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MSC Cruises Take Delivery of MSC Meraviglia

By
John Shallo
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Nine million man-hours worked over a period of three years to deliver the biggest ship ever built by a European ship owner and the largest to come into service in 2017

MSC Cruises Take Delivery of MSC Meraviglia | 11Today at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC Cruises officially took delivery of MSC Meraviglia. During the ship’s flag ceremony, which pays tribute to centuries-old maritime tradition, the Company’s newest flagship received her official flag and blessings for good fortune. The Flag Ceremony was attended by Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and other high-level dignitaries from the French government.

At 171,598 GRT and with guest capacity of 5,714 (4,488 at double occupancy), MSC Meraviglia is both the biggest ship to ever be built by a European ship owner — MSC Cruises — and the biggest to come into service in 2017. She is also one of the six new ships due to come into service between 2017 and 2020 under the Company’s industry-unprecedented investment plan. Four of these six vessels will be built by STX France, further reinforcing a long-standing partnership that has already produced all 13 vessels in MSC Cruises’ fleet, allowing the Company to grow by 800% from 2003 to 2013.

MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa — estimates that its total investment at STX France from 2003 to 2020 will amount to over 7 billion euros (≈$7.8 billion USD), effectively making the Company the country’s number one foreign private investor (when it comes to export contracts.) Considering that the building of MSC Meraviglia required 1,700 workers per month (over 3,000 per month during peak periods) and nine million man hours, and that the construction work feeds into a network of more than 400 suppliers and subcontractors, the economic effects of this investment are not only widely felt across the country’s geography but also multiplied several times over.

MSC Cruises Take Delivery of MSC Meraviglia | 11Following her christening ceremony, which will take place in Le Havre on June 3, MSC Meraviglia will start her inaugural season sailing the Western Mediterranean.

“MSC Meraviglia’s coming into service marks a key milestone in the history and future of our Company,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “She represents the first realization of our long-term vision for further significant growth, which, in its first phase, culminated with MSC Cruises becoming two years ago the number one cruise brand across all of Europe, while on its way to further global growth.”

“Above all, we must celebrate the work of everyone: from all the workers of our partner STX France to MSC Cruises’ New Builds Team, each and every supplier and sub-supplier who has contributed to turning our vision into reality as well as everyone at MSC who has worked ashore and on board on this amazing project. A galvanized team of up to 3,000 workers a month and over 400 suppliers, built over the past three years the largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship ever constructed by a European ship owner. This is worth celebrating!” added Vago.

MSC Cruises Take Delivery of MSC Meraviglia | 11“Delivering a ship is always a time of great emotion for the shipyard: it is the culmination of three years of intense work for our employees and those of our partners, who have spared no effort to deliver on the exact date and in the quality conditions desired by our client MSC Cruises, this first ship of the Meraviglia class,” said Laurent Castaing, CEO of STX France.  “Benefiting from our advances in R&D from the “Ship of the Future” program supported by ADEME, this prototype is a great achievement that we can all be proud of and which allows us to look confidently at the next three ships.”

During today’s flag ceremony, the shipyard’s pennant and the French flag were lowered, accompanied by the French national anthem, before Laurent Castaing, CEO of STX France, formally handed the ship over to MSC Cruises’ owner Gianluigi Aponte. Mr. Aponte then gave command of MSC Meraviglia to Master Raffaele Pontecorvo before the ship’s flag and MSC Cruises’ pennant were raised.

The honor of cutting the ribbon fell to the ceremony’s godmother, Ms. Zoe Africa Vago, daughter of MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman and Alexa Aponte-Vago, MSC Group’s CFO. After the traditional breaking of the bottle of champagne, three blasts from the ship’s siren signalled the end of the ceremony.

Cruise CompeteMSC Meraviglia, the 13th cruise ship to join MSC Cruises’ fleet since its inception in 2003, is 1,034 feet long, 141 feet wide and 214 feet high, with 171,598 GRTs. She is able to travel up to 22.7 knots and has been designed to operate in all seasons and to be able to call in most of the world’s international cruise ports, offering the widest and most exciting range of marine as well as onboard features of any MSC Cruises ship to-date.

