ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS REACHES KEY CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE

MIAMI, March 1, 2021 – The game-changing Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s brand-new ship under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, has completed its 10-plus-hour, 20-mile (32-kilometer) conveyance. The conveyance is a process unique to ships built at Meyer Werft, as the shipyard is situated inland along the Ems River, and the ship must make the journey backward and down the river to get to the North Sea.

A sight to behold, maneuvering a 169,000-gross-ton ship that measures 1,138 feet (347 meters) long and 135 feet (41 meters) wide is no mean feat. The milestone naturally draws local residents to the riverbanks to marvel at this impressive technical and operational moment.

Boasting all-new and first-to-brand experiences, Odyssey will raise the bar when it comes to all aspects of the cruise experience. The innovative Quantum Ultra Class ship’s combination of iconic Quantum Class favorites and new-to-class features include:

• SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity center at sea that will now offer guests an indoor and outdoor activity complex. Think sports courts, bumper cars, laser tag, digital interactive games, jumbo screens, a DJ booth and more; this is the ultimate, high-adrenaline playground for all ages. The two-level venue will also be home to the first-in-class Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, where guests can catch their team on dozens of screens and enjoy a menu of game-day favorites and icy-cold drafts on tap.

• Odyssey’s pool deck is a vibrant oasis with additional uncovered pool space to optimize sun-soaked vacation experiences. Guests can lounge on the Caribbean-inspired pool deck, unwind in the four whirlpools or shady hammocks and casitas on decks 14 and 15, and cool off with freshly made cocktails at the two-level signature bar, The Lime & Coconut.

• Dedicated spaces for kids and teens have been amplified with technology to offer interactive, personalized and unexpected experiences. Teens have access to their exclusive area, Social180, which also includes an outdoor wraparound deck, The Patio, to hang out with ocean views. With a gaming lounge, movies, music and outdoor games, 13- to 17-year-olds have everything they need and can socialize without kids and grownups cramping their style.

• Bringing guests a taste of Italy is Royal Caribbean’s first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. From hand-tossed pizzas delivered straight from the pizza oven to a wine list that ranges from Sangiovese to Super Tuscan, travelers can enjoy traditional, rustic Italian dishes and fresh Mediterranean flavors.

• Hunger pangs will be alleviated with Odyssey’s diverse range of dining options. Never before seen in North America is Teppanyaki, the restaurant serving authentic Asian flavors cooked in one of Japan’s traditional styles. Travelers can also expect to find Royal Caribbean favorites, including sushi and sashimi at Izumi, hand-cut steaks at Chops Grille, the Chef’s Table epicurean, intimate experience and imaginative cuisine at Wonderland.

• Whether it’s surfing the waves on the signature FlowRider surf simulator or feeling the freedom of freefall on RipCord by iFly – the skydiving simulator – Odyssey will satisfy any adrenaline seeker. Not forgetting the 40-foot rock wall and gravity-defying SkyPad, the virtual reality and bungee trampoline experience that transports guests to another world. Those looking for unrivaled 360-degree views have the North Star glass observation capsule that extends 300 feet (91 meters) above the ocean.

• Guests can expect Royal Caribbean’s signature productions and famed Quantum Class entertainment in teched-out venues, complete with immersive technology, unparalleled special effects and world-leading talent. Fusing art and technology, Two70 boasts 270-degree panoramic windows with sweeping ocean views in an expansive open-area living room, which transforms in plain sight into a 135-foot-wide (41 meters) and 22-foot-tall (6 meters) screen powered by Vistarama technology. At night, the iconic venue becomes a multidimensional theater, where a troupe of six agile Roboscreens come to life in sync with music, special effects and live performers and aerialists. Guests can then head to Music Hall for an ever-changing setlist of live performances and epic cover bands, but not before grabbing a drink served by robots at the Bionic Bar.

In a Royal Caribbean first, Odyssey will debut in Haifa, Israel this May. Residents of Israel will be the first to experience the ship on a mix of 3- to 7-night escapes visiting the Greek Isles and Cyprus, roundtrip from Haifa. Odyssey will then cross the Atlantic to begin its inaugural North American season in November, offering 6- to 8-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and visiting far-flung destinations, including Curacao and Aruba. 

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 18 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites.  

