MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the global provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, today announced the expansion of its VSAT coverage in the South Pacific with the activation of Ku-band services on a new satellite beam covering the waters surrounding Australia and New Zealand.

The South Pacific Ku-band beam is uplinked through a teleport in Sydney, which is connected via fiber optic cable into MTN’s extensive terrestrial support infrastructure. It provides significant enhancements to MTN’s fully managed broadband satellite communication services for maritime customers. With MTN’s automatic beam switching technology, vessels’ VSAT antennas are repointed to the South Pacific satellite beam when sailing through these waters to provide seamless connectivity.

“This is an integral part of our ongoing program of continuous improvement for our network,” said Jonathan Weintraub, CEO, MTN. “We expect to add more satellite beams as needed to ensure uninterrupted coverage across all the world’s major ocean routes.”

MTN has been aggressively expanding its global footprint, upgrading its infrastructure, opening sales and services locations and teleports, partnering with experienced resellers, launching innovative products and services, and ensuring they have the skilled manpower to support its customers. 

“MTN offers a unique value proposition of extensive worldwide coverage, high network reliability and cost-effective, fixed-price monthly service plans with guaranteed uncontended bandwidth to meet each ship’s communication requirements,” added Weintraub. “To a large extent, this is made possible by our global network infrastructure, which is second-to-none in the industry, and we’re committed to maintaining our position as the technology leader in VSAT services.”

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced two exciting year-round homeport deployments for fall 2011, with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration repositioning to Long Beach, Calif., for three- and four-day Baja departures and the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise to Tampa, Fla., on four- and five-day Caribbean voyages.       

Carnival Inspiration is currently based in Tampa while Carnival Paradise operates from Long Beach.

To reposition to their new homeports, each ship will offer a 14-day Panama Canal voyage that will provide consumers with a highly attractive longer length “Fun Ship” cruise option, as well as the unforgettable experience of transiting the Panama Canal.

Carnival Paradise Panama Canal cruise will sail from Long Beach to Tampa departing Nov. 28, 2011, while Carnival Inspiration Panama Canal voyage will depart Dec. 3, 2011, and operate from Tampa to Long Beach.
These voyages will be highlighted by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of transiting the Panama Canal, one of the great technological achievements of the 20th century, where ships are raised 85 feet in the air via a series of three locks and then gently lowered back again.  The transit also includes the crossing of 163-square-mile Gatun Lake, the world’s largest man-made lake, which is surrounded by a variety of native tropical foliage and interesting sites.

Each voyage will also feature visits to five magnificent ports of call:  Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class resort destination distinguished by rugged rock formations, lush landscape and gorgeous beaches. Known for its death-defying cliff divers, Acapulco boasts excellent beaches, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops.  Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Puntarenas is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and an abundance of wildlife and eco-tourism opportunities. Cartagena features centuries-old architecture and historical sites, including a colonial walled city and fortress designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town offers outstanding duty-free bargains as well as world-renowned Seven Mile Beach.

Early Saver rates for these voyages start at $949 per person based on double occupancy.

Carnival Inspiration to Long Beach
Carnival Inspiration will bring an exciting new dimension to West Coast cruising when it launches year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach Dec. 19, 2011.  On this route, three-day cruises depart Fridays and visit Ensenada while four-day voyages depart Mondays and call at both Ensenada and Catalina Island.  The ship will operate a special one-time two-day cruise to Ensenada Dec. 17-19, 2011.

Carnival Inspiration was the first ship to undergo the line’s extensive “Evolutions of Fun” refurbishment and includes a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long Twister water slide, a tropical resort-style main pool area, and an exclusive adults-only retreat.

Carnival Paradise to Tampa
In turn, Carnival Paradise will assume Carnival Inspiration’s popular year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruise schedule from Tampa beginning Dec. 12, 2011.  On this route, Carnival Paradise will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

Carnival Paradise offers a distinctive décor with dramatic public spaces that pay homage to great ocean liners of the past, with memorable venues such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Normandie Theater, and Rotterdam Bar.  The ship also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat.

Since its debut nearly a century ago, the Panama Canal has been considered one of the world’s most important engineering marvels.  This 51-mile passageway between oceans can save a ship more than 7,000 transit miles around South America, and never ceases to amaze cruise passengers.  Princess Cruises’ ships have long offered a front-row view of the Panama Canal, and in 2011-12 the line will offer 38 cruises to this signature destination, with five different itinerary options.

