Cruise News, Tourism Ireland, Sandals Webinars and more JimBits

Carnival Magic will operate a diverse 2021 cruise schedule featuring two trans-Atlantic crossings, a series of European voyages, a summer schedule from New York and Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, Fla.

Carnival Magic will be among the newest and largest Carnival ships to sail from New York, providing consumers with a host of onboard dining, beverage and entertainment innovations as well as exciting outdoor attractions and experiences.

In total, Carnival Magic will sail from four cities across two continents visiting 33 different destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, Bermuda, The Bahamas, New England and Canada in 2021.

Trans-Atlantic Voyages from Miami and Barcelona, Spring European Schedule

Carnival Magic will reposition for its 2021 European schedule with a 14-day trans-Atlantic voyage departing Miami on March 13 and arriving in Barcelona on March 27, 2021, calling at Bermuda; Ponta Delgada (Azores) and Lisbon, Portugal; and Malaga and Valencia, Spain.

The ship will then undergo a two-week-long dry dock followed by a series of seven- and eight-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through April 25. These voyages call at some of the region's most popular destinations, including Valletta, Malta; and Marseilles, France, as well as Livorno, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples and Messina, Italy. Details on the dry dock will be provided in the coming weeks.

Carnival Magic will then return to the U.S. on a 12-day trans-Atlantic voyage from Barcelona to New York May 3-15, 2021, calling at Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Summer Sailings from New York

June 17, Carnival Magic will kick off a summer schedule from New York operating four- to nine-day voyages to Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada and New England. The schedule runs through Sept. 24, 2021.

The program includes four-, five- and seven-day voyages to Bermuda, a four-day eastern Canada cruise, week-long fall foliage sailings to New England and eastern Canada, and seven- and eight-day Caribbean departures featuring top destinations like Amber Cove, Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.

Carnival Magic's New York season also includes a nine-day Carnival Journeys voyage featuring tropical ports throughout the eastern Caribbean as well as special onboard programming and activities.

Island-Intensive Caribbean Schedule from Port Canaveral

In November 2021, Carnival Magic will shift to Port Canaveral for a winter schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean voyages from the Space Coast.

Two different six-day itineraries are offered - one visiting Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay or Nassau while another features Cozumel, Belize and Costa Maya. Eight-day eastern Caribbean cruises call at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Grand Turk, while eight-day southern Caribbean voyages feature Aruba, Grand Turk, and Curacao or Bonaire. There are also seven-day voyages visiting sunny, tropical destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean. The program runs through April 23, 2022.

Tourism Ireland is visiting western Canada this week, showcasing the island of Ireland to travel agents in British Columbia and Alberta. A delegation of tourism enterprises from Ireland and Canadian partners are taking part in the targeted sales mission focusing on the cities of Vancouver, Langley, Edmonton and Calgary. The workshops involve partner organizations meeting, educating, and doing business with more than 250 travel agents in the region.

The sales mission is a valuable opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight new and existing offerings on the island of Ireland to travel agents, ensuring they are enthusiastic and equipped to sell the destination to their clients. The west coast of Canada is an important source of visitors for the island of Ireland and this week's sales blitz provides a valuable opportunity to highlight ease of access to Ireland (with direct flights from Vancouver and Calgary).

In addition, Tourism Ireland will roll out a new 'twinning' initiative in 2020 - which will see each overseas market 'twinning with' a specific region in Ireland. Canada will twin with the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny, located in Ireland's Ancient East this year - placing a special focus on all 4 counties including ease of access and product offerings.

Dana Welch, Manager, Tourism Ireland, Canada, said: "Canadians are highly valued in terms of holiday visitors and Canada is Tourism Ireland's 5th largest source market for holiday revenue. Our aim is to continue to grow Canadian visitor numbers with our extensive programme of high impact campaigns and promotions. Our sales mission to British Columbia and Alberta this week provides an excellent platform to meet with, and educate, agents as well as kickstart our promotional efforts highlighting the many great things to see and do around the island of Ireland. We really enjoy this opportunity to get out and meet with the agents and thank our travel trade partners across Canada - who continue to play a very important role in helping us to continue to grow visitor numbers to Ireland."

Sandals, the world's only 5-Star Luxury Included Resorts, has earned a worldwide reputation for providing two people in love with the most romantic all-inclusive vacation experience in the Caribbean. For close to four decades, couples from around the globe have flocked to 15 resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Grenada and Barbados to enjoy the very best in luxurious accommodations, delicious 5-Star Global Gourmet dining, impeccable 5-Star Service from friendly and attentive staff and so much more. Quite simply, Sandals Resorts knows romance.

Agents are invited to learn more about "the business of romance" during an exclusive webinar on Valentine's Day with Sandals Director of Romance, Marsha-Ann Brown. No matter the occasion, be it a destination wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or a vacation from everyday life, Marsha-Ann is always finding ways for couples to celebrate their love….and how that can translate into bookings and increased commission for agents.

Simply by registering, agents will also receive a recorded version post-webinar that they can play back at their leisure in the event that they are unable to participate during the live session.

To register for this exclusive 30-minute Sandals webinar on Valentine's Day, agents can click on the link below.

