Cruise Adviser – September 2018 by Cruise Adviser

A Z A M A R A P U R S U I T | L E L A P Ã&#x2030; R O U S E | S P I R I T O F D I S CO V E R Y

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

S E P T E M B E R 2018

Fields of Bali

Sam Ballard sails on Star Clipper in Indonesia

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September 2018 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER

Getting up close and personal with Indonesia Spread across 17,000 different islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago nation and an emerging cruise destination. Home to remarkable natural beauty – waterfalls, volcanos, deserted cays – as well as exotic wildlife, such as the komodo dragon, it’s a destination that is perfect to be explored by ship. After enjoying the delights of Bali, including fabulous rice terraces pictured on our Fields cover, Sam Ballard joins Star Clippers on a cruise around of Bali this incredible region, getting up close and personal with the world’s largest lizards in the beautiful Komodo National Park (p40). Elsewhere in this issue, Anthony Pearce joins the Azamara Pursuit, the third ship in the fleet of the Royal Caribbean-owned line Azamara Club Cruises as it launches in Southampton (p38); Jane Archer heads to Papenburg, Germany, for the keel laying of Spirit of Discovery, Saga’s first purpose-built ship, which promises to shake up the ex-UK market (p16); while Sue Bryant boards Le Lapérouse, Ponant’s newest expedition ship, and asks, will the Blue Eye Lounge, the world’s ‘first multi-sensory underwater viewing lounge’ live up to the hype? (p35). We’ve also got all our regulars, including the latest industry news (beginning p8), fam trips, incentives and new hires (p21), plus Janet Parton is back with her monthly column in this issue discussing the importance of local and fresh ingredidents in cruise cuisine (p12). Our How to Sell guide, written by Karl Cushing, shares tips on booking adventure holidays (p45). There’s also a chance to win a wonderful afternoon tea for two on p55. We hope you enjoy reading – and good luck selling.

THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT

P40

A Z A M A R A P U R S U I T | L E L A P É R O U S E | S P I R I T O F D I S CO V E R Y

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

S E P T E M B E R 2018

Sam Ballard sails on Star Clipper in Indonesia

KOMODO DRAGON IS LARGEST LIZARD Tourists beware! These amazing lizards are carniverous and have been known to attack visitors P35

PONANT'S BLUE EYE IS A ‘WORLD FIRST’ Experience whale sounds and more in the world’s ‘first multisensory underwater viewing lounge’ on Le Lapérouse

P29

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EXPLORE

THE WORLD IN DEPTH AND IN STYLE

CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD For more than 145 years, we’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative power of travel. We’ve seen how introducing guests to new places and new cultures opens minds, builds connections and fosters an appreciation of the values that unite us. One way we do this is through Explorations Central™ (EXC™), our exclusive series of programmes offering original insights and cultural exchanges that make your clients’ journey more engaging and meaningful. They may delve deeper with EXC In-Depth™ Voyages and explore fascinating corners of the world through the lens of their unique interests and passions.

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April 2018 | Section Name

WIN!

AFTERNOON TEA FOR TWO WITH ATTRACTION WORLD Pursuit joins the Azamara Club Cruises fleet, p38

Contents MIDSHIP 29

Oceania Marina Simon Leeming enjoys a Highland fling on board a ship where country casual meets luxury

Ponant Le Lapérouse The Blue Eye multi-sensory underwater lounge is a winner for Sue Bryant

Azamara Pursuit Anthony Pearce reports from the christening of the cruise line’s third ship in Southampton A passage to Indonesia Sam Ballard discovers more than the carnivorous Komodo Dragon on an

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

exciting 10-day voyage of the exotic Indonesian islands 45

How to sell: adventure cruise Our unique how to sell guide – this time looking at the booming adventure cruises market, with options to suit all pockets for solos, couples and families

September 2018 | Forward

FORWARD 3

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter

News Azamara Pursuit launches in Southampton; Ponant partners with National Geographic; P&O Cruises scraps its service charge; Viking Cruises expands its Douro offering; and more.

Opinion Janet Parton, sales director at Avalon Waterways, explains why local and fresh are key ingredients for the cruise market's success

Fam trips / incentives We round up all the latest incentives and news

New crew The big cruise industry hires this month

Keel laying Saga unveils ambitious agency sales plans for its two new ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure

Ports of Call: Barbados Direct UK flights, world-class beaches and fantastic culture make the island an ideal preand-post cruise hotspot

AFT 49

Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place

Pictures Images from the latest industry events

Games room Unwind with our crossword, challenge yourself with sudoku, or attempt our quiz

Recipe The best recipes to be foundÂ at sea. This month: Avalon Waterways fillet of salmon served with Mediterranean vegetables

Final word It doesn't matter if you are planning your holidays on the smallest or largest of budgets, a good travel agent makes all the difference

Email info@cruise-adviser.com to share your thoughts CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

T H E R E-I NSPI R AT ION OF C L A S SIC

elegance

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NEWS

Do you have a story for us? Email info@cruise-adviser.com

CRYSTAL

Angela Merkel attends Crystal keel laying Crystal held a keel laying ceremony for its new polar-class luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor at the MV Werften’s Stralsund shipyard in Germany recently. It was attended by German chancellor Angela Merkel and Crystal president and CEO Tom Wolber. Bookings for the super high-end vessel opened to the public on August 22.

CLIA

Online toolkit to help drive agent cruise sales

AZAMARA

Trade bookings up 21% for Azamara Azamara Club Cruises, the high-end brand owned by Royal Caribbean, announces rise in trade business as it christens Pursuit in Southampton

Trade bookings for Azamara Club Cruises are up by 21 per cent, the company’s president and CEO Larry Pimentel said at the naming ceremony of its new ship, Azamara Pursuit. Ahead of a short sailing to Cherbourg, France, last month, the Royal Caribbean-owned line christened the ship in Southampton. The vessel, which was originally built for Renaissance Cruises, joins Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey in the fleet. Azamara owns three of the eight ships built for the defunct cruise line. The company said that Pursuit, which previously sailed under P&O Cruises as Adonia, has been embraced by British customers, who feel a strong connection to the ship. Carol Cabezas, the company’s COO, said that when the vessel was first launched, Brits accounted for 50 per

cent of all bookings – way up on the usual 25 per cent.Pimentel said that the ship, which represents 50 per cent growth for the line, means 40 per cent new destinations for guests. Pursuit, which visits 73 destinations including 15 maiden ports, will sail from Europe to South America, where it will visit Antofagasta (Chile), Lima (Peru), and sail the Beagle Channel.It will sail from South Africa in 2020. “We’re a family with a mission because this is a brand with a purpose,” said Pimentel. “Today paints a picture of how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go.” Meanwhile, the company’s UK managing director Richard Twynam has been given an expanded role that will encompass the EMEA region. Read the full story on p38

Clia is offering UK agents access to a new online toolkit to help them drive more cruise sales during September and October as part of its new #ChooseCruise campaign. The kit contains a marketing and PR guide plus shareable videos and images which agents can use in their own promotions and social media activity. Agents can access #ChooseCruise promotions on cruiseexperts.org.

RIVER CRUISE

Viking opens bookings on 2020 Douro river sailings Viking Cruises has opened bookings on the 2020 sailings of its popular Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary as it prepares to welcome a new ship on the route next year. The new ship which will accommodate 106 passengers – less than Viking’s regular Longships – has been specifically designed for the 10-day itinerary, which travels from Lisbon to Porto. The £1,345pp lead-in price includes UK flights and one shore excursion at each port.

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September 2018 | Forward PONANT

Nat Geo secures Ponant tie-in Karl Cushing reports on the companies’ plans National Geographic Expeditions has sealed a long-term partnership with French-owned cruise line Ponant in a bid to grow its small ship expedition programme in key European markets such as the UK. The initial four-year programme of 130 itineraries created by Ponant spans all continents, albeit with a strong focus on the Antarctic and Arctic. It went on sale on August 29 with a lead-in price of £2,700pp. Passenger numbers will range from 180 to 240.

The co-branded itineraries feature an innovative mix of onboard experiences, excursions and ports of call backed by expert NGE guides and photographers as well as enhancements such as Ponant’s new multi-sensory underwater lounge space, Blue Eye – as featured on new ship Le Lapérouse. Nathan Philpot, travel director, National Geographic Partners (Europe and Africa) said the move marked a milestone in the brand’s

efforts to grow its expeditions business across Europe. “In Ponant we have a luxury partner with European flair that has experience in travelling to ambitious locations, along with an expansive travel agent network together with call centres and websites in English, French and German. “We will be offering premium experiences with an ethically minded partner to create itineraries that speak to the explorer in all of us.”

P&O

OCEANIA

PRINCESS

Scrapping service charge could boost numbers

Four Regatta Class ships get a $100m makeover

Fifth ship to be named Enchanted Princess

P&O Cruises is to scrap daily service charges across its fleet from May 2019 having previously upped the fee from £6 to £7 back in March. Currently, the discretionary £7 daily charge is charged to passengers’ bills for service. The payment of gratuities on board cruise lines has long been a thorny issue among UK cruisers who make up the bulk of the line’s passengers and the move towards more transparent billing could provide a boost to passenger numbers. Meanwhile this month sees the opening of sales for P&O’s new ship, Iona, set to launch in May 2020.

Luxury line Oceania Cruises has revealed more details of its massive fleet modernisation investment plan, OceaniaNEXT, which will kick off with a $100m refurbishment of its four Regatta Class ships. The details were made available to agents on Facebook. The four ships – Sirena, Insignia, Regatta and Nautica – will each receive 342 new designer suites and staterooms. Restaurants, lounges and bars will all be kitted out in the new décor. Insignia is due to return to service on December 7, Sirena in May 2019, Regatta in September 2019 and Nautica in June 2020.

Princess Cruises has revealed that the name of its fifth Royal-class ship will be Enchanted Princess. The ship, which is set to launch on June 15, 2020, will be based in Europe. Its maiden sailings will be available to book from November 8. The ship, which accommodates 3,660 passengers, joins Royal Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Sky Princess with a sixth Royal-Class ship set to launch in 2021. Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ president, said: “The name Enchanted Princess is captivating and conveys the elegance and grace of our new ship.”

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Enjoy colourful local entertainment and authentic regional delicacies served alongside Western cuisine in both the Main Restaurant and The Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table speciality restaurant, unlimited wine with every lunch and dinner onboard and complimentary house-brand spirits, local beer and soft drinks throughout the cruise. Guests can also enjoy a host of amenities including the Sun Deck pool and fitness room. Discover temples, trade routes and fishing villages along the banks of the river with a choice of immersive excursions and authentic encounters on this inspiring journey through Vietnam and Cambodia, with optional extensions in Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap (home to the famous Angkor Temples) and the picturesque Ha Long Bay.

