Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Piano Man At Sea: Crystal To Debut Billy Joel Tribute Show

The Crystal Serenity will host a Bill Joel tribute concert featuring James Fox, the star of Broadway’s “Movin’ On.” The show, which debuts Nov. 19, is sure to please Crystal’s luxury cruise passengers as will an Elton John tribute to debut Feb. 24 on the Crystal Symphony.

In its latest spectacular stage feature, luxury cruise leader Crystal Cruises will showcase the multi-platinum hits of Grammy Legend Award recipient and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Billy Joel, as “My Life: The Music of Billy Joel” debuts aboard Crystal Serenity on the No. 19 voyage from Miami to Caldera.
Guests aboard the preceding cruise will be treated to a special viewing at the end of their voyage.  Paying tribute to the world-famous Piano Man will be the show’s star, James Fox, who himself was handpicked by Billy Joel to star as “The Piano Man” in the Broadway, West End and U.S. National Tour productions of Movin’ Out, based on Joel’s music.
Poised at the concert grand piano on the Galaxy Lounge’s stage, Fox will perform more than a dozen timeless hits including “New York State of Mind”, “Uptown Girl”, “She’s Always a Woman to Me” and, of course, “Piano Man.”  The Galaxy Orchestra and more of Crystal’s own acclaimed musicians, vocalists and dancers will be featured alongside Fox.
“My Life: The Music of Billy Joel” debuts on the heels of the wildly popular “Rocket Man” Elton John tribute show, which will premiere aboard the line’s other award-winning ship, Crystal Symphony, during the February 24, round-trip Singapore cruise.  The shows are the beginnings of Crystal’s successful Concert Production series, which spotlights the works of world-renowned artists whose music and popularity spans multiple decades and generations.
“This show sets a new bar in entertainment aboard luxury cruise ships, with not only a vast collection of music from one of the world’s most beloved stars, but also a performance from a true theater great, James Fox,” says Crystal’s president and COO, Edie Rodriguez.  “Our guests will certainly enjoy tapping their toes along to songs they’ve loved for decades.”
Crystal’s onboard international troupe consists of ten singers and dancers, including performers from national touring companies as well as Broadway and London’s West End productions.  The posh Galaxy Lounge sets a luxurious, contemporary atmosphere for award-winning Broadway-style productions and headline entertainers. For more information on this and other Crystal Cruise programs and cruises contact TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and information at 800-775-1884 or info@thecruiseoutlet.com

Thursday, November 6, 2014

U.S. Embassy Warns Travelers on Growing Crime in Nassau

With the historic town of Nassau, Bahamas wracked by a year-long upswing in reports of violent crime, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas this week issued an alert advising U.S. citizens traveling to and living in and the Bahamas to “remain on heightened alert to avoid being victims of crime.” While U.S. citizens have not been specifically targeted, “over the past several weeks there has been an increase in the level of crime in areas where U.S. citizens live and frequent,” according to the Embassy statement. Most recently three armed robberies of U.S. citizens “occurred in daylight hours in heavily frequented tourist areas, including an armed assailant assaulting and robbing a woman walking near Ardastra Gardens,” according to the Embassy. In addition, two armed men robbed customers waiting in the drive-through restaurant during daylight hours last month.  The statement also warns U.S. citizens to be wary of rouge personal water craft (PWC) excursion vendors, who frequently operate independently of the resort companies whose beaches they frequent.  “The water sports rental industry is only loosely regulated; since July, there have been three reported sexual assaults on U.S. citizens, including minors, by jet ski operators on Paradise Island,” the alert reads. Travelers are advised to review their personal security plans and monitor local news stations and the U.S. State Department website.  The Bahamas has wrestled over the past year with increasing reports of violent crime targeting residents and tourists alike. This week’s alert is the third crime-related warning issued this year by the Nassau Embassy. In December Perry Christie, the Bahamas prime minister, said growing crime threatens to halt the country’s tourism growth.
Information received from travelpulse, nov 5, 2014