posted by admin on Jul 16
At the Helm: Bob Dickinson, Carnival Cruise Line's CEO
by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved
Often hailed as the most popular and the largest cruise line, Carnival didn’t make it to number one on its own. It’s had a lot of direction from CEO Bob Dickinson. Who is this man and what measures has he taken to make sure every passenger has a blast when sailing on a Fun Ship ?
A former employee of both Ford Motor Company and RCA, Dickinson achieved the position of executive vice president of Carnival in 1972. In 1993, he was promoted to president and a short time later added CEO to that title.
With a strong marketing and operational vision for the cruise line, Dickinson has brought this once fledgling company to superstar status through his unique innovations. In fact, he is so admired in the industry that Dickinson was named “1999 Travel Executive of the Year” by Travel Trade magazine. He was also awarded a position in Advertising Age magazine’s 100 Best Marketers in the Nation.
Part of his management savvy is due to his willingness to participate in programs such as PBS’s Back to the Floor where six top bosses were taken from the top floor of their high-rise office buildings and demoted to blue-collar workers within their own companies. From cleaning cabins to waiting tables to sweating it out as a poolside bar server, Dickinson hung with the other employees during a weeklong cruise aboard the Carnival Imagination.
He took the time to listen and learn about employee complaints firsthand, such as the pink shirts poolside staff must wear. Joking about the “polyester-lead blend” material, Dickinson discovered just how personal management decisions about every aspect of the employee work environment can be.
An avid wine collector, Dickinson has pressed hard to create a truly impressive and virtually unmatched collection within the Carnival fleet. With over 18,000 bottles in his personal wine cellar, Dickinson says wine is more than a hobby, naming it as interesting, complex and a living thing. And his favorite bottle of wine on the Carnival wine list? A 1998 Legacy California Cabernet that sells for $50.
Often giving countless bottles of wine away for charity, the Carnival CEO quotes a net figure for one year of $800,000 raised for philanthropic purposes primarily due to wine. Dickinson’s passion has recently extended to his business life as well. Carnival launched its first ever Wine Cruise aboard Liberty in December 2005. It was such a hit - being hailed by some as “the most outstanding wine-related event” - that the cruise line has scheduled a sequel for December 3, 2006.
This seven-day itinerary sails to Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. During the voyage, passengers can take part in numerous wine-related activities, including seminars and lectures about every aspect of wine from its history to the science behind creating different varieties. And, of course, wine tastings are a focal point of the week.
While guests are not required to be members of Carnival’s wine club to participate, they do need to pre-register for the special functions prior to boarding. Your travel agent will have details on all the events and registration procedures.
Dickinson will undoubtedly influence Carnival’s efforts as well as those of its sister companies (including Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises) continuing the success of each. What’s the key? How has he been able to build and hold fast to the number one position for so long? When asked, Dickinson replied that it was all about taking the mystery out of cruising, making it affordable to the average person and putting the customers’ experiences first. Truly, Carnival has achieved the status as the cruise line for every man.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/hawaii_cruises.htm"> Hawaii cruises</a> from <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/carnival_cruise_line.htm">Carnival Cruise Line</a> and others.
Holland America Welcomes Guest Chef Jacques Torres
by Roy Witman © 2007, All Rights Reserved
Chocolatier, pastry chef, candy maker and cookbook author. When it comes to sweets, Jacques Torres has it all wrapped up! This is one of the primary reasons Holland America Line invited Torres to be a guest chef during 2006 at its onboard Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine. Passengers are able to attend cooking classes in a theatre-style demonstration kitchen and also view the classes on large-screen plasma TVs.
With a charming smile and exciting personality, Jacques Torres is a natural with public speaking and teaching. Starting his career at the age of 15, Torres began his apprenticeship at La Frangipane, a small pastry shop in his hometown of Bandol, France. Upon graduating first in his class, Torres began to refine his intuitive sense of creativity and artistry under the direction of two-star chef Jacques Maximin at the Hotel Negresco.
Always a proponent of education, Torres went back to school to earn his Master Pastry Chef degree from 1980 to 1983. Immediately upon completion, he began sharing his wealth of knowledge and his talent with students at a local culinary school in Cannes. In 1986, however, Torres set a record by becoming the youngest chef ever to receive the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France medal: something in which he and his students took great pride.