Windstar Cruises to Open Miami Office in 2022; Plans to Resume Sailings in June 2021

Seattle, WA, February 26, 2021 – Windstar Cruises announced today it plans to relocate its office from Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida in June 2022.  The small ship cruise line alerted guests and travel advisors on February 24 that it was pushing back its restart of operations from May to June 2021. 

“With time and space away from our Seattle office, we’ve thought about our location and other possibilities once our two year lease is up,” said Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog. “Although we have all adapted to working remotely with great success, we have been working on a plan for a new office location. A long timeline is needed to facilitate a smooth transition. “

The Miami office will accommodate mostly cruise operation functions and some direct supporting teams to operations.  Other functions such as marketing, revenue, accounting and IT will have the opportunity to move to parent company Xanterra’s Denver office to collaborate with team members there. Windstar Cruises is owned by Xanterra Travel Collection, a group of global hospitality and travel companies, based in Denver.

“Windstar is poised for success in the small ship cruise segment,” said Andrew N. Todd, CEO of Windstar Cruises and Xanterra Travel Collection. “Our expert team is nimble and adaptable with many years of experience. We are looking forward to the advantages of a new Miami office, combining teams in Denver and collaborating remotely as we have done this past year.” 

Windstar plans to open the new Miami office and transition shared/support services to Denver in June 2022. Windstar expects some employees will choose to work remotely from the Seattle area and others to relocate to Miami or Denver depending on job function. 

Prelog says that as the center of the cruise industry in the U.S., a Miami office will be beneficial for building industry relationships and attracting new talent. It will also enable operations employees in Miami to be closer to the line’s ships and crew as they pass through Florida and shorten up flight times to the ships in Europe and the Caribbean. 

On Wednesday, February 24, Windstar announced that after carefully assessing multiple factors it was canceling May sailings and would restart operations in June 2021.  The decision was made after reviewing current information on COVID transmission rates, travel restrictions and government regulations. The line will re-start cruise operations in a phased manner with initial cruises at a reduced guest occupancy, some modified itineraries, and enhanced health and safety protocols.

New timeline for resumption of operations:
Wind Spirit – June 10, 2021 – Tahiti
Star Breeze – June 19, 2021 – Caribbean
Wind Star – June 19, 2021 – Mediterranean
Wind Surf – June 29, 2021 – Mediterranean
Star Legend – July 4, 2021 – Mediterranean
Star Pride – July 14, 2021 – Northern Europe/Iceland

Wave Season Offer Extended
To continue its current wave of bookings, Windstar Cruises announced today it will extend its wave season offer through March 31, 2021. Originally scheduled to run January 5 – February 28, 2021, the offer encourages prospective cruisers to book early so as not to miss out amid the coming rush of travel planning. The Sail Small, Live Large with Big Perks offer lets travelers choose from a set of complimentary perks plus a reduced deposit of 5%. 

Now extended through March 31, 2021, “Pick Your Perk” savings options include:

• Up to $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom or

• One night hotel pre- or post-cruise on Europe voyages or

• Premium beverage package (wine, beer, spirits, soda) or

• Free Wi-Fi

Guests may pick one complimentary perk which vary depending on the length of their cruise and room category. Along with this offer, deposits have been reduced from 15% of cruise fare to 5%. Windstar’s updated Travel Assurance Booking Policy allows cancellation up to 48 hours prior to departure on 2021 cruises.

For updated information, reservations, and itineraries, visit www.windstarcruises.com.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE EXTENDS PAUSE FROM U.S. THROUGH MAY 2021

MIAMI, Feb. 24, 2021 – Carnival Cruise Line has notified booked guests and travel advisors that its pause in operations from U.S. ports has been extended through May 31, 2021.

A date for the return of guest cruising operations from U.S. ports has not yet been determined.  Earlier in February, Carnival began providing more flexible options for guests booked into early summer so that they could cancel their reservation without penalty if they needed or wanted to make other plans.  As it has done throughout the pause, Carnival is providing guests on cruises cancelled today the choice of a future cruise credit plus onboard credit package, or a full refund.

“We continue to work on plans to resume operations and are encouraged by the focus to expedite vaccine production and distribution which are having a demonstrated impact on improving public health,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “We appreciate the support of all of our guests, employees and trade partners who we know are looking forward to our return.”