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Author: Alfredo Casuso

CRUISING, CRUISE SHIPS & THE COVID PANDEMIC – MAY 18, 2021

LIVES OF THE LINERS:   

CRUISING, CRUISE SHIPS & THE COVID PANDEMIC – MAY 18, 2021

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From Bill Miller

May 2021

Thu May 13th  Norwegian Cruise Lines’ next new ship initially will sail in Northern Europe before moving to North America for voyages out of New York City, the line announced on Monday. Scheduled to debut in Aug 2022, the 3,215-passenger Norwegian Prima (below) also will offer voyages out of Galveston, Texas; and Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida, during its first year in operation. Currently under construction at a shipyard near Venice, Italy, the $950 million Norwegian Prima will be the first of a much-awaited new series of vessels for Norwegian that are scheduled to debut over the next six years.  Norwegian has announced few details of the new vessels other than that they’ll measure around 140,000 tons — about 15% to 17% smaller than the Breakaway Plus Class ships the line has unveiled in recent years. 

Among the inaugural voyages planned are:  A 12-night, transatlantic sailing from Southampton, England, to New York starting on Sep 23rd, 2022, with calls at Lerwick, Scotland; Reykjavík, Iceland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia; and  a five-night, roundtrip voyage to Bermuda out of New York on Oct 10th.

Fri May 14th Holland America:  It was smooth seas and fair winds for Holland America Line’s newest ship, the 100,000-ton Rotterdam, which returned in the evening of May 6 to Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard in Italy, after successfully completing two sets of sea trials off the country’s Adriatic coast. 

Europe Bound!  With the European Union poised to reopen to Americans and an eventual travel corridor between the U.S. and U.K. remaining likely, airlines are cautiously excited over the possibility of summer travel to Europe boosting their bottom lines. But just how big of a boost remains to be seen, with the window to capitalize on the usually busy summer travel season starting to close — partly thanks to the strong resurgence of domestic travel demand.

Above:  MSC Orchestra at St Petersburg, Russia

Norwegian Cruise Lines is about to up the ante when it comes to the suite life on megaships. The world’s fourth-largest cruise brand on Wednesday announced that its next series of vessels would have the largest variety of suite categories available at sea, including three-bedroom suites that are larger than anything that has emerged from other lines in recent years. The six-ship series also will boast a higher staff-to-passenger ratio and a higher space-to-passenger ratio than other recently built big cruise ships, allowing for a higher-end experience across the board.

Royal Caribbean:  The annual “Monsters of Rock Cruise” is set to sail on the Freedom of the Seas in 2022, marking the sailing’s 10th anniversary Departing out of Miami, Florida, promoter On The Blue announced the five-night full ship charter cruise will set sail Feb 9th to 14th  and visit two ports in CocoCay, Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti, and feature performances from Alice Cooper, along with performances from over 35 artists.

Viking Ocean Cruises announced the “restart of limited operations” from locations including Bermuda, with the cruises “available exclusively for vaccinated guests.”  The cruise line’s website shows sailings from Bermuda in June and July of this year, and the itinerary shows the ‘Bermuda Escape’ 8-day cruise will visit all three Bermuda ports – Hamilton, Dockyard and St George’s — with prices starting at $1,799.

Update from Southampton:   Dave Smith reports “The P & O ship Britannia has been docked in the Ocean Terminal on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, but do not know when she is sailing.  Rumor has it that the brand new Iona [also P&O] is due in port next week.”

Sat May 15th New Guidelines:   In a major win for cruise fans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention updated its Conditional Sailing Order on May 12 to loosen mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated cruise passengers. The update also allows vaccinated cruise passengers to explore independently on shore at ports of call.

In the updated rules for the resumption of cruises, the CDC says cruise ship operators “at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.” The CDC further says cruise lines may allow fully vaccinated passengers to explore ports on their own. The agency says those who are vaccinated “may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors.” The CDC notes, however, that foreign countries could have their own requirements concerning independent port exploration.

