AL LAB OU T
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Y O U RO N ES T O PG U I D E T OA L LT H EL A T E S TN E WSA N DD E V E L O P ME N T SI NC R U I S I N G
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UIS CR E £100
Saga’s cruises are the star of the show
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FOR EVERY SAGA OCEAN CRUISE BOOKED
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They might be small but our cruise ships Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl II provide some big adventures. Being smaller means they can sail into ports that larger cruise ships can only sail past, whilst focussing on high levels of personal service and fantastic value all the way.
SHOPPING VOUCHER
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Why book with Saga? ■
Saga Satisfaction Guarantee* - if your customers don’t love their first Saga cruise we’ll refund their fare*!
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The reassurance of our Price Promise
Call FREE on 0800 074 8021 or visit saga.co.uk/agents Become a Saga Expert at sagaexperts.com Find us on Facebook – Saga Holidays Agency Sales
*The Saga Satisfaction Guarantee is available to guests that have not previously cruised aboard any Saga ship, please see brochure for details. Terms and conditions for £100 Shopping Voucher Cruise Incentive: To qualify, book any Saga Cruise. Simply email incentives@saga.co.uk with your ABTA, full name and booking reference within seven days of confirming the booking. For full details visit saga.co.uk/agents. NHA-CC5456
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all about
cruising
CONTENTS
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elcome to this year’s Travel Bulletin All About Cruising supplement, full of information designed to help you sell more ocean and river cruises. And it’s fair to say that ocean cruising has been riding the crest of the wave over the past few months with the introduction of new, innovative ships including two from Royal Caribbean – Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas – together with Holland America Line’s Koningsdam. Thomson Cruises also introduced its new ship TUI Discovery and soon we’ll be seeing Seven Seas Explorer from Regent Seven Seas, the first new build for them for quite some time, while towards the end of the year, Seabourn Encore will be launched. Meanwhile a whole range of new river cruise ships are sailing European and worldwide rivers as this sector also enjoys impressive growth. Another ship that joined the worldwide fleet earlier this year was Carnival Vista and I recently returned from a fam trip on board when a number of travel agent partners got to explore the ship for the first time. It is rare for a Carnival Cruise Line ship to sail the Mediterranean – so what a treat. These brand new ships have, among other things, incredible water slides, the thrill of Skyride, and of course the chance to have a pint in the Red Frog Pub. These new ocean and river cruise ships certainly showcase the great choice that today’s potential cruise customer has when thinking about a cruise holiday – and agents play such a vital role in this process; helping to share these stories, offering the best ship with the most appropriate onboard facilities to suit the guest while focusing on the all-important destination; all these points are key in securing a booking – particularly with a first-timer. You need to have the expert knowledge to smash the myths that still surround cruising – to be an expert on the many different styles of ship, the destination experiences, the ports of call and the itineraries, and this will also give you a competitive advantage. I am particularly conscious that there’s never enough time in the day – and that’s where CLIA can really help in keeping you up to date with the changes and innovations in our industry, to give you access to resources so that you know about the many different styles and sizes of ships, itineraries, ports, entertainment, dining, excursions, kids’ clubs and all the other aspects that go into making a cruise holiday such a great and memorable experience. In the cruise sector we have a particular challenge – to convert people from a holiday style that they know well, to one which they have no experience of at all. To switch land-based customers to a cruise and that switching requires us to be true experts and real ambassadors so that we can give the best possible advice. Research consistently tells us that training improves performance – this is one of the reasons why CLIA recently announced the Training Crusade where we are asking individuals to agree to an additional 30 minutes training per week to enhance their performance. So I would urge you to take advantage of the excellent training opportunities available, attend CLIA events and ship visits, review the excursions available in the most popular ports and keep up to date with changes and new innovations. Then use that knowledge and expertise to present cruise holiday options to your customers. Andy Harmer, vice-president of operations, CLIA Europe All About Cruising
New ships - 4
River cruises - 7
Family market - 14
First-time cruises - 18
Best of British - 20
For agents - 22 Published by
Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Miriam Brtkova, Liam Jackson, Nicky Valsamakis Printed by: Buxton Press Cover Picture: Samott, Fotolia
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NEW SHIPS
WHAT’S NEW IT’S YET ANOTHER BIG YEAR FOR THE CRUISE INDUSTRY WITH NEW SHIPS AND EXCITING ITINERARIES
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LIA UK and Ireland chairwoman Lynn Narraway told delegates at this year’s conference in Southampton that the industry was on course to see two million Britons cruising annually within the next few years following a 9% increase last year. To achieve this goal, Narraway told agents they have to “challenge the perceptions of cruising by changing the language that we used before to achieve more. Paint the picture to attract the new cruise by using the technology that has changed so much over the years, which allows us to say less and convey more. Arnold David, chief executive officer, said now was a great period for the industry. “Excess demand is leading to cruise lines adding capacity and improving yields.”
He told the CLIA UK and Ireland audience that there is “plenty of demand to fill capacity. “The cruise lines need to do a better job with agents to help them debunk the myths about cruising,” Arnold said. “At the moment, only 2% of holidaymakers worldwide cruise, and we need to help agents and arm them with the right information to help them sell the right cruise to the client.” So, with all of this positive news, encouragement and support from the cruise lines attending this year’s CLIA UK and Ireland conference, we catch up with the operators to find out what’s coming down the line over the next year.
Thomson Cruises Thomson Cruises managing director Helen Caron has
Pop superstar Jess Glynne wows agents at the launch in Palma of TUI Discovery
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NEW SHIPS
described the operator’s launch last month of its newest ship TUI Discovery as a “real game changer”. The cruise line acquired the ship, originally the 22-year-old Splendour of the Seas, from Royal Caribbean International just over two months ago, bringing the total number of ships in the Thomson Cruises fleet to five. TUI Discovery will be the largest in the fleet with a capacity of 1,830 across 915 cabins – almost 40% of which will offer balconies. Following a multi-million-pound refurbishment project inspired by feedback from Thomson Cruises’ guests, the cruise line has desconstructed the ship’s casino, turning it into 75% bar and 25% casino, introduced 11 brand new West End-style shows exclusive to TUI Discovery and created a virtual underwater kids’ club called Splash Life that operates in The Venue during peak family holiday times as well as the Break Out and Escape room, a real-life room escape game, an outdoor movie screen, a rock-climbing wall and a golf course. The refurbishment has also led to a new-look, sophisticated decor in the public rooms and an impressive double height dining room. There are two new speciality restaurants: Kora La, the Pan-Asian restaurant overseen by celebrity chef Ian Pengelley, the man behind London’s House of Ho; and Surf and Turf, which has been introduced from sister line, TUI Cruises. And the newly decked out adults-only area, The Retreat, can be found at the stern of the ship. Interactive touch-screen displays have been introduced on every deck containing information on where cruisers are and what’s on during the day, but a spokesman for Thomson Cruises also said that the interactive displays will also contain content on other TUI product “to inspire guests to book TUI experiences as it’s always good to sell to customers when they are in a happy place”. Caron said that bookings forTUI Discovery’s first season in the Mediterranean are strong, with bookings for the winter sailings in the Caribbean looking healthy too. “Some 25% of guests on Tui Discovery’s first season are cruise and stay itineraries from Palma, with the cruise and stay option also proving popular in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica where the beach resorts are a strong offering.” For 2017, the cruise line will be launching all-inclusive packages including all drinks except a number of speciality cocktails. “The all-inclusive move is in response to demand from cruise passengers,” adds Caron. Thomson Cruises’ fleet is going to be further boosted next year with the arrival of TUI Discovery II, the former Royal Caribbean of the Seas’ vessel Legend of the Seas, followed by two former TUI ships, Mein Schiff 1 and 2.
