In winter 2012 and spring 2013 two Holland America Line ships –– ms Oosterdam and ms Volendam –– will sail a series of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific cruises, visiting more than 50 ports where guests can revel in the cosmopolitan attractions of Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, and explore the exotic landscapes of Vanuatu and Fiji in the South Pacific.
Cunard Line, one of the oldest names in passenger shipping operating the youngest fleet at sea, will offer its guests the opportunity to be married on board for the first time in its 171-year history. Beginning Spring 2012, a luxury cruise aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will offer a selection of wedding packages, commencing after the World Voyages have been completed. The Weddings programme will go on sale in December 2011, with expanded details available soon.
This November, Royal Caribbean International will celebrate its return to New Orleans, La., in a big way. The eight-time “Best Cruise Line Overall” award winner* has teamed with Republic Nashville to treat invited guests to a special, live performance by one of country music’s most beloved artists, Martina McBride. Following the debut of her new album, ELEVEN, which hit stores on Oct. 11, 2011, the four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year is scheduled to perform aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, the largest and most innovative cruise ship ever to homeport in New Orleans, on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. The Martina concert for invited guests will take place in Voyager of the Seas’ Lyric Theatre before the ship departs on its Western Caribbean Thanksgiving cruise.
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, announced the acquisition of a second ship which will begin sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner in December 2012. This ship will be christened m/v Moana after completing a multifaceted renovation in November 2012. Moana features 45 staterooms accommodating 90 guests.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan announced that Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art 4,000 passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will make New York City its year-round home port. Beginning in May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway – which will be the largest ship ever to home port in the City – will replace Norwegian Star, and embark on a minimum of 88 cruises from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal through March 31, 2015. The ship calls will bring an estimated 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years, resulting in an estimated $35 million in additional direct spending. Mayor Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line were joined at the announcement in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal by New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky and NYC & Co CEO George Fertitta.
Guests need take no chances with Lady Luck following the latest offer of free gaming lessons of black jack, poker, roulette and dice* in the sumptuous casinos of the MSC Cruises’ fleet.
At least twice a cruise, depending on the ships and itineraries, 15-minute gaming lessons will be available to guests at the casino in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere before the frenetic exhilaration of the casino opening.
Crystal Cruises’ first year of its “You Care, We Care” voluntourism program has added more excursions to wrap up 2011. With all Mediterranean and U.S. Pacific Coastal cruises this fall, new hands-on volunteer opportunities will assist people-in-need in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Israel, the Canary Islands, and southern California—plus Mediterranean sea turtles.
Sea Princess has been honored by the Port of San Francisco with its annual “Cruise Ship Environmental Award.” This distinction was earned for the ship’s outstanding record in San Francisco during the 2010 season for air emissions reduction, advanced wastewater management, and recycling and disposal programs. This is the sixth year Princess Cruises has earned this prestigious accolade.
