Princess Cruises Announces Full 2012-2013 Cruise and Cruisetour Season

Santa Clarita, Calif. (Vocus/PRWEB) March 17, 2011

Princess Cruises today opened its entire 2012-2013 season for booking, offering an extensive selection of worldwide sailings – a total of nearly 600 cruise options on 150 itineraries to more than 300 destinations around the world.

For the first time, the line has simultaneously launched its full slate of cruises which include Princess’ largest Europe deployment, an expanded Alaska schedule, new sailings from Galveston, more South American options with two ships sailing around Cape Horn, and more West Coast sailings to Hawaii, Mexico and along the California coast than ever before.

A detailed overview of Princess’ 2012-2013 cruise season can be found here.

“We know that many of our passengers are advance planners, and would like to see the full breadth of our cruise itineraries to decide where to vacation next with us,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “So for the first time we’ve released all of our itineraries at once so they have the entire world at their fingertips as they’re planning their next cruise.”

Among the line’s offerings for the 2012-2013 season, Princess will begin sailing to the Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco, will offer longer 14-day Australia & New Zealand itineraries, and will once again sail to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, Texas. More ships will sail in South America and Alaska, and several ships will make regional debuts, including Grand Princess’ first ever sailings on the West Coast and Caribbean Princess’ maiden European deployment.

Cruisetours combining a cruise and land experience will enable passengers to more fully explore Alaska, Europe, Canada and New England, Asia, Australia and South America.

Highlights of Princess’ 2012- 2013 season include:

ALASKA

Princess draws on more than 40 years of experience cruising the 49th state, offering Gulf of Alaska and Inside Passage sailings with an extensive selection of cruisetours to the heart of Alaska. The 2012 program will include a seven-ship deployment, including a fourth ship added to the Voyage of the Glaciers route, and three ships sailing the Inside Passage. All cruisetour options will continue to include Alaska’s top two attractions – Denali and Glacier Bay National Parks, and Princess will take more passengers to Glacier Bay than any other cruise line.

EUROPE

The largest Europe deployment in Princess history, the 2012 season offers a wide selection of sailings through the timeless cities of the Mediterranean, the splendor of Scandinavia and Russia and the intriguing ports of Northern Europe. The season features seven ships sailing on 57 itineraries to 116 destinations, including Caribbean Princess’ European debut and new 14-day Baltic and 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun routes. And 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises will continue to offer overnight stays in one of the continent’s most sought-after destinations – Venice. Two new ports will debut – Korcula, Croatia on the 12-day Mediterranean Collection on Pacific Princess and Nessebar, Bulgaria (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on the 12-day Black Sea & Crimean Coasts route.

CARIBBEAN

Princess’ Caribbean schedule will feature five ships sailing to the best of the sparkling waters of the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean. Passengers can choose from 115 voyages sailing to 22 destinations on 10 itineraries. The season includes Princess’ return to the Texas Gulf Coast with the debut of Crown Princess sailing out of Galveston.

PANAMA CANAL

Princess continues to be the leader in Panama Canal cruising, with two ships, eight itineraries – including both full and partial transits – and 40 voyages aboard Coral Princess and Island Princess.

MEXICO & PACIFIC COAST

The 2012-2013 season will feature more Pacific coastal sailings than ever before, plus Mexico sailings from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Five ships will sail on 31 departures of nine itineraries sailing to 14 destinations. A new seven-day California Coastal itinerary will feature the best of the Golden State with an added visit to Catalina and an overnight in San Francisco.

HAWAII, TAHITI & SOUTH PACIFIC

The dazzling islands of Hawaii and Tahiti headline a season with more Hawaiian Islands sailings than ever before including new voyages from San Francisco. The full program includes eight ships offering 12 itinerary choices with 56 voyages to 32 destinations. Among the highlights are an expanded Hawaiian Islands program with three ships sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Grand Princess making her West Coast debut, and two sailings of the popular 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa itinerary previously introduced with the fall 2011 schedule.

