​MIAMI, Jan. 25, 2021 – Carnival Cruise Line today released plans for additional ship deployments as it continues to refine its phased in approach to a return to guest operations for 2021, resulting in some ship-specific cruise cancellations and movements.  Those plans include:

• Related to already-announced dry dock plans for Carnival Magic, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Valor, those ships’ return to operations will be delayed until November 2021. Consequently, voyages on Carnival Magic from Norfolk (embarkations from Sept. 29-Oct. 30), Carnival Paradise from Tampa (embarkations from June 5-Oct. 28) and Carnival Valor from New Orleans (embarkations from Sept. 16-Oct. 28) have been cancelled.
• Carnival Miracle’s planned seasonal service from San Diego has been suspended until further notice, and sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been cancelled, with the exception of seven voyages to Hawaii, which will move to Long Beach.
• Carnival Radiance’s dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021. 
• With Carnival Miracle’s reposition to Long Beach, the ship will assume the three- and four-day itineraries for Carnival Radiance from May 3-Nov. 1, 2021 as well as the seven Hawaii Carnival Journeys referenced above.  In addition, Carnival Miracle will launch a new program of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico during the winter season, beginning November 2021 and continuing through April 2023.

 
Carnival is advising guests and travel agents of these changes.  Where possible, West Coast guests are being accommodated in a transfer to Carnival Miracle (from Carnival Radiance), or the retention of their Hawaiian itinerary via a Long Beach embarkation instead.  With this change, Carnival will eventually run a three-ship operation from its port facility at Long Beach:  Carnival Panorama sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries and Carnival Radiance operating three- and four-day  itineraries year-round, with Carnival Miracle operating four- and five-day Mexico and 14-day Hawaii itineraries during the winter.
“Like so much about this current global situation, we are adapting our plans as circumstances evolve and we are able to confirm alternatives.  We are disappointed that our return to seasonal ports like Norfolk and San Diego has been impacted and appreciate the support of those port partners and communities.  The support of our guests, travel agents, ports and business partners has truly been overwhelming as we work through this situation,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

MIAMI, Jan. 22, 2021 – Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests of additional cruise cancellations, extending its pause in U.S. departures through April 30, 2021, and cancelling Australian operations through May 19, 2021. 

In addition, Carnival has cancelled the European itineraries for Carnival Legend which were to begin this May through Oct. 31, 2021, and moved the start date for Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral, with the first cruise now set for May 29, 2021.

Booked guests and travel agents are being notified directly of the cancellations and their options for a generous future cruise credit and onboard credit package, or a full refund.
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“Our guests and travel agent partners continue to express their loyalty to Carnival and their desire to get back on our ships as soon as they can, and we are heartened by the booking demand and activity we continue to see.  We are certainly committed to welcoming them back as quickly as possible, but unfortunately we have determined it’s going to take a while longer, and the situation in Europe will also impact Mardi Gras’ departure to the U.S., and Carnival Legend’s itineraries in Europe,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

 SEAWORLD LAUNCHES FREE 2021 PRESCHOOL CARD FOR LIMITED TIME ONLY OFFERING FREE ADMISSION FOR FLORIDA PRESCHOOLERS ALL YEAR

Popular Preschool Card returns for free unlimited fun in 2021 with exciting new events with limited capacity and enhanced health & safety measures for the entire family!

​ORLANDO, Fla. (January 21, 2020) – SeaWorld’s pint-sized guests can enjoy an ocean of experiences with the launch of the FREE 2021 Preschool Card, now available for a limited time, providing FREE UNLIMITED admission to the park all year! Florida preschool children receive FREE admission for a year full of fun and safe park experiences in a spacious outdoor environment with limited capacity and enhanced health and safety protocols. Kids are also in for a very special treat with the launch of two fan-favorite events to kick off the year: Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend (January 23-24), and Elmo’s Birthday Celebration (January 30 to February 3)! Families can experience these events plus all of the park’s kid-friendly annual events with unique features like specialty beverages for tots at the Seven Seas Food Festival, kids dance parties at Electric Ocean, trick-or-treating and meeting spooky-fun characters at Halloween Spooktacular, photos with Santa and millions of twinkling lights at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, and more, with the 2021 Preschool Card for their little ones, now available exclusively to Florida Residents.
 
In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures including increased cleaning and sanitation, temperature checks, and face covering requirements, capacity will be significantly limited to create more open space for guests to enjoy their experience, while maintaining physical distancing in a safe environment. 
 
To be eligible for the FREE Preschool Card for unlimited visits to SeaWorld through December 31, 2021, kids must be ages 5 and younger. Advance registration must be completed online and is only valid for children ages 5 or younger at the time of redemption at the park. Registration is required by February 3, 2021 and first visit ticket redemption must occur by February 28, 2021.
 
