Latest news with #ProjectSunshine
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Truly pioneering Southampton cruise ship celebrates 10th anniversary
It's hard to believe it's been a decade since Anthem of the Seas first graced the waters, a true titan of the seas that quickly became synonymous with groundbreaking innovation and unforgettable voyages. Calling Southampton her cherished home, this second jewel of Royal Caribbean International's esteemed Quantum Class has continually pushed the boundaries of what a cruise experience can be. Codenamed "Project Sunshine," Royal Caribbean's ambitious vision for a new class of ships started to take shape in February 2011 with an order placed with Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The excitement with the subsequent order for a second ship, and finally, in January 2013, the world learned the official names: Quantum of the Seas and her sister, Anthem of the Seas. The keel of Anthem was laid on a crisp November day in 2013, marking the physical commencement of what would become a truly extraordinary vessel. A momentous day arrived on April 10, 2015, when Anthem of the Seas was officially delivered to Royal Caribbean. Just five days later, she sailed into her first homeport of Southampton, ready to embark on her maiden European summer season. The city embraced her with open arms, and it was in Southampton that a truly unique christening ceremony unfolded on April 20, 2015. Read more: Photos show night club that later became a strip club and then Junk Robbers threatened to set pub landlord and wife alight in terrifying ordeal Forgotten Southampton star who shunned the club in search of fame Breaking from tradition, Royal Caribbean sought a godmother who embodied grace, beauty, social consciousness, and an adventurous spirit, ultimately selecting Emma Wilby, a British travel agent and military wife known for her singing prowess in the Military Wives Choir. The christening itself was a spectacle befitting a ship of Anthem's stature. Held in the vessel's Royal Theatre before 1,300 distinguished guests, the ceremony was a vibrant tapestry of tradition and modern flair. It began with a captivating procession, followed by stirring performances from the Reading Scottish Pipe Band and the enchanting Welsh boys' choir, Only Boys Aloud. The highlight, however, was Emma Wilby's powerful rendition of Katy Perry's "Firework," culminating in her pressing a button that sent a bottle of Perrier-Jouët champagne soaring down a zipline from the ship's iconic North Star gondola, smashing against a wall bearing the ship's name. From her very inception, Anthem of the Seas was designed to be a pioneer. Boasting 16 passenger-accessible decks and an impressive 2090 passenger cabins, her facilities were, and still are, revolutionary. Her towering rock-climbing wall offered panoramic views, while the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator provided an exhilarating taste of flight. Read more: "Marry Her": Judge's verdict for labourer who reported himself over teen love Rare video shows large Southampton family - and it's MASSIVE! Huge crowds descended on Southampton park for major youth festival One of its most iconic features is the "North Star," a jewel-shaped glass capsule that rises over 300 feet above sea level, offering stunning panoramic views, which have provided unique perspectives of Southampton and the Solent many times. She also boasts a bar where robots mix cocktails. Passengers order their drinks via tablets, selecting from a menu of classic cocktails or getting creative with their own designs or concoctions from a wide selection of spirits and mixers. Robotic arms get to work. They can select ingredients from the inverted bottles above them, muddle, stir, shake, and strain drinks with impressive precision. Beyond these adrenaline-pumping attractions, Anthem offers an array of swimming pools, a tranquil solarium, a state-of-the-art Spa and Fitness Centre, a grand theatre for world-class entertainment, and a casino. Over her ten years of service, Anthem of the Seas has navigated both serene waters and challenging conditions. While the vast majority of her voyages have been seamless, she has encountered a few notable incidents that have only highlighted the robust design and safety protocols in place. In February 2016, she faced extreme wind and sea conditions off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Despite the severity of the storm, which caused damage and minor injuries, the ship and crew admirably managed the situation, prioritising passenger safety. Read more: Life 100 years ago on the outskirts of Southampton - it was TOTALLY different! The 'death' of Southampton: When the city was in deep decline Why this Southampton pub had TV cameras rolling and thousands in queue Similarly, in September 2016, she encountered stormy weather from Hurricane Hermine, again showcasing her ability to weather nature's challenges. More recently, in February 2020, Anthem of the Seas was part of a global conversation when a coronavirus-related quarantine was implemented as a precautionary measure. Swift action by Royal Caribbean, in collaboration with health authorities, ensured the safety and well-being of all onboard. The situation was quickly resolved, with guests testing negative and the ship cleared to sail. As Anthem of the Seas celebrates her tenth anniversary, her legacy as a trailblazer is firmly cemented. She continues to be a beloved home away from home for countless travellers, embarking on incredible journeys from Southampton among other places.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Salesforce patience and ties between CEOs drove Informatica acquisition