Friday, February 7 - Sandals Emerald Bay

1:30pm - 2:00pm EST

Experience the ultimate golf, tennis and spa resort located in the stunning Exuma Cays in the Southern Bahamas.

REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5645795800190589953

Friday, February 14 - Day of Romance with Marsha-Ann Brown

Director of Romance, Sandals Resorts International

1:30pm - 2:00pm EST

REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6222200477401104385

Additional Sandals webinars throughout the month of February - exclusive for Canadian agents - include:

Friday, February 21 - Sandals South Coast

1:30pm - 2:00pm EST

Discover this remarkable resort, located on Jamaica's secluded South Coast, home to an array of accommodation options including Over-the-Water Bungalows.

REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4602053601198764545Friday,

February 28 - Sandals Barbados

1:30pm - 2:00pm EST

Learn more about this spectacular resort where exclusive is always inclusive.

REGI

STER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/65117880785739265

For more information, agents can contact their local Sandals Business Development Manager or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283.

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa unveiled today the property's multi-million dollar renovation. The extensive redesign has transformed the resort into a modern, innovative oasis, steeped with desert-inspired elements. Every detail-except the spectacular views-is thoughtfully recrafted, from the magnificent lobby to the 884 guest rooms, including 101 suites and the event venues.

"The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is a desert icon. We are excited for guests to enjoy the new lobby, lounge areas, sophisticated guest rooms and event spaces," said General Manager Tom Tabler. "The stunning new interiors honor the resort's legacy and reputation as the ideal destination in Southern California for meetings, special events and multi-generational family fun."

The JW Marriott Desert Springs features 884 newly designed guest rooms-including 101 luxury suites, 400 King guest rooms, and 383 Queen-Queen guest rooms. Each spacious floor plan features stylish hardwood floors, modern furnishings, plush bedding, and mountain-inspired, silhouette murals, all in new shades of blue, grey and crisp white. The bathrooms feature quartz vanities, rain-style showers and more than 300 rooms offer free-standing, contemporary soaking tubs.

In addition, the resort debuted The Sinatra Ballroom-the largest indoor space in the Greater Palm Springs area at 25,000 square feet. This special venue hosted the last public performance of the famed singer and entertainer, Frank Sinatra. The redesign of the conference center interiors honors the legendary event with finishes reflective of the chic mid-century modern era. Cool blue hues, sparkling modern chandeliers, and a sophisticated desert palette flow throughout, offering an exceptional setting for meetings and special events. With 235,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting, exhibit, and banquet spaces, JW Marriott Desert Springs can comfortably accommodate groups of all sizes.

Set on 450 acres of vibrant desert gardens, breathtaking mountain views and signature lakes, the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa has activities for every age and interest. With over 350 days of sunshine each year, the resort offers relaxation at five resort pools and rejuvenation at the full-service Spa at Desert Springs. Whether it's hitting the links on one of two Ted Robinson-designed, championship golf courses, playing a set at the Desert Springs Tennis Club, or enjoying an electric boat ride on 18 acres of lakes and waterways, guests can explore and restore with each visit.

In 2020, JW Marriott Desert Springs will feature the JW Entertainment Zone-including an arcade game room, skee-ball, duck bowling, virtual reality games and seasonal activities. Future renovation phases will include spa redesign and dining outlet updates.

For more information and to book your next stay at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, please visit https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ctdca-jw-marriott-desert-springs-resort-and-spa/

With utmost commitment to preserving and protecting the world's rivers and the destinations it travels through, AmaWaterways proudly announces that AmaKristina earned a Green Award certification recognizing a high standard of safety, quality and environmental performance. The first river cruise ship ever to receive the certification, AmaKristina was presented with her award during a special ceremony on January 30 in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Jan Fransen, executive director of the Green Award Foundation, presented the award plaque and a special Green Award flag to Wade Korzan, director of AmaWaterways' European operations, and representatives from Rivertech, the company providing technical services to the luxury river cruise line.

"As co-founder of AmaWaterways and godmother of AmaKristina, I am incredibly proud that she is the very first river cruise ship to receive a Green Award," said Kristin Karst, executive vice president of AmaWaterways and AmaKristina's namesake. "The responsible and respectful treatment of the environment is a subject that I am passionate about and receiving this award is another step in our ongoing efforts to encourage and support the technology and the people who are bringing positive change to all aspects of environmental management."

Launched in 1994, the Green Award program is a voluntary independent accreditation process for ocean vessels, inland barges and now - with the induction of AmaKristina - river cruise ships. To earn the award, ships are evaluated based on standards which are more far-reaching than the statutory requirements and encompass the environmental impact of its engines, fuel consumption, waste and maintenance, pollution prevention and more. A growing number of ports participate in the program, such as the Port of Amsterdam, and offer substantial benefits to certified ships to promote safer, cleaner navigation on the world's oceans and rivers and to advocate for an integrated approach for European inland waterways.

"AmaKristina was a celebration of innovation and inspired design when we first introduced her to our fleet in 2017, and she continues to embody our desire to continually improve our ships, enhance our guest's travels and preserve our planet," said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. "Our teams are fully committed to finding new, inventive ways to reduce our environmental footprint and act as a true partner to the ports and communities we sail through."