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BOOK BY 30 SEPTEMBER AND ENJOY SAVINGS OF UP TO £ PER COUPLE

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For more information or to book call 0800 520 2250 www.amawaterways.co.uk

Terms & Conditions Offer fares include port charges and per person based on double occupancy of a Category C stateroom. Fares do not include flights or transfers. Offer is valid on selected sailings only and is combinable with all past guest programme and guest service certificates, but not combinable with any other offers or promotions. Solo guests must pay an additional solo supplement before receiving any savings - please call for details. Fares and offers correct as of 17 August 2018 are subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Offers are valid on new bookings only made on or before 30 September 2018. Standard terms & conditions apply - please visit www.amawaterways.co.uk

ABTA No.Y6393

September 2018 | Forward NEWS

OPINION

Local and fresh are key ingredients of cruising’s success Janet Parton, sales director, Avalon Waterways

here’s no doubt that culinary tourism is well and truly an important factor when it comes to holidaymakers deciding on their next getaway. For many, enjoying highend cuisine, regional wines and local delicacies forms a huge part of the consideration process. Cruise lines are pioneers when it comes to showcasing a destination’s culinary offering through dedicated food and wine shore excursions and ‘eat like a local’ experiences such as our own Avalon Waterways' wine and culinary sailings that visit vineyards, orchards, dairies and famous cellars, as well as including live cooking demonstrations and expert-hosted dinners. For me though, it’s equally

“The cruise sector is doing a great job of responding to this trend with flexible dining times, more menu options and a greater choice of restaurants and dining experiences” important to shout about the ways in which the cruise sector has listened and responded to broader culinary trends, ensuring that the onboard gastronomic experience meets

and surpasses the expectations of everyone of our guests. As well as amazing partnerships with celebrity chefs to create incredible onboard restaurants and bespoke menus, cruise lines are working with local producers and suppliers to ensure that regional ingredients are incorporated into the daily onboard offering. Whether that’s delicious red wine from vineyards just a stone’s throw from the Rhône, local cheeses from the banks of the Rhine or even escargot to surpass Paris’ top Michelin-starred restaurants when sailing on the River Seine. Likewise, with health and wellness becoming increasingly important to all of us, our dedicated Avalon Fresh programme enables our guests to choose from a wide range of healthy and vegetarian options at every meal that focus on using locally-sourced ingredients. And finally, long gone are the days of formal sit-down dinners. The cruise sector is doing a great job of responding to this trend with flexible dining times, more menu options and a greater choice of restaurants and dining experiences to suit all preferences. It’s important that as an industry, we continue to attract ‘new to cruise’ holidaymakers and also showcase our pioneering innovation to existing customers. Tapping into key trends is a great way for agents to do this, so be sure to keep your finger on the pulse. With the upcoming CLIA #ChooseCruise campaign taking place throughout September and October, there will be plenty of exciting and inspirational sector updates for agents to harness when talking directly to their customers. Watch this space!

HOLLAND AMERICA

Nieuw Statendam completes sea trials Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, its second Pinnacle Class ship, successfully completed sea trials in August ahead of its December debut. Orlando Ashford, president, said: “There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Nieuw Statendam and the innovations we’re introducing on board. The ship is going to have an exciting debut in early December.” The ship is being built in Italy’s Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

NORWEGIAN

NCL overhauls trio Norwegian Cruise Line has refitted Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Breakaway during recent dry dockings adding Bliss Ultra Lounges and new bar and dining concepts such as Syd Norman’s Pour House on Breakaway, as well as new carpets and furniture. NCL said the move was part of its ongoing programme, The Norwegian Edge, designed to help the line “remain consistent, relevant and exciting”.

CELEBRITY

$500m upgrade planned Celebrity Cruises is to embark on a four-year, $500-million of its fleet to bring all ships up to the mark of latest vessel, Edge, launching November. Key focuses include ‘reimagining’ its dining concepts and its suites, with a new look from British designer Kelly Hoppen and the SEA Thermal Suite and The Retreat space for suite guests, both debuting on Edge, going fleet wide. The programme will run from 2019 to 2023, starting with Celebrity Millennium. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

CRYSTAL DIFFERENCE the

V O YA G E W I T H T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T

RIO RENDEZVOUS NEW ORLEANS TO RIO DE JANEIRO | OCS190105-19 CRYSTAL SYMPHONY | 5 JAN 2019 | 19 NIGHTS

Michael Dupont Head of Sales Tel: 07921 949469 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

Cruise Only Fares From

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Natalie Read Regional Sales Manager South Tel: 07896 971316 natalieread@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

Jon Schoﬁeld Regional Sales Manager North & Scotland Tel: 07841 921533 jon@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

Nan Short Representative Northern Ireland & Eire Tel: 02890 642252 nanshort@btopenworld.com

Megan Saunders Trade Sales Support Executive Tel: 020 7399 7602 megan@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING, PLEASE CALL:

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ABTA No.V8548

Fares are per person, cruise only in UK sterling based on double occupancy in an outside stateroom and include port, security and handling charges, which vary by departure. All fares, offers and itineraries are subject to change and availability and can be withdrawn at any time. Fares may fluctuate and should be used as a guide only. Prices may go up or down. You should contact us on 0207 399 7601 before booking, or visit our website www.crystalcruises.co.uk. The fares are available to new bookings only and are only available to UK & Eire residents. Restrictions apply. See crystalcruises.co.uk for complete terms and conditions of all offers. ©2018 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas.

Promotion

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Danny Joel, sales manager, Scenic & Emerald Waterways Sara Macefield takes to the road with Scenic & Emerald Waterways regional sales manager for a day calling at branches of leading Kent-based miniple Baldwins Travel Scenic and its sister brand Emerald Waterways are on a roll with new ships, new destinations and an exciting move into the cruise expedition market with the company’s first Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse, which launches in January. With so much going on, the company is keen to ensure agents are on board and kept up to date with latest developments. Danny Joel, who joined the company earlier this year, believes in maintaining as much direct contact as he can with regular calls at agencies and initiatives to incentivise and reward staff for strong performances. We joined him for a day-long blitz of Baldwins Travel Group’s branches in west Kent. 8.45am Tunbridge Wells The day started at the head office branch of Baldwins, where Danny told staff that the company had notched up a 50 per cent rise in business for Scenic & Emerald Waterways so far this year. He launched into a 45-minute training session, highlighting some of the river cruise itineraries and the new Scenic Eclipse which was of interest to retail manager Kim and her deputy Maxine as they’re keen to target more expeditionary cruise business.

11am Tonbridge We arrive armed with goodies as a reward for a record booking for Scenic & Emerald Waterways on a Scenic Eclipse sailing to the Arctic, Iceland and Greenland made by branch manager Trevor. As he was away, assistant manager Bettina was happy to accept the wine, fruit and sweet treats that Danny had brought as part of Scenic & Emerald Waterways' Fill the Fridge campaign, which ran in July, to reward agents for outstanding performance. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Promotion 12.45pm Sevenoaks Branch manager Clare, of Baldwins’ Sevenoaks travel agency, explained how the single cabins on Emerald Waterways’ river vessels had helped to clinch a fantastic booking from two single lady travellers who wanted their own staterooms – and Danny responded by giving the branch extra River Rewards incentive points. She then pointed out that none of the seven sales staff had been on a river cruise, prompting Danny to organise a date for an office training stint followed by a meal out afterwards.

3.30pm Tenterden Business was brisk at Baldwins’ Travelux branch, where a third of its sales are cruise. Danny told senior travel consultant Bridgit that Scenic bookings from Travelux had jumped 200 per cent year-on-year, with Emerald Waterways rising by 66 per cent. As a reward, Danny took in some sweet treats and Scenic & Emerald Waterways slippers for staff. Branch manager Jo said Scenic's redesigned rucksack and travel wallets had gone down well and praised Scenic & Emerald Waterways' single cabins as a real winner with customers. 4.30pm Cranbrook Senior travel consultant Michele reported that business had really picked up since the World Cup ended and inquired about any late availability among the Scenic brands. Danny said it was always worth enquiring and pointed out that the company’s TV and general advertising campaigns created a halo effect for agents as there was price parity. To add an extra incentive, Danny offered bonus River Rewards for any bookings made over the next month on Scenic brands.

Would you like the Scenic & Emerald Waterways team to visit your store? If you are based in the north, contact William Young, william.young@Scenic.co.uk, 07921 830147, if you are central, contact Wendi Hardy, wendi.hardy@Scenic.co.uk, 07540 132370, if you are based in the south contact Danny Joel, Danny.joel@Scenic.co.uk, or call him on 07525 913949. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Forward

KEEL LAYING

Saga unveils spirited trade campaign With two new ‘game-changer’ ships on order, Saga is looking to travel agents to quadruple their sales, writes Jane Archer at the Spirit of Discovery ceremony Agents will play a vital role in the sales mix for Saga Cruises as the company more than doubles capacity with the launch of two new ships. Speaking at the keel-laying for the first vessel, Spirit of Discovery, Saga Travel chief executive officer Robin Shaw said he wanted agents to contribute almost a third of its cruise business, up from six per cent now. “With more capacity coming we need more agents’ support to raise awareness of the brand and attract first-time cruisers. We have six people on the road talking to the trade. This is a big growth area for us.” To show its commitment to the trade, all agents attending Clia’s May cruise convention in Southampton were promised a place on board Spirit of Discovery. “Our challenge is that the agents selling us are not our customers so they must see the ship,” said head of trade sales Iain Powell. Passengers

have to be aged 50 or over to travel with Saga. Shaw described the ships as gamechangers that bring Saga Cruises into the 21st century. “They will still be Saga with the same personal service, but a better experience for customers and more commercially sustainable for us as a company. It’s a win-win on all fronts.” The design of Spirit of Discovery, launching July 2019 and to be followed in 2020 by Spirit of Adventure, has been based on past and potential customers’ feedback. Each has capacity for 999 passengers, a choice of speciality dining venues and all-balcony accommodation. Cabins will be equipped with kettles and USB ports, furnished in different coloured throws and headboards, and have individual, and simple, air-conditioning. They will also have proper theatres, allowing Saga to up its game there.

Saga Cruises’ existing ships, Saga Pearl II and Saga Sapphire, hold 450 and 700 passengers respectively. Pearl leaves the fleet in April 2019, 10 weeks before Discovery enters service, so crew can be moved across (around 250 more will also be recruited for the new ship). Sapphire will bow out in June 2020 after a 33-night Grand Finale sailing. Shaw said: “Customers have been concerned about 999 passengers but the ships will be spacious.” As now, fares will include all speciality dining and tips, and drinks with lunch and dinner will also be included. A specially-minted coin was placed beneath the first of the 54 blocks that will go into building Spirit of Discovery during a keellaying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship will be floated out in about eight months and transit the River Ems to the North Sea in May 2019.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Explore the Ancient Maritime Highways of the Northern Seas It’s not every day that intrepid travelers can set out on a voyage from a sophisticated, history-rich city like Edinburgh, Scotland and in less than two weeks be immersed in the wilderness and polar wildlife of Svalbard’s western shores, to the Arctic region. All aboard the comfortable expedition ship Sea Spirit, a small, nimble vessel that provides the ideal means to access remote islands and northern seas that few others have the privilege to visit. The 12-day itinerary, created by Poseidon Expeditions, explores ancient Neolithic cultures, Viking sea lanes, volcanic islands, migrating bird routes and, ultimately, the whales, polar bears, walruses, reindeer and Arctic fox of Spitsbergen Island, well above the Arctic Circle. Unlike a conventional cruise, this voyage’s focus is on the geography and geology, culture and history, and flora and fauna inhabiting the ocean landscapes through which it passes. It’s this unique combination that makes the trip ideal for those interested in trying a soft adventure cruise for the first time.

