CRUISE ADVISER THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
OCTOBER 2017
PICTURE
PERFECT
How cruise lines can capture millennials – the selfie generation
PLUS TOP 10: SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS PLAN A CRUISE MONTH PREVIEW AMSTERDAM DESTINATION FOCUS
EXPLORE VENICE aboard the MS Michelangelo
Venice is unique, amazingly beautiful and casts its spell over all those who visit. Whilst moored in Venice, the ship will be in a perfect location to explore the city by foot night & day. CROISIEUROPE HIGHLIGHTS Incredible places Irresistible prices
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· Best Value in Venice · Stylish appointed cabins with panoramic windows · Delicious regional specialities and unlimited drinks included · 40 years’ experience · Fascinating excursions that bring history and culture to life
© Hervé Oudin
INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS ✆ 0208 3281 281 - ✉ resuk@croisieurope.com - www.croisieurope.co.uk
October 2017 | Forward ED’S LETTER
Millennials are the future of cruise Cruise, more often than not, is seen as an option for more elderly holidaymakers. That perception is PICTURE slowly changing PERFECT as cruise lines improve kids’ facilities, entertainment and introduce more active excursions, but it’s true that many, if not most, lines have an average customer age of 60-plus. Of course, it’s the Baby Boomers (and Generation X) who have the most spare cash and, once retired, the most spare time – and cruises, particularly ex-UK itineraries, are suited to the older generations. But what about millennials? Cruise Adviser is a magazine founded and run by people in this age bracket (born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s), and we have all been CRUISE ADVISER THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
How cruise lines can capture millennials – the selfie generation
OCTOBER 2017
PLUS TOP 10: SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS PLAN A CRUISE MONTH PREVIEW AMSTERDAM DESTINATION FOCUS
on cruises, and all loved them. We think that cruise is a great way to holiday – hence the magazine – and have friends of similar ages who do, too. The reality, of course, is that customers are not guaranteed to turn to cruise once they reach a certain age and, with all the new tonnage on the market, there are berths to be filled. This is why, in this issue, we’re looking at the big question: how do cruise lines attract millennials? See our cover feature on p38, our How to Sell to Millennials guide (p34), and our interview with new boutique brand U By Uniworld on p16. Elsewhere, we explore Croatia by coastal cruise (p21), check in with Silversea (p20) and pick our top 10 speciality restaurants on p44. You can also be in the with chance of winning a fam trip with Saga by answering our simple question on p54. We hope you enjoy reading.
THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT
P26
AMSTERDAM IS A VERY BUSY PORT The Dutch capital handles over 1,500 river and 140 ocean cruise ships every year
P30
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE HAS A SKYRIDE It’s essentially a bicycle you can ride all the way around the top of the ship
P44
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SOME OF THE BEST SUSHI IS FOUND AT SEA Specifically at Nobu Matsuhisa’s Sushi Bar on Crystal Cruises
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View from the wall of Dubrovnik, Croatia, p21
Contents MIDSHIP 30
34
InFocus: Carnival Cruise Line A profile of the all-American, family-friendly cruise line that announced it was going trade only last year How to sell to millennials From short-haul to longhaul, plus some off-the-
beaten track ideas – our guide to selling cruise to younger customers should help you navigate your way through the best options 38
Generation game Millennials are the future of everything, including cruise. In our cover feature, Sam
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Ballard looks at what the industry is doing in order to get them on board 44
10 of the best From celebrity chefs to onboard cookery classes – speciality dining is all the rage in cruise. We select some of our favourites
EXPLORE THE WORLD IN COMFORT
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For business development opportunities contact madefortrade@vikingcruises.com EUROPE
◆
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◆
ASIA
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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 available on Rhine Getaway, departing on 14 December 2018. Prices valid until 31st October 2017. Single supplements apply. *Restrictions apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.
October 2017 | Forward
FORWARD 3
Ed’s letter
9
News Carnival UK chairman David Dingle shares his concerns about Brexit, while Edie Rodriguez leaves Crystal
12
Agent events A report from the Cruise360 conference in Copenhagen
13
Clia interview Clia’s Andy Harmer and Giles Hawke talk about the Plan a Cruise Month initiative
16
Interview Gary Buchanan talks to Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge about the company’s revolutionary new U by Uniworld concept – a boutique river cruise brand aimed at 21 to 45-year-olds
20
Five minutes with Silversea Cruise Adviser’s Bryan Johnson speaks to the team delivering Silversea’s product to the UK maarket
21
26
AFT 46
New crew All the latest staff news
101 reasons to cruise along the Dalmatian coast Simon Leeming takes a Croatian cruise and discovers beauty, history and Game of Thrones filming locations
47
Fam trips / incentives The best agent opportunities
49
Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place
Destination focus The Dutch capital of Amsterdam, where hip and historic combine perfectly
56
Recipe An exclusive fron Saga’s executive chef George Streeter – slow-braised beef
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cheeks, with caramelised onion mashed potatoes 57
On the road The people that make your job easier. This month: Tom Morgan from Riviera Travel
58
Final word Why the oft-criticised cruise industry should be praised for its speedy response to Hurricane Irma
Email info@cruise-adviser.com to share your thoughts
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Winners of award after award for their expert-led, culturally immersive small ship cruises, Voyages to Antiquity will be operating a full programme of cruises to Cuba, Mexico and the Caribbean between November 2017 and March 2018. Internationally renowned guest lecturers accompany every cruise and shore excursions are carefully planned to reveal both the highlights and off-the-beaten-track gems of a destination. The 350-passenger small ship Aegean Odyssey will be your home away from home in this sun-drenched region, the perfect base from which to appreciate not just the breathtaking beauty that surrounds you, but also the fascinating history, colourful culture and diverse flora and fauna. Join us on an unforgettable Caribbean cruise this winter. Passage to the Caribbean Tenerife to Barbados 20 Nov 2017 17 days from £2,950pp
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• Transfers and porterage between airports (once you have cleared customs), hotels and ship abroad
AEGEAN ODYSSEY Hosting an average of just 350 passengers, Aegean Odyssey is no ‘floating city’. She is small enough to put in at more characterful ports inaccessible to the mega-ships, there are no queues to embark or disembark, the service is much more personal, and you get plenty of time to interact with the accompanying experts. Yet on the other hand, she is large enough to offer a superb selection on on-board facilities, including two dining venues, several comfortable lounges and bars, a spa centre and well-stocked library. Cabins are spacious, modern and intelligently designed. Solo travellers, so often relegated to second class status, are very well catered for aboard Aegean Odyssey, with more than 30 roomy dedicated single cabins across a variety of categories at a minimal supplement. UK CRUISERS’ CHOICE
2017
Voyages to Antiquity Aegean Odyssey Best Small Ship: Shore Excursions
voyagestoantiquity.com
NEWS Do you have a story for us? Email info@cruise-adviser.com
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING WEEK
Brexit must not harm cruise, warns Dingle In a keynote speech, the chairman of Carnival UK says that the government must ensure foreign tourists can still easily enter the UK following the split from the EU David Dingle, chairman of Carnival UK, used his keynote speech at a Clia event as part of International Shipping Week to underline the importance of protecting the cruise industry from the effects of Brexit, saying a failure to do so would limit the UK’s attractiveness in the eyes of tourists. During his speech, at the Naval & Military Club in London, Dingle said: “We need the government to recognise both our needs and our opportunities as Brexit approaches. Crucially we must not allow any excessive zeal in limiting entry into
this country to affect the smooth processing of cruise customers arriving in and departing from our ports.” He added: “Like all other forms of inbound and outbound tourism, air links are essential, so we ask for no interference in air operating rules as Brexit takes effect.” He also made a made a case for the industry’s environmental credentials, saying that the cruise industry had taken a “leadership role” in reducing its environmental footprint. “The cruise industry fully and actively recognises its responsibility,
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and I believe that media comments which highlight the air impact of cruise ships above all other ships and forms of land transport at unfair. The Carnival executive went on to highlight that state of the industry, including that the sector now contributes $125 billion to the global economy. In the UK the cruise industry contributes £3 billion, while the total benefit is £7.5 billion. Overall 74,000 British jobs depend on cruise and for every £1 spent on a cruise, £3.50 is contributed to the British economy.
October 2017 |Forward
CUNARD / P&O
Cunard and P&O announce changes to Partnership team
The two Carnival-owned lines decide to split joint sales force in order to “solidify brand distinction” Cunard and P&O Cruises have announced that their trade sales team is to split. The company, which currently has a joint sales force under the Partnership programme, will split the team in order to “solidify brand distinction”. Alex White will continue to oversee the team until the changes are officially finalised in mid-2018. White will then become vice president of sales and distribution for P&O, reporting into Paul Ludlow. Cunard will have a new sales team, which will be overseen by David Rousham, currently international development vice president. He will become vice president of UK sales and international development, reporting to Simon Palethorpe, Cunard senior vice president. In a letter to agents, White said: “Together we have enjoyed two record sales years for our brands. P&O Cruises will welcome the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market to its fleet in 2020.
“As we enter this period of unprecedented growth it is critical that we recognise the distinct requirements and nature of each brand and offer an appropriate level of individual support to each of our agent partners who will continue to play a vital role for our brands. “It is for this reason that we are announcing the introduction of individual sales teams for Cunard and P&O Cruises, which collectively represents a significant increase in dedicated resource.” David Rousham added: “This is an evolution of the sales organisation and underpins the need for distinct sales requirements for each of the two brands. Getting the right guest on the right brand is vital to meet future sales needs and we are committed to making further investment to meet and grow the new to cruise audience.” The Partnership Team name will continue to exist but will be known as the Cunard Partnership Team and the P&O Cruises Partnership Team.
SILVERSEA
New luxury ship Silver Moon to launch in 2020 Silversea has announced that it is to build a new ship, named Silver Moon, which will be launched in 2020. The new vessel, which will be a sister ship to the recently launched Silver Muse, is to be built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, in a contract worth about €310 million. It will be able to handle 596 passengers. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, chairman of Silversea, said: “Based on the high praise Silver Muse has earned with our guests, we are eager to move forward with a sister ship, which will bring us closer to fulfilling my father’s dream of a 12-ship fleet. We pride ourselves on delivering an outstanding luxury cruise experience, and are delighted to partner once again with Fincantieri.” The new ship will expand the company’s fleet to 10. See p20 for more on Silversea
CORAL EXPEDITIONS
Aussie adventure line expands fleet Coral Expeditions, the Australian adventure line, will launch its fourth ship in mid-2019, with a further vessel intended to follow. This ocean ship, designed for cruising to remote areas, will carry a maximum of 120 guests. It will feature twin ‘Xplorer’ tenders; a lecture lounge; all outside-facing cabins (more than half of which have private balconies); multiple indoor and outdoor bars; and a gym. It will be built by Vard, a Norwegian shipbuilder with 70 years of history. The line currently sails to Australia (Kimberly, Cape York and Arnhem Land), Papua New Guinea, the Spice Islands, Indonesia and the South Pacific. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Forward
CRYSTAL CRUISES
Edie Rodriguez departs CEO and president replaced by Tom Wolber with immediate effect Crystal Cruises, the luxury travel company, has appointed Tom Wolber as its new president & CEO following the surprise departure of Edie Rodriguez. The appointment was made effective immediately. “Tom’s proven leadership skills will be invaluable to Crystal as the line takes delivery of four river ships in 2017 and 2018 as well as the first of the ‘Endeavor Class’ expedition yachts in 2019,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting Hong Kong and Crystal Cruises. “Tom has our full confidence and we look forward to
working closely with him to ensure Crystal remains unmatched in the luxury travel segment.” Tom Wolber said: “I look forward to spearheading some of the most innovative new-builds and experiences the cruise industry has ever seen in the years ahead.” Wolber has held numerous high profile roles across the cruise industry, including 10 years at Disney
SAGA
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
Sister ship to Spirit of Discovery announced
Sneak peak at new luxury train cars
Saga Cruises has announced plans to build another ship after the launch of its first-ever new build. Spirit of Adventure will be delivered in 2020, a year after Spirit of Discovery sets sail. The ship will carry fewer than 1,000 passengers and be all balcony. Robin Shaw, chief executive, said: “Thanks to strong demand and the desire of Saga members to keep doing the things they love, I am delighted to confirm a second new ship. This is an incredibly exciting time for Saga cruises and I am immensely proud of my team, and the customers that will continue to help shape the look and feel of our future fleet.”
