Celebrity CEO Dan Hanrahan Resigns
by Maria LenhartDeparture Set for Month’s End
Dan Hanrahan resigned as president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, effective at the end of July, according to an announcement from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Widely regarded as a champion of the travel agent, Hanrahan started with RCCL 13 years ago as a marketing executive who helped create the Get Out There campaign. He was named president of Celebrity in 2006, becoming CEO a year later. Since then, the line has taken delivery of five new vessels and introduced the Solstice class of ships.
 |
“While leaving Celebrity isn’t easy for me, I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish the last seven years,” said Hanrahan in a statement. “The delivery of Celebrity Solstice in 2008 changed what was a great brand into the finest premium cruise line in the industry. It has been reported that Hanrahan will be leaving the travel industry. RCCL said only that he was pursuing “an exciting new opportunity.”
Norwegian Sets Broadway Lineup for Breakaway
Norwegian Cruise Line will feature three Broadway productions on the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, which will be homeported in New York. The entertainment lineup will include Rock of Ages, a five-time Tony Award nominated musical; Burn the Floor, a dance-oriented show; and Cirque Dreams & Dinner, an adaption of the Broadway show Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. Other entertainment will include the comedy troupe The Second City at the ship’s Headliner Comedy Club. The Breakaway will offer a summer season of cruises to Bermuda beginning in early May 2013.
Crystal to Mark 25th Anniversary with New World Cruise
Crystal Cruises revealed early details of its 2015 World Cruise, which will mark the 25th anniversary of the company. The 108-day cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity will be a new route circumnavigating the globe roundtrip from Miami, starting Jan. 15, 2015. It will consist of six segments that will traverse Central and South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and the Caribbean, as follows:
• Miami to Callao/Lima (16 days)
• Callao/Lima to Auckland (19 days)
• Auckland to Perth (21 days)
• Perth to Cape Town (21 days)
• Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro (15 days)
• Rio de Janeiro to Miami (16 days)
Additional itinerary highlights include maiden calls in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Albany, Australia; Ambodifotra and Taolagnaro, Madagascar; and Richards Bay, S. Africa (in addition to three other South African calls). Also: stops in Easter Island, Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Reunion Island, Buenos Aires, Cartagena, Turks & Caicos, and more. The full itinerary will be posted on crystalcruises.com later this month.
HAL Adds Segments to Autumn Grand Asia and Australia Voyage
Holland America Line has added three new segments to ms Amsterdam’s 75-day Grand Asia & Australia Voyage in fall 2012. Ranging from 20 to 30 days, the new segments set sail in October and November and span from China to California. The full voyage departs Seattle Sept. 21 and calls in Asia, Western Australia and the South Pacific on a 75-day cruise. The new segments include a 30-day voyage from Xingang (Beijing) to Sydney, departing Oct. 12; a 20-day segment from Hong Kong to Brisbane, departing Oct. 21; and a 27-day segment from Brisbane to San Diego, departing Nov. 9.
“These segments are a great option for travelers who want an exotic cruise but don’t have the time to take the full voyage,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.
Scenic Cruises Releases 2013 Brochure
Scenic Cruises has released its 2013 Europe River Cruise Brochure, detailing 25 cruise and cruise-tour offerings in Europe and Russia, pricing and new excursion programs. Scenic is also offering savings for booking made by Nov. 30, 2012, with possibilities that include free air to Europe and Russia and cabin savings of $400 to $2,000 per couple. Fares range from $2,460 to $15,535 per person, double, before savings.
New sailings include an eight-day Amsterdam to Basel River Cruise, calling in Cologne, Rüdesheim and Mannheim, among other stops. There are also three new French river cruises as the company moves the Scenic Emerald to the Saône and Rhône rivers. Passengers can partake in Burgundy wine tastings, explore Roman cities and the Ardeche countryside, and experience a typical French family homestead with a home-cooked meal in Tournon.
Also new for 2013 is Scenic Tailormade, a GPS-guided tour system where participants choose from independent walks or cycling tours to explore interest areas such as food, wine or history while full commentary is heard over the headset and live mapping is viewable.