What can our guests expect along the way, as they cross the North, Norwegian and Greenland seas?

• • • • •

The Orkney Archipelago offers the mysterious Ring of Brodgar, a huge ceremonial circle of stones and a Neolithic village, Skara Brae, both circa 3,000 BC. Fair Isle in the Shetlands is a birder’s paradise, with 345 different species recorded here, including northern fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas. The Faroes are authentic, unspoiled islands, far removed from trans-Atlantic sea lanes. Explore the medieval ruins of Saint Magnus Cathedral and traditional turf-roofed Roykstovan in Kirkjubøur. Rarely visited Jan Mayen hosts landscapes of breathtaking beauty, including steep cliffs that are the home of tens of thousands of nesting sea birds, as well as Beerenberg, the northernmost subaerial active volcano on the planet. The Svalbard Archipelago represents the quintessential frozen world of glaciers, reindeer and polar bear. The area of exploration along the western shores contains historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins, staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole.

While cruising, voyagers will be startled by bountiful waters, deep fjords and narrow channels with a wide variety of whales and walruses. Jagged snowy mountain peaks and fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s fecundity in 24-hour daylight. With its ice-strengthened hull, the Sea Spirit explores coves and waterways not accessible to larger vessels. Rather than follow a strict schedule, the ship’s captain and expedition leader take advantage of the moment – pausing

alongside a pod of whales, stopping to watch a polar bear mother and cub on an ice floe – in order to provide guests with the best immersive experience possible. Taking this a step further, the ship can quickly deploy its fleet of Zodiac landing craft to shuttle guests ashore on rocky beaches or the shoreline of a fjord where no infrastructure exists. Zodiacs are also ideal for giving passengers more intimate experiences.

Throughout the journey, guests are accompanied by an experienced team of expedition staff – marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists, historians – who curate the experience, putting it in perspective on a human scale. Activities include Zodiac excursions, hiking suitable for all levels of fitness, along with informative presentations aboard. The team is led by Huw Lewis-Jones, noted historian, author and former art curator of the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge. It is the wideranging diversity of the itinerary that attracted LewisJones, and he looks forward to sharing his insights with guests. While the Sea Spirit specializes in the discovery of remote environments, the well-being and comfort of its 114 guests are also paramount to Poseidon Expeditions. The ship features just 54 spacious suites, all refurbished in 2017. This cruise will certainly become a perfect mixture of a soft expedition and a polar adventure bringing unforgettable experience and joyful memories to all the passengers.

For reservations: sales@poseidonexpeditions.com

Please call + 44 203 936 8218 or visit poseidonexpeditions.com

September 2018 | Forward

FAM TRIPS / INCENTIVES

Unlock the door and escape to New York with Royal Caribbean

Fifteen canny agents could win a three-night, all-expenses-paid trip to New York this December in Royal Caribbean International’s new Escape Room competition. The competition, which will run from September 4 until October 4 and is open to Club Rewards members, was inspired by the Observatorium Escape Room concept aboard the new-look Independence of the Seas. Agents gain one entry into the virtual, online Escape Room for each approved booking submitted to Club Rewards. They will then be tasked

with collecting items, answering questions about Royal and completing challenges against the clock to unlock the door and escape. Successful escapes will earn 100 points and attempted escapes 10. A weekly bonus of 50 points is on offer for the fastest escape. Codes granting extra chances to play will also be released. The top-scoring 14 agents will qualify for a place on the New York trip (December 7–10, 2018); those placed 15 to 25 will battle it out for the final place. To enter visit: myclubroyal.co.uk

Bookings bonanza will give agents the edge to win a cruise on new ship's maiden voyage from UK shores Celebrity Cruises is offering 200 agents the chance to win a cruise for two on new ship Celebrity Edge’s maiden voyage from UK shores next May. During the special two-night Festival of Edge sailing, departing Southampton on May 13, 2019, agents will get to experience all aspects of the new ship, including its vaunted entertainment offering, with accommodation for two provided in stateroom cabins. To enter, simply make as many

bookings as possible between August 30 and November 14, 2018 and register them online at celebrityrewards.com. Bookings in AquaClass and Suite Class get four times as many points as those in Inside and Oceanview. To help drive sales, Celebrity has produced a new selling guide for agents and is offering incentives such as a saving of up to £600 per stateroom. Celebrity Edge will make her first sailing in November 2018.

Places up for grabs at the MSC ship christening Agents still have time to grab a place at the christening of the 4,500-passenger MSC Bellissima in Southampton on March 3, 2019. All they need to do to bag a place is to be one of the first 2,000 agents to complete all 11 modules on the MSC Basics section of its new online training platform MSC Masters, which went live on August 20. MSC Bellissima will become the largest ship ever to be named in Southampton and the christening celebrations will take place from March 1-4, 2019.

Win a Fiat 500 or cruise in Fred’s big giveaway Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is giving UK travel agents the chance to win a car for Christmas in its Big Fred Olsen Giveaway promotion, with a cruise also up for grabs every month until December. The winning agents in the prize draw can choose a cruise for two people for up to eight nights on any of Fred’s ships, including its new river vessel, Brabant. To be in with a chance of winning, agents need to register all the bookings they make for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines until December 15. The line will then pick a cruise winner at random each month, with one lucky travel agent set to win a new Fiat 500 at the end of the campaign.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Forward

NEW HIRES

Celebrity boosts trade support

Celebrity Cruises has bolstered its sales team with three key summer appointments, including an additional office-based trade sales support executive, Kat Hulatt. Hulatt, who has previously worked in the Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland trade-dedicated call centre, will help support the team on the road. Meanwhile Janna Thomson has changed roles from customer services manager to inside sales manager – a role she provided maternity leave cover for last year. New starters on the road include Michael Young Richards who joins the cruise line as regional sales manager

for the North West. Richards joins the line from the operator Do Something Different where he was a business development manager for more than two years. He brings more than 20 years of travel industry experience. Nicola McNeish, head of sales, Celebrity Cruises UK & Ireland said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to agents we’ve increased the amount of office-based support available. “With the launch of Celebrity Edge at the end of this year, our sales team are looking forward to working closely with agents to showcase modern luxury cruising at its best.”

It’s touchdown for Robbie White who heads up the one-stop travel shop’s growing cruise business Former Choosing Cruising managing director, Robbie White, has been appointed head of cruise product at Touchdown Travel Industry Services. White will oversee the cruise product at the new trade-friendly ‘one-stop travel shop’, created by the recent merger of Touchdown Holidays and Travel Industry Services. He had been at Choosing Cruising since 2008.

Touchdown Travel Industry Services managing director Nigel Smithson added: “Cruise is a significant and ever-growing part of our product portfolio. “We were looking for somebody with extensive knowledge of the cruise business combined with a strong commercial outlook and in Robbie we have found that.”

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Marco Rosa leaves Pandaw Marco Rosa has stepped down from his role as vice president of sales and marketing at Pandaw River Expeditions after two years at the company. Pandaw has yet to announce a replacement for Rosa who left the Asian river cruise specialist at the end of August. In the meantime, Andre Dryer will continue to head up Pandaw’s sales and reservations operation and be the main point of contact for the UK travel trade contact. Commenting on the move, Pandaw’s founder Paul Strachan said: “During his two years with us, Marco has done much to help build the Pandaw brand and further establish Pandaw’s reputation as a premium river expedition operator. “We wish Marco well and thank him for all he has done for us.”

Voyages to drive sales through agents Voyages to Antiquity has appointed a new partnerships manager, Amy Sykes, in a bid to drive sales though the travel trade. Sykes, who joins the line from the operator City Sightseeing, where she was global partnerships manager, will be tasked with overseeing the management of the operator’s UK travel trade accounts and further develop the company’s in-house training platform, vtaexpert.com. The new appointment will free up global head of commercial Michelle Daniels to concentrate on international business. Voyages to Antiquity managing director, Jos Dewing, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Amy aboard. Her impressive track record and personality brings valuable experience and abilities to our team. She will manage an integral and growing part of the business.”

December Preview Edition | Section Name Promotion

A melting pot of effervescent and immersive experiences Exhilarating water sports, beautiful beaches, historic towns, affordable hotels and trendy pop-up restaurants will provide your clients with an unforgettable pre- or post cruise adventure Barbados is a home porting hub of the Southern Caribbean and more cruise ships are choosing to begin and end their voyages from this beautiful island than ever before. Daily airlift from major source markets and cities makes getting in and out of the island easy and hassle free. Barbados has so much to offer that staying for a few days pre- or post cruise, or both, will add another exhilarating and magical component to a cruise vacation experience... Covering just 166 square miles, Barbados is packed with more attractions per square mile than any other island in the Caribbean! Whichever corner of the island your customers choose to go, they are destined to find a rich combination of culture, heritage, adventure, shopping, sport, food, activities and

hallmark attractions they can access within minutes. The south coast is every water sports lover’s dream come true. The azure waters along this shoreline are alive with jet skiing, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, scuba diving and even hydro flying. Add to this, duty-free shopping, boutiques and restaurants brimming with souvenirs, a variety of local culinary delights and even a local farmer’s market on select days. After dark, the nightly Oistins Fish Fry is popular with travellers seeking to immerse themselves more deeply into the local culture. This unique open-air market venue is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. An example of the island’s uniquely compact diversity is the proximity

of the trendy St Lawrence Gap just minutes from Oistins. The “Gap” is a melting pot of effervescent evening experiences, including exotic and sophisticated waterfront dining and stylish bustling bars plus anything and everything in between. It’s a short commute from the south coast to the capital Bridgetown and its Garrison, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled within the historical city are not only elegant 19th century buildings with ornate finishes, but also beautifully maintained symbolic structures of our colonial heritage, including one of the oldest parliament buildings in the western hemisphere, several museums and 17th century historical sites. Bridgetown is also home to contemporary shopping centres offering duty-free prices on luxurious products. Perfectly positioned on the south coast of Barbados are the Ocean Hotels, three properties that offer exquisite luxury accommodation without the premium price tag. Closest to the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal is the recently refurbished South Beach (2016), a stylish boutique hotel where one can choose from spacious junior suites, one and two bedrooms as well as penthouse suites all complete with fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes, balcony and complimentary wi-fi. Offering a variety of dining options ranging from local street food to fine dining only a stone’s throw away, South Beach is ideal for guests looking for a trendy base from which to explore Barbados. Just a short walk from the ever-popular St Lawrence Gap CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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Promotion is Ocean Two. This modern and vibrant property offers the rare combination of luxury, fully-equipped accommodation with the amenities and services of a 4.5 star resort. With 95 per cent of the rooms boasting ocean views, guests can choose from hotel rooms, and one or two bedroom suites with fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities, each with a well-appointed terrace or balcony. Listen for the sound of the conch shell signalling three-times daily happy hour and enjoy a rum-spiked coconut on the beach! For a luxury all-inclusive beach holiday, suitable for couples, families and solo travellers alike, look no further than Sea Breeze Beach House. Newly refurbished (2018), this sought-after property is spread over 2.5 acres of lush tropical gardens and sits proudly on more than 1,000 feet of pristine Caribbean beachfront. By day, sink into a sumptuous sun lounger with a chilled rum cocktail and by night, sample delectable dishes at a choice of restaurants or the chef’s pop-up dining experiences. For adventure and exploration, head cross country to the magnificent east coast. The scenic drive inland between sugar cane fields and numerous churches, rum shops and villages will showcase the contrasting topography of the island and explain why it is often referred to as “Little England”. Wild waves, breathtaking beaches and lush tropical landscapes including hiking forests, nature trails, clifftops and botanical gardens endorse the island’s reputation as “Gem of the Caribbean Sea”. And there is more! A short drive along the south coast through Bridgetown and across to the west coast’s chic yet historic towns of Holetown and Speightstown will expose an eclectic combination of culture and history set amidst luxury shops, quaint retail villages, beautiful beachscapes, world-class restaurants, trendy bars and lounges. And, this really is just the beginning...