Viking Cruises The industry’s newest cruise line welcomed its second ship earlier this year which had its launch on the Thames in Greenwich. Viking Sea is the second ship from Viking Ocean Cruises and is the largest ship to ever be launched in London. All About Cruising
The 930-passenger ship is the second of six ocean cruise ships currently planned for the fleet. The third and fourth ships, Viking Sky and Viking Sun are under construction and will be delivered in early 2017 and late 2017, respectively. The two remaining yet-to-be-named ships will be delivered in 2018 and 2020. Viking Sea’s itineraries include the 10-day Empires of the Mediterranean, the 15-day Viking Homelands, the 22-day Catalonia to Greece voyage and the 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey. Prices lead in at £2,290 for the 10-day Empires of the Mediterranean sailing, which visits Venice, Koper, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Olympia, Santorini and Athens. The price includes gratuities, flights, complimentary wifi, excursions and wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
CroisiEurope CroisiEurope is adding eight new ships to its fleet in 2016/2017. In April, CroisiEurope introduced the 80-passenger Elbe Princesse, a paddle steamer which sails on the Elbe and the Moldau between Berlin and Prague. CroisiEurope is also introducing two new 22-guest hotel barges on the French canals: Deborah which will travel on the Briare Canal, in the Upper Loire Valley and the region of Sancerre; and Danièle which will travel on the Burgundy canals. In 2017, CroisiEurope will introduce a new premium-rated ship on the Douro, a colonial-style ship on the Mekong and two new ships on the Rhine and the Danube. CroisiEurope also recently announced details of a brand new ship for 2017 which will offer six-day/five-night itineraries on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers.
Crystal River Cruises Crystal River Cruises’ first ship, Crystal Mozart, will set sail on 13 July on its maiden voyage round-trip from Vienna. Along with spacious suites, innovative entertainment spaces and adventurous amenities, the river ship will also have a popup bar area on the top Vista deck, complete with a vanishing movie screen for al-fresco evening show times. Also on the Vista deck will be a living rooftop garden area with teak bench seating areas for guests. Two custom tender boats will be available on board for more intimate exploration of the waterway’s locations. Crystal Mozart will sail two distinct itineraries of 10 and 11 nights along the Danube, plus a special 10 to 13-night Christmas and New Year’s Eve voyage. Meanwhile, in June and August 2017, Crystal River Cruises will introduce four new all-suite luxury river yachts.The new vessels will feature a Palm Court with dance floor and glassdomed roof, a library, fitness centre, spa and sporting equipment such as electric assisted bicycles, kayaks and jet skis. Two of the Crystal River Yachts will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers with 110 guests, while the other two, each with an 84-guest capacity, will be cruising the Seine River and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers as well as navigating through the Gironde Estuary.
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2014 Editors’ Picks
Best New River Ship
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RIVER CRUISES
TALES FROM THE RIVER BANK WITH NEW SHIPS AND NEW SAILINGS BEING ADDED, IT’S ALL UPSTREAM FOR RIVER CRUISES IN 2016/17 Vantage Travel has added eight new family-friendly cruises for 2017
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he river cruise bubble is showing no signs of bursting with CLIA UK and Ireland reporting a fifth successive year of growth for the UK river cruise market. Last year, figures rose by 8% to top 150,000 passengers, with the Danube continuing to be the star performer. And river cruise operators are introducing taster voyages to meet demand from first-time river cruisers.
And with new ships being built to meet the growing demand and new and exciting itineraries being added, here is a look at what the next year holds for the river cruise market.