ASIA, INDIA & AFRICA

Princess’ Exotics program includes sailings throughout Asia plus passages through the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean. Five ships sail on 28 sailings of 21 itineraries to 54 destinations. Other highlights include Bangkok once again featured as a homeport on the line’s 16-day Southeast Asia & China itinerary, plus the line’s first call in Aomori, Japan.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

“Down Under” cruising expands with a new longer itinerary, plus three ships based locally for Aussie-style cruising. Four ships will sail on 40 voyages of eight different itineraries. Highlights include a new 14-day Australia & New Zealand itinerary – adding Wellington and Picton – and a new 33-day Round Australia & New Zealand itinerary. Featuring the largest Australia deployment of any North American line in the region, Princess ships will also offer more New Zealand cruises than any other line.

SOUTH AMERICA & AMAZON

The lively Latin culture of South America takes center stage with Princess 2012-2013 cruise season, offering three ships sailing on 18 voyages of 11 itineraries. Highlights include two ships – Star Princess and Grand Princess – both sailing an around Cape Horn itinerary between Buenos Aires and Santiago, and a new 19-day Brazilian Adventure route that stops for an overnight in Rio during the world-famous Carnival. Pacific Princess will once again offer cruises up the mighty Amazon River.

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND

The North Atlantic Coast voyages offer dramatic scenery and historic attractions. Two ships sail on three favorite Princess routes visiting 12 destinations. The 11 departures include Caribbean Princess sailing roundtrip from New York, and Emerald Princess offering 10-day Classic Canada & New England sailings between New York and Quebec.

WORLD CRUISES & CIRCLE PACIFIC

Three ships will offer world voyages, including Pacific Princess rounding the globe on a 107-day voyage from Ft. Lauderdale to Venice on January 27, 2013; Sun Princess setting sail on her first-ever global circumnavigation with a 104-day sailing from Sydney on May 16, 2012, and Dawn Princess offering a 75-day Circle Pacific itinerary that departs July 27, 2012.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com.

About Princess Cruises:

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.3 million passengers each year to destinations around the globe ranging in length from seven to 107 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at http://ift.tt/1qeJ45b.

Find us:

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Newsroom: princess.com/news

For further information contact:

Karen Candy, kcandy(at)princesscruises(dot)com, 661-753-1540

Julie Benson, jbenson(at)princesscruises(dot)com, 661-753-1530

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HICTA Reboots Annual Conference

Following Through With Your Wedding Planning Correctly

Keep in mind that religion plays a central role in not just your wedding, but your future marriage. Discuss religion with both your future spouse and their family members so that you can develop a strong understanding of their beliefs.

Tip Buying a wedding gown can be very expensive. You might want to consider a dress which is not categorized specifically for the bride.

Weddings are fun as well as beautiful, but a lot goes into their planning. One can get stressed out when planning a wedding, especially within the few weeks prior to the big day. Great planning can reduce this tension. The following guidelines can really help.

Your wedding photos are important as they will be the memories you carry with you for the years to come. Choose the best photographer you can, even if it costs you extra. You want to be sure that your wedding will be remembered fondly.

Tip If you’re terrified at the thought of spending a fortune on a wedding cake loaded with calories, talk to local bakeries about something with a smaller portion size. Alternatively, consider something like low-fat cupcakes, gluten-free cake, fruit-filled low calorie cakes, or other such healthy alternatives.

When planning a wedding, alcohol needs to be a consideration as to what type you want to serve, as well as what the costs are going to be. An open bar that is available all evening can quickly become a very costly endeavor. If holding the wedding at an outside venue, they may have alcohol serving options available that can control costs.

Brides should take the time to practice walking in their wedding shoes and dress so that they will be comfortable and graceful on their big day. If you are worried about a twisted ankle, choose attractive flats instead. Reducing the risk of falling is better than going with the best-looking footwear.

Tip This person should be able to tote around all of your things for you. They can help to gather up the family for group shots as well.

Use friends or family to lend you some property for a wedding. If you’re in touch with people with a farm or a big backyard, this can be a cheap place for you to host a wedding ceremony. Saving money on the venue will allow you to hire people to set up and clean up.

Your guests shouldn’t wait while you are having pictures taken. These pictures should be done beforehand. Even pictures with parents can be shot in advance, reducing the time that guests must wait for you to arrive at your reception.

Tip A reception held around lunchtime is a great idea. Choosing a midday reception may help you to cut down on alcohol cost, since many people would be less likely to drink early in the day.

