Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 7, 2014

* Confirming What Was Known All Along
The Centers for Disease Control issued their report on the illness that affected approximately 700 people aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas during its January 21 sailing, and as expected, they confirmed it was norovirus. Not only that, but it was a relatively new strain, GII.4 Sydney, but in the US it is currently the most common strain causing most norovirus illnesses.
   Jan Vinje is the head virologist who tested the samples from people aboard Explorer in the CDC’s lab. He said that the virus most often is brought aboard by a passenger. It’s so extremely contagious it spreads rapidly before the cruise line can start their sanitation procedures.

* And We’re Not Going Anyplace
The cruise industry is relatively new in China. Apparently Chinese vacationers haven’t yet dealt with cruise lines enough to know that the cruise contract is stacked against the passenger.
   A lot of passengers aboard Costa Victoria didn’t know that if their ship missed a port, they couldn’t really “demand” anything of the cruise line. So they did, and they got something. 

* The Ship Has a Name
Norwegian Getaway now officially has a name. The ship was christened this afternoon in Miami, its new year round home port.  More

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AIDA will again be a sponsor of the celebration in Hamburg Harbor in 2014

 

Photo courtesy of AIDA. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Norwegian Getaway Christened at Miami Party

Norwegian Getaway will be homeported year round at Miami, and the ship was named today at a real Miami party. The godmothers were the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders, and entertainment included hometown Miami legend, Pitbull.

The mermaid on the bow gets a champagne bath.

Pitbull performed for the crowd at the christening.

Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Cake Boss Buddy Valastro both have establishments on the ship.

The Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders served as godmothers.

Photos courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Cruise News Daily Headlines for February 6, 2014

* Celebrity Hopes Canyon Ranch Will Rub You the Right Way
Last month Steiner Leisure announced that they had been informed by Celebrity Cruises that their contract to operate the line’s spas would not be renewed. The question has been what provider would replace them. That question was answered this morning when Celebrity announced that Canyon Ranch would be operating the spas, beauty salons, wellness and fitness services aboard Celebrity ships.
   Judging by what Canyon Ranch does on other ships, Celebrity’s customers should expect to see a real difference from the Steiner-provided product.

* The Only Cruise Line You’ll See
If you’re watching the Olympic coverage on TV, and don’t go to the bathroom or kitchen during the commercials, Carnival Cruise Lines will be the only cruise line you see. Carnival has won the rights to be the exclusive cruise line advertiser during the Olympic coverage.

* Other Things You’ll Want to Know
CND subscribers also read about Norwegian Getaway arriving in Miami and who will be aboard on Friday ... Fincantieri cutting steel in "the middle" ... Royal Caribbean paying out ... and the NTSB reports about Carnival Triumph in Mobile.

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

Norwegian Getaway arriving in Miami this morning

Photo may not be copied or used without permission. All rights reserved.

Canyon Ranch to Replace Steiner in Celebrity Cruises' Spas

Breaking News: Celebrity Cruises has chosen Canyon Ranch to replace Steiner Leisure as their spa provider fleetwide. Canyon Ranch will handle all spa, beauty salon, wellness and fitness services on the ship. The new product will begin to appear on the ships as soon as the first week of next month and be complete by the middle of April 2014.

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

Holland America Honors World Cancer Day

Holland America Line Honors World Cancer Day with On Deck for a Cause fundraising Walks

Shipboard events raise money for the global fight against cancer

Seattle, Wash. - As a part of its ongoing cancer research fundraising and awareness program, Holland America Line will hold On Deck for a Cause events this week across its fleet of 15 ships in support of World Cancer Day. From Australia and Antarctica to the Indian Ocean and Caribbean, guests and crew around the world will gather on deck to make the walk amid glaciers, palm trees and the Panama Canal.

On Deck for a Cause invites guests to participate in a noncompetitive 5k fundraising walk on every sailing of the line’s ships, with proceeds distributed among the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and KWF Kankerbestrijding (Dutch Cancer Society). These walks take place on more than 500 cruises each year.

“Although we support the fight against cancer year-round with our On Deck for a Cause program, World Cancer Day is a time to reflect on the potential we have to impact future treatment and prevention,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Cancer is a disease that affects every region in the world, and we’re proud to support top organizations in those countries where many of our guests come from.”

Since fully launching across the line’s 15 ships in mid-2013, On Deck for a Cause fundraising events have raised more than $200,000 with 200 walks and more than 10,000 participants. Holland America Line began its onboard fundraising walks in 2006 with On Deck for a Cure which raised more than $3 million to fund breast cancer research, education and treatment.

With On Deck for a Cause, guests of all ages are invited to donate $20 to the Holland America Line Foundation, and a minimum of 80 percent ($16) is distributed to the organizations. The remaining 20 percent covers program and administrative expenses. On a day at sea, participants join in a 5k walk around the ship’s decks. Guests may walk less or not at all, as they prefer. Participants also receive an On Deck for a Cause T-shirt, wristband and a reception following the walk. Depending on the ship, the distance to reach 5k ranges from nine to 12 laps.

Holland America Line and its corporate foundation’s charitable giving programs include cash sponsorships, in-kind donations, shipboard events, free- and reduced-fare cruise donations for nonprofit fundraising events, donations of usable shipboard items around the world, employee volunteerism and other philanthropic activities.

Source: Holland America Line