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MSC Cruises has announced two unique football themed cruises in partnership with world famous Italian football clubs AC Milan and SSC Napoli. The Rossoneri Cruise dedicated to AC Milan fans and the Blue Cruise dedicated to SSC Napoli supporters are just two events in a series of initiatives based on MSC Cruises’ partnerships with the organizations. As a top sponsor of AC Milan, MSC Cruises is committed to mutual promotion both domestically and locally. MSC Splendida will turn red and black, the colours of the AC Milan strip, for an eight-day/seven night Mediterranean cruise on board MSC Splendida, departing on 2 June 2012 from Genoa, Italy. With calls in Barcelona in Spain, Tunis in Tunisia, La Valletta in Malta, and Messina and Rome in Italy, each day will be filled with exciting new places, as well as wonderful events and unforgettable moments based on the beautiful game and AC Milan’s history. MSC Cruises is equally proud to be an official sponsor of SSC Napoli, a partnership which started in July 2011 on board MSC Splendida. SSC Napoli’s eight-day/seven night Mediterranean Blue Cruise on board MSC Fantasia will depart on 28 May 2012 from Naples, Italy with calls in Palermo in Italy, Tunis in Tunisia, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France. Each day will be filled with exciting new places, as well as wonderful events and unforgettable moments based on SSC Napoli’s past and present. These unique eight-day cruises will give fans from both teams the opportunity to spend some time with their favourite players and participate in workshops, as footballers and technical staff of the first team are expected on board. Guest will watch memorable matches of the past with fellow fans, learn more about the athletic preparation of footballers and developments in sports medicine, enjoy training sessions with the players of the first team and technical staff, and take part in tournaments for adults both adults and children. Guests on board MSC Splendida will experience instant immersion into the amazing rossonero world of the AC Milan players and the technical staff. Milan Junior Camp will be one of the parts of the cruise dedicated to the younger fans. Girls and boys will be able to play on the ship’s pitches under the expert supervision of the club’s youth team coaches. Jean Pierre Meersseman, celebrated chiropractor to AC Milan, will give demonstrations, while Milan Lab’s fitness instructors and physiotherapists, who provide technological support in decision making processes that aims to provide the best possible management of individual wellbeing and health, will demonstrate their work. Guests will even have the opportunity to follow tailored training sessions. SSC Napoli fans will be similarly immersed in blue, with evening entertainment including events such as "A whole blue history, the history of the world's most beloved club." Participants will be given a "blue kit" and the book "Napoli 8.5", which summarizes an eighty year love story between the city of Naples and its team. During the call at Barcelona, a visit to the legendary Camp Nou stadium, the historic "temple" of Spanish football which can host up to 98,787 football fans, is planned for both groups. These voyages will be a chance for the players to get to know some new cities as well as a once in a lifetime opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with some AC and SSC celebrities. Click here to view the article

LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Gandhi, U.S. Generals, novelist Jeffrey Archer, and the casting genius behind Modern Family are just a few of the highly-esteemed enrichment speakers scheduled to appear aboard ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises in Europe this year. The top-caliber Special Interest, Destination and Celebrity Guest Speakers will provide insight into global topics, local culture or their own life and wisdom on individual Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony voyages from May through December. From PBS to Fox, presenters' reputations are the cream of the crop in their fields, with such luminaries as: Arun Gandhi (May 9 Barcelona to London) – Peace activist, founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. General Anthony Zinni (May 21 London to Hamburg) – Four-star U.S. Marine Corps General and former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Jeff Greenberg (May 24 London to Rome) – Emmy Award-winning Casting Director of Modern Family and Frasier. Lord Jeffrey Archer (Jun 19 Venice to Istanbul) – Bestselling author of fifteen novels such as Kane & Abel and the recent Clifton Chronicles series Joel Harper (Oct 12 Athens to Venice) – Celebrity trainer for Dr. Oz, Olympic medalists, and PBS's best-selling Firming After 50. Owen Ullman (Jul 23 Stockholm to Copenhagen) – News editor of USA Today. Dinesh D'Souza (Jul 13 Monte Carlo to Lisbon) – Top public policy-maker and political conservative author. Paula Pryke (Jul 25 Lisbon to Rome, "Floral Design" theme) – Celebrity floral designer from Britain Eric Burns (Nov 5 Istanbul to Barcelona) – Emmy Award-winning NBC News correspondent and former host of Fox News Watch. General Nick Halley (Aug 25 London Round-Trip) – Military commander during Vietnam, Grenada, and Desert Storm, and now leadership and terrorism expert. Jon Sigurdsson (May 8 NY to London) – Icelandic geologist who studies glaciers and volcanoes throughout Europe. Other noteworthy names joining Crystal's European cruises include Astronaut Mark Kelly and wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and legendary football coach Don Shula and a host of other presenters, instructors, and entertainers. As part of a new "Local Insights" program this year, Crystal is also bringing aboard local European dignitaries and experts to share "insider" information on the region's life and customs. "Our world travelers are not only adventure-seekers, they're knowledge-seekers, so our on-board presenters need to deliver smart, stimulating, and shrewdly entertaining enlightenment that not only provides food for thought, but also sparks lively discussion among guests throughout our voyages," says Chris Corrigall, manager, entertainment. "As the 'World's Best' cruise line, we bring nothing but the world's best minds aboard to enrich guests' overall vacation experiences." Crystal sails through Europe on 35 7- to 14-day voyages from March to December 2012, offering intimate, luxury access to the eastern and western Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Black Sea, northwest Africa, western Europe, including Iceland and the British Isles, the Middle East, the western and eastern Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, and Arctic Circle. Several voyages offer themed activities and entertainment, such as "Wine and Food," "Golf," Big Band," and "Emerging Artists." Until April 30, "Book Now" fares start at $1,945 per person/double occupancy for seven days in the Mediterranean, with additional savings available for combining select voyages. Attractive air add-ons are also available from more than 90 North American airports. Crystal's award-winning, luxury cruises always include a diverse selection of thought-provoking, scholarly, and sophisticated enrichment activities that provide extensive onboard choices for cultured world travelers. Click here to view the article

The Coast Guard dispatched a rescue helicopter from Belle Chasse Sunday deep into the Gulf of Mexico to evacuate a man aboard a cruise ship. The man reportedly was suffering stroke-like symptoms, the Coast Guard said in a press release. Coast Guard MH-65C Doplhin helicopter like this was dispatched Sunday to a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, to evacuate a man suffering stroke-like symptoms. The Coast Guard received a report at 11:20 p.m., Sunday, that the man was on the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas. The agency sent a MH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, which is in Belle Chasse, to evacuate the man. The cruise ship was 132 miles southeast of South Pass, according to the Coast Guard. The air crew flew the man to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, the Coast Guard said. The man's name was not released, and the Coast Guard said his condition was not immediately known. Click here to view the article

Oceania Cruises' 1,250-guest Riviera, scheduled to be christened in Barcelona on May 11, 2012, successfully completed her sea trials today, which included three days of sailing the Mediterranean. During the sea trials, technicians and engineers from Fincantieri's Sestre shipyard along with Oceania Cruises' marine and technical teams performed a comprehensive evaluation of the vessel's functionality, including speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics, propulsion and safety systems. "Riviera exceeded all of my expectations. While underway the ship handled perfectly in all sea conditions and power settings" said Captain Luca Manzi, the ship's master. "Riviera cruised at more than 21 knots with ample reserve power." Now that sea trials are concluded, the 66,084 ton ship will dock at the outfitting berth, where workers will put the finishing touches on her interiors as well as exterior. "Riviera's sea trials were a resounding success," stated Robin Lindsay, the line's executive vice president of vessel operations, who was on board during the sea trials. "With the sea trials behind us, we will turn our undivided attention to the final details of the interior. Guests on our May 16 maiden voyage are certainly in for a treat." Click here to view the article

