D U B R O V N I K | C E L E S T YA L C R U I S E S | N E W TO C R U I S E
THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
JA N UA R Y 2 02 0
Where next for cruise?
The itineraries, trends and new launches that will define 2020
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January 2020 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER
Wave hello to a new year and a new decade CRUISE ADVISER
Happy New Year to you from the cruise adviser team. We hope you’re well rested and ready for the excitement of the wave season. As is tradition, we are using this issue to look ahead to the next 12 months, bringing you expert opinion from travel industry leaders as Where next we ask them, where next for cruise? Andy Harmer of for cruise? Clia, Ben Bouldin of Royal Caribbean International, Lynn Narraway of Seabourn, Craig Upshall of Aurora Expeditions and Neil Barclay of Viking Cruises share their views on the future of cruise from p37. It’s going to be a particularly exciting year for launches, not least P&O Cruises’ Iona, its largest ever ship. Hot on the heels of Spirit of Discovery, Saga will launch Spirit of Adventure, while Royal Caribbean International will launch Odyssey of the Seas. See our round-up on p26. We also take a look at the best new itineraries on p32, featuring emerging destinations, unique themed cruises and private islands. We shine a light on all the wave incentives on p14, while we’ve also got the latest news (starting p9), our How to Sell guide looking at new to cruise (p45) and our comprehensive directory (p49). We hope you enjoy reading and good luck during wave.
THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT
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D U B R O V N I K | C E L E S T YA L C R U I S E S | N E W TO C R U I S E
THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
JA N UA R Y 2 0 2 0
The itineraries, trends and new launches that will define 2020
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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HAS BANNED PLASTIC BOTTLES The company has become the first to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on its cruise ships P22
DUBROVNIK IS THE SAME SIZE AS DISNEYLAND PARIS Well, just about. The Croatian city is 21.35 km2, compared with Mickey’s French home at 22.3 km2 P34
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THERE WILL BE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON DECEMBER 14, 2020 The majority of it will take place over the Pacific Ocean before it passes over South America
Celebrity Apex is among a host of new ship launches (p26)
Contents MIDSHIP 26
32
Class of 2020 A round-up of all the major ocean-going ships setting sail on maiden voyages this year The best of the year ahead With brand new ships, innovative itineraries and exciting once-in-a-
lifetime experiences, this year is set to be a big one for cruise 37
Where next for cruise? As we enter a new year – and a new decade – we ask industry leaders to share their predictions on where the cruise
industry is heading to in the future 45
How to sell: new to cruise Jane Archer’s guide to tempting new-to-cruise clients to try a holiday afloat – whether on river or at sea Turn over for more CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
4
OUR BEST VALUE EUROPE
STATEROOM UPGRADES FREE AIR & MORE! -NIGHT FLY/CRUISE FROM pp
WE T HE C ULT URE SEEKERS Departing from Venice we embrace the treasures of ancient Greece, Olympia, and the Parthenon temples with expert guides, then taste fresh seafood in pretty, whitewashed Santorini…. In Turkey we take in the haunting call to the mosque, dine on meze and walk in the steps of Celsus. Then, we sail the stunning Croatian coast, ending with an overnight stay in La Serenissima.
EXCEPTIONAL OFFERS. MAKE THIS YOUR YEAR TO SAIL.
FREE AIR AND MORE! • Stateroom upgrades • Onboard Spending Money • Reduced fares for kids • off select shore excursions • reduced deposit
PLUS, book a suite to receive prepaid gratuities! Book by ¢/ / , and also receive a US¥ Beverage Card per guest.
