New CEO at Helm of Carnival Corporation PLC

 
On the same day they announced their second quarter earnings, Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK), announced that it was splitting roles of Chairman & CEO.

Micky Arison will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of the company and Arnold W. Donald, a highly experienced and respected business leader who has served on the company's board for the past 12 years, will assume the CEO role effective July 3.  

According to the press release, In his role as chairman, Arison will continue to provide board level oversight for the company and will remain the company's largest shareholder. Donald will lead the executive team, initially focusing on achieving the company's long-term strategic goals while working directly with the operating brand executives.  Frank will continue to serve in his current role as vice chairman and COO of the company, supporting Donald in working with the corporate level executive team.  The move has received unanimous approval from the company's nominating and governance committee as well as the full board of directors.   

"I have been discussing this with the board for some time now and feel the timing is right to align our company with corporate governance best practices and turn over the reins after 34 years as CEO," said Arison.  "Arnold is an exceptional professional with extensive experience in organizational leadership who will bring a fresh perspective to the company.  I have come to value and rely on his judgment and insight during the 12 years he has served on the company's board and I am very confident in his ability to move the organization forward." Arison added, "As chairman, I will still be working closely with Arnold to ensure a great future for all our stakeholders." 

 As you are quite aware Carnival Corporation has been in the news quite a lot the past two years starting with the January, 2012 Costa Concordia disaster in Italy and continuing this year with disabled ships following a fire and other propulsion problems.  Carnival has responded with a $300M project to improve reliability and safety of its vessels.

"I am honored and privileged to have this opportunity to lead the next stage of growth for Carnival Corporation & plc," said Donald. "As a board member, I have come to know Micky, Howard and the company well.  I have a first-hand appreciation of what it has taken to develop this highly successful business, an understanding for the dynamics and challenges we face, and a great deal of confidence in the company's management team and their ability to execute. I have enormous respect for Micky as a visionary in our industry, and as the builder and leader of Carnival.  I have come to know many of the talented professionals who work within Carnival during my time on the board and I look forward to working with the company's many stakeholders including our 90,000 employees, 10 million guests, thousands of travel agent partners, vendors and shareholders around the globe."

Arison remains the company's largest shareholder, which signals his continued efforts to help Carnival Corporation rebuild the company's image and take it to new levels in the industry.

P&O Cruises Grand Event

Celebrating 175th Anniversary

Seven Ships Meet in Southampton

Marking its 175 years of history, P&O Cruises' Grand Event features all seven ships meeting in Southampton on 3 July. The occasion will be marked with a Red Arrows' fly-by, a visit by Royalty, HRH The Princess Royal, and a spectacular "daytime pyrotechnics" display as each ship leaves port.

The P&O  story began in 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the British Government contract for a weekly mail service to the Iberian Peninsula. 

This will be a first in the history of the company  that all seven ships are together in their homeport of Southampton, England.          

About P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first passenger ships in the early 19th Century. It is the sister company of, and retains strong links with P&O Cruises Australia.

P&O Cruises was de-merged from the P&O group in 2000, becoming a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which subsequently merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003, to form Carnival Corporation & plc.

P&O Cruises currently operates seven cruise ships with a total passenger capacity of 14,970 and a 5% market share of all cruise lines worldwide. Its most recent vessel MS Adonia joined the fleet in May 2011.

Introducing Celebrity Silhouette

Celebrity Silhouette courtesy Meyer Werft & Celebrity Cruises

Meyer Werft 

Does it Again

Celebrity Silhouette

Delivered

Fourth in a Series

Celebrity Silhouette^SM joins her sisters, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Eclipse as another success story for shipbuilder MEYER WERFT.

The new122,000 gross ton Celebrity Silhouette^SM was delivered on schedule to Celebrity Cruises (Miami, USA) in the Dutch port of Eemshaven.  The shipyard in Papenburg, should be quite proud of this accomplishment.

