Latest news with #VirginVoyages
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why InterContinental Miami Is A Great Place To Spend A Pre-Cruise Night
InterContinental Miami is located close to the port and offers beautiful views. IHG Hotels & Resorts Whether you're leaving from domestic ports like Miami or international ones like Rotterdam, anyone who's almost missed their cruise because of flight delays or other unpredictable travel snafus can tell you how important it is to fly in the day before your ship is set to sail. Having learned that lesson the hard way myself, I now arrive for every cruise at least one day early and have found some great hotels in cities like Vancouver and Southampton that are worth a stay, whether you're sailing away or parking yourself there for a while. My latest discovery was the InterContinental Miami, an IHG Hotel, which turned out to be the ideal place to spend the night before my Virgin Voyages cruise to Barcelona. Not only does this luxury waterfront hotel offer beautiful views of Biscayne Bay — and the cruise ships! — but it's a quick ride to the port so you can stay a little longer and take advantage of all the hotel's features and special programs, which include their infamous salsa nights, yoga classes and cooking demos along with the award-winning mySpa, three top-notch dining venues and a rooftop pool with brand new private, oceanview cabanas. Oceanfront Terrace at InterContinental Miami IHG Hotels & Resorts Because I didn't arrive until late at night, I wasn't able to take advantage of any of those amenities. That was okay, though, because I chose the InterContinental Miami for very specific reasons: location, rooms and Club InterContinental, all of which exceeded my expectations. Nighttime view of InterContinental Miami IHG Hotels & Resorts Hotels, like all real estate, are all about location, location, location — and InterContinental Miami's is prime. It's a short drive from the airport and an even shorter drive to the cruise port. Plus, because I'm partial to a room with a view, I was able to overlook the water, see my ship and fall asleep to the sounds of the sea and the anticipation of two weeks sailing across it. An Executive Suite bedroom at InterContinental Miami IHG Hotels & Resorts I booked a classic room (with a view), which was roomy and comfortable and came with a cozy bathrobe, complimentary bottles of water and luxurious Byredo bath products. The bed was so cozy, I could easily have slept the morning away but my desire to take advantage of all the perks the lounge had to offer won out. The welcoming ClubInterContinental at InterContinental Miami IHG Hotels & Resorts I love a good hotel lounge and ClubInterContinental is a good example why. Recently redesigned, it's warm and inviting and the breakfast buffet, which is curated by the hotel's Executive Chef, had so many excellent choices. The lounge offers afternoon tea time and happy hour, as well, and I'm always happy when I can help myself to bottles of water and Diet Coke any time of day. Access to ClubInterContinental can be obtained in a variety of ways, from booking a suite to selecting a lounge membership through IHG Milestone Rewards or paying a Club rate for your room. One of the best features of ClubInterContinental is that it provides guests with a dedicated concierge who can pretty much help with anything you need. Matheus made everything so easy for us, nabbing us a late checkout and printing out our Kenya visas for our post-cruise trip. I will definitely be returning to InterContinental Miami before my next MSC cruise (MSC World America, here we come) and just may start planning a separate, extended stay because Miami suddenly seems to be calling me.
Travel Weekly
21 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Koreen McNutt joins Virgin Voyages' sales team
Virgin Voyages has added to its sales executive team, aiming to bolster support of travel advisors. Koreen McNutt Koreen McNutt is the new vice president of agency and business development, and Kristy Woolums is now senior director of national strategic accounts for North America. McNutt was most recently with MSC Cruises, where she was commercial sales officer and senior vice president of sales and trade engagement. She previously worked at Expedia Group. Stephen Hopkins Additionally, the vice president of growth and international sales and marketing, Stephen Hopkins, will now also handle sales acceleration. All three will work under chief marketing officer Nathan Rosenberg as part of what Virgin describes as a newly unified commercial team. Rosenberg took over the duties of John Diorio, who resigned as vice president of North American sales earlier this month. Kristy Woolums "By working in better coordination across our brand story, marketing strategy and sales execution, we reduce mixed messages and disconnected experiences for our First Mates," Rosenberg said. (First Mates are travel advisors.) "This creates integrated strategies that make it easier for them to sell Virgin Voyages successfully." Woolums was promoted from within Virgin Voyages and will now work exclusively on high-value strategic partnerships. CLARIFICATION: This report was edited to removed the implication that McNutt left MSC Cruises for Virgin Voyages.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line rep addresses adults-only cruise controversy
Carnival Cruise Line rep addresses adults-only cruise controversy originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Adults-only cruises have been a big hit for the hip Virgin Voyages cruise brand. These kid-free cruise vacations have become so popular that many cruisers have begun to wonder whether other cruise lines would break with classic cruise tradition to test out the new style of sailing, Carnival Cruise Line fans often write to the cruise line's brand ambassador, John Heald, on his popular Facebook page with questions and requests about adults-only cruises. Few people expected that the family cruise line would actually add adult-exclusive sailings, though. On his page, Heald even told passengers he didn't think that would ever happen. But then it did. Why the sudden shift? Is Carnival Cruise Line moving toward becoming an adults-only cruise line? Those were some of the questions swirling around the internet after Carnival recently announced a series of casino-exclusive sailings and SEA cruises — sailings exclusively for adults. Sailing from Miami on select dates this summer and fall aboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic, these specialty itineraries are casino-focused cruises featuring expanded casino access and other perks for Carnival Players Club casino loyalty program the release of these specialty sailings led to rumors that Carnival is moving to become an adults-only cruise line, John Heald was quick to set the record straight. 