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For the Carnival Breeze's inaugural season in Europe, Carnival Cruise Lines has assembled a diverse array of shore excursions with more than 180 different choices, including several "select experiences" that allow guests to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in a more personalized setting. Carnival Breeze's inaugural European season kicked off June 3 and runs through October 25, 2012, providing guests with myriad opportunities to experience and explore stunning and beautiful ports in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, France, Spain, and Monte Carlo. The wide-ranging excursions provide Carnival Breeze guests with a seemingly endless variety of unforgettable landside experiences, from guided tours of famous museums and centuries-old architectural marvels to touring the lush European countryside and savoring local cuisine and wine. Guests can also enjoy more active pursuits such as exploring dormant volcanoes, cycling or kayaking along a beautiful coastline. Here's a sampling of some of the many exciting tours available: Three Island Yacht Cruise (Dubrovnik, Croatia) — Island hopping has never been so much fun! On this five-hour excursion, guests can explore the stunning Elaphati Islands – Lokrum, Kolocep, and Lopud – while sipping chilled wine aboard a luxury yacht. The islands have a rich history – legend has it that Richard the Lion Heart was cast ashore here in 1192 after surviving a shipwreck while returning from the Crusades. The day begins with a visit to Lokrum Island, where guests can tour a 12th century monastery built by Benedictine monks, while Kolocep, the smallest of the Elaphiti islands, is distinguished by 15th century mansions, vineyards and olive groves. Concluding the tour is a stop at Lopud where guests can swim, stroll along the promenade, or savor local Croatian delicacies. Essence of Tuscany (Livorno, Italy) – Guests can create their own "Under the Tuscan Sun" experience visiting the magnificent town of San Gimignano, the stunning backdrop for the popular book and movie about the fabled city which is distinguished by the "Manhattan of Tuscany," a skyline dotted with towers dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries. After enjoying a traditional Italian meal in a nearby farmhouse, guests explore Siena, amazingly rich in masterpieces of art and nestled atop three hills with ancient structures such as the Torre del Mangia bell tower rising more than 300 feet high and Duomo of Siena and the Battistero, both adorned with a variety of frescoes, sculptures and painting masterpieces created by some of the country's most famous artists. Mt. Etna at 2,900 Feet (Messina, Italy) - On this seven-and-a-half-hour excursion, guests are taken to Europe's largest active volcano where they can tour Mt. Etna's famous Silvestri Crater located 2,000 feet above sea level. From there, guests board a six-person cable car for the journey down into the crater before embarking on a 4 x 4 Mercedes ride to reach the ultimate peak at an awe-inspiring 2,900 feet above sea level. Following an exhilarating off-road adventure, guests are taken on a guided tour where they are provided a detailed overview of Mt. Etna's history followed by a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Secrets of Naples (Naples, Italy) – During this five-hour journey, guests can stroll along the narrow streets of the Spacca-Napoli quarter, full of life with boutiques specializing in antiques and books, tiny grocery stores and fruit stands. The day continues with a visit to San Domenico Square and its namesake church, and an exploration of the underground caves of Naples, home to the ancient Roman Aqueducts. No visit to Naples is complete without a sampling of the city's famous pizza and guests will learn how to prepare the delicious pies using traditional wood-burning ovens. Vatican Gardens, St. Peter's & Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy) — The amazing Vatican Gardens and the beauty of Rome are on full display during this private 10-hour tour, which also includes a typical Italian lunch. After arriving in breathtaking St. Peter's Square, guests enter Vatican City through the gate of St. Uffizio Square where they enjoy panoramic views of its magnificent gardens and enchanting fountains before touring St. Peter's Basilica. The day concludes with a tour of Roman highlights such as the Spanish Steps, Navona Square, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. These fascinating excursions – and dozens of others – are available in conjunction with Carnival Breeze's inaugural European cruise season which kicked off with a special 12-day voyage that departed Venice on June 3, arriving in Barcelona June 15, 2012. Ports of call on this one-time voyage include Dubrovnik, Croatia; Athens, Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Messina (Sicily), Olbia (Sardinia), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy; Monaco, Monte Carlo; and Marseilles, France. Carnival Breeze then begins a summer schedule of 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, one of Europe's most stunning and historic cities. The program runs from June 15 through Oct. 25, 2012 (with the exception of the Aug. 26, 