New York based Group travel provider Group IST has announced the launch of Arcadia Small Ship Cruises, a fleet of fine small ships, including yachts and barges, sailing to hard-to-reach domestic and international ports of call. Partnering with Blount Small Ship Adventures, CroisiEurope, Rivages du Monde and Variety Cruises, Arcadia Small Ship Cruises offers programs to destinations including Cuba, the Mekong River, Seychelles, Costa Rica, the northeast United States, the Greek islands and France’s rivers and canals. Arcadia aims to offer American travelers a more service-driven and personalized cruise experience at affordable prices, with per passenger prices starting from as little as $1,460.

“Group IST prides itself on offering meaningful travel experiences. Our clients have come to trust us as a provider of enriching land-based travel programs throughout Europe, the Near East and Africa. We’re now thrilled to be able to offer a diverse range of sea-based programs in line with our company’s ideals,” said Group IST President and CEO Michael Goren. “We’ve vetted many cruise lines and small ships around the world, looking for products that we know our audience will find substantial and memorable.”

“Small ship cruises can not only dock in hard-to-access ports, but they give cruisers ample time to explore each destination,” added Group IST COO Tom Souza. “Arcadia ships often dock right in the heart of the various ports without the need to tender and with no long security lines.”

Arcadia Small Ship Cruises offers cruisers programs to a variety of international destinations on state-of-the-art ships, while providing intimate service and fine dining. Arcadia sails to diverse ports of call many larger ships cannot reach, including the islands of New England, the Adriatic and the Panama Canal. Most Arcadia ships and mega yachts accommodate no more than 100 passengers, allowing a more personalized connection with the staff and fellow passengers. The company’s commitment to exceptional service and small guest-to-crew ratios make for an unsurpassed cruise experience. For more information please visit www.arcadiasmallshipcruises.com.

Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road, will find a new home aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines’s newest and largest vessel. The acclaimed establishment, which was issued Miami’s very first liquor license, is closing its original location this week after 102 years in business. In an effort to preserve the tradition of this iconic Miami landmark, Tobacco Road and Norwegian Cruise Line partnered to bring the Tobacco Road experience onboard Norwegian Escape, which will begin sailing from Miami in November 2015.

“We are thrilled to be able to preserve a piece of Miami’s history and provide this famous Miami institution a home at sea on board the incredible new Norwegian Escape,” said Kevin Sheehan, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Located within 678 Ocean Place, the new location of the celebrated tavern will incorporate elements of the original Tobacco Road, including the iconic neon sign, memorabilia and photographs that will showcase the history of Miami through the lens of events and happenings at the bar over the past century.

In addition to favorite beers and spirits, Tobacco Road Bar onboard Norwegian Escape will also feature a selection of cocktails created by Tobacco Road’s resident mixologist, Leo Holtzman. The delicious libations from Holtzman’s Cocktail Collection will include favorites like the Chili Mule, featuring ginger puree, Cointreau and vodka topped with a sliced seranno pepper; and the Gateway, a rum-based drink that incorporates yuzu juice, elderflower syrup and Prosecco.

Norwegian Escape will begin weekly seven-day cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on November 14, 2015. The ship will be the largest to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,200 guests to tropical Caribbean destinations including St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship’s signature hull artwork is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey, which features an underwater scene of marine wildlife.

Today Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) President and CEO, Christine Duffy, issued the following statement regarding the successful disembarkation of a passenger on the Carnival Magic who was under self-monitoring for potential exposure to Ebola.

She stated that “CLIA is very pleased that the passenger, who was asymptomatic, has tested negative for Ebola and was safely disembarked with her loved one at the Port of Galveston today, which is the homeport of Carnival Magic. We commend Carnival and the public health authorities for their effective and successful response in managing this situation professionally and with transparent and regular communication to everyone onboard the ship and to the public. We also congratulate all of the ship’s passengers and Crewmembers, who responded calmly and responsibly to the directions of the ship’s officers and public health authorities.

“CLIA and its member cruise lines have worked diligently and in conjunction with public health authorities to develop and distribute to all cruise line members strong protocols, and additional guidance, to reduce even further the already low risk of Ebola on a cruise ship.

