Fred Olsen’s Balmoral Sets Sail on Her First Cruise

Latest addition to the Fred. Olsen fleet, Balmoral, set sail on her first cruise from Dover on 13 February.
 
The cruise, a 19 night fly/cruise to the Caribbean/Miami, visited first La Coruna and Tenerife, then crossed the Atlantic to Antigua, St Maarten and Tortola with arrival in Miami on 01 March.  The ship will then operate a short series of 11/12 night cruises from Miami taking in Caribbean ports such as Ocho Rios, Key West, Grand Turks and St Kitts.  Balmoral returns to Europe in spring for Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia (the port of Rome).

Official Press Release Fred Olsen dated 25th February 2008.

P&O Cruises and Temple Spa in new partnership

P&O Cruises has formed a new partnership with Temple Spa to offer a complimentary range of products and therapies for all passengers.

Temple Spa, available in prestigious stores including Harrods and Selfridges and in 5* day retreats worldwide, provides an extensive treatment menu and range of products, that are formulated using the finest Mediterranean ingredients and exquisite essential oils that are a treat for all skin types.

All passengers will receive a unisex selection of Temple Spa products in their cabins and younger passengers will also have complimentary tailor made “Spa Out” packs for girls and for boys. Suite passengers will enjoy over £150 worth of individual full size products, with a selection both for men and for women.

P&O Cruises, head of brand marketing, Philip Price said, “Our passengers expect the very best and Temple Spa is just that. In addition to our on board spas we want to continue the feeling of well-being into the cabins. Temple Spa products focus on de-stressing, re-balancing and fortifying, all of which are integral elements of a restorative cruise holiday.

“P&O Cruises passengers expect more from a holiday. Our cabin spa packs are simply one of the many attentive touches of luxury that sets us apart from other holidays.”

Cabin spa packs will be on board across the fleet from July.

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 22 Feb 08

Cunard’s Queen Victoria and QE2 in Sydney

For the second year running Cunard could bring Sydney to a standstill this weekend when its ocean liners Queen Victoria and QE2 call at the city. The ‘Meeting of Queens’ event follows just one year on from when QE2 and Queen Mary 2 dazzled the city in February 2007.

Queen Victoria will be making her first call at the city when she arrives on Saturday 23 February to be followed by her famous sister, QE2, the next day.QE2, currently on her farewell World Cruise, will be making her 29th and final call at the port exactly 30 years after she made her first call there on 24 February 1978.

The highlight of these historic visits will occur at 1800 hours (local time) on Sunday 24 February when both ships will leave their berths (Queen Victoria from Circular Quay and QE2 from Garden Island) and head for a historic sail past at approximately 1830 hours. Each will pass on either side of Fort Denison and will greet each other with a ‘Whistle Salute’ which will be heard over 16 kilometres away. This sail past will acknowledge the first and last time these two Cunard Queens will meet in Australian waters. QE2 will then make her way to Circular Quay where she will remain until her final departure from Sydney on Monday 25 February.
Both ships left Southampton on their respective World Cruises on 6 January. Queen Victoria will also make maiden calls at the following Australian ports: Melbourne (21 February), Brisbane (26 February) and Port Douglas (29 February). QE2 will make her final calls in Australia at the following ports: Hobart (27 February), Melbourne (29 February), Adelaide (2 March), Albany (4 March) and Fremantle (5 March) when she will depart Australia for the final time that evening.

Official Press Release Cunard Cruises dated 20th February 2008.

Cunard’s QE2 Bids Farewell to New Zealand

QE2, the most famous ship in the world, will call for the 22nd and final time at Auckland on Thursday 21 February. The call also marks her final visit to New Zealand as she is due to leave Cunard service in November 2008 prior to beginning a new life as a first class entertainment and hotel destination in Dubai.

The ship, which has been in service for almost forty years – the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history – was launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 20 September 1967 and entered service in May 1969. Since then she has travelled 5.6 million nautical miles, more than any ship ever; she has completed 25 World Cruise and is currently on her 10th extended voyage and she has crossed the Atlantic 802 times. She has carried 2.5 million people including international celebrities such as Diana, Princess of Wales, Nelson Mandela, Baroness Thatcher and a litany of film, television and pop stars from Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart and David Bowie to James Cagney, Glenn Close and Paul Newman.