Immediately, lines began putting out information. Masks will not be required at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Vicki Freed, the line’s senior vice president of sales, said in her Wednesday Coffee Talk. The CDC has been meeting frequently with cruise lines since it updated its guidance for test cruises and restricted startup cruises last week. The updates included rules for mask wearing, social distancing and shore excursions.

Cruise line officials, including Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, had criticized the agency for not issuing separate guidance for passengers who are fully vaccinated, as opposed to those who are not. Norwegian Cruise Line has committed to sailing ships with 100 percent vaccinated passengers and crew through October. Cited as particularly onerous in the original guidance were restrictions on how long cruise passengers can take off their masks to dine, as well as rules to wear a mask outdoors by the pool. The updates appear to address some of these concerns.  

Carnival Cruise Lines this week notified its guests and travel advisor partners of cancellations for additional sailings as it works toward plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships.  Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.  Further, if Carnival can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, the Carnival Miracle will assume some of Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle. Given that there is still some uncertainty in our ability to operate these cruises, guests booked on those sailings who wish to make alternate summer vacation plans may cancel without penalty by May 31, 2021 and receive a full refund.  The company is cancelling sailings on all other ships through July 30th.   Guests whose cruises are cancelled are eligible for a future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) or a full refund.    Separately, late last week Carnival notified its guests that the Carnival Splendor’s pause out of Sydney was extended another month, as it cancelled sailings from Aug 19th to Sept. 17th.

Further CDC Update:  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has seemingly lightened up on its complex cruise regulations, releasing an update to its COVID-19 operation guidelines for cruise lines wanting to operate from U.S. ports under the agency’s Conditional Sail Order. While the CDC stressed its mask order remains in effect, it said that “cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.”   The CDC also noted that cruise lines may allow fully vaccinated passengers to go ashore on their own, instead of having to participate in organized group tours.

New Cruise Line:  Former Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) bosses have reunited to launch Ambassador Cruise Line, a UK-based operator aimed at the over 50s market which plans to start sailing with one ship in Apr 2022. Ambassador will operate cruises on the Ambience, formerly known as the Regal Princess and then Pacific Dawn,  a P&O Australia-based ship, which had been set to become CMV’s flagship under the name Amy Johnson.

The 1,400-passenger ship’ maiden voyage will be a “short-break cruise” out of Tilbury to Hamburg, Germany, starting on Apr 6th next year. The ship’s debut full-year program, running from Apr 2022 until May 2023, will include 33 sailings, calling at 88 ports across the Baltics, Greenland, the Arctic and Iceland. During the winter months, Ambassador plans to offer “expedition-style voyages” to the Canaries, Cuba, the Caribbean, Cape Verde and Scandinavia. All passengers and crew will be required to be vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to departure, the line confirmed.

Sun May 16th Alaska:  The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that will allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate in Alaska without calling on a Canadian port as the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act was passed on Thursday. It’s a huge step to saving part of the 2021 Alaska cruise season. 

Update on Restarts:  The three largest cruise brands are targeting different restart plans should get the green light to cruise in July from U.S. ports, according to recent announcements and comments from executives.

Carnival Cruise Line said earlier this week it is hoping for a July restart in the U.S. on select ships. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including the Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.  

Royal Caribbean International   “We believe we are now seeing a clear way forward to safe cruising in the near future,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, on the company’s business update call in late April.

Added Michael Bayley, CEO and president of the Royal Caribbean International brand: “With what (CDC letter) we received last night July looks very realistic (for restarting cruises in North America).”  As for the Alaska season, Fain noted there are uncertainties and that service resumption may require a waiver from the Passenger Vessels Service Act as long as Canada will not allow ship calls. Alternatively, Canada could allow technical calls. “Given the momentum, there is reason for optimism,” Bayley added.

Norwegian Cruise Line had intended to restart in the United States on Jul 4th, having submitted what it referred to as an ironclad plan and letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in early April. But as of early May, and with no reply from the CDC, company executives said that a July restart from U.S. ports won’t be happening. “The July U.S. launch at least from our company, it’s just not possible,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, on the company’s first quarter earnings call in early May.

