HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S CULINARY ARTS CENTER TO HOST MORE THAN 60 FOOD AND WINE EXPERTS IN 2012

Television personalities and award-winning authors enhance enrichment program

Seattle, Wash., Feb. 1, 2012 — In 2012 Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center Program will host an all-star lineup of more than 60 celebrated chefs, cookbook authors and television personalities from the culinary world, including YouTube culinary sensation and “The Next Food Network Star” personality Serena Palumba, “Top Chef: Just Desserts” participant Zac Young and Chef Tony Maws, winner of the 2011 James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Northeast.”

The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, enables guests aboard the line’s 15 ships to experience culinary demonstrations in a full show kitchen, tastings, question-and-answer sessions and hands-on classes conducted by top chefs, wine experts and leading cookbook authors.

“The Culinary Arts Center is at the core of Holland America Line’s enrichment program and each year we bring on board the most talented and entertaining culinary experts in their field,” said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. “We want our guests to have a special experience that makes them want to go home and tell friends and family they learned how to make a new dish from a well-known chef.”

Celebrity Chefs featured in Holland America Line’s 2012 Culinary Arts Center Program include:

Kaushik Chowdhury is executive pastry chef at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz. Chowdhury has received numerous awards including first place in the Food Network’s Sugar Showdown competition and a gold medal at the 2009 U.S. National Pastry Championship. He is scheduled to sail aboard ms Amsterdam during the 18-day Grand World Voyage segment departing April 10. Chowdhury also is scheduled to sail Oct. 9 and Oct. 27 during segments of Amsterdam’s Grand Asia and Australia Voyage.

Linton Hopkins is owner and executive chef of Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta, Ga., and a multiple James Beard award nominee. He was recently nominated for a 2011 James Beard Award in the “Best Chef: Southwest” category. Hopkins is slated to sail aboard ms Eurodam’s 10-day Gems of the Baltic cruise June 14.

Tony Maws is executive chef and owner of Craigie on Main in Cambridge, Mass. The contemporary French cuisine restaurant was named one of Boston’s “10 Most Influential Restaurants of the Decade” by The Boston Globe, and Maws himself was named one of America’s “10 Best New Chefs” by Food & Wine magazine. In 2011, he won the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef: Northeast.” Chef Maws is scheduled to sail aboard ms Ryndam’s Norwegian Fjords cruise May 6.

Serena Palumba is a teaching chef, television personality and recent finalist from season six of the Food Network’s hit show “The Next Food Network Star.” Palumba, created an instant-hit series of instructional videos on YouTube called “Cooking in Manhattan” that teach viewers how to prepare meals with simple ingredients and limited equipment within the confines of a small urban kitchen. Palumba is scheduled to sail on ms Veendam’s seven-day Bermuda cruise April 29.

Jonathan Sawyer is executive chef of Greenhouse Tavern, recently named one of the top 10 best new restaurants in the U.S. by Bon Appetit magazine and best new restaurant by Cleveland Magazine. Sawyer has appeared on the Food Network’s “Dinner: Impossible” and “Iron Chef America,” and was recently honored by Food & Wine magazine as one of America’s best new chefs. He is scheduled to sail on ms Zuiderdam’s seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise Aug. 18.

Leslie Sbrocco is a wine expert, award-winning author and television personality. She is the host of the PBS series “Check, Please!” for which she won both the coveted James Beard Award and an Emmy Award. She has written two books, “Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine” and “The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide.” Sbrocco is slated to sail on ms Maasdam‘s 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise Nov. 30.

Denise Vivaldo is a culinary consultant, food stylist and celebrated cookbook author. Vivaldo has catered more than 10,000 parties and has cooked for notable guests such as U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, Prince Charles and Bette Midler. Additionally, she has styled food for various nationally syndicated television shows including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Inside Dish with Rachel Ray. Vivaldo is scheduled to sail on ms Westerdam’s seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruise July 21.

Zac Young is executive pastry chef of Flex Mussels Restaurant in New York City. He trained in France with renowned chefs Philippe Givre at Valrhona and Philippe Parc at Chocolate Michel Cluizel, where he developed his signature style of using French techniques and bold flavors for a creative spin on classic American desserts. Young finished in the final four of Bravo’s first season of “Top Chef: Just Desserts” and can be seen on The Cooking Channel’s new series “Unique Sweets.” Young is scheduled to sail on ms Volendam’s 23-day South Pacific cruise April 10.

