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Oceania Cruises launches inaugural itineraries for new Riviera with free hotel offer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 July 2011 13 July 2011

The inaugural season itineraries for Oceania Cruises' new Riviera have been announced and travelers who book by Aug. 31 will receive a free hotel stay and bonus savings of up to $3,000 per stateroom. Fares begin at $1,999 per guest and include free round-trip Economy Class air from 22 North American cities.

From April 14 through Nov. 29, 2012, Riviera offers 13 distinctive itineraries on a total of 21 voyages, calling on ports in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey as well as Israel, Croatia, Cyprus, Montenegro, Morocco and Monaco.

Oceania Cruises' 1,250-guest Riviera has been designed for epicureans and features 10 dining venues - six of which are open-seating, gourmet restaurants - including a French bistro by Master Chef Jacques Pépin. Facilities also include a Canyon Ranch SpaClub® and Bon Appétit Culinary Center and Artist Loft enrichment center. Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand staircase, elegant public rooms, spacious accommodations and Owner's Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

"We are delighted to introduce Riviera as part of our 2012 European Collection," said Bruce Himelstein, the line's president. "While we are seeing tremendous booking interest from our loyal past guests, there is still an opportunity for savvy consumers to take advantage of the free hotel stay and bonus savings offer."

Royal Caribbean International to relaunch Art on Royal programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 July 2011 12 July 2011

Royal Caribbean International is re-launching the cruise line’s art programme with Art on Royal. The new programme includes art-inspired events, tours, seminars and auctions. The programme, developed in partnership with Art Actually, was first piloted onboard Oasis of the Seas; is also currently aboard Adventure of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas; and will be available on all ships by the end of the year.

“Royal Caribbean International has compiled one of the world’s largest private art collections, valued at $120 million, on display onboard our fleet of ships for our guests’ enjoyment,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International, “Guests have always marvelled at our art and many have inquired into how to purchase them. Art on Royal will offer guests the opportunity to take home a lasting work of art as a memory of their cruise, as well as provide a broad menu of art-inspired programmes.”

Unique to Royal Caribbean International are Royal Caribbean Signature Artists, who include pop-culture icons such as Romero Britto and Thomas Kinkade. The BRITTO Gallery onboard Allure of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas –and soon to be added to Splendour of the Seas – offers the artist’s contemporary masterpieces. The Thomas Kinkade Gallery onboard Mariner of the Seas features pieces by one of the most collected living artists in history.

Through the unique Art on Royal programme, guests have the opportunity to view and purchase a one-of-a-kind piece, as well as enjoy events on select sailings throughout the year. In addition, Art on Royal offers a range of gifts, souvenirs and high-valued originals, including limited-edition signed photography, one-off unique pieces, wall pieces, miniatures, and artist commissions.

Based in Miami and founded by the owners of ICArt, the curators of the Royal Caribbean Art Collection, Art Actually has created the unique shipboard art programme, Art on Royal.

TUI Cruises and TUI FlussGenus launch joint Road Show

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 July 2011 12 July 2011

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium cruise brand and its sister company, the river cruise operator TUI FlussGenus, will be touring 20 cities in Germany on a joint road show targeting travel agents, the two companies said in a joint statement.

The road show will start on 20 September in Munchen and will last abot three weeks: it is scheduled to end in Bremen on 7 October. “Together with TUI FlussGenus we will have the possibility to bring the two forms of cruising to travel agents over relaxed breakfast,” said Udo Lutz, senior head of sales force at TUI Cruises.

The event will take place at the following locations:

20.09.2011 - München - Hotel Sofitel Munich Bayerpost

20.09.2011 - Köln -Hotel Pullman Cologne

21.09.2011 - Nürnberg - Maritim Hotel

21.09.2011 - Düsseldorf - Lindner Congress Hotel

22.09.2011 - Duisburg - Mercatorhalle im City Palais

22.09.2011 - Stuttgart - Buddha Lounge Red Mandarin

23.09.2011 - Mannheim - Bootshaus

23.09.2011 - Dortmund - HCC

27.09.2011 - Dresden - Marché Restaurant im Hauptbahnhof

27.09.2011 - Frankfurt - Nizza am Main

28.09.2011 - Leipzig - Radisson Blu Hotel

28.09.2011 - Koblenz - Palais in Koblenz

29.09.2011 - Magdeburg - Maritim Hotel

29.09.2011 - Gießen - Bootshaus Gießen

30.09.2011 - Hannover - Courtyard by Marriott Maschsee

30.09.2011 - Berlin - Maritim Hotel Pro Arte

04.10.2011 - Kiel - Steigenberger Hotel Conti Hansa

05.10.2011 - Hamburg - east Hotel & Restaurant

06.10.2011 - Bielefeld - Mercure Hotel Bielefeld City

07.10.2011 - Bremen - Swissôtel Bremen

PSA elects four new members to Council

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 July 2011 12 July 2011

The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), which represents 42 cruise line members and 13 ferry companies in the UK, has elected four new members to its Council of Management.

Christophe Matthieu, Group Strategy & Commercial Director for Brittany Ferries; Kathryn Beadle, Managing Director of Hurtigruten; Fraser Ellacott, Managing Director – Cruise, Thomson & Island Cruises and Matt Grimes, Logistics Director from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines were elected at the Association’s 35^th AGM.

More than one hundred cruise, ferry and associate members attended the AGM at the Chamber of Shipping where an election took place following the retirement from the Council of Management of David Longden, Brittany Ferries; Peter Pate, MSC; David Selby, Thomson & Island Cruises and Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

MSC Cruises Forges Partnership with Vacation.com

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 July 2011 08 July 2011

MSC Cruises and Vacation.com announced their recent partnership during Vacation.coms recent 13th International Conference & Trade Show, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, June 19-23.

Vacation.com is a new outlet and supplier for selling MSC in this mutually-beneficial agreement. MSC Cruises North American president and CEO, Rick Sasso said, Having Vacation.com as a new business partner expands our exposure to an even broader audience, and the association with such a well-known and respected travel organization in the industry is very valuable, MSC Cruises said in a statement.

This new partnership further expands MSCs existing relationship with Travel Leaders Group and its family of companies. MSC Cruises has created exclusive offers for Vacation.com member agents to sell, including up to a $200 shipboard credit on select 2012 sailings to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Abu Dhabi, Northern Europe and Europe through Vacation.coms Amenity Departure Dates program.

In addition, MSC has developed an exclusive offer for bookings of select 7- and 11-night MSC Yacht Club winter sailings via Vacation.coms Vacation Vignettes program. These hosted cruises feature unique amenities designed to enhance the guests vacation experience, at no additional cost, including a concierge host, an invitation to a private cocktail reception, and an exclusive shore event.

The MSC Yacht Club is an enclave of 71-suites onboard MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida and MSC Divina (which debuts summer of 2012) with butlers and concierge services, complimentary wine and spirits, private dining and more. Plus, with the purchase of Yacht Club accommodations, guests receive free air, hotel and transfers.