After the closing of the flag ceremony, MSC Meraviglia is due to set sail towards the Port of Le Havre for her christening ceremony on June 3. She will then begin her first sailing along the Atlantic coast, calling at Vigo (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), all the way to the Mediterranean, calling in Barcelona (Spain), Marseille (France) and eventually Genoa (Italy). She will commence the first regular 7-night itinerary on June 11, sailing from Genoa on to Naples (Italy), Messina (Italy), Valletta (Malta), Barcelona, Marseille and back to Genoa on June 18.

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Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates National Hamburger Day by Creating Largest Hamburger at Sea

By
John Shallo
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The largest hamburger at sea.
The largest hamburger at sea weighs in at 300-pounds, three-and-a-half-foot-wide hamburger aboard the Carnival Liberty in Port Canaveral, Fla.

In celebration of National Hamburger Day taking place this weekend, Carnival Cruise Line unveiled a massive 300-pound, three-and-a-half-foot-wide hamburger aboard the Carnival Liberty in Port Canaveral, Fla. – the largest hamburger at sea.   Created by the ship’s talented team of culinary artists, the gargantuan sandwich was comprised of 200 pounds of meat and 50 pounds of cheese and toppings, as well as 50 pounds of flour to make the bun.

The massive hamburger was modeled after the tasty offerings at Guy’s Burger Joint, a casual poolside eatery that is currently featured aboard 14 Carnival ships, including Carnival Liberty.  It’s estimated that 1,000 burgers are served per day on each ship – all free of charge.  That’s more than 5 million burgers a year!

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates National Hamburger Day by Creating Largest Hamburger at Sea | 11The event also included a fun burger-making workshop for local media and bloggers who learned the secrets to creating the delectable hand-crafted burgers.  Participants donned Guy’s Burger Joint’s signature hats and went behind the grill where they got first-hand experience creating the eatery’s mouth-watering burgers, which include The Ringer topped with barbecue sauce and an onion ring and Chilius Maximus smothered with homemade chili.

Carnival Liberty operates year-round three- and four-day Bahamas cruises from the Space Coast. To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

World’s First Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse Reaches New Milestone

By
John Shallo
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The keel laying and coin fixing ceremony of Scenic Eclipse, the world’s first Discovery Yacht, took place on April 28 — marking the official start of the ship’s construction. In a well-attended ceremony at Uljanik Shipyard JSC in Pula, Croatia, Scenic founder and chairman, Glen Moroney, had the honor of placing an Australian coin beneath the keel – a right of passage for every new ship and one thought to bring good fortune to the crew and guests. Dignitaries looking on included Marinko Brgic, a member of the JSC management board, and Marko Moric, CEO Bureau Veritas, Croatia. Ship details and Keel Laying video can be found at www.scenicusa.com/ocean-cruises or www.scenic.ca/ocean-cruise.

Cruise CompeteThe well-designed and hand-built Scenic Eclipse will embark on its inaugural sailing from Athens to Venice on August 31, 2018, before spending a year leading guests on a luxury exploration of Europe, the Mediterranean, North and South America, Antarctica, the Arctic and the Norwegian Fjords. The announcement of Scenic Eclipse 17 months ago caused considerable industry and consumer excitement as the design details and luxury focus surpassed anything built before or even planned. This has led to brisk sales of the 31 different 7- to 21-night itineraries offered in the 2018-2019 inaugural year.

Upon completion, Scenic Eclipse will represent a new era in ultra-luxury ocean cruising. The “6-star” mega yacht offers unprecedented luxury and comfort for 228 passengers (200 in Antarctica), and features 114 all-verandah suites, from the generous 345ft² Verandah Suites to the to the truly luxurious 2,659ft² two-bedroom Penthouse Suite. Public spaces include a choice of 10 on board dining choices, a state-of-the-art theatre, 5,900 ft² Spa Sanctuary and numerous lounge and bar areas. Top notch service, including butler service for every guest, is accomplished with a near 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio.

The adventure opportunities are just as diverse: from helicopters to submarines to zodiacs, kayaks and scuba gear, guests will be able to fill their time between on board indulgences with off-board once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Family of Brands has grown over its 30-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours that take participants to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations; two award-winning river cruise lines – Scenic and Emerald Waterways; and, in 2018, the world’s first Discovery Yacht – Scenic Eclipse. Emerald Waterways’ seven Star Ships offer deluxe cruises in Europe, and the Mekong, while Scenic’s 15 Space Ships offer truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in the same destinations as well as the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.