Other notable Culinary Arts Center guest chefs and cuisine experts slated to sail in the 2012 season include:

Hugh Acheson, judge on “Top Chef” season nine, culinary author, executive chef and partner of Five & Ten and The National in Athens, Ga., sails on ms Veendam’s May 27 Bermuda cruise.
Timon Balloo, executive chef of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill in Miami, Fla., sails on ms Noordam’s Riviera Romance cruise Oct. 15.
Paul Carter, executive chef of The Phoenician in Phoenix, Ariz., sails on ms Zuiderdam Aug. 18 in Alaska.
Jeffrey Elliot, director of culinary relations for Zwilling JA Henckels, Demeyere, and Staub, knife skills expert and executive chef of Zwilling JA Henckels – USA, sails on ms Eurodam Dec. 8 in the eastern Caribbean.
Jason Franey, executive chef of Canlis Restaurant in Seattle, Wash., sails aboard ms Oosterdam’s New Zealand Discovery cruise Oct. 24.
George Geary, culinary journalist, author and educator, sails on ms Rotterdam Aug. 4 in the Baltic.
Matt Gennuso, executive chef and owner of Chez Pascal, a French-American bistro in Providence, R.I., sails on ms Amsterdam June 1 in Alaska.
Paulette Mitchell, culinary instructor and author of 11 cookbooks, sails on a segment of Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage departing March 21.
Patricio Sandoval, executive chef at Mercadito Chicago, sails aboard Rotterdam’s 14-day Spring Panama Canal cruise departing April 3.
Kevin Sbraga, executive chef and owner of Sbraga restaurant in Philadelphia, Pa., and Bravo’s “Top Chef” season seven winner, sails on Noordam July 17 in the Mediterranean.
Angelo Sosa, executive chef and co-owner of Social Eatz, an “American-Asian” restaurant and bar in New York City and Bravo’s “Top Chef” season seven finalist, sails on Prinsendam Aug. 8 in Norway and the British Isles.
Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the “Ultimate” cookbook series, sail on Amsterdam Nov. 17 for a segment of the Grand Asia & Australia Voyage.

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center
Holland America Line’s industry trend-setting Culinary Arts Centers are featured on each of the line’s 15 ships. A “world class show kitchen at sea,” the Culinary Arts Centers presented by Food & Wine magazine resembles the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. The facilities are used for cooking shows, wine tastings, hands-on cooking classes and mixology presentations. All events are taught by highly-skilled culinary and beverage staff during every Holland America Line voyage.

Each facility features a theater-style venue with two large video screens and a large cooking display counter. In partnership with Food & Wine magazine, Holland America Line has schedule approximately 60 celebrated chefs and wine experts to sail in 2012. Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program on select sailings to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute-long classes.

The Culinary Arts Center is part of Holland America Line’s innovative and industry-leading culinary initiatives, which also include a partnership with Le Cirque to present “An Evening at Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill” and a Culinary Council comprised of renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Jacques Torres, Charlie Trotter and the line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin.

For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest program, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Activities.action?tabName=Culinary+Arts+Center&contentMenu=Guest+Chef+Schedule.

For more information on Holland America Line’s cruises and cruisetours, consult a professional travel seller; call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425); or visit www.hollandamerica.com or the Plan a Cruise tab at www.Facebook.com/HALcruises.

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Today Google’s new privacy policy goes into effect, and some folks are looking askance at the company’s attempt to bundle all of its services together under one information-sharing policy. I love Google, and I love the fact that once you’ve signed in, you can effortlessly glide between google products.

What I don’t love about Google is its tendency to try to market to me based on my online behavior. That means if I use Google to perform a search, Google will tailor my search results based on previous searches and its advertising. In other words, it just shows me what it thinks I want to see (or what its advertisers want me to see), which limits my experience of the Web.

So, while I use Gmail, YouTube, Google Analytics and Google Documents, I don’t use Google for Web searches. I use Microsoft’s Bing instead as my default browser.