Celebrity Silhouette^SM is the fourth ship out of a series of five cruise ships the shipyard in Papenburg is building for Celebrity Cruises. The series began with the delivery of Celebrity Solstice in October, 2008.  The second ship, Celebrity Equinox, was delivered in July, 2009 followed by the Celebrity Eclipse in April, 2010.  Meyer Werft has been building ships for Celebrity Cruises since 1995.

The Solstice® Class ships have a total length of 315 meters, which is almost three times as long as a soccer ground, making them the biggest ships built to date for Celebrity Cruises. 

MEYER WERFT and Celebrity Cruises have developed and built another extremely eco-friendly ship. Highly energy-efficient  systems, a solar power system, optimised hydrodynamics, a very efficient underwater hull coating and an energy-saving lighting system using LEDs cut back the ship's energy demand considerably.

The Celebrity Silhouette can accommodate 2,886 passengers, who are taken care of by a crew of 1,271. Following her naming ceremony in Hamburg on 21 July 2011, she began her maiden voyage to Barcelona via Civitavecchia/Rome on 23 July 2011.

  Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans   Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Ship Reviews | Photos   

Now that Celebrity Silhouette^SM has joined the Celebrity Cruises fleet, you have another outstanding option for cruising Europe and the Caribbean. She's impressive, with all the best-loved Solstice® Class features - and some new ones.  We will take a closer look at some of the new features in future posts.

Welcome to New Readers

Streamwood Summer Celebration

Princess Cruise Sale Thru August 1st

The Streamwood Summer Celebration is now over and I'm happy to report that we met with many people at the Business Expo that are interested in a cruise vacation. We really enjoy talking with new cruisers. With over 25 years of cruise industry experince we are able to answer just about any question a first-timer or even the seasoned-cruiser can think up.

Don't forget, the Princess Cruise Sale continues through the end of this week. Receive a reduced deposit of $100 per person and a coupon book valued at $325. That can be combined with most other offers to provide you with even more value. This is an exclusive cruise sale, so take advantage of it now.

I'd like to welcome new readers, many of which we met at the expo. Think of this blog as your source of information about cruise vacations. If you utilize all the information provided in this column, on our websites, and on our Facebook page, you will have a good foundation for keeping up to date on offers, changes in the industry, and reviews from our personal experiences.

The discussions during the expo weren't much different than those we have all the time. We share our personal experiences and knowledge of the various cruise lines that sail to the destinations that interest you. Since we represent all cruise lines, we can compare the various cruises and offer suggestions based on your requirements and interests. We take all the worry out of planning by being your interface with the cruise companies, sorting out all the requirements and finding the best available fare for the cruise you select.

Some questions that help us find the right cruise for you: What do you like to do when on vacation? What sort of accommodation are you looking for (inside, outside, balcony, suite, multiple cabins, handicap cabin, etc)? Do you want to fly or drive to the embarkation port? Where do you want to go and begin your cruise vacation from? When do you want to go and how long do you want to be on vacation?

These are just a few questions that help us to assist you in planning the perfect cruise vacation. Our value goes beyond booking your reservation. What's more important is finding the right cruise for you that will provide good value and a great vacation.

I've been writing this blog now for a couple years and there is quite a lot of content. To make it easier to find that tidbit of information from one of my past blog posts, I've added Blogger's Search capability to the right-hand navigation. You don't even have to leave the blog to narrow your search.

For the first-time readers, I'd suggest you take a look at the Archive to see some of my past posts. One of the most popular topics are my reviews of the various dining options onboard the ships. I've talked about our past trips to places like the Galapagos, Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and many other destinations. I've talked about new ships like the Norwegian Epic, Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, and Celebrity Solstice.

Visit my website to sign up for my weekly eSavers newsletter (you can also sign up right here on the blog). I list Hot deals here and on my website. You can learn about what's new in the industry here and also on the front page of my website. If you want to see pictures from our cruises, I often have links in the blog posts, but you can also visit Our Shutterfly Page .