Responding to the growing interest for cruising in Japan, Carnival Corporation & plc is introducing the largest deployment ever by a global cruise line in the Japanese market when it brings Sun Princess to Japan for a spring to summer season of cruising in April 2013. One of the world’s leading cruise line brands, Princess Cruises, is launching an 87-day program featuring a total of nine cruises on seven different itineraries operating April through July of next year from both Yokohama and Kobe. The cruises will be from nine to 12 days in length. The unique itineraries have been customized for the Japanese vacation market, and will launch with the most significant national holiday of Golden Week, a nine-day cruise on April 27, 2013 which includes two days in Hakata during the renowned Dontaku Festival. Underscoring the importance of Japan in the growing worldwide cruise market, Carnival Japan, Inc. has been formed to sell the Princess Cruises brand and certain other Carnival brands in Japan, with Princess Cruises being the brand to launch this largest cruise season in the Japanese market. Carnival Japan, Inc. is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, a global cruise company and one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Carnival Japan will be based in Tokyo and overseen by Eiko Kijima, who will be on the board of directors of Carnival Japan. “Our new Japan deployment is three times larger than that of any competitive international cruise program, with superior itineraries specifically designed for the Japanese market,” said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer. “It’s the very first time a global cruise line is offering a full season of cruises from April to July designed specifically for passengers from Japan. We believe that our unique itineraries and onboard experience will prove extremely popular and will help to introduce cruise vacations to a growing number of Japanese vacationers.” Approximately 18,000 passengers are expected to be carried during this first season of cruising in Japan. Highlights of other itineraries include overnight stays at cities with popular annual festivals, destinations known for their natural hot springs, northern ports of Japan and foreign ports in Korea and Taiwan, among others. The 2013 Japan homeport program features the following cruises: • 9-day Golden Week: Departs April 27, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Hiroshima (overnight); Nagasaki; Busan, South Korea, and Hakata (overnight). • 12-day Round Japan with Festivals: Departs May 6, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Aomori, Busan, Kanazawa (overnight), Sakaiminato, Maizuru, and Nagoya. • 9-day Korea & Taiwan: Departs May 18, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama and June 23, 2013 sailing from Yokohama to Kobe, with calls at Busan and Cheju, South Korea; and Kaohsiung and Taipei, Taiwan. • 9-day Round Japan with Onsens: Departs May 27, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Nagoya, Kobe, scenic cruising of Japan Inland Sea, Matsuyama, Busan, Kagoshima and Beppu. • 9-day Kyushu & Korea: Departs June 5, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Koshi, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Cheju, Busan and Hiroshima. • 9-day Hokkaido & Russia: Departs June 14 and July 14, 2013 sailing roundtrip from Yokohama with calls at Kushiro, scenic cruising of Shiretoko Peninsula; Korsakov, Russia; Otaru, Hakodate and Aomori. • 12-day Round Japan: Departs July 2, 2013 sailing from Kobe (overnight) to Yokohama with scenic cruising of Japan Inland Sea and calls at Hiroshima (overnight), Busan, Sakaiminato, Maizuru, Kanazawa, Aomori and Sapporo. Pricing for these cruises starts at ¥124,000 per person, double occupancy for a nine-day sailing. The cruise experience will be substantially the same as the Princess Cruises product offered around the world, providing an impressive array of dining and entertainment options in addition to the line’s signature innovations such as its popular Movies Under the Stars poolside theater and The Sanctuary, an exclusive top-deck retreat. However modifications will be made including introducing key passenger-facing positions which will be filled by Japanese-speaking crew members. Dining room menus will offer international Princess cuisine while additional offerings will cater to Japanese tastes, and an a la carte sushi bar will be opened. A specially designed enrichment program will include an expert lecture series on art, culture and history. Other amenities such as the shopping selection and spa treatments will also be tailored to Japanese preferences, and onboard collateral items and stateroom information will be translated into Japanese. An extensive array of shore excursions will be available to complement the itineraries so that Sun Princess passengers can experience all the ports have to offer. The 77,000-ton Sun Princess carries 2,022 passengers and features a high number of staterooms with private balconies, Lotus Spa, steakhouse, wine bar, patisserie, pizzeria, boutiques, and internet café among other amenities. This new season of cruises will open for sale on April 16, 2012 and the sailings, along with all other cruises sold in the Japan market for Princess’ worldwide destinations, will be sold in Japanese Yen. In conjunction with this new program, the Princess Cruises brand will also launch a Japanese language version of its travel agent booking tool called POLAR Online, enabling travel agents in Japan to book cruises easily and conveniently. The user-friendly 24/7 booking system, which is the number one booking tool for Princess cruises worldwide, is a real-time travel agent reservations portal featuring an easy-to-navigate program, rich with information and functionality. Click here to view the article