-Night Mediterranean Empires
THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE DIFFERENCE
Nieuw Amsterdam I Roundtrip Venice Departs: 15 May*; 3 Jun; 9 Jul; 7 Sep 2020
• Perfectly-sized, elegant ships
Venice, Katakolon (Olympia); Piraeus (Athens); Kusadasi (Ephesus); Istanbul (overnight); Mykonos, Souda (Chania); Korkula (Croatia), Venice (overnight) *Lead in fare based on 15 May departure. Ports of call may be visited in different order
Fly/Cruise fares from: Inside Stateroom Ocean View Stateroom Verandah Stateroom Signature Suite Neptune Suite
• Overnight stay in Istanbul & Venice
• Spacious staterooms and suites, many with private balcony • Nearly one crew member for every two guests • Fine dining with casual to formal options • Regional cuisine, Explorations Central destination experiences and more • Long days and overnight stays in hand- picked destinations
FLY/CRUISE FROM
*
PER PERSON
WAYS TO BOOK: Reservations Online POLAR Online: via www.hollandamerica.co.uk and click on partnerships Reservations by Phone Call 0344 338 8600 Contact the Sales Team on salessupport@hollandamerica.co.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS *ALL PRICES STATED ARE PP DOUBLE OCCUPANCY IN GBP FLY/CRUISE FROM LONDON AIRPORTS. Please ask for regional airfares. All fares are based on Promo(s) NV/VV/ZV. Offers are per stateroom based on double occupancy, for 1st and 2nd guests sharing a stateroom and exclude 3rd/4th guests, except as provided herein. Offers are available for new bookings only, are not combinable with any other discounts and are not transferable or refundable. Offers are applicable on select 2020 & 2021 departures. Stateroom Upgrades are available in select stateroom categories and are subject to availability of the staterooms in the higher category. Onboard Spending Money (OBC) is in U.S. dollars and is non-refundable, non-transferable, not for cash value, expires at the end of that cruise, and may not be used in the casino. OBC is offered in the following amounts: cruises 7-9 days: Inside and ocean-view staterooms receive US$50 per person, lanai and verandah staterooms receive US$100 per person, suites receive US$150 per person; cruises 10-14 days: Inside and ocean-view staterooms receive US$75 per person, lanai and verandah staterooms receive US$150 per person, suites receive US$200 per person. Kids or 3rd/4th Offer is based on sharing a stateroom with 1st and 2nd guests, valid on select sailings, and based on Promo NV. Shore Excursion Offer applies only to select shore excursions on select sailings, purchased in advance of embarkation, prior to 14/3/20. If a shore excursion is cancelled on board, refund will be the amount paid. Reduced Deposit is valid for new bookings only. Bookings made on voyages requiring immediate final payment are not eligible for a reduced deposit. Suite Offer: Prepaid gratuities (hotel service charges): Holland America Line pre-pays room gratuities on behalf of guests. Gratuities for bar, dining room wine accounts, or spa/salon services are not included. Beverage Card Offer expires 17/1/20 and is valued at US$50 pp and is applicable to all guests. Card is non-transferable, refundable, nor redeemable for cash. Participants may order beverages one at a time and must be 21 years or older for alcoholic beverages. No sharing permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the card if misused and to refuse service for any reason, including service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Offers have limited space and may be modified or withdrawn or sailing/departure dates may be substituted without prior notice. Subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. It is the responsibility of guests to ensure they have a full passport valid at least 6 months beyond the date travel is to commence. Why Not Now offers end 28/2/20. Ships' Registry: The Netherlands.
January 2020 | Forward
FORWARD 3
Editor’s letter
9
News Celestyal Cruises is looking for a new ship; Travel 2 unveils new agent perks; Crystal Cruises rolls out its latest ship; and CMV promotes department heads
14
Incentives The latest trade initiatives
18
Interview Celestyal Cruises’ Leslie Peden tells Sam Ballard why the Greece specialist is easier for agents to work with than ever before
22
Ports of call: Dubrovnik Jane Archer discovers the charms of this historic Croatian city, including Game of Thrones, of course
We check in with Celestyal Cruises, who will be sailing the Adriatic (p18)
49
Directory All the cruise line contact details you need in one place
56
Lookout Some photos from our cruise adviser Festive Bash. Were you there?
54
Gamesroom Try your hand at our crossword or sudoku, or give the quiz a whirl
58
Final word Sam Ballard looks far into the future of the cruise industry of tomorrow Email info@cruise-adviser.com to share your thoughts
CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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COASTAL WILDS OF TASMANIA
For true explorers
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Y R R NL PE FO K O 0 ! EE 10 ING £ 1 WRN OK O EA B Makarska Riviera, Dalmatia, Croatia
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Happy New Year - We’re celebrating with our best ever incentive! For one week only from 6th - 12th January 2020, book any Azamara® voyage and eArn £100** on eAch booking you mAke with club rewArds!