More News from the UK:   Two of our top UK agents,  Dave Smith & Nick Braddock report that P&O Cruises’s brand new Iona (below) will arrive today (Sun May 15th) at Southampton for the first time.  German built, the $1 billion ship has been laid-up (mostly in Norway) since delivery last year.  The 184,000-ton Iona is the largest British owned passenger ship yet, measures 1,130 feet in length and can carry up to 5,200 passengers.  A sistership, the Arvia, is now under construction.   

Mon May 17th   Getting Closer!  The cruise industry is getting closer to a restart in the United States as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released another update to its Conditional Sail Order late last Friday. The update added new sections for the screening of embarking passengers for restricted voyages, testing of embarking and disembarking passengers for restricted voyages, test selection and specifications for passenger screening testing on restricted voyages, and onboard COVID-19 testing for symptomatic passengers and their close contacts. In short, the changes continue to open the door for cruise lines to operate with ease if passengers and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Late last night we received multiple updates to the CSO from the CDC,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a Saturday morning social media post.  “All reflect the significant progress made with the vaccines. Reading the updates last night and this morning give me increased optimism. Today the light at the end of this long dark tunnel is bright. One step at a time!”

Change at Royal Caribbean:  With an ongoing conflict involving Israel, Royal Caribbean International is expected to cancel or at least significantly adjust its summer season from Haifa on the new Odyssey of the Seas.  According to a report from Crew Center, staff aboard the ship have already been informed the season has been scrapped. Industry sources indicated earlier in the week that the company would need to at least delay the season amid ongoing violence in the region. Now it appears the ground-breaking home-porting operation, which was set to see Royal Caribbean make history by putting a brand new ship into Israel, will need to wait.

Thank you to all our readers, correspondents, those “agents” in faraway places!

San Francisco’s Largest Hotel, Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel, Reopens on Monday, May 24

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cindy Ramesh / Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel / (415) 202-7739 / cindy.ramesh@hilton.com

David Perry / David Perry & Associates, Inc. / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

San Francisco’s Largest Hotel, Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel,
Reopens on Monday, May 24 

Hotel to illuminate a five-day countdown on its exterior leading up to the hotel’s opening

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Hi-res images are available for download here.

19 May 2021 – SAN FRANCISCO: On Monday, May 24, Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel, the largest hotel in San Francisco and on the West Coast, will reopen its doors and welcome back guests for the first time in over a year. Throughout the pandemic, the 46-tower property has displayed an illuminated heart and “S.F” to honor the city and serve as a sign of hope and solidarity for the San Francisco community. In celebration of the hotel’s reopening, the hotel will launch a five-day countdown illuminated on the hotel’s exterior as it gets ready to reopen its doors.

“Throughout the pandemic, in addition to offering a little bit of warmth and light to San Francisco, we also wanted to stand in support with our community to let them know that we would get through this,” said Terry Lewis, complex general manager, Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel. “As recovery continues, travel restrictions lift and we get ready to reopen our doors, we wanted to send a message of excitement and anticipation to our city with our hotel reopening countdown. It’s an important message for not only our guests, but the many surrounding businesses in our neighborhood letting them know that we’re back and ready to welcome them even at a safe distance.”

As the City by the Bay reopens to visitors, many activities near the hotel have already opened, including the Asian Art Museum, Westfield Shopping Center, and the famous Alcatraz Island Tours, which are just a fun Cable Car ride from the hotel. The hotel’s grab-and-go picnic baskets from Herb N’ Kitchen Marketplace are perfect for guests to enjoy while touring San Francisco’s beautiful city sights.  

Building on Hilton’s commitment to the health and safety of guests, Hilton San Francisco Union Square participates in Hilton CleanStay to deliver an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection. Created in collaboration with Reckitt, maker of Lysol and Dettol, Hilton CleanStay provides guests with assurance and added peace of mind with a focus on cleanliness that is visible to guests throughout their entire stay. Guests who desire a contactless arrival experience can check in, choose their room, unlock their door with a Digital Key, and check out using their mobile devices through the free Hilton Honors mobile app. This option is available for guests who book direct via the Honors app or at Hilton.com.