AIDA Cruises has announced that it will be taking on the role of main sponsor of the world’s largest port festival for the next three years. "This is a gift for Hamburg and its guests. Cruising is part of Hamburg and we are very happy that the cruise line with the pouting lips will be supporting our festival,” said Senator of Economic Affairs Frank Horch. Senator Horch, was presented with the first ship’s model of the AIDAmar by Michael Ungerer, vice president, AIDA Cruises, at the press conference onboard the AIDAluna last Saturday. Ungerer promised "that AIDA Cruises will offer visitors to the port festival a pouting lips parade which is unique the world over to mark the ship’s christening, with a total of four AIDA ships taking part." Because this year, as a special highlight of the program of events, the spectacular christening of the AIDAmar will be taking place on the Elbe during the Port festival. On the evening of May 12 Rostock-based cruise line AIDA Cruises will be welcoming the ninth member of its fleet with a parade of the club ships AIDAluna, AIDAblu and AIDAsol, the likes of which have never before been seen at the Port of Hamburg. For the first time in the history of cruising three identical sister ships will be accompanying their newest fleet member as her godparents. Following this an impressive fireworks display over the port will provide the breath-taking finale to the christening celebrations. Click here to view the article

The countdown is on until April 1, when P&O Cruises will launch its new loyalty program, the Peninsular Club, which will replace current program, The Portunus Club. The new club, which will launch first onboard Ventura on April 1, has six distinct tiers; Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic and Ligurian, and significant new benefits. Once launched on Ventura, the Peninsular Club will then be rolled out over the remainder of the fleet, launching on board Oceana on April 4, Adonia on April 9, Oriana on April 10, Aurora on April 12, Azura on April 15 and finally on board Arcadia on April 27. Points from the previous loyalty program, which had three ‘tiers’ ruby, sapphire and gold, will be automatically transferred to the new P&O Cruises Peninsular Club. The new club and tier names endorse the brand’s heritage and its world-wide footprint. In 1837 the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company won the mail contract from the British Admiralty and this is the time from which P&O Cruises can trace its roots. The tier names come from oceans and seas of the world - all sailed countless times by P&O Cruises ships. These are arranged in order of size with the smallest being Ligurian. This club tier is reserved exclusively for P&O Cruises most loyal and frequent cruisers. P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “We are excited that the time has come to launch the new look loyalty club. The Peninsular Club has been shaped with our passengers in mind and we trust that the benefits they will reap will see them continuing to cruise with P&O Cruises time and time again”. The wide range of benefits of the new club vary by tier, and include an on board discount ranging from 5 -10%, a complementary pressing service and discounted laundry, as well as early embarkation, an exclusive travel insurance offer, early booking offers and early cabin access. In the new program, the Baltic and Ligurian tiers will be exclusive to the most loyal passengers who have a total points value of more than 2500. Entry to these tiers is not only reliant on points but also on a requirement for the passenger to have spent over 80 nights on board any P&O Cruises ship within the three years prior to the start of their cruise. Click here to view the article

"BON VOYAGE" ZEBRA; WE WISH YOU HAPPY SAILING ON YOUR UPCOMING CRUISE RADIANCE OF THE SEAS 05 APRIL 12

"BON VOYAGE" BJCRUISER; WE WISH YOU, HAPPY SAILING ON YOUR UPCOMING CRUISE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS 01 APRIL 12

"BON VOYAGE" BTATE; WE WISH YOU HAPPY SAILING ON YOUR UPCOMING CRUISE ON GRAND PRINCESS, 01 APRIL 12

HELLO TO ALL CRAZIES. I'M SCALISE12 PARTNER AND I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO JOINING, TOGETHER WE WILL TRY ARE BEST IN POST AND KEEPING EVERYONE IN FORMED ON CRUISE NEWS TAKE CARE JACKIE