Emerald Waterways The river cruise specialist is launching three new ships next year, Emerald Liberté, Emerald Radiance and Emerald
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MORE REASONS TO CHOOSE RIVIERA TRAVEL
EUROPE’S FINEST FIVE-STAR RIVER CRUISING Three brand-new five-star all-suite ships launching in 2017 z Brand new five-star ship launching on the Douro in 2017 - MS Douro Elegance z More of our customers would travel with us again than any of our competitors* z We never discount z 2017 selling fast , book now to avoid disappointment z Dedicated agency sales support z Online booking at www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents z
RIVER CRUISES Destiny, bringing the total number of ships in its fleet to seven. Emerald Liberté will carry 138 guests in 70 suites and staterooms and will sail eight-day voyages from Lyon to Arles along the Rhône and Saône Rivers, passing through Chalon-Sur-Saône, Tournon and Avignon. Prices for the eight-day voyage lead in at £1,295. Emerald Radiance will carry 112 guests in 56 suites and staterooms and will be dedicated to a new itinerary that cruises Portugal’s picturesque Douro River, including stops at the heritage city of Porto and the Roman settlement of Regua as well as visits to Vega de Terron and Salamanca in Spain. The ship’s Serenity Pool will be located on the sun deck. Prices for the eight-day sailing lead in at £1,695 per person based on 22 July 2017 departure. Emerald Destiny will be Emerald Waterways’ fifth ship to sail through the heart of Europe on the Danube, Rhine and Main. Prices for the eight-day cruise lead in at £1,495 per person. All of the new ships will have a choice of two restaurants, and the new cabin design will see the French balcony replaced with an indoor balcony complete with decked area. All ships also feature an on-board hairdresser, massage therapy room and fitness area, as well as bicycles free for use by all guests. All prices are based on two people sharing and include airport transports, shore excursions, gratuities, 20 meals and complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner while cruising. emeraldwaterways.co.uk Emerald Waterways' new ship Emerald Radiance will be sailing a new voyage along the Douro for 2017
Deluxe balcony suites available from only £1,599pp
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ABTA No. V4744
Holidays organised by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, Staffs, DE14 1SP. ABTA V4744 TOL 3430. Prices are based on two people sharing a twin cabin. Cruise duration dependent on selected itinerary. Additional entrance costs may apply. *Source: Independent survey conducted by PriceWaterhouse Coopers in March 2014
Cosmos Tours The cruise specialist has launched a range of taster cruises with A-ROSA Cruises for 2017 to meet demand from firsttime river cruisers’ or those who have only experienced ocean cruising. The newly introduced four and five-night river cruises on the Danube and Rhine Rivers include iconic European cities, towns and famous sights. The range includes the five-day Rhine Taster Cruise (from £599 per person), five-day Amsterdam and Rotterdam Mini Cruise (from £599 per person) and six-day Danube Taster Cruise (from £929 per person). All About Cruising
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RIVER CRUISES Daniel Harrison, cruise product and commercial manager, comments: “The relaxed style A-ROSA river cruises are the perfect introduction to European river cruising offering modern-style ships with informal dining from gourmet buffets, spa facilities and full board with included drinks throughout the day. Packaging the cruises with flights and airport transfers provides agents with the easiest way of selling them to customers keen to try a river cruise.” The four diamond-rated ships A-ROSA Flora and A-ROSA Donna are modern sleek ships offering spacious staterooms, relaxed style dining and even swimming pools, spa, sauna and gym facilities with a choice of interesting optional excursions. cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk
Riviera Travel The river cruise specialist will be increasing its fleet of ships next year with the introduction of three new five-star, all-suite vessels that are being built exclusively for Riviera Travel by Scylla of Switzerland. The three ships will offer three levels of suites: the standard suite, suites on the middle and upper decks have French balconies floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and deluxe suites on the upper deck have sit-out balconies. Thomas Hardy will cruise the heart of Europe and Blue Danube, Emily Bronte will sail to Amsterdam,Volendam and the Dutch Bulbfields, Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam and the Dutch Bulbfields, Rhine and Moselle, Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg, Rhine Cruise to Switzerland, Cruise the Heart of Europe and Blue Danube, while Oscar Wilde will sail Rhine and Moselle, Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg and Rhine cruise to Switzerland. Also new for 2017 is Douro Elegance which will sail the seven-day Douro, Oporto and Salamanca itinerary, with an optional four-day, post-river cruise guided extension on selected dates. Riviera Travel has also extended its Heart of River Cruise to include a guided tour of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, which now makes the voyage a 15-day one with prices from £1,499 per person. Also new for 2017 is that Swiss Ruby will be sailing the sevenday Seine, Paris and Normandy itinerary, while Lord Byron is being repositioned and will sail the seven-day Burgundy, the River Rhone and Provence itinerary. Prices for a five-day cruise with Riviera Travel’s 2017 programme lead in at £649 per person. rivieratravel.co.uk
Scenic Tours The river cruise operator has an exciting 2016 with a number of new ships coming in line. Launched this year, the 80-metre Scenic Azure Space Ship features 48 guest cabins that will carry 96 passengers and will offer a 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio. Facilities on board include the Sun Deck, the Vitality Pool, the Riverview Terrace dining venue and exclusive dining for Diamond Deck and Royal Suite guests. All About Cruising
Scenic Azure will be sailing three Douro voyages: the Delightful Douro; Unforgettable Douro; and the Unforgettable Douro with Lisbon. Prices for the 11-day Unforgettable Douro lead in at £2,995 per person for 19 July 2017 departures. Scenic Azure is joined by four new Space Ships, Scenic Jasper, Opal and Amber, which accommodate 169 guests each in 72 suites and 13 staterooms. All of the ships feature four decks, Sun Deck, Diamond Deck, Sapphire Deck and Jewel Deck. All of the ships feature what is seen to be pioneering for river cruise vessels. These include Panorama Lounge Bar with its Port Laurent marble inlays, a choice of six individual dining venues including: Riverview Terrace, River Café, Portobellos Restaurant, Crystal Dining, Table La Rive, and guests own suite where they can dine in privacy as a result of the inclusive butler service. Sample itineraries for an eight-day Treasures of the Rhine cruise on Scenic Opal lead in at £1,395 per person departing on 19 October 2016. scenic.co.uk
Saga Saga has added a second all-inclusive river sailing after its first-ever voyage for solo passengers sold out. The Saga-exclusive Douro Discovery cruise on 3 November 2016 starts in Oporto where guests board their river cruise ship, Douro Princess. After an overnight mooring, guests start the cruise in style with lunch at the 14th-century former Monastery of Alpendurada, before sailing to Régua. Next on the itinerary is a visit to the ancient city of Lamego to view the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, which overlooks the town. Douro Princess cruises on to Pinhão for a wine-tasting at nearby Quinta do Seixo and an excursion to Figueira Castelo de Rodrigo, a medieval village set on top of a hill beside the River Côa. After an overnight mooring in Vega de Térron, guests can prepare for a full-day’s excursion to Salamanca, in Spain, where the old town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes viewing the city’s twin cathedrals and pretty main square. The next day’s tour takes guests ashore for lunch at the family-owned winery of Quinta da Avessada in the heart of the Douro region, followed by a visit to the 18th-century Casa de Mateus Palace and gardens, which features on the Mateus rosé wine label. After an overnight mooring in Régua, the 40-cabin Douro Princess sails to Oporto, on the Douro estuary where there will be a tour of a port wine cellar for a tasting and the chance to take home a bottle as a memento of this special solo travellers’ cruise. Prices for this seven-night sailing lead in at £1,299 and include UK travel package, return flights and transfers, all meals, welcome cocktail party, porterage, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights or
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MADE FOR THE EXPLORERS
From the he fairytale castles and forest-cover ered mountains of the Rhine to the ancient temples of China, a Viking river cruise is made for or exploring the world in comfort omfort and style. River view stater aterooms, free guided excursio ons and a real taste of the destinations stinations visited keep clients coming back for more. SAVE £1,000PP ON 20 017 RIVER CRUISES 8-day river cruises fr om £895pp with all this included w in the price: River-view stater oom All del icious meals on boar d Com plimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on boar d Complim mentary speciality teas and cof fees 24/7 Includeed excursion in almost every destination Fr ee W i-Fi* Cultural e nrichment pr ogramme Re tur n scheduled flights fr om London Fr ee r egio onal flights fr om up to 14 UK airports
BOOK YOUR CURIOUS CLIENTS ON A VIKING RIVER CRU UISE AND EARN GREA AT T COMMISSION
CALL 020 87 780 7985 EUROPE
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ASIA
@Viking gTradeUK #madefortrade
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madefortrade.co.uk .uk
Terms & Conditions: Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom availablee on Romantic Danube, departing in December 2017. Prices include £1,000pp saving and are valid until 31 July 2016. Single supplements apply. *Restrictions apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions rms-conditions or call us.