Additional information on these and other cruises, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel agents, or from Scenic: in the US: www.scenicusa.com; phone 844-788-7987; or email: info@scenicusa.com: and in Canada: www.scenic.ca; phone (866) 689-8611; or email: canada@scenic.ca; or from Emerald Waterways: in the US: www.emeraldwaterways.com; phone 855-222-3214; in Canada: www.emeraldwaterways.ca; phone 855-444-0161. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the website.

CruiseCompete-LogoThis article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.

We’re Not Joking! Carnival Cruise Line To Host 25,000 Comedy Club Shows Fleetwide in 2017

By
John Shallo
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We're Not Joking! Carnival Cruise Line To Host 25,000 Comedy Club Shows Fleetwide in 2017 | 11Carnival Cruise Line will provide its guests with more laughs than ever in 2017, hosting a record 25,000 shows at its Punchliner Comedy Clubs featured across its 25-ship fleet.

Boasting more comedians and performances than any land-based comedy club in the U.S., Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs feature a hilarious lineup of top-notch comedians who perform 30-minute shows multiple times each voyage with at least two comedians performing each night.   All shows are offered on a complimentary basis.

Two early-evening PG-rated shows offer all-ages fun for the whole family while later performances feature more R-rated, adult-oriented comedy. Approximately 10 shows are presented during short cruise itineraries and with roughly 20 shows per cruise on longer length voyages.

“Our guests love to laugh and have fun and the Punchliner Comedy Club is by far one of the most popular venues on board with both established and up-and-coming comedians who keep audiences laughing and entertained,” said Sarah Reno, Carnival’s vice president of entertainment.  “Plus, many guests have never been to a comedy club so this is a wonderful way for them to try something different and check out an entirely new form of entertainment,” she added.

We're Not Joking! Carnival Cruise Line To Host 25,000 Comedy Club Shows Fleetwide in 2017 | 11
British comedian Phil Walker entertains guests in Carnival Vista’s Comedy Club. .Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line

Added Chris Nelson, Carnival’s senior director of entertainment, “We search the world for the top comedians and fly them onto each cruise for limited engagements.  Not only is Carnival one of the largest presenters of comedy in the world, we are the only cruise line to provide an authentic comedy club experience on every single voyage.”

Carnival’s position as the leader in comedy has also extended to its popular Carnival LIVE concert series which has added top-name comedians to its diverse entertainment lineup.  Recent comedy performances include Jay Leno, Jim Gaffigan, Chris Tucker and Kathy Griffin. Jeff Foxworthy will also be performing two shows next month aboard Carnival Freedom and Carnival Ecstasy while those ships are docked in Nassau.

To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Carnival Cruise Line Unveils ‘Carnival Studios’

By
John Shallo
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High-Tech Rehearsal Facility Designed to Further Elevate Line’s Award-Winning Shipboard Entertainment Offerings

Carnival Cruise Line Unveils ‘Carnival Studios’ | 11This week Carnival Cruise Line unveiled “Carnival Studios,” a state-of-the-art 44,500-square-foot rehearsal venue in Davie, Fla., near the company’s Miami headquarters.

Three years in development, Carnival Studios brings entire bands, casts, and technical teams from every ship together shoreside for intensive rehearsals as a team, while providing additional opportunities to conceptualize innovative new shows on site.  More than 500 entertainers and performers will convene at Carnival Studios to rehearse new shows that are constantly being rolled out across the fleet.

The expansive space encompasses eight dedicated music studios, five full-stage dance studios, a training room, a green room and offices for the line’s entertainment department many of whom will be relocating to the Davie campus.

“Whether it’s our elaborate production shows, our popular rock bands or solo artists performing throughout the ship, entertainment is a huge part of the Carnival vacation experience and this spectacular rehearsal space provides us with unprecedented opportunities to develop exciting new choices for our guests,” said Sarah Beth Reno, Carnival’s vice president of entertainment.

Designed as a creative hub for Carnival’s entertainment department, every single space within Carnival Studios has been outfitted with the latest digital sound, lighting and recording technology.