'Please ignore that; we are a proud family cruise line, we have been and I'm sure we always will be,' Heald insisted in a video message posted on his Facebook page. Heald assured his followers that the only reason Carnival is offering adults-only casino cruises is because of schedule changes for Carnival cruise ship dry docks — maintenance and refurbishment that cruise ships undergo every few years.'This all is because we moved Carnival Magic's dry dock and the casino have taken a couple of cruises and made them adults only. They're making special casino offers to people,' Heald explained. Since both Carnival Magic and Carnival Conquest won't be out of service as originally planned for a few weeks later this year, the cruise line decided to offer some special invitation-only casino cruises to fill the reason these sailings are adults only is simply because they're casino cruises. 'Now, because they are casino offers, we cannot make those casino offers to children, which is why these cruises are for adults only because they are casino-based offered cruises and they are very popular,' Heald pointed out. These new offerings have made the brand ambassador more open to entertaining the possibility of future adults-only Carnival cruises, however. 'I understand why people are saying, 'Oh, we need an adults' cruise,'' Heald noted. 'So listen, I don't know what the future is going to hold, but let me just tell you we are not moving to an adults-only cruise line now.' More Carnival cruise news:Those who want to continue to enjoy Carnival cruises with kids shouldn't fret. 'This is not something that you should be concerned about because for every one person who says, 'I would love an adults-only cruise,' there are many who have written and said, 'What do I do with my children, my grandchildren?'' Heald explained. 'No, we are a proud family cruise line,' the brand ambassador reiterated. 'These were cruise-specific situations, so please ignore what some people have been highlighting.' (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Sales executive departs MSC Cruises for Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages has added to its sales executive team, aiming to bolster support of travel advisors. Koreen McNutt Koreen McNutt is the new vice president of agency and business development, and Kristy Woolums is now senior director of national strategic accounts for North America. McNutt joins Virgin Voyages from MSC Cruises, where she was commercial sales officer and senior vice president of sales and trade engagement. She previously worked at Expedia Group. Stephen Hopkins Additionally, the vice president of growth and international sales and marketing, Stephen Hopkins, will now also handle sales acceleration. All three will work under chief marketing officer Nathan Rosenberg as part of what Virgin describes as a newly unified commercial team. Rosenberg took over the duties of John Diorio, who resigned as vice president of North American sales earlier this month. Kristy Woolums "By working in better coordination across our brand story, marketing strategy and sales execution, we reduce mixed messages and disconnected experiences for our First Mates," Rosenberg said. (First Mates are travel advisors.) "This creates integrated strategies that make it easier for them to sell Virgin Voyages successfully." Woolums was promoted from within Virgin Voyages and will now work exclusively on high-value strategic partnerships.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line rep addresses adults-only cruise controversy
Adults-only cruises have been a big hit for the hip Virgin Voyages cruise brand. These kid-free cruise vacations have become so popular that many cruisers have begun to wonder whether other cruise lines would break with classic cruise tradition to test out the new style of sailing, too. Related: Carnival Cruise Line gives passengers Titanic-like warning Loyal Carnival Cruise Line fans often write to the cruise line's brand ambassador, John Heald, on his popular Facebook page with questions and requests about adults-only cruises. Few people expected that the family cruise line would actually add adult-exclusive sailings, though. On his page, Heald even told passengers he didn't think that would ever happen. But then it did. Why the sudden shift? Is Carnival Cruise Line moving toward becoming an adults-only cruise line? Those were some of the questions swirling around the internet after Carnival recently announced a series of casino-exclusive sailings and SEA cruises - sailings exclusively for adults. Sailing from Miami on select dates this summer and fall aboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic, these specialty itineraries are casino-focused cruises featuring expanded casino access and other perks for Carnival Players Club casino loyalty program members. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. After the release of these specialty sailings led to rumors that Carnival is moving to become an adults-only cruise line, John Heald was quick to set the record straight. "Please ignore that; we are a proud family cruise line, we have been and I'm sure we always will be," Heald insisted in a video message posted on his Facebook page. Heald assured his followers that the only reason Carnival is offering adults-only casino cruises is because of schedule changes for Carnival cruise ship dry docks - maintenance and refurbishment that cruise ships undergo every few years. Related: Carnival Cruise Line answers controversial tipping question "This all is because we moved Carnival Magic's dry dock and the casino have taken a couple of cruises and made them adults only. They're making special casino offers to people," Heald explained. Since both Carnival Magic and Carnival Conquest won't be out of service as originally planned for a few weeks later this year, the cruise line decided to offer some special invitation-only casino cruises to fill the void. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. The reason these sailings are adults only is simply because they're casino cruises. "Now, because they are casino offers, we cannot make those casino offers to children, which is why these cruises are for adults only because they are casino-based offered cruises and they are very popular," Heald pointed out. These new offerings have made the brand ambassador more open to entertaining the possibility of future adults-only Carnival cruises, however. "I understand why people are saying, 'Oh, we need an adults' cruise,'" Heald noted. "So listen, I don't know what the future is going to hold, but let me just tell you we are not moving to an adults-only cruise line now." More Carnival cruise news: Sailors recount their life-saving rescue by Carnival cruise shipCarnival and Royal Caribbean both have this surprising extra chargeCarnival cruisers eat way more of one food than Guy Fieri burgers Those who want to continue to enjoy Carnival cruises with kids shouldn't fret. "This is not something that you should be concerned about because for every one person who says, 'I would love an adults-only cruise,' there are many who have written and said, 'What do I do with my children, my grandchildren?'" Heald explained. "No, we are a proud family cruise line," the brand ambassador reiterated. "These were cruise-specific situations, so please ignore what some people have been highlighting." (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