South Beach

Ocean Two

Sea Breeze Beach House

For information on our immersive island experiences and pre- and post cruise packages at the beautiful Ocean Hotels in Barbados check out visitbarbados.org today! oceantwobarbados. com; southbeachbarbados.com; sea-breeze.com. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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September 2018 | Forward

PORTS OF CALL

Barbados

With direct UK flights, world-class beaches and fantastic culture and cuisines, the island makes an ideal pre-and-post cruise destination, writes Anthony Pearce Home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, a Unesco World Heritage–listed capital, and the sprawling, colourful Crop Over carnival, Barbados is one of the Caribbean’s most fascinating and enduringly popular destinations. It’s also a key port of call on Caribbean cruises: the likes of P&O Cruises, Fred Olsen, Seabourn, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Windstar, Star Clipper and Sea Cloud Cruises all begin itineraries in Barbados. The cruises tend to range from seven to 14 nights and take in the likes of the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, St Kitts and St Lucia. The former colony, where Engish is the official language, is unsurprisingly popular among Brits and is connected to the UK by regular, direct British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights. Cruises that sail from Florida spend a day at sea on the way to the Caribbean, whereas starting from Barbados allows guests more time to explore the region. With its wealth of hotels, worldfamous beaches (which are all

public), and fantastic culture and cuisines, it makes a lot of sense as a pre-and-post destination. The cruise terminal is located in its capital, Bridgetown, found in the south-west of the country. The harbour is just 13 miles from the Grantley Adams International Airport, and transfers cost around £20. P&O Cruises, for example, charters flights to the country, meaning customers are taken directly from the airport to the port, without having to wait around at passport control. The port itself has cafés, bars and shops, and is a 20-minute walk to the centre of town – or there’s a mini-bus shuttle, which costs £1.50. A walk will take in the impressive Cheapside Market, where vendors sell clothing, crafts, fruit, vegetables, spices and more. It’s busiest and most enjoyable on Saturday mornings. The choice for those staying longer in Barbados is usually between the West and South Coasts. The West Coast, also known as the Gold Coast, is made up of the parishes of St Peter, St Michael and St James,

and famed for its pristine and quiet beaches. Guests can choose between the likes of Brandons, Batts Rock, Fitts Village, Paynes Bay, Sandy Lane and Folkestone Park in St James or Mullins Bay and Heywoods in St Peter. The upmarket St James is home to hotels such as the extravagant Sandy Lane, and welcomes celebrities such as Simon Cowell, Mariah Carey and Bajan singer Rihanna, who grew up on the modest Westbury New Road (since renamed Rihanna Drive). The South Coast is known for its nightlife and watersports, and is generally more afforadble than some parts of the upscale west coast. The North and East Coasts offer some of the island's most majestic views, but are generally better suited for walking than for swimming, given the ferocity of Atlantic waves. Carlisle Bay, just south of Bridgetown, is a good bet for cruise guests, and can be reached by taxi or local buses. But given Barbados is only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide, it doesn’t take long to get to and from one end of the island to another. Many will spend their days sunning themselves, but the historical sights in and around Bridgetown – such as the 19th-century Parliament Buildings and the city’s synagogue – are worth exploring. Ten minutes outside the city is the impressive George Washington House, where the US president once resided. It’s found in the Garrison area, once a British miltary base (barbadosgarrison.net). The Mount Gay Rum bottling plant is also near the port and offers one-hour tours with tastings. Farther afield is the 17th-century St Nicholas Abbey, a plantation house, museum and rum distillery and three genuine Jacobean mansions in the West.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

THREE BARBADOS CRUISES Seven days to St Maarten

14-night round-trip

Eight-day Grenadines explorer

Seabourn Seabourn Odyssey January 12, 2019 From £2,200pp

P&O Cruises Britannia Barbados (round-trip) January 4, 2019 From £1,400pp

Star Clipper Royal Clipper Barbados (round-trip) January 5, 2019 From £1,400pp

Aruba, St Vincent, St Kitts, Antigua and more: this is a classic Caribbean itinerary on a cruise line that acts as a home away from home for Brits

Taking in the lesser-known Tobago Cays and Bequia, and with overnights in Martinque and St Lucia, this cruise truly explores the region

Taking in the tiny island of Mayreau as well as Dominica and St Barts, this seven-day cruise on ultra-luxury line Seabourn also calls in at the private Peter Island CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

December Preview Edition | Section Name Promotion

All aboard for a once-in-a-lifetime African adventure Watching big cats, elephants and hippo in their own environment coupled with a cruise on one of Africa’s biggest lakes is the stuff of dreams – now thanks to CroisiEurope, it’s a reality With CroisiEurope you can experience the world-famous sights of Africa and more. Stay in some of the most sumptuous lodges in Africa as well as on board the African Dream, CroisiEurope’s intimate eight cabin vessel, which cruises the mysterious Lake Kariba – the largest man-made lake in Africa. It’s not uncommon to have herds of elephant walk right past the ship. Choose between CroisiEurope’s

nine or 12-day Africa tours that cover South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. These programmes defy definition, there really is nothing else like them on the market right now. They start in Johannesburg with a visit to the world-famous Apartheid Museum – the first museum to centre on 20th century African history – followed by a tour of the city. The city showcases two sides of South Africa – a land of extreme poverty and wealth.

The next day, guests will board a flight to Kasane, Namibia, and transfer to the beautiful Cascades Lodge by private boat. Here they will be welcomed by our crew as they settle into their accommodation, located on an island created by a tributary of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a dinner and a good night’s sleep in the heart of wild Africa. The next day will see guests enjoy a full day of safari in Chobe National Park – home to more than a quarter of Africa’s entire elephant population. Lunch will on board a floating restaurant in the middle of the river – offering 360 degree views of the stunning scenery. After visiting the marshes of Sedudu Island in Bostwana, guests will journey to Impalila Island where they will visit villages and hear about traditional ways of life that have continued for centuries. There will be free time to enjoy the lodge’s private swimming

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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pools or head out again and explore more of the wilderness. From here guests will transfer to Lake Kariba on small private planes. This is far off the usual tourist trail and offers something totally unique for CroisiEurope’s guests. Lake Kariba was formed by building the vast Kariba Dam in 1955, which powers 70 per cent of Zimbabwe’s electricity – its scale is extraordinary. In the evening, guests board the African Dream to start the cruise portion of their adventure. The next four days will be spent exploring Lake Kariba and all of the incredible sites – including submerged trees that can be glimpsed far below – drowned after the valley was flooded to create the lake. Passengers will board an even smaller private boat to discover the unique wildlife around the Gache Gache River before sailing through the Sanyati Gorge. The next day brings one of the highlights of a tour packed with incredible moments – a safari through Matusadona National Park. The vast 540 square mile protected area is home to everything from elephant and hippo to crocodile and thousands of species of bird, including the African Sea Eagle. No trip to an African national park would be complete without searching out one of the continent’s big cats, either. You’ll also learn more about Operation Noah – a huge initiative to save the animals when the lake was created and move them to their new

home in Matusadona. The final two days of this incredible journey are spent exploring the Kariba Dam before flying out to the mighty Victoria Falls – the widest waterfall in the world – on board a private plane. Lunch will be on the Zambezi River, upstream from the falls. Here guests will be able to experience ‘the smoke that thunders’ for themselves – a sight they will never forget. There is also an opportunity for guests to take a helicopter ride over the falls, too. This is, by any measure, a once-ina-lifetime adventure. The opportunity to see lions, elephants and rhino in their own environment is a bucket list holiday. To do so coupled with a unique cruise on one of Africa’s biggest lakes, is the stuff of dreams.

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CroisiEurope’s luxury getaway is available in both low season (March, November and December) and high (April through to October) – meaning it is available virtually year-round. For those who want to see more of Africa, CroisiEurope’s 12-day programme includes the chance to visit Cape Town and Robben Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years. An experience which is all the more poignant given this year’s centenary celebrations for Nelson Mandela’s birth. It’s also an opportunity to see yet another side of this incredibly diverse and fascinating continent. What are you waiting for? For more information call 0208 3281 281 or visit croisieurope.co.uk

December Preview Edition | Section Name Promotion

The Finest Cuisine at Sea just got even better With the introduction of 800 new dishes, plus the most expansive vegan menu at sea, Oceania Cruises continues to lead the way in on board culinary experience Already celebrated for serving the Finest Cuisine at Sea, Oceania Cruises continues to expand on its award-winning culinary offering with innovative new additions. The world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line has recently unveiled the most expansive and diverse dinner menu at sea, featuring an incredible spectrum of world flavours as well as an allnew Executive Chef’s Food & Wine Pairing. Guests will be treated to more than two dozen dishes each evening – six appetisers, three soups, four salads, nine main courses and nine side dishes. All in all, the selections add to up more than 800 dishes – and guests are free to choose as many, or as few, courses as they wish, along with side dishes and all accompaniments, which are ordered a la carte. Oceania Cruises has also expanded its acclaimed bistro lunch service across the brand’s six ships, introducing a new slate

of menus with more than 600 new dishes. The Bistro offers the ultimate combination of lunchtime Grand Dining Room classics, now infused with Jacques Pépin’s hallmark specialities from France and around the world. With Oceania Cruises, choice is everything – which is why it has also introduced the most expansive vegan menu at sea. Also available fleetwide, the dishes are in addition to the line’s already comprehensive selection of vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher meals. The vegan menus are featured in the Grand Dining Room at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a total of more than 250 dishes including appetisers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. What’s more, on Marina and Riviera, Oceania Cruises has introduced the only cold-pressed raw juice and vegan smoothie bars at sea. With 16 new enriching cooking classes

at its innovative Culinary Center on board Marina and Riviera, Oceania Cruises gives guests the chance to delve deeper into the culinary history and culture of destinations across the world, with expert advice from experienced chefs and restaurateurs. Classes include Pucker Up, a celebration of the diversity and splendour of lemons in Mediterranean cooking; Brunch Comforts, featuring classic brunch dishes and entertaining tips; If it Swims; where guests master the basics of fish cookery, such as searing, baking, shallow-poaching, deeppoaching and curing; and Sicilian Kitchen, a celebration of pasta, fish and rice dishes from the home kitchens of its faculty and crew. With all this, plus the exceptional speciality restaurants of Toscana, Jacques, Red Ginger and more, it’s no wonder Oceania Cruises continues to surprise and delight with its unbeatable culinary offering.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Midship

OCEANIA

Laid-back luxury is the way to go to attract first-time cruisers Simon Leeming enjoys a Highland Fling on board Oceania’s Marina and is delighted to discover ‘casual county-club’ dining without a dickie bow in sight The luxury cruise market has often been misunderstood. The image of stuffy, formal cruises requiring bow ties and dinner jackets to be worn at every meal has often put ‘new to cruise’ customers off from making their first booking. But as the cruise market changes and becomes more welcoming and accessible to new customers, through the widespread use of innovative technology and entertainment on board, dress codes are also changing,

and a more casual approach to clothing when dining in speciality restaurants has begun to be adopted across every cruise line, including those at the higher end of the market. But there is one cruise line that has always adhered to a more casual approach to cruising. Advertising itself as a country club at sea, Oceania Cruises offers a more laid back atmosphere while offering upmarket furnishing and facilities along with firstclass service.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Over the coming two years, a $100 million refurbishment programme will update Oceania's Regatta Class ships, which until now have felt more like English country hotels, to fit the more relaxed country club approach. Oceania doesn't have formal nights but instead offers guests the opportunity to dine in each of its four speciality restaurants, which range from a Parisienne-style French brasserie to Pan Asian fusion, at least once during their cruise.