At Carnival Studios, the main theater stages within the fleet have been replicated within five full-scale studios.  One of the dance studios boasts a massive 480-square-foot LED screen that is an integral part of the line’s high-tech Playlist Productions shows, allowing performers to hone their craft with daily interactions with the groundbreaking technology.

The development of Carnival Studios also enables entertainers to work with top-rated talent from Broadway, London’s West End, Las Vegas and award-winning partners across the globe in conceptualizing new innovations in shipboard entertainment.

[pullquote]“We designed the space to encourage interaction and engagement between everyone who works on our shows – from cast members and musicians to technicians and backstage crew,” said Chris Nelson, Carnival’s senior director of entertainment.  “It is in these sometimes intentional and sometimes impromptu collaborations that the strongest ideas take shape, inspiring synergy and building relationships that last a lifetime,” he added.[/pullquote]

In addition to Playlist Productions and live bands that span all musical genres, Carnival’s fleetwide entertainment lineup includes the Punchliner Comedy Clubs, Lip Sync Battle based on the hit SpikeTV show, Hasbro, The Game Show with larger-than-life adaptations of the company’s iconic games, and Carnival LIVE featuring top-name musical and comedy acts who perform on board.

To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

 

Cruise Lines International Association Announces New Online Certificate Program

By
John Shallo
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Cruise Lines International Association Announces New Online Certificate Program | 11Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that travel agents can now expand their business with the new Meetings & Events at Sea Certificate Program. The program, designed in partnership with Meetings Professional International (MPI), will allow travel professionals the chance to become an expert in booking events on a cruise ship.

The certificate program explores the advantages of hosting groups and events on cruise ships as opposed to traditional venues. From the comfort of their computers, agents will gain insight into incentive trips, and examine logistics and variables to consider when hosting an event at sea. The program will also explore the types of meetings or events that should be conducted onboard, in addition to teaching agents about the valuable cost comparisons.

“At CLIA, we are always looking for ways to make our training more accessible for our travel agents across North America,” said Stephani McDow, director, membership & professional development. “We’ve already had great success delivering this certificate program at our live training events and we are excited to be able to offer agents the opportunity to take this course online, and at their own pace.”

This is the first certificate program to be offered as an online course for CLIA Travel Agent Members, and has been previously offered as a live-training. CLIA members receive a $100 member savings on the online version, which is available at $199 for non-members and $99 for members.  CLIA Certificate programs supplement CLIA’s existing Certification Programs to help travel professionals expand their knowledge of travel and cruise specific topics to grow their clientele and sales.

For more information about CLIA Certificate and Certification Programs, please visit https://www.cruising.org/ careerseascape.

How to Make Your Next Cruise a More Productive Experience

By
John Shallo
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Do you want to be more productive on your next cruise trip? While you’re away from home, you will probably find that there are times when you won’t have very much to do and you could be putting this idle time to better use. Using this spare time in a more productive way is not as difficult as you may think. Below are some of the ways your next cruise can become a more productive experience.

Study

If you want to learn a new skill or learn more about a particular topic, starting a new course and studying is the perfect way to use your time wisely while you’re on a cruise. Many of the barriers that prevented people from studying while they were traveling no longer exist.

The internet, in particular, makes it much easier to study on the move and a wide range of high-quality online courses like the nurse practitioner doctorate degree are now available. These online courses are a much more flexible way for students to obtain a valuable qualification and you could even complete a whole MSN to DNP online course without ever having to attend a lecture or a class in person.

Work Online

The way millions of people work has also changed dramatically in recent years. The internet and the latest mobile technologies have made the world a much smaller place and you can now work whenever and wherever you want. Once you have a broadband connection and the appropriate device, it’s possible to access a wide range of online systems and communicate easily with work colleagues, customers, suppliers and other work associates.

Planning and Scheduling Future Activities

Taking a cruise is the perfect way to relax and recharge your batteries. This means you can think clearly and don’t have to worry about the pressures of everyday life. It also means this is the perfect opportunity to plan and schedule different events and activities that will affect your life and the lives of those dear to you in the future. For example, if you have your own business, you can calmly set out future goals for your company and allocate times and dates for completion of these goals.