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MADE FOR THE SPA A LOVERS
From o stretching out on a po oolside sun lounger to rejuvenating ing in the spa; hotting up in the e sauna to chilling out in the snow grotto; downward dogs on deck to jogging in the gym, a Viking ocean cruise is the perfect place for your clientss to relax, unwind and love doing g nothing much at all. SA VE £500PP ON AL LL OCEAN CRUISES 8-day ocean crui ses fr om £1, 790pp w it h al l thi s i ncl uded i n the pri ce: Pri v a te ver anda st at er oom A l l m eals on boar d in m tiple dining venues mul C omp pl i m ent ar y w ine, beer and s oft dr inks w it h lunch and dinner on boar d C ompl i m entar y specialit y t eas and cof f ees 24/ 7 F r ee 24-hour r oom ser vice I nc l ude d excur sion in alm ost ever y por t of call F r e e use of spa f acilit ies Fr ee W i- Fi* Ev eni n g ent er t ainm ent , l eec tu r es and por t t alks Ret ur n scheduled f light s f r om t he UK
BOOK YOUR SP PA-LOVING A-LO OVING CLIENTS ON A VIKING OCEAN CRU UISE AND EARN GREA AT COMMISSION
CALL 020 87 780 7985 THE MEDITERRANEA AN
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madefortrade.co.uk o.uk
Terms & Conditions: Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom availablee on Romantic Mediterranean, departing on 8 January 2017. Prices valiid until 31 July 2016. Single supplements apply. *Reestrictions apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises ikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.
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Saga Cruises has added an extra date for its Douro Discovery cruise, its first ever voyage for solo travellers
a discount if the passenger has their own insurance. travel.saga.co.uk/river-cruises
Tauck The river cruise line has introduced two new sister ships for 2016, Grace and Joy. The new vessels boast 22 suites, more than any other European river boats. The suites each feature French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, a pull-out couch, roomy walk-in closets with builtin drawers, and a spacious bathroom with rain shower. Alongside the suites, there are 225 loft cabins located on the lower deck with additional 24 junior suites of the same size plus 13 cabins. The 135-metre-long Tauck ships carry 130 guests, other cruise lines with vessels of this length accommodate 190 passengers, so with fewer guests on its ships, Tauck is able to provide more suites and a more intimate atmosphere on board. Prices start at £3,550 per person for a 10-day Rhine, Swiss Alps and Amsterdam cruise based on a 2017 itinerary. The price includes all shore excursions, gratuities, two nights at the Hotel Bellevue Bern, unlimited complimentary beverages, transfers and 24 meals. tauck.co.uk
Uniworld The cruise specialist is set to launch two new ships in 2017. The 68-passenger, all-suite Mekong Navigator will explore the two worlds joined by one River with the 15-day Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong voyage; the first departure is 3 January 2017 Kathryn Beadle, managing director of Uniworld UK, said: “With the launch of the new Mekong Navigator in Vietnam and Cambodia in 2017, Uniworld will now offer all-suite ships across the entire Asia collection. Guests will experience the highest standards of excellence in the
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regions with magnificent suite accommodation and exclusive VIP benefits available on all ships. Intimate cultural encounters combined with unsurpassed luxury makes Uniworld the ultimate way to experience Asia.” Meanwhile, Uniworld will be introducing the new Joie de Vivre that will sail along the Seine. The design team from Uniworld’s sister company Red Carnation Hotels will oversee the design of the ship that will put French-inspired handcrafted furniture at the heart of the ship’s look and feel. Joie de Vivre’s Salon de Beaux-Arts lounge will feature a collection of fine art and antiques curated from auction houses, such as Sotheby’s and Christies, as well as private collections. The Le Club l’Esprit comes complete with a cinema and a surrounding pool with a hydraulic floor that can turn into a dance floor or outdoor cinema at night. Dining venues include Le Restaurant Pigalle and La Cave de Vins, a vinoteque for private dining and winepairing dinners. Joie de Vivre features two Royal Suites, eight Junior Suites, and 54 staterooms for a capacity of no more than 128 guests. Each suite will be designed with its own signature style and features enhanced amenities and services, including butlers trained to the same standard as Buckingham Palace. All suites and staterooms have custom-made-toorder Savoir of England beds with unique headboards of various designs and marble bathrooms in various colourschemes. Prices for the 15-day Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong voyage from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi lead in at £4,139 per person.
Vantage Travel The river cruise specialist has launched its 2017 which features 11 new itineraries, some of which focus on catering for the family market and single travellers.
Eight new family itineraries have been introduced, offering free river cruises for children, family-friendly itineraries, sightseeing tours, meal times and meal choices as well as arts and crafts workshops, singing sessions for eight to 12-year-olds, activities for teens, a family host from 6-9pm, language lessons on board and a ship’s tour by the captain. Offers for solo travellers include cabins that are only £99 more than the double cabin occupancy rate, with prices starting at £1,099 per person. Vantage Travel vice-president of global sales Derek Lloyd advises single travellers to book in advance “as there is no such thing as a last-minute single cabin bargain. The single cabins sell out first and are of excellent value, so we encourage our solo guests to plan ahead.” The cruise operator has also introduced new Grand Journeys that allow travellers to combine two cruises, such as the new Best of France: Paris, Normandy and Provence, to create a seven-night Seine cruise with a further six days in Provence. There’s also the chance to combine the Essentials of Holland and Belgium with Grand European Tour for Holland to Hungary: Five Rivers, One Unforgettable Journey. Also new are the Signature Journeys that range from eight to 12 days. New cruises for 2017 include the Seine, a seven-night round-trip sailing from Paris with a Saturday embarkation. Toward the end of 2017,Vantage Travel’s Danube Waltz, sails from Budapest to Regensburg, and Heart of Germany from Regensburg to Koblenz, and reverse. Several shorter sailings also facilitate the option to combine the Christmas markets, with prices from £999 per person. Other new tours include: the sevennight Rhine Getaway with prices from £1,399; the nine-night Tulips and All About Cruising
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RIVER CRUISES Windmills sailing from ÂŁ1,299; the nine-night Essentials of Holland and Belgium from ÂŁ1,399; the 14-night Grand European Tour from ÂŁ2,099; the eight-night Passage to Eastern Europe from ÂŁ1,099; the 22-night Grand European Sojourn from ÂŁ2,099; the seven-night Paris and the Heart of Normandy sailing from ÂŁ999; the 12-night Best of France: Paris, Normandy and Provence cruise from ÂŁ1,999; and the 14-night Rhine and Moselle voyage from ÂŁ2,599. Talking about the new programme, Lloyd says: “We looked at the season as a whole, rather than plan a series of individual return journeys up and down rivers, and we scheduled our 2017 sailings to give guests the option to combine two trips back-to-back as often as possible. “This makes the most of the huge number of destinations en route throughout Europe, and allows our guests to extend or condense their holiday time according to their requirements. “We’ve also extended the seasons of some of our popular sailings, such as the Essentials of Holland and Belgium, with departures in the middle of summer, as well as the popular spring Tulips and Windmills departure dates. “Mid-summer is a beautiful time to be on the Dutch waterways, and our sailings include historical elements of World War II, spectacular countryside and cities, the best of local food produce and the chance to see the windmills in the summer sunshine.â€?