QE2 will arrive at Auckland at 0800 hours* and depart at 2200 hours*.

At each port QE2 visits hundreds of sightseers turn out to see her; this year, her last year, they are turning out in their thousands.

* Timings given are local.

Official Press Release Cunard Cruises dated 18th February 2008.

SeaDream Yacht Club Goes Pop with New CD

SeaDream Yacht Club has created its own music CD to invoke the spirit of a SeaDream seagoing holiday with Pop, Rock, Jazz, Soul, R & B, and Bossa Nova.

The album, called Dream, of course, features an array of young, modern Grammy award-winning and Grammy nominated performing artists, Norah Jones, Bebel Gilberto, Marc Broussard, Samantha James, Erin Bode and James Hunter and others.

The Dream music project was spearheaded by Adrienne d’Annunzio, Manager of the SeaDream Club and Charity Programs, and of the upscale operator’s onboard Boutique program.

Commenting on the CD, SeaDream President & CEO Larry Pimentel said “Adrienne is a triple threat SeaDreamer. She’s added a third title to her job responsibilities, we now call her Impresario.

“To create the Dream CD Adrienne worked with Rock River Music, an industry leader in branded music services,” Pimentel said.

Impresario Adrienne said “the album is stylish, soothing blissful, invigorating and fun, just like a SeaDream holiday.
“As you listen to these 12 tracks you can feel the sands of St. Barts between your toes, see Capri on the horizon, smell the fresh sea air and feel the gentle motion of your SeaDream yacht sailing for St. Tropez. Our Dream CD invokes that kind of mood.”

“SeaDream, along with companies like GAP, Starbucks, W Hotels and Pottery Barn are among the many that have found music inspires, motivates and connects you with your audience. We believe music helps to define the SeaDream brand and casual lifestyle,” Pimentel added.

All staterooms aboard SeaDream’s twin mega-yacht cruisers are equipped with state-of-the-art technology including a CD player.

Official Press Release (abridged) SeaDream Yacht Club dated 14 February 2008.

Dame Helen Mirren to name Ventura

British icon and Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren is to name the largest superliner designed exclusively for Britain, Ventura the latest addition to P&O Cruises fleet (it is announced today, February 4). The spectacular evening naming ceremony, with Dame Helen as the ship’s Godmother, will take place in Southampton on April 16, prior to Ventura’s maiden cruise to the Mediterranean.

But in a break with tradition, instead of Dame Helen simply pressing a button to send a cradled Taittinger champagne bottle towards the ship, she will command a crack team of Royal Marine Commandos to assist her in naming Ventura in a dramatic abseil.

Dame Helen Mirren said, “It is the first time I have ever named a ship, let alone one of the size of P&O Cruises Ventura and am really looking forward to being Godmother.”

Royal Marines display team commanding officer, Lt Colonel Steve Richards, “This is a rather unusual assignment for our lads, but well within their capabilities. They are very keen to assist Dame Helen with the launch - they will not let her down.”

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale said: “Dame Helen Mirren embodies glamour, vitality and Britishness, which are all values that will be a feature of Ventura. We are honoured that she has agreed to become Godmother. The arrival of Ventura is set to usher in a new era for the British cruise industry and will accelerate the rate of progress of an already fast growing market. We are delighted that Dame Helen is to be associated with her. At the same time, we are determined to get the bottle-smashing right, and are grateful for the military coordinated assistance of the Royal Marines.”

In keeping with Ventura’s contemporary and innovative values, her naming ceremony will be a departure from tradition. As well as Dame Helen’s customary champagne naming, the celebration will encompass an exciting show with dramatic surprises.

On board, 1,500 guests will be invited including Ventura’s consultant celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, and children’s favourite, Noddy. The occasion will benefit three children’s charities supported by Dame Helen and P&O Cruises - Barnardos, Kid’s Company and Naomi House.

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 3 Feb 08