Carnival Sunshine Sails - Launches Port Canaveral Program

Carnival Sunshine sailing from Port Canaveral this afternoon on its inaugural cruise from the port.

Carnival Sunshine sails on its inaugural voyage Saturday, April 19, 2014, from Port Canaveral in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Previously known as Carnival Destiny, the ship underwent a $155 million renovation to add more staterooms and guest enhancements. Owned by Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines, the ship is being based year-round from the east Central Florida port for 5- to 8-day cruises to Key West, Fla.; the Bahamas and the Caribbean.


Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 18, 2014

* Do You Need Another Reason Not to Go to the Bahamas?
The courthouse in Nassau was clogged Monday with passengers booted off Royal Caribbean ships last Saturday because they were found to have illegal drugs with them, albeit in small amounts for personal consumption.
   The five individuals were turned over to police by the security departments of two RCI ships in five separate incidents. In this CND article we look at the situation and see if this is the best way to handle these incidents.

* For Those Who Prefer a More Leisurely Pace
Carnival Miracle has developed a problem in its propulsion system that is limiting the ship’s cruising speed. The problem is that it can’t be fixed until the ship’s next dry dock early next year, and that means itineraries on most of its sailings until then are being adjusted.

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 17, 2014

* Carnival Sunshine Arrives at New Home Port
Carnival Sunshine arrived at its new home port of Port Canaveral today ready to show Central Florida what Fun Ship 2.0 is all about and bringing the port a bunch of new itinerary options.

* Workers Returning to Costa Concordia
The skeleton crew which has remained with Costa Concordia over the winter is beginning to grow. There are currently 290 technicians at the site off Giglio Island, and over the next few weeks, that number will grow to 400.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about dinner and a show now in the package ... and Throwback Thursday.

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

Remembering Queen Mary's Final Voyage

Our friends at Cunard Line sent along a couple of interesting photos last week that recall Queen Mary's retirement to Long Beach back in October 1967.

The ship had been sold to the City of Long Beach, and the plan was to create an "Olde London" village along side the permanently moored ocean liner. (The village never came into existence, however.)

The developers of the village purchased two double-decker London buses for use in the village, and they had the good idea to ship them to Long Beach aboard Queen Mary when she sailed her final voyage for Cunard, which would end at the ship's new home. So the buses were loaded aboard the ship and secured to the aft deck. The novelty of having the buses aboard proved popular with the passengers, many of whom were willing to pay a dollar to sit in the buses as the ship rounded Cape Horn on its way to the West Coast.

The first of the buses was lifted aboard Queen Mary
by a crane in Southampton. Another sign of the times:
Note the Pan Am ad on the side of the bus.

The bus is being lowered onto Queen Mary's aft deck.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 16, 2014

* A Quantum Change of Plans (or With Quantum You Get Egg Roll)
In a move that shocked the industry, Royal Caribbean announced this afternoon, that after its initial winter season in New York, Quantum of the Seas would be homeported in Shanghai for 3- to 8-day cruises.
   If anyone was doubtful of the growing importance of Asia and China in particular to the cruise industry, this should convince them that the market is one upon which the industry places high importance and wants to court.
 
* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about two more failures ... and finally doing what it was built to do.

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

Quantum of the Seas to Homeport in Shanghai, China

Royal Caribbean International announced this afternoon that Quantum of the Seas, will have its home port in Shanghai after its inaugural season in North America.

The ship will enter service in November 2014 at Cape Liberty at Bayonne, NJ with cruises to the Caribbean, and then in May 2015, it will reposition to Shanghai where it will sail 3- to 8-night cruises.

Details will be in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation Receives Donation from Holland America Line

Holland America Line Makes $100,000 Donation to the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation
Donation follows Tutu’s guest appearance on Grand World Voyage sailing Durban to Cape Town


Seattle, Wash., April 16, 2014 — In honor of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s work to spread peace, justice and democracy around the globe, Holland America Line has made a $100,000 donation to the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation (DTPF). The donation follows Tutu’s appearance as a special guest lecturer on a segment of ms Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage.

The DTPF celebrates young people 17-22 who are changing the world as the next generation of peace makers in the U.S. The goal of the foundation is to teach one million young people the power of peace within, peace between, and peace among all people. Their mission is guided by the concept of Ubuntu; that we are all connected to each other and that what affects one of us affects us all.

“We are truly honored that one of the world's foremost human rights activists and spiritual leaders recently spent time onboard with our Grand World Voyage guests,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “We are proud to be supporting the important mission of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation to create a society that nurtures tolerance and understanding among all people.”

Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town, sailed on the Grand World Voyage March 28 to April 1, 2014, from Durban to Cape Town, South Africa.

During the segment, two very special conversations were held for guests onboard, moderated by Robert V. Taylor, president and chair of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation, based in New York. Archbishop Tutu spoke about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work forging racial equality throughout the world. Beginning with his public stance against apartheid in South Africa, he has worked tirelessly to spread peace, justice and democracy around the globe. A question-and-answer session enabled guests to gain more insight into his remarkable life.

