Cruise News Daily Headlines for December 11, 2013

* Look at Me Way Up High I Can ...
As the entertainment spaces get bigger on Royal Caribbean ships, the entertainment gets more complex and elaborate. As more and more specialty entertainers are needed, Royal Caribbean has been looking for somewhere for them to train. Today they announced what they think is the perfect solution.
   Through a partnership with Florida International University, Royal Caribbean will be building their own training/rehearsal facility on FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

Artist's conception of Royal Caribbean facility at FIU.

 * Green Eggs on Carnival Will No Longer Relate to Freshness (or lack thereof)
Move over, Fun Ship Freddy! You will soon have company in the character locker room on the ship. Carnival Cruise Lines has tapped into one of the most iconic series of children’s stories for their kids’ programming. The lovable characters from the imagination of Dr. Seuss will soon be aboard Carnival ships, and the onboard programming for kids will include elements from many of the stories.

* Are You Missing Something?
Mondays seem to be bad days for lifeboats on Royal Caribbean ships, because in the last two weeks, on Mondays two different RCI ships have experienced malfunctions that resulted in a lifeboat being left behind.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for December 10, 2013

* It’s Not All about the Ocean at Meyer
When you think of Meyer Werft, you probably think of large cruise ships, sailing down the river Ems, away from the inland yard toward the sea.

But there’s another part of the Meyer Group that also builds passenger ships, although on a smaller scale, and the two, in a way, came together last week at Meyer’s Papenburg yard. More

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about the winners (more) ... and new Bacardi Bar opens on Norweigan's private island.

The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

A-ROSA Flora arrives at Meyer Werft

A-ROSA Flora arrived at Meyer Weft on December 4 (2013) where it will spend the winter awaiting delivery to the line in April. It joins three Viking ships also awaiting spring delivery.

A-ROSA Flora on the Ems River

A-ROSA Flora arriving at Meyer Werft in Papenburg

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft. May not be copied or used without permission. All rights reserved.

Winners of the Princess Shore Excursion Awards

Princess Cruises Announces Winners of 2012-13 Caribbean and Panama Canal Shore Excursion Awards

CRUISE Service Awards Honor Top Local Tour Operators for 14th Year


SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (December 10, 2013) – Princess Cruises is honoring passengers’ favorite Caribbean and Panama Canal tours with its 14th annual CRUISE service awards. Recognizing the most popular shore excursion experiences and tour guides from the 2012-13 season, the awards are based largely on passenger feedback.

Chosen from the extensive line-up of shore excursions offered on Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises, the awards highlight the important role local tour operators play in each destination as part of a passenger’s overall cruise experience. Winners are determined largely by tour scores and comments made on passenger surveys.

A number of tours have topped the list for several years, and five of them have been passenger favorites for five or more years in a row. One excursion -- the Americas Cup 12-Metre Yacht Regatta tour in St. Maarten -- has now been voted ‘Shore Excursion of the Season’ for that port for the 14th year in a row.

“Local tour operators play an important part wherever our ships sail,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “So each year we honor the best shore excursion providers who contribute so much to our passengers’ Princess experience in port.”

The CRUISE program is the longest running customer service program in the cruise industry. The Caribbean and Panama Canal awards began in 1999 and cap off a season-long effort to recognize the role that local Caribbean and Panama Canal tour partners play in passengers' cruise experiences. Tour Guide of the Season award winners receive $100, a letter of commendation, a ship tour and lunch onboard with their family. Operators of the Shore Excursion of the Season receive a plaque and a letter of commendation, a tour of the ship, and lunch onboard for company officials.

The 2012-2013 shore excursion winners are:

ANTIGUA
Stingray, Snorkel, Swim & Scenic Country Drive, Stingray City Antigua Ltd
Catamaran and Lobster Lunch, Scenic Cruise & Swim, Tropical Adventures

ARUBA
4WD Island Tour, Baby Natural Bridge & Arashi Beach, DePalm Tours
Mi Dushi Sail, Snorkel, Antilla Shipwreck & Lunch, Windfeather Charters

BARADOS
Harrison's Cave & Scenic Drive, Goddards Shipping & Tours
George Washington House, Garrison & Change of Guards, Goddards Shipping & Tours

BELIZE
Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, Marimba Music & Lunch, Chukka Caribbean Adventures
Horseback Safari Ride, Bacab Eco-Park & Lunch, Bacab Eco Park

BONAIRE
Glass-Bottom Boat Eco-Cruise & Bonaire Marine Park, Bonaire Destination Services
Mangrove Eco-Cruise by Kayak & Lac Bay, Bonaire Tours

CARTAGENA
Emerald Jewelry Making Class & Diploma, SEICO Limitada

COZUMEL
Passion Island Beach Break, Lunch & Scenic Cruise, Isla Pasión, Cozumel, México
Interactive Dolphin & Manatee Swim & Sea Lion Show, Dolphin Discovery Cozumel

CURACAO
Ostrich Farm, Art Workshop & Scenic Drive, Funbini B.V.

