Tag Archives: carnival

Princess Cruises’ Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone Star Turn As Carnival Australia Launches Huge Summer Cruise Season Revealing Massive Food Purchases From Local Suppliers

Posted: October 1, 2022

Australia, Onboard Features, Press Release, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Princess Cruises’ celebrity chef Curtis Stone was the star turn on megaliner Diamond Princess in Sydney today as Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry launched this summer’s spectacular cruise season and released figures showing the vast quantities of produce sourced in Australia.

The roll call of food purchases for Carnival Australia ships is stunning, involving more than 6.5 million eggs, 1.9 million litres of milk and cream, 3.1 million kg of fresh vegetables, 2.3 million kg of fresh fruit, 1.9 million kg of meat, 658,000 kg of poultry and 482,950 kg of seafood.

And in keeping with the food theme, the launch was a celebration of the many Australian fresh food and wine suppliers who benefit from the $4 billion a year cruise industry and its long economic value chain.

A cavalcade of forklifts delivered tonnes of fresh produce to the 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for the ship’s 2700 passengers, who will depart on the superliner’s first roundtrip cruise of the season from Sydney this evening.

Adding to the excitement of the day, Australian chef Curtis Stone was onboard Diamond Princess during its Sydney call, making the most of his first opportunity to see a Princess ship in Australian waters since the recent announcement of his partnership with the leading cruise line. The celebrity chef will soon be rolling out his new restaurant, SHARE, on select Princess ships, while Curtis Stone menu items will be added to all main restaurant menus across the 18-ship fleet. Princess’ guests will also be able to enjoy a special ‘Chef’s Table by Curtis Stone’ experience.

In launching the company’s record cruise season, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said an unprecedented 22 ships from the company’s seven iconic brands would be sailing in local waters – nearly a quarter of Carnival Corporation’s worldwide fleet. Between them, they will carry more than 530,000 cruisers – more than the population of Tasmania.

Highlights of Carnival Australia’s 2015-16 cruise season include:

  • 538 turnaround calls and visits to Australian ports by Carnival Australia ships from today through to the end of April 2016 — 21% more than in 2014-15
  • The 22 ships sailing in Australian waters include P&O Cruises (five with the addition of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden), Princess Cruises (six) and Carnival Cruise Line (two).
  • Three Holland America Line ships will sail here over summer along with world voyage visits by all three Cunard Queens, two ships from P&O Cruises World Cruising and one Seabourn vessel.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Each year for the past decade we have announced that another record summer cruise season is imminent and, with more than one million Australians a year now cruising, this year is no exception,” Ms Sherry said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”In 2005-2006, we heralded a bumper cruise season with 10 ships from across our fleets sailing locally and making 141 calls to Australian ports. A decade on the number of ships has more than doubled and the number of local calls has more than tripled.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”One of the standout features of cruise season is the vast quantities of Australian primary produce that Carnival Australia’s brands buy in a typical year making the agriculture sector one of the big winners from cruising.”[/pullquote]

Between them, Carnival Australia brands are responsible for massive purchases of meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy and wine – accounting for around 1.5 million kg of beef purchases alone in a typical year.

Key purchases include:

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Princess Cruises ? 1.4 million kg of fresh vegetables and 1.1 million kg of fresh fruit ? 188,083 kg of beef for local ships and 600,000 kg across the rest of Princess’ global fleet ? 57,196 kg of lamb locally (Princess Cruises exclusively uses Australian lamb globally) ? 226,425 dozen eggs, 600,000 individual yoghurts and 493,736 litres of milk [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]P&O Cruises Australia ? 1700 tonnes of fresh vegetables and 1200 tonnes of fresh fruit ? 380,000 kg of fresh seafood and 600,000 kg of poultry ? 580,000 bottles of wine (mostly Australian vintages) Carnival Cruise Line ? 1.9 million kg of produce ? 600,000 litres of milk ? 300,000 kg of rice and 300,000 kg of flour [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Holland America Line 18,232 kg of beef, 32,018 kg of poultry and 7,099 kg of lamb ? 139,989 litres of milk products ? 545,040 individual eggs [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Cruise tourism continues as the standout success of the Australian tourism sector and with every cruise season the number of suppliers who benefit from its long value chain continues to grow,” Ms Sherry said.[/pullquote]

All Aboard As Carnival Australia Embarks On Record Summer Cruise Season

Posted: September 30, 2022

Australia, Onboard Features, Press Release, , , , ,

The country’s largest cruise operator Carnival Australia has launched Australia’s biggest ever summer cruise season, with the Sydney arrival of Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess today.

Over the coming months, Carnival Australia will have an unprecedented 22 ships from its seven cruise lines sailing in local waters, including more than 170 calls to Australia’s cruising gateway, Sydney.

Speaking at Circular Quay today, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said the ships represented nearly a quarter of Carnival Corporation’s worldwide fleet.