For further details on our offer and incentive: Visit: ClubAzamara.co.uk *Cruise must be booked between 9th December 2019 and 31st March 2020 (“Offer Period”). 40% discount applies to select sailings departing on or after 14th April 2020 until 21st November 2021. Prices are subject to availability and change without notice, capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time. Refer to Azamara.co.uk/2020Sale for complete terms and conditions. ©2019 RCL Cruises Ltd t/a Azamara. **T&Cs apply.
Customer Rating based on independent verified reviews.
NEWS
Do you have a story for us? Email info@cruise-adviser.com
CELESTYAL
Line on the lookout for a replacement ship Celestyal Cruises has revealed that it is looking for a new ship to replace either of its current ships, the Celestyal Crystal or Celestyal Olympia The Greek operator said that it would be focusing on “increasing capacity rather than fleet expansion”, highlighting how few balcony cabins the line has on its current ships. Speaking exclusively to CRUISE ADVISER, Leslie Peden, Celestyal’s chief commercial officer, said: “Celestyal Crystal carries between 900 and 1,200 passengers depending on the mix of third and fourth berths. We need a ship with a higher density of balcony staterooms, particularly on those longer seven-night itineraries where we’re developing our deployment. “What you could therefore see is us switching to a higher-capacity ship. It might not mean that we start a ton of new routes but we might be able to use a new vessel to do something different.”
Peden also revealed that the line was looking at changing its messaging, transitioning from a line known for being Greek to one that is a Mediterranean specialist. He explained: “We’re also doing quite a big piece of work to create a narrative around our brand. We’ve hired a brand guru to help us. We have all of these great Greek components but we need to make sure that they can be translated into the other regions of the world where we sail. “Our Adriatic itineraries are a good example. We visit Greece but once we’ve gone beyond those borders we need something that is portable. That will come through this year in our marketing messages and how we present the brand to the trade.”
CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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He also revealed that the company was hiring a business development manager for the North of England, for an area to include Scotland and Ireland. The new addition will take Celestyal’s UK team to six members. Celestyal Cruises is the main home-porting cruise operator in Greece and a leading line serving the Greek Islands and East Mediterranean region. Its focus is on destination, with the relatively small size of its ships – Celestyal Crystal carries 1,200 passengers and Celestyal Olympia carries 1,664 – enabling the line to reach smaller ports. Last year, Celestyal welcomed 3,000 UK passengers on board its ships. Peden has said he expects this to reach 5,000 by the end of 2020.
January 2020 | Forward TRAVEL 2
Tour operator unveils PEAKS agent campaign Travel 2 has unveiled its biggest ever package of agent perks for the PEAKS booking period. “T2 ready to Rock” offers the chance to win VIP tickets to some of the UK’s top music festivals. Sales via Travel 2’s Worldwide Reservations department or online at travel2.com during January and February qualify for a chance to win one of five pairs of festival tickets when deposits of £100 or more have been secured. For an extra chance to win, all qualifying bookings that include flights with Virgin Atlantic or Delta Air Lines will be counted as two entries. Agents will also earn upgraded T2 Rewards. To support agents, Travel 2 is supplying its Little Book of Incredible Journeys mini brochure featuring a selection of touring options. A brand new Worldwide Pocket Guide mini brochure launches next month.
JUST YOU
WENDY WU
First ever early bird offer from tour operator
UK’s leading Asia travel specialist introduces new offers for the New Year on cruise, flights and tours
Cruise and escorted tour operator Just You has launched its first ever early bird offer with savings of up to £500 on selected 2021 holidays. Managing director Alastair Campbell said: “This is the first time that we have ever launched our new brochure with an offer and it is all based on feedback from our very loyal customers.” Agents will also benefit. “To thank our trade partners for their loyalty, we will be offering a £35 incentive on every Just You holiday booked between December 27, 2019 and March 2, 2020,” added Campbell. Just You has been named Best Holiday Company for Solo Holidays for the second year in a row at the British Travel Awards.
