This ‘godfather’ promotes Barbudan resort
Actor Robert De Niro has new job as economic envoy for twin islands
One of the greatest North American actors and one of Australia’s wealthiest businessmen are making waves in cruising.
In Robert De Niro’s case, maybe it’s peripheral — he has a new job as an economic envoy for the tiny, twin-island nation Antigua and Barbuda. Since it’s a popular destination for cruise lines that sail the Leeward Islands, I assume one of De Niro’s duties is to attract more cruise ships.
Part of the reason for his appointment could be that he has hooked up with Australian businessman and billionaire James Packer to buy and renovate a former five-star resort on Barbuda.
STAR POWER CREATING NEW CRUISE LINE
Richard Branson is taking his Virgin brand — which you see on hotels, mobile phones, in the skies and on trains that crisscross Britain — to sea. Virgin Cruises will become a reality. This means Branson’s sometimes wild showmanship, innovation and entrepreneurial skills will be on display in cruising. Bain Capital of Wall Street, the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and others will partner with Branson in this venture.
They certainly have experience at the top. Tom McAlpin, a past boss of Disney Cruise Line and the new CEO of Virgin, says: “Cruise guests deserve something better and different to what is being offered today, and Virgin Cruises is committed to creating breathtaking experiences for them and a new generation of guests.”
Virgin Cruises will be based in south Florida and reports are circulating the company is well along on ship design and size, but there are no details.
KING OF SHORT CRUISES GOING LONG
Carnival cruises are generally three to seven days long, leaving from ports around North America, except on occasion and when its ships sail in Europe.
Now, 11 cruises on six Carnival ships are being lengthened to 10 to 14 days for fall 2015 and winter 2016.
It’s a funny juxtaposition. Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival, adopted a shorter approach to cruising last year by adding three- to five-day cruises to schedules from Florida and California in the hope of attracting a younger crowd.
OK PARROTHEADS, HERE’S TO YOU
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar will be part of the new Norwegian Escape, scheduled to launch in 2016.
Escape is slightly bigger than the ships of the current Breakaway Class. The flagship, the Breakway, is permanently based in New York.
Kevin Sheehan, the parent company’s CEO, announced the news at a companywide event, and the man everyone wanted to see — the legendary Jimmy Buffett — performed for the crowd, some of them undoubtedly “parrotheads.”
Norwegian’s exclusive partnership with Margaritaville Holdings LLC extends to Norwegian’s island destinations, including the new Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
Expect the concept to be added gradually to other Norwegian ships.