September 2018 | Midship Nine dining options are available altogether, including 24-hour complimentary room service, and a sumptuous afternoon tea served daily in the lounge. For a fee, customers on board Marina and Riviera can enjoy a wine paired tasting menu in La Reserve. Guests celebrating a special occasion with a group can reserve the exclusive Privée, a private dining experience where they can choose a combination of courses from the Polo Grill and Toscana restaurant. I joined Marina, one of Oceania’s two largest and youngest ships in the fleet, in Newhaven for a cruise around the Scottish Highlands. While being almost twice the size of the other four ships in the fleet, at 1,250 guests, Marina and Riviera feel like there are only a handful of guests on board. We embarked by tender, a new experience for me, and emerged from the bowels of the ship to the beautiful grand atrium, surrounded by an exquisite art collection. Art plays a key part of life on board, with selfguided tours available. It was topped off by an incredible chandelier in the grand dining room constructed of Swarovski crystals. ‘Country club casual’ is the dress code, although I would still enter the dining rooms with trepidation fearing I would be surrounded by dickie bows. With relief, I found this not to be true and bar the wearing of shorts and jeans while dining, almost anything goes. Proclaiming itself to have the finest cuisine at sea, Oceania says it spend more per guest on food than any other cruise line. And it’s not all steak and lobster. It has embraced the societal shift towards plant-based lifestyles, and in addition to catering for vegetarians and those with food intolerances, it now also offers a daily vegan menu inspired by dishes from the speciality restaurants. Requests can also be made for afternoon tea. A set number of free excursions are included during the cruise. As we were visiting the Scottish Highlands, we were given a broad range of options to choose from, including discovering Jacobean castles, hunting for Nessie, visiting famous battlefields and touring St Andrews golf course. Oceania also offers a range of small

Clockwise from above: Grand dining room; guests piped ashore in Ullapool; Inverewe Gardens; afternoon tea pastries; Dalmore distillery.

group tours, with a maximum size of 16 people, so that guests can visit their favourite locations in a more intimate environment. Marina’s smaller size enabled us to dock in pretty fishing towns such as Ullapool, which larger ships skip. This allowed us to visit the beautiful

Inverewe Gardens, the world’s most northerly botanical garden, accompanied by a picturesque drive along lochs and through the glens. We even saw a majestic stag – the Monarch of the Glen – high on the hillside above us. On another day, we opted for a CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

THREE BRITISH CRUISES Nine-night Celtic Kingdoms

Oceania Cruises – Marina Southampton-Southampton August 4, 2019 From £3,959pp Experience the country club atmosphere while checking out the highlights of Scotland and Ireland’s Celtic history, including six shore excursions, free beverage package and $600 onboard credit.

11-night Scotland Intensive Voyage

Azamara Cruises – Azamara Quest Amsterdam-Dublin August 18, 2020 From £3,199pp An even more intensive and dedicated Scotland cruise, timed perfectly to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with six late-night departures from port and lots of whisky tasting.

14-night British Isles Explorer

wonderful small group whisky tasting excursion from Invergordon, which visited the famous Glenmorangie distillery – and gave us free time to explore the nearby Dalmore distillery. Exceptional service was received from everyone on board, the crew truly nailing the expectations of the casual cruiser who appreciates great

food and exceptional service in a fivestar setting. Cue also gourmet dining, happy hour in the Martini bar, string quartets and late-night karaoke. So if you have customers who are keen to try luxury cruising but aren’t quite ready for the likes of Cunard and Seabourn, Oceania offers the perfect experience for first timers.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Viking Cruises – Viking Sun London Greenwich-Bergen May 2, 2020 From £5,490pp Providing you with some of the best value at sea, including flights back to the UK, excursions in every port, balcony cabin, complimentary spa and room service, and wine and beer with meals.

Promotion

SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY

Spirit of Discovery A new era in luxury, British cruising Oceans of space to play and relax

Seafood specialities, from Coast to Coast

Spiced-up dining in East to West

She may be a smaller ship, but you’re sure to be surprised by just how spacious Spirit of Discovery is. Packed with restaurants, sociable bars, comfortable lounges, a gym, theatre and outside space, it’s easy to find your favourite area to play, relax and indulge.

A smaller venue, Coast to Coast showcases modern seafood cuisine: locally-sourced fish, sushi, shellfish and other fruits de mer. Choose from the ‘catch of the day’, or who can resist our tempting take on classic fish and chips, served with thrice-cooked chips. And it’s always free to dine, throughout your cruise.

They say variety is the spice of life, so why not try something completely different? Our exciting, free-to-dine Asian venue will tantalise your clients' taste buds with the fresh flavours of the Orient, thanks to an array of authentic dishes and a frequentlychanging dinner menu, all impeccably presented.

The Playhouse, our first-ever theatre Spirit of Discovery has another exciting first for Saga: the ship’s very own theatre. Raked seating means the best seat in the house for your clients, wherever they sit. Expect colourful shows, live music, guest entertainers, cinema screenings and more. Or why not head to the wonderfully cosy Britannia Lounge for an alternative programme of entertainment, day and night?

The Club by Jools Guests can look forward to live music and incredible cuisine in The Club by Jools, our first-ever celebrity venue, endorsed by musician Jools Holland. Based on a 50s cabaret club, it will be a place to enjoy live music and cocktails in the evenings, with resident and guest musicians entertaining until late.

There’s now just one year to wait until cruising on Spirit of Discovery becomes a reality. The only luxury ship being built for the British market, she offers world-class fine dining, an array of entertainment options and the finest cabins afloat. Welcome to boutique cruising. Included in your fare:

Traditional, elegant afternoon tea

The finest cabins afloat

Afternoon tea is one of the finest traditions of life on the ocean wave. And on Spirit of Discovery, it is offered free of charge every day in the grand dining room. Served individually to guests at their table étagère-style in a tiered curate stand, it’s the perfect showcase for delicate sandwiches, beautifullycrafted cakes, delicious patisseries and freshly-made scones. Hard to resist.

Taking their design cues from some of London’s top hotels, the cabins aboard Spirit of Discovery have been styled to showcase the best in contemporary, yet classic, British design. With an average floor plan of 215 square feet as standard, they provide a haven to relax and re-energise while enjoying your own personal space. 109 single cabins dedicated to solo travellers.

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Return chauffeur service up to 250 miles of the port

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Or complimentary car parking near the port, coach/rail travel, or UK domestic flights (subject to availability)

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Optional travel insurance

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A sailaway party with complimentary drinks

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All meals and snacks are included, in every main and speciality restaurant

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Wine with lunch and dinner

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Day and night entertainment

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24-hour room service

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All on-board gratuities

Porters to unload and carry your bags, free of charge

Explore Ashore service to help customers plan their excursions

Complimentary afternoon tea, served each day

Unlimited tea, coffee, fruit juices and freshly-baked snacks in selected venues

Complimentary Wi-Fi Group tourist visas should you need it to join excursions (for UK residents).

A balcony for every guest

The Spa

It’s one of the ship’s most distinctive features: every cabin has a balcony, giving each guest their own outside space. So whether they're in a stunning Norwegian fjord or sailing around the sunny Mediterranean, they will have their own place to relax, enjoy the views and fresh air.

Flooded with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the serene Aqua Spa is the perfect setting for a hydrotherapy pool, infrared sauna and steam room. From hot stone massage to facials, and manicures to hairdressing, it’s a little bit of heaven, wherever you are in the world.

small ship Expeditions that bring you closer discover > Our award winning expeditions to remote destinations > Our intimate and relaxed small ship atmosphere > Our all-inclusive shore excursions and meals > Our voyages focus on ancient culture and environment > Our small batch Australian cuisine and regional wines > Our personal and expert care from an Australian crew

Expeditions departing Australia include Papua New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Spice Islands and more > find out more www.coralexpeditions.com > call us on +61 7 4040 9999 > reservations@coralexpeditions.com

September 2018 | Midship

PONANT

Real adventure and fine dining served with French panache A multi-sensory underwater viewing chamber is a winner for Sue Bryant but it’s not the only extraordinary feature on Ponant’s first expedition class ship All talk at the July launch of Le Lapérouse, Ponant’s newest expedition ship, was of the Blue Eye Lounge. Would the world’s ‘first multi-sensory underwater viewing lounge’ live up to the hype? Would we even see anything on a two-hour cruise round Reykjavik harbour after the naming ceremony? First, the ship itself. Le Lapérouse is exciting news because it’s the first of a new expedition class, the Ponant Explorers, for the French-owned line. There will be six of these ships, each with 92 balcony cabins and suites. A second sister, Le Champlain, arrives

in October this year, with two more in 2019 and the final pair in 2020. This ambitious expansion is thanks to Ponant’s acquisition in 2015 by the mega-rich Groupe Artémis, which also owns Christie’s auction house, Château Latour wines and the Gucci and Stella McCartney fashion labels. The buzz of Le Lapérouse has all been around Blue Eye but the ship has other features that are just as extraordinary. Although the vessel takes 184 passengers, it really does feel like a private yacht. There’s a beautiful pool on the aft deck, with a whole wall of glass. A marina

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platform, the likes of which I have never seen on a ship, extends on an arm behind the pool and, cleverly, has three functions. It can sit just below the water, for easy embarkation onto the fleet of 10 Zodiacs. It can rest just above the water and act as a launch platform for kayaks, paddleboarding and snorkelling. Or it can serve, with railings around the sides, as a really smart spot for cocktails, or sunbathing, looking back towards the glass-walled pool. What else? The décor is gorgeous, it has to be said, not dissimilar to the Viking Ocean ships, with soothing