If you’re a bride that has sensitive skin, then you want to pay close attention to your skin care regimen when your big day is approaching. Consider natural ingredients and treatments that will brighten your complexion.

Even if your dress is picked and already paid for, it is a good idea to keep it safely at the shop until the big day. Bringing it home could expose it to dust or dirt, getting it stained or other damages. This will keep your dress as fresh as possible.

Tip Consider placing your colorful cake on a piece of fabric or tablecloth in a coordinating color. To make things interesting, fabric can be solid, patterned or heavily textured materials of silk, satin or velvet.

Use a mirror to visualize and practice when you walk down the aisle, especially if you plan to wear heels. If you fear turning your ankle awkwardly, think about flat heels instead. Having less than sexy footwear is an easy trade-off for not falling on your derriere!

You can look for local talent in many places; Craigslist is a great start to find people. Be certain to take the time to meet them and interview them before making any agreements or giving them money.

Tip You possibly want to think about fusing two or multiple menus together making the food available diverse and comfortable for everyone present. Add a twist with ethnic dessert options, drinks, or edible wedding favors.

In any wedding, the most important thing is the fact that the two people are perfect for each other. No matter how well you think you know someone, life can get complicated at times and you want to become closer at those times rather than allow circumstances to separate you. With any luck, you can have a great wedding day that will create memories you will cherish forever.

If you are going to be giving one of the wedding speeches, make sure you plan it out and practice enough. A poorly planned wedding speech can make the audience uncomfortable or bored, and leave you feeling disgruntled and disappointed in yourself.

Carolina Destination Weddings

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Tips And Hints On Choosing Your Bridal Party

Weddings are big occasions for both the families and the couple. Lots of folks assume that a great deal of money is necessary for a great wedding, but they are wrong. You don’t have to go into debt in order to have a beautiful wedding. The following article will give you some great ideas for cutting costs while planning your wedding.

If you choose to take care of your own food serving at your wedding, try going to wholesale stores, such as Costco. Shopping wholesale renders significant savings for food. Ask friends to help on food, too.

You save large amounts of money by purchasing your wedding dress online. However, it is crucial that you do it far in advance, should it need any alterations. A certain person claims to have spent only $100 or her gown, but had to spend another $200 to get it altered. Include this additional cost when you plan for your budget.

Hold a dress rehearsal for all members of the party that are giving speeches at the reception. This will give them a chance to practice, and you’ll also be able to make sure no inappropriate remarks are planned. There are a lot of different age groups at a wedding. This makes some jokes told by the younger crowd inappropriate to older people.

If you are hoping to wear some special jewelry of your wedding day but only have a limited amount of money left in your budget, consider renting some diamond pieces. This can help you to look more stunning while not breaking the bank so you can stick to the budget you have created.

Don’t forget about transportation! Try to have limos and taxis available for those who do not have a ride to take them back to their hotel at the end of the night. This allows people to enjoy themselves and not have to worry about drinking and driving after the reception.

Take a long time to write your vows, as this is something that is very important towards your husband or wife. Be clear about the fact that both parties must make a number of sacrifices and be consistent to the commitment of marriage. Let your partner know how much you adore them and that you really do want to spend forever with them.

Only place a few flowers in the centerpieces at your reception tables. Usually, the flowers are only in your guests’ way. You also might want to take into consideration that some guests may be allergic to the pollen in the flowers. Because of this, you should think about putting candles that are non-scented onto the table in order to achieve a more romantic look.

Though it requires some effort and time to plan, a wedding doesn’t have to cost a lot for it to be great. Implement these ideas and suggestions in order to have an unforgettable and joyous wedding.

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HomeStreet Bank Extends Employer-Assisted Housing Program to Spokane | Business Wire

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Employers in the greater Spokane area will now have access to the Hometown

Home Loan Program, an employer-assisted housing benefit offered

through HomeStreet

Bank, one of the oldest community banks headquartered in Washington

and a subsidiary of HomeStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: HMST). Several area

employers have already adopted the program in the Spokane area,

including Community Frameworks.

The Hometown Home Loan Program was created in 1994 to help the city of

Seattle make homeownership more affordable for its employees. Currently,

over 50 public and private companies and organizations and several labor

unions in Washington, Oregon and Hawaii offer the program. Participating

employers include the University of Washington, Harborview Medical

Center, several municipalities including the cities of Seattle and

Portland, and a number of school districts.