To learn more and to register for the Preschool Card, Florida residents can visit:
https://seaworld.com/orlando/tickets/preschool-free-admission/    
 
Upcoming Special Events for Kids:
 
Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend January 23-24
Everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends are hosting a party just for kids January 23–24. Join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Rosita, and all your favorite furry friends for a fun-filled weekend with activities, character photo opportunities, and much more. We’ll also be celebrating Everyday Heroes during the event, so bring your kindness and caring along (no cape required!). Located in Sesame Street Land and included with park admission, this family-friendly celebration features updated safety precautions including limited capacity and physical distancing.
 
All New! Storytime on Sesame Street
Ready for a special story with your Sesame Street friends? Their story time float will appear several times a day, so keep an eye out and find a physically distanced spot to listen.
 
All New! Everyday Hero Badges
You don’t have to wear a cape to be an Everyday Hero. You’ll have a chance to earn special badges for things like Bravery, Helping, Manners, and more all weekend, so get ready to join the Everyday Heroes Club!
 
All New! Oscar’s Trash Art Activity
Oscar would be proud! In this activity, kids get to turn everyday materials that may seem like trash into beautiful works of art, which is sure to make any grouch happy!
 
Elmo’s Birthday Celebration: January 30-February 3
Celebrate Elmo’s birthday with meet and greets, a family-friendly DJ, photo opportunities with Sesame Street friends and much more! Located in Sesame Street Land and included with park admission, this celebration features updated safety precautions including limited capacity and physical distancing.
 
All New! Elmo’s Birthday Storytime
Elmo has a very special story to tell for his birthday, and he wants you to be there! Be sure to watch for his float throughout the day and find a physically distanced spot to listen nearby.
 
All New! Scavenger Hunt
There’s plenty of space around Sesame Street Land for Elmo’s goldfish, Dorothy, to hide. Have fun trying to find her in this kid-friendly scavenger hunt!
 
Photo OpportunitiesIt’s Elmo’s birthday celebration, and the present he wants most of all is a special (and physically distanced) photo with you.
 
DJ Dance PartyJoin your favorite Sesame Street friends for a fun-filled, DJ dance party with physical distancing, at select times.
 
Upgrade the Day with Breakfast with Elmo and Friends
 
Both Elmo’s Birthday Celebration and Sesame Street Kids’ Weekend offer an upgraded dining experience, Breakfast with Elmo and Friends, which features a delicious and nutritious breakfast buffet and morning greetings from everyone’s favorite furry friends.  This breakfast is a fun-filled and physically distant outdoor experience sure to delight kids and parents alike! Breakfast is served 10:30 am on event Saturdays and Sundays. Prices start at $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for children for the breakfast and advanced reservations are required. Pass Member discounts apply. More information can be found:
https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/sesame-kids-weekends/  
 
Best Way to Play
Parents, family members, and other guests can pay for a day and play all year with the new 2021 Fun Card! That means for the price of a single day’s admission, SeaWorld Fun Card holders can visit again and again throughout 2021. This offer is available only for a short time as prices increase on February 1. And for those guests looking for additional perks and discounts on items such as parking, guest tickets, and access to special VIP events, upgrading to an Annual Pass is their best option. Annual Passes are available starting at low monthly rates of $11.75/month with no down payment. Restrictions apply.
 
For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorld.com/Orlando. To keep up to date on park hours and events, follow SeaWorld’s social channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
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SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, behavioral training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 37,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.
 
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company. Visit www.seaworldentertainment.com for more information.

​PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Thursday, January 21, 2021) — Randy Huston Parton, 67, iconic performer and creative leader at Dollywood, has lost his long battle with cancer. After leaving the road as his sister Dolly’s original bass player in the Family Band, Randy moved to Dollywood and entertained millions through his more than 30-year career at the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park.  
 
“Randy was a creative force and a good friend,” Paige Bales, Director of Dollywood Entertainment said.  “He has left a lasting legacy at Dollywood with his talent, his creativity and his leadership. We will all miss him but heaven has gained another star.”

I​n addition to representing Dolly and the family at Dollywood and producing and staring in multiple productions, Randy also was a songwriter and recording artist in his own right. He scored several charted singles through his career including “Roll On (18 Wheeler),” which was later a number one for Alabama. He also produced and performed in his own theater in North Carolina in 2007 and 2008. For decades, Randy has collaborated with his sister Dolly with multiple projects including a new Christmas song called “You are my Christmas” on Dolly’s Holly Dolly Christmas release in 2020.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in honor of Randy and their father Lee Parton be made to the Imagination Library. Information on how to donate can be made at imaginationlibrary.com
 
-Dollywood2021-
 
About The Dollywood Company:   A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of more than 40 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 27 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has been named a top-three US theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows, and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.