Carnival Dream Christened, Debuts In North America

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest fun ship, the 130,000-GRT Carnival Dream, has been christened in the New York by her godmother Marcia Gay Harden. The award-winning actress swung an official Yankees baseball bat autographed by player Alex Rodriguez at a 1.8-meter tall faux bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne onstage in the ship’s theater, triggering the release of a real bottle against the ship’s hull.

 

The festivities, hosted by Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald, continued throughout the ship and guests at the Encore! show lounge were treated to a live dance performance by Carnival Dream’s Fun Force dance troupe. Dressed in blue track suits, the performers breakdanced and cartwheeled to techno music, with one performer being revealed at the end of the number to be Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Gerry Cahill.

 

The 3652-guest Carnival Dream is the largest ship in the Carnival fleet and offers a host of innovations, including the Ocean Plaza indoor/outdoor dining and entertainment venue and a 2,206-square meter Cloud 9 Spa. The ship also features the longest water slide at sea as part of the Carnival Waterworks aqua park, to be christened with a ride down by Hailee Steberger, the winner of Carnival’s “Virtual Book of Dreams” contest.

 

Constructed in Italy, Carnival Dream entered service in September 2009 , sailing in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to New York, making her North American debut. She will operate a series of short cruises before repositioning again to homeport in Port Canaveral in Florida to operate Caribbean cruises throughout the year.

 

For more information, visit www.carnival.com.

Air Arabia Adds New Routes From Casablanca And Sharjah

Middle Eastern low-cost carrier Air Arabia is to add 2 new destinations in Russia and Switzerland from its hubs in Sharjah and Casablanca respectively.

 

Sharjah – Samara

From 26 October 2009, Air Arabia will fly twice weekly to Samara, Russia. Situated on the banks of the Volga River, the city is among the top 10 Russian cities in terms of national income and industrial volume.

 

Flight G9 247 departs Sharjah at 0900 hrs on Mondays and Fridays, arriving in Samara at 1330 hrs. The return flight, G9 248, takes off from Samara at 1430 hrs and lands back in Sharjah International Airport at 1855 hrs in the evening. Air Arabia will operate its 162-seat Airbus A320 on the route.

 

Samara is the airline’s third destination in Eastern Europe, following services between Sharjah and Almaty, Kazakhstan and Kiev, Ukraine.

 

Casablanca – Basel

Air Arabia’s affiliate airline, Air Arabia Maroc, will also expand its network from Casablanca with the launch of flights to Basel in Switzerland from 25 October 2009. Located on the Swiss border, the city provides easy access to France and Germany, with EuroAirport serving Basel, as well as Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany.

 

Flight 3O 360 departs Casablanca at 1730 hrs on Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Basel at 2135 hrs. The return flight, 3O 361, takes off from EuroAirport at 2210 hrs, landing back in Mohammed V International Airport at 0030 hrs the next morning.

 

Air Arabia Maroc will fly the route twice weekly using its 164-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline began operations in April 2009 and currently operates services from Casablanca to destinations in Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and the UK.

 

For more information, visit www.airarabia.com.

W Hotels Debuts In Western Europe With W Barcelona

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has debuted its W Hotels brand in Western Europe with the opening of the new W Barcelona in Spain. Situated at Nova Bocana on the city’s waterfront, the 26-story sail-shaped hotel is easily accessible to Barcelona’s attractions and shopping districts such as the Barcelona Cathedral, Picasso Museum and FC Barcelona stadium.

 

Designed by renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, W Barcelona offers guests 10 accomodation types, ranging from the 39-square meter Cozy Rooms to the 295-square meter Extreme WOW Suite. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive views of the cityscape and beachfront, each room is furnished with the W signature bed accompanied by pillow-top mattress, goose-down duvet and 350-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, as well as a spacious bathroom with rainforest shower and Bliss sinkside six bath amenities. Entertainment and communications is provided by a 32-inch LCD television, iPod docking station, high-speed internet access and a dual-line telephone with speaker and voicemail capabilities. Other amenities include an oversized work desk, in-room safe, minibar, munchie box and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

The hotel boasts an impressive array of food and beverage options, most notably a signature restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred Catalan Chef Carles Abellan and Eclipse, a glamourous rooftop bar with stunning views of the Mediterranean from London-based nightlife gurus Ignite Group. The WAVE all-day dining restaurant serves a selection of Arabic, Lebanese, Mediterranean and Spanish favorites, while guests are kept entertained at the W Bar with its cocktail list and tapas to the live DJ mixes. The poolside WET Bar, surrounded by fully-equipped cabanas, is ideal for a refreshing drink and snacks while spending time in the hotel’s swimming pool and terrace.