Avalon Waterways The river cruise specialist is offering up to 50% discounts on a range of European cruises for summer and autumn 2016. A 12-day Central European Experience with a departure date of 18 October leads in at £1,456 per person, which represents a discount of 48%. The journey begins with two nights at the city’s stylish Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe with sightseeing before taking the TGV train to Remich for a seven-night river cruise to Prague. Cruise highlights include the scenic Moselle Valley and Germany’s oldest city of Trier, wine tasting in the wine growing village of Bernkastel, the fairy tale castles of the Rhine Gorge, and picturesque towns of Rudesheim, Wurzburg and Nuremberg. The river cruise ends in the medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage site of Bamberg before transferring to Prague for a two-night stay at the Hotel Intercontinental and a guided sightseeing tour. The £1,456 price includes return flights and a privately chauffeured home pick up service, four nights’ at a four-star-rated hotel accommodation with breakfast, a seven night full board cruise with regional wines served with dinner, guided excursions, on-board gratuities, train travel and airport transfers. avalonwaterways.com
HALF PRICE LUXURY RIVER CRUISES FROM ÂŁ824 PP* Rhine
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FAMILY MARKET
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Cruise lines are really pushing the boundaries when it comes to new experiences to appeal to the family market From character breakfasts, to deck parties and Broadway-style musicals, a cruise with Disney is packed full of entertainment
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LIA UK and Ireland marked its 10th birthday at its Southampton conference in May, and along with the celebrations to mark the occasion came one key message from speakers – cruise lines must help agents to challenge the myths about cruising. And of course, the major myth is that to go on a cruise, you have to be fast approaching the age where you can collect your state pension. Well this couldn’t be further from the truth. The big ocean cruise lines have so many activities for the kids, from adrenaline-pumping four-storey water rides to music, dance and drama workshops and family-only shore excursions. And even the river cruise lines are starting to get in on the act with dedicated family-friendly cruises,
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so make sure you have all the facts at your fingertips so you can start racking up the commission by booking family cruises.
Hapag-Lloyd
The luxury cruise line will be keeping it in the family this year and next with a number of cruises designed to cater for tots, teens and their parents. Two sailings this autumn will be putting families at the heart of the line’s cruise programme on board Europa 2. The first one is the 15-day New York to Progreso in Mexico that departs on 30 September and visits Baltimore, Charleston, Miami, Key West and New Orleans. The second 12-day sailing departs on 13 October and sets sail from Progreso to La Guaira in Venezula. All About Cruising
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FAMILY MARKET And the first 2017 family-themed cruise from Hapag-Lloyd is a sailing around the Greek Islands, again on Europa 2. Departing from Athens and heading for Izmir on 3 June, the ship will call at Idra/Saronic Islands,Volos, Naxos, Simi, Marmaris, Turkey and Mykonos. The German cruise line will be pulling out all the stops on these cruises to keep the kids and adults entertained. Activities include Golf and Cruise programmes where children aged six and over can enjoy golf lessons. At Culinary School, younger guests can learn to make pizza, but if they fancy something a bit more active, they can enjoy Zodiac excursions or visit the captain on the bridge. The cruise also features workshops for children and teenagers run by a real stuntman: René von Hagen. There are also music, dance and drama workshops alongside the Europa 2 Unplugged programme. The kids’ clubs cater for three different age groups two to three years old; four to 10 years old; and 11-15 year-olds. And while the kids are kept busy, parents can make the most of the on-board facilities and entertainment, including interior design lessons from a leading consultant. The on-board accommodation is also designed with families in mind with eight family apartments on Europa 2, comprising two separate areas connected by a door. The children’s rooms have bunk beds, separate bathrooms and spaces to play. Prices for the New York to Progreso cruise cost £5,920 per person cruise-only, the Progreso to La Guaira voyage leads in at £4,870, while the sailing around the Greek Islands leads in at £3,050 per person. To book: hl-cruises.com
Carnival Cruise Line Taking on board Carnival Cruise Line’s motto of Switch on Fun, the new Carnival Vista will offer family members of all ages the opportunity to have a top-notch holiday with a variety of new on-board experiences. Exclusive to Carnival Vista is Family Harbour, located within a dedicated family zone aft on Deck 2 with 96 specially designed family ergonomic accommodation, including extra-large family suites accommodating five guests and featuring two bathrooms. The Family Harbour Lounge is a secluded space designed as the family hangout with large screen TVs, board games and complimentary breakfast, cookies and other snacks. An exclusive family concierge maximises the fun onboard, assisting with dining, spa and shore excursion reservations, registering kids for the youth programmes and making recommendations on and off the ship for families with kids of all ages. And time out for the grown-ups can be spent at the adultsonly Serenity retreat lounging around on hammocks, large beds and the line’s first outdoor massage huts. Alternatively, there’s the Cloud 9 Spa, which features Carnival’s first infrared sauna and Hammam Chamber, as well as special showers that provide a soothing fragrance element, a large heated whirlpool, four steam chambers and a high-tech indoor cycling studio. A 10-night Mediterranean Cruise on board Vista departs from Barcelona on 1 October, and visits Marseilles, Livorno, Rome, Naples, Crete, Rhodes, Kusadasi and Athens. Prices lead in at £639 per person cruise only. To book: carnival.co.uk All About Cruising
Royal Caribbean International The US cruise line prides itself on its family-focused facilities and for 2017, it will be basing Independence of the Seas back in Southampton. While the cruise line offers all of the obligatory kids’ clubs, there’s also a full-sized basketball court and a Rock Wall for the kids to climb. And while the children are kept busy from dawn ’til dusk with all of the on-board activities, parents can check into the Vitality Spa for a treatment or two. Prices for a 14-night Mediterranean Explorer Cruise on Independence of the Seas sailing on a roundtrip from Southampton on 1 May 2017 lead in at £2,400 per person. The ship visits Gibraltar, Barcelona, Nice, Rome,Valencia, Malaga and Seville. To book: royalcaribbean.co.uk