Wendy Wu has launched four new Asia travel offers for the New Year. On the waterways, free upgrades to Upper Deck Cabins are available on its new deluxe, state-of-the-art Mekong river cruise ship, Victoria Mekong, across all tour packages. For flights, the operator has teamed up with Cathay Pacific for a one-way Business Class upgrade from £299pp on a range of China and Japan group tours and Southeast Asia group tours for £399pp. Free Business Class upgrades are being offered one-way with Air China across select China and Japan group tours. Return upgrades are available for £899pp. Solo travellers are set to benefit from free single supplements on
all 2020 departures across 16 tours in China, India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Peru. Global sales director John Warr said: “There’s never been a better time to travel to Asia, especially when you combine these incredible offers with the fantastic experiences on our tours… Since the launch of Victoria Mekong demand has continued to grow and so has our product range. With the new ‘Cruise and Beach Tour’ (launching early January) we are offering the chance to upgrade to the upper deck cabin for free on all Victoria Mekong tours.” Full details including eligible departure dates are available at wendywutours.co.uk. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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January 2020 | Forward NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
AVALON WATERWAYS
First major cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic bottles
Up to 50% off selected sailings in 2020 Avalon Waterways has launched its new year sale, with available savings of up to £2,500 per couple and 50 per cent off select sailings. Savings apply to the April Tulip Time Cruise from Amsterdam to Holland and Belgium; the eight-day, flight-inclusive Danube Dreams Westbound, departing March 31; and the November A Taste of the Danube Eastbound. Full details and offers are available online.
CMV
All nine department heads receive promotion
Norwegian Cruise Line has become the first major global cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles across its fleet, removing more than six million plastic water bottles from the industry each year. The brand announced last year that it had partnered with JUST Goods Inc, which uses a plant-based carton made of 82 per cent renewable materials. The carton body is made from trees grown in responsibly managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcanebased plastic. The bottles are refillable and recyclable. JUST’s innovative model has enabled Norwegian to replace all single-use plastic water bottles across its 17-ship fleet. It began with its latest ship, Norwegian Encore. The move is the latest sustainable step for Norwegian. In 2018, it eliminated single-use plastic straws across its fleet and private destinations. Its next goal is to
remove all single-use plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles later this year. The initiatives fall under NCL’s Sail & Sustain environmental programme, which is its commitment to minimise waste to landfills, reduce its carbon emissions rate, increase sustainable sourcing and invest in emerging technologies. Harry Sommer, NCL’s president and chief executive, said: “This is a very special and very proud moment for us. As a leading cruise line, we are thrilled to make such an impact by eliminating single-use beverage bottles across our fleet. It’s just one of the ways we are working to preserve our oceans and the destinations we visit. While this is just the beginning of what we and others can do, we are incredibly committed to our Sail & Sustain programme and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving our natural resources. We will continue to strive towards making environmentally conscious decisions to benefit our earth.”
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CMV has promoted all nine of its department heads to director level. Group commercial director Chris Coates said: “Many of our management team have been with the company since the early days and are the reason we are now the size we are… The fact that we have had a consistent team means that we have developed strong partnerships and the trade can have every confidence in working with CMV in 2020 and beyond.”
CRYSTAL CRUISES
New ship Crystal Endeavor rolls out Crystal Cruises’ latest ship, Crystal Endeavor, has rolled out of MV Werften in Stralsund, Germany. Video footage from the shipyard gives viewers a close-up look of the roll-out process and aerial views of the ship. Available online, the video shows the ship’s expansive deck space and helicopter pads. Crystal Endeavor will embark on its maiden voyage from Tokyo on August 10, 2020.