 

W Barcelona’s seaside location grants guests direct access to Sant Sebastiá Beach, the watersports site for the 1992 Olympics, where the beach ambassadors take care of their every need. Within the hotel, incarnations of the brand’s signature WET swimming pool, SWEAT fitness center and Spain’s first Bliss Spa, together with its array of treatments and products, are available to guests. For business, the WIRED business center is outfitted with workstations, laptops, printers, scanners, fax machines, telecommunications and audio-video equipment, as well as high-speed internet access. 11 unique meeting venues totalling 2,100 square meters of space can accomodate conventions and functions of all sizes, ranging from wedding parties to product launches.

 

There are now 34 W properties around the world and the brand is on-track to double its portfolio by 2011. In Europe, W Hotels have announced properties in Athens, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg, with plans to open a W Retreat in Verbier, which will be the brand’s first ski retreat.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Carnival Dream Embarks On Inaugural Cruise

The newest and largest ship of Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Dream, makes its inaugural cruise today from the Italian port of Civitavecchia. The vessel will take guests on a 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyage, calling at Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Messina, Monaco, Naples, Livorno and Venice.

 

The 130,000-GRT ship was handed over to Carnival in a traditional maritime ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard and incorporates a host of innovations. Guests can look forward to a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring the longest water slide at sea, cantilevered whirlpools and a wraparound promenade at The Lanai, outdoor laser shows and movies at the Waves Lido pool and a 2,206-square meter Cloud 9 Spa. Other entertainment options onboard include a comedy club featuring 24-hour performances, the Jackpot Casino, the adult-only retreat area Serenity and the Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor venue featuring live music performances.

 

Dining options are spearheaded by The Crimson and The Gathering formal dining rooms offering extensive menus and wine lists. For casual dining, Carnival Dream offers a variety of restaurants and cafes serving a multitude of cuisines, ranging from The Chef’s Art Steakhouse and its USDA prime beef to delectable sushi at Wasabi and freshly baked pastries, specialty coffees and world famous teas at the Plaza Cafe. Guests can also find a 24-hour pizzeria, a pasta bar and Indian tandoor specialties onboard, before heading for the ship’s bars and clubs, including the Caliente Dance Club, The Song Jazz Bar, Sam’s Piano Bar and the Scarlet Lounge.

 

The ship also offers a host of accomodation categories, ranging from well-equipped Interior Staterooms to the luxurious Penthouse Suites with its own walk-in closets, to suit the varied needs of guests. Travelling families will appreciate the additional space and amenities of the 2-bath, 5-berth staterooms, while the Cove Balcony cabins offer spectacular views from its proximity to the waterline. The Cloud 9 staterooms and suites also feature private access to the spa and exclusive spa amenities.

 

Carnival Dream will sail a 16-day transatlantic crossing on 27 October 2009 following its Mediterranean voyages to New York, where she will operate a special 2-day cruise to nowhere and 2 8-day Caribbean sailings. The vessel will then reposition to homeport in Port Canaveral in Florida to cruise the Caribbean year-round. The 23rd vessel and the first of a new class of ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Dream will be joined in 2011 by her sister ship Carnival Magic, currently under construction in Italy.

 

For more information, visit www.carnival.com.

Disney Cruise Line Unveils Itineraries For 2011

Disney Cruise Line has announced the itineraries for its ships in 2011, with cruises in the Mexican Riviera, Europe and Alaskan cruises for the first time. The Disney Wonder will sail 18 voyages during its 4-month deployment to Alaska, while sister ship Disney Magic will spend the summer in Europe cruising the Mediterranean.

 

Disney Wonder To Sail Alaska, Mexican Riviera

from 3 May 2011 to 30 August 2011, the 83,000-GRT Disney Wonder will be homeported in Vancouver and offer 7-night cruises to Alaska, marking Disney Cruise Line’s debut in the largest state of the USA. 