Ann-Sherry-and-Diamond-Princess-Chef-Nilo-Palma

Between them, the 22 ships will carry more than 530,000 cruisers – more than the population of Tasmania – over the summer period. In total the ships will make 538 turnaround and transit calls to Australian ports from today through to the end of April 2016 – 21 per cent more than in 2014-15 – adding significantly to the industry’s estimated $4 billion economic contribution.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Each year for the past decade we have announced that another record summer cruise season is imminent and, with more than one million Australians a year now cruising, this year is no exception,” Ms Sherry said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“In 2005-2006, we heralded a bumper cruise season with 10 ships from across our fleets sailing locally and making 141 calls to Australian ports. A decade on the number of ships has more than doubled and the number of local calls has more than tripled.”[/pullquote]

The 22 ships sailing in Australian waters represents a 10 per cent increase on last year’s summer season and includes P&O Cruises’ latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, which will join the cruise line’s existing three ships in November; six Princess Cruises’ ships, including Golden Princess on its maiden Australian deployment, and two Carnival Cruise Line ships.

Meanwhile, three Holland America Line ships will sail here over summer including Noordam on its maiden visit, along with world voyage visits by all three Cunard Queens, two ships from P&O Cruises World Cruising and one Seabourn vessel.

Ms Sherry said one of the standout features of cruise season was the vast quantities of Australian primary produce that Carnival Australia’s brands purchase including around 1.5 million kilograms of beef annually.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“The huge quantities we purchase in a typical year making the local agriculture sector one of the big winners from cruising,” Ms Sherry said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Cruise tourism continues as the standout success of the Australian tourism sector and with every cruise season the number of suppliers who benefit from its long value chain continues to grow.”[/pullquote]

Key purchases include:

Princess Cruises

  • 4 million kg of fresh vegetables and 1.1 million kg of fresh fruit
  • 188,083 kg of beef for local ships and 600,000 kg across the rest of Princess’ global fleet
  • 57,196 kg of lamb locally (Princess Cruises exclusively uses Australian lamb globally)
  • 226,425 dozen eggs, 600,000 individual yoghurts and 493,736 litres of milk 

P&O Cruises Australia

  • 1700 tonnes of fresh vegetables and 1200 tonnes of fresh fruit
  • 380,000 kg of fresh seafood and 600,000 kg of poultry
  • 580,000 bottles of wine (mostly Australian vintages)

Carnival Cruise Line

  • 9 million kg of produce
  • 600,000 litres of milk
  • 300,000 kg of rice and 300,000 kg of flour

Holland America Line

  • 18,232 kg of beef, 32,018 kg of poultry and 7099 kg of lamb
  • 139,989 litres of milk products
  • 545,040 individual eggs

Style and Beauty Experts Give Carnival Guests the Inside Running for Melbourne Cup

Posted: September 24, 2022

Australia, Countries, Press Release, Tips and Advice, , , , ,

Carnival Cruise Line has added two of Australia’s leading beauty and style experts to an already strong field of onboard talent during this year’s Melbourne Cup cruise on Carnival Spirit.

Stylist to the stars Penny Hunt and Beauticate website founder Sigourney Cantelo – both former Beauty Editors at Vogue – will ensure Carnival Spirit’s 2600 guests will be ready to put their best foot forward at Flemington for Cup day and Oaks day following a series of onboard beauty and style workshops, including a fashion presentation and the latest looks from high street brands.

image

Having judged Fashions on the Field at Melbourne Cup, been the Fashion Editor for Men’s Style magazine, Fashion and Beauty Editor at Mindfood Magazine and a style consultant for the Seven Network, Penny will be in good stead to oversee Carnival Spirit’s fashion parade at sea. Hunt has styled many famed faces including Cate Blanchett and Asher Keddie as well as host of Australia’s Next Top Model, Jennifer Hawkins, and Sonia Kruger for Dancing With The Stars. She has appeared as a fashion and beauty expert for Channel Nine’s Morning Show and spent over six years glamming up TV’s best for the annual Logie awards.

Sigourney’s website Beauticate is devoted to the whos and how tos of style and make up featuring some of Australia’s most beautiful women such as Jessica Gomes, Samantha Harris, Jessica Hart, Delta Goodrem and Dannii Minogue. Sigourney will be onboard sharing her award-winning flair for beauty education.

