Line Voted Best for Itineraries and Onboard Boutiques

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Princess Cruises has received top honors in three categories of Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2008 Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The line won Best Central American Itineraries, Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries, and Best Onboard Shopping.

The awards represent the eighth year in a row that the line has been recognized in an itinerary category and the second year that Princess took top honors as having the best Central American itineraries.

“We’re very pleased that Porthole readers continue to think of Princess for itinerary excellence,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “Princess ships have been traveling the globe for decades, and our experience has enabled us to create the very best itineraries.”

In 2009-10, Princess’ Central American itineraries will include a new “Two-day Canal Experience” on Panama Canal transits of 15 days or longer, featuring a second day in port so passengers can enjoy both the engineering wonder of the Canal and further discover the country of Panama.

Down Under, Princess will continue its program of Australia/New Zealand sailings with a series of cruises between Sydney and Auckland aboard Diamond Princess, plus two ships, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess, based in the region year round.

“And we’re also delighted that Porthole readers singled out our outstanding onboard boutiques,” said Swartz. Offering a wide selection of gifts and cruise memories, Princess’ onboard boutiques offer duty-free shopping for jewelry, accessories, fragrances, cosmetics, apparel, fine gifts, liquor, cruise souvenirs and sundries.

Porthole, a bimonthly magazine published for experienced cruise passengers, reaches more than three million readers annually. For more information on Porthole Cruise Magazine, visit www.porthole.com.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent by calling 1-877-325-7522, or by visiting http://www.cht-caribbean-cruise.com/cruise_princess.htm.

Miami – (November 24, 2008 ) – During preview cruises this month on its new Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Cruises revealed plans to resume cruises to Bermuda in 2010.

“Celebrity has a long and positive history with the beautiful island of Bermuda, and we’re thrilled to respond to demand that we return, from our longtime guests and travel agent partners alike,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan.

On April 17, 2010, Celebrity Summit will reposition from San Juan to Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey, to present a series of 7-night roundtrip Bermuda itineraries. The ship will dock at King’s Wharf, also known as the Royal Naval Dockyard.

“Travelers and travel agents have spoken, and they say they want Bermuda and Celebrity reunited,” said Bermuda Premier Dr. Ewart F. Brown, also Minister of Tourism and Transport. “I am pleased to say that we have delivered. Guests on the Bermuda-bound Celebrity Summit are in for a spectacular vacation experience both on land and at sea come April 2010.”

In July 2010, Celebrity Summit ’s new Bermuda sailings will alternate with 7-night Canada/New England cruises. Full deployment details for both destinations will be announced when bookings open in 2009. Celebrity Cruises’ most recent season in Bermuda ended in October 2006, with the line’s former Celebrity Zenith.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet – including the new Celebrity Solstice – will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent 1 877 325-7522.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises waives single supplements on a variety of 2009 Europe River Cruises, which means solo travelers can cruise at no additional charge by booking on or before January 31, 2009. Plus, by booking on or before this January 31, 2009 date, solo travelers can save up to an additional $1,000 on their cruise with Uniworld’s Pay-In-Full Savings and Early Booking Discounts.

“Uniworld knows that there is a market for people who wish to travel on their own, so we decided to waive single supplement charges on many of our 2009 river cruises.  In addition, these travelers can take advantage of our Pay-In-Full and/or Early Booking Discount programs providing even more added savings and unbeatable value on our all-inclusive cruises,” states Janice Tully, Sr. Vice President at Uniworld.  “Having the flexibility to travel on your own and being able to do what you want can be a very liberating experience. There are no compromises to be made and no negotiations to do something you are not interested in doing. You can sleep late, take an excursion, listen to a lecture, or simply read a good book on the sun deck,” adds Tully.

When visiting Europe, there is no better value than river cruising.  Virtually everything is included in the price—beautifully-appointed riverview staterooms, all meals with open seating so guests dine where and with whom they would like, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served during dinner, 24-specialty coffees, teas and bottled water, shore excursions fully hosted by local guides, onboard entertainment, and all transfers on arrival and departure days.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was named to Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines, Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 Gold List and their Reader’s Choice Awards for World’s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines. Uniworld features intimate, elegant boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, an award-winning staff with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 40 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Egypt, China, Russia and the Ukraine.