Become a Fan on my Facebook Page

Streamwood Summer Celebration - Exclusive Princess Sale

Streamwood Summer Celebration

Princess Cruise Sale Thru August 1st

If you are in the Greater Chicagoland area, the village of Streamwood is holding their annual Summer Celebration this coming weekend. The festival starts Friday, July 24th and runs through Sunday, July 26th.

We will have a booth in the Expo Tent. Expo hours are different from the fair, so be sure to check the schedule. The fair grounds are located at Hoosier Grove Park, 700 W. Irving Park Road, Streamwood. More details about the Streamwood Summer Celebration.

We have setup an Exclusive One Week Princess Cruise Sale in conjunction with the celebration. This sale offers great savings and exciting extras including reduced $100 pp deposits and onboard coupon book worth up to $325 in onboard services. More information about the coupon book (click here).

Besides the coupon book, we still have block space on several Princess Cruise itineraries to popular destinations. If you book one of those select sailings, you'll also receive an onboard credit and other exciting offers.

Book between July 25 - August 1st

to take advantage of this Exclusive Cruise Sale. Visit us at the Expo, email, or call for more details. I hope to meet those of you who are in the area at the Summer Celebration.

Carnival Cruises Cash Back Sale Extended

Carnival Cruises

Summer Savings Continues

Carnival Cruises announced that it was extending the Summer Cash Back Sale through July 31, 2009. Guests can receive up to $240 per cabin depending on the length of the cruise.

Just book by July 31st, 2009 and Carnival will load up your Sail & Sign® Card with up to $50 per guest for 3–4 day cruises, up to $75 per guest for 5 day cruises, or up to $120 per guest for 6–8 day cruises.

But here's the coolest part. You can use the cash anywhere on board or on a shore excursion. And at the end of your cruise, you’ll get back whatever credit you haven't used. How great is that?

For Complete Details Including Sample Savings CLICK HERE.

NCL’s Pity the Procrastinator Sales Event - On Now

Norwegian Cruise Line

Pity the Procrastinator

Sales Event: 7/6/09 - 8/2/09

Offer available on all 2010 & 2011 cruises

Good things come to those

that don't wait !

It's all about fast thinking with Norwegian Cruise Line's Pity the Procrastinator Sales Event. NCL will reward you with instant gratification when you snap up these deals immediately.

You can receive a free up-to-6-category upgrade, big discounts, and more when you book today. What's the catch? The best available staterooms and suites will go first, so if you snooze, you lose.

Don't procrastinate and you could get a 6-category upgrade today. Wait until tomorrow, and it could be a 4-category upgrade. By next week, it may be gone. Staterooms will go fast. Pity the procrastinator who waits because he or she will lose out on the best deals.

Don't procrastinate, Book Now.

Sale ends 8/2/2009

For information about NCL itineraries, CLICK HERE. Better yet, give me a call today so that you don't miss out. I will be able to give you up to the minute availability.

Happy 4th of July

Independence Day 2009

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States

I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful Fourth of July with family and friends. Across the globe, there are many families that are apart from loved ones. Those are the men and women of the Armed Forces who are serving to protect those freedoms that we celebrate today. Let us salute those men and women who sacrifice so that we can enjoy this holiday.

The photo in this article was not taken on the Fourth of July, but rather when I was onboard Disney Wonder for a Southern Caribbean voyage. Across America today, you'll see similar displays in the night skies (weather permitting). Enjoy your freedom today.

I'd like to thank all the military personnel, past and present, for serving their country. Many of the cruise lines offer military discounts. If you know someone who has served, make sure they are aware of these discounts - it's the least we can do for them that have made this day possible.