When Bing first came out, it was a joke, like most Microsoft products. But it has gotten much better and faster. Is it perfect? No. So I still use Zuula and Ixquick and other meta search engines in addition to Bing. These resources feature Google results, but there’s a layer of anonymity between me and Google when I use a meta search engine that gives me some cover from the Big G.

So I’m OK with Google’s new privacy policy, and I’m pretty sure I’m seeing more of the Web than Google wants me to when I search for stuff, and I’m OK with that, too.

MIAMI (January 9, 2012) – Today, Carnival Cruise Lines launched “The 5D Challenge: TRIVIAL PURSUIT Edition” – a Facebook promotion designed to highlight the new Thrill 5D Theater set to debut on the Carnival Breeze in June 2012. The contest can be found on Carnival’s Facebook page under the Carnival Breeze tab at www.facebook.com/carnival.

In addition to the Thrill 5D Theater, Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment options introduced as part the Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program, a $500 million initiative that will completely transform Carnival’s on-board guest experience.

Also, many of the ship’s entertainment features and other elements are highlighted within a new virtual tour, and series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on www.carnivalbreeze.com.

With Carnival Breeze’s Thrill 5D Theater, guests will enjoy an exhilarating, multi-dimensional experience that will make them feel like they are actually in the movie. The theater combines a high-definition 3D projection system with 4D elements such as squirting water and bubbles, and original special effects that will tickle guests’ legs, blow air on their necks and poke them in their seats. Seats within the theater will shift back and forth, move from side to side and also vibrate, creating an exciting “fifth-dimensional” element. Guests will receive special 3D glasses that deliver a truly immersive movie-going experience.

To excite fans about Carnival’s new Thrill 5D Theater and to get them into the “movie-viewing” mindset, the company under license from Hasbro, Inc. has created “The 5D Challenge: TRIVIAL PURSUIT Edition” on Facebook. Contest participants are asked to answer movie-themed trivia questions from Hasbro’s popular TRIVIAL PURSUIT brand.

One prize will be given away daily for the next five days (January 9-13) with contestants required to correctly answer three daily trivia questions to enter into a prize drawing. Prizes include a 50-inch 3D Plasma HDTV, 3D phone, HD camcorder, and a $250 movie theater gift card. Also Hasbro Video and Board Game Prize Packs, including an Xbox 360 gaming console, will be given away throughout the contest period.

“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with our brand partner Hasbro on this unique contest showcasing Carnival Breeze’s new 5D Theatre, which will be part of the ship’s many exciting on-board features designed to thrill, captivate and entertain our guests,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

Carnival Breeze First Ship to Offer All Fun Ship 2.0 Entertainment Features

Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment offerings that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement initiative. Among the exciting options is Hasbro, The Game Show, a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the popular Family Game Night television series produced by Hasbro Studios and seen on The Hub, a network for children and their families. Hasbro, The Game Show will put guests right in the middle of their favorite Hasbro games. Six main games are to be featured: Sorry! Sliders, which involves a giant shuffleboard court; Simon Flash, where two teams of four guests wear giant light-up color boxes and must shuffle themselves quickly to repeat a color sequence; Yahtzee Bowling, with a giant ball and larger-than-life-sized bowling pins; Operation SAM DUNK, which is set up like a skee-ball board where contestants try to get the balls into different slots on the “patient’s” body, and Connect 4 BASKETBALL, which uses a basketball setup rather than the traditional checkers to play.

Carnival Breeze will also be the first ship to offer Playlist Productions which will combine captivating live performances with high-tech LED staging and special effects to set a new standard in seagoing entertainment. These exhilarating revues are set to widely popular and memorable music encompassing a variety of styles, genres and eras. Playlist performances will have guests singing along and dancing in their seats during the hit-packed, 30-minute shows created by leading producers, directors and choreographers who have worked on critically acclaimed productions for Broadway, London’s West End and some of the world’s most popular musical acts.

Also featured on Carnival Breeze will be the new “Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez” through a partnership with the popular comedian and TV personality. Lopez is serving as Carnival’s “curator of comedy,” acting as a consultant on the vetting and hiring of comedic talent for the line’s hugely popular comedy program. Additionally, DJs on the Carnival Breeze will be trained under the new “DJ IRIE Spin’iversity” led by the award-winning DJ IRIE, a highly talented disc jockey widely known in Miami and Las Vegas.