January 2020 | Forward
OPINION
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Predicted trends for the year ahead Janet Parton, sales director, Avalon Waterways
What will 2020 bring for the cruise industry? Now there’s a question. If I could predict the future, I’d be writing this column while lying on an exotic beach somewhere after winning the lottery! So I may not be able to tell you for certain what is going to happen over this new year, but there are a few trends that I am sure about in the cruise world for 2020. Despite 2019 being a turbulent year for many, we did see that consumers still wanted to travel. They may have
“Guests expect cruise companies to be responsible in their sustainability efforts” been waiting for that extra special deal, booked later or maybe less frequently, but travel they did. I think this will continue in 2020, people will want to travel, but they’ll make their budgets go further and travel more often for shorter periods. There are a multitude of shorter duration cruises, from two- to five-night ocean cruises to four-night river cruises – perfect options for those with less time on their hands, or maybe even that second or third trip of the year. Currency exchange rates were not kind to us in 2019 (although as I write this, we have seen a spike in the USD and EUR), and as a result people want to know what their final
cruise price is. They want to know that drinks, meals, excursions are all included – or if they’re not, what it’s going to cost them. This may mean that the holiday cost is front loaded, but people know what they are paying. Showcase the value of cruises by giving a monetary value to extras that are included. Luxury cruises will continue to thrive too. While money and time may be more precious, people are opting to maximise their holidays and “push the boat out” with extra luxury touches, not just for special occasions, but, well, just because! I lost count last year of people saying to me, “I don’t want a gift, I want to do something”. Many will continue to seek experiences over material items. They will want to partake in excursions where they are part of the local communities and participate, rather than watch. Enjoy dinner with the locals or paint like Van Gogh in a gallery – think of cruise lines that offer excursions and experiences that are more immersive, not just the must-see sights. To top it all off, guests expect cruise companies to be responsible in their sustainability efforts. While few customers right now are actively choosing a cruise line because of their responsible tourism policies, it won’t be long before customers will, and they will want to know what cruise lines are doing to help protect our planet. So, with no crystal ball, what will 2020 bring? Shorter holidays, but more of them; customers knowing how much they are spending upfront; touches of luxury and experiences that they will remember for a lifetime – all encompassed by being delivered by cruise lines that care for the environment. Whatever the year may bring, I wish you all a healthy, prosperous and busy 2020!
Win a trip to Ibiza and earn points in January incentive
Carnival Cruise Line has announced its January bookings incentive in which agents can win one of 20 all-expenses paid trips to Ibiza. Throughout January, every booking claimed through Carnival’s Loyalty Rocks Club will earn agents 20 points/£20. The top 20 bookers will win a trip to Ibiza in conjunction with the four-star Ibiza Rocks Hotel. The trip to Ibiza will take place from June 1–4 and the prize will include return flights, overseas transfers and three nights’ accommodation at the hotel, with VIP access to the Ibiza Rocks pool parties. The adults-only Ibiza Rocks is located in the heart of San Antonio and just a short walk to the Sunset Strip, bars and beach. While in Ibiza, Carnival will host its Travel Agents Rock Awards, which recognise the dedication of its trade partners as well as the performance of its agent partners through incentive programmes and training. The awards will take place at iconic hotel Pikes Ibiza – where Wham! filmed Club Tropicana – and will be followed by an after party. Carnival’s Loyalty Rocks Club rewards agents for their hard work and partnership with a range of treats, including high street vouchers, holidays, gifts and experiences. Agents must claim their reward within the month of booking. To register for Loyalty Rocks Club, agents should visit LoyaltyRocksClub.com. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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Win a #SagaVIP day this January and February! Book any Saga holiday or cruise from December 30, 2019 to February 29, 2020 and you could win your choice of eight #SagaVIP days for four people including chauffeur service each way. One lucky winner will be drawn every week so the more you book, the more likely you are to win a VIP prize!
Nine lucky winners will enjoy a #SagaVIP day for four this Spring! Choose from one of the following prizes: • Theme park entry with Fast Track passes • Dine at a Michelin Star restaurant • Top price theatre tickets • Luxury spa day • A day at the races • Vineyard tour with lunch and tasting • Gourmet cookery class • Family zoo day with VIP Animal Encounter
Plus, more prizes to be won including an Apple iPad, Apple Watch, Echo Dot and a place per day on our Spirit of Adventure VIP Trade Event.
Book online at sagaagents.co.uk or call free on 0800 074 8021 January incentive terms and conditions: Every booking you make from December 30, 2019 to February 29, 2020 will automatically be entered into a weekly prize draw to win one of 8 VIP days for four people. One winner will be drawn per week for 9 weeks. Prize includes chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way. For terms and conditions visit sagaagents.co.uk/trade/incentives. Saga holidays are for anyone aged 50+. A travel companion may be 40+. NTA-AP6239
January 2020 | Forward
WAVE INCENTIVE SPECIAL
Royal Caribbean offers 60% off select family holiday deals
Up to £1,000 off select AmaWaterways cruises AmaWaterways is offering up to £1,000 per person off European cruises departing this year plus free flights and transfers for guests who book before January 31. The level of saving varies from month to month, with the maximum saving available for all departures in March, April, November and December this year. Free return flights are included from six UK airports.