Last month, Cruise Adviser joined Rocky Mountaineer at the Stadler train factory in Berlin to take a look at its new GoldLeaf dome cars, which will travel through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Craig Upshall,
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Cruise Line where he served as senior vice president of operations. “It’s been an extraordinary experience leading Crystal to global prominence,” said Rodriguez. “I’m happy to turn over the reins, knowing Crystal is well served by the incredibly talented and hard-working people throughout the organisation. I look forward to announcing my new endeavour shortly.”
business development manager, told us that around 60 per cent of all the company’s holidays sold in the UK are packaged with an Alaska cruise. See our pre and post special in November for more.
October 2017 |Forward
AGENT EVENTS
Cruise360 in Copenhagen Gary Buchanan reports from Clia’s new immersive conference for European travel agents which took place last month in the Danish capital In early September Clia held its inaugural European travel agent event Cruise360 in Copenhagen. This three-day immersive conference attracted 180 agents and offered them practical advice and support to grow their cruise sales. On top of from seminars held on board Regal Princess and Norwegian Getaway, there were ship tours, local excursions and evening events as well as a Trade Fair and Cruise360 Masterclass learning programmes. The main aims of Cruise360 were to showcase the experiences Copenhagen has to offer, give agents the opportunity to see for themselves two ships that rarely visit British ports and to learn from the experts. The underlying theme was cruise destinations – with the message ‘Discover Together’ aimed at enhancing cruise business. The event was moderated by Andy Harmer, SVP membership & director, Clia UK & Ireland (read our interview with Harmer on p13). Destination experts included Robin West, expedition team leader for Seabourn; while Peter Kollar, head of international training & development at Clia discussed ‘Why cruise destination knowledge is key to your business’. Conference session speakers included Stuart Leven, vice president EMEA and managing director RCL Cruises Ltd and chair of Clia UK & Ireland; as well as Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Celestyal Cruises and chair of Clia Europe. Tom Fecke, secretary general of Clia spoke to Cruise Adviser saying, “Cruise360 brought partners and stakeholders together,” while Andy Harmer added: “Our UK-based events are very successful, and a great opportunity to bring the UK and Ireland cruise community together. Cruise360 is already a very
popular event for the industry in North America and Australasia, but the Copenhagen event allowed us to showcase one of the many ports featured on popular cruise itineraries, and allowed us to bring the widerEuropean community together too.” Kathryn Beadle, managing director of Uniworld, commented, “This is the start of what could well be a key event. It’s been good to give agents a chance to experience what Copenhagen has to offer, while sharing best practice and networking has been an added benefit.” These views were reflected by Mandy Wright of Your Perfect Escape – an independent travel consultant in Leicestershire. “Having not been to a Clia-organised event before, I was a little unsure of the benefits, but it exceeded my expectations. The masterclasses were well pitched with a good mix of cruise specific and selfdevelopment sessions,” she said. However, Phil Evans, owner & managing director of Swansea-based tour operator Cruise Nation had a few reservations. “Accommodation in
Copenhagen was very expensive for the delegates. I think hotel partners could have offered a better rate.” He was also disappointed that Princess Cruises and NCL didn’t take the opportunity to showcase speciality restaurants during the two lunches held on board saying, “With such a small group of delegates the cruise lines missed a trick by not giving agents fine-dining experiences at Sabatini’s or Cagney’s.” However, he was full of praise for the event saying, “Seeing the product is the only way to resonate with agents.” He praised NCL for showcasing their ‘Burn the Floor’ production show to the assembled delegates. He also appreciated the value of ‘Discover Together’ during the working sessions. Harmer echoed this sentiment: “We understand the need for destination knowledge, and with such a diverse range of destinations available, we aim to repeat Cruise360 in a new city, where again we will put education and professional development at the core.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Forward
CLIA INTERVIEW
“Cruise is about working together” Sam Ballard speaks to Clia’s Andy Harmer and Giles Hawke about the Plan a Cruise Month initiative, which aims to focus attention on the industry a lifetime. The final week will focus on Asia, which is booming – both as a source market and for Brits wanting to go. AH: By focusing on destination we can talk about all of the different types of cruise at the same time. Destination is also the main reason why people cruise – it’s one of the points of difference that travel agents can make with guests who have never cruised before. Giles Hawke (left) and Andy Harmer
There are few initiatives that Clia UK has pushed as successfully as Plan a Cruise Month. The programme, which started in 2008, has grown in terms of both the time covered (it started as just a week) and the regions that take part (it is now global). The idea is to get as many people talking about cruise as possible and use that attention to help agents boost sales. Clia then helps its members make the most out of the sales drive through social media campaigns, events and sales tools. We spoke to Andy Harmer, SVP membership & director of UK & Ireland, and Giles Hawke, Clia deputy chairman, to find out more.
Alongside this we’re also making cruise more visible in the public consciousness through working with media partners and making more noise on social media. What we’re trying to do is to get people who have never considered a cruise before to do so more actively. Andy Harmer: What the Clia team has done this year is to focus on destinations. So, rather than focus on what happens on the ship, the focus is on the places you can go and visit. We’re breaking that to bite-size chunks so that people can understand the breadth of offering available. It’s not just the Med or the Caribbean.
Cruise Adviser: What exactly is Plan a Cruise Month? Giles Hawke: Plan a Cruise Month is an opportunity for the travel industry – and by that we mean cruise lines, travel agents and the media – to focus wholeheartedly on cruise and get that in front of as many potential customers as possible. From a Clia perspective it’s a way of getting travel agents to sell more cruise and adding hooks to help them sell more. It’s also a way to increase visibility for those who aren’t selling cruise – or who are only selling it reactively.
Will there be any changes this year? GH: We’ve got a four-week schedule starting on October 2. We start with Europe, which will include everything from Mediterranean and ex-UK to European river cruise. The second week will focus on the Americas, with Alaska, the Caribbean, Transatlantic cruises, Mississippi and then the more expedition type cruising with South America and the tip of Antarctica. Week three will focus on Australasia, which is growing in popularity, although it’s got a long way to go as a lot of people still see it as a holiday of
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Why should agents get behind Plan a Cruise Month? GH: The financial benefit of selling cruise is the main reason. The average selling price is high and so, therefore, are the commissions. Repeat bookings are also strong. If nothing else, agents should be thinking about their profitability and bottom lines. There will be a huge amount of noise around the industry because this year it will be in every territory. With less effort, they can get on the back of what is happening globally. What can agents do to get involved? AH: We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible to get agents involved this year. We’ve sent out selfie boards and have encouraged agents to send us pictures of their own holidays or fam trips. I hope that means we can make some additional noise – while it is difficult for one cruise line or travel agency to make a big impact during Plan a Cruise Month, it is easier if we pull together as an industry. Where can they go in order to learn more? AH: We’ve sent out a pack to all of our members and there’s tons of information on our website – cruiseexperts.org – or you can join in on social media by using the hashtag #CruiseMonth.
INTRODUCING
SILVER CLOUD EXPEDITION Silver Cloud Expedition offers the ultra-luxury distinctions of a classic Silversea ship combined with the strength and manoeuvrability required for expedition cruising. And thanks to her recent conversion, she flaunts the gleaming interiors and sophisticated hi-tech equipment of what is essentially a brand new ship.
WHY YOUR GUESTS WILL LOVE SILVER CLOUD EXPEDITION • Included daily shore excursions in small groups of no more than 14 people • Wildlife and nature encounters • Simultaneous exploration by all guests • The highest expedition team-to-guest ratio in expedition cruising at 1:13 (1:11 in polar regions) • • • •
Daily presentations and lectures by experts State-of-the-art lecture theatre Lectures streamed live to all suites Exclusive partnership with the Royal Geographical Society
• The highest crew-to-guest ratio in expedition cruising at almost 1:1 • Butler for all suite categories • All ocean-view suites – 80% with a private veranda • Largest suites in expedition cruising – from 22m² (237 ft²) to 122m² (1,313 ft²) • 5 dining options – more than any other ice-class ship • Free WiFi throughout the ship* • Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship,
including champagne
• Onboard gratuities included
* One hour free WiFi per day for all guests. Unlimited free WiFi for guests sailing in select suite categories. ** Flights are available from select UK gateways on select voyages departing in November/December 2017 and January/February 2018. Book by 30 November 2017.
SHIP STATISTICS
254 GUESTS (200 IN POLAR REGIONS) 553.8M2 TOTAL VERANDA SPACE 4 RESTAURANTS
Longyearbyen
Svalbard Devon Island
North Cape
ARCTIC
Disco Island Ilulissat
TromsØ
Kangerlussuaq Cape Dorset
Reykjavik
Kristiansund
Dublin
EUROPE & BRITISH ISLES
London
March – April | Africa April – June | Northern Europe & the British Isles September | Canada & New England October – November | South America
Bilbao Lisbon
ATLANTIC OCEAN
January – February 2018 | Antarctica
June – August | Arctic & Greenland
Leith
St. John’ John’ss
CANADA
ITINERARIES
Bear Island
GREENLAND
December | Antarctica
Santiago De Cuba
CENTRAL AMERICA
Dakar
AFRICA
Panama Canal
T Tema
Callao
SOUTH AMERICA AMERIC
Ascension Island
St Helena Walvis Bay
Antofagasta PACIFIC OCEAN
Capetown
Puerto Montt
70,533 NAUTICAL MILES 189 DESTINATIONS 32 NEW DESTINATIONS
Gough Island Falkland Islands
Punta Arenas Arenas
South Georgia Geor
INDIAN OCEAN
PACKAGES
Ushuaia Antarctic ctic Peninsula
ANTARCTICA ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
£999 ROUNDTRIP ECONOMY CLASS AIR** TO SANTIAGO DE CHILE + 1 NIGHT POST-CRUISE HOTEL
WORKING WITH SILVERSEA • • • • • • • •
Dedicated trade support team UK-based reservation team Excellent commission rates Online and in-agency training: silverseaacademy.com Brochure supply through trade-gate.co.uk Marketing collateral and support Groups Programme Silversea Advocates – our agent recognition and reward programme • Online booking tool – 24/7 access to live availability and bookings
INCLUDED
INCLUDED
CHARTER FLIGHTS
PRE-CRUISE HOTEL
(to/from Ushuaia)
INCLUDED TRANSFERS
& luggage handling
ARCTIC ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE
INCLUDED
INCLUDED
CHARTER FLIGHT
TRANSFER
(from or to Arctic)
(from or to the pier)
For more information or for reservations please call 0207 340 0700 Visit: Silversea.com | Email: salesuk@silversea.com Online training: silverseaacademy.com Order your brochures through trade-gate.co.uk
October 2017 | Forward
INTERVIEW
“An opportunity to reach a new audience” Gary Buchanan talks to Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge about the new U by Uniworld concept The sedate world of river cruise is about to get an adrenaline rush. Cruising next April, U by Uniworld is a radical concept aimed at 21 to 45-year-olds who want to experience the pulse of Europe along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers. Uniworld was founded in 1976 and in 2004 the company was acquired by The Travel Corporation, a highly successful international travel group which now has more than 30 top brands in its portfolio, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki and Red Carnation Hotels. With a fleet of 13 river vessels, Uniworld has created a new benchmark in luxury river cruise
exploring the waterways of Europe, Russia, Egypt, India and Asia. Earlier this year Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld announced details of U by Uniworld, the first cruise brand of its kind. Offering a fresh approach to experiential travel, this new concept will feature unique itineraries on two completely refurbished ships – the River Ambassador and the River Baroness – renamed The A and The B. These 120-passenger vessels will boast the sophistication of a boutique hotel with black exteriors and a cool interior design with open communal spaces and chill-out lounges – just what today’s style lodestars are after.