An ever-growing list of distinctions follows Jacques Torres, including:
participation in the rededication ceremonies for the Statue of Liberty
winning the Japanese Pastry Chef Association’s gold medal
winning the 1986 French Championship of Desserts
guest chef on Julia Child’s Master Chefs program
recognition as James Beard’s Pastry Chef of the Year
receipt of Chefs of America Pastry Chef of the Year award
recognition as Chocolatier magazine’s 10 Best Pastry Chefs and
membership in Academie Culinaie de France
Likewise, his accomplishments are equally amazing. Torres has:
developed two television shows: Dessert Circus with Jacque Torres and Dessert Circus At Home
authored a companion cookbook entitled Dessert Circus At Home (Morrow, 1999)
opened two chocolate and pastry shops in New York: one in New York City and one in Brooklyn
made frequent guest appearances on the Food Network
sailed as guest chef onboard Holland America Line cruises
served as Dean of Pastry Arts at the French Culinary Institute
prepared desserts and pastries for presidents, kings, celebrities and the wealthy worldwide
and much more!
Deeply concerned with giving back to the community, Torres donates his time to a wide variety of notable charities, including the American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Gods Love We Deliver, New York’s Hard of Hearing Association, Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center, the Association to Benefit Children and others.
With a fun, fanciful style, Torres creates delightful confections that look as fabulous as they taste. His goal is to appeal to all the senses, as he engages the eyes with creative presentations, the nose with exceptional aromas and - most importantly - the mouth with textures and flavors that can only be described as decadent.
The guest chef lineup for 2007 includes other amazing chefs. Check with your travel agent or Holland America for details on who will sail on which ships throughout the coming year.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals on <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/holland_america_cruise.htm"> Holland America Cruise Line cruises</a>.
Ferry Crossings to France Posted By : Martyn Davis
Have you ever travelled to France by ferry? If you have you will known how convenient it is having all the onboard facilities from duty free shopping, restaurants, cafes etc. and for the families you will be so grateful for the childrens amusement areas.
Brooklyn, New York Opens Its First Cruise Ship Port
by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved
In 2003, New York announced the grand opening of a new alternative port for cruise lines. Because ports in Florida were becoming more and more crowded, additional docking facilities in interesting cities on the Eastern Seaboard were needed to provide cruise lines with a new home port. The port has been wildly popular. So much so that another has been added in nearby Brooklyn.
The Red Hook terminal in a neighborhood in Brooklyn opened in April 2006 and welcomed its first permanent resident, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (formerly docked in Manhattan). Located on the Buttermilk Channel, the Brooklyn terminal gave the first increase in New York cruise ship pier capacity in over 30 years. With the likes of Cunard and Princess cruise lines as eager residents, the terminal has already become a success. Most other major cruise lines have also assigned vessels to sail from Brooklyn.
Princess Cruise lines will launch the Crown Princess from the Brooklyn dock in June 2006 for a Caribbean cruise. From June to October, Princess will offer numerous Caribbean tours, including calls on ports in popular destinations such as the Virgin Islands, Grand Turk and Jamaica. Star Princess will begin cruises from Brooklyn in October 2006 visiting ports up and down the New England and Canadian seacoast.
But Brooklyn? It doesn’t seem like the most exciting location for a cruise ship port. On the contrary. While not normally publicized as a vibrant city with plenty to do, Brooklyn offers cruisers an opportunity to spend a few days in New York before or after their tour.
Very similar to Manhattan, Brooklyn offers a trendy nightlife as well as diverse cultures and eclectic cuisine. Bars, clubs and restaurants line the streets, offering a tremendous variety of options for visitors and locals alike.
If culture is your thing, Chinatown is always a wonderful experience. In addition, Flatbush offers the largest Caribbean population in the United States. In either place, you’ll delight in the authentic sights, sounds and tastes on every corner.
With spectacular views of many popular attractions, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty, the Red Hook terminal also offers exciting options for sightseers. However, New York City is just a short cab ride away and opens a virtual treasure trove of attractions, shows, museums and affairs.
Overall, Brooklyn offers greater value (with lower rates on hotels) and a central location, making it a wonderful choice for both vacationers and the cruise lines. If New York is closer for you than Florida, or if you’ve been longing to visit the Big Apple, consider booking your next cruise from the Red Hook terminal in Brooklyn. Your travel agent will have a complete listing of which cruise lines sail from Red Hook and the destinations available.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center based in Yonkers, New York. Visit them online today at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> for the best deals, including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/alaska_cruises.htm"> Alaska cruises</a> and <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/hawaii_cruises.htm"> Hawaii cruises</a>. You'll find their service exceptional and their attention to detail second to none.
Advantages to Having a Corporate Party in a Cruise
There are many different ways in which an employer attempts to raise the morale of their employees and one way in particular that has really become popular in the modern world is the tactic of utilizing corporate functions as parties. The corporate party is something that is going on every day of the world in most of the countries in the world and the effect that a properly planned corporate party can have on morale is quite impressive. However, the key words there are properly planned, because a corporate party can also backfire and make things worse.