Program benefits include free homeownership education, significant

savings on purchases and refinances, and access to down payment

assistance. Through the Hometown Home Loan Program, the average person

can save between $1,300 and $1,700 in closing costs and fees, depending

on the loan amount.

Nearly 10,000 individuals and families have used the program to purchase

or refinance a home since 1994, saving participants more than $12

million in closing costs and fees. Forty percent of the people who have

purchased homes through the program were first-time homebuyers.

The Hometown Home Loan Program partners on a local level with nonprofit

community housing organizations that focus on community development and

affordable housing solutions. In the Spokane area, HomeStreet Bank is

partnering with Community

Frameworks. In addition to providing affordable housing options,

Community Frameworks also offers financial fitness and mortgage basics

classes.

“We really appreciate HomeStreet’s approach to creating affordable

homeownership opportunities,” said Community Frameworks Deputy Director

Alan Trunnel. “We feel their emphasis on homeownership education mirrors

our goal of creating successful homeowners. In fact, we decided to make

this program available to our own employees as well as to our clients.”

“The Hometown Home Loan Program was originally developed to help

employees qualify for home loans in neighborhoods closer to their work,

with the goal of reducing traffic and retaining valuable employees,”

said Andy

Slipper, Spokane-area relationship manager for the bank’s Affinity

Lending program. “Homeownership is important to the health of our city.

Through employer-assisted housing, we can help make homeownership more

affordable for working people, as well as provide educational resources

to help them prepare for homeownership.”

For more information on the Hometown Home Loan Program, visit http://ift.tt/1ENaepX

or call 509-828-0833.

HomeStreet Bank is one of the largest community banks in the

Pacific Northwest and Hawaii and has specialized in mortgage lending

since 1921. The Hometown Home Loan Program is a nationally recognized

employer-assisted homeownership program with over 50 participating

employers and membership organizations. http://ift.tt/1ENaepX

Community Frameworks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that

facilitates the construction of affordable multifamily housing and

supportive service projects, as well as provides homeownership

opportunities to hardworking families. http://ift.tt/1ENahlw

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Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation: Pacific and Hawaii

Microsoft Dynamics GP is new name for Microsoft Great Plains. As Project Green is progressing, Microsoft Business Solutions or whatever is temporary name for Business Systems subdivision, renamed Project Green into Microsoft Dynamics. Now Microsoft Great Plains, Microsoft Navision, Microsoft Axapta, Microsoft Solomon and Microsoft CRM are renamed into Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics CRM respectively. We have published articles, devoted to Microsoft Dynamics in Europe, Brazil, Russia, Australia and New Zealand and now we would like to share our experience and analytics on Microsoft Dynamics GP & CRM implementation, customization, reporting for the clientele in Pacific region.

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Ceridian Employer Services Helps Employers Understand and Benefit From New Hire Reporting Legislation Effective October 1.

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sept. 2, 1997–

Millions of dollars saved by preventing fraud in

unemployment compensation, transitional assistance for

dependent children and by enforcing child support payments.

States already applying new hire reporting have helped save millions of dollars in unemployment compensation fraud. Tennessee reports savings of more than $11.4 million in unemployment compensation benefits. Massachusetts combated fraud in Transitional Assistance for Dependent Children, saving $14.4 million in welfare fraud and aiding the Department of Revenue in collecting an additional $15.4 million in child support payments. Another $23.1 million was saved in Massachusetts because many families now receiving the child support payments could stop receiving public assistance.

Despite the direct benefits of new hire reporting, unless employers have an experienced payroll services provider, these benefits may be out of reach. With a new hire reporting deadline that is now less than one month away, many businesses, particularly those with employees in multiple states, are still not ready to comply.

The struggle by many employers to meet the Oct. 1 reporting deadline is largely due to the state-based system of new hire reporting established under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1997. Although states must meet certain minimum federal requirements, they are given a great deal of independence and flexibility. The result is a complicated maze of inconsistent due dates, reporting periods, information requirements and file formats. Even the agency responsible for processing new hire reports varies by state.

