Carnival Cruise Lines has canceled voyages through April aboard the Triumph, a ship that has been plagued by mechanical problems in recent weeks and was finally left powerless in the Gulf of Mexico after an engine-room fire.
Carnival Cruise Lines has announced further compensation for the passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph, currently being towed via tug boats to Mobile, Alabama after an engine room fire early Sunday caused a loss of propulsion.
All guests on the current voyage will receive further compensation of $500.00 per person.
Gerry Cahill, President & CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines said: We know it has been a longer journey back than we anticipated at the beginning of the week under very challenging circumstances. We are very sorry for what our guests have had to endure. Therefore, in addition to the full refund and future cruise credit already offered, we have decided to provide this additional compensation. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Mobile tomorrow and have mobilized our full resources to assist and support them as they travel home.
As previously announced, all 3,143 guests on board will receive a full refund of the cruise along with transportation expenses and reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop, art purchases and casino charges. All passengers will also receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage.
The summer is filled with romance on Crystal Cruises, with seven ultra-luxurious, all-inclusive Mediterranean cruises that visit some of the most romantic places in the world. From June 27 to September 2, via the award-winning Crystal Symphony, Crystal’s seven most romantic destinations for couples and singles seeking amour (with someone or someplace!) include:
1. Mykonos: Feed the flames of love while watching a classic Greek Island sunset over a seaside dinner with flaming saganaki. (June 27, 9-day cruise from Rome to Istanbul)
2. Taormina: Chic meets antique in this perfectly preserved medieval town, where breathtaking views and romantic alleyways help travelers understand why Sicilians are among the world’s most passionate people. (July 6, 7-day cruise from Istanbul to Rome)
3. The Turkish Straits: From the Dardanelles through the Bosporus, view exotic minarets and mansions float by from Crystal’s wide Promenade or from the comfort of your own verandah, with Europe on one side, Asia on the other. (July 13, 12-day cruise from Rome to Istanbul)
4. Sorrento: Outdoor cafés, cobblestone streets, fragrant flowers, and a seafront promenade that begs for arm-in-arm strolling — with a local shipboard overnight, the magic of the Amalfi coast’s most mythical city can be savored well into the wee hours. (July 25, 9-day cruise from Istanbul to Rome)
5. Barcelona: Fall under a Spanish spell with sangria, tapas, Catalan heat and the undulating architecture of Antonio Gaudí, during a full two days in this gem of the Western Mediterranean. (August 3, 7-day cruise from Rome to Barcelona)
6. St-Tropez: With superyachts berthed just steps from the town center, a lively evening waterfront, and a profuse selection of Provence’s most delicious local rosés, this French Riviera jetset resort town can be enjoyed until late at night as Crystal Symphony evening does not depart until 2 am. (August 10, 12-day cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon)
7. Lisbon: Whether exploring the storybook St. George’s Castle in the pure Atlantic light of day or the capital’s lantern-lit lanes at night, this “City of the Seven Hills” is one of Europe’s most visually striking – and most sultry. (August 22, 11-day cruise from Lisbon to London)
BONUS Destination: Crystal Symphony itself!: A sanctuary of spacious design, Crystal Symphony invites romance with a 360-degree outdoor promenade for strolling, private verandahs from which to enjoy sea and village views, a soothing Feng-Shui spa that offers indulgent individual and couples massages, sumptuous beds, acclaimed cuisine from Nobu Matsuhisa, exquisitely attentive service, and much more.
Crystal Symphony’s 7- to 12-day Southern sailings begin in Rome’s port of Civitavecchia, Istanbul, Barcelona and Lisbon, and feature multiple local overnights and back-to-back combinability for longer cruising vacations.
“Whether with a loved one or traveling solo, sailing into and out of gorgeous destinations can be one of the most romantic experiences at sea,” says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president, operations. “Crystal also sets the stage for a romance with an all-inclusive atmosphere of ultra-pampering and carefully crafted romantic itineraries that inspire new love stories with every voyage.”
Costa Cruises is offering six new itineraries for the 2013-14 winter season that span the Canary Islands and North Africa, United Arab Emirates, eastern and western Mediterranean, the Caribbean and South America.
Love is in the air this month, making it the ideal time for foodies to indulge their taste buds' romance with cuisine and cocktails at Celebrity Cruises' luscious Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE event, "A Taste of Modern Luxury."
