Jude Law visits Yas Marina Circuit ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

British actor Jude Law, the heart-throb star of countless Hollywood hits, swapped red carpets for chequered flags on a recent trip to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit - the futuristic home of the emirate’s annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

With stunned fans snapping the Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Road to Perdition and Sherlock Holmes star on their mobile phones, fearless Law buckled into an open-cockpit Yas Supersport SST – a mini version of Le Mans endurance vehicles - for thrill-a-minute ‘Hot Laps’ around the 5.5km track.

“Jude was bowled over by the entire experience – he was a natural racer,” said a Yas Marina Circuit insider.

“He even said he was considering returning to Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix in November.”

Natasha Bedingfield Announced as Featured Singer for Royal Princess Naming Ceremony

Award-winning British Singer-Songwriter to Perform During Next Month’s Launch

of Princess Cruises’ Newest Ship

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 15, 2013) – Adding yet another special touch to the naming ceremony launching Royal Princess, British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield will perform at the June 13 naming ceremony of the new ship in Southampton, Princess Cruises has announced. 

The globally acclaimed artist will make a special appearance at the celebration, where Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will officially name the ship. 

Ever since her Brit and Grammy-nominated multi-platinum solo debut album “Unwritten” in 2004, the British-born Bedingfield has been one of the world’s most inspiring and innovative contemporary female singer-songwriters at the top of the charts. With three albums under her belt, she is known for her powerfully soulful voice and heartfelt and contagious pop anthems. 

Bedingfield’s radio hits include songs such as “Unwritten,” “Pocket Full of Sunshine,” “Love Like This” and “These Words,” and her music can also be heard in numerous movies and television shows. 

“We’re excited to have Natasha Bedingfield lend her voice to this special occasion,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Her music will add a wonderful contemporary touch to the time-honored elements of the traditional naming ceremony.” 

In addition to Bedingfield’s performance, the Royal Princess inaugural ceremony will feature many British ship-naming traditions, including a blessing of the vessel, and a performance by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band) and the pipers of the Irish Guards. The pinnacle of the ceremony will be when the ship’s godmother, The Duchess of Cambridge, breaks the champagne bottle on the bow of the ship. 

The ceremony will be the highlight of week-long inaugural celebrations to welcome the vessel into service. Royal Princess will arrive at the Ocean Terminal in Southampton on Friday, June 7 and will depart on her maiden voyage on June 16. After her maiden voyage to Barcelona, the ship will sail Grand Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the autumn. Passengers still have the opportunity to book a cruise during the ship’s maiden season as limited space remains available. 

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship. Among the special features found on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water; the new Princess Live! television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms. 

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Children get 50% discount on Europe cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line :

Children aged 17 and younger will receive 50% off their cruise fare on any of Norwegian’s Europe itineraries when travelling with two adults in the same stateroom. 

Families who take advantage of this offer will have the opportunity to climb the 294 steps of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, explore the ancient ruins in Athens; discover the history-filled Vatican City in Rome, and much more.

Norwegian’s newest ship, Norwegian Epic, sets sail on seven-day Western Mediterranean itineraries from May 5 to October 13, 2013. Ports of call include Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Florence/Pisa (Livorno); Palma, Majorca, Spain; and Provence (Marseilles), France.  Passengers can begin their cruise in either Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), or Provence (Marseilles) allowing them to customise a vacation to their specific needs.  They will be able to interact with their favourite Nickelodeon characters during a variety of Nickelodeon hosted family-friendly activities and shows.

Norwegian Spirit is based in Europe year-round and is currently sailing sail nine-day Canary Islands cruises, departing from Barcelona through April 8, 2013, calling at Funchal, Madeira; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands; and Granada (Malaga), Spain.
  
Also sailing year-round in Europe, Norwegian Jade offers seven-day Greek Isles and Adriatic itineraries from Venice through early October, visiting Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Olympia (Katakolon); Dubrovnik; Athens (Piraeus); Ephesus (Izmir); and Split; and 10-day Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Olympia  (Katakolon) and Athens (Piraeus); Ephesus (Izmir); an overnight in Istanbul; and Naples. For a history-filled family expedition, Norwegian Jade sails from Rome (Civitavecchia) on 11-day Mediterranean and Holy Land cruises through April 6, 2013. Ports of call include Alanya; Limassol; Haifa and Ashdod; Iraklion, Crete; and Naples.
  
This spring and summer, Norwegian Star offers nine-day Baltic Capitals voyages from May 7 through September 10. Sailing from Copenhagen, this voyage includes an overnight stay in St. Petersburg.  Additional ports of call include Berlin (Warnemunde); Tallinn; Helsinki; and Stockholm.

Norwegian’s array of Freestyle Cruising options gives families flexibility and includes family-friendly accommodations and a variety of entertainment and dining options.
  