(Bloomberg) — Salesforce Inc.'s (CRM) agreement to buy Informatica Inc. (INFA) for $8 billion came a year after initial talks collapsed and the acquisition target lost a third of its market value, lowering the price it was willing to accept for a deal. Where the Wild Children's Museums Are Billionaire Steve Cohen Wants NY to Expand Taxpayer-Backed Ferry The Global Struggle to Build Safer Cars At London's New Design Museum, Visitors Get Hands-On Access LA City Council Passes Budget That Trims Police, Fire Spending The result, according to Salesforce executives and other people close to the negotiations, is evidence of the software giant's more-disciplined approach to dealmaking after working several years to reduce costs and improve profitability. That patience was imposed by major shareholders who helped scuttle a purchase of Informatica in early 2024. 'We were very close to doing this deal a year ago, but the price was not right,' Salesforce Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff said in an interview. He then stayed in contact with Informatica Chief Executive Officer Amit Walia until the time was right, Benioff said. Last week, that time came. Salesforce sealed a purchase on May 27 for the data integration software provider at $25 a share — 35% less than Informatica's share price before the initial talks became public in April 2024. It marks serial acquirer Salesforce's return to making big deals after facing years of skepticism from investors about its M&A strategy. 'In conversations with critical investors — they want to make sure that we pay the right price, that it's not dilutive, it only costs one or two quarters of cash flow, that we are disciplined in our approach,' Benioff said. 'For all those reasons a year ago, it could not come together. For all of those reasons it did come together last week.' In early April, Informatica's share price had declined by half from the prior year, meaning an acquisition this time around would likely come at a significant discount to the $10 billion price tag being discussed a year earlier. John Somorjai, longtime corporate development head at Salesforce, and his advisers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), reached out to Informatica's board with an interest in rekindling their courtship. For Informatica, a greater need for data integration services to facilitate AI use had put its offering firmly in the crosshairs of industry players including Cloud Software Group Inc., formerly known as Citrix Systems Inc., as well as buyout firms like Thoma Bravo. Informatica instructed bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) to kick off a market check that it hoped would validate the value of its data-organization technology in the age of AI. 'Project Inspire' was the code name for the potential deal within Informatica. At Salesforce, insiders gathered to talk about 'Project Sunshine.' As the idea of the combination began to take fuller shape, the name became 'Project Kailash' — a reference to the sacred mountain in the Himalayas that's revered as the home of Hindu god Lord Shiva. The sale process was accelerating at pace by the end of April and remained competitive until roughly 24 hours before Salesforce had a handshake agreement with Informatica, and just prior to a Bloomberg News story that said the two companies were in talks about a deal that could be announced within days, the people familiar said. 'We were lucky to be the winning bid,' Benioff said. Details of Salesforce's pursuit of Informatica were relayed by multiple people involved in the discussions, all of whom asked not to be identified discussing private details. Salesforce declined to comment on some of the details. Informatica didn't respond to a request for comment. Understanding the stakes at play for Salesforce means rewinding back to late 2022. Over the course of a few months, the San Francisco-based company had seen a rare pile-on from a who's-who list of activist investors, including Starboard Value LP, Elliott Management Corp., ValueAct Capital Management LLC and Third Point LLC. They'd come armed with critiques of Salesforce's slowing revenue growth, lack of cost discipline, ballooning headcount, and an M&A record that they said was unfocused and expensive. The prior year, Salesforce had closed its $27.7 billion deal for workplace collaboration firm Slack Technologies Inc. That transaction was its biggest yet — dwarfing its purchases of Tableau Software Inc. and MuleSoft Inc. The company had spent some $50 billion in three years, and patience in Benioff's strategy was wearing thin. Salesforce responded by cutting about 10% of its workforce, setting an aggressive profit goal and adding a ValueAct representative to its board. The message: We hear you. So when word started to get out in April 2024 that Salesforce was in advanced talks to acquire Informatica for about $10 billion, investors were quick to let the company know their thoughts on the proposed deal. Salesforce's stock slid more than 7% in the following trading session, wiping roughly $20 billion in value from its market capitalization. The two companies had already agreed to contracts, a price was all but finalized and a date for the public reveal was just a few days away, according to the people familiar with the process. Salesforce, in a quiet period ahead of reporting earnings for its fiscal first quarter for 2025, was hamstrung: It could say little about the deal's rationale, explain the strategic fit, or defend the rumored $10 billion price tag. Analysts and shareholders might have been more forgiving with a $2 billion tuck-in than a big headline swing. Like Informatica's private equity backers, Permira and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Salesforce was left ruing a near miss. In the interim, away from the spotlight of still unconfirmed deal talks with Salesforce, Informatica was at work to strengthen its profile. But it was going into its fourth quarter earnings period braced for a 4.1% slip in revenue, amid a backdrop that had seen Permira and CPPIB sell a slug of shares worth $408 million. Robin Washington, Salesforce chief operating and financial officer, said the recent deal was as much about getting 'our arms around the valuation' as it was the timing. 