The hip new cruise ship, Celebrity Reflection, is the setting for foodies to taste, sip and sense why Celebrity Cruises is awakening palates, turning heads and making people crave more. "A Taste of Modern Luxury" on Celebrity Reflection offers a gastro-tour of six unique venues, where small plates from Celebrity's onboard specialty restaurants, created by Celebrity's James Beard-featured director of culinary operations, Chef John Suley, will be paired with cocktails by renowned mixologist Junior Merino, "The Liquid Chef." Also James Beard-featured, Merino will showcase techniques such as liquid nitrogen, foams, airs, flavor building and spherification. These unique concoctions – some flowery, some spicy – are featured in "The Molecular Bar" on Celebrity's five newest ships. One such pairing to be presented during the event is a gin, ginger elderflower and rosemary cocktail called "Gentle Reflection" and a Muscovy duck breast with almond-crusted French toast and raisin-apple compote.
"The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival is an ideal partner for showcasing our passion for extraordinary cuisine to people who appreciate it," said Scott Steenrod, Vice President, Food and Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises. "From being the first in the cruise industry to cook dinner at the legendary James Beard House to being the first to launch land-based pop-up restaurants, most recently in New York City, we are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to bring elements of our onboard experience to modern luxury vacationers."
"A Taste of Modern Luxury" takes place at 11 am on Saturday, February 23, at the Port of Miami. Pre-registration is required for participation. Tickets and more details are available at www.sobefest.com/celebritycruises. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
SOURCE Celebrity Cruises
“The partnership between Nobu and Crystal Cruises has been so successful because we both have a sincere passion for excellence, and a desire to deliver it in an atmosphere of friendly, yet attentive, hospitality,” says Toni Neumeister, vice president, food and beverage operations. “Nobu truly enjoys engaging with his clientele, many of whom are also Crystal travelers, yet he also relishes time with his family. The ease and luxury of a Crystal cruise provides the perfect vehicle for this very busy man to put it all together: connect with guests, spend time with his chefs, and relax with his multi-generational, global family.”
Crystal’s Nobu-cuisine restaurants, the only ones of their kind at sea, feature his personally-trained chefs, signature dishes, Nobu sake and his own line of dinnerware. Complimentary and open almost every evening of every cruise, the restaurants offer coveted fare that is also available via room service on Crystal’s butler-serviced Penthouse deck accommodations.
The “Bounties of the Black Sea” itinerary visits Rome’s port of Civitavecchia, Sorrento, and Sicily, Italy; ConstanÅ£a, Romania; Odessa (overnight) and Yalta, Ukraine; Sochi, Russia; and Istanbul, Turkey (overnight). All-inclusive, “Book Now” fares begin at $5,510/person, with $900/person savings if booked by February 28.
Extraordinary culinary experiences are a hallmark of every Crystal vacation. Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity’s extensive, innovative choices for gourmandizing include the ultra-luxury line’s coveted cheese and wine cellars, overseen by on-board, certified cheese and wine sommeliers (Court of Master Sommeliers-certified); fresh, chef-like cocktails served by certified mixologists; and gourmet dining options at every meal, whether in the Crystal Dining Room, at afternoon tea, or in Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio’s specialty restaurants.
Actress Named Godmother to Cruise Line's Newest Ship Via New Commercial Aired During Oscars
Indeed, Crystal’s “year of new developments” has been met with marked success. Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity went “all inclusive” in early-mid 2012 and maintained a strong commitment to quality inclusions and attentive service.
The year also saw a continual stream of innovative product, design and shore-side enhancements, the introduction of a new brand campaign, a boost to Crystal’s global cruise collection with a new series of short “Getaways,” and the launch of future years’ cruise itineraries earlier than ever. The line’s 2014 “Begin a New Story” Cruise Atlas is on press and is set for agencies and households earlier than ever.
Crystal is planning the new release of Book Now fares for the period of March 1-April 30, and the line is promising that some fares will rise.
“Each year we hear from thousands of guests who thank us for providing an unparalleled vacation experience,” says Jack Anderson, senior vice president, marketing & sales. “The truth is, we’re thanking them and their travel agents for putting their valued vacations in our hands and having such faith in their Crystal experience for this year and the years to come.”
Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history.