Celebrity Cruises The on-board X Club is where it is at for teens and older children on board Celebrity ships where teens can play on Xbox game consoles. Celebrity ilounge - the first authorised Apple specialist at sea – is also great fun for teens to brush up on their video editing skills and participate in iTake to make their own onboard films. Celebrity has also introduced a range of Family Tour Challenge excursions, which include a day of activity with a challenge to end the tour, providing fun for teens and parents. The Family Tour Challenges are at specific destinations throughout Europe and the Caribbean. At Cozumel (Mexico) the ‘Celebrity’s Amazing Race in Cozumel’ allows families to go head to head with rival families in a dash around the city of Cozumel. The family that solves the puzzle and completes the challenges in the quickest amount of time is crowned the winner. Guests can do Celebrity’s Amazing Race in Cozumel Family Tour Challenge on Celebrity Equinox on an 11-night Ultimate Caribbean Cruise. The Celebrity’s Amazing Race in Cozumel Family Tour Challenge costs from $75.75 per adult and $50.75 per child. To book: celebritycruises.co.uk
Disney Cruise Line It goes without saying that Disney Cruise Line really does have the family market cornered. From character breakfasts, Disney Movie Nights, deck parties, Broadway-style musicals and Goofy’s Family Pool, the days on board are jam packed with entertainment. Kids are guaranteed to love the AquaDunk water park, a three-story water slide that begins with a surprise launch. And the kids can enjoy the water park while a Disney movie’s playing in the background on Funnel Vision on deck 9. Deck parties are family celebrations under the sun and start with daily music, live bands, dancing and Disney characters. Starting with the “Adventures Away” deck party, the ship’s horn blasts the iconic first seven notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” signalling the beginning of a voyage. The Pirates In the Caribbean deck party features stunt performers repelling from atop the funnel, an epic battle at sea ensues as the good guys take on the
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FAMILY MARKET villains. Characters such as Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Captain Mickey, Minnie and Goofy mingle with guests on deck. Then, of course, there’s the Walt Disney Theatre, which hosts first-run Disney film premieres, allowing cruisers to enjoy a film’s opening at the same time it’s making its nationwide release on land, as well as first-run features and Disney classics. Buena Vista Theatre also shows recent releases and Disney classics. And on a Disney Wonder voyage, cruises get the chance to experience Disney’s very own island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay where there’s plenty of snorkelling, paddleboating and kayaking to enjoy. Prices for a four-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Wonder lead in at £986 per person. To book: disneycruise.com
Cruise and Maritime Voyages CMV is known for being an adults-only cruise line but for 2017, it is setting its sights on the family market with two new multi-generational cruises on board its new ship Columbus. There will be two voyages in August that won’t have age restrictions with fares from £99 for children sharing with two adults. These departures are aimed at grandparents, parents and children but agents need to be aware when selling these voyages that there are no specific children’s facilities on board Columbus. To book: cruiseandmaritime.com
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian has carved out a reputation a cruise line that cares about the family market in a big way. The line launched the 4,248-passenger Norwegian Escape last October. It is the first of two new Breakaway Plus II class of ships from the cruise line and is one of the five biggest ships in the world and the largest ever to be based all year in Miami. Norwegian Escape is pioneering a new childcare service for the cruise line. The Guppies programme offers childcare services for children aged six months to three years and includes an active area for play time and age-appropriate activities, and a separate space for napping. In addition to the nursery services, Norwegian Escape’s Guppies program offers a dedicated open play area for parents and babies to play together, featuring sensory-based games, interactive media and themed activities hosted by an early years coordinator The ship also includes the Splash Academy where children from three years old to 12 year olds can learn to juggle at Circus School, take part in a wide range of sports and enjoy creative play and fun family activities in an age-appropriate atmosphere. Then there is all the on-deck activities such as the largest ropes course at sea, the Aqua Park with four multi-storey water slides, including the Aqua Racer and the miniature golf course. Entourage is a retreat for teens and a parent-free zone. Teens can hang out watch movies, do some art, listen to music, play video games and dance the night away at Entourage’s dance parties
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Happy Lloyd will be operating a 12-day family-friendly cruise on Europa 2 from New York to Mexico on 30 September
While the kids are indulging all their senses doing all of activities on board, parents can check into the tranquil Mandara Spa with its salt room, first-time-at-sea snow room and menu of pampering, exotic spa treatments. And of course, Norwegian’s Freestyle dinner approach is always a winner with parents. Prices lead in at £1,334 per person for a seven-night roundtrip from Miami on Norwegian Escape. The cruise visits: Roatán, Honduras; Harvest Caye; and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and departs on 13 May 2017. To book: ncl.co.uk
Uniworld Think river cruise and the words family-friendly do not spring to mind, but the time has come for agents to think about what a river cruise could offer to a family. All About Cruising
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FAMILY MARKET
Uniworld has launched a dedicated Family River Cruise Collection brochure with 11 new family-friendly departures in 2016, cruising the Rhine, Danube, Seine and Po rivers. All nine family-friendly European itineraries in the brochure, including six new and three exitsing voyages, feature interactive on-board experiences. Children can try their hand at dessert making with the ship’s pastry chef, take a VIP behind-the-scenes tour with the captain, taste local soft drinks with the resident Soda Sommelier or take part in craft workshops and fun local language classes. The Young Travellers Lounge, available on all multigenerational Uniworld ships, has a PlayStation, a great selection of games, movies and jars of sweets. Every family-friendly cruise itinerary also features on-board visits from local children or teens who introduce guests to the daily life of their culture.