For more information, please contact your Preferred Travel Professional at 1-877-325-7522, or visit http://www.europe-river-cruise.com/.

Royal Caribbean’s Newest Freedom-Class Ship Arrives In The US

Miami – November 19, 2008 – Royal Caribbean International’s newest Freedom-class ship, Independence of the Seas, made her US debut today at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Sharing the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister-ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas will be the line’s first Freedom-class ship to sail from Port Everglades.

At 160,000 GRT and a capacity of 3,634 guests, Independence of the Seas features all of the industry-first amenities which are trademarks of the Freedom-class ships: a FlowRider surf simulator; the H20 Zone water park with its interactive sculpture garden for families and toddler pool; cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 ft. above the ocean in the adults-only Solarium; a fullsize boxing ring and a 14-person family suite.

Independence of the Seas also features some of the other distinctive offerings the global cruise line is known for including, an ice-skating rink; a rock-climbing wall; an award-winning youth program; fine to casual dining venues; Broadway-style entertainment and the Royal Promenade – an entertainment boulevard stretching the length of the ship with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges, which provides guests with an endless variety of choices and experiences to suit their taste and preference.

Independence of the Seas will sail from Ft. Lauderdale and alternate between eight-night Eastern Caribbean and six-night Western Caribbean itineraries. Independence’s Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti. The Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska and Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and South America.

According to a new survey conducted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Cruise Critic, “Cruising can be a great choice for multigenerational travel, with over 60% of the respondents on this survey saying they sometimes or always travel as an extended family (with grandparents and/or grandchildren).”  Uniworld understands this, and has developed multigenerational family-friendly river cruises specifically to appeal to grandparents and parents who wish to share the gift of Europe with the special young people in their lives. According to Guy Young, president of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, “With such a huge demand for new opportunities for multigenerational travel, it was a natural evolution for us to offer river cruising programs geared towards families. Our family-friendly programs have been developed around summer vacations in July and August, so planning a vacation is always easy.”

The value of an all-inclusive Uniworld cruise is unbeatable.  Uniworld’s offers special family pricing with young people between 8 and 18 traveling at 50% off the cruise price when traveling with an adult. Add in all meals with soft drinks, entertainment, lectures and demonstrations onboard, and exciting shore excursions, fully hosted by local guides, and you have the ideal, hassle-free, value-packed family vacation.  

Uniworld’s multigenerational programs provide the opportunity for families to explore amazing countries, gain valuable insights, and intimately learn about different cultures up-close and personal as a family. “It is important to note that Uniworld’s itineraries are different from ocean cruises in that the goal of our programs is to give young travelers an understanding of European culture, art, music and history in an engaging way,” adds Young.

Family-friendly itineraries include:
A 9-day Castles Along the Rhine River Cruise sailing the Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel. The fairytale castles, combined with the breathtaking landscape, old-world towns with quaint half-timbered buildings, exciting museums with self-playing musical instruments and legendary myths are certain to enchant the entire family.  Special highlights include a mini-train ride to Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum, home to one of the largest collection of self-playing musical instruments in the world, and the Speyer Technical Museum with a walk-in Boeing 747, the largest propeller aircraft in the world, a U9 German Navy submarine, fire engines, locomotives, aircrafts and helicopters.

Cruise only prices are from $2,399 per person, based on double occupancy for July and August departures.  Children between 8 and 18 years of age receive 50% off cruise-only rate when accompanied by an adult.

A 9-day Paris and Normandy River Cruise sailing along the Seine from Paris the” City of Lights,” past the luminous countryside of Northern France to the nostalgic beaches of Normandy and then back to Paris. This unique program offers the adventures family-friendly guided tours of Paris, Honfleur, Rouen and Giverny, and the real-life education of standing on the beaches of Normandy as a family sharing in the meaningful events that forever changed the world. Special highlights include: Joan de Arc Museum in Rouen, the Naturospace Museum in Honfleur, and a hike to the Stronghold of Richard the Lionheart, Chateau Gaillard.

Cruise only prices are from $2,599 per person, based on double occupancy.  Children between 8 and 18 years of age receive 50% off cruise-only rate when accompanied by an adult.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was recently named to Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines, Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 Gold List and their Reader’s Choice Awards for World’s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines. Uniworld features intimate, elegant boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, an award-winning staff with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 40 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, China, and Egypt.