The Panama Canal’s history adds to its status as a “must see” destination.  The single most expensive construction project in United States history at the time, “big ditch” took more than 30 years to build at a cost of about $375 million.  The Canal’s lengthy history included construction efforts by two different nations and the creation of an independent Panama.  In total, Canal construction involved as many as 80,000 workers and the excavation of around 268,000,000 cubic yards of earth.

Today the Canal offers passage to approximately 14,000 ships a year.  Princess passengers sailing the Canal will enjoy the amenities of two vessels specifically built for Panama Canal cruising – Coral Princess and Island Princess.  The sides of these ships just clear the massive locks that use an average of 52 million gallons of water in each chamber as they eventually lift and lower vessels a total of 170 feet as they pass from the Caribbean to the Pacific during the nine-hour transit.

“Our ships have been transiting the Panama Canal for more than 40 years and, in fact, we even christened Coral Princess as it moved through the Canal,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.  “There really is no better way to watch the fascinating process as the ship transits each lock than from the decks of our ships – it’s an exceptional way to experience this wonder of engineering.”

Princess’ unique Two-day Canal Experience, available on many longer sailings, combines a full transit of the Canal, including the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun Locks, with a second day in Panama at Fuerte Amador.  This extra day gives travelers time to explore Panama further with excursions such as riding the Panama Canal Railway, exploring a rainforest, visiting an authentic Embera Indian village or touring bustling Panama City.

Beyond the Panama Canal, these itineraries offer calls in Caribbean Islands, Mexican Riviera resort towns, and a number of intriguing ports in Central America.  In Costa Rica, passengers will discover a land of tropical rain forests, lush coffee plantations and white sand coastlines set against a backdrop of majestic mountains.  In San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, this scenic fishing village offers beautiful white-sand beaches and ecological richness, while the nearby city of Granada is the oldest city in Central America.

Panama Canal itineraries include:

Panama Canal Two-Day Experience Cruises – Coral Princess and Island Princess will feature three itineraries offering Princess’ Two-Day Canal Experience – a full Panama Canal transit combined with a full day at Fuerte Amador on the Pacific side of Panama.  The 14-day itinerary sails between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles with calls at Aruba, Cartagena, and Puntarenas (Costa Rica) in addition to the Two-Day Canal Experience.  A 15-day option offers an additional call in Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala).  And another 15-day option sails from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale with calls at Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Cartagena, and Aruba.  Sailings on these itineraries depart between September 25, 2011 and April 27, 2012.  Coral Princess and Island Princess also offer longer Grand Adventures of 17, 18 and 19 days, sailing to and from Vancouver.

Full Panama Canal Transit Sailings – A new 14-day itinerary between Los Angeles and Ft Lauderdale, offering a full Panama Canal transit plus visits to Cabo San Lucas, San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua), Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Cartagena and Aruba.  Coral Princess offers four sailings on this route, with departures on October 25, November 8, 2011, February 28, and March 13, 2012.

Roundtrip Panama Canal Cruises – Island Princess will sail on this classic 10-day roundtrip itinerary from Ft. Lauderdale, which offers a partial Panama Canal transit to Gatun Lake followed by a call in Colon, plus calls in the Caribbean ports of Aruba, Cartagena, Limon (Costa Rica), and Grand Cayman or Ocho Rios.  The ship offers 20 departures between October 10, 2011 and April 17, 2012.

Azamara Club Cruises will span the breathtaking Norwegian Coast, diverse Icelandic landscapes, and charming British Isles on two unique voyages in summer 2011. Up-market travelers can choose among two remarkable voyages, departing from Copenhagen on August 17 or from Dublin on August 29, 2011, which sail to compelling destinations and enjoy extraordinary service aboard the European boutique hotel-style ship, Azamara Journey. Travelers also can take advantage of early booking values in 2010 for these two voyages, which offer 2-for-1 cruise fares, included gratuities, 50-percent rates on Azamara Land Discoveries shore excursions, and up to $2,000 savings per couple.

“Up-market travelers are looking for unique destinations and immersive experiences, and Azamara Club Cruises uniquely delivers them on our remarkable voyages,” said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “Onboard, guests enjoy fine dining and more inclusive amenities, while visiting some destinations that larger ships cannot manage. Our voyages offer guests the opportunity for even more immersive experiences at culture-rich destinations, a hallmark of our cruise line, and Azamara Journey will feature overnight stays in Reykjavik, Bordeaux and Lisbon on these itineraries.”