September 2018 | Midship neutral shades, soft textures and objets d’art reflecting the destinations where the ship will sail. The food is light and delicate; in 2016, the line started a partnership with Ducasse Education, the catering training arm of Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse, and it really shows. All cruises are now all-inclusive. The itineraries are fantastic, too. After an inaugural Med season, Le Lapérouse heads to the Seychelles and Sri Lanka, Asia, Australia and New Zealand and the South Pacific. What’s not to love? Yet, as international sales director Stephen Winter explains, fewer than five per cent of Ponant’s passengers are British. “Our top three markets are France, the USA and Australia/ New Zealand,” he says. “In 2009, we were carrying 100 Australians but it’s more like three or four thousand now. There’s no reason why the UK can’t get to numbers like this.” Although English and French are spoken on board, does more need to be done to get over the perception that this is a very ‘French’ product? “We have established a series of cruises that are for English-speaking markets only, called ‘Quintessential’,” Winter says. Three of these so far are on Le Lapérouse, to the sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand, the Kimberley coast and Japan. Others visit Sicily, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, Spitsbergen and Antarctica. Yet despite the possible language barrier, Winter believes the French panache of Ponant’s ships is its USP. “We have French DNA,” he says. “For example, the menus in association with Alain Ducasse. We offer a combination of real adventure with fine dining. We have been around 30 years, but have the most modern fleet afloat. Our ships are luxurious but environmentally friendly.” Passengers, too, are a stylish crowd, with an average age of 62. “They are looking for experiences, rather than showing off,” says Winter. Blue Eye was one experience we were all itching to try and it didn’t disappoint. Daylight fades as you descend eight feet below the water level via a lift and a steep staircase, into a wide, curvy space illuminated by rippling blue light from two big

Clockwise from above: Relaxing sundeck; stylish spa; Blue Eye's underwater views; a Prestige stateroom; the Panoramic restaurant

eye-shaped windows, throwing watery shadows on a structure resembling bleached whalebones. The lounge is surprisingly big, taking 30 at a time. People sat, seemingly hypnotised, on squashy white sofas; it transpired that these

vibrate subtly in time with the sound, lulling you into a blissful trance. In Reykjavik harbour, there wasn’t much to hear so recorded whale song added to the dreamy mood. For more exotic locales, though, two hydrophones on the ship’s hull

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THREE PONANT CRUISES 10 days in Borneo

Le Lapérouse Singapore — Benoa, Bali January 5, 2019 From £4,200pp This 10-day expedition cruise on board Le Lapérouse takes guests into the heart of Indonesia, including the Orangutans of Tanjung Puting. National Park.

10 nights in Antarctica

Le Boreal Ushuaia (round-trip) January 17, 2019 From £9,300pp Antarctica may be the ultimate expedition destination, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed in style. This 10-night cruise also includes flights to Ushuaia.

12 days in Papua New Guinea

will transmit sound direct from the ocean. By day, sunlight filters down to the ‘eyes’, but at night, 28 spotlights in the hull will gently light up the underwater world. I sunk into a sofa, gazing out into the blueness. I could get used to this. As far as gimmicks

go, Blue Eye is a winner, but it’s not the only talking point on this very attractive new ship. A 10-night cruise from Seychelles to Sri Lanka on Le Lapérouse costs from £3,696, flights extra (en.ponant.com).

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Le Lapérouse Honiara, Guadalcanal Island — Cairns May 1, 2019 From £5,300pp There is off-the-beaten track, and then there’s this: a cruise to Papua New Guinea, a land that is home to no fewer than 700 ethnic groups and one of the world’s richest ecosystems.

September 2018 | Midship

SHIP CHRISTENING

Azamara’s new ship goes in pursuit of loyal guests and cultural immersion Anthony Pearce attends the christening of Azamara’s third ship in Southampton, the first modern cruise vessel to be entirely refurbished by a British shipyard Azamara Club Cruises officially launched its third ship Azamara Pursuit during a naming ceremony in Southampton last month. A firework display lit up the South Coast city ahead of a short sailing to Cherbourg, France, joined by travel agents and cruise media from both sides of the Atlantic. The ship, which previously sailed under P&O Cruises as Adonia, was sold to the cruise line in March 2018, marking the first time rivals Carnival Corporation or Royal Caribbean have purchased from each other. Larry Pimentel, the company’s

CEO and president, described the event as a “special moment in the brand’s history”. Pursuit joins Quest and Journey in the fleet, meaning that Azamara now owns three of the eight ships (numbers six, seven and eight) built for Renaissance Cruises, the now defunct cruise line founded in 1989 by Fearnley and Eger Rederi. Oceania Cruises owns four, while Princess Cruises owns the remaining ship. With a capacity of 777 guests, Pursuit is slightly larger than Journey and Quest (696 guests). Adonia was a firm favourite under

P&O Cruises, and Azamara will hope Pursuit finds similar levels of support from its guests. The vessel, which also sailed under Swan Hellenic and Princess Cruises, made history when, operating under Carnival’s ‘social enterprise’ brand Fathom, it became the first ship to sail from the US to Cuba in half a century. Pimentel said its introduction allows the company to explore new regions (Journey, for example, will now sail to French Polynesia and Hawaii for the first time), and allow greater ‘destination immersion’ – the cornerstone of the line’s offering,

Clockwise from above: The Den, a new area on Azamara Pursuit; the pool on deck nine; Prime C speciality dining

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September 2018 | Midship which Pimentel describes as “connecting guests to local culture”. In essence, it means more overnight stays and later departures than other cruise lines. Pursuit will call at 73 destinations, including 15 maiden ports, such as Agadir, Morocco; Antofagasta, Chile; Fowey, United Kingdom; Lima, Peru; Maceió, Brazil; Seyðisfjörður, Iceland and Spetses, Greece. It will also sail the Beagle Channel, and itineraries will include 63 overnight stays and 73 late nights. The ship will also explore Ireland, Scotland and, in 2020, South Africa, running 10-day cruises from Cape Town, Pimentel said. He added that the line will extend its pre-and-post offering, and will look to run rail and cruise itineraries in partnership with Belmond and Rocky Mountaineer, other tours with Cox & Kings, as well target the golf and cruise market. Refitted in Belfast by the MJM Group at Harland and Wolff shipyard by 650 staff to the sum of £50m, Pursuit this year became the first modern cruise ship to be entirely refurbished in Britain. The ship has been fitted out in the colour palette – creams, mahoganies and greys – and similar furnishing of Quest and Journey, but retains some features that will be familiar to those who sailed on Adonia; for example, Azamara has kept the Golden Erastyle grand stairway and much of the layout remains the same. A new area called The Den, which at one point contained a casino, features the elegant Spirits Bar and a piano. The ship also boasts impressive new ‘spa suites’. Pimentel said that, currently, 20 per cent of its guests are first-time cruisers, which he puts down to ‘destination immersion’ and the fact that the line tends to sail from one region to another, rather than repeat itineraries, meaning guests can combine cruises. Carol Cabezas, COO, added that Brits feel a strong connection to the ship, given its past incarnations, and currently account for half of all bookings (across the fleet, this usually stands at about 25 per cent). while Pimentel said that travel agent bookings are up 21 per cent. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

STAR CLIPPERS

A passage to Indonesia Sam Ballard goes in search of the carnivorous Komodo Dragon on a 10-day expedition and discovers exotic islands and oceans of headspace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite a tsunami warning and earthquake

September 2018 | Midship As we sail slowly past volcanoes gently puffing out clouds of smoke and pods of dolphins that swim right up to the sides of our ship – not to mention the mysterious tropical islands where giant, carnivorous lizards roam free – it’s hard not to get carried away and think of ourselves as modern day explorers. After all, this is expedition cruising around the beautiful islands of Indonesia – and it’s like no other trip around. Our 10-day voyage will see us call at a whole host of exotic destinations that I have never heard of – from Sumba to Moyo – and one or two that I have, such as Bali and Komodo, home of the infamous Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard in the world. A venomous cannibal that has been known to kill tourists… We’ll also be visiting islands that, despite being part of one of the richest countries in Asia, are a figurative million miles away from the metropolitan capital, Jakarta. Our vessel for the voyage is the magnificent Star Clipper; a 2,298 ton, 360 feet clipper, which is more compact than most European river boats – and, with a capacity of 170 passengers and 74 crew, is even more intimate. The biggest feature on the Star Clipper, however – and the main reason why the other 96 passengers on board booked this cruise – is the four masts and 16 sails that tower above us on deck. In total, the vast swathes of material cover about 36,000 square feet – and there is nothing quite like watching them unfurl and catch the wind. The vessel’s crew, clad in their sailor whites, and watched over by the captain, work the mile upon mile of rope as we depart each day on the most romantic of sailaways. There’s no choreographed dances or wild flag waving here. The open bridge policy and nature of the ship means that the working hands become all the entertainment you need. This is a strictly classy affair. Our first scheduled call of the cruise is at Gili Kondo – an uninhabited island just off the coast of Lombok. However, after sailing tantalisingly close to the desert

Clockwise: Levitating above the ocean in the bowsprit; Star Clipper moored off Pink Beach; the captain’s welcome; market traders sell their wares in Probolinggo

island, we are told that the sea is too choppy for us to tender across – the wind is almost blowing a gale, too. It is also at around this time that we are told that the neighbouring island of Lombok has suffered the first in a series of devastating earthquakes that

will go on to leave hundreds of people dead. There is also the possibility of tsunamis. It is testament to the ship’s crew that they managed to professionally handle the situation and the numerous questions posed by the CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Midship

passengers. Don’t worry, we were reassured, the tsunami warning has now passed. Unfortunately, no, we are not equipped, or in a position to offer help to survivors – we would be getting in the way of the rescue operation. However, the onboard

diving instructor, who lives in Lombok, is able to take donations such as clothes, medicine and money back with her when the cruise finishes. As a result of the earthquake, we would be rerouted accordingly and

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the captain would keep us informed during our trip. Luckily we were still able to call at an island I had been looking forward to seeing more than any other: Komodo. The massive dragons are native to the island and excursions are taken on foot through the forest. Our guide would be armed with just a stick – which makes the whole thing a lot more exciting. Touted as the last remaining Jurassic Park, the dragons, which can grow up to three metres long, are found scattered on hillsides and throughout the thick vegetation. We split up into smaller groups and set off – every now and again hearing a flurry of activity as one group manages to spot one of the monsters. Over two hours we spot five dragons, which is pretty respectable considering the fact that it’s mating season, a time when female Komodo dragons sensibly go into hiding. During the afternoon we lounge on the incredible Pink Beach – so called because of the tiny grains of red coral that have mixed with the sand over the centuries. The on board team gets out the water sports gear – which can be used for free – and we go out and snorkel to cool off in the sea. Back on the ship it proves very easy to slip into the routine of life on board. If the idea of spending hours on end with your book and a sun lounger makes you feel giddy then this is the sailing for you. Tons of headspace and a total lack of distractions make Star Clipper a floating paradise – away from all the casinos, West End shows and other trappings of modern luxury. There are entertainment options – especially on sea days – but they’re virtually limited to mast climbing, lessons on reading sea charts and port talks. The onboard entertainment starts and ends with the musician, who plays passengers in to dinner on the grand piano and sets up a keyboard in the outside Tropical Bar for guests who want an after-dinner drink. One of the greatest joys is lowering yourself on to the bowsprit – the netting around the jib boom at the front of the ship – that acts like a hammock. Here you

September 2018 | Midship can sit and watch the sunset while levitating above the sea. Magical. In the following days we call at Sumba, Sumbawa and Satonda – all calls for which we need to make a “wet landing” (tender in a zodiac before jumping into the sea and wading on to the beach). In both Sumba and Sumbawa, local children follow us around with cries of “Hey Mister” and chat away happily. In Sumbawa we watch as men build huge wooden ships by hand while teams race home-made catamarans to the delights of whooping crowds. In Moyo, we trek through a forest dense with monkeys to check out a waterfall that Princess Diana once visited. In Bali, we call at Lovina Beach. Despite it being on the less developed northern tip of the island, the difference between it and our other ports of call is staggering. We decamp to a delicious vegetarian restaurant for lunch and plug into the wi-fi for the first time in more than a week. In Probolinggo – a call we made instead of Lombok – on the island of Java, we jump into a tuk-tuk and take a tour of the city – visiting a market packed full of spices as well as fruit and vegetables. We also pop into a mall – at the insistence of our drivers – that is garish in comparison, with dangdut music blaring loudly. One of our final stops, at Gili Sudak, is called off because of the earthquake. Instead of an alternative port of call, the captain announces that there will be a sea day. It’s a bit of a disappointment although under the circumstances, understandable. However, the mood lifts when it is revealed that the gangway is to be lowered and guests given the opportunity to swim in the middle of the sea – all is forgotten. I’m later told that the water was 700 metres deep. Speaking to our fellow passengers, many of whom are repeat customers, it’s a fundamental love of sailing that has made them book this voyage with Star Clippers. They would never book a “typical cruise” they say, this is just different. After a few days on board, it’s hard to disagree with them. This cruise was like nothing I’ve ever done – and it was all the better for it.