Summer Cruise Specials

HOLIDAY CRUISE VACATION SPECIALS

Those that follow my column on a regular basis know that I try to keep you posted on special savings so that you can enjoy the destinations I write about yourself. As the 4th of July holiday weekend approaches, I've received several offers in my inbox that I wanted to share with you.Some of the offers are only available through the holiday weekend, while others last longer.

Royal Caribbean 4th of July Sale

Book a balcony or above and receive a $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom on select sailings. The select sailings include Vision of the Seas Holy Land and Mediterranean; Brilliance of the Seas Egypt & Mediterranean; Navigator of the Seas Eastern & Westerrn Mediterranean; Navigator of the Seas Mediterranean & Egypt; Splendour of the Seas Greek Isles & Turkey and Mediterranean; and Voyager of the Seas Mediterranean. OFFER DETAILS Book July 1 - 5.

Celebrity Cruises Beat The Heat Summer Cruise Sale

Book an Ocean View stateroom or higher on any of the mentioned departures and receive up to $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom plus a pair of Exceptional Offer Booklets. The select sailings include Celebrity Century Mediterranean and Transatlantic; Constellation Bermuda; Mercury Caribbean; Millennium Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal; Solstice Mediterranean; Summit Caribbean; and Infitity Panama Canal. OFFER DETAILS Book by July 15.

Disney Cruise Verandah Cruise Sale

Receive up to $700 Onboard Credit per stateroom for new Verandah bookings this summer. This includes most 3 night, 4 night, and 7 night sailings. OFFER DETAILS.

This is only a sampling of special offers available right now. As always, these offers are capacity controlled and subject to restrictions set forth by the respective cruise line, so "the early bird gets the worm" as they say. See my website or give me a call to learn more.

Declaration of Indpendence Visits Princess Cruises in Alaska

Exclusive Opportunity for Princess Cruises Passengers

View Historic Document During Juneau Visits

July 1-8, 2009

Princess Cruises just announced a rare opportunity for passengers aboard all Princess ships calling in Juneau, Alaska between July 1-8, 2009. Those fortunate passengers can view a rare, original copy of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence.

A copy of this founding document will make an exclusive appearance aboard Princess Cruises’ Alaska-based ships the July 4th week, giving passengers the unique opportunity to see the only traveling copy of the Declaration of Independence. The historic exhibit will be showcased aboard all Princess ships calling in Juneau between July 1-8, 2009.

This event is hosted in partnership with Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization founded by television producer Norman Lear. Passengers can be part of a historical first since this marks the first time a copy of the Declaration has visited Alaska, and the first time a cruise line has shown the famous document.

The Declaration will be on display aboard the vessels for about two hours while each ship is docked in Juneau.

The document will be shown aboard Diamond Princess and Star Princess on July 1; Coral Princess on July 2; Island Princess on July 3; Pacific Princess and Golden Princess on July 6, and Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess on July 8. Note: I still have cabins available for all ships except Star Princess, but they are going fast. Click on the links for more details.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our passengers to get a first-hand look at history, which is especially poignant at a time of year when our country celebrates its independence,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “It’s a rare occasion when we can bring such a unique attraction right on board – this document has never been shown on a cruise ship before. It will be a memorable way to mark the week of Independence Day as well as Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood.”

The only touring copy of the Declaration of Independence, Declare Yourself’s historic document is one of an estimated 200 original broadside copies (about the size of a sheet of newspaper) printed by John Dunlap in Philadelphia in 1776 after it was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, to distribute across the colonies and to King George in England. This copy’s current journey began in 1989 when a Pennsylvania shopper bought a frame at a flea market for $4.00. Later, while inspecting a tear in the back of the painting, he discovered a piece of paper wedged between the frame and painting. He pulled it out and uncovered what would soon be authenticated as the 25th remaining copy of the Declaration of Independence. The document changed hands several times and was purchased in 2000 by Lyn and Norman Lear for $8.14 million, with the goal of bringing the document directly to the American people.

Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that was founded in 2003 to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register to vote.