2012, voyage which sails from Venice). The 12-day Mediterranean cruises include stops at Marseilles or Monaco; Livorno; Naples or Salerno, Italy; Dubrovnik; Venice; Civitavecchia (Rome), and Messina (the June 15 and Sept. 7 departures add a stop in Palma de Mallorca, Spain; while the Aug. 14 and 26 voyages also visit Olbia, Italy). Select voyages also overnight in Venice or Civitavecchia (Rome). When they're not exploring all the awe-inspiring wonders of the Mediterranean, guests can enjoy the Carnival Breeze's wide range of on-board innovations, which include the line's first Thrill Theater, an immersive multi-dimensional special effects experience that makes viewers feel as if they're part of the movie, along with popular features such as WaterWorks, with fun water slides and attractions, and SportSquare, an expansive top-deck recreation area with a ropes course, mini-golf, an outdoor fitness area and more. Exclusive to Carnival Breeze is Bonsai Sushi, the line's first full-service sushi restaurant, and Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ, an open-air dining venue featuring a variety of grilled barbecue favorites and traditional sides. Guests can also visit Guy's Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network personality Guy Fieri, or enjoy poolside libations at the RedFrog Rum Bar or BlueIguana Tequila Bar or Caribbean-inspired drinks and snacks at the RedFrog Pub.

Holland America Line has unveiled a new Master Chef's International Dinner in the main dining room, a unique experience showcasing signature dishes from around the world. The exotic menu is offered once a cruise and features cuisine from six continents crafted by Holland America Line's award-winning Master Chef Rudi Sodamin in collaboration with several of the line's expert chefs. Guests can design their international three- or four-course meal by choosing each course from selections that represent a variety of cultures. The exclusive 20-dish menu includes appetizers, entrees and desserts from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as wine pairings from each region. Guests also can choose Chef Rudi's Tour Around the World, a pre-selected three-course meal by the master chef. "The Master Chef's International Dinner is a special culinary celebration of cultures around the world," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Each dish captures the essence of the region's cuisine with each course complementing the next, making for a truly exquisite dining experience for our guests." The international menu includes Scandinavian-style Seafood and Potato Chowder, Lebanese Lamb Shank, Argentinean Guiso Soup, Bourbon Glazed Beef with Grilled Portabella Mushrooms and Tofu and Vegetable Korma. Desserts include New York-style Cheesecake, Viennese Mohr im Hemd and Kiwi and Passion Fruit Pavlova, a traditional meringue-based Russian dessert. The new international dinner adds another distinctive culinary feature to Holland America Line's already-extensive dining offerings. Additional initiatives include award-winning alternative restaurants Tamarind, the Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto; An Evening at Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill, which exclusively brings the famed New York City Le Cirque restaurant to guests on board Holland America Line, as well as the Culinary Council comprised of renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Jacques Torres, Charlie Trotter and Sodamin. For a full listing of Holland America Line's culinary offerings, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Dining.action.

As part of its worldwide release schedule, Cunard Line is proud to announce the first shipboard screenings of the 3D feature film, "Madam Butterfly 3D," in association with the Royal Opera House and RealD, the world's most widely used digital 3D projection technology. Captured during live performances at London's internationally renowned Royal Opera House, "Madam Butterfly 3D" will be shown aboard Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, beginning 6 July 2012, the only ship currently scheduled to present the film. The film opened earlier this year in the United Kingdom to much popular and critical acclaim and is being released worldwide in almost 40 other countries through the fall of 2012. Cunard began its successful partnership with RealD in 2011 with the installation of RealD 3D projection technology, furthering the relationship later that year with screenings of the RealD and Royal Opera House co-production, "Carmen in 3D," which proved hugely popular with Cunard guests. "Madam Butterfly 3D" is expected to draw equally large and appreciative audiences when it is presented in the ship's grand 450-seat theatre, Illuminations. This second co-production between RealD and the Royal Opera House gives viewers the best seat in the house at one of the world's most prestigious venues for one of the world's best loved operas. Combining the excitement of live staging with the immediacy of a feature film, "Madam Butterfly 3D" is a production designed to appeal to novices and opera buffs alike. "The success of Cunard's screenings of ‘Carmen in 3D' over the last year has demonstrated the broad appeal of world-class opera productions on film to guests