Norwegian has made significant enhancements to its youth and teen programmes, Splash Academy and Entourage. The enhanced curriculum focuses on team building and assisting in developing children’s interpersonal and confidence-building skills. With activities that are tailored specifically to each age group, the new youth and teen programmes focus on creative and unique activities, along with more sporting events, through a partnership with King’s Foundation and Camps. A highlight of the programme is a circus school in partnership with Hilario Productions’ Cirque du Jour, a New York-based company that specialises in teaching children real circus skills. Splash Academy also offers activities for cruisers under three and their parents who can enjoy sensory play classes which include baby art featuring “Wee Can Too” organic art products.

Holland America Line and Seabourn celebrate partnership renewal

In recognition of Earth Day, Holland America Line and Seabourn today are announcing the renewal of their partnership with Marine Conservation Institute. The partnership with the Washington State–based organisation began in 2010 with the “Our Marvelous Oceans” program, and will continue with the signing of a new three-year agreement that runs through 2016.

The goal of “Our Marvelous Oceans” is to foster greater understanding of the marine environment through guest and staff education and commitment to sustainably sourced seafood on shipboard menus. The partnership also includes a new “Saving the Ocean’s Gems” program to be rolled out in fall 2013 that promotes Marine Protected Areas — parts of the ocean set aside to protect endangered species, special habitats and/or cultural heritage sites — especially along the ships’ itineraries.

“Over the past three years we have learned a tremendous amount from the Marine Conservation Institute about protecting our oceans, and it’s only fitting that we renew our partnership on Earth Day,” said Stein Kruse , president and CEO of Holland America Line, and chairman, Seabourn. “It is important that we continue to provide information to our guests and crewmembers about what we can all do to protect and improve the health of our oceans, and we’re fortunate to have the international experts at the Marine Conservation Institute working with us as part of our many environmental endeavors.”

“We are delighted to continue the committed partnership that we have forged in the past three years with Holland America Line and Seabourn,” said Dr. Lance Morgan , President of Marine Conservation Institute, located in Seattle, Wash.  “We share a strong interest in healthy oceans, and this partnership has provided an innovative opportunity to advance the conservation message and has had real-world impact toward furthering our mission through projects such as sustainable seafood purchasing.”

Morgan added, “We look forward with enthusiasm to developing the programming around ‘Saving the Ocean’s Gems’ in the next year.”
Both Holland America Line and Seabourn strive to ensure that seafood menu selections served aboard both lines are responsibly sourced, promoting the continued viability of fish species essential to a biologically diverse marine environment. The Marine Conservation Institute determines the sustainability of a particular seafood item by referring to well-established seafood sustainability ratings. They then apply their professional expertise and judgment to confirm the sustainability of the selection.

Explore like an Alaskan with Norwegian’s limited time offer

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests the opportunity to take advantage of limited time savings on cruises through awe-inspiring Alaska. Those who book a new Alaska cruise reservation on Monday, April 15 or Tuesday, April 16, 2013, will receive up to $200 to spend on board. Air credits, up to $500, are also available on select sailings and this special offer is also combinable with exclusive military and AARP member discounts. In addition, those wishing to travel solo in Alaska have the opportunity to take advantage of special fares for solo travelers on select sailings.

Adventurers can set sail on board the youngest fleet sailing in Alaska and get ready to explore the breathtaking coastline on their choice of three modern ships: Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl. An Alaska cruise is a once in a lifetime chance to sail past mountainous glaciers, feel the splash from breaching whales and toast to these unparalleled experiences under the midnight sun.

Norwegian Sun sets sail to Alaska from May 13, 2013 through September 9, 2013, offering a series of seven-day cruises from either Vancouver, British Columbia or Whittier, Alaska, with fares starting at $399*. Guests can choose to combine these itineraries for the ultimate 14-day Alaskan Adventure, with fares starting at $879*. In addition to the Bonus Day offer, families cruising on Norwegian Sun with kids, ages 17 and under, who are sailing with two adults in the same stateroom will receive an additional 50% off their cruise fare and guests who book an Alaska Cruise Tour in conjunction with their Norwegian Sun cruise will receive an additional $100 on board credit.

Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Jewel also provide guests with an unparalleled Alaska cruise experience as both ships set sail from Seattle to some of the most scenic Alaska destinations including Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, as well as a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Pearl sails a series of seven-day cruises every Sunday from May 19, 2013 through September 22, 2013, with fares from $479*, and Norwegian Jewel sails every Saturday from May 18, 2013 through September 14, 2013, with fares starting at $479*.

Families who sail through Alaska on board Norwegian Jewel will delight in the wide range of Nickelodeon® family-friendly activities offered on board. From “Slime Time Live,” to an exclusive Nickelodeon Character breakfast, kids of all ages will love mingling with their favorite Nickelodeon characters on board.