Carnival Marketing Chief Moves to Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer

Jim Berra

MIAMI, July 21, 2015 -- Royal Caribbean International, the world's largest global cruise line, has named Jim Berra Chief Marketing Officer. Jim will be responsible for all aspects of the cruise line's marketing program, including brand strategy and positioning, consumer and trade advertising, web and loyalty marketing, research, brand development and communications. He will report to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO.

"We are delighted to have Jim join our team," said Michael. "With so many exciting initiatives on the immediate horizon for our brand, we feel that Jim's impressive history of creativity and proven results will continue the momentum of innovation the brand has created."

Jim most recently served as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Line where he oversaw the company's advertising, public relations, customer marketing and digital efforts.

Previously, he served as senior vice president and general manager for Rodale Interactive, where he led the development and marketing of the company's online businesses. Rodale is a global media company publishing some of the best-known health and wellness lifestyle magazines and books. Prior to that Jim also held various marketing positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts including as the senior vice president of customer marketing and strategic alliances, where he oversaw Starwood's loyalty programs, customer relationship management and strategic alliances. Jim began his marketing career at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

Jim received Bachelor's degrees in economics and philosophy from Northwestern University. He has been recognized with several awards and was listed as one of the World's 50 Most Influential CMOs in 2013 and 2014 by Forbes Magazine; received the Industry Impact Award by Inside Flyer Magazine; and was included in Brand Week's list of Next Generation Marketers.

Source: Royal Caribbean International

Crystal Announces Huge Expansion Plan - In All Directions

Backed by the deep pockets of their new owner, Crystal Cruises detailed a major expansion plan that will not only bring them new ships, but will also take them into several new sectors of the travel industry.

The line announced apparently firm plans yesterday for larger ships, smaller ships, river ships and even an airplane - all within three and a half years.

The complete story appeared in the July 20 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Crystal's new class of three oceangoing ships that will begin being delivered in late 2018

Overboard from Costa Fortuna

A passenger fell overboard from her stateroom balcony aboard Costa Fortuna while it was docked in Flamm yesterday. Costa said the ship’s crew “immediately intervened and recovered the passenger.”

Details appeared in the July 20 edition of Cruise News Daily.

MSC Becomes #1 in Europe

MSC Cruises became the number one cruise line in Europe and the Mediterranean, according to the 2015-2016 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. The Report said MSC attained the number one position based on a deployed capacity across the continent of about 1.1 million passengers.

Details appeared in the July 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Celebrity Bartender Wins Diageo Reserve World Class Bartending Competition

Santos Mercedes Enriquez, a senior bartender aboard Celebrity Equinox, rose above 5,500 other cruise line bartenders from three lines to win the title.

The finals were held last week at the Diageo 396 Bar in Miami.

The competition is judged by a panel of experts, including a former winner. The contestants are judged on various aspects of their craft, showmanship, creativity and bartending knowledge.

Enriquez won with his signature cocktail, “Violetta Falernum” in which he used Tanqueray No. Ten Gin. The recipe is below:

Santos Mercedes Enriquez

The 'Violetta Falernum'

Ingredients
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz rich sugar syrup
1/2 oz egg white
1 1/2 oz Tanqueray® No. Ten Gin
1/2 velvet falernum
1 bar spoon of creme de Yvette
A dash of Peychaud's bitter

Recipe
Put all the ingredients into a shaker and give it a dry shake first to emulsify the cocktail, then add the ice and shake it again, double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Glass
Coupe glass

Garnish
3 drops of Angostura bitters on top of the drink

Please drink responsibly.

The complete article appeared in the July 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.