The Archbishop also led a Holy Eucharist on March 30, and was joined for the service by the Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir who was also onboard as part of the line’s “On Location” program. This event was an exclusive and meaningful experience for guests onboard, bringing historical perspective and cultural enrichment to their time visiting the region.

About the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation
Archbishop Tutu founded the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation in New York, a nonprofit organization that is guided by the virtues that Archbishop Tutu identified as essential human values and the building blocks for sustainable peace: love, hope, tolerance and courage.

One of the principal ways the DTPF is undertaking their mission is through their premier program, Peace3. DTPF partners with organizations and influencers to provide curriculum, grants and scholarships to young people committed to peace within, peace between, and peace around them. The work and wisdom of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, is the foundation for learning, along with innovative methods for “living peace.” For more information, visit www.tutufoundationusa.org.

About Holland America Line Giving
As part of its corporate giving and community outreach, Holland America Line has developed programs to support a variety of organizations with cash and in-kind donations, services and employee volunteerism. Around the world, the cruise line’s employees can be found engaged in helping others. Whether giving cash sponsorships to non-profits, donating cruises for fundraising efforts, providing disaster relief, sharing reusable shipboard goods with communities in need or raising money for six international cancer organizations through the On Deck for a Cause walk held on their 500 sailings annually, the line is committed to making a difference. Holland America Line just received the 2014 Global Giving award from the Puget Sound Business Journal in its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards program.


Source: Holland America Line

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 15, 2014

* It’s a Hit!
The Carnival Live Concert Series began last week with two concerts by STYX aboard Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination, and it was a hit with both concerts selling out.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about Venice opening a new cruise terminal ... and "We'll put a stop to that!"

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 14, 2014

* The Situation on Roatan
As far as we can tell, with regards to safety on the Honduran island of Roatan, the situation hasn’t changed from last week when a crew member from Norwegian Pearl was murdered for his cell phone during a street robbery. The signals from the cruise lines and the support industry are mixed and confusing.

* There’s a New Ship in Town
The continued recovery of New Orleans’ cruise industry was evident today as Carnival again expanded capacity at the port by replacing Carnival Sunshine (on its way to Port Canaveral) with the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream. The switch also escalates the competition among lines to have the newest and most feature-rich ship in the market.

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

Carnival Dream and Carnival Elation at New Orleans this afternoon

MSC USA Adds New SVP Marketing

MSC Cruises Names Bonnie Levengood Senior Vice President Marketing
Strategic Hire Strengthens Line's "Serving You" Commitment to North America

Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 14, 2014) – MSC Cruises USA President Richard E. Sasso today announced the appointment of Bonnie Levengood to the newly created position of senior vice president of marketing, leading the company’s consumer and travel industry marketing and digital activities throughout North America.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Bonnie Levengood to the MSC Cruises family,” said Sasso. “As our new senior vice president of marketing, she joins the company at an auspicious time to help grow and strengthen awareness of our brand to both consumers and our travel agent partners.”

Levengood’s appointment is a critical piece of MSC Cruises’ recently announced “Serving You” initiatives to the travel agent community at CLIA’s Cruise3Sixty in April. Ramping up the “human factor,” according to Sasso, includes strategic senior level appointments such as Levengood’s, more than doubling the MSC Cruises’ sales force by adding Business Development Managers in critical regions around the country and undertaking its most extensive roadshow to-date.

Levengood brings extensive expertise to her new position, with nearly two decades of marketing and financial experience and a proven track record creating successful multichannel campaigns. Most recently, she ran her own marketing company. Prior to that, she headed up marketing and sales for nearly eight years for 1-800-PetMeds, America’s largest pet pharmacy, leading the company’s annual revenue to more than $239 million by creating new direct marketing programs that included comprehensive email marketing campaigns, new TV commercials and direct mail and catalog programs.

Under her marketing leadership, 1-800-PetMeds realized tremendous growth and was recognized with several awards including Forbes Best Company winner for four years, Business Week Hot Growth Company and a Top 100 Online Retailer by revenue. In 2009, Levengood accepted the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Florida on behalf of her company and, in 2010, a product she created won the prestigious Private Label Manufacturers “Salute to Excellence” Award against the world’s largest private label brands.

Levengood’s marketing experience also includes serving as manager, director and interim vice president for American Express Financial and, on the agency side, she ran the creative and customer service departments for First Marketing, A Taylor Company, servicing Fortune 100 clients nationwide.

For her active and committed involvement in the South Florida community, Levengood was awarded Woman of the Year in 2013 by the 1000+ Club. She serves as Fund Development Chair on the Executive Board for the Children’s Home Society of Florida Intercoastal Division, co-chair of the Helping Turn Lives Around Event and, for many years has helped the fundraising efforts to provide support for less fortunate children in Broward County through the Children’s Home Society.

A native Floridian, Levengood currently lives in Boca Raton and graduated cum laude from the University of Miami.

Source: MSC Cruises USA