As meetings and events start to return, Hilton San Francisco Union Square has the largest amount of flexible meeting and event space in the city and is committed to creating event experiences that can accommodate all types of groups and cater to every meeting planner’s needs. Hilton EventReady with CleanStay provides curated solutions with creative food and beverage, thoughtful technology resources including Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions, elevated standards, and reimagined ways to meet and gather.

Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel is also part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, and free Standard WiFi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key. 

Rates start at $199+ per night. Hilton San Francisco Union Square is located at 333 O’Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102. For reservations please visit Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel at Hilton.com or call (415) 771-1400. Guests traveling to the area can visit destination sites such as SFtravel to see what attractions are or have plans to open in the coming months. 

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About Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has set the benchmark for hospitality around the world, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs. With more than 575 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties are located in the world’s most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Begin your journey at hiltonhotels.com, and learn more about the brand by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/hhr and following Hilton Hotels & Resorts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,500 properties and more than one million rooms, in 119 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2020 World’s Best Workplaces list, and was named the 2020 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. In 2020, Hilton CleanStay was introduced, bringing an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection to hotels worldwide. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 115 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors mobile app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on FacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagram and YouTube.

LYRIC Issues Statement Following Death of Felicia Elizondo

Media Contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

LYRIC Issues Statement Following Death of Felicia Elizondo:

“A true icon and fearless advocate for the LGBTQ+ communities”

17 May  2021 – San Francisco:  Calling her “a true icon and fearless advocate for the LGBTQ+ communities”, the Board and Staff of LYRIC (www.lyric.org), the San Francisco nonprofit that provides programming and a safe space for LGBTQQ+ youth, remembered Felicia Elizondo following her death this past week.

“The LYRIC family mourns the death of Felicia Elizondo, a true icon and fearless advocate for the LGBTQ+ communities for decades and a courageous activist on behalf of the Transgender community especially. Felicia participated in LYRIC’s very first intergenerational storytelling project in a partnership with GLBT Historical Society, New Leaf and OutLoud Radio. She continued to be an active participant over the years in what now is LYRIC’s collaboration with Openhouse for the annual youth and elder transgender brunch prior to the Trans March. Because of Felicia’s unflinching  visibility, many of her Transgender brothers and sisters can feel safer and more celebrated. Felicia’s legacy and love of her community will long be an example.” 

LYRIC is a leader in the San Francisco Bay Area offering safe spaces, workforce development, healthcare navigation, individual counseling, and group-based community building to marginalized low-income LGBTQQ+ youth.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, LYRIC has continued its vital work for LGBTQQ youth in our community. LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities. For more information and to make a donation, go to www.lyric.org  

Silver Medal for David Eugene Perry’s “Upon This Rock” from Pace Press

Media Contact: Jaguar Bennett / publicity@quilldriverbooks.com

Silver Medal for David Eugene Perry’s “Upon This Rock” from Pace Press

33rd Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards from Independent Book Publishing Association Honor Critically-Acclaimed Mystery Thriller in LGBT Category

www.quilldriverbooks.com

14 May 2021 – Fresno, CA: First-Time author David Eugene Perry took home a coveted Silver Medal in the LGBT category in ceremonies last night marking the 33rd Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association for his critically-acclaimed mystery thriller Upon This Rock from Pace Press.

“Ben Franklin was always my favorite patriot so this award thrills me,” said Perry, 59. “In a year when COVID made us all turn even more to books, the IBPA had more submissions than at any time since 2008. I’m greatly honored to have been nominated among so many fine writers and to have won this prize and so grateful to Pace Press.”

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers

“This is a well-deserved honor for an exceptional novel,” said Kent Sorsky, publisher of Pace Press/Linden Publishing. “Upon This Rock is a delightfully intricate thriller that readers have embraced. We have never had this response to a first-time novelist before.”