So how will this new concept in river cruise aboard two ships that wouldn’t look out of place in hip design magazines go down with young Brits? Cruise Adviser met up with Ellen Bettridge to find out. Cruise Adviser: Tell us more about the thinking behind such a novel approach to what many perceive as a placid holiday choice for more mature cruisers. Ellen Bettridge: Uniworld has always strived to lead innovation in the river cruise industry and we saw a great opportunity with U to reach an entirely new audience. River cruise is a seamless, affordable
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October 2017 | Forward and comfortable way to experience all that Europe has to offer. We are incredibly proud to create a brand that will broaden the interest in this type of experiential travel to a younger audience. Can you reveal more details about the novel design of the two ships, and what facilities and entertainment will be onboard? With a maximum capacity of 120 adventurous travellers, the first two U ships – The A and The B – will boast sleek, black exteriors with fullyrenovated and equally intriguing interiors. The main restaurant – Dine – will feature communal tables and local, farm-to-table cuisine. There will be top-deck lounges, where guests can sip craft cocktails and lap up the live entertainment and international DJs. The ships will serve as fullyequipped waterfront contemporary hotels, taxis, bars, restaurants, cafés, nightclubs and yoga studios – all in one. With a clean, modern finish, the bedrooms will come in three categories – all with river views. Suites will feature French balconies; there will also be Balcony bedrooms and Studio bedrooms. Solo travellers can take advantage of single rooms or special room share rates. What else are you offering that will transform the image of river cruise, which is frequently perceived as a bit fuddy-duddy. By establishing an age range of 21 to 45-years old for U, we’re sending a message to millennials and young gen X-ers that this product has been built specifically for them – with activities and experiences that they would want to have on a river cruise. The line-up of onboard programming includes Wine & Paint Classes, Mixology Classes and Chef’s Table Cooking Classes. Each day guests are given flexible options to explore in one of three ways – included excursions and activities, optional ‘U Time’ outings, or a self-guided tour of the cities. Adventurers can rock climb or white water raft; while explorers can kayak through Unesco World Heritage Sites. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Forward What about at night when the entertainment norm for river cruise is a singer at the keyboard and an early night? When night falls, ‘U Hosts’ will be on hand to take guests to local hotspots and hidden gems in each city. Experiences range from visiting a U Host’s favourite nightclub in Amsterdam to exploring the banks of the Seine in Paris at midnight. And what differentiates the itineraries? We’ve reinvented the river cruise notion to offer four seven-night itineraries from April to October including Rolling On The Rhine, Germany’s Finest, The Danube Flow and The Seine Experience. All of these offer overnight stops and longer stays in major cities like Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. We also have two festive holiday cruises: our four-night A Merry Little Christmas Cruise and seven-night Dashing Through The Danube, which include a trek through a Bavarian Forest to Passau’s Christmas Market; a Viennese Christmas excursion; and an exclusive Christmas concert in Klosterneuburg Abbey. Lead-in price for a seven-night cruise is £1,499 for a Rolling On The Rhine or Germany’s Finest cruise. For more information visit ubyuniworld.com
WHAT’S DIFFERENT? We look at how U by Uniworld differs from the company’s usual product, and the pricing structure and partnerships that really make it stand out from the river cruise crowd It’s great to see companies like Uniworld investing in new concepts and ideas such as U by Uniworld to try and change the idea that a river cruise is only for those pushing 60. These are luxurious city breaks that take passengers right into the heart of a destination while serving some incredible food along the way. Why wouldn’t that appeal to Millennials? U by Uniworld’s Danube cruise, which runs from Regensburg to Budapest is priced from £1,799 per person (the company points out that’s £225 per day). A Uniworld Danube cruise that runs two days
longer (10-days) comes in at about £3,599 per person. So, it’s clear that Uniworld believes that its current prices are too high for its new target market. It will be interesting to see if U takes off. However, with partnerships like VizEat – where passengers will
be given tours of the local food scene and be invited to share a meal in the home of a “U Host” – it’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into it. Add to that the bike rides, hiking, yoga and visits to local pubs and bars, and we can’t help but think that U by Uniworld could be on to a winner.
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The World’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line
30 years ago Seabourn pioneered ultra-luxury cruising, and, to celebrate this milestone, throughout 2018 our guests will enjoy special events, cocktails and gifts, as well as 30th Anniversary Event offers.
BOOK BY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
ULTIMATE ALASKA & INSIDE PASSAGE Seabourn Sojourn | 12-nights | 4 June+; 25 Sep 2018
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Complimentary Three Veranda Suite Category Upgrade*
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Complimentary Veranda for Ocean View Category Upgrade*
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Complimentary 300 minute Internet Package per person*
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US$300 per Suite Shipboard Credit*
Vancouver, Cruising Queen Charlotte Sound, Ketchikan, Cruising Clarence Strait, Transit Snow Pass, Sitka, Inian Islands, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Cruising Tracy Arm, Transit Decision Passage, Cruising Summer Strait, Wrangell, Cruising Behm Narrows & Misty Fjords, Cruising Rudyerd bay, Prince Rupert, Cruising Grenville Channel & Princess Royal Channel, Klemtu, Cruising Bella Bella, Alert Bay, Cruising Johnstone Strait, Transit Seymour Narrows, Vancouver.
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£300 per person Air Credit*
Cruise from: £4,999+pp | Fly/Cruise from: £5,969+pp
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Up to 30% Combination Cruise Savings on select voyages*
US$300 per Suite Shipboard Credit* 3 Category Suite Upgrade* 300 min internet package* Penthouse & Premium Suite amenities~
30TH ANNIVERSARY OFFERS INCLUDE:
PLUS Book Penthouse and Premium Suites and your clients receive: • Complimentary Unlimited Internet Package per Suite*~ US$1,000 per Suite Shipboard Credit*~
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SAMPLE OFFERS
GREECE & DALMATIAN DELIGHTS Seabourn Odyssey 7-nights | 30 Jun, 28 Jul+; 25 Aug, 22 Sep 2018 Piraeus (Athens), Monemvasia, Katakolon (Olympia), Syvote, Brindisi (Lecce Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Zadar, Venice
Cruise from: £2,799pp | Fly/Cruise from £3,209pp US$300 per Suite Shipboard Credit* 300 min internet package* Penthouse & Premium Suite amenities~ +
Lead fares based on 28/07/18
+
Lead fares based on 04/06/18
THAILAND, VIETNAM AND JAVA SEA Seabourn Sojourn | 16-nights | 19 Mar 2018 Singapore (overnight), Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Ko Kood (Thailand); Sihanoukville (Cambodia); Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam, overnight); Semarang (Java); Surabaya (Indonesia) Celukan Bawang (Bali); Benoa (Bali. Overnight)
Cruise from: £4,699pp | Fly/Cruise from £5,129pp US$300 per Suite Shipboard Credit* Veranda for Ocean view upgrade* £300pp Air Credit 300 min internet package* Penthouse & Premium Suite amenities~
RESERVATIONS: 0344 338 8610 | www.seabourn.com e-mail: salessupport@seabourn.co.uk | For online training visit: seabournacademy.co.uk
October 2017 | Midship
FIVE MINUTES WITH…
Silversea Bryan Johnson speaks to CEO Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, as well as the team delivering the luxury line to the UK, about how they are adapting to the current market “Innovation implies that you are taking certain risks,” says Silversea CEO Roberto Martinoli from the purposely understated Venetian Lounge on board Silver Muse. Since its inception in 1994, Silversea, whose founder Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio was replaced in 2001 by next of kin Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, has sought to benchmark luxury for the industry. Luxury that’s carefully curated. “More like an Italian, European in general,” says Martinoli, echoing both the company’s personality and the stylishness one naturally assumes of an Italian. Alumni of the Francesco Morosini Naval Military School, Martinoli and d’Ovidio form an intellectual partnership, driving Silversea forward as an innovator in the industry. It’s clear that Silversea has prioritised the uniqueness of its products, whether classic or expedition. It’s not for everyone and they’re proud of that: but if you’re selling to customers with a taste for luxury travel, Silversea should be on their map and yours. Following the launch of Silver
Muse, the line’s new flagship, Silversea has announced plans for a tenth ship, Silver Moon, set for completion in 2020. Cruise Adviser caught up with members of the team responsible for delivering the product to the UK market. Cruise Adviser: Demographics are always important to luxury cruise lines, it’s always about who you’re targeting and how best. How did Silversea form a personality and adapt it to suit its market without losing its individualism? Barbara Muckermann, chief marketing officer: Earlier, we really wanted to stress our international sophistication, we wanted to say to the world that we’re not like others just bringing Americans from Palm Beach, we want to be interesting for the British guests. We want to hear multiple languages on board. What we’ve seen, particularly in our type of demographic, is that they’ve changed their priorities. They don’t care about buying a new car anymore, but they would spend a
fortune to bring their grandchildren on the experience of a lifetime. The confidence in the European market, and the European style, is what defines Silversea among their competitors, but the company has also been pioneering luxurystyle, expedition cruising since introducing Silver Explorer in 2008. How has the UK been responding to the range of products? Lisa McCauley, managing director, UK & Ireland: The UK is the largest long-leading booking market that we have, so, not even just for Silversea, but generally within the travel industry, the UK is an early adopter of new products. The UK, from a Silversea perspective, is the second largest source market. Hell will freeze over before I lose that second position. Barbara Muckermann: I think, sincerely, that the most important tool that is under development is strengthening the trade portal. The trade comes first for us and always will be – particularly if Manfredi keeps building all these ships!
