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Celebrity Cruises launches 'Starring You' ad campaign
Celebrity Cruises has unveiled a new ad campaign called 'Starring
You,' a TV, print and online initiative.
The campaign began 8/27 on cable television and will launch on ABC
beginning Sept. 24. The print campaign will be included in the
September issues of Bon Appetit and Conde Nast Traveler magazines.
The TV ads feature David Bowie's "Fame," and the campaign
highlights what Celebrity calls the "star treatment" of its
passengers, including its cuisine and the AquaSpa by Elemis.
The campaign was created by advertising agency Element 79, together
with Celebrity's marketing team. According to Element 79, the ads
evoke the feeling of passengers "being relaxed, pampered, even celebrated."
The Celebrity Millennium served as the platform for the filming and
still photography used in the campaign.
Carnival swaps ships in San Juan
Carnival Cruise Lines said the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory will
operate year-round seven-day southern Caribbean departures out of San
Juan beginning in November 2008.
The Victory will replace the Carnival Destiny, providing a newer and
slightly larger ship from San Juan, Carnival said.
The ship will run a new five-port itinerary, calling in St. Kitts,
Barbados, Dominica and St. Thomas, as well as an overnight stop in
the resort area of La Romana/Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic.
Carnival has not said what ship, if any, would replace the Victory's
Canada/New England sailings in the fall.
Report: Cruise prices continue to rise in the Caribbean
Caribbean cruise prices in the second half of 2007 and into 2008 are
continuing to rise, according to a survey by AG Edwards equity
investment firm.
"We believe both [Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Corp.]
are in the midst of solid quarters," said leisure analyst Tim
Conder in a report. The survey bases its trends on Royal Caribbean
and Carnival because they are the largest and only publicly traded
cruise companies in the U.S.
Conder wrote that compared to last year, Alaska cruise pricing had
fallen through the season but is now trending up. Europe continues to
be the strongest geographic market, Conder said, with prices up over 2006.
So Long to an Old Friend
Since NCL purchased it shortly after NCL America began, the classic
ship SS Independence has been sitting at the dock and waiting
for her time to return to service in NCLA livery. That time is not
now going to come. NCL confirmed that the ship has been sold to
another US owner.
Carnival Expands St. Maarten
The island of St. Maarten is poised to become one of the largest
cruise ports in the Caribbean in 2009.
Carnival Corp signed an agreement with the government and the port to
finance two state-of-the-art cruise berths adjacent to the island's
four existing ones. With six berths dedicated to cruise ships, and
the Carnival brands' expected growth there, it's a good bet many more
passengers are going to be visiting St. Maarten much more often.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Hurricane Dean may be gone, but he's still affecting things in Miami.
When Dean came ashore in the Yucatan, its eye passed very near the
popular, but remote, cruise port of Costa Maya, and destroyed much of
the pier (and nearby town). The port is still assessing the damage,
but it's obvious that the port won't be open to cruise ships for
several months, if not longer. At this point, it's still too early
for them to even establish a tentative time frame for reopening.
In the mean time, cruise lines with calls scheduled there need to
find an alternate port for passengers. Carnival will
replace Costa Maya with Progresso for the time being.
Mexico moves to bolster Costa Maya recovery
Port officials from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo are in
Miami meeting with Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
executives to outline Hurricane Dean recovery efforts.
At the same time, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. vp John Tercek is in
Puerto Costa Maya as the first cruise line official to tour the area
since Dean crashed ashore in a Category 5 fury on Aug. 21.
How Suite It Is!
Suite Passengers on Cunard Line's next ship, the Queen Victoria, will
be able to take a private elevator to the ship's Grill-level dining
rooms, which will be in a more secluded location than on other Cunard
ships, the line said. When the Queen Victoria enters service in
December, the 132-seat Princess Grill and 142-seat Queens Grill
restaurants will be located on Deck 11. Like the Queen Mary 2,
passengers in the upper-level cabin categories that receive Grill
privileges will have the use of the concierge-staffed Grills Lounge
and the Grills Courtyard for outdoor dining and afternoon tea, both
located on Deck 11, and the Grills Upper Terrace, which will be
located on Deck 12.