Other features on the Carnival Breeze will include Guy’s Burger Joint, which will offer burgers custom-created by renowned chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri, a Red Frog Pub, featuring Carnival’s own private-label draft beer – ThirstyFrog Red, Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian eatery and a wide variety of other fun and exciting dining, bar and entertainment options.

Comprehensive Sneak Peek at Carnival Breeze Now Available Online

A wide-ranging preview of Carnival Breeze’s myriad features and programming can now be viewed through a new virtual tour, series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on carnivalbreeze.com. Additionally, new images and videos can be viewed on the Carnival Breeze Facebook tab.

Following an inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice departing June 3, 2012, Carnival Breeze will operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona through October 25, 2012. After its trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Breeze will sail year-round from Miami beginning November 24, 2012, offering port-intensive six- and eight-day cruises that showcase the best the Caribbean has to offer.

For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival can also be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival

Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/carnivalcruiselines/

Journalists also can visit Carnival’s media site, www.carnivalpressroom.com

MIAMI (January 10, 2012) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ comprehensive web site for meeting, corporate event and incentive planners, www.carnivalmeetings.com, has been revamped, with more intuitive, user-friendly features than ever before.

The enhanced site is filled with up-to-date and detailed information on the line’s 23-ship fleet, as well as the benefits and value of hosting a program with Carnival. Meeting, corporate event and incentive planners will be able to easily locate all information needed for planning their next value-driven program utilizing the new and intuitive layout.

“Today, more than ever, meeting, event and incentive planners are being challenged to find the best possible value for their clients and often have shorter lead times in which to do so,” said Joni Rein, Carnival’s vice president of worldwide sales. “We wanted to create a user-friendly site so that planners could quickly access information about the many benefits of hosting a program with Carnival,” she added.

Rein noted that the line’s revamped CMI web site offers everything meeting planners need to put together a request for proposal with ease and within a tight deadline.

The web site offers an array of new features including detailed information about the Carnival fleet and product offerings such as accommodations, dining, activities, entertainment, destinations and itineraries. There is also content dedicated to meetings and events, incentive groups, customization options, full ship charters, individual incentives and information on Carnival’s Corporate University, a series of professional enrichment seminars offered in conjunction with the line’s corporate training department. In addition, planners may complete a request for proposal directly on the site.

The additional content and improved site navigation were created based on feedback received from clients and Carnival’s dedicated team of nearly 20 charters, meetings and incentive professionals.

For more information about hosting a program with Carnival, visit www.carnivalmeetings.com or call 800-278-0388.

SEATTLE, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Holland America Line is holding a “Share a Holland America Line Highlight” contest on its Facebook page asking fans to submit their favorite cruise experience on the line — or one they heard from friends or family — for the chance to win a seven- to 11-day Europe cruise for two in a verandah stateroom.

From now until Jan. 18, 2012, fans who “like” the line’s Facebook page can submit their favorite Holland America Line highlight and upload an optional photo to go with their written entry. Then, from Jan. 19-Feb. 2, entrants are encouraged to share their highlight and ask friends and family to vote. The 10 entries that receive the most votes will be announced Feb. 3 and become finalists to win the Europe cruise prize.

“We continually hear from our guests about their once-in-a-lifetime experiences onboard, and we want to bring these memorable stories together and share them,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Our Facebook community allows us to connect and interact with our fans on a more personal level and this is an ideal way to feature their cruising highlights.”

Once the 10 finalists are determined, a panel of judges composed of Holland America Line executives and shipboard officers, including Vice President of Marine Hotel Johan Groothuizen, Director of Mariner Society Gerald Bernhoft, Captain Albert Schoonderbeek and Hotel Manager Marco van Belleghem — as well as well-known travel journalist and Editor-in-Chief of ExpertCruiser.com Anita Dunham-Potter — will select the winner. The winning highlight will be announced Feb. 15, 2012.

The contest is open to legal residents 18 years or older of the United States, D.C., Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia.