"WELCOME TO CRUISE CRAZIES STEPHANIESMITHGRAY'S HAPPY TO HAVE U ABOARD, PLEASE POST OFTEN JOHN & JACKIE

MIAMI — Alaska is a hot destination again, and river voyages are enjoying a boost in popularity this year as the cruise industry works on luring back potential first-time passengers put off by the Costa Concordia tragedy. The Concordia accident, in which 32 people died when the ship ran aground off the Italian coast in January, has been an overarching story in the cruise world so far this year. The Costa line is owned by Carnival Corp., the largest cruise operator in the world, which was forced to cut its 2012 profit forecasts nearly in half after the accident. "What's new is the impact of the Costa Concordia tragedy on absolutely every corner of cruising I can think of for the time being," said ###### editor-in-chief Carolyn Spencer Brown. "That's not something we certainly want to write about or cover or hear about — but the trend as a result of that is the emphasis on safety and security." Here are some details on what's new in cruise trends for the coming year: • Booking trends: Even with the loss of potential first-time cruisers, around 17.2 million passengers are expected to take a cruise this year — up 5 percent from 2011, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. The Caribbean is again expected to be the leading destination. • River cruising: River cruises in Europe and the United States are expected to gain passengers in 2012. Avalon Waterways is adding three new ships (carrying 166, 128 and 32 passengers) for European river cruises, and closer to home two ships will traverse the mighty Mississippi. The 436-passenger American Queen, the largest steamboat in the world, was bought by the Great American Steamboat Co. and got a $6 million retrofitting. It will be relaunched next month, featuring a new interior and two top-deck dining venues. In August comes the launching of the brand new 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi by American Cruise Lines. • Alaska: The 49th state is expected to be bigger than ever as cruise destination this year. The state "head tax" for cruise passengers led some lines to reduce their Alaska itineraries in recent years, but since it was rolled back in 2010 the ships have returned. Plus, higher airfares to Europe this year have more people looking at an Alaska cruise as an alternative vacation. The Disney Wonder sailing to Alaska from Seattle this year helps put it on the radar for more families. Click here to view the article

CHARLES, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION ON THE PORTS OF CALL, WE HAVE LESS THAN 4 MONTHS & COUNTING, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD OF SPENDING TIME IN THE U.K., OUR MAILMAN IS FROM THE LIVERPOOL AREA HE JUST GOT BACK FROM VISITING HIS DAD & FAMILY. AGAIN THANKS; JOHN & JACKIE

New Ship On The Order Book For Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. has signed a letter of intent with German shipyard Meyer Werft to build the first of a new generation of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. Developed under the code-name "Project Sunshine," the new vessel design incorporates new and exciting features that take advantage of the best of Royal Caribbean's experience and imagination. The project is a result of over a year of dedicated research and development. The order calls for one ship to be delivered in the Fall of 2014 with an option for a second ship for Spring 2015. The 158,000 Gross Registered Tons (GRT) new build will carry just over 4,100 guests based on double occupancy. The estimated all-in cost per berth is about €170,000. This all-in cost includes the yard's base contract price plus everything needed to design, operate and build the vessel, from architect fees to supervision costs and all loose inventories from computers to art and bed linens. "Royal Caribbean has worked hard to earn a reputation of offering the most innovative ships in the cruise industry and this next generation will not disappoint," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. "While we continue our policy of keeping our newest ideas and features under wraps during the early stages of construction, I can say that I am very excited about the passion and imagination that our teams have devoted to the project. Project Sunshine builds on the best ideas of our existing ships and adds exciting new activities and entertainment concepts. It will offer features for everyone: from grand, spectacular spaces to small intimate settings; from active, invigorating activities to the serenity of more personal space; and from a plethora of dining alternatives to a cornucopia of opportunities for families. I am also excited about the energy efficiency and environmental technologies which have been incorporated." Click here to view the article