Networking

Even though you are officially on vacation when you take a cruise, it’s also an opportunity to build positive relationships and network with the people you meet along the way. Once again, the internet can help too, with a wide range of social media platforms and discussion websites available that allow you to maintain existing relationships and create new ones. This is particularly important if you have a business or want to keep up-to-date with the latest career news and opportunities that could have an impact on your life in the future.

Going on a cruise should be an experience you remember fondly for the rest of your life. It’s a time to take it easy, but it can also be a great way to do a lot of productive things too. The activities above are just some of the ways you can make your next cruise a much more productive experience as well as an enjoyable one.

Norwegian Cruise Line Makes Inaugural Call To Cuba

By
John Shallo
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Cruise CompeteNorwegian Sky, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first ship to sail to Cuba, made her inaugural call in Cuba. She pulled the capital city of Havana this morning.  Norwegian Cruise Line executives were onboard to celebrate the voyage, including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President & CEO Frank Del Rio and Norwegian Cruise Line President & CEO Andy Stuart.

Cuba Cruises

“Our cruises to Cuba offer our guests a unique opportunity to engage in true cultural immersion with the freedom and flexibility to explore this destination on their own timetable and as they choose,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We look forward to our guests experiencing the wonderful hospitality of the Cuban people aboard each of our many sailings to Cuba to come.”

Today’s call was the first of Norwegian Sky’s weekly roundtrip cruises from Miami to Cuba.  The ship will sail a total of 53 four-day voyages to Cuba, with 52 including an overnight stay in the historical and culturally-rich capital of Havana.  Norwegian Sky will bring guests to the very heart of Havana, offering guests the opportunity to visit historical sites such as Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; view incredible art and listen to the vibrant local music scene; and visit with Cuba’s warm and friendly residents through people-to-people exchanges. Norwegian offers a selection of 14 half and full-day OFAC-compliant shore excursions, where guests aboard Norwegian Sky will have the opportunity to have a farm to table dining experience, explore the flora and fauna of Soroa, see modern Havana in an American classic car and much more.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky

The all-inclusive Norwegian Sky will also call on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, during her four-day cruises to Cuba.  Great Stirrup Cay is a private island paradise, with white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, watersports galore and lushly landscaped beachside cabanas available for daily rental for those who wish to have a more exclusive island experience. Great Stirrup Cay was recently enhanced to offer guests exciting new ways to enjoy the island with additional pathways, seating and shaded lounge areas, with additional features still to come, including a private luxury lagoon enclave for suite guests and guests of The Haven.

Along with the freedom and flexibility that only Norwegian Cruise Line can provide, guests sailing on Norwegian Sky will also enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages as a part of the ship’s all-inclusive program.

For additional information or to book a cruise to Cuba on Norwegian, as well as documentation requirements, Frequently Asked Questions and more, please visit www.ncl.com/cruises-to/cuba-cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line Makes Inaugural Call To Cuba | 11This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.

Carnival To Develop The Largest-Ever Bahamian Cruise Destination

By
John Shallo
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Carnival Vista
Carnival Vista

Agreement between Carnival Cruise Line and the Bahamian government will bring largest-ever cruise port development project to Grand Bahama Island

Carnival To Develop The Largest-Ever Bahamian Cruise Destination | 11

Today Carnival Cruise Line and the Bahamian government signed agreement during a special signing ceremony in Freeport, Grand Bahama, for the construction of a new cruise port facility to be funded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line on Grand Bahama Island. The as-yet-unnamed planned port will be the largest purpose-built cruise facility ever constructed in The Bahamas and will take inspiration from the beauty of the Bahamian people and their islands. Features will include a one-mile stretch of beach, food, beverage and shopping outlets, a wide array of water-based amenities and other recreational facilities. The port will also feature a pier capable of accommodating two of Carnival’s largest cruise ships simultaneously and is expected to eventually host up to 1 million guests annually.

The multimillion-dollar project will provide a significant economic benefit for the country of The Bahamas, including many employment and economic opportunities throughout the development, construction and ongoing operation once completed.

Largest-Ever Bahamian Cruise Destination

“Carnival Cruise Line is the leader in year-round cruising to The Bahamas and this new development will not only provide a truly extraordinary and one-of-a-kind destination experience for our guests but it will further solidify our partnership with the people of The Bahamas,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“In 2017, along with Carnival’s sister lines, Carnival Corporation will bring close to 3 million guests to The Bahamas via calls to Nassau, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, the latter two of which were developed and are operated by Carnival Corporation brands Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.  Collectively, we represent the single largest cruise company investor in The Bahamas,” Duffy added.