New family friendly itineraries include the 10-day Delightful Danube and Prague and Danube Discovery and Prague itineraries, which both include a white-water rafting trip on the River Ilz in Germany and scenic bike riding along the Danube. On the 10-day Rhine Discovery and Prague and 15-day Grand European Discovery, children will get the chance to visit Franconia amusement park during an excursion. Uniworld has also added six family-friendly departures to its Italian programme.The 10-day Gems of Northern Italy features a hands-on pasta making workshop in Bologna and the 15-day Splendours of Italy gives children the opportunity to learn how to be a Roman fighter at Gladiator School and join a spooky ghost walking tour in Venice. Existing family-friendly itineraries include the eight-day Castles along the Rhine, eight-day Paris and Normandy and festive eightday Classic Christmas Markets. To book: uniworld.com/uk/
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FIRST TIMERS If you have first-time cruisers who prioritise luxury experiences, suggest they try out a Seaboard cruise
THE FIRST STEP GETTING CLIENTS TO BUY INTO THE WHOLE IDEA OF A HOLIDAY AT SEA CAN OFTEN BE A CHALLENGE TO SELL, SO IT’S GREAT TO SEE CRUISE LINES COMING UP WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO APPEAL TO FIRST-TIMERS Cruise and Maritime Voyages CMV is setting its sights firmly on first-timers with a selection of two to six-night cruises that give the undecided the chance to sample a cruise. The cruise line also offers mini overnight cruises between different UK ports so first-timers can try before they buy. Prices for an overnight cruise from Greenock to Liverpool on 26 August lead in at £59 per person. CMV is also offering potential cruisers the opportunity to “look before they book” with a dinner, show, an overnight on board followed by breakfast the next morning. And to appeal to more solo travellers, CMV offers 150 twin cabins on board Magellan and Columbus at only a 25% supplement for sole occupancy.
day Jewels of the Rhine and a guided bike tour of the Austrian city of Melk on the eight-day Danube Delights. David Winterton, UK brand manager for Emerald Waterways, says that “as European river cruising continues to grow in popularity, guests are increasingly looking for new and exciting ways to see the culture and sights of the cities they visit. “We’ve now created EmeraldACTIVE to provide guests with a range of exclusive guided bike rides and hikes, which promise to showcase even more of what Europe has to offer. “These experiences will be available on all of our most popular European itineraries, and I’m sure our guests will enjoy the spirit of adventure on offer.” All EmeraldACTIVE excursions are offered to guests at no additional charge. emeraldwaterways.co.uk
Emerald Waterways
Seabourn
If you have clients that are active types who are looking for a new holiday experience and cruise could be one of them, then you need to let them know about EmeraldACTIVE, a range of new activities introduced by the river cruise line. Designed to appeal to the line’s more adventurous guests who yearn for the outdoors and are keen to experience the great sites in a different way to a standard tour, EmeraldACTIVE is a programme that features a variety of guided hikes and bike trips, which offer guests an alternative way to experience the towns, cities and places they visit as part of Emerald Waterways’ range of river cruise itineraries. Examples of the activities on offer include hikes in Germany’s dramatic Black Forest during the eight-
If you have clients who are looking to experience a cruise for the first time and love a bit of glamour and luxury, well look no further than a seven-day round trip from Monte Carlo on luxury small cruise ship Seabourn Sojourn. This short Yachtsman’s Mediterranean voyage departs on 1 September 2016 – a short Med cruise, with plenty of glamorous stops in: Corsica, Le Lavandou, France; Palamos, Spain; Sete, France; Antibes, France; and Portovenere, Italy. Shore excursions include: sea-kayaking in Sete; wine-tasting in Provence; driving through the Massif de Maures to a medieval Provencal village; visiting an Absinthe Bar in Antibes; and a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Portonovenere, Cinq Terre and the Islands. Prices lead in at £2,119 per person.
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All About Cruising
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D N A
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Exclusive Titan river charter MS Serenade 1 begins sailing 31 March 2017
Titan’s exclusive 4-star MS Serenade 1 • Offering 15 river cruises along the Rhine, the Danube and the Dutch waterways • Sleeps 136 passengers • Large 16m2 cabins, all with bath and shower • Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® • Local beer, wine and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner • Low and no single supplements on selected cruises
New European Serenade brochure out now! For more information, please visit titanagents.co.uk 16:23
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BEST OF BRITISH WITH THOMSON CRUISES BASING A SHIP IN NEWCASTLE FOR EX-UK VOYAGES NEXT YEAR, AND CMV INCREASING THE NUMBER OF UK PORTS IT SAILS FROM, NO-FLY CRUISES ARE PROVING TO BE AS POPULAR AS EVER
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ruising from a UK port increased significantly in 2015 with ex-UK voyages on course to account for 50% of passengers within a few years, according to CLIA UK and Ireland’s Cruise Review for 2016. So with the advantages of opting for a no-fly cruise proving increasingly popular, what are the cruise lines doing to cater for the demand?
Cruise and Maritime Voyages CMV prides itself on its UK focus with eight UK ports featured this year and three more added for next year. The cruise line currently operates sailings from Bristol Avonmouth, Dundee, Greenock, Hull, Leith, London Tilbury, Newcastle and Rosyth with Newport, Cardiff and Belfast being introduced as new departure points for 2017. Head of trade sales Lisa Jacobs says CMV has such a big focus on UK ports because it is what their customers want. “Our guests tell us on their on-board questionnaires that one of the main reasons for
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cruising with CMV is the convenience of the departure port. Approximately 90% of our guests prefer to cruise from the UK, which is why we have developed a regional programme of sailings from no less than 11 UK ports. “Voyages that are popular with CMV guests include sailings around the British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Baltic Cities and St Petersburg, Iceland and Northern Islands, Scottish Islands and Faroes, Canaries and Madeira, short cruises to European cities and, always in demand, the Amazon and West Indies. There is no flying involved.” Prices for CMV’s 2017 programme lead in at £509 per person for a sevennight Scottish Highlights and Faroes voyage that departs on 28 August 2017 from London Tilbury on board CMV’s newest ship Columbus (pictured above). cruiseandmaritime.com
Royal Caribbean International The 3,807-passenger Navigator of the Seas will be sailing a number of different cruises out of Southampton in 2017.