 

The new itinerary takes guests to experience the breathtaking vistas of majestic glaciers and fjords in Juneau, catching a glimpse of brown bears, bald eagles and other abundant wildlife. In Ketchikan, guests can also learn more about the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture through hand-carved totem poles and fish for some of the largest wild salmon in the world, while Skagway offers the opportunity to pan for gold like the miners from the famous Klondike gold rush.

 

Prior to repositioning to Alaska, Disney Wonder will sail 7-night voyages out of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, including a special 10-night cruise with a stop at Manzanillo. The ship will resume cruising voyages from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera after its Alaskan deployment, calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

 

Disney Magic Returns To The Mediterranean

Departing out of Barcelona, Disney Magic will sail 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises for the 2011 summer season, taking guests to popular ports in France, Italy and Spain to explore the cultures of Europe.

 

Beginning 28 September 2011, the vessel offer 10 cruises calling at Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Naples and Villafranche, with 2 or 3 days at sea. Disney Magic will also visit Ajaccio in Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as the island nation of Malta and explore the Arab influences of Tunis in North Africa.

 

For the majority of 2011, Disney Magic will sail out of Port Canaveral on alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, with both itineraries calling at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. The vessel will also sail 2 repositioning 14-night transatlantic voyages.

 

For more information, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.

InterContinental Kiev Opens

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened its newest property in Ukraine. Located in the heart of Kiev, the InterContinental Kiev occupies a city center address between St Michael’s Cathedral, St Andrew’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of St Sophia.

 

Designed by celebrated Ukrainian architect Sergey Babushkin, the 11-floor hotel blends classical and contemporary design features. The angular marble and glass facade is accentuated by a 3-meter high statue of the Greek goddess Nike by local sculptor Michael Reva, while the interiors have been created by renowned British designer John Tweedie. Reminiscent of noble Ukrainian homes, the residential lobby and public areas are decorated with cream and pale yellow marble floors, black marble columns, handmade Italian furniture, exquisite drapes and specially-commissioned art and lighting fixtures from Eastern Europe.

 

The 272 rooms, including 5 Ambassador Suites, a Royal Suite and the 314-square meter Presidential Suite, overlook St Michael’s Square. All of the guest rooms and suites feature a classical decor and are furnished with furniture by British designer David Salmon, together with silk drapes and upholstery in light blue, gold and burgundy accents. Standard room amenities include luxury bedding, spacious bathrooms, plasma televisions, iPod docking stations, spacious workdesk, high-speed internet access, dual-line IP telephones with voicemail capability, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

Guests staying in the hotel’s Executive Club rooms enjoy additional amenities and services such as a separate check-in area and complimentary access breakfast, snacks and drinks, while Suite guests have a personal butler at their disposal and a separate kitchen. The Presidential Suite boasts enhanced security features including private lift access and has been designed to meet the needs of visiting heads of state and high-level dignitaries.

 

InterContinental Kiev features 3 restaurants helmed by Executive Chef Hector Jimenez-Bravo. At Comme il Faut, guests enjoy French cuisine in the environment of a traditional Parisian brasserie inspired by the legendary Cafe de la Paix of the InterContinental Paris Le Grand. All-day casual dining is available at Olivera, serving a Italian-Mediterranean menu with live cooking demonstrations in the open kitchens. For fine dining, b-Hush Rooftop Caviar Bar offers guests exclusive champagnes, some of the world’s best caviar, premium oysters, lobsters and foie gras in a stylish setting overlooking Kiev. The Lobby Bar and Lobby Lounge provide intimate spaces for meeting friends over coffee in the mornings, traditional English high-tea in the afternoon or cocktails in the evenings.

 

Business travellers and meeting planners have 6 function rooms and Kiev’s largest and most technologically advanced pillarless ballroom at their disposal for conventions and social events. The function spaces are supported by a fully-equipped business center, while guests can relax at the hotel’s numerous recreational facilities. The InterContinental Spa offers a variety of health and beauty treatments, as well as a sauna. Guests can also utilize the state-of-the-art fitness center or 15-meter heated indoor swimming pool.

 

The InterContinental Kiev marks the brand’s first foray into the Ukraine, joining over 150 hotels in more than 65 countries worldwide. In Europe, InterContinental Hotels are located in Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and Uzbekistan.

 

For more information, visit www.intercontinental.com.

W Hotels Debuts In Washington DC

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has opened its first W Hotels property in Washington DC. Located on the corner of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the W Washington DC is converted from the former Hotel Washington built in 1917, combining its Beaux Arts architecture with edgy yet elegant designs synonymous with W Hotels.