Left: cruise adviser’s Bryan Johnson poses a question. Above: Lisa McAuley and Connie Georgiou of Silversea with journalist and newsreader Michael Buerk
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October 2017 | Forward
COSMOS
101 reasons to cruise along the Dalmatian coast From beautiful scenery and ancient history to Game of Thrones film sets, Simon Leaming samples small-ship cruising along the Croatian coastline A revolution is upon us! There is no longer simply a choice of offering your clients a river or ocean cruise. Both coastal cruising and canal barging are set to change the cruise market in the coming years, with trips along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast becoming particularly popular. Cruising in Croatia isn’t new and for years a flotilla of gulet style coastal cruisers have cruised between the islands and along the coast, owned by locals and run by co-operatives such as Kompas and Katarina Line. These traditional wooden-style ships typically cater for between
12 and 30 people, providing an affordable and sociable but ultimately simplistic experience. Standards are far removed from mainstream cruise and the ‘allocated on arrival’ nature of the old ships can result in disappointment from clients. But as the popularity increases, a new wave of larger, more luxurious steel-hulled ships are being built looking far more like mega-yachts and providing standards that make them more appealing to the mainstream market. This boom in Croatian cruise has been assisted by trade-friendly cruise lines and tour
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operators chartering named ships to provide packages that remove any operational risk. I decided to see what all the fuss was about and joined the beautiful Princess Aloha, a Deluxe category ship operated by Kompas Croatia, cruising lower Dalmatia between Dubrovnik and Split, an itinerary sold through several established tour operators and fully packaged by Cosmos from £1,023pp including VIP home pick-up. Our week began at Gruz harbour in Dubrovnik with a welcome dinner and chance to meet the crew before
October 2017 | Forward
an early morning cruise outside the old town of Dubrovnik and into the historic harbour, which doubles as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. After the first of our relaxing daily swim stops in secluded bays, we cruised to Mljet, a beautiful island featuring lagoons with turquoise waters and a monastery in the middle of Veliko Jezero lake. Day three saw a particular highlight in the walled town of Korčula, rumoured to have been the birthplace of Marco Polo, with a beautiful small church complete with its own Titian painting and a clock tower providing views over the cobbled streets. Another of our excursions was a walking tour of Split including the famed Diocletian’s Palace, home of the murderous Roman Emperor of the same name and yet another Game of Thrones film set. The cruise then doubles back down the coast and to the quaint harbour town of Bol, our second destination on Brač island. After a swim stop on a deserted island, we dock in Hvar, known as the St Tropez of Dalmatia, playground to the rich and famous, and hideout for Prince Harry. Once back in Dubrovnik, surrounded by the comparatively gigantic ocean cruise ships, we take a tour into the old town to discover the hidden secrets of a city still scarred by the Balkan conflict that took place only 25 years ago. The fortress perched above the old town tells the history of the Serbian and Macedonian siege which left 95 per cent of houses in the popular old town damaged by shelling. Generally, every day involves a swim stop and two ports of call, including an evening stopover to explore a town at leisure and to find your own taverna. All excursions are included, from cruising down the Cetina River and numerous walking tours to wine tasting at a vineyard in the fishing town of Trstenik. Clientele varies depending on which tour operators have space, but is typically made up of British, Australian and American passengers meaning English is the main language among the 20-30 passengers.
Clockwise from above: A view of Dubrovnik; the beautiful Dalamatian coast; the Cathedral of St Domniusa in Split; Split at sunset
That’s the gem of this cruise, it’s sociable yet relaxing, you get to know all seven of the crew by name, you can spend time in the bridge while cruising and dining is open seating in a cosy lounge allowing you to move around and talk to all your fellow passengers. You can enjoy scrumptious buffet breakfasts and
four-course lunches along with two four-course dinners during the week, with catering provided for most diets. There was always too much food and it left me feeling like I would be too heavy for the plane home. The key is to choose the correct itinerary for your client’s needs, with a variety on offer, each with CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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THREE CRUISES IN CROATIA Eight days along the coast
Kompas Croatia — MS Eden Split (round-trip), April 28, 2018 From £695pp A similar itinerary to Princess Aloha but providing the opportunity to allow your clients extra time in the beautiful city of Split or in the nearby beach resort of Makarska on the Croatian Riviera.
Seven nights with Montenegro
CroisiEurope — MS La Belle de l’Adriatique Dubrovnik (round-trip), April 26, 2018 From £1,464pp The flagship of the CroisiEurope fleet is a great way to cruise the Dalmatian coast with a visit to Montenegro. This package includes flights, transfers and VIP home pick-up
Eight days including Bosnia
a selection of the many islands along the coast. Cruises tend to be a round trip from either Dubrovnik or Split, or alternatively you can travel along the whole coast from Dubrovnik to Zadar. But no Croatian cruise would be complete without adding extra nights before or after. We stayed on
in Dubrovnik, where we enjoyed the wonderful food, the hilly, cobbled streets and also took a cable car to the fortress on the mountain, with its magnificent views across the city and down the coast. Join the revolution and sell your customers one of the best ways of seeing Croatia.
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Intrepid — ship allocated on arrival Sibenik-Dubrovnik, April 2018 From £1,530pp Ideal for those keen to enjoy a more rugged Croatian cruising experience — sharing facilities, paying into a kitty at the local supermarket during the cruise. Also includes flights and a trip into Bosnia.
Launching Spirit of Discovery New ship, new brochure, new incentives for you You’re familiar with the concept of boutique hotels… aboard Spirit of Discovery we’ve taken it to a new level by applying it to cruising. All the service, personality and luxury you expect, but in a new enchanting location every day. It heralds a new era of boutique style cruising and some incredible new incentives for you. £100 in shopping vouchers for every ocean cruise booked We’ll give you £100 in shopping vouchers for every ocean cruise confirmed before October 31, 2107. Win a boutique hotel break in our weekly prize draw Every Spirit of Discovery booking you make will give you the chance to win a boutique hotel break in our weekly prize draw.
£100 shopping vouchers: To claim, email incentives@saga.co.uk with booking details. Applicable to bookings confirmed by October 31, 2017. The weekly prize draw to win a UK boutique hotel break runs for four weeks from September 25, 2017. Facebook prize draw: Only one entry per agent. The winner will be randomly selected from the entries posted. For full terms visit saga.co.uk/agents. Saga holidays are for anyone aged 50+. A travel companion may be 40+. NHA-SC6628 (September 2017).
Receive
£100 voucher for every confirmed booking Plus‌ win a hotel stay!
Call FREE on 0800 074 8021 or visit saga.co.uk/agents Become a Saga expert, visit sagaexperts.com Find us on social media
Saga Trade Team
October 2017 | Forward
PORTS OF CALL
Amsterdam The historical and hip Dutch capital plays host to thousands of river and ocean cruise ships every year From the pretty tree-lined canals, to the myriad museums, quirky shops and quaint cafés, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s great cities to wander aimlessly around, whether that’s over a few hours or a few days. Those cold northerly winds aside, it’s the perfect cruise port of call: enchanting, intriguing and, as it’s relatively compact, easy to navigate. In fact, few destinations can claim to be as important to cruise as the Dutch capital. The gateway to the Rhine, the city is from where river cruises on Europe’s most popular waterway usually begin or end, and where Clia hosts its annual River Conference, inviting six or seven operators to showcase ships at the city’s impressive docks. It’s also an important ocean call: a popular minicruise destination (particularly when paired with Bruges) and often part of a wider itinerary around the region (be it cruises to Scandinavia or the Baltic). It handles an average of 140 ocean and 1,500 river cruise ships a year, according to the ship-tracking website CruiseMapper.
Amsterdam is now Europe’s eighth most by popular city by visitor numbers, and cruise contributes considerably to this. The city was named the Best Cruise Destination in the British Isles & Western Europe in the first Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, and not without good reason. The port – one of Northern Europe’s largest – is conveniently located (walking distance from Centraal station and 20 minutes from the airport) and allows easy access to the city centre. It’s a busy capital city – with a population of around 845,000 – but is small enough to get to know. Once you’ve mastered the complex network of canals (of which there are at least 165) it’s easy to navigate, too, particularly by bike. There are more than 880,000 bicycles in Amsterdam (yes, more than there are people) and 400km of bike paths, making it the undisputed cycling capital of the world. A staggering 57 per cent of locals use their bikes every day, and there’s no better or more authentic way to enjoy the city. It’s no surprise
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October 2017 | Forward that many river cruise lines now organise bike tours through the city. The first stop for any tourist has to be the canals, which are surrounded by the picturesque Golden Age houses. The period, roughly spanning the 17th century, was when the Netherlands was an economic, artistic and military powerhouse: the Bank of Amsterdam was established in 1609, a precursor to the first true central bank, as trade boomed. Artists such as Bartholomeus van der Helst, Pieter Pietersz Nedek, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn were born in the first half of this century. About 7,000 historic buildings from the period – many of them merchants’ mansions near the canals – remain, as do many of the masterpieces by artists of the time. At the sprawling Rijksmuseum you’ll find The Night Watch by Rembrandt, as well as paintings by Jan Steen, Vermeer and Frans Hals. The museum has 8,000 pieces on display, from a total collection of one million. The Rijksmuseum jostles for attention in the city’s Museum Quarter with the Stedelijk Museum (modern art), and the Royal Concertgebouw (concert hall) and the Van Gogh Museum. Anne Frank House, found on the Prinsengracht canal, and close to the Westerkerk (Western church), attracts more than a million tourists a year. A visit to the house, where the Jewish diarist and her family hid for two years during the Nazis’ occupation of the Netherlands, is deeply moving. Those wanting to see a different side of the city can board one of the many free ferries from behind Centraal station. Head for NDSM, an old shipping wharf that now hosts music and a flea market in an industrial setting. Noorderlicht Café – in a massive greenhouse – is one of the city’s best, albeit hard to find, places to grab a bite to eat and a beer. Another must is Vondelpark, the city’s most popular green space, which boasts an open-air theatre with shows from June until August and a sculpture by Pablo Picasso. It’s also only a stone’s throw from the Museum Quarter and not far (in the other direction) from Foodhallen, one of the city’s best spots to grab some
The Rijksmuseum and (below) one of the city’s famous canals
street food. Viet View (Vietnamese) and Jabugo Iberico Bar (Spanish) are particularly notable. But Amsterdam is best enjoyed sat outside a bar or café on the canals – there are few better places to watch the world go by. A particular favourite is the Eetcafe Singel 404, while the nearby d’Vijff Vlieghen, found in a 17th century canal house, is one of the city’s most storied venues. There are
original works by Rembrandt inside, and its chairs have copper plates inscribed with the names of famous guests: Mick Jagger and Walt Disney have dined there (not together). With many cruises beginning or ending in the city (Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam is homeported here), there are plenty of opportunities for guests to enjoy this endlessly fascinating city. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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Promotion
Yellow Bike Amsterdam: we know it, we show it Our team of friendly and knowledgeable guides look forward to welcoming you for a real Amsterdam ride. Join one of our many tours and discover everything our city has to offer City Bike Tour
Depart: daily at 10:30 or 13:30 Duration: ± 2 or 3 hours With a bicycle you can reach places that remain inaccessible to others. This safely guided two or three-hour bicycle tour will give you a fascinating picture of Amsterdam’s famous and rich history. During the tour you will pass all the city’s interesting highlights such as the old harbour, the charming Jordaan quarter, the Anne Frank house, the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, the Amstel river and the infamous Red Light
District. You will also see undiscovered Amsterdam with its idyllic small canals, quiet hidden courtyards and beautiful views. Our experienced guides will show you the way and tell you about the fascinating history and evolution of Amsterdam over the years.
Countryside Bike Tour
Depart: daily at 10:30 Duration: ± 4 hours Had enough of the hustle and bustle in the city? In five minutes we can take you out of town into the lovely Dutch
countryside. A friendly, local tour guide will lead the group in a leisurely way over scenic bike lanes into the heart of this green land of dykes and water. We will visit a windmill and stop for a short break in a beautiful little fishing village. Your guide will provide extensive information about the history of this area and the never-ending struggle of the Dutch against the sea. So, sign up now for an unforgettable day of fun and fresh air.