“Employers who are not prepared for the new reporting requirements will likely experience considerable confusion, lost staff time and reduced productivity, missed reporting deadlines and penalties for noncompliance,” explains Carl Keil, president of Ceridian Employer Services. “These problems could be compounded if companies have employees in several states.”

Debera Salam, director of the national Employer Coalition on Child Support Enforcement (ECCSE), knows that employers are concerned about the extra time and work that may be involved in new hire reporting. “But employers need to understand that this legislation will help reduce unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation fraud, which costs them money,” noted Salam. “Overpayment of workers’ compensation benefits can, for example, result in increased premium rates. And incorrect and excessive unemployment insurance payments can deplete an employer’s reserve UI account. With respect to new hire reporting, there really is a return on investment for employers.”

Ceridian Employer Services has committed extensive resources to providing employers with new hire reporting solutions. Its New Hire Reporting (NHR) Service automatically generates and transmits new hire reports to each state in which a customer has employees, and as Ceridian continues to work with state agencies in developing their new hire reporting capability, they are using the most efficient and reliable technology available for transmitting new hire data.

Ceridian pioneers automated new hire reporting

Since 1994, Ceridian has spearheaded a joint effort with employers and the state of Hawaii to improve the new hire reporting system. The Ceridian solution automatically collects and sends new hire data to the appropriate state agency in the proper format and by specified deadlines.

According to Hunter Monson, a Hawaii state legislator, the new system has increased compliance among the 3,000 participating employers. “The state has been able to reduce its labor costs, plus the reports come in faster,” said Monson. “Our new hire reporting system is now much more effective, thanks to automated reporting.”

Now, Ceridian’s pioneering efforts will benefit all of its customers. To support new hire reporting and other data distribution services, Ceridian’s Central Transmission Center processes and redistributes new employee data that complies with the new regulations. As of September 1997, all Ceridian customers will have access to this automated reporting system.

The new hire reporting process requires no additional data entry and is completely transparent to payroll processing staff. With the system’s prompt, accurate filing for all newly hired and rehired employees, employers will enjoy reduced administrative burden and less risk of fines and penalties from late or incorrect filing. Compliance reports will be provided so employers can see all data transmitted to the states. Additionally, working with states and employers to develop a cost-effective new hire reporting system, Ceridian continuously monitors new hire statutes and procedures in all 50 states so changes can be quickly incorporated into its system.

All employers can track the hot issues directly affecting human resources and the payroll industry by visiting http://ces.ceridian.com. With reports from company experts stationed on the front lines in Washington, D.C., site visitors can learn more about new hire reporting, find out how the Year 2000 will affect computer systems around the world or prepare for the next big payroll issue looming on the horizon, such as wage assignments (garnishments) calculations and third-party payments.

Recent enhancements to Ceridian’s Signature(R) payroll system include the introduction of customer service on the Web and a combination wage and tax audit report that reduces the amount of paper received for an audit. Combined with CD-ROM reporting technology, these enhancements help human resource and payroll professionals save their companies time, office space and storage costs while complying with rapidly changing federal regulations. Ongoing improvements to Ceridian’s core payroll service also allow employees to create new and expanded categories for information; multiple 401(k) deductions for one employee to a single limit; and better accommodate mobile workers with local and regional tax processing support.

About Ceridian

In the human resource arena, Ceridian Corporation serves more than 45,000 customers, including 40 percent of the Fortune 1000 and 30 percent of the Fortune 100 companies, with broad, integrated solutions. Ceridian offers customers both outsourcing and in-house solutions for their growing human resource needs. Its products include human resource information systems, payroll processing and tax filing services, skills management software, time-accounting solutions, work-life effectiveness programs, decision-support applications, training and other services. For more information about Ceridian Employer Services, visit http://ces.ceridian.com on the World Wide Web. Visitors to the Web site can read more about new hire reporting compliance and Ceridian’s automated solutions.

Ceridian Corporation (http://www.ceridian.com) is a leading information services and defense electronics company that serves the human resource, electronic media, transportation, gaming and government markets. Its information services segment includes Comdata, a group of human resource businesses and the Arbitron Company. Ceridian’s defense electronics business is Computing Devices International.

CONTACT: Jennifer Dugan, 612/853-5623

Molly Buck, 612/853-3293

Ceridian Employer Services

or

Heather West, 612/371-7549

Bozell Kamstra

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