During the signing ceremony, Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald said, “When Ted Arison, the founder of Carnival and the modern day cruise industry, embarked on his first cruise, it was to The Bahamas. From that day until now, The Bahamas continues to be one of the most strategic and important destinations for our company.” Donald continued, “Signing this agreement today is especially meaningful to me, as we strive to further contribute to the prosperity of the people of The Bahamas through providing experiences that continue to exceed our guests’ expectations.”

Prime Minister the Right Honourable Perry G. Christie stated, “The Government of The Bahamas has had a long and close association with Carnival which has been of great economic benefit to both parties.” He continued, “This new cruise port initiative in East Grand Bahama will deliver a cruise port in the traditional sense, but more than that, its shore project will create a new ‘destination’ with a distinctive flavour and characteristics that offer the broadest Bahamian entrepreneurial and employment opportunities, representing another phase in the development of Grand Bahama as a viable tourist centre.”

The project is subject to a detailed public discussion process, environmental studies and permitting.

Holland America Line Introduces New Beverage Packages

By
John Shallo
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Holland America Line has introduced a new Elite Beverage Package for guests that features premium beverageHolland America Line Introduces New Beverage Packages | 11 selections. With this new package, guests may now also enjoy libations from Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff’s collection of unique,classic cocktails, such as The Ritz Cocktail, The Hemingway Daiquiri and Midnight Sun, his latest masterpiece created to celebrate Holland America Line’s 70th year of exploring Alaska.

“For many guests, there’s nothing better than relaxing with a handcrafted cocktail before dinner or after a long day of exploring in a port of call,” said Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Line. “Our various beverage packages offer an array of choices and are a great value as well as a convenient way to enjoy this aspect of the cruise experience.”

The Elite Beverage Package features any premium spirits, cocktails, wines, beers, coffees, nonalcoholic beverages, bottled water and sodas up to a value of $15 each. On ms Koningsdam, the package also includes the Coca-Cola Freestyle program, where guests can enjoy more than 100 unique Coca-Cola flavors. The price for the Elite Beverage Package is $54.95 per person, per day.

Holland America Line has also introduced discounted pricing for its existing Signature Beverage Package, where guests save five dollars when they purchase the package online for $44.95 per person, per day, before their cruise; the same package when purchased aboard ship is priced at $49.95 per person, per day. The Signature Beverage Package includes standard selections of wine, beer, spirits, sodas, coffees and cocktails up to a value of $8 each.

In addition to the Elite and Signature beverage packages, Holland America Line also offers two nonalcoholic beverage options and a Water package.

  • Quench Beverage Package features unlimited nonalcoholic beverages that include any juices, bottled water, nonalcoholic cocktails, nonalcoholic beers and specialty coffees for a price of $17.95 per person, per day.
  • The Coca-Cola Package includes unlimited fountain sodas for $8.00 per person, per day. On ms Koningsdam this package also includes the Coca-Cola Freestyle program with more than 100 unique Coca-Cola flavors.
  • The Water Package offers 12 liter bottles for a price of $32.

Wine enthusiasts will enjoy the Cellar Master Package, consisting of a choice of five wine bottles, a standard and a premium winetasting, one Pinnacle Grill dinner, a wine accessory gift set and a Holland America Line commemorative bottle of wine.  Cellar Master Package prices begin at $252 per person.

Beverage Packages Provide Convenience and Value

From that first latte in the morning until a nightcap before retiring to the stateroom, the premium line’s beverage packages and convenient beverage cards give guests the convenience to pay a one-time value-added fee to enjoy a variety of beverages during a cruise.

All beverage packages and cards can be purchased online in advance of sailing or as gifts for other sailing guests. Unless otherwise noted, beverage packages must be purchased for the duration of the cruise and for all occupants of a stateroom. A 15 percent service charge is automatically added to all beverage purchases.

The new package brings the total beverage package options to five, including the Signature Package, Quench Beverage Package, Coca-Cola Package and Cellar Master Package.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

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