From top: Vegetarian lunch Bali-style; rice fields in Bali; the Komodo Dragon, the world's largest lizard

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ADVENTURE CRUISES The market for adventure cruises has boomed in recent years with a raft of exciting new ship launches across the river and ocean sectors, adding to the already buoyant market for small ship expedition cruises pioneered by lines such as Hapag-Lloyd. From Amazon adventures with operators such as Delfin and Aqua Expeditions to Antarctic adventures with the likes of One Ocean Expeditions thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been so much choice. Passengers can even sail such fabled routes as the Northwest Passage. As the market has gone more mainstream, the baton has been taken up by lines such as Celebrity Cruises which has teamed up with explorer Ben Fogle on its programme of adventurous excursions and Crystal Esprit with its submarine. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a taste of the options on offer to suit solos, couples and families looking to save or splurge.

Who are you selling to?

Solo p46

Couple p47

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Family p48

Solo Following a surge in ship launches and cabin stock, operators have increasingly taken to courting solos to fill their inventory, dropping barriers such as single supplements on select sailings. Since NCL moved the goalposts by adding solo cabins and areas for solos to mingle, others have followed suit, such as Celebrity Cruises which has 16 solo suites with Infinite Verandas on its next ship Edge. With an everexpanding range of itineraries, there’s never been a better time for adventurous solos to take a cruise.

How long do you want to go away for? Affordable…

Expensive...

Extravagant…

Who? Fred Olsen Where? India When? October 4, 2018 How long? 14 nights How much? From £1,599pp

Who? Delfin Amazon Cruises Where? Upper Peruvian Amazon When? April 10, 2019 How long? Four nights How much? From $4,200

Who? Hapag-Lloyd Where? Antarctica When? February 16, 2020 How long? 20 days How much? From £15,970

Fred helps match solos to companions for shore excursions and mealtimes – even finding dance partners – and its new Warmer Cruising campaign features a range of solo-friendly cruises in twins or doubles without single supplements. This Authentic India itinerary on Boudicca sails from Aqaba, Jordan, and includes overnights in Indian ports such as Porbandar, Mumbai, Goa and Kochi.

Delfin Amazon Cruises’ recent decision to scrap single supplements on two of its vessels, the Delfin II and Delfin III, has made its brand of high-end river cruises on the Upper Peruvian Amazon more affordable for solos – with two cabins per departure open to them. Ships carry a maximum of 43 passengers, ensuring an intimate experience, backed by small group excursions such as seeing pink river dolphins.

Hapag-Lloyd offers solos no single cabin surcharges on selected cruises such as this Ushuaia to Buenos Aires itinerary in an outside cabin on Hanseatic inspiration – it’s new expedition ship for the international/ English-speaking marketplace launching 2019. Journey to destinations such as the South Shetland Islands before returning to Argentina. Price includes a charter flight.

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Couples Couples are spoilt for choice these days with a dizzying range of adventurous itineraries catering to different budgets. Lines such as Crystal Cruises, Silversea and Azamara continue to raise the bar with their onboard hospitality, from butler-service suites and intimate fine dining to wellness, while tweaking itineraries to offer unique and immersive experiences. Operators such as Star Clippers offer couples romance on tap while adults-only sailings ensure couples won’t be interrupted by little ones.

How long do you want to go away for? Affordable…

Expensive...

Extravagant…

Who? Cruise & Maritime Voyages Where? Iceland & Faroes When? July 10, 2019 How long? 11 nights How much? From £1,339pp

Who? Silversea Where? Hokkaidō (Otaru) to Seward (Anchorage) When? June 14, 2019 How long? 18 nights How much? From £10,980pp

Who? Crystal Cruises Where? Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia When? September 29, 2020 How long? 16 days How much? From US$16,499pp

This itinerary aboard Silver Explorer features some of the world’s most adventurous, hard to reach regions as it takes in the islands of Russia’s Far East before reaching Alaska. Explorer’s Expedition Team and fleet of Zodiac boats will get couples close to the wildlife while back onboard sumptuous accommodation includes Veranda Suites, luxurious all-inclusive hospitality and Beauty Salon services to help keep up appearances.

Crystal’s Yacht Expedition Cruises offer couples an amazingly immersive and intimate style of cruising combined with Crystal’s legendary brand of onboard, indulgent hospitality. This island-hopping itinerary aboard new ship Endeavour journeys from Taipei, Taiwan to Bali, Indonesia taking in a great mix of excursions, from jungle treks to cruising Philippines’ Hundred Islands National Park and encounters with Komodo dragons.

Iceland boasts some of the best whale watching in the world and this pocket-friendly itinerary aboard Magellan, sailing from Dublin, in a twin ocean view cabin, takes in some of the best places to spot them with stops in Ísafjörður and Akureyri, backed by popular tour options such as The Golden Circle. Plus, stops at Klaksvík and Tórshavn offer fascinating insight into the Faroe Islands. Better still, the second passenger’s fare is half price.

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Family Taking a cruise offers families the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together, whether grabbing some valuable family time at mealtimes or bonding over the excursions programme and onboard activities. Meanwhile onboard facilities such as kids clubs and spas ensure everyone gets some ‘me time’. In recent years the family cruising market has widened with a surge in multi-generational bookings to commemorate milestones and create group booking commission opportunities for agents.

How long do you want to go away for? Affordable…

Expensive...

Extravagant…

Who? Disney Cruise Line Where? Alaska When? July 8, 2019 How long? Nine nights How much? From £9,601 based on a family of four sharing

Who? Celebrity Cruise Where? Galapagos When? November 10, 2019 How long? 10 nights How much? From £31,836 based on a family of four sharing

Who? One Ocean Expeditions Where? Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica When? December 31, 2019 How long? 17 nights How much? From US$25,595pp

Cruising doesn’t get more family friendly than aboard Disney Cruise Line. This Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver on Disney Wonder takes in Alaska’s dramatic coastline with shore excursions at ports of call such as Juneau featuring child-pleasing options from dog sledding and mushing to goldpanning and zipline tours – all backed by magical experiences such as whale watching and sailing to Tracy Arm Fjord and Hubbard Glacier. Price is for a family of four.

The Galapagos is one of the most accessible and memorable family-friendly adventure cruise destinations out there and bigger ships offer more space for kids to mingle with their peers. This Outer Loop itinerary in a deluxe suite showcases new ship Celebrity Flora, launching 2019, and offers everything from twicedaily shore excursions to free hire of equipment such as mini wetsuits. Includes flights from Heathrow, departing November 8, 2019.

This Mega Colonies cruise in a twin private cabin on OOE’s new ship RCGS Resolute, launching this October, is a must for adventure seekers and wildlife photography fans. The cruise visits a range of penguin colonies with the onboard wildlife experts, including the newly discovered mega-colony of Adelie penguins on the Danger Islands. Children under 18 receive a 25 per cent reduction, 18-21s a 20 per cent reduction.

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September 2018 | Aft

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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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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September 2018 | Aft

A-Rosa Lucia Rowe, head of sales UK and Ireland 078 4202 6013 l.rowe@a-rosa.de

Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com

Amadeus River Cruises Natalie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mahoney, head of sales 0800 035 6411 natalie@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Celebrity Cruises Isabelle Charlton / Victoria Shipp 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport@rccl.com

AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com

Celestyal Cruises Marios Polydorou, senior manager sales +30 216 400 9631 m.polydorou@celestyalcruises.gr

American Cruise Lines Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 453 6800 susan@americancruiselines.com American Queen Steamboat Company Rupert Thompson, managing director 01223 568 904 r.thompson@aqgsa.com APT Touring Jessica Shelton-Agar, national sales manager 01494 736 147/07584 057 341 jessica.shelton-agar@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 Craig Upshall, sales director UK/Europe 07824 305 232 craig@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Avalon Waterways Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Belmond Yann Guezennec, worldwide director of sales & marketing, trains & cruises 020 3117 1395 yann.guezennec@belmond.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 Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@cosmos.co.uk CroisiEurope John Fair, sales director 020 8328 1281 jfair@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 Victoria Snelgar, business manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sales operations 07773 253 279 victoria.snelgar@cunard.co.uk

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September 2018 | Aft

Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk

Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317

Heritage Line Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com

Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk European Waterways Mark Robinson, sales and reservations manager 01753 598 555 sales@europeanwaterways.com

Holland America Line James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk

E-Waterways Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com

Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, head of sales 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com

I F

Intrepid Travel Andrew Turner, head of industry sales 080 8274 5719 ukbdm@intrepidtravel.com

Far Horizon Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Mike Evans, head of sales 01473 746164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk

JTA Travel Dave Green, managing director 0121 508 5567 dave.green@jtatravel.co.uk

Fred Olsen River Cruises Hannah Logan, UK Sales Manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Katerina Line Dea Baretincic, sales manager +385 51 603 409 dea@katarina-line.hr

French America Line Kevin Griffin, director 020 7723 2450 kcgriffin@frenchamericaline.com

Latin Routes Jessica Bain, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk

G Adventures Stuart Darnley, national sales manager 07964 983 842 sdarnley@gadventures.com

Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Aishling McLoughlin, sales representative UK & Ireland 07921 223 176 aishling.mcloughlin@hl-cruises.com

Lindblad Expeditions Jacinta McEvoy vice-president global sales +1 212 261 9000 jacintam@expeditions.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

The Majestic Line Marie McGhee, sales manager 01369 707951 info@themajesticline.co.uk Manatee Amazon Explorer Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com Marella Cruises Andrew Isherwood, commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@tui.co.uk MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk

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 Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director 0800 980 4027 swinter@ponant.com Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 020 3808 7787 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com

National Geographic Expeditions Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 440 2552 sales@fredholidays.co.uk

