Oceania Cruises has announced that a longtime member of the line’s family, Claudine Pépin, will serve as godmother for its new Sirena at the ship’s christening ceremony in Barcelona on April 27. Claudine’s father, master chef Jacques Pépin, has been Oceania’s Executive Culinary Director since the company’s inception. In other news, Oceania Cruises is introducing a newly evolved “OLife” promotion by inviting guests to choose from a variety of complimentary amenities when booking a cruise departing on or after April 25, 2016. The new “OLife Choice” promotion replaces the existing “OLife Early Booking Advantage” program which concluded on December 31. Guests will now receive such complimentary amenities as free unlimited internet access and a choice of a beverage package, free shore excursions or a shipboard credit, dependent on the length of the cruise. The new program is currently scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2016. www.oceaniacruises.com/
Princess Cruises has announced a new series of chocolate offerings within the line’s “Chocolate Journeys” experience, in partnership with acclaimed master chocolatier and pastry designer, Chef Norman Love. Princess will also soon crown its top guest entertainer for 2015 during its fifth annual “Entertainer of the Year” competition aboard the March 6 sailing of Caribbean Princess. The four nominees are comedian A. J. Jamal, magician Alex Ramon, singer, dancer and musician Nathan Foley, and pianist John Bressler. In other news, the line celebrated its 50th birthday on December 3 with a special appearance by the original “Love Boat” cast aboard Pacific Princess in the Port of Los Angeles, before the ship set sail on a ‘throwback’ cruise, recreating its first itinerary to the Mexican Riviera. Princess Cruises is now the third largest cruise line in the world with a fleet of 18 ships. The County of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Clarita, home of the company’s world headquarters, also marked the occasion with a proclamation declaring December 3 “Princess Cruises Day.” Next, the line’s “Twice as Nice” sale offers double onboard spending money and savings of up to $1,000 per stateroom on cruises six days and longer to all destinations, over 700 voyages sailing from summer, 2016, through spring, 2017. The promotion offers guests booking an interior or oceanview stateroom up to $300 onboard spending money per stateroom (“nice”) and guests booking a balcony, mini-suite or suite up to $600 onboard spending money per stateroom (“twice as nice”), and runs through February 29, 2016. Finally, Princess has unveiled a new “Princess Luxury Bed,” specially designed to “deliver the ultimate night of sleep at sea.” Developed in collaboration with experts in both the science and beauty of sleep, more than 44,000 new beds will be installed in every stateroom across the fleet, through 2018. www.princesscruises.com/
Royal Caribbean has announced that the hit Broadway musical Grease, specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions, will take the stage onboard both the new Harmony of the Seas, which will begin sailing across Europe this May, as well as Independence of the Seas, which will again be homeported in Southampton, England for the coming summer. Also, the 90,090 gross-registered-ton Jewel of the Seas will receive a complete makeover from bow-to-stern for the summer, 2016 Mediterranean season. Additions will include a two-bedroom family suite; 24 new outside and balcony accommodations; Giovanni’s Table, Vintages and Izumi dining venues; a new poolside movie screen; and “VOOM,” reportedly the fastest internet service available at sea. www.rccl.com/
SeaDream Yacht Club’s “Holiday Savings Event,” which runs through January 15, offers savings of up To $1000 per stateroom on select 2016 Mediterranean and Caribbean Voyages. www.seadream.com/
On December 10, Silversea Cruises celebrated the traditional keel-laying ceremony of its newest ship, Silver Muse, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. In other news, the line is now giving guests a choice of what it terms “the most all-inclusive fares available” or cruise-only fares on featured Mediterranean and Africa voyages in 2016. All-inclusive packages offer round-trip economy air travel and transfers, a two-night pre-cruise hotel stay (a three-night safari for Africa sailings), free “Silver Shore Select” excursions, and free shipboard Wi-Fi. All-inclusive packages are available for new bookings made on or after December 16 on a trio of Silver Cloud voyages to Africa and the Indian Ocean, plus 30 Mediterranean cruises aboard Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, and Silver Spirit. They join the previously announced Silver Shadow Asia cruises, which also offer the all-inclusive package amenities on all 2016 sailings. www.silverseacruises.com/
Un-Cruise Adventures has hired Richard G. Edwards as vice president of sales and marketing. Edwards takes over the role from Tim Jacox, who was promoted to president and chief operating officer. Edwards will be responsible for strengthening relationships with new and longtime travel industry partners, managing the line’s overall brand integrity, participating in strategic planning with the executive team, and promoting consumer understanding of the fast-growing adventure cruising segment. www.un-cruise.com/
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has released a new listing of European river cruise dates (March through August) and itineraries on which single supplements have been waived: 15-day “Grand European Discovery,” 8-day “Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time,” 8-day “Castles Along the Rhine,” 8-day “Enchanting Danube” (also with available dates in November), 13-day “Legendary Rhine and Moselle” and 10-day “Tulips & Windmills.” Uniworld also has a current promotion running for bookings through January 15 that offers savings of up to 50% on select 2016 itineraries and departure dates (March through November): 8-day “Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time,” 15-day “European Jewels,” 13-day “Legendary Rhine and Moselle.” 15-day “Splendors of Italy,” 10-day “Gems of Northern Italy,” and 8-day “Castles Along the Rhine.” www.uniworld.com/
Windstar Cruises has announced a new program for guests traveling on its Costa Rica & Panama Canal voyages. “The Canal Celebration,” a deckside festival, will invite guests to experience the sights and sounds of the Panama Canal while enjoying amenities, activities and dining that highlight the Panamanian culture. Upon completion of the passage, guests will receive certification of “The Order of the Ditch,” a Navy tradition that recognizes “sailors” who have passed through the Panama Canal. These itineraries also call at Drake Bay, Balboa, Puerto Jimenez, Quepos, and include stops near several national parks, including the isolated Corcovado National Park and Isla de Coiba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Windstar holds an “Island Experience Private Event.” In other news, the line’s Star Legend recently completed its inaugural voyage from Puerto Rico, marking the first time that Windstar has launched from a U.S. port of call in recent history. www.windstarcruises.com/