 

The hotel features 317 rooms, comprising of 7 accomodation types designed by Los Angeles-based designer Dianna Wong in sleek and chic shades of black and white. These include the Cozy, Wonderful and Fabulous rooms, furnished with the signature W bed and 350-threadcount bedsheets with hypoallergenic pillows, spacious bathroom with waterfall showers accompanied by bath amenities from Bliss, 37-inch LCD television, iPod docking station, dual-line cordless telephone with voicemail capability, high-speed internet access and a multi-device charging station by Bluelounge Design. The rooms also boast a leather chaise sitting space, spacious workdesk, Munchie Box and laptop-compatible in-room safe.

 

The W Washington DC also has 4 suite types available, including the Fantastic Suites, Marvellous Suites, WOW Suites and a signature 109-square meter Extreme WOW Suite, offering panoramic views of the Washington Monument, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street. In addition to the standard room amenities, suites offer guests a separate living room, dining areas, double vanity and spacious bathtubs in bathrooms and 2 flatscreen televisions.

 

Dining at the W Washington DC promises to be an epicurean experience with venues helmed by world renowned figures in food and beverage circles. Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten makes his debut in Washington DC with the J&G Steakhouse, offering dishes from his New York restaurants and an inspired menu. Located below the dining room is J&G’s Wine Bar, an intimate lounge where guests can sample a selection of new and old world wines, cocktails and bottled beers from around the world.

 

The famed rooftop terrace of the Hotel Washington has been transformed into POV, the latest ultralounge by cocktail expert Sasha Petraske. The striking red, black and white decor complements the night sky, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the cityscape as guests enjoy Petraske’s artisanal spirits and classic cocktails, which are also available at the W Living Room.

 

W Washington DC also introduces the brand’s Bliss Spa to the US capital. The facility offers more than 370 square meters of space housing 4 treatment rooms, a luxury nail lounge, steam showers and saunas. As with other Bliss Spas around the world, guests can experience the trademark rhythm & blues tunes, a retail boutique and the legendary brownie buffet.

 

Other facilites at the hotel include the state-of-the-art SWEAT fitness center, WIRED business center and over 1,114 square meters of convention space with The Great Room and Altitude Ballroom.

 

W Washington DC is the 25th property in North America for the brand and joins other recently opened W Hotels in Hoboken, New Jersey and South Beach, Miami. Forthcoming hotels include properties in Bangkok, Boston, Dubai, London, Marrakech, Milan, Shanghai and St. Petersburg.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Celebrity Equinox Officially Named In Southampton

Celebrity Cruises has officially named its newest ship, the 122,000-GRT Celebrity Equinox, in formal ceremonies at the port of Southampton in the UK. The second of the Solstice-class cruise ships, Celebrity Equinox was christened by her godmother, Nina Barough, Commander of the British Empire and founder of the breast cancer charity “Walk the Walk”.

 

The ceremony was opened by buglers and a bagpipe and drums corps, followed by a piano rendition of The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”. In an industry first, Celebrity Cruises invited the godmother of Celebrity Equinox’s sister ship Celebrity Solstice, Sharon Smith, to the ceremony. Together with Celebrity Cruises’ Chairman Richard Fain, both godmothers cut the pink ribbon – a symbol in recognition of breast cancer causes – to release the bottle of champagne that crashed against the ship’s stack.

 

The bottle was created by the renowned Corning Museum of Glass, a strategic partner of Celebrity Cruises since 2008. Like her sister ship, Celebrity Equinox will offer the usually standing-room-only Hot Glass Show, becoming only the second cruise ship to showcase the glassblowing demonstration at sea. Other notable features onboard include the top deck Lawn Club, Sky Observation Lounge and Cellarmasters, inspired by the vineyards of the Napa Valley. Gourmet dining at the Silhouette Dining Room, Murano Restaurant, Tuscan Grill Restaurant and the Silk Harvest Restaurant offer an epicurean experience for guests.

 

Leading the variety of accomodation options onboard the ship is the luxurious Penthouse Suite. At 120 square meters, the suite features its own living and dining areas, verandah with whirlpool and lounge seating, creating the intimate atmosphere of a private yacht within the ship. Guests can also indulge in the AquaClass staterooms, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors leading out to the verandah, Hansgrohe shower panel paired with luxury amenities from AquaSpa and dining at the exclusive Blu Restaurant.