These prevention measures apply to passengers, crew and visitors and include:

• Denial of boarding to anyone arriving from countries designated with a Level 3 Travel Health warning by CDC.
• Denial of boarding to anyone who traveled to, in or through those countries within 21 days before embarkation.
• “Contact screening,” in addition to travel history screening, and denial of boarding for anyone who had physical contact with, or helped care for, a person with Ebola within 21 days before embarkation.

“These measures are not static. CLIA and its member cruise lines are continually evaluating the situation with Ebola and are in regular contact with public health officials to assess the need to enhance the industry’s protocols. Out of an abundance of caution and care for the well-being of our guests and Crewmembers, our measures typically go beyond what is technically required.

“We are also actively engaged with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other sectors of the travel industry, to assist the Federal government in quickly establishing a robust protocol for identifying any member of the traveling public designated by the CDC for monitoring.

““CLIA and its member cruise lines remain vigilant in our efforts to provide for the well-being of our guests and Crewmembers.”

Rumors swirled among 4,000 people about why they weren’t moving but no one imagined the reason was connected to the world’s most terrifying virus.

A Colorado man aboard the Carnival Magic, quarantined out of Ebola fears, says he first got the notion that something was wrong when he looked over the edge of the ship in his hot tub Thursday night and spotted a security boat circling it.

Eric Lupher, a reporter for Denver ABC affiliate KMGH, says the 12-story ship sat off of the coast of Belize all night long instead of traveling to its intended destination of Cozumel.

Friday morning at breakfast, travelers were buzzing in the elevators about why the ship was still moored instead of out at sea. Rumors were circling: some thought people had been shot during an island excursion; others were wondering if food onboard had gone bad. No one was prepared to hear what the ships captain told them over the PA system.

“The captain said there was a person on board who worked in a lab at Texas Health Presbyterian,” Lupher said. “He never said the word ‘Ebola,’ but we all knew that’s what it was.”

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Carnival Cruise Lines is turning up the music as part of its multi-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys. They will bring country music superstars Rascal Flatts to AT&T Stadium for a special pre-game Carnival LIVE concert for Cowboys fans attending the October 19 game against archrival New York Giants. Rascal Flatts is the most-awarded country group of the past decade with 22.5 million albums sold and 15 number-one singles.

Rascal Flatts, one of the hottest selling acts on tour, will be among multiple artists who will be entertaining guests as part of the Carnival LIVE Concert Series in 2015 (next year’s concert dates will go on sale in October).

Carnival LIVE debuted earlier this year and offers Carnival guests the opportunity to enjoy an intimate on-board performance by a diverse roster of popular music artists while ships are docked at select ports of call. Artists performing as part of the inaugural 2014 lineup include Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, LeAnn Rimes, Jewel, Styx, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Daughtry and more. (Learn more at www.carnival.com/CarnivalLive).

“As huge football fans, we can’t wait to be part of Carnival Cruise Lines’ celebration to help get Dallas Cowboys fans excited for the big game,” said Gary LeVox, Rascal Flatts’ frontman. “We’re also delighted to be part of next year’s Carnival LIVE concert series and connecting with our fans aboard their awesome ships,” he added.

“We are thrilled to have Rascal Flatts join all of the great gameday fun Carnival has planned for Dallas Cowboys fans at AT&T Stadium on October 19 and throughout the season,” said Jim Berra, chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Lines. “We also look forward to welcoming Jay, Joe Don and Gary on board our ‘Fun Ships’ in 2015 as we extend the fan-favorite Carnival LIVE Concert Series into its second year of great shows.”
Carnival recently announced its major sponsorship of the Dallas Cowboys and is adding fun and memorable fan experiences to Dallas Cowboys home games throughout the season. In addition to the Rascal Flatts performance, at each game at AT&T Stadium, Carnival’s “Fun Crew” is touring the lots on branded golf carts and offering exciting prizes to fans, including the chance to win one of many cruise vacation giveaways.

“We’re proud to bring Carnival Cruise Lines’ signature brand of fun to our fans and our games with great entertainment,” said Jerry Jones Jr., executive vice president and chief sales & marketing officer of the Dallas Cowboys. “The Rascal Flatts concert continues a terrific variety of season-long activities that are taking the Dallas Cowboys gameday experience to the next level.”

Carnival, Texas’ number one cruise operator, will deploy a third year-round ship in Galveston, Carnival Freedom, in February 2015. Together with Carnival Triumph and Carnival Magic, the line will carry more than 600,000 passengers annually from Texas – more than any other cruise line.