Bike rental
Do Amsterdam as the Amsterdammers do: rent a bike and discover the city at your own pace. In just a short amount of time you can visit many highlights, such as the cosy Nine Streets or one of the many museums that Amsterdam has to offer. On a bicycle you can cover a great distance in a short amount of time. Want a break? Just park your bicycle in one of the city’s many bicycle racks. Use our Yellow Map to easily find your way in the ‘Venice of the north’.
Contact
Yellow Bike Nieuwezijds Kolk 29 yellowbike.nl +31 (0)20 6206940 It takes just five minutes to walk from Amsterdam Centraal station to Yellow Bike CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Midship
INFOCUS
Carnival Cruise Line Sam Ballard profiles the all-American, family-friendly, big-ship line that decided to go trade only last year, because it believes “travel agents rock” When Carnival Cruise Line announced last November that it was going trade only, there were few raised eyebrows across the industry. The biggest cruise line in the world has 25 ships serving a predominantly American market. While in the past the company has flirted with having ships in the Mediterranean, they have never lasted long. Its entire fleet now sails out of American ports. For Carnival Cruise Line that deployment has certain ramifications. The first, obviously, is that it has taken what is a hugely popular mass market offering in the States and turned it into a long-haul offering in the UK. It could even be regarded as niche. The end result is that typical consumer
sales channels were not penetrating the market to the extent that the investment necessitated. By choosing to work with agents, Carnival was recognising that it needed specialist sellers to shift the product. Carnival is predominantly aimed at families. The line is renowned for its Caribbean cruises that operate out of more than 10 US ports. Mexico and Hawaii are two other major destinations for the company, while Alaska and New England represent the rest of its programme. There will typically be a couple of European cruises when a new ship leaves the shipyard, but not much beyond that. The resort-style line is known for its party cruises and pushing
the envelope when it comes to having a good time. Its ships have everything on board from iMax cinemas to massive waterparks. There are SkyRides (bikes that are pedalled through an aerial circuit), a partnership with Dr Seuss (that includes a Dr Seuss Bookville kids’ club) and some pretty impressive events, called Carnival Live, with artists such as Chris Tucker, Gladys Knight and Journey performing. If you were to position Carnival within today’s market, it would sit with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC. Ships are typically large – its latest ship, Carnival Vista, has capacity for about 4,000 passengers – and come with
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October 2017 | Midship plenty of outdoor space to help enjoy the Caribbean sunshine. When it comes to food options on board, there are typically a number of paid for and included restaurants available. From Mexican cantinas and Guy’s Burger Joint to Seafood Shacks and JiJi’s Asian Kitchen – as well as the main dining room. The line has its own private island – Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas – where guests can take a number of excursions, including horseback riding, kayaking, snorkelling and encountering stingrays. “At Carnival Cruise Line, we think travel agents rock,” said Iain Baillie, vice president UK & international sales. “Not only do we provide interactive fun training, a choice of rewards for booking Carnival Cruise Line through our Loyalty Rocks Club and ensure agents experience Carnival Cruise Line first hand, we also pay great commissions, offer extensive gross and net rate pricing across our product range and have a very user friendly booking portal.” Carnival Cruise Line is a company that personifies American style cruising more than any other. From its cuisine, to the entertainment on board and big casinos. There are four ships currently under construction for the line, which are due to be launched in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
THREE CARNIVAL CRUISES Four days in the Caribbean
13-nights in Europe
15-days in Hawaii
Carnival Sensation Miami (round-trip), May 17, 2018 From $359pp
Carnival Horizon Barcelona (round-trip), April 2, 2018 From $1,129pp
This classic Carnival short includes calls at Nassau and Half Moon Cay, the company’s private island, where guests can ride horses and bikes.
One of the few chances for British guests to sample Carnival in Europe will come next year when the company launches its new ship.
Carnival Miracle Los Angeles (round-trip), December 2, 2018 From $1,709pp
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This December cruise includes four days at sea before paradise calls at Maui, Honolulu, Kauai, Kona and Hilo.
Award-Winning River Cruises in Europe On the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Douro, Seine, Saône or Dutch waterways
ENCHANTING RHINE & YULETIDE MARKETS 5 DAY RIVER CRUISE FROM ONLY £699PP Riviera Travel’s award-winning river cruises include everything you need for an exceptional experience. Cruise Europe’s most beautiful waterways aboard the finest ships, featuring superb dining on board and spacious suites and cabins – many with a French balcony for unrivalled views. Choose from 13 fascinating river cruises that take you to the iconic highlights as well as lesser-known gems in destinations such as Cologne, Trier, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel, Lucerne, Douro Valley, Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Avignon, Arles, Bruges, Paris or Rouen.
To book, call: 01283 744370 or visit: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents Contact us for agency sales support, email: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply. Prices correct as of 20-09-17.
Luxury Cruising with the Experts Whether you want to take an incredible journey to the historic, cultural and artistic heart of Europe, immerse yourself into the time of the ancient Pyramids and all-powerful Pharaohs or enjoy the elegance of an uninterrupted ocean aboard a Transatlantic Crossing, Riviera Travel have created a luxury cruise to satisfy your desire to explore new places, discover different civilisations and plunge into new experiences.
WONDERS OF THE NILE - THE LONG CRUISE FROM CAIRO 11 DAYS FROM £1,995PP
THE DALMATIAN COAST BY YACHT 8 DAYS FROM £1,499PP
QUEEN MARY 2 TRANSATLANTIC CROSSINGS TO NEW YORK 14 DAYS FROM £1,999PP
A JOURNEY ON THE MEKONG 15 DAYS FROM £2,799PP
PLAN A CRUISE MONTH October is Plan a Cruise Month – a worldwide movement to learn more about, plan and take a cruise vacation. The campaign offers advice, and promotions as well as experts to help navigate the many cruise vacation options available for every travel style and budget.
70%
Did you know almost of cruise travelers take advantage of the expertise of a travel agent to book a cruise vacation? Plan a Cruise Month is the perfect time to connect with a CLIA certified travel agent to learn more about this amazing campaign.
See our full range of exciting cruise products in our cruise collection brochure. Bulk supplies available at www.trade-gate.co.uk
MILLENNIALS There is a cruise out there for everyone and, as our feature on reaching millennials (p38) hopes to prove, this includes under-35s. Most cruises may have an average age of 60 plus, but cruise lines are increasingly looking to attract younger customers, and we see no reason why 20-somethings wouldn’t love a cruise. We’ve spoken to those who have never cruised before and those who have, as well as those agents who have sold to millennials, to help put together this How to Sell guide. The following is not exhaustive, but we feel it gives a good idea of what millennials want. Despite the negative adjectives that are quite often attached to this group, it’s a wide-ranging generation, covering everyone from school-leavers to honeymooners and those now with young children. We’ve split options into short-haul, long-haul and off-the-beaten-track holidays, and picked cruises that can be broadly defined as being either active, cultural or romantic, with all budgets accounted for.
Where would you like to go?
Short haul p35
Long haul p36
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Something different p37
Short-haul With Europe on our doorstop, there are any number of cruises available for younger customers, who might otherwise opt for a city break or continental train journey. From cheap and cheerful mini-cruises to ultra-luxury sojourns across the Mediterranean, every budget can be catered for with short-haul cruises. We’ve split these into active, cultural and romantic. The latter is particularly important – many millennial customers will be honeymooners – and Europe offers romance like nowhere else.
What sort of holiday do you want?
Active
Cultural
Romantic
Who? AmaWaterways Where? Danube When? April-November 2018 How long? Seven nights How much? From £1,478
Who? Viking Cruises Where? Northern Europe When? April-September 2018 How long? 15 nights How much? From £3,790
Who? U By Uniworld Where? Seine river When? April-October 2018 How long? Seven nights How much? From £1,799
River cruises are more associated with an older crowd, given their leisurely nature, but an increasing number of cruise lines, including AmaWaterways, are encouraging an active programme on their itineraries, with bikes available on board. This cruise gives guests the chance to cycle from Melk through the breathtaking Wachau valley and hike up to the castle ruins (where Richard the Lionheart was held) once they reach Dürnstein.
Viking Cruises’ Scandi-cool ocean ships are among the most sophisticated we’ve seen. Cruises aren’t cheap, but anyone would love this itinerary with calls at Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and one of the world’s most remarkable cities, St Petersburg. It’s 100 years since the October revolution, so it’s a great time to visit and learn more about this fascinating period.
U by Uniworld – a brand-new boutique river cruise brand from Uniworld – specialises in cruises for 21 to 45-year-olds, which are cheaper than the ‘grownup’ originals. This Seine cruise includes an overnight in Paris, making it perfect option for couples. The line’s excursions – which include a Midnight in Paris walk – have also been picked with younger customers in mind.
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Long-haul For those with time and money, there is a whole word of options when it comes to cruise. It’s easy to think of all millennials as being cash-strapped, but cruises often represent great value for money, especially if you’re hoping to see multiple destinations. With food, accommodation and – on allinclusive cruises – alcohol, shore excursions and sometimes flights thrown in, there are few other costs to worry about. Here, we’ve picked three long-haul options – two in north America and one in India.
What sort of holiday do you want?
Active
Cultural
Romantic
Who? Holland America Line Where? Alaska When? April-September 2018 How long? 10 nights How much? From £999pp
Who? G Adventures Where? India When? March-August 2018 How long? 16 days How much? From £1,839pp
Who? Oceania Cruises Where? New York City When? July 25, 2018 How long? 10 days How much? From £2,309
Holland America Line has been sailing to Alaska for 70 years – an incredible and unique cruise destination, particularly for customers who like hiking. One option to guests is the chance to traverse the historic, 50km Chilkoot Trail, once the main route to the riches of the Klondike during the gold rush era. For those really looking to push the boat out, Rocky Mountaineer’s Calgary to Vancouver pre-cruise luxury train is a superb option.
G Adventures, one of the world’s leading small group specialists, is one of the companies reinventing the cruise holiday with an emphasis on a younger audience. This Ganges trip is a superb option, taking in Agra – home to the Taj Mahal – Jaipur and Delhi, before a river cruise on the Ganges. There a few more fascinating, culturally rich regions of the world, and it’s a favourite of millennial travellers.
This is a perfect cruise for honeymooners – sailing out of New York City on luxury line Oceania Cruises. It’s one of the great cruise experiences and on a line celebrated for its excellent food. Oceania Cruises isn’t cheap, but for those couples looking for that special, once-in-a-lifetime holiday, this is a great option. It also calls at Boston, Halifax in Nova Scotia and Bermuda.
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Something different As well as short-haul and long-haul options, here we’ve provided some more off-the-beaten-track ideas. Cruise holidays, which are often lumped together as if all the same, offer incredible diversity with itineraries to far-flung, otherwise inaccessible destinations. Want to experience the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands? The pristine wilderness of Antarctica? Or the ancient history of the Nile? For travellers – both young and old – the answer is a cruise.
What sort of holiday do you want?