Departing from Copenhagen, Denmark, the intimate, 694-guest Azamara Journey, will sail on a 12-night Iceland and Norwegian Fjords voyage on August 17, 2011. The ship will feature an overnight stay in Reykjavik, and include calls at Bergen and Geiranger in Norway; Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland; Akureyri, Iceland; and Torshavn in the Faroe Islands before arriving in Dublin on August 29, 2011.

Azamara Journey also will offer a 10-night voyage departing Dublin Port on August 29, 2011, featuring two days in Bordeaux, France, and Lisbon, Portugal, as well as call at Holyhead, Wales; Cork/Cobh, Ireland; and Bilbao, Gijon and Vigo in Spain.

Guests aboard Azamara Journey enjoy the cruise line’s extraordinary signature service and more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff; complimentary bottled water, sodas, specialty coffee, and teas, as well as complimentary boutique red and white wines to accompany lunch and dinner; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle bus to/from port communities where available.

Ambassadors International, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMIED) announced that it has been notified by the Nasdaq Stock Market that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel has granted the Company’s request for continued listing of its Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market.  The Panel’s decision is subject to the Company’s Common Stock evidencing a closing bid price of $1.00 per share or more, as required by Nasdaq rules, for a minimum of ten consecutive trading days on or before September 10, 2010.  The Panel also approved the Company’s request to have trading in its Common Stock transferred from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market.  The Company has submitted a formal application for the transfer of its listing to the Nasdaq Capital Market and, subject to approval by the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department, the transfer is expected to become effective on or about September 17, 2010.  

As previously announced, in May and August 2010, the Company received formal delisting determination letters from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications staff regarding the Company’s non-compliance with two continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market: the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement and the $10.0 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement.  In July 2010, the Panel granted the Company’s request for an extension of time through September 10, 2010 for the Company to regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement.  In order to regain compliance with this minimum bid price requirement, the Company effected a 1-for-8 reverse split of its Common Stock, which took effect at 11:59 p.m. on August 23, 2010.

Because of the Company’s non-compliance with the $10.0 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement of the Nasdaq Global Market, based upon its June 30, 2010 financial statements, the Company recently requested the Panel’s permission to submit an application to transfer the listing of its Common Stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market, where the Company would be in compliance with that market’s $2.5 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing.   The Panel approved this transfer request, subject to the following conditions: (1) on or before September 10, 2010, the Company must have evidenced a closing bid price of $1.00 or more for a minimum of ten prior consecutive trading days, and (2) on or before September 17, 2010, the Company must have its application for transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market approved by the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department.  In order to fully comply with the terms of the Panel’s decision, the Company must also be able to demonstrate compliance with all other requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

The Nasdaq Capital Market is one of the three markets for Nasdaq-listed stocks and operates in the same manner as the Nasdaq Global Market.  Companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market must meet certain financial requirements and adhere to Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards.  Upon the transfer of the Company’s Common Stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company’s trading symbol will continue to be “AMIED” through September 20, 2010 and “AMIE” thereafter.  Trading in the Company’s Common Stock will be unaffected by the transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Assuming approval of the Company’s transfer application, the Company expects to be in compliance with all applicable financial requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market as of September 17, 2010, the anticipated date of transfer, including the $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement.  However, if the Company were to fail in the future to comply with the $2.5 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement of the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company’s Common Stock could become subject to potential delisting.

Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England on Monday, 11 October 2010.
 
The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest.
 
“The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, Queen Mary 2, in 2004. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner, Queen Elizabeth,” added Shanks.          
 
Her Majesty was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on 27 September 1938 when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch.
 
The Naming Ceremony will take place in Southampton on Monday, 11 October and Queen Elizabeth will set sail on her Maiden Voyage the following day.
 
Other historic namings of Cunard ships by British royalty over the Line’s 170-year history include the following:
 
• Her Majesty The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, launched Caronia, the ‘Green Goddess,’ in 1947.
 
• Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first British Monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. His Majesty King George V accompanied his wife.
 
• The late Queen Mother, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, launched Queen Elizabeth in 1938. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret accompanied their mother.
 