Upon This Rock is an “elegant twisty thriller” (Armistead Maupin, author ofthe international sensation Tales of the City) and “the gay DaVinci Code, but a lot better” (Fenton Johnson, Guggenheim Fellow, author of The Man Who Loved Birds); Upon This Rock is “for those readers who love Italy and who love crime fiction” (Lucinda Hawksley, great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, author of Dickens’s Artistic Daughter, Katey); “Perry’s novel sparkles with campy wit but is written with serious clues that keep you reading. And, oh yes, because it is a mystery, there’s a killer of a surprise at the end. Move over, Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles. Welcome the new kids to the neighborhood, Lee and Adriano.” (Will Snyder,Bay Area Reporter); Upon This Rock is “a perfect read for anyone who is into thrillers, mysteries and historical fiction, like John Grisham and Dan Brown for sure.”(Ankita DasguptaThe Bookworm Resort); “This is a wild read. Perry’s ability to build suspense is impressive and the denouement of this thriller will not just surprise you, but literally stun.”(Erika Atkinson, author of Ode to the Castro).

“You will not find a more exquisite, captivating, well written first novel than David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock. I was literally hooked from the first chapter. Set in the Italian city of Orvieto, Perry takes us on a roller-coaster ride that begins with the Sixteenth Century papacy of the de Medici Pope, Clement VII, and then quickly plummets us to the present day. A wonderfully addictive and engrossing story with brilliant characters and an ending that will have you perusing your favorite bookstore looking for Perry’s next novel”(Dennis Koller, author of The Rhythm of Evil). “You will not be able to put his book down. It is a page-turner from the first sentence until the twisted unexpected ending.” (Lynn Ruth Miller, author of Getting the Last Laugh). In short, David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock is “A potboiler thriller with nail-biting suspense” (Lew J. WhittingtonNew York Journal of Books); a “sexy, historical thriller” (Julissa James, Nob Hill Gazette);”a love letter to Orvieto like Tales of the City is a love letter to San Francisco” (Eric JansenSF Bay Times & Out In the Bay).

Perhaps Emmy Award winning journalist, famed Hollywood reporter Jan Wahl put it best: “Upon This Rock is fabulous. This historical thriller is a sexy ‘DaVinci Code.’ I can’t wait for the movie.”

Upon This Rock by David Eugene Perry / 360 pages / $18.95 / Quilldriver Books, Fresno, CA.  

https://quilldriverbooks.com/new-in-fiction-upon-this-rock-an-elegant-twisty-thriller-is-winning-rave-reviews/

Breanna Sinclairé Sings on W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America”

media contact: 
David Perry & Associates, Inc. / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

Breanna Sinclairé Sings on W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America”
Transgender Soprano Heard May 30 on CNN

12 May 2021 — San Francisco, CA: On Sunday May 30, operatic soprano Breanna Sinclairé (www.breannasinclaire.com) will be featured in an upcoming episode of W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America” on CNN

“It has been an honor working with Breanna,” said Morgan Fallon and Gillian Brown, the husband-and-wife team behind Zero Point Zero, producers for the show. “Everyone was incredibly moved during the filming as will be our television audience. It’s just beautiful.”

With a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and a sunrise over San Diego, Sinclairé will be heard performing “The Star Spangled Banner.“ In 2015, Sinclairé became the first transgender singer to perform the National Anthem at a major league sporting event when she did so for the Oakland A’s. Since then, the artist’s career has taken off including coverage in the New York Times, NPR, and NowThis TV among others. Sinclairé has been heard in numerous performances and at major venues such as Disney Hall in Los Angeles and Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. Later this year, Sinclairé will make her operatic debut in the world premiere production “BOUND” being filmed for Toronto’s Against the Grain Theatre. On June 20, Sinclairé will perform a solo classical recital for San Francisco’s esteemed Old First Concerts. The event will mark one of the first live with-audience events in San Francisco since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“It’s a distinct honor to lend my voice to the work of W. Kamau Bell,” said Sinclairé, herself a well-known activist for the Black and Transgender communities. “Perhaps more than any other show now on, ‘United Shades of America’ holds up a mirror to our country’s challenges and inequities but also offers a forum for dialogue and healing.”

Breanna Sinclairé’s appearance on W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America” will air on CNN Sunday, May 30 at 10pm EST / 7pm PDT with additional rebroadcasts scheduled.

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19 December 2020 – Dawn at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, San Diego. Breanna Sinclairé. Photo by Alfredo Casuso. Management by David Perry & Associates, Inc / www.davidperry.com