The fourth Voyager-class ship, which has 1,643 staterooms, 767 of which feature balconies, will be operating cruises around northern Europe, the Mediterranean, France and Spain, the Canaries and North Africa from May to October. The voyages include: 12-night Northern Delights cruise, 14-night Mediterranean Beaches sailing; 14-night Mediterranean Adventures; six-night France and Spain voyages; seven-night sailing around the coast of Spain, France and Portugal; 14-night Canaries and Azores cruise; 14-night Italian Mediterranean voyage; 14-night Canaries and North Africa sailings; nine-night Northern European Coastal cruise; five-night France and Spain cruise; 10-night Sunshine in the Canaries and 14-night Mediterranean Tour. Prices for the 12-night Northern Delights cruise lead in at £2,475 per person based on two sharing an interior stateroom departing from Southampton on 14 June. All About Cruising
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BEST OF BRITISH Ports of calls include Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Russia Helsinki and Bruges. royalcaribbean.co.uk
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian will be returning to the UK for the first time since 2010 with a regular programme of cruises from Southampton. The 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade, one of the company’s four Jewel-Class ships, will feature brand new cruises from the south coast port next year. The first cruise will be the seven-night western Europe cruise departing from Southampton on 12 May, calling in at Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge for Brussels and Bruges and Le Havre for Paris. Other departures for this cruise include the 16 and 26 May, 24 and 31 August and 7, 14 and 21 September. The nine-night Norwegian Fjords cruise sets sail on 2 and 11 June and
visits Hamburg in Germany followed by, Skjolden Bergen, Alesund, Hellesylt and Geiranger, all in Norway. The final cruise out of Southampton for Norwegian Jade is the nine-night western Europe voyage that departs on 28 September and 7 October. Prices lead in at £769 per person cruise-only for the seven-night western Europe sailing based on two sharing an inside cabin. ncl.co.uk
Thomson Cruises For summer 2017, Thomson Celebration will split its time between Malaga in Spain in May and October and ex-UK sailings from Newcastle between June and September. This will result in the introduction of 12 brand new itineraries including UK sailings to ports in the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and the Baltics and a range of durations from four to 14 nights. 12:39 Page 1
Voyages to Antiquity The small-ship cruise line is offering savings of up to £1,400 per cabin and a 10% discount for all repeat cruisers for all 2017 bookings until the end of July 2016 to celebrate the release of its full 2017 cruise and tour programme. Voyages that feature UK ports include the 15-day Iceland, Faroes and Shetland Islands cruise, which departs Tilbury (London, England) and calls at Rosyth (Scotland), Kirkwall (Orkney Islands), Heimaey, Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri and Husavik (all Iceland), Torshavn (Faroe Islands) and Lerwick (Shetland Islands) before returning to Tilbury (London, England) where guests disembark. Prices for the cruise start at £2,295 per person, based on a 29 June or 8 August 2017 departure in a standard inside cabin. The price includes all meals and drinks with dinner on board, guest speakers on board, and 10 shore excursions. voyagestoantiquity.com
Worldwide Cruise Collection 2017 BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!
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Book online at: www.cruiseandmaritime.com Call: 0844 414 6161 Agency Sales: 0844 414 6140 Brochures: www.trade-gate.co.uk Subject to availability, and may be reduced or withdrawn without notice at any time. Operated by South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd trading as Cruise & Maritime Voyages. ABTA V9945. ATOL 4619.
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FOR AGENTS
FOR AGENTS CRUISE LINES ARE DOING THEIR UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT AGENTS HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND INCENTIVES TO TURN POTENTIAL FIRST-TIME CRUISERS INTO LIFELONG FANS OF HOLIDAYS AT SEA Cruise and Maritime Voyages CMV demonstrates how much it values agents with enhanced basic commission rates of 12.5% and marketing advice and guidance from a dedicated trade support team. The cruise line, which doesn’t offer any online direct discounts, ensures all of its up-to-date brochures are available to agents via Brochurebank and also motivates its trade partners with a range of incentives, such as shopping vouchers, sparkling wine and goodie bags to winning a CMV cruising holiday. Ship visits are also available in different ports around the UK, giving agents the opportunity to expand their knowledge. And for partners really keen to experience CMV, the line offers offer cruise concessions to agents that are pro actively selling CMV of £40 per person per night. cruiseandmaritime.com
Celebrity Cruises The cruise line is giving away thousands of pounds worth of prizes to top-selling agents in their latest campaign. Agents can earn up to £10 on every new booking made before 31 August, and they will receive 100% of the points upfront. Rewards start at £2.50 for an interior or ocean view room, which also includes 250 points with bookings at the top end on suite class racking up 1000 points and £10. Some 3,000 points will get agents a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher, with 15,500 points giving agents the chance to get their hands on a pair of Gucci sunglasses and 150,000 points being translated into a £1,500 future cruise voucher. cruisingpower.co.uk
Norwegian Cruise Line Travel partners are key to the success of Norwegian in the UK, says the cruise line and to emphasise the value they put on this relationship they have recently appointed Jeremy McKenna to head of sales for UK to bolster their operations in northern Europe. A spokesperson for Norwegian says it is key to the line that travel partners feel that Norwegian is easy to do business with as it strives to build on positive relationships on an ongoing basis. “The team are always looking at how to better assist agents, whether that be by offering new education opportunities through the portal NCL U, or getting
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their personal feedback through our Advisory Panels,” said the spokesperson. agents.ncl.eu
Princess Cruises The cruise line is offering 190 agents the chance to win a cruise on its newest ship, Majestic Princess when it launches in 2017. The prize is a four-night preview sailing departing on 31 March from Trieste to Venice. Flights and gratuities are included. To win, agents must book guests on a 2017 fly-Europe cruise with Princess. Once the cruise is booked, agents need to enter their details on a dedicated page on Princess Cruises’ online training portal, onesourcecruises.com.The competition will run from June 1 2016 -January 28 2017, the Chinese New Year. Winners will be chosen at random. The 3,560-guest Majestic Princess is currently being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Majestic Princess has been purpose built for the Chinese market and will incorporate a blend of international and Asian features. Majestic Princess will also have distinctive similarities to her sister ships, Royal Princess and Regal Princess.These include a multi-storey atrium serving as the social hub of the ship; the SeaWalk - a glassfloor walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; and the Princess Live! interactive studio. After sailing in the Mediterranean for the first two months after launching, Majestic Princess will be permanently based in China, carrying guests on cruises to Japan and Korea from summer 2017. Tony Roberts, vice-president Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said:“We’re really excited about this incentive as it offers agents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Majestic Princess before she sails to China.” onesourcecruises.com
Scenic Tours Scenic has shown its commitment to the trade by introducing an Agent Portal to its website that has been designed to make it easy as possible for agents to sell Scenic cruises. The portal includes all the information on online booking, brochures, ship and itinerary information, marketing collateral and sales support. The portal provides agents with access to offers, information, updates training and contact details for the line’s sales managers. scenic.co.uk/agent-portal
All About Cruising
S04 TB Cruising Supplement 2016 First Timers_Layout 1 30/06/2016 12:32 Page 23
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ARCTIC, ANTARCTICA, LATIN AMERICA, ASIA, OCEANIA, MEDITERRANEAN, ALASKA... Contact your travel agent or call our UK call center: 0800 980 4027 Begin the experience at www.ponant.com
All rights reserved - PONANT. Documents and photos for illustrative purposes only. Photo credit : © PONANT / Nathalie Michel / François Lefebvre.
S04 TB Cruising Supplement 2016 First Timers_Layout 1 30/06/2016 12:32 Page 24
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