• HRH The Princess Margaret launched Carinthia in 1955.
 
• HRH The Duchess of Cornwall named Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007. HRH The Prince of Wales was also in attendance.

Beginning today, September 1, travel agents seeking to gain from all the benefits of CLIA membership and realize great value can enroll for Individual Membership through 2011 for the yearly rate of $99 – potentially enjoying four months free by acting now.

September 1 also marks the official opening of the Renewal Season for 2011 Travel Agency Membership featuring a broad range of new benefits and enhancements, ranging from a new CLIA website, integration of video content, social media access, and new CLIA training programs.

“For less than $100, travel agents can take advantage of all the benefits of CLIA membership. That alone is great value but, by signing up now, they can actually be enrolled for as many as 16 months instead of the usual 12. That is irresistible value,” said Bob Sharak, CLIA’s executive vice president.

To become an Individual Agent member of CLIA, agents must be affiliated with an active CLIA-member travel agency that is enrolled through 2011. Over 2,500 professional travel sellers currently are enrolled as Individual Agent members. Among the benefits they enjoy:

•    Professional recognition by CLIA and all its members
•    An individual agent listing in the “Cruise Expert Locator” at www.cruising.org, providing additional consumer recognition
•    Free classroom, online and DVD sales training valued at $90 for a jump start toward CLIA Cruise Counselor Certification
•    Personal receipt of CLIA news, promotions, events, training and FAM invitations and industry updates
•    An annual membership kit including the CLIA Cruise Manual CD-Rom – A $30.00 Value
•    Preferred member rates for the CLIA photo ID card
•    Access to the complete CLIA web site Travel Agent Center with invaluable information and resources
•    A Marketing Tools Essential CD with direct mail, e-marketing, advertising and PR resources and templates
•    And, a “Value-Added Coupon Book” with dozens of offers valued at over $1,000!

The Yachts of Seabourn is offering seven new optional Seabourn Journeys to guests aboard Seabourn Sojourn during its 111-day Maiden World Cruise in 2011.

The adventurous, multi-day packages will explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, landmark monuments and more, such as India’s famous Taj Mahal and the magnificent Leshan Gian Buddha in China. These tours will provide an in-depth travel experience of each destination and will enhance guests’ memories as they travel around the world.  All Seabourn Journeys packages are fully escorted, and include deluxe hotel accommodations, transportation, some meals and guided tours.
“Seabourn Sojourn will visit 49 ports during her maiden world cruise,” said Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s President and CEO. “But there are still other sites that travelers should see when they travel around the world, so we are pleased to offer these exhilarating options to our guests,” she continued. “From Australia’s wine country to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites in Angkor, our Seabourn Journeys will take guests to seven more inland jewels in seamless Seabourn style.”

Highlights of the 2011 World Cruise Seabourn Journeys include:

- Spectacular Queenstown and Mt. Cook National Park – January 25 – January 28, 2011; Auckland to Akaroa, New Zealand.  This three-night overland adventure introduces guests to the spectacular sights of UNESCO’s Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Site and Mount Cook National Park, where they will discover the scenic wonderland of the majestic Southern Alps, tranquil lakes and imposing glaciers.  Guests will fly to the “adventure capital of the world,” Queenstown, and experience an exciting jet boat excursion through the impressive Shotover Gorge.  $2,900 per guest/double occupancy.

- Barossa Vintages and Australia’s Red Center – February 10 – February 14, 2011; Adelaide to Freemantle, Australia. Oenophiles who are fans of big, bold, full-bodied shirazes and cabernet sauvignons will enjoy a one-night trip to Barossa Valley, the jewel of Australia’s wine country.  Then it’s on to the Outback, where guests will spend two nights in a luxury tent at an eco-sensitive wilderness camp and witness the beautiful, vibrant hues of the rising and setting sun reflecting on Uluru (Ayers Rock), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Guests will also feast on sumptuous outback fare and discover the wonders of the southern night sky.  $6,500 per guest/double occupancy.

- Chengdu’s Giant Panda Discovery – February 25 – March 1, 2011; Hong Kong, China to Cai Lan, Vietnam. On this exclusive four-night Seabourn Overland Journey, guests will visit the Chengdu Panda Base to see giant pandas, a Chinese national treasure and beloved worldwide.  Chengdu is home to the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest stone Buddha in the world.  Following Chengdu, guests will spend a day in Hanoi, Vietnam, before re-joining Sojourn in Cai Lan. $3,500 per guest/double occupancy.