Destiny To Return To Miami
Carnival will offer an expanded list of short cruise options from
Miami beginning in fall 2008 and will operate what will be the
largest ship in the year-round short cruise market, the
2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny. The Destiny, which Carnival said
was the industry's only 100,000-plus-ton cruise ship in the short
cruise market, will sail four- and five day itineraries. The Carnival
Imagination, the first ship to be fully remodeled under the line's
$250 million "Evolutions
of Fun" enhancement program, also will run short
cruises from Miami, offering three and four-day cruises beginning
Sept. 22, 2008. The Carnival Victory will move to San Juan to
replace the Carnival Destiny.
Cruise Industry Contributes to US Economy
The North American cruise industry last year generated $35.7 billion
in gross U.S. economic output and supported 348,000 American jobs
paying $14.7 billion in wages, according to a new report prepared for CLIA.
Total cruise industry spending increased by 10% in 2006 and overall
spending had an impact in all 50 states, the study indicated.
North American cruise industry growth moderated for the second year
in a row, primarily because of the reduction in growth in available
bed days, the study stated. After increasing by 10.4% in 2004,
available bed days grew 6.9% in both 2005 and 2006. The
industry’s occupancy rate remained at 103.9%.
NCL tees up Bermuda golf program
Norwegian Cruise Line, the official cruise line of the PGA TOUR and
Champions Tour, has launched a new ‘Golf Bermuda’ program,
giving more options for hitting the links in Bermuda.
The program offers advanced tee time bookings, Callaway rental clubs,
transportation to and from the course and assistance with planning
golf tournaments.
Packages range from $85 to $269 per person and offer play at courses
such as Ocean View Golf Course, Belmont Hills Golf Club, Mid Ocean
Golf Club, Port Royal Golf Course, Tucker’s Point Golf Club, St.
George’s Golf Course and Riddell’s Bay Golf Club.
Carnival lifts the curtain on ‘Serenity’ retreats
When Carnival Inspiration emerges from its month-long drydock in
early October, it will be the first Carnival Cruise Lines ship to
feature a new adults area called ‘Serenity.’
Designed as an oasis for relaxation on deck, the Serenity areas are
part of the $250m ‘Evolutions of Fun’ initiative which is
updating Carnival’s eight Fantasy-class ships.
The Serenity areas will be located in a secluded aft section of each
vessel and will feature plush chaise lounges and chairs, oversized
umbrellas and two whirlpools.
Waiters will offer bar service, and the Lido Restaurant is nearby for
snacks or casual meals.
Carnival Imagination will follow Inspiration in including all the
Evolutions of Fun enhancements, with the whole Fantasy fleet expected
to be completed by 2009.
Disney outlines holiday activities
Disney Cruise Line is promoting holiday sailings starting with the
Oct. 27 and 28 Halloween voyages which offer theme events for
children and adults.
Then, beginning in late November, Disney characters in festive attire
will welcome passengers to the line’s decorated Port Canaveral
terminal. When Disney Magic and Disney Wonder arrive at Castaway Cay,
‘snow’ flurries will fall and the island’s tram will
become reindeer-themed.
Disney Magic festivities begin on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean
cruise departing Nov. 24, and on a special four-night Bahamas cruise
sailing Nov. 21. Christmas cruises include a seven-night Eastern
Caribbean sailing beginning Dec. 22, and a four-night Bahamas cruise
departing Dec. 23.
On Thanksgiving and Christmas, traditional holiday meals are planned.
After Thanksgiving, a nearly three-deck-tall tree festooned with
decorations will go up in the atrium lobby of each ship. Santa Goofy
will visit on Christmas Day. Multiple faith and interdenominational
holiday services will be available on Christmas and Hanukkah cruises.
A shipwide party will ring in 2008, followed by a New Year’s Day
‘tailgate’ party.
Carnival broadens cancer fund-raising effort
Following what it called a highly successful pilot program aboard
Carnival Valor and Carnival Fascination, Carnival Cruise Lines said
it will dramatically expand its involvement with the ‘On Deck
for the Cure’ breast cancer fund-raising initiative.
Carnival plans to add one-kilometer walks and other activities to 14
ships, the majority of its fleet. Passengers who participate are
encouraged to make a $10 donation.
Modeled after a program introduced by Holland America Line and
launched earlier this year aboard five Carnival Corp. brands,
the fund-raising initiative benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
‘On Deck for the Cure’ has a goal of generating $1m toward
breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.
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