For a cruise brochure or for more information about Holland America Line, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online Communities quick link at www.hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)] Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 350 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/ New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/ New England, Europe and Panama Canal.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.

World’s Leading Cruise Lines Holland America Line is a proud member of World’s Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

MIAMI (December 19, 2011) – The Mahogany Bay Cruise Center (MBCC) in Roatan reached a significant milestone last week when it welcomed its one millionth cruise passenger since opening nearly two years ago. The one millionth visitor to the MBCC was one of 4,268 passengers aboard the Carnival Dream which makes year-round calls at the $62 million facility on alternating weeks.
“Achieving our one millionth visitor in less than two years of operation is a testament to the outstanding facilities and quality landside experience enjoyed by the thousands of guests who visit the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center each week,” said Mike Reimers, general manager of the facility.
This week’s visit by the Carnival Dream is one of 280 annual cruise ship calls at the MBCC, which encompasses 20 acres of waterfront property and includes a two-berth cruise terminal which can accommodate up to 8,000 passengers daily. It is a joint project of Carnival Corporation & plc and Roatan businessman Jerry Hynds.
In addition to Carnival Cruise Lines, vessels from Seabourn, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Costa Cruises, and P&O Cruises, as well as non-Carnival Corporation brands, have called at the new facility since it opened in 2009.
Along with a two-ship cruise pier, the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center offers a welcome center and a variety of retail outlets, including two themed bars, a restaurant and several shops. A transportation hub with the ability to accommodate taxis, rental cars and tour buses, along with a wide range of shore excursion opportunities, which can be purchased on board the cruise vessels, are also available.
Unique to Mahogany Bay is a chair lift system that takes visitors from the welcome center to beautiful Mahogany Beach, a 10-acre private island featuring an 825-foot-long white-sand beach with a volleyball court and myriad watersports opportunities. Eight exclusive cabanas are also available for rent.
For more information on the MBCC, visit www.mahoganybaycc.com.
For press inquiries, please contact Jennifer de la Cruz or Vance Gulliksen, Carnival Corporation & plc Public Relations, at 305-599-2600, ext 16000.

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MIAMI (December 19, 2011) – The 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration will launch year-round short cruises from Long Beach, Calif., this afternoon when it departs on a sold-out four-day voyage to Catalina Island and Ensenada.
Carnival Inspiration provides an exciting new choice on this popular itinerary which encompasses three-day cruises departing Fridays to Ensenada and four-day cruises departing Mondays to Ensenada and Catalina Island. Previously, this itinerary was operated by the Carnival Paradise, which has been redeployed to Tampa.
The 70,000-ton Carnival Inspiration underwent an extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishment as part of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” enhancement program and includes such innovations as a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long water slide, 82-foot-long racing slides and a water spray area, a Serenity adults-only retreat, a tropical-themed resort-style main pool area and numerous other features.
Carnival Inspiration also includes a nine-hole miniature golf course, a 12,000-square-foot spa, a jogging track, and spacious facilities and supervised programming for children in three age groups (Camp Carnival for two- to 11-year-olds, Circle “C” for kids ages 12-14, and Club O2 for the 15- to 17-year-old set).
The ship also offers 12 lounges and bars, including a multi-level theatre showcasing lavish production shows, along with three restaurants, including two full-service dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists and a 725-seat casual poolside eatery with a seemingly endless array of casual offerings, including a Mongolian wok venue with custom-made stir fries, a rotisserie, pasta- and meat-carving stations, a New York-style deli offering piled-high sandwiches, a 24-hour pizzeria with seven kinds of pies, and expansive buffets featuring different cuisines from around the world. A patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets and a sushi bar offering Asian delicacies are also available.
Carnival Inspiration joins the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor which operates seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach.
Carnival is the West Coast cruise leader and is the only company to operate two ships from California on a year-round basis. Together the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Splendor are expected to carry 400,000 guests on an annual basis – more than any other cruise operator.
Reservations are currently being accepted for both the Carnival Inspiration’s three- and four-day Baja cruises, as well as the Carnival Splendor’s seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages.
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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Carnival Paradise Launches Year-Round Four- and Five-Day Cruises from Tampa