Active
Cultural
Romantic
Who? Hurtigruten Where? Norway When? January-April 2018 How long? Eight days How much? From £1,067pp
Who? Princess Cruises Where? Japan and South Korea When? June-October 2018 How long? Five nights How much? From £568pp
Who? Azamara Club Cruises Where? Southeast Asia When? November-December 2018 How long? 10 nights How much? From £2,393pp
Norwegian fjord cruises are among the most popular itineraries, particularly for guests leaving from the UK, but Hurtigruten – which has been sailing this Bergen to Kirkenes route since the 1800s – does things differently. There are hikes, walks and kayaking excursions available throughout the holiday – and even dog sledging once you reach the Arctic Circle.
Japan is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations. It’s not cheap and a lack of hotel beds is pushing prices up further, meaning this Tokyo (Yokohama) round-trip (that also calls at Busan, South Korea) is exceptional value for money. The cruise also gives guests the chance to enjoy pre and posts in the sprawling capital city. Princess Cruises has led the way on Japan, but more lines have followed.
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This round-trip from Singapore on the 686-passenger Azamara Quest takes in Thailand and Vietnam, including Bangkok. Azamara prides itself on its excursions and this trip includes an ‘AzAmazing Evening’ at Binh Quoi Village (where local musicians will play to guests) as well as a trip to the Mekong Delta (both from Ho Chi Min City). Intimate, luxurious and immersive, this is a perfect honeymoon cruise.
MILLENNIALS
Generation game Millennials are the future of everything – even the cruise industry. Sam Ballard finds out what is being done to cater for them and looks at ways of getting them on board
October 2017 | Midship It seems like you can’t attend a conference, watch the news or even read a copy of Cruise Adviser these days without someone mentioning millennials. We are told that this mysterious group of young people are the future. However, given that they operate like no other group before them, how do you get them on board? Millennials – typically counted as those born between the early 1980s and 2000 – are the first generation to have grown up with the internet. They are “digital natives” who are used to sharing their experiences on social networks. Goldman Sachs, the financial services firm, says that millennials are more likely to live on their own than any other generation before them, which partly explains the growth in the solo travel industry. According to the research, millennials are also more unlikely to buy products like cars or music – instead using services to access them, like Uber or Spotify, in what has been dubbed the “sharing economy”. A strong brand is no longer enough to secure a sale and millennials often look towards their own peer group for advice when making a decision. That being said, their buying decisions are governed by quality over price. Eating better and wellness are a huge part of their daily lives, rather than a chore. So, given all of the above, what is the cruise industry doing to attract millennials? And how can you, as agents, better suit your business to the needs of this younger generation? “The traditional way we offer a cruise will be interesting to a millennial for about 30 seconds,” explains Stuart Leven, vice president EMEA and RCL Cruises managing director. “We need to start looking at life through their eyes.” So they did just that, hiring a group of interns from Chester University during the summer holidays and giving each of them a project: how do we attract millennials onto the ships? “They came up with two genius ideas and we’ve implemented them both,” Leven explains. “The first is to get rid of traditional photographers and put people on the ships with iPhones, because millennials don’t want staged, cheesy, airbrushed shots.
Clockwise from above: Transatlantic Fashion Week onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2; a 4D cinema on MSC Splendida; cruise has plenty of photo ops to share
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October 2017 | Midship “The second idea is to use the sports staff on board, who are mostly millennials themselves, to set up a Snapchat group at the start of every cruise. All of the millennials can join and learn about what’s great, and what’s not so great, on board.” For Antonio Paradiso, managing director of MSC Cruises, the huge investment the line is making in technology that has meant it is already reaping the rewards. “The age of the average cruise passenger is mid-50s,” Paradiso explains. “For us it’s already mid-40s. Our new ship, MSC Meraviglia, was on the TV show Cruising with Jane McDonald recently and it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the innovation we have on board. It was about getting the wow factor across. “We’ve got flight simulators, bowling alleys, kids’ clubs and LED screens everywhere. The programme was a great way for us to highlight the incredible technology on board. And technology is one of the main drivers of this generation. It is all about highlighting the way in which the industry is investing in its future.” Richard Twynam, the managing director of Azamara Club Cruises, adds that for many millennials it is about having authentic experiences from which they can generate content across their social media channels. “The key thing for millennials is to build their status through the quality of the imagery that they share,” he explains. “By delivering a destination experience they can get those bragging rights through social media. “It might be: ‘Here I am doing a bike tour through Sydney’. Or, ‘Here I am doing a zip line through a Costa Rican rainforest’. That photo will then go on Instagram and Facebook, and talk to other millennials.” Another company that has an offering ideal for millennials is Scubaspa. The line has two 40-guest yachts based in the Maldives and offers passengers a choice between exploring the marine life of the Indian Ocean, with up to 17 scuba dives, or indulging in onboard spa treatments. Barty Olejniczak, the company’s business development manager, explains: “We have intimate ships CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Midship sailing the beautiful waters of the Maldives. We offer experiences such as yoga at sunset or sunrise and scuba dives to see nurse sharks at night. “Guests can choose whether they want to explore coral reefs or the biggest open-air spa in the Maldives. We’ll host fishing competitions and have barbecues on desert islands. It really is something special.” The week-long tours offer dozens of opportunities for millennials to experience the region – and share them on social media. The product is sold through Original Travel. It would be a mistake not to also mention U by Uniworld (see Interview, p16), the luxury river company which is now targeting millennials with their own dedicated brand. The move involves a massive amount of investment from Uniworld and highlights just how important millennials are to the industry. As cruise lines tailor their offering to suit young people, what can agents do to help get that message across? Engagement is top of the list. While enterprising travel agents may previously have booked a stand at a nearby cruise show, golf club or garden centre – that’s not going to be enough to get in front of millennials. Why not pick itineraries or ships that would better suit younger people? Fitness has become such a massive trend, why not select a few cruises – such CroisiEurope’s CroisiBike holidays (where passengers can cycle up to 65km a day on European rivers) – and try and organise a mailout to a gym’s membership? Or even ask if you can set up a stand in reception on a Saturday afternoon. You could show similar initiative with anything from music to food. Another facet of a cruise to play up to millennials is the idea of a “digital detox”. While it is true that technology is incredibly important, for a lot of younger people the idea of being able to upload one picture to social media and then be “disconnected” is pretty appealing too – and with it lose the temptation to keep checking your emails. Cunard runs a Transatlantic Fashion Week cruise between New York and London
With Scubaspa you can cruise the Maldives in total luxury
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October 2017 | Midship that seems to have been made with millennials in mind. The line also offers other themes including cartoonists and wine. Investing in social media training is one way of getting out to a wider audience. Companies such as Ginger Juice specialise in social media training for the travel industry and regularly speak at industry events. If you haven’t got an Instagram page why not set one up and post shots of destinations and spas on board ships? Learn what hashtags you can use to start drumming up business. “Travel agents looking to engage with millennials should focus on two main things: authenticity and experiences,” says Bruce Martin, founder of Ginger Juice. “Millennials devour online content, and the more authentic and trustworthy it is, the better. Millennials also crave ‘bucketlist’ experiences. Help them ‘feed the FOMO’ and encourage them to brag about amazing experiences.” Selling to millennials is not rocket science. Like every generation, they want to be different from their parents but essentially the end product will stay the same. They want authentic experiences. They want the ability to relax by beautiful swimming pools or indulge in spas. They want to eat incredible food. You just need to learn how to sell it in a language they understand.
THREE MILLENNIAL CRUISES Seven nights in the Maldives
14-nights in Central America
11 nights in the Norwegian Fjords
Scubaspa – Scubaspa Ying Malé (round-trip), July 7, 2018 From £2,465pp
Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Quest Caldera-San Diego, January 25, 2018 From £1,695pp
MSC Cruises – MSC Meraviglia Hamburg (round-trip), June 10, 2018 From £1,999pp
This seven-night trip includes all meals, dives, daily yoga, flights and transfers available through Original Travel. Guests also get the use of a GoPro for the duration of the holiday.
Millennials will love the AzAmazing Evening, which includes a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico.
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This cruise, through the stunning Norwegian Fjords, is an incredible opportunity for millennials to experience all the technology that MSC Meraviglia has to offer.
October 2017 | Midship
10 OF THE BEST
Speciality restaurants Onboard dining has improved so much in recent years, here are some of our favourites 1
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Overnights and late sailings aside, cruise guests must eat on board the ship each night. Fortunately, the choice is greater than ever: from one or two dining options, the number has dramatically increased in recent years with the introduction of speciality restaurants: Silver Muse, Silversea’s new flagship, for example, has an
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incredible 12 venues for just 596 guests. Here are some of our favourites from across the industry: 1. Acclaimed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa partnered with Crystal in 2003 to open the exceptional Silk Road and The Sushi Bar, serving some of the best food at sea. 2. Viking’s ocean product has some great venues – we love Manfredi’s – but we’ve
picked Chef’s Table here, its specialist cookery school (where you can learn, or just watch the experts cook and eat). 3. Norwegian Cruise Line’s excellent Cagney’s Steakhouse also makes our list, proving that it’s not just the luxury lines with great alternative dining. 4. Rudi’s Sal de Mer, on board Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, is a French CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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brasserie pop-up in the ship’s Pinnacle Grill. The low-lit restaurant serves top quality French seafood dishes. 5. Silversea’s Le-Champagne, the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea, is one of the most opulent speciality restaurants out there. It even serves gold-leaf risotto. 6. Found on Marina and Riviera, Jacques (from French chef Jacques Pépin) is the
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pick of the bunch from Oceania Cruises’ exceptional speciality restaurant collection. 7. Princess Cruises’ Crown Grill doesn’t get the headlines its Italian Sabatini’s gets, but we think serves ones of the best steaks at sea in an incredible space… 8… talking of which, Seabourn’s elegant Grill – a collaboration between three-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller and designer
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Adam D Tihany – serves incredible thickcut prime NY strip steak. 9. Scenic Eclipse doesn’t launch until late next year, but this venue – Teppanyaki – is among the most beautiful we’ve seen. 10. 150 Central Park is the most upmarket restaurant on Royal Caribbean, serving a six-course menu developed by Miami restaurateur Michael Schwartz.
October 2017 | Aft
NEW HIRES
Shearings appoints Claire Dutton to new account role
Jodie Stuart joins Monarch’s trade sales team Monarch Holidays has appointed Jodie Stuart as national account manager to its trade sales team. Stuart will report to Simon Garrido, head of trade sales. She previously worked for Saga and Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Garrido said: “We are delighted to welcome Jodie to the team. She has great travel and trade knowledge and her experience gained from previous roles will enable a swift transition into Monarch.”
New trade relations manager for Red Sea Shearings has appointed Claire Dutton to the newly created role of national key account manager for Shearings Holidays. Dutton, who will take up the position from November 6, has over 28 years experience in travel, with the last 17 years spent at Super Break, first as a sales executive and then key account manager. She will work alongside Michael Bowers, the operator’s national sales manager to develop and grow relationships with agents.
Jane Atkins, managing director at Shearings said: “We are looking to strengthen our sales team going forward and Claire’s appointment is the first step of this process. “She brings with her an in depth understanding and knowledge of the UK travel trade and the domestic market, which I know will be of great benefit to Shearings Holidays. “We want to grow our retail trade volumes and bringing Claire into the business is the start of this acceleration.”
Red Sea Holidays has appointed a senior trade relations manager. Ashley Secker, who joins from Newmarket Holidays, will develop the operator’s agency sales channels. “Demand for Egyptian sunshine holidays has really been hotting-up over the last year, so there’s a huge opportunity,” Secker said. “My aim is simple: get Egypt back on the map as the best value, guaranteed sunshine destination and put Red Sea Holidays at the front of agents’ minds when thinking of Egypt.”