For more information, contact your Preferred Travel Professional. Call us at 1-877-325-7522, or visit http://www.europe-river-cruise.com/.

 Uniworld . . . River Cruising at its Finest

Uniworld is a member of CLIA, Cruise Lines International Association

Befitting the “Most Romantic Cruise Line,” Reigning Reality Couple Trista and Ryan Sutter of “The Bachelorette” Christen Ship to Celebrate Their Fifth Wedding Anniversary

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (November 6, 2008) — In a “ruby red” themed ceremony celebrating romance, Princess Cruises today named its newest ship, Ruby Princess. America’s reigning reality couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter of The Bachelorette did the honors, breaking the traditional bottle of champagne to mark the ship’s launch, and their own fifth anniversary. The new godparents were surrounded by hundreds of guests decked out in ruby red-tie formal attire, and a ruby-haired singer serenaded the crowd. As befitting the most romantic cruise line, and an event celebrating “romantic moments and milestones,” the official naming was followed by the ultimate romantic milestone — a wedding in the midst of the festivities. The California couple joined in matrimony not only had Trista and Ryan as wedding attendants, but the Love Boat captain himself, Gavin MacLeod, gave away the bride.

Tonight the ship hosts a “Ruby Red Tie” gala and sets sail on a two-night cruise for hundreds of VIP guests who will enjoy a special preview of Princess’ newest vessel. During the mini sailing, the ship will host an array of romantic activities, including a massive renewal of vows for all couples tomorrow while the ship is at sea. Ruby Princess then returns to Port Everglades on November 8 for its inaugural seven-day sailing to the Western Caribbean.

“It’s only fitting that as the most romantic cruise line in the industry, we celebrate the naming of our newest ship with a tribute to ?romantic milestones,’” said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer. “It was exciting to have Trista and Ryan Sutter serve as godparents of Ruby Princess and of course the wedding during the ceremony added an appropriate touch to the festivities.”

Princess Cruises has long been associated with romance on the high seas, dating back to its days as the setting for the now-iconic TV show The Love Boat. Cementing that connection, Princess was just named the “Best Cruise Line for Romance” and “Best Cruise Line for Weddings” in the 2008 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. The Ruby Princess naming ceremony continued the line’s tradition of romance with godparents Trista and Ryan, who were introduced to America in 2003 on the television hit The Bachelorette.

Trista and Ryan Sutter became America’s reigning romantic couple as millions of viewers followed their courtship and witnessed their nationally televised wedding. To this day they are the only couple from the Bachelor or The Bachelorette shows to actually get married. The ceremony fulfilled the dream of yet another couple as Kip Hickman and Danielle Vurpillat tied the knot as part of the ship’s naming ceremony. The couple, from Dunsmuir, Calif., met on a blind date and expressed their desire to be married onboard Ruby Princess during a recent contest held with national newspaper, USA Today. The minister who officiated the nuptials, Phil Roberts, is also a member of Princess Cruises’ Department of Romance.

The Ruby Princess naming ceremony will be available for viewing on line at www.princess.com beginning November 7.

The 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing line-up of street performers. Passengers will also enjoy Princess’ other array of dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill steak house, plus a relaxing oasis just for adults called The Sanctuary. The new ship will also offer the many other innovations that define the Princess experience, including the popular Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating, multiple entertainment venues, a relaxing Asian-style Lotus Spa with fitness center, an extensive children and teen’s center, and a wedding chapel.

During Ruby Princess‘ inaugural season she will make seven-day weekly sailings from Fort Lauderdale to the Western Caribbean. Calls include Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico and Princess Cays in the Bahamas. Next spring the ship will move to Europe for 12-day sailings in the Mediterranean and Greek Islands.

The readers of Condé Nast Traveler have named Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection in the coveted top ten ranking in the magazine‘s 21st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The awards are based on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey, the largest independent poll of consumers’ preferences.  Over 32,000 readers voted this year.  “These awards celebrate the destinations, lodgings, and modes of transportation that manage to exceed our expectations,” said Condé Nast Traveler Editor in Chief Klara Glowczewska.
 