 

Celebrity Equinox enters service on 31 July 2009, sailing a 8-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton, before returning to the British port to embark on her maiden voyage on 8 August 2009 to the Mediterranean. The vessel will present a series of Mediterranean sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome) through fall, after which it will transit to Fort Lauderdale to sail the Caribbean in the winter.

 

For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com.

Holland America Line Celebrates 300th Voyage of ms Oosterdam

Holland America Line recently celebrated a milestone with the completion of ms Oosterdam’s 300th cruise, a 12-day Mediterranean sailing from Venice to Barcelona.

 

The 1,916-guest vessel recently underwent extensive upgrades in Italy to add new staterooms, public areas and dining venues such as the larger Pinaccle Grill and Pinnacle Bar focusing on specialty Northwest wines, as well as the Canaletto restaurant. ms Oosterdam has also added the Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, a comfortable coffee house environment offering panoramic ocean views, where guests can browse through its collection of  books and publications, surf the internet or simply read the morning paper.

 

Guests on the 300th cruise were also one of the first to experience the ship’s expanded and updated shopping arcade, featuring the exclusive jewellery shop, Merabella, as well as a new home-theatre style screening room that is ideal for small group audio-visual presentations and private parties.

 

In addition to the new enhancements, ms Oosterdam continues to provide guests with Holland America Line’s signature features, such as the Digital Workshop powered by Windows, where guests will be able to share their vacation through email, blogging and social networking. A team of Microsoft-trained “Techsperts” will be on-hand to assist guests and conduct free workshops. The ship will also feature the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food and Wine magazine and the Greenhouse Spa and Salon.

 

For the remainder of 2009, ms Oosterdam will sail alternating 12-day Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises between Venice and Barcelona, calling at Argostoli, Catania, Civitavecchia, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Katakolon, Kusadasi, Livorno, Messina, Monte Carlo, Naples, Navplion, Piraeus, Santorini and Split. The vessel will then embark on a 16-day Transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale to explore the Panama Canal and the Mexican Riviera.

 

For more information, visit www.hollandamerica.com.

A380 Regular Service For Melbourne, Special Flight For Birmingham

Beginning September 2009, Singapore Airlines passengers will be able to fly the Airbus A380 between Singapore and Melbourne, while Emirates has announced a special 1-day only flight between its Dubai base and Birmingham.

 

Singapore – Melbourne 

Singapore Airlines will replace the Boeing 747-400 with the A380 on flights between Singapore and Melbourne from 29 September 2009 onwards. The move marks a seamless A380 experience for passengers flying from London to a second Australian city.

 

Flight SQ 227 will depart Singapore at 2100 hrs, arriving in Melbourne the next morning at 0610 hrs (0710 hrs after 4 October). The return flight, SQ 228, takes off from Melbourne at 1550 hrs (1650 hrs after 4 October) and lands back at Singapore Changi International Airport at 2140 hrs.

 

Melbourne follows Sydney, London, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong in receiving Singapore Airlines A380 service. The aircraft is configured with 12 Singapore Airlines Suites, 60 Business Class seats and 399 Economy Class seats.

 

For more information, visit www.singaporeair.com.

 

Dubai – Birmingham

On 9 September 2009, Emirates will operate a special A380 roundtrip from Dubai to Birmingham in the UK. The aircraft will be a highlight of the airport’s 70th anniversary and marks its first A380 scheduled service.

 

The airline’s 3-class A380 will replace the regular 2-class Boeing 777-300 on flight EK 039, departing Dubai at 0805 hrs and arriving in Birmingham at 1235 hrs. The jet will operate the return EK 040 at 1415 hrs, landing back in Dubai International Airport at 0015 hrs the next day.

 

Passengers will enjoy the amenities of the Emirates A380 onboard, including the unique showers available in First Class. With the aircraft deployed to Birmingham, its regular Dubai-London-Dubai EK 001/002 flights will be operated by a 3-class Boeing 777-300ER on that day.

 

The Emirates A380 was first deployed on the Dubai-New York route in August 2008. The aircraft currently operates flights between Dubai and Auckland, Bangkok, London, Sydney and Toronto, with services to Melbourne, Paris, Rome, Seoul and Singapore announced.

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.