Ports Direct Karl Lapage, managing director 0843 0843 003 karl@portsdirect.co.uk

Noble Caledonia Agency sales 020 7752 0000 agencysales@noble-caledonia.co.uk

Princess Cruises Mark Lowman, manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sales operations 023 8065 6531 mark.lowman@princesscruises.co.uk

Norwegian Cruise Line Nicky Foot, director of business development UK & Ireland 07408 855 679 nfoot@ncl.com

Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 0800 021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk

Oceania Cruises Lisa Clarkson, national accounts manager 07809 351 545 LClarkson@OceaniaCruises.Com Agency Sales 0345 505 1920 AgencySales@OceaniaCruises.Com One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com

P&O Cruises Brodie McIntosh, trade engagement manager 023 8065 5780 brodie.mcintosh@cunardpocruises.com

Quark Expeditions Pushparaj Shetty, senior distribution manager +1 416 645 8248 push.shetty@quarkexpeditions.com

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

Riviera Travel Darren Mussell, agency sales assistant manager 01283 744 307 agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

Travel2 Colin Currie, head of sales 07891 257 160 colin.currie@travel2.com

Travelsphere & Just You Polly Poulton, national account manager 01858 588 406 polly.poulton@Travelsphere.co.uk

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

Uniworld Rachel Healey, national sales manager 07408 855 544 rachel.healey@uniworld.com

Seabourn James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8610 james.scott@seabourn.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8610 lucy.harris@seabourn.co.uk

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

SeaCloud Anja Ringel, vice-president, international marketing and sales +49 40 3095 9217 aringel@seacloud.com

Viking Cruises Andrew Schweitzer, key account manager (south) 07825 986 996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (north) 07966 995 012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.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

Volga Dream Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com

Voyages to Antiquity Amy Sykes, partnerships manager 01865 302 2565 a.sykes@voyagestoantiquity.com

Star Clippers Danielle Dudley, UK sales manager 077 6585 2116 danielle@starclippers.co.uk

Windstar Cruises Sales team (The Cruise Line) 0800 852 7248 windstarUK@cruiseline.co.uk

Tauck Kathryn Coles, UK country manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | 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 October for the answers

JULY / AUGUST SOLUTION

ACROSS

DOWN

7. "Platoon" director (6,5) 8. Sharp end (5) 9. German philosopher Immanuel (4) 11. Speak (3) 12. Large teapot (3) 13. Weeding implement (3) 14. Harbour nudgers (4) 16. Namely (2,3) 18. Flexible dining hours at sea (4,7)

1. Essay (11) 2. Largest Mediterranean island (6) 3. Ignored (4,3) 4. Inquire of (3) 5. Cruise destination in 13 Down (4) 6. In the spotlight (6,5) 10. In place (7) 13. Mid-Pacific volcanic island (6) 15. Technical whiz (4) 17. Tyre pressure measure (1,1,1)

SUDOKU

See the next cruise adviser in October for the answers

4 5

8 2

8 9

1 5

9 1

6 6

6 8

3 1

4 7

9 8

2 7

JUL / AUG SOLUTION 1

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

QUIZ

WIN! Afternoon tea for two with Attraction World

See bottom of page for answers

1. Which island group includes Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca? 2. What is the longest river the UK? 3. What is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland? 4. Which two countries share the world's longest international land border? 5. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct on what river? 6. Norilsk is the world's northernmost city with a population of more than 100,000. Where is it? 7. Where is Sabina Park cricket ground? 8. The Swahili word safari means what? 9. What colour are the gondolas in Venice painted? 10. Who features on the back of the latest issue £10 note? 11. What is ‘Q’ in the phonetic alphabet?

Here’s your chance to win an afternoon tea gift experience for two with Attraction World, available nationwide.

12. MS Oscar Wilde, MS Thomas Hardy, MS Charles Dickens are ships operated by which cruise line?

All you have to do is answer the simple question below:

13. Who is Manchester City's all-time record goalscorer?

What is the delectable sweet treat normally served with cream and jam when enjoying an afternoon tea?

14. The Pleasure Principle is a 1979 album by which English musician? 15. Seaside and Seaview are ships operated by which cruise line?

Please send your answers with the subject line ‘Attraction World competition’ to info@cruise-adviser.com.

Terms and conditions apply. See cruise-adviser.com/terms-conditions Valid for 11 months from date of issue.

QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Balearics 2. Severn 3. Islay 4. Canada-USA 5. Gardon River 6. Siberia 7. Kingston, Jamaica 8. Journey 9. Black 10. Jane Austen 11. Quebec 12. Riviera Travel 13. Sergio Augero 14. Gary Numan 15. MSC Cruises

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

RECIPE

In the galley

For more recipes, see cruise-adviser.com/tag/recipe

The best recipes to be found at sea. This month: Avalon Waterways’ fillet of salmon served with Mediterranean vegetables

Ingredients (serves one) 1 ¼ lb (600 g) salmon fillet ¼ cup (50 ml) olive oil 1/8 cup (30 ml) vegetable stock A little oil for frying Some salt Freshly squeezed lemon juice A little garlic A little rosemary (chopped) A little thyme (chopped) A few basil leaves (cut into thin strips) Some salt, pepper 1 oz (25 g) black olives For the Mediterranean vegetables: 2 tomatoes 1 yellow bell pepper 1 green pepper 1 shallot

Method Dice the shallots finely. Quickly blanch the tomatoes, and then peel and remove the seeds. Cut the flesh into strips. Dice the bell peppers, and slice the olives thinly. Gently sauté the shallot in olive oil, add the chopped garlic and bell peppers, and cook for a couple of minutes. Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to the boil, and simmer until the vegetables are tender but not soft. Stir in the freshly chopped rosemary, thyme, basil, olives and tomatoes. Sprinkle the salmon with a little salt and lemon juice to taste. Heat some oil in a pan, and fry the fish until both sides are golden brown.

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS As food has improved on cruise ships, so too has the wine. But it’s not just about what’s on board: there are now cruises dedicated to it. These include SeaDream Yacht Club’s wine-themed tours in Greece and Italy; Crystal on the West Coast; while many river cruise lines explore Burgundy, Provence and Bordeaux with an emphasis on wine tasting. On Avalon Waterways, for example, a Master of Wine travels with guests, hosting lectures, tastings and introducing them to food and wine pairings, while Uniworld’s Connoisseur Collection takes guests to an induction ceremony by Saint Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage Winemakers Brotherhoods.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

LOOKOUT

Images from the latest industry events 1. Fifteen travel agents were invited on board the 670-guest Pacific Princess for a ship visit on August 4 while the ship was docked in Milford Haven, Wales. This was the first time the ship had called at the port and it was also the first Princess Cruises ship visit for all 15 of the agents. Princess will host 21 ship visits in nine ports across the UK and Ireland this year, featuring Royal Princess, Sapphire Princess and Pacific Princess.

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2. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises hosted a hog roast event for the cruise agency Reader Offers to thank them for a great start to 2019 sales. Pictured on the left is Uniworld sales manager Luce Hone with members of the Reader Offers sales team. 3. AmaWaterways has named Samantha Brown as godmother of its 23rd ship, AmaMagna. The American TV host and travel expert will christen the ship in a ceremony in Vilshofen, Germany, in July 2019. The 98-stateroom AmaMagna will offer itineraries on the River Danube. The maiden voyage is on May 5, 2019.

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4. Rachel Jones from Miles Morgan Travel in Gloucester was the winner in Viking Cruises’ recent scratch card competition, The Great Viking Giveaway. Rachel’s won a place on a Danube Waltz – Christmas Markets Cruise, sailing from Budapest to Passau, departing December 5, 2018 and staying in a French Balcony cabin. 5. Agents joined Cruise & Maritime Voyages for a ship visit on board Magellan in Liverpool in August. Pictured with agents outside Sinatra’s bar are (far left) Karen Delorme, business development manager, and (far right) Alison Leeke, business development manager. CMV’s upcoming ship visits include Poole (Sept 3); Bristol (Sept 3); Portsmouth (Sept 25); and Tilbury (Sept 25).

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

September 2018 | Aft

FINAL WORD

If it’s good enough for the silver fox... It doesn’t matter if you are planning your holidays on the smallest of budgets or a large one – having a good travel agent makes all the difference, says Sam Ballard A good agent will know your history, put a foot wrong. They know us so your likes and your bucket list. well.They’re even looking after my You won’t need to explain to them mum at the minute who wants to go where you’ve been before and why away. They’ll make sure she’s got a a particular holiday isn’t suitable. tailor-made holiday around what she Budgets won’t wants to do.” be an issue. In While the Schofe an ideal world is probably using “They know what we they will even a travel agent like, what we don’t like know the dates who specialises in of all your big holidays for the and where we want to milestones: well-heeled – he go. If you have that sort wouldn’t tell me birthdays, anniversaries of relationship with your who it was – the and even is still travel agent then you’re premise retirement. the same. on to a winner.” At a recent “The only event with holiday that has Princess Cruises ever gone wrong I met TV’s Phillip Schofield and was was one to Cyprus – and it wasn’t surprised when he told me that he’d with them,” he added. “When that used a travel agent for years. happens it makes you think. “We always use the same travel “It’s also the fact that it’s always agent and have done since I was 22 right. They know what we like, or 23,” he told me. “They have never what we don’t like and where we

want to go. If you have that sort of relationship with your travel agent then you’re on to a winner.” These are wise words from the silver fox. Gain the trust of your customers, take pride in researching holidays that will suit them perfectly and take their feedback on board. It could be a mini cruise to France or a round-the-world voyage to celebrate a big anniversary. It simply doesn’t matter. Also, if a customer always holidays on a relatively small budget – they may want to splash out for those big occasions. At the end of the day, it all comes down to knowing your customers – sometimes better than they know themselves – and knowing the types of holidays that are out there to suit them. If it’s good enough for Phillip Schofield, it’s good enough for me.

COMING NEXT TIME How to sell pre and post cruise

Viking in the Caribbean

How to cruise on a budget

We look beyond cruise to see how you can make money on land – from train rides through the Rock Mountains to staying longer Down Under.

Anthony Pearce cruises around the Caribbean with Viking Ocean Cruises to see how the other half like to holiday.

From repositionals to inside cabins – we share all the tricks of the trade to save your customers money on their next cruise CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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YOUR CLIENTS TOOK A SHINE TO THE RHINE, THEY ADORED THE DOURO, Now for something a little different... CRUISE THROUGH 5 COUNTRIES IN 15 DAYS

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See Kalocsa cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and Paprika Museum Enjoy a guided tour of the historic Pecs and Budapest Take a drive to the rock formations at Belogradchik and into the ‘Puszta’ Tour the historic city of Belgrade seeing the Kalemegdan Fortress Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge and pass through the Djerdap locks Visit Pleven, the scene of a major battle during the Russo-Turkish War Guided tour of Bucharest, seeing the main sights of this beautiful city Visit the ancient Romanian port of Constanta on the Black Sea Visit Lepenski Vir and the fascinating Veliko Tarnovo Enjoy a guided tour of Novi Sad, with its historic Old Town Fourteen nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite Return flights from a selection of regional airports All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure (except one lunch) • Services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and tour manager

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