With a combined 30 years of beauty and style experience between them, Carnival Cruise Line Australia Vice President Jennifer Vandekreeke said the guest speakers would make sure punters were race ready.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“As our guests cruise south to Melbourne they will be in very stylish and beautiful hands with Penny and Sigourney sharing a lifetime of style tips and beauty wisdom to ensure everyone looks and feels their best on Cup day,” Ms Vandekreeke said.[/pullquote]

Ms Vandekreeke said the workshops would especially come in handy for the ladies with Carnival now also offering its guests a general admission ticket to Crown Oaks day during the ship’s extended four-day call to Melbourne - an experience not offered by any other cruise line.

image

Departing Sydney on October 30, Carnival Spirit’s eight-night Cup cruise features a “Halloween spooktacular” before racing fever takes over. Well-known race caller John Tapp will share his knowledge about Australia’s premier horse race during a Q&A session and a Cup-themed degustation dinner while popular racing personality Richie Callander will also return to Carnival Spirit this year to impart his top tips in the lead up to the big event. Other racing themed activities will include sweepstakes and a series of special dining experiences, including a Mad Hatters’ afternoon tea and post-Cup recovery brunch. Cruisers will also be able to participate in a Behind the Scenes tour of the Cup at Flemington.

 

Disability-Discrimination

Carnival Pay $405K Settlement Over Disability Discrimination

Posted: July 25, 2022

Countries, Health & Safety, Press Release, , , , ,

The  U.S. Justice Department and the world’s largest cruise provider declared a disability discrimination settlement concerning access for people with disabilities on 62 ships in the Carnival, Holland America and Princess Cruises brands.

Miami-based Carnival Corp. has copped a civil penalty of $55,000US to the government and $350,000US in compensation to those harmed by past discrimination, the government announced.

The payment is the result of an inquiry of complaints by the Justice Department. These include  allegations that the company failed to accurately provide and reserve accessible cabins for passengers with physical disabilities; give passengers with disabilities the same opportunities to take part in programs and services, including embarking and disembarking the ship; and provide efficient communication during emergency drills.

This is the first time the government has required a cruise company to provide a minimum number of accessible cabins and to develop a remediation plan to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the Justice Department.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”People with disabilities who travel must be able to count on getting the accessible cabin they reserve and the cruise lines must provide equal access to the choice of amenities and attractions that passengers expect from a major cruise company like Carnival Corporation,” Vanita Gupta of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“This landmark ADA agreement will enable individuals with disabilities the opportunity to equally enjoy a full range of cabins and services that previously were unavailable while vacationing on cruise ships,” said Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Florida.[/pullquote]

The government said Carnival cooperated with the investigation.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Roger Frizzell, a spokesman for the cruise company, said in an email that Carnival has traditionally met the needs of all its guests and “will continue to do so with even more enhancements in staff training, accessibility policies and communications, as well as additional shipboard accessibility features.”[/pullquote]

Carnival Corporation includes nine cruise ship brands that operate dozens of cruise ships globally.

Under the agreement:

  • Forty two existing ships, and seven ships in various stages of design and construction, will be surveyed and retrofitted to comply with ADA regulations. Accessible cabins will provide a range of features, including features for guests with hearing impairments.
  • Three percent of the cabins on 49 ships will be accessible according to three levels of accessibility: fully accessible cabins, fully accessible cabins with a single side approach to the bed and ambulatory accessible cabins. The remaining 13 ships will be subject to possible remodeling if they continue to be in service in U.S. ports four years after the agreement is entered.
  • Carnival will provide specific ADA training to employees and managers.
  • Reservations systems will allow individuals with disabilities to reserve accessible cabins and suites.
  • Carnival will appoint an ADA compliance officer at the executive level.

 Source: Mashable

No More BYO Bottled Water Allowed on Carnival Cruises

Posted: June 10, 2022

Onboard Features, , , , ,

Now that Carnival Cruises is brewing its own beer, they want to crack down on passengers smuggling in booze. And that means saying “Hell to the No” to passengers bringing their own bottled water on board.

TravelWeekly reports that beginning on July 9, passengers will no longer be able to bring bottled beverages on board, save for a “single bottle of fine wine or champagne.” Other canned or boxed beverages are allowed, however, in restricted quantities of 12 or less. Additionally, the size of coolers brought on ship are being restricted to 12 x 12 x 12.

The reason for the policy change is two-fold. Passengers have been bringing cartons of bottled water on board and inspecting these cartons, as well as the over sized coolers, slows down the embarkation process. Also, passengers are sneaking booze into bottles, meaning the cruise ship has no way to monitor their alcohol consumption, which in turn means passengers can get way too turn up while on the ship. Apparently, the cruise line said most incidents of bad guest behavior can be traced back to “smuggled alcohol.”

To mitigate the outrage of cruise ship passengers, Carnival said they will cheapen the price of bottled water onboard to $2.99 per 12-pack if pre-ordered and $4.99 once the ship sets sail. That’s a seriously steep discount as 12-packs are currently going for $12.

Perhaps Carnival has learned a lesson from Norwegian Cruise line. The other week the cruise ship introduced a ban on TO-Go meals but after passengers complained, they decided to drop it. Still, it’s clear cruises are trying to rein in their passengers. We wonder what’s next-a ban on selfie sticks?