MIAMI (December 12, 2011) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise arrived this morning in Tampa following a 14-day Panama Canal cruise and will sail on its inaugural cruise from the port later this afternoon.
Carnival Paradise is replacing the Carnival Inspiration on four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from the Port of Tampa, becoming the newest Carnival “Fun Ship” to operate this popular itinerary.
On this route, Carnival Paradise departs Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Carnival Inspiration is being deployed to Long Beach, Calif., to operate year-round three- and four-day cruises.
Carnival Paradise joins the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend, which sails year-round seven-day Caribbean voyages from Tampa.
Carnival is the only cruise line to offer year-round cruises from Tampa and has maintained a year-round presence since it launched seven-day Caribbean cruises in 1994. Over the years, the company has dramatically expanded its presence at the Port of Tampa, adding newer and larger ships and offering a greater variety of itineraries.
This year, the line’s two-year-round ships, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend, are expected to carry an estimated 300,000 passengers from Tampa – a 10-fold increase versus Carnival’s first year of operations there.
“With its convenient location, excellent facilities and proximity to top tourist attractions, Tampa has become one of our most popular homeports and Carnival Paradise will provide an exciting and affordable short cruise option from Florida’s west coast,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “The Tampa Port Authority is a valued business partner and we’re proud and delighted to continue our excellent relationship with the Carnival Paradise,” he added.
“The Tampa Port Authority is thrilled that Carnival Cruise Lines recognizes the importance of Florida’s west coast market and continues to enhance its year round services,” said Tampa Port Director Richard Wainio. “The addition of the Carnival Paradise is a testament to Carnival’s longstanding success with year round cruising from Tampa. We value our good relationship with Carnival and look forward to working together to serve cruise passengers in the Port of Tampa,” he noted.
Carnival Paradise offers a distinctive décor with dramatic public spaces that pay homage to great ocean liners of the past, with memorable venues such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Normandie Theater, Rotterdam Bar and the Leonardo Lounge.
The ship also features spacious, modern facilities and programming for children in three age groups, along with a three swimming pools, including one with a spiral water slide. Dining options include two formal restaurants with extensive menus and wine lists and an expansive poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria. Other features include a 12,000-square-foot health and fitness center, a jogging track, and Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat. Reservations are currently being accepted for all of Carnival’s Tampa-based programs. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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I was reading an article on Econsultancy today that purported to be a helpful piece on “Five Questions Your Corporate Blog Should Answer.” There was nothing terribly wrong with the article — it was just another in a seemingly endless series of banal advice posts that reminds one of things one already knows, which serves a kind of purpose, I suppose.

What got my attention was this: “Varying your subject expands your credibility and increases your chances of gaining social shares, which in turn drive traffic.” On the surface, the comment doesn’t raise eyebrows and seems fairly straightforward. My problem was with the phrase “expands your credibility.” That phrase seems to indicate that the author, Tom Albrighton, thinks credibility is something that can expand or contract, depending on whether you are entertaining your blog readers or not.

That appears to be a growing consensus in the online realm — your credibility is equivalent to your Klout score or your “reach” or the number of followers you have on Twitter or the number of “likes” on your Facebook page. This view assumes that credibility is a fluid thing that can change, either increasing or decreasing depending on how many people retweet your latest brain burp.

That’s simply not true. Credibility is an either-or thing. You either have it or you don’t. In that respect, it’s like pregnancy — a woman can’t be “a little pregnant.”

In the public relations business, credibility is something that is established over years of being credible. It is based on creating press materials that demonstrate an understanding of what journalists need in order to do their jobs and delivering those materials in a timely manner with no mistakes or hype and in a format that makes it easy to use. It also means you spell everything correctly and write well, so that the meaning is accessible and clear.

Credibility is a zero-sum deal. Journalists either trust you and the information you give them or they don’t, and pass you off as just another flack. You can’t “expand your credibility,” you either got it or you don’t — and if you don’t, it’s hard as hell to get.

Just ask a reporter.

We recently assisted with an event for Carnival Cruise Lines, which hosted Florida Gov. Rick Scott on one of his “workdays” where he performs a job a Floridian does. On Nov. 4, Scott served as a greeter in the cruise terminal and a DJ on board Carnival Imagination.