New Year agent competition from CMV
Royal Caribbean is offering holidaymakers 60 per cent off their next holiday when they buy one cruise until March 31. Guests can also save up to £125 on their stateroom and pay from just £99 for children. The offer allows guests to holiday on any one of Royal Caribbean’s 26 ships, including the renovated Allure of the Seas, which sails Europe itineraries from this summer. The line
sails to more than 260 destinations in 72 counties across six continents, meaning plenty of choice for clients. The deal applies to Anthem of the Seas sailings that depart from Southampton. It can also be enjoyed on all holidays to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line’s private island. The offer applies to bookings made until March 31 on selected sailings in 2020 and 2021.
Agents who make a booking with Cruise & Maritime Voyages between January 13 and February 13 are in with a chance of winning one of ten prizes. The prizes include a place on a fam trip, a spa day, a three-course meal at one of Raymond Blanc’s White Brasserie pubs, a NutriBullet, an Amazon Echo and a Fitbit. To enter, agents need to register their booking by emailing their name, ABTA number and booking reference to competitions@ cruiseandmaritime.com.
Saga launches its biggest ever trade incentive with #SagaVIP, where prizes include a sailing aboard new boutique ship Spirit of Adventure Saga has launched its biggest ever trade incentive, with rewards available for agents who arrange a cruise or holiday package with the company. Agents who book with Saga have the opportunity to win one of nine #SagaVIP prizes, including theatre trips, theme park entry and spa days, plus a two-night sailing aboard Spirit of Adventure, Saga’s new ship. Any agent booking a Saga package until February 29 will be automatically entered for a chance to win. A prize will be awarded each
week during the promotion, which began on December 30. Winners of a day out, which includes VIP return door-to-door travel up to 250 miles, can choose from the following rewards, each for four people: Bronze fast-track theme park passes; a three-course Michelin Star restaurant meal; a vineyard tour with wine-tasting; top-price theatre tickets to a play or musical of the winner’s choice; a two-hour gourmet cooking class; entry to a horse-racing day with food and drink allowance;
a luxury spa day, including one treatment per person; and admission to a zoo or safari park nationwide with an animal encounter. Each week, prizes of an Echo Dot, an Apple Watch and an iPad will also be up for grabs and presented by regional sales managers. In addition, one agent each day, Monday to Friday during #SagaVIP, will win a spot on a sailing of new boutique ship, Spirit of Adventure, and attend the two-night agent event on August 11–13. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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January 2020 | Forward
Agent reward points and early booking bonus from Silversea
Silversea has launched its best-ever wave offer with a ten per cent early booking bonus, inclusive flights on all voyages and bonus savings of up to £500 per suite on selected worldwide voyages in 2020 and 2021. Guests who book between January 4 and February 28 will have the chance to sail on Silversea’s new ships – Silver Origin, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn
– for less. Bookings made and paid for in full by February 28 for sailings departing from July 2020 onwards will receive an additional ten per cent saving with Silversea’s Early Booking Bonus. For agents, Silversea is offering 50 reward points – equal to a £50 gift voucher that can be used at Love2Shop, Amazon and Virgin Wines – for any 2020 booking.
Week-long uplift in Azamara Club Rewards until January 12 Azamara’s Wave offer is under way, with benefits for both clients and agents. Guests booking with Azamara until March 31 will be eligible for up to 40 per cent off 125 sailings as well as a book with confidence guarantee, allowing guests to change a sale voyage for free before the end of 2020 or before the final payment – whichever comes first. The luxury line’s three ships all have participating voyages. Example sailings include the fivenight Grand Prix & Riviera Voyage from Barcelona; a 17-night Norway Intensive North Cape Voyage; and a ten-night Greece Intensive Voyage. All offer pre- and post-sailing land programmes that align with the brand’s commitment to destination immersion. Azamara has also scheduled more late-night stays and overnights in different ports. Meanwhile, agents are set to benefit from Azamara’s highest ever UK trade incentive: a week-long uplift in Club Rewards to £100 per booking. The offer begins January 6 and runs until January 12 inclusive.