Caribbean Cruises are your best value for 2007
Caribbean cruises are the best value for 2007 because the highest demand is for Alaska Cruises and Mediterranean Cruises . A simple check of cruise rates will show that both Carnival cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises have lowered their usual rates on Caribbean cruises compared with last years rates. Both cruise lines have strengthened their presence in both Alaska and the Mediterranean to capitalize on this trend. Royal Caribbean has moved several of their Voyager-class ships to the Mediterranean from the Caribbean and Carnival has just launched their newest ship, the Carnival Freedom, in the Mediterranean-the first time Carnival has debuted a new ship in a market other than the Caribbean. Even Norwegian Cruises is moving its ship, the Pride of Hawaii, to the Mediterranean! Although this has left the Caribbean market with less ships, the rates are underperforming all other destinations. This means it is the perfect place to look for bargain rates and promotions. This is an ideal opportunity for some to book a new ship that otherwise would have been cost-prohibitive last year. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have some fantastic 8 day and longer Caribbean itineraries that are just beautiful bargains waiting to be picked up by the savvy researcher. To the victor goes the spoils-so to speak! The cruise industry has always been cyclical. What is hot this year, won’t be hot next year, so you have to roll with punches, so to speak. If you follow the crowd, and the trends, it will cost you. Going against the crowd will save you a lot of money! Not only are the rates low for the Caribbean, but the promotions the cruise lines are offering a better than normal, also. It is not uncommon to find onboard-credit deals and free upgrades being offered on certain Caribbean itineraries and ships. Look here for more information on all Caribbean Cruises and good price hunting!
President of All Aboard Cruises Corp <a href=http://www.allaboardcruisescorp.com>Caribbean Cruises</a> <a href=http://www.allaboardcruisescorp.com>Alaska Cruises</a> <a href=http://www.allaboardcruisescorp.com>Mediterranean Cruises</a>
Birthday Party Cruise Posted By : Prince Cruise
To many mothers, planning a birthday party can be very daunting. You need to have a theme and location in mind. These days, with birthday parties becoming more and more elaborate and different.
Reviews Cruise your cruise experience
Informative Cruise Review website guides you to the best of ordinary people s views Ever wanted to know what its like to view cruises realistically With so many cruise destinations to choose from: Alaska, Amazon, Asia, Baltic s, Canary s, Caribbean, Greenland, Mediterranean, North America, South America, Norway s fjords lets just say the World. Which would be the best cruise destinations? Cruising holidays have become very competitive with millions of people choosing to spend their holidays on board the luxurious cruise liners every year. The Review a Cruise website will become a collection of information to help you find the right cruise with the best amenities and services, for that once in a lifetime holiday. Together we will look at your best ports of call and many destinations around the world, you re most desirable and exciting experiences, and explore the most interesting cultures on the planet. The good, the bad and the ugly of places to go, we would like to know! What you recommend and why? We will look at the best ports or areas of the world, what were your experiences of different countries, and cultures the good bad or ugly of the places to go, The cruise ship review will give you an on board experience of ordinary people who have cruised before. Passenger comments will cover every single aspect of what to expect when you first board the cruise liner. Where you made to feel welcome? Was the baggage sent directly to their cabins? What were the rooms were like? Was the entertainment good, great, or fantastic? How clean was the pool? Or were the staff friendly? As most cruise ships now compete to have the best celebrity chefs with their amazing world class cuisine and 24 hour dining areas. Where the celebrity meal covered in the all inclusive cost, we will look at the diversity and freshness of the food quality the ambience and presentation and cleanliness of the food areas, to ensure the highest quality of food with the balance of excellent hygiene. Is it a luxurious dine with the captain or just the laid back informal occasion? What were the prices of the drinks? Was there a shock when you got your final bill? Do they provide the latest film shown in the cinemas? Was your movie ruined by a screaming child? We will look at different types of cabins sizes, the adequate, the cleanliness (for example quality of the sheets), the range of television channels, comfort of the beds and all the other available amenities As you travel to different destinations every day it would be very important to see how well the tours and excursions where conducted, what would you recommend and what was a waste of money? So is there a better way to travel around the various locations? We will recommend various publications and online websites that have great cruise deals and discounts that will aid you in maximising your cruise holiday. A cruise is a very unique experience; it is similar to a floating luxurious hotel in which you only have to unpack once as the world will visits you. Is it worth having an outside cabin? Will your cruise give you the option of paying your on board bill at the end of the cruise? To tell the truth, most cruise liners do have onboard money less systems. We will have reviews by cruise industry experts and also the reviews and comments of passengers giving us a unique insight of what you will really expect before your cruise holiday.
Paul Phillips entrepreneur some would say X pop star loves exchanging his travel experiences with fellow travellers, visit <a href="http://www.reviewacruise.com/blog" title="Cruise Reviews">Cruise Reviews</a> copyright of reviewacruise you may use this info on your website please leave article intact author paul phillips