DOMINICA
Wacky Rollers 4WD Safari, Gardens & Titou Gorge, WRAVE Ltd.
Certified Scuba Diving (Two Sites), Dive Dominica Ltd

FUERTE AMADOR
Panama Canal: Today’s Locks System and the Future, Aventuras 2000
Authentic Embera Indian Village, Elite Shore Excursions Foundation

GRAND CAYMAN
Stingray Encounter, Reef, Snorkel, Beach & Lunch, Native Way Watersports
Atlantis Submarine Scenic Adventure, Atlantis Submarines Grand Cayman

GRAND TURK
Horseshoe Reef & Round Cay Snorkel Adventure, Chukka Caribbean Adventures
Dune Buggy Island Adventure Tour, Chukka Caribbean Adventures

GRENADA
Harbor Cruise, Grand Anse & Morne Rouge Beaches, Best of Grenada Ltd.

LIMÓN
Original Canopy Zipline Tour at Veragua Rainforest, OCT Enterprises
Hacienda Tour, Fruit Cultivation, Lunch & Shopping, Swiss Travel Service

OCHO RIOS
Aerial Chairlift, Bobsled, & Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain
River Tubing Eco-Adventure, Chukka Caribbean Adventures

PANAMA CANAL
Panama Canal: Today’s Locks System and the Future, Aventuras 2000
Authentic Embera Indian Village, Elite Shore Excursions Foundation

PUERTO QUETZAL
Filadelphia Coffee Estate & Colonial Antigua with Lunch, Elite Guatemala/Ventura Máxima

PUNTARENAS
Rainforest Aerial Tram, Tarcoles River & Lunch, Elite Shore Excursions Foundation
Coffee Plantation, Botanical Garden & Lunch, Gray Line Costa Rica

ROATAN
Dolphin Encounter & Museum, Anthony's Key Resort
Certified Scuba Diving (Two Sites), Anthony's Key Resort

ST. KITTS
Scenic Railway Ride & Circle Island Drive, St. Kitts Scenic Railway, Ltd.
Fairview Great House and Gardens & Panoramic Drive, Kantours

ST. LUCIA
Sulphur Springs, the Pitons, Scenic Cruise & Lunch, Cox & Company Ltd.
Rainforest Aerial Tram & Canopy Zipline Adventure, Elite Shore Excursions Foundation/ DBA Rain Forest Sky Rides St. Lucia

ST. MAARTEN
"America's Cup 12-Metre" Yacht Race, St. Maarten 12 Metre Enterprises N.V.
Helmet Diving at Sea Trek Underwater Park, Seatrek St. Maarten NV

ST. THOMAS
BOSS Underwater Adventure & Scenic Cruise, Aqua Adventures
Coral World, Sea Lion Swim & Scenic Drive, Coral World Ocean Park

Tour Guides of the Season Winners:

ARUBA – Maria Geerman of DePalm Tours
CARTAGENA – Jose Alonso Villa Olivo of Avia Caribbean Ltda
COZUMEL – Juan Trejo of Caribbean Fun Sun Ltd
CURACAO – Helene Desiree Maas of Funbini B.V.
DOMINICA – Steline Joseph of Wrave
GRAND TURK – Austin Dickenson of Caribbean Tours International
LIMÓN – Ivan Aguilar of Swiss Travel Service
PANAMA CANAL – Arthur Wagner of Elite Shore Excursions Foundation
PUNTARENAS – Olman Vargas Pizarro of Asuaire Travel Service
ST. THOMAS – Captain Tom of Fun Water Tours

More information about Princess Cruises’ land tours and shore excursions is available at princess.com/excursions.

Source: Princess Cruises

Holland America and Seabourn Promote Gregory Crick

Holland America and Seabourn promote Gregory Crick to Director, Planning and Administration in the Guest Programs Department

Seattle, Wash., Dec. 10, 2013 — Holland America Line and Seabourn have promoted Gregory Crick to director of planning and administration in the Guest Programs Department. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the Group and Account Services Department, Access and Compliance, Ship Services, Reservations Accounting and the Family Assistance Program that includes the company’s Care Team.

Crick will report to Timothy Murphy, vice president of guest programs and operations administration.

“Since joining the company, Gregory has played a significant role in transforming guest relations into a well-organized group,” said Murphy. “Gregory’s approach to building and maintaining relationships with many key accounts, travel associates and internal departments within the company will ensure his success in this new leadership role.”

Crick joined Holland America Line in 2007 in the guest relations department. Prior to joining the company, he was in customer service management with Nordstrom and worked as director of operations at the boutique Four Sisters Inns properties. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications from Eastern Washington University.

Source: Holland America Line