Wendy Missenden joins Collette in new UK marketing manager role Collette has hired Wendy Missenden in the new role of UK marketing manager. Missenden, who previously worked at Advantage Travel and VisitBritain, joins from TravelCube, where she was marketing manager. Michelle Laverick, head of marketing, said: “We’re really excited to have Wendy on board. Her experience in retail marketing will strengthen the team we have in place.” Missenden said: “I am delighted to be bringing my experience to
Collette at such an exciting time for the business. The Collette brand has a long affiliation with UK travel agents and is hugely trade focused, with the vast majority of our business coming through our trade partners. “I am looking forward to working closely with our agents and travel partners over the coming months supporting our ongoing commitment to provide enticing and relevant marketing campaigns.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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FAM TRIPS / INCENTIVES
Princess to host biggest ever fam
Princess Cruises is to host 300 travel agents on a single cruise next year in what the company has said is its biggest ever fam trip. The trip will give agents a chance to experience Ocean Medallion, Carnival Corporation’s latest piece of passenger technology, which will debut on Princess in November. The ‘Medallion Mega Fam’ is open to all UK and Ireland agents who can win a place by making a 2018/19 booking and entering the code INNO18 between September 1 and October 31.
From November 1 to 30, agents can apply by completing an online Ocean Medallion training course via onesourcecruises.com. Rachel Poultney, Princess Cruises’ director of sales for UK & Ireland, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be running such a huge event for our agents. Not only will this be an amazing trip, but agents will be able to use and experience the Ocean Medallion so they can see for themselves just how beneficial it will be for their customers.”
It’s Alana with an iguana! Titan Travel host agents at Chessington World of Adventures Titan Travel hosted more than 20 agents at Chessington World of Adventure last month. Alana Jones (pictured with what is actually a bearded dragon), and Louise Sword from Titan Travel’s agency sales team led the group during the day, which included a private tour of Sea Life Centre and feeding time with lions and cubs. Agents from Premier Travel, Fabulicious Travel, Hays, Thames Valley Travel and Woods Travel, as well as homeworkers from Travel Counsellors and Your Holiday Booking all enjoyed the day. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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Emerald and Scenic hold agent awards Emerald Waterways and Scenic hosted their inaugural River Awards last month, recognising agents who have been “ambassadors for both brands over the years”. Winners included Hays Travel, Iglu, River Voyages and RiverCruising.co.uk. Travel Counsellors, Readers Offers and Eden Escapes also took home awards. Dawn Quinn, acting national sales manager for both brands, said: “We are delighted with the success of our first ever River Awards. We are very proud of the relationship we have with our trade partners; it is fantastic to be able to reward them for all of their work with our brands so far, and we are looking forward to growing these relationships even more in the future.”
APT cooks up 90 years A group of travel agents were invited to a cookery school with Luke Ngueyen to celebrate APT’s 90th anniversary. The TV chef and restaurateur is an ambassador for the brand. Angela Waite, APT’s head of sales and commercial, said: “Our travel agents had a great time creating Vietnamese dishes with Luke. At APT we’re passionate about ensuring authentic culinary experiences are a central part of any holiday, so learning all about the food and cuisine in Southeast Asia from one of the world’s experts was a really exciting opportunity.”
October 2017| Aft
JARGON BUSTER
Why cruise lines are making sure that life is suite The rise of suite class – and why it’s good news for agents On cruise ships, luxury doesn’t just mean fine-dining, elegant décor and a high staff-to-guest ratio, but the abundance of space. Harmony of the Seas may be the largest ship in the world by gross tonnage, but it also carries the most passengers, meaning – in certain areas and at certain times – it can feel very busy. For this reason, cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International have increasingly expanded suite class, for those who want peace, quiet and space, without giving up West Endstyle productions, Bionic Barmen or surfing simulators. These top-level guests get access to areas other don’t (such as the Coastal Kitchen), and it’s the same on Norwegian Cruise Line (with The Haven, which contains 60 suites) and MSC Cruises (the Yacht Club). This ship within a ship concept creates more luxurious, quieter – and more
spacious – areas, for those guests who can afford it. Increasingly, it feels as though these ships are becoming less egalitarian, offering a two-tiered experience, as you find on Cunard. It’s a difficult balancing act, as no guest wants to be turned away from a venue because they don’t have the correct type of room card. On Princess Cruises, where guests get Club Class Dining (a separate area in the main
dining room), there are exclusive areas – such as The Sanctuary – that anyone can access, so long as they pay. But, for agents, suite class is a good thing – a great way to earn more commission. There are luxury guests, particularly those with kids, who want the care-free fun of the big, theme-park ships – and these opulent areas make perfect sense for them.
THREE CRUISES WITH SUITE CLASS 13 nights from Barcelona
Seven days in the Mediterranean
12 nights to the fjords
Royal Caribbean – Symphony of the Seas Barcelona (round-trip), May 6, 2018 From £2,239pp for suite
Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Epic Barcelona (round-trip), April 29, 2018 From £2,516pp for The Haven
Cunard – Queen Elizabeth Southampton (round-trip), July 1, 2018 From £12,089pp for the Grande Suite
Join the world’s largest ship in the Med before it heads to Miami. Guests in Royal Suite Class benefit from a Genie – Royal’s twist on a butler.
Another trip from Barcelona staying in the opulent Haven. Porthole Cruise magazine called it the best accommodation at sea.
Grill suites guests dine in either the Queens Grill or Princess Grill restaurant on board all of Cunard’s ships – and there’s butler service. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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DIRECTORY Got a cruise query? Let us assist you. The cruise adviser directory provides you with the vital contact details for all major cruise lines operating in the UK – meaning trade sales support is never more than a phone call away
CRUISE LINES!
Information missing or out of date? Email info@cruise-adviser.com
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A-Rosa Lucia Rowe, head of sales UK and Ireland 078 4202 6013 l.rowe@a-rosa.de Amadeus River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 080 0035 6411 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com American Cruise Lines Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 453 6800 susan@americancruiselines.com American Queen Steamboat Company Katrina Weston, general manager 01223 568 904 k.weston@aqgsa.com APT Touring Kate Ashman, sales and commercial specialist 01494 736 147 agentclub@aptouring.co.uk Atlas/Kompas Predrag Krivokapic, president +1 954 258 8531 / +385 9 1975 1735 kompas@kompas.net Aurora Expeditions Talia Schwartzman, sales executive +61 2 9252 1033 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Avalon Waterways James Mortimer, agency sales executive 020 8315 4585 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com
Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com Celebrity Cruises Isabelle Charlton / Victoria Shipp 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport@rccl.com Celestyal Cruises Andreas Genthe, country manager sales +30 216 400 9633 a.genthe@celestyalcruises.com Choosing Cruising Robbie White, managing director 07740 368 379 robbie@choosingcruising.co.uk Coral Expeditions Jan Jepsen, UK and Europe representative 07702 714 150 jan@intouchrep.com Cosmos James Mortimer, agency sales executive 020 8315 4585 agencysales@cosmostours.co.uk CroisiEurope Gabrielle Alam, head of sales and marketing UK 020 8328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 0844 414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com Crystal Cruises Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk Cruising Excursions Simonne Fairbanks, chief operating officer 0800 091 8274 traveltrade@cruisingexcursions.com Cunard Line Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com
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Belmond Alexis Viols, director of sales – Road to Mandalay and Belmond Orcaella +66 2 267 4881 2 Ext 19 alexis.viols@belmond.com Tom Dumbrell, sales manager – Afloat in France 020 3117 1408 tom.dumbrell@belmond.com
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Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk Heritage Line Andreas Schroetter, director of sales and marketing +84 120 395 2242 dosm@heritage-line.com Holland America Line James Scott, business development representative 0844 338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0844 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, head of sales 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com
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Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317 E
Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk eWaterways Emma Wild, head of sales 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.co.uk F
Far Horizon Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Becky Smith, trade support manager 01473 746 164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk Fred Olsen River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 021 3172 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk French America Line Kevin Griffin, director 020 7723 2450 kcgriffin@frenchamericaline.com
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Intrepid Travel Andrew Turner, senior business development manager 080 8274 5719 ukbdm@intrepidtravel.com K
Katerina Line Dea Baretincic, sales manager +385 51 603 409 dea@katarina-line.hr L
Latin Routes Jessica Bain, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk Lindblad Expeditions Jacinta McEvoy vice president global sales +1 212 261 9000 jacintam@expeditions.com
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G Adventures Jerrine Barnett, new business development manager 07432 429 836 / 020 7243 9870 ext. 9948 jbarnett@gadventures.com H
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Aishling McLoughlin, sales representative UK & Ireland 07921 223 176 aishling.mcloughlin@hl-cruises.com
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Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director +33 6 4803 7931 swinter@ponant.com Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 0870 068 9142 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com Ports Direct Karl Lapage, managing director 0843 0843 003 karl@portsdirect.co.uk Princess Cruises Victoria Snelgar, sales operations manager 023 8065 6613 victoria.snelgar@princesscruises.co.uk Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 0800 021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk
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The Majestic Line Marie McGhee, sales manager 01369 707951 info@themajesticline.co.uk MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk N
Noble Caledonia Agency sales 020 7752 0000 agencysales@noble-caledonia.co.uk Norwegian Cruise Line Jeremy McKenna, head of sales UK and Ireland 07408 805 216 jmckenna@ncl.com Karen Kundi, partnership relations manager 023 8124 5242 kkundi@ncl.com O
Oceania Cruises Priti Mehta, head of sales UK and Ireland 023 8024 8604 pmehta@oceaniacruises.com One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com
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Quark Expeditions Pushparaj Shetty, senior distribution manager +1 416 645 8248 push.shetty@quarkexpeditions.com R
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Caroline Moody, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Anna Salter, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Royal Caribbean International Trade support team 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com Riviera Travel Darren Mussell, agency sales assistant manager 01283 744 307 agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk
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P&O Cruises Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com Pandaw Marco Rosa, vice president sales and marketing 07973 876 967 marco@pandaw.com Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
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July/ August 2017 | Aft
Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk Travelsphere & Just You Polly Poulton, national account manager 01858 588 406 polly.poulton@Travelsphere.co.uk
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Saga Travel Sukina Fagg, national account manager 080 0074 8021 sukina.fagg@saga.co.uk Scenic Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk Seabourn James Scott, business development representative 084 4338 8600 james.scott@seabourn.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 084 4338 8600 lucy.harris@seabourn.co.uk SeaCloud Anja Ringel, vice president, international markting and sales +49 40 3095 9217 aringel@seacloud.com SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 07904 068 407 mschmitt@seadream.com Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 01942 823 449 sales.support@shearings.com Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com Star Clippers Danielle Dudley, UK sales manager 077 6585 2116 danielle@starclippers.co.uk
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruises David Chidley, national sales manager 07408 855 544 dave.chidley@uniworld.com V
Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.co.uk Viking Cruises Andrew Schweitzer, regional sales manager (south) 07825 986 996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (north) 07966 995 012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com Volga Dream Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 021 3186 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels, head of groups and partnerships 01865 302 2565 m.daniels@voyagestoantiquity.com
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Tauck Kathryn Coles, UK and Ireland sales manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk Thomson Cruises Andrew Isherwood Commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@thomson.co.uk
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Wendy Wu Tours Adam White, trade support and marketing executive 020 7939 9560 adam.white@wendywutours.co.uk Windstar Cruises Sales team (The Cruise Line) 0800 852 7248 windstarUK@cruiseline.co.uk
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October 2017 | Aft THINGS TO DO
GAMESROOM
Each month, we bring you a selection of things to do on your lunch break or journey to the office
CROSSWORD See the next cruise adviser in November for the answer
JULY / AUGUST SOLUTION
ACROSS
DOWN
7. Test (11)
1. Ship’s width (4)
8. Mildness (7)
2. Stocking killer? (6)
9. Western hemisphere association (1,1,1)
3. Early spell afloat (5,3,3)
SUDOKU
See the next cruise adviser in November for the answers
10. Hotel heiress (5,6)
4. Looking after little one? (11)
12. Standard score (3)
5. Open-air pool (4)
14. Diplomatic specialist (7)
6. Togetherness (6)
16. Restraint (11)
10. Pope’s office (6)
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11. Reward for leaving a car for too long? (6)
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13. Part of 2 down which helps you get up (4)
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15. Corrodes (4)
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October 2017 | Aft
QUIZ
WIN! Christmas markets fam trip with Saga
See bottom of page for answers
1. Whose new millennials’ river cruise brand is called U by _______? 2. Which recording artist had albums called Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombones? 3. Farrokh Bulsara was better known by what name? 4. David Dingle is the chairman of which cruise corporation? 5. Machu Picchu was built in what century? 6. Netflix series Narcos is about which notorious criminal? 7. Who wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? 8. Celebrity Edge’s three-deck lounge is called what? 9. Which author wrote the book The Road to Wigan Pier?
