Teri West, The Jersey Journal Journalist Profile

Articles

Explora Journeys introduces loyalty program

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

Guests who have status with other luxury lines receive the same level of benefits from their first Explora cruise. Explora Club offers perks like a welcome gift at the lowest level to suite upgrades and wellness credits at the highest. There are five levels of membership: classic, silver (1-5,000 points), gold (5,001-20,000 points), platinum (20,001-50,000 points) and diamond (more than 50,000 points).
Cruising's Vessel Sanitation Program loses full-time staff, report says

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

"Affected services include outbreak investigations; coordination with state and local health departments; follow-up on lab-confirmed cases of acute gastroenteritis after travel; and communications such as website updates," a CDC official told CBS News. The official said services will not completely come to a halt and that a group of about a dozen officers in the program employed by the U.S. Public Health Service remain.
MSC World America's christening celebrated like a holiday

2 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

It was an evening where "Let's Holiday," catchphrase for MSC's Super Bowl commercial and its U.S. marketing campaign, was a bookend for speeches at the naming ceremony. Madonna's "Holiday," the song played in the Super Bowl ad, was heard throughout the evening. Kimberly Davis -- vocalist in the current lineup for disco band Chic -- sang "Holiday" live. Though April 9 is no holiday, it felt like one aboard.
Cruise CEOs acknowledge booking hesitation but are confident long-term

2 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

During the Seatrade Cruise Global conference here this week, executives from lines large and small said that cruising isn't immune to shifts in consumer behavior caused by financial uncertainty. But they also suggested that while a plunging stock market has at least temporarily given some consumers jitters, they would adjust. Podcast: Are stock market convulsions affecting cruising?
Carnival reveals some details about new Excel ships -- including their names

2 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

Carnival Festivale, debuting in spring 2027, will be music-themed and sail from Florida's Port Canaveral. The Tropicale is coming in 2028; Carnival has not announced a deployment. The Tropicale name recalls Carnival's Tropicale ship that entered service in 1981. For the occasion of the ship name reveal, Duffy donned a red jacket emblazoned with a music notation and the ship's Festivale name in glitter.
Virgin Voyages' Razzle Dazzle concept will have a Spanish flavor on the Brilliant Lady

2 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

It's a new version of Razzle Dazzle for Virgin Voyages. On the line's other ships, Virgin recently implemented a Chinese-inspired menu and calls the restaurant Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle. At Rojo, Brilliant Lady guests can anticipate tapas and sangria when the ship enters service in September. They also can expect a casual dining experience by day and a more elevated one in the evening. The Spanish-American brunch will feature items such as ham croquettes, frittatas and acai bowls.
MSC Group cuts the ribbon on new Barcelona cruise terminal

3 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

The Explora II ship was the guest of honor, making its first call at the terminal. The terminal actually opened on Feb. 15 on the Moll Adossat pier. The facility is used by MSC Cruises and luxury line Explora Journeys. Related: MSC opens new Miami terminalThe building, designed by Spanish firm Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, houses a waiting lounge, VIP lounge and retail. It was designed with both local history and sustainability in mind.
Majestic Princess returns to service with new public spaces

3 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

The renovation was completed in two weeks during a drydock in Palermo, Italy.
Latin artist Nicky Jam to perform on three Virgin Voyages cruises

3 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Teri West

The reggaeton artist will perform during a five-day Mexico-Bahamas sailing on the Valiant Lady that departs Miami on May 4. Nicky Jam also will perform on an 11-day voyage aboard the Resilient Lady that departs Athens on May 18, and a five-day cruise from Lisbon to the U.K. on the Scarlet Lady departing July 22. He will do a live performance and a DJ set on the cruises, which the line has branded Virgin Celebration Voyages, an annual series now in its third year.
The voice of Hudson for 157 years: Looking back at The Journal’s long history

2 months ago | nj.com | Teri West

The Jersey Journal commemorated its 11th birthday in 1878 with a note about its prospects: “Yesterday the Evening Journal entered on the 12th year of its existence and is, we are happy to say, in vigorous health, and has a good prospect of long continued and useful life.”It wasn’t wrong. The Journal would go on to celebrate its own 100th and 150th anniversaries, on each occasion recapping its origin story and history. It did the same in 2002 when it nearly closed.