Princess in 2006, plus a number of new features. With a 20 percent larger space than on the lines other ships, The Sanctuary adds four private Sanctuary Cabanas for more luxurious experience, plus two Lotus Spa Cabanas offering an elegant private space for a range of spa treatments.

Featuring the air of a romantic hideaway under its distinctive white canopy cover, The Sanctuary design includes strategically placed rock gardens and special topiary planting with atmospheric lighting. These new elements create an inviting path leading to a new central pavilion. Passengers can relax on luxurious plush lounge chairs or circular daybeds, while Serenity Stewards provide healthy refreshments and music players with peaceful music. Space in The Sanctuary can be reserved for $15 for a half day/$25 for a full day, per person. 

Sanctuary Cabanas  Within The Sanctuary, four new Sanctuary Cabanas offer an even more exclusive and special experience with amenities such as a personal television with noise-reducing wireless headphones, cushy sofas, luxurious robe and slippers, a welcome cocktail, and healthy snacks including nuts, and dried and fresh fruit. The cabana also features a fully stocked mini-bar with refreshing waters and sodas, as well as a choice of alcoholic options, including beer or wine. Sanctuary Cabanas will be available beginning at $80 for a half day. 

Lotus Spa Cabanas  The two new, luxurious Lotus Spa Cabanas offer a truly special alfresco massage experience. These larger, enclosed areas will offer added privacy, a comfortable resting area with a television and plush chairs, a treatment area with two massage tables for a refreshing couples massage and beautiful ocean views looking out over the front of the ship. A variety of packages will be available for the Lotus Spa Cabanas.

Retreat Pool  Adjacent to The Sanctuary, the Retreat Pool will offer an exclusive area for adults to relax and rejuvenate. The Retreat Pool on Royal Princess will offer more space and seating than the adult pools on other Princess vessels, plus add new Retreat Cabanas that can be reserved for an enhanced experience. These cabanas are the perfect way to enjoy private space poolside, or even add the indulgence of one of the ships special picnic baskets. The Retreat Pool is open to all adults, and Retreat Pool Cabana rental will be available beginning at $50 for a half day.

Cabana Picnic  Passengers reserving a cabana in The Sanctuary or the Retreat Pool can not only enjoy the privacy and relaxed atmosphere, but can also pamper themselves with a gourmet picnic featuring a premium bottle of wine paired with a gourmet feast of antipasti, artisan sandwiches, pizza and even fresh-baked desserts. Picnic items passengers may find in their basket include Young Spinach Salad with Stilton Crumble, Pancetta Chips, Toasted Pecans and Black Pepper Vinaigrette; Ahi Tuna Poke with Hass Avocado, Red Onions, Sesame Seeds and Crisp Wonton Skins; and Alfredos Surf & Turf Pizza with Lobster Medallions & Beef Tenderloin. Baskets serving two people will begin at $40.

Carnival Cruise Lines to offer 137,500 free meals at Thanksgiving

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 November 2012 22 November 2012

To celebrate Thanksgiving and the arrival of its newest cruise ship, Carnival Breeze, to Miami, Carnival Cruise Lines says it is donating 137,500 meals to Feeding South Florida and erecting a 50-foot-tall inflatable turkey atop the ship.

The 1,250-pound nylon turkey - wearing a straw beach hat and colorful Hawaiian shirt - is scheduled to be displayed on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in time for holiday festivities. The giant fowl will sit 14 stories above the waterline and gaze toward nearby McArthur Causeway until just before the ship makes its inaugural sailing from Miami on Thanksgiving Day.

Also on Wednesday, Carnival will present a charitable donation to Feeding South Florida that will provide 137,500 meals to families in need throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Pembroke Pines-based Feeding South Florida is the largest food bank in the state and a member of Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. In 2011, Feeding South Florida distributed more than 30 million pounds of food valued at almost $50 million within the South Florida community.

As part of its Thanksgiving celebration, the cruise line also is mounting a social media contest to give the giant turkey a moniker. The "Name the Giant Turkey Twitter Contest" will run from Nov. 21-25. To participate, contestants use the hashtag #TurkeyOnDeck. Carnival will pick the top three names on Monday, Nov. 26, with the winner announced later that day.  The prize is a $500 gift card to fund the winner's next holiday party.

The new 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze - the largest Carnival ship ever homeported in South Florida - arrives at PortMiami Wednesday, Nov 21. The ship, which debuted this summer in Europe, brings on-board innovations including a variety of new dining, bar and entertainment options that are part of the company's groundbreaking $500 million fleetwide Fun Ship 20 product-enhancement program.