'We were patient, we were disciplined, and felt that now was the right time to put the marriage together,' she said in an interview. 'One of the things that we've been really focused on is just good discipline when it comes to M&A.' As with Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG, GOOGL) on-again, off-again pursuit of cybersecurity upstart Wiz Inc., which culminated earlier this year in a $32 billion friendly takeover, timing — and discipline — can be everything in dealmaking. While the rationale and the fit were much the same 12 months ago, the maturity and understanding within the industry about the demand for data to feed AI made the takeover more acceptable this time. 'The world of generative AI cannot come to fruition without the foundation of good data,' Informatica's Walia said in a Bloomberg Television interview. 'They talked to customers, we talked to customers. And to me, it was the right time for us to come together.' —With assistance from Liana Baker. YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Alton Towers closes popular ride for good after more than a decade
A RIDE at Alton Towers that opened more than 10 years ago is finally shutting down for good. Postman Pat Parcel Post replaced the former Old MacDonald's Tractor Ride in May 2014. 4 4 Found in Cbeebies Land, the popular theme park confirmed earlier this year that the ride would be closing down after more than a decade. Today it was confirmed that the ride has officially been shut to the public. A spokesperson for Alton Towers told local media:"As we continually look to refresh and enhance our guest offer, Postman Pat Parcel Post ride will be closing in preparation for future development work at the resort. "Our website has been updated, notifying guests of the planned closure." The ride will be replaced by a kids rollercoaster, under the name code-name Project Sunshine. It hasn't been confirmed what it could be based on, but it is rumoured to be one based on the TV show Bluey. It comes after Bluey-themed hotel rooms opened at Alton Towers' hotel. Talking about the ride, the website says: " Postman Pat's parcels have been mixed up! "Report to the Sorting Office to receive your instructions and become part of Postman Pat's Special Delivery Service. "Through problem solving and interaction the attraction lets children take control of Postman Pat's van on his delivery route through Greendale, picking the right parcels to deliver to the village's favourite residents as they drive along." Some guests have been gutted by the news. I was the first to ride Alton Towers' newest ride Toxicator - it was a topsy-turvy spinning explosion 4 One wrote on Facebook: "Well that's a real shame, my grandsons aged 2 and 3 adored it." Another agreed: "This is so sad! We were going to take our toddler there this summer as he absolutely loves Postman Pat, now we're not going to bother going. Such a shame." A third said: "Absolutely devastating I loved this ride." Thankfully guests can still stay at the Postman Pat themed rooms at the Alton Towers hotel on-site. Earlier this year Alton Towers also closed The Blade, which opened 44 years ago. This made it the theme park's oldest ride. And last year, the Alton Towers spa closed after 23 years. Here is everything you need to know about the new ride The Toxicater after it opened earlier this year.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Alton Towers closes popular ride for good after more than a decade
Guests have said they are 'absolutely devastated' RIDE'S OVER Alton Towers closes popular ride for good after more than a decade Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RIDE at Alton Towers that opened more than 10 years ago is finally shutting down for good. Postman Pat Parcel Post replaced the former Old MacDonald's Tractor Ride in May 2014. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Alton Towers' Postman Pat ride has now closed Credit: Supplied by Alton Towers 3 The ride first opened at the park in May 2014 Credit: Alamy Found in Cbeebies Land, the popular theme park confirmed earlier this year that the ride would be closing down after more than a decade. Today it was confirmed that the ride has officially been shut to the public. A spokesperson for Alton Towers told local media: "As we continually look to refresh and enhance our guest offer, Postman Pat Parcel Post ride will be closing in preparation for future development work at the resort. "Our website has been updated, notifying guests of the planned closure." The ride will be replaced by a kids rollercoaster, under the name code-name Project Sunshine. It hasn't been confirmed what it could be based on, but it is rumoured to be one based on the TV show Bluey. It comes after Bluey-themed hotel rooms opened at Alton Towers' hotel. Talking about the ride, the website says: "Postman Pat's parcels have been mixed up! "Report to the Sorting Office to receive your instructions and become part of Postman Pat's Special Delivery Service. "Through problem solving and interaction the attraction lets children take control of Postman Pat's van on his delivery route through Greendale, picking the right parcels to deliver to the village's favourite residents as they drive along." Some guests have been gutted by the news. I was the first to ride Alton Towers' newest ride Toxicator - it was a topsy-turvy spinning explosion One wrote on Facebook: "Well that's a real shame, my grandsons aged 2 and 3 adored it." Another agreed: "This is so sad! We were going to take our toddler there this summer as he absolutely loves Postman Pat, now we're not going to bother going. Such a shame." A third said: "Absolutely devastating I loved this ride." Thankfully guests can still stay at the Postman Pat themed rooms at the Alton Towers hotel on-site. Earlier this year Alton Towers also closed The Blade, which opened 44 years ago. This made it the theme park's oldest ride. And last year, the Alton Towers spa closed after 23 years. Here is everything you need to know about the new ride The Toxicater after it opened earlier this year.