- The Khmer Temples of Angkor – March 5 – March 7, 2011; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. During this two-night journey, guests will travel to Cambodia to explore the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, a sprawling, ornately carved complex of temples, towers and Hindu paintings that is  unquestionably one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites.  $1,650 per guest/double occupancy.

- Chiang Rai and the Hill Tribes of Thailand – March 9 – March 12, 2011; Laem Chabang, Thailand to Singapore. Travelers will explore the Golden Triangle, a picture-perfect vision of verdant Thai rice terraces and orchid-clad hillsides where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet.  The area is ripe with ancient temples, ruins, art and local cultures, and guests will mingle with the local tribes to learn their way of life in this alluring region during this three-night excursion.  $3,500 per guest/double occupancy.

- Monumental Love: The Taj Mahal – March 19 – March 22, 2011; Cochin to Mumbai, India. Built by Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to his wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is the greatest monument to love the world has ever known.  This two-night excursion will visit Agra, the Red Fort and the exquisite Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  $5,000 per guest/double occupancy.

- Luxor and the Valley of the Kings – April 4 – April 5, 2011; Safaga, Egypt. From the Temple of Luxor in ancient Thebes to the Valley of the Kings, guests will survey most of Egypt’s desert UNESCO World Heritage Site during this overnight tour.  The magnificent Luxor and Karnak Temples are explored and guests journey across the Nile River to the Necropolis, where among long-hidden tombs, guests will marvel at the sophisticated sculpture, colorful depictions of everyday life and the pantheon of gods and goddesses worshipped by the early Egyptians.  $499 per guest/double occupancy.

On Jan. 5, 2011, Seabourn Sojourn will embark on a world cruise from Los Angeles to London, visiting 49 ports via the South Pacific, New Zealand, around Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean. Fares for the full 111-day world cruise begin at $49,995 per person, based on double occupancy, and include many valuable bonus benefits and amenities, such as a pre-cruise Bon Voyage event with dinner and luxury overnight in Los Angeles, numerous special shoreside events and exclusive complimentary shore excursions, Personal Valet luggage shipping service, and shipboard credits of $2,500 per guest. Gala onboard celebrations and special gifts will also be offered to guests during the voyage. 

Celebrity Cruises is constantly seeking new ways to support its travel partners, and the latest outgrowth of that commitment is bound to raise questions, by design. The line has launched a new campaign designed to drive consumers to travel agents through ads featuring the headline: “Go ahead. Ask your travel agent.”

“Since our brand was founded 20 years ago, we’ve publicly acknowledged that travel agents are invaluable to the Celebrity brand,” said Celebrity’s Senior VP of Sales Dondra Ritzenthaler. “We could never achieve the levels of success we continue to achieve without them, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is, making a significant investment in a robust ad campaign devoted to them. By creatively encouraging consumers to ask an agent specific questions, we’ll help consumers learn more about our brand, and help drive business for agents.”

Among the questions, each of which reflect premium attributes unique to Celebrity Cruises:

• “Ask who provides the best premium Caribbean cruise vacation,” a view Celebrity supports with its host of accolades, including “Best Mega-Ship Line” in the most recent annual CondéNast Traveler readers’ poll, and 15 consecutive years in the top 10 in Travel + Leisure magazine’sannual poll ranking the best cruise lines in the world.

• “Ask about one of the largest staffs of sommeliers in the Caribbean – and in the world, as a matter of fact.”

• “Ask about a place where your stateroom attendant calls you by name. And your waiter, too.”

• “Ask about activities that push the envelope and redesign traditional onboard programming by partnering with well-known experts such as Apple, Smithsonian Journeys, Bacardi, Rosetta Stone and Riedel Crystal.”

• “Ask where you can be pampered from head-to-toe in one of the most celebrated spas at sea”: Celebrity’s AquaSpa® by Elemis®.

• “Ask where your stateroom is full of so many thoughtful details, even the stationery has your name on it.”

• “Ask about a place at sea where world-renowned architects designed stunning spaces that create uncontrollable smiles of approval.”

• “Ask where you can feel like a million dollars, while being spoiled with a 24-karat gold facial, among other rejuvenating indulgences.

Celebrity’s new campaign is running in select national magazines, major daily newspapers and on billboards.