Win a single cabin on Saga’s five-night Continental Christmas Markets intinerary, sailing on Saga Sapphire from Southampton on December 3 and taking in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
10. What are the ingredients of the Canadian dish poutine? 11. When was the first World Series?
To enter, answer the following question and send your answer to info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line as ‘October competition’.
12. …and who won it? 13. Seaside is an upcoming cruise ship from which line?
What is the name of the new ship joining Saga’s fleet in July 2019?
14. What song famously kept Ultravox’s Vienna off the Number One spot?
Terms and conditions apply, see cruise-adviser. com/terms-conditions
15. Name the only country in the world that ends with the letter ‘H’
QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Uniworld. 2. Tom Waits. 3. Freddie Mercury. 4 Carnival UK. 5 15th. 6. Pablo Escobar. 7. Ian Fleming 8. Eden. 9 George Orwell. 10 Chips, cheese curds, gravy. 11 1903. 12. Boston Americans. 13. MSC Cruises. 14. Joe Dolce’s Shaddap You Face. 15. Bangladesh
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October 2017 | Aft
RECIPE
In the galley This month’s recipe: slow-braised beef cheeks with wild mushroom strudel, horseradish cream, red wine reduction and caramelised onion mashed potatoes, created exclusively by George Streeter, executive chef at Saga Cruises Method Heat 50g of butter in a frying pan and sweat shallots. Increase the heat, add mushrooms and cook quickly. Season with salt, pepper and tarragon. Cool in a refrigerator. Melt the remaining butter. Take your filo pastry sheets, brush each sheet with butter and place on top of each other. Spread the mushroom mixture evenly on top leaving a 3cm space around the edges. Roll into a sausage shape and brush over with the remaining butter. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes until golden brown. Caramelised onion mashed potato 400g creamy mashed potatoes 200g caramelised onions
Ingredients 1kg beef cheeks – trimmed of fat and cut into 300g pieces 100ml olive oil 200g plain flour 250g chopped celery 250g chopped carrots 250g chopped peeled onions 2 tablespoons minced garlic 3 bay leaves 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 1 bottle red wine 2l beef stock Method Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Season the beef cheeks with salt and pepper to taste and dredge them in flour. Fry to sear the meat and give it a nice golden brown colour. This should take two to three minutes. Set beef aside.
For more recipes, see cruise-adviser.com/tag/recipe
In the same pot, add the onions and sauté for two minutes. Add the celery and carrots and sauté for one more minute. Season, then stir in the garlic, bay leaves and thyme and cook for one more minute. Deglaze the pot with the red wine, scraping up all the bits on the bottom. Add the stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer. Add the beef and continue to simmer for two hours, until the sauce thickens and the meat is tender. Strain the sauce. Wild mushroom strudel 75g butter 2 large shallots, finely chopped 500g wild mushrooms, chopped 2 tablespoons tarragon 3 sheets filo pastry Salt and pepper
Method Thinly slice your onions and fry them over a medium heat in a little olive oil until golden brown. Fold the onions into the creamy mashed potato and put to one side, keep warm. Horseradish cream 200ml double cream 50ml white wine 4 teaspoons horseradish sauce Method Add the horseradish to a small pan and the wine and reduce by half. Add the cream and bring to a slow simmer, and reduce until you have a smooth consistency. Check for seasoning. Presentation Pipe the mashed potato in the centre of the plate. Slice the beef and place on top of the mashed potato. Spoon over the red wine sauce and drizzle the horseradish cream. Slice the wild mushroom strudel as per photo and place to the side of the beef. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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October 2017 | Aft
ON THE ROAD
Tom Morgan, key account exectutive Riviera Travel We speak to the people who make your job easier. This month: Riviera Travel’s Tom Morgan What does your job entail? Mainly commercial meetings and visiting agents, I cover the whole of the UK including Northern Ireland so I also spend a lot of time travelling. On the rare occasion I am in the office then it is catching up on emails and planning my diary – time management is very important. How long have you worked in the travel industry? It’s been about two and a half years now. Before I joined Riviera, I used to work in sales and staff training in the fitness industry, there are a lot of similarities between the two industries – just a different product.
What’s the best thing about being on the road? The best thing about being on the road is visiting new places as you never know quite what to expect, every day is different. Also, getting to meet lots of interesting people. What’s the worst? Constant packing and unpacking. I’ve stayed away a lot this year especially and packing is the one thing that I don’t enjoy. Favourite place to visit? Tough one as I like a lot of places for different reasons. I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced
Sydney for new year, so that was a real favourite. I’ve also just got back from a fam trip to India and that was something very special. What do you listen to in the car? A real mix. When I’m working over a weekend it’s Radio 5 live for the sport, but usually 6 Music or Radio 2. (I know, I’m old before my time, I like real ale as well.) One thing you couldn’t live without on the road? Snacks and water in the car. You always seem to get stuck in traffic when you are on the way home and have missed lunch. Favourite thing about Riviera Travel? Price parity with the trade and that we never discount. It means that agents don’t have to give away their commission and customers can book early knowing that no one will ever get a ‘deal’ later. Biggest myth about Riviera? That we are a small, threestar operator. If agents want to find out more, what do they do? Email agencysales@ rivieratravel.co.uk or join our Facebook page, which is the first place for all our news. Just search Riviera Travel Agents and request to join.
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October 2017 | Aft
FINAL WORD
Cruise should be commended for relief efforts After the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean recently, Sam Ballard praises the industry’s speedy and invaluable response The cruise industry is so often the subject of vitriol that it is curious to see what happens when it delivers something so heartfelt as its Hurricane Irma relief efforts. In cities like Venice cruise ships have becomes representations of mass tourism. This is despite cruise representing just five per cent of the total number of tourists in the city. It’s just easy to use a cruise ship looming over the ancient city to illustrate a problem that is in fact pretty complex. So, when it came to Hurricane Irma, which killed more than 80 people and caused horrendous damage to northeastern Caribbean Islands such as Cape Verde, the Greater Antilles, Cuba and the Bahamas as well as Miami, it is worth noting the relief efforts made by the industry. Carnival Corporation, the biggest cruise company in the world, and the Miami Heat basketball team, which has strong links to the company’s
chairman Micky Arison, donated up to $2.5 million each to Direct Relief, Unicef and United Way of MiamiDade County to support relief efforts. That money was matched by the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation Pledge, making almost $10 million donated to relief efforts. Royal Caribbean donated supplies to the islands most affected by the hurricane and used its ships to help out with 1,700 evacuations on ravaged islands such as St Thomas and St Martin. The line managed to provide 17,000 gallons of water and more than 20 pallets of medical supplies. The line also announced that it would match up to $1 million of donations made through its site. Norwegian Cruise Line made similar levels of effort in their own relief effort. The line’s president & CEO, Andy Stuart, summed up the thoughts of many in the industry when he said: “In our business,
we work hard every day to create moments that will become lifelong treasured memories for our guests. But this was an opportunity to do so much more than that, and our company’s leadership team, led by president & CEO Frank Del Rio, didn’t hesitate for a moment when asked for help. The question wasn’t if we could go, but how fast we could get there. In my 30 years at Norwegian Cruise Line, it was my proudest moment.” The power that tourism, and in this case specifically cruise companies, have as a force to do good around the world should not be underestimated. From empowering local communities through their continued investment and bringing tourists to their shores. However, in the case of Hurricane Irma the cruise lines deployed their most precious assets – ships and economic power – to help. Well done to all those who took part in relief efforts.
COMING NEXT TIME Silversea in the Galapágos
Pre and post
The Lower Danube
Cruse International editor Liz Jarvis joins the ultra-luxury line in the volcanic archipelago
From a train through the Rockies to ultra-luxury hotel stays in London, we explore cruise package options
Jeannine Williamson sails with Amadeus from Passau, Germany to the often-overlooked Danube Delta
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EXPLORE OUR ENRICHMENT
Cooking demonstrations and classes, Digital workshops and regional culture have always been part of the Holland America Line experience, now alongside exciting new partnerships designed for our guests’ enjoyment. • Our 15 mid-sized ships cruise to all five continents, offering in depth discoveries of some of the world’s most incredible places. • We’ve further amplified the destination experience with Explorations Central (EXC) featuring indispensable travel resources that will make travel experiences more engaging, vivid and meaningful. • Through BBC Earth’s* innovative programming, guests will be taken nearer to the natural world through ground-breaking concerts, films and kids activities, plus themed cruises. • A partnership with the Rijksmuseum features reproductions of some of the museum’s most famous art, plus cultural activities led by museum experts. • Entertainment ranges from high tech shows to BB Kings Legendary Blues band, 50 years of chart-topping hits at Billboard Onboard and the classical arrangements of the Lincoln Centre Stage.
Book select 2018 & 2019 cruises by 17 Nov 2018 and your clients receive all four offers below:1 Drinks package worth up to $1,000 per stateroom 2 Speciality Dining Experience 3 Reduced fares for 3rd/4th guests 4 50% reduced deposit Book a suite and receive all the above PLUS $200 spending money Explore4 Terms & Conditions apply. Explore4 starts 1/8/17 and applies to all sailings from 28/03/18 – 28/4/19 excluding Grand Voyages and sectors, select Maasdam cruises.
THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE DIFFERENCE Spacious staterooms and suites, many with private balcony Nearly one crew member for every two guests Fine dining with casual to formal options Regional culinary demonstrations, immersive destination experiences and more Sumptuous Greenhouse Spa & Salon Long days and overnight stays in gorgeous cities
Worldwide Cruise Holidays 2018-19
NOW AVAILABLE CONTACT THE SALES TEAM Email: salessupport@hollandamerica.co.uk Call 0344 338 8604 Reservations: 0344 338 8600
Mid-sized, elegant ships The experts in Worldwide cruises
Why Cunard? We’ve listened to our guests. We spoke to thousands of people around the world and this is what they love about Cunard. Our iconic voyages make guests‌
Feel special. Feel inspired. Feel free.