who may be regular opera-goers but who may equally not have had the time or opportunity to attend live performances," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "We're sure ‘Madam Butterfly 3D' will continue to play to full houses on board and add a new highlight to the wide-ranging programme of on board speakers, workshops and performances that set Cunard apart." "There are few British institutions more respected and admired in the world than the Royal Opera and Cunard," says Joseph Peixoto, president of worldwide cinema at RealD. "To bring this world-class production to Queen Mary 2 ensures it will be seen on cruises throughout the world – just as it will be enjoyed in cinemas around the world this year. The 3D filmmakers of this beautiful and powerful film make you feel like you're standing on the stage at Covent Garden." "Madam Butterfly 3D" takes audiences into the heart of this intimate production, immersing them in a tragic story of love, passion and betrayal. The story of a Japanese geisha's love for an American naval officer moved Puccini to compose music of rare and sensual beauty, but also of heart-rending power, as Butterfly's tragedy unfolds to its devastating conclusion. This work is one of opera's most ravishing scores, featuring the famous Humming Chorus, Butterfly's soaring aria "Un bel di vedremo" ("One fine day"), and such wonderfully lyrical passages as Cio-Cio-San's first entrance, Pinkerton's seduction of her, and Cio-Cio-San's passionate farewell to her son. Liping Zhang appears as the Butterfly of the title, Cio-Cio-San, a role for which she is acclaimed worldwide – and James Valenti makes an especially dashing Pinkerton, the young officer whose thoughtless toying with love is the catalyst for this tragic story. This revival of Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier's elegant stage production offers the drama, the musical richness and the sheer enjoyment of great performances that make The Royal Opera truly world class.

Earlier today, while sailing toward Dubrovnik, Croatia the emergency fire team was summoned to deal with an incident on the newest addition to the Carnival fleet, Carnival Breeze. The onboard announcement set the blogosphere all a twitter and soon there were reports all over the Internet about a fire onboard the ship. Carnival subsequently issued a statement clarifying that there had not been a fire but rather a malfunction in an air conditioning unit located in a crew area. The website TravelAgentCentral.com, was among the sites and blogs that suggested that there had been a small fire onboard the cruise ship. In its initial reports, the website said that shortly after 8am this morning, members of the ship's fire fighting team was summoned via the ship's public address system to report to a forward, crew area on Deck 0 where smoke was accumulating. As a precaution, fire doors were closed in that portion of the ship. Following the initial fire team alert, the ship's captain, Vincenzo Alcaras addressed passengers via the public address system. The captain said that a sensor had triggered an alarm indicating that there might be a fire in the forward crew area. When the fire team arrived, they found a smoking belt within an air conditioning unit and "extinguished it immediately". A short time later, Carnival spokesperson Joyce Oliva sent a statement that "a fan belt inside an air conditioning unit in a crew area overheated and started generating smoke. There was not an actual fire and no smoke entered guest areas. The ship's crew responded immediately and all is well."

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The 2,700-passenger Disney Magic set sail from New York this week taking cruisers on the first of nine 5-night Canadian / New England coast itineraries with stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick. "Canada and the New England coast are alluring destinations for our guests," said Disney Cruise Line Captain John Barwis. "This region's history, quaint charm and scenic vistas will provide our guests with a unique and memorable vacation, and sailing from New York is convenient for many families who reside in the Northeast." To celebrate the inaugural calls on Halifax and Saint John, Captain Barwis and his shipboard officers hosted local port officials and community leaders aboard the vessel for a plaque exchange ceremony, in accordance with maritime tradition. "It's an honour for us and our tourism partners to host Disney – one of the world's most iconic brands – for the 2012 cruise season," said Cathy McGrail, manager of Cruise Development for the Halifax Port Authority. "We've been eagerly awaiting this day since it was announced over a year ago and we're excited to showcase our city to a new demographic." Disney Magic crew members will be visiting more than 130 children in two hospitals in Halifax and Saint John with character visits this week. Over the years, these visits have grown into a tradition for crew members to demonstrate our commitment to the local community. In September, the Disney Magic will reposition to sail 6-, 7- and 8-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas for the first time. In May of 2013, the Disney Magic will cross the Atlantic to begin a summer season in the Mediterranean.