“We are absolutely delighted to be on this prestigious list,” stated Guy Young, President and CEO of Uniworld. “Uniworld has made significant capital investments in upgrades to the ships, food, onboard amenities, shore excursions and service delivery. This award is further acknowledgement of our efforts in positioning Uniworld at the top end of the river cruise market.  We are committed to adding state-of-the-art new ships, continuously upgrading our existing fleet, and building a solid operation’s infrastructure in Europe and the other destinations we visit,” adds Young.

In 2009, Uniworld will add two new ships. The River Beatrice will join Uniworld’s fleet in March 2009 along the Enchanting Danube, and the River Tosca will join in April 2009 along the historic Nile River.

The complete results of the awards can be found in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was recently named to Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines, Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 Gold List and their Reader’s Choice Awards for World’s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines. Uniworld features intimate, elegant boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, an award-winning staff with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 40 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, China and Egypt.

For more information on Group travel or to book a 2009 Uniworld cruise, please contact us at 1-877-325-7522, or visit Uniworld.

Royal Caribbean Launches New Brand Campaign Empowering Vacationers To Ask “Why Not?”
Groundbreaking Television And Print Ads, A New Website And Interactive Promotions Entice Citizenship In “The Nation Of Why Not”

Miami -  In an unprecedented move, Royal Caribbean International has officially seceded from land and declared itself The Nation of Why Not, in the first new integrated advertising campaign for the global cruise line in nearly ten years. Created in partnership with Royal Caribbean’s  lead agency, JWT NY, and a group of WPP agencies, including Mindshare and RMG, the campaign will be rolled out today in North America and globally in 2009 and includes print and online advertising, television commercials, collateral, as well as a new social networking website – www.nationofwhynot.com.

The Nation of Why Not kicks off with two television commercials (30-second and 60- second versions) inviting vacationers to secede from land and become citizens of “the nation.” The tongue-in-cheek spots – a combination of live action and animation – begin November 10, during morning show programming on ABC and NBC television networks, and during primetime programming on ABC and CBS. The commercials highlight Royal Caribbean’s global destinations and innovative onboard amenities, challenging viewers to do things at sea that they could not do on land, such as “Why not ice skate on the equator and climb mountains at sea?” Additionally, print ads will launch in forty newspapers nationwide on Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Breaking with convention, travel and cruise industry professionals will be introduced to The Nation of Why Not on Monday, November 17, with the first edition of “The Why Not Herald,” an insert in key travel trade publications across the United States and Canada. Subsequent editions will feature the new brand campaign’s print advertisements.

“The Nation of Why Not is a place where innovation and imagination rule supreme,” stated Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The founding of The Nation of Why Not is not a revolution, but an evolution of Royal Caribbean’s  legacy of presenting guests with a variety of unexpected possibilities onboard, such as rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, and surf simulators, which have always prompted the idea of ‘why not?’”

The citizens of The Nation of Why Not – from guests, cruise and shore-side staff to travel agents, architects, designers and builders – bring the concept of “Why Not?” to life by participating in, delivering and conceptualizing the global cruise line’s award-winning Gold Anchor service and signature onboard innovations. The new brand campaign not only resonates with Royal Caribbean’s  cruisers, but is a natural fit within the existing company culture, which fosters creativity and dedication to developing the most innovative cruise ships in the world. Nine years ago the “Get Out There” campaign successfully redefined society’s perceptions about cruising and propelled Royal Caribbean to become the leader of the active cruise vacation market; today the Why Not? campaign connects the world to The Nation of Why Not’s “anything is possible” state-of-mind.

“JWT is honored to team-up with Royal Caribbean, always a trailblazer in the industry, to launch this new brand,” stated Ty Montague, Chief Creative Officer & Co-President, JWT. “The campaign celebrates the pioneering spirit of the company and shows how that spirit releases the Why Not in all of us. It also reflects the great community of people – crew, cruisers and travel agents – that Royal Caribbean has built up over the years and gives them all a sense of belonging as citizens in the Nation.” 
The cruise line has evolved into a global company over the last decade, expanding its fleet and setting records by introducing many ‘firsts’ at sea. The line’s newest ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas launching in December 2009 and late 2010, respectively, are the embodiment of these ongoing ideals.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.