MSC includes premium drinks package on all Fantastica experience bookings in addition to the inclusion of service charges as part of the cruise fare The promotion runs until March 22 and includes cruises through summer 2020 and winter 2020/2021. Antonio Paradiso, MD MSC Cruises UK & Ireland, said: “We are really excited to be launching our all-inclusive wave promotion earlier than ever, giving agents the opportunity to make the most of the run-up to Christmas. This is the third year in a row we are running the promotion and following last year’s record-breaking success we
are hoping for the promotion to prove popular with consumers again this year.” MSC has also launched its new television advert and brand campaign. The ad, “The Sea at Its Most”, is airing on both free and paid-for channels. Directed by awarding-winning director Stuart Douglas, the new advert looks at the sea in various guises – the sea at its most welcoming, adventurous, curious, spectacular, delicious, magical and unforgettable.
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January 2020 | Forward
INTERVIEW
Ambitions for Greece growth – and beyond Celestyal Cruises’ Leslie Peden tells Sam Ballard why the Greece specialist is easier for agents to work with than ever before as it focuses on higher capacity Have you ever been to Greece? Chances are that you have. Brits have been travelling there in ever increasing numbers, whether it’s for the ancient history of Athens or the beautiful beaches of the country’s many islands. And, when it comes to travelling around Greece, there are few companies that can offer as authentic an experience as Celestyal Cruises. The Greek operator, which currently has two ships – Olympia and Crystal – sailing around the Aegean, has ambitions to become a year-round operator, and will also be developing its identity beyond Greece alone. We sat down with Leslie Peden, the company’s chief commercial officer, to hear more about how Celestyal will be embracing travel agents with its new portal and changing the messaging when it comes to its own offering.
Last time we spoke you revealed that a new travel agent portal was on its way. How’s that progressing? It will be live on February 3, so we’ll now have an online training portal that has various modules attached to it, from introducing Celestyal Cruises to our destinations, which is a really differentiating aspect of our product. We’re also doing quite a big piece of work to create a narrative around our brand. We’ve hired a brand guru to help us craft this. We have all of these amazingly unique Greek ingredients but we need to make sure that they can be translated into the other regions of the world where we sail. Our new 2020 winter Adriatic itineraries are a good example. We visit Greece but once we’ve gone beyond those borders we need something that is portable. That will come through this year in our differentiated marketing messages and how we present the brand to the trade.
Will that see Celestyal become less of a Greek cruise line and more of a Mediterranean one? Yes, being Mediterranean is key here. We want to reinforce that we are regional experts. However, we don’t want to lose all the components of our Greekness – the warmth and welcome of legendary Greek hospitality for instance. But we will build a narrative around that and build it out. Will there be a fleet expansion? Our focus right now is on increasing our capacity rather than fleet expansion. Celestyal Crystal carries between 900 and 1,200 passengers depending on the mix of third and fourth berths. We need a ship with a higher density of balcony staterooms, particularly on those longer seven-night itineraries where we’re developing our deployment. What you could therefore see is us
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January 2020 | Section Name
switching to a higher-capacity ship on our most popular seven-night itineraries. It might not mean that we start a ton of new itineraries but instead use current smaller-capacity vessels to do something different. Is the UK market performing well during what is widely seen as a difficult time economically? It’s not been difficult for us. Mainly because we’re very much developing and growing our distribution in the UK. We’ve got new partners coming online that we’ve not had previously. What we’re seeing is organic growth from the market as well. The brand is resonating especially due to the appealing all-inclusive nature of our offering. Articles like yours [cruise adviser October] have elevated the brand – so much so that our organic searches on Google are three times greater than they were a year ago. Jane McDonald’s programme worked really well too. The partners we’re working with are really behind what we do because they view us as a differentiated incremental cruise supplier that doesn’t cannibalise their other preferred cruise line sales. No one does Greece like we do, with the authentic and unique destination-rich experience that we have. By aligning with us they can build their own customer base as we drive new to cruise. How important is the trade? The trade is key. For us, whether it’s business-to-business or coming through the retail channel, it’s of paramount importance. That’s why we’re adding additional resource to the UK this New Year. We’re adding a business development manager to the north and Ireland. We’re already five in the UK. We’ll be six then. We also recently launched a trade online marketing portal that includes a digital asset library, which has loads of content from a big photo shoot we recently undertook. We’re building up the sales collateral and have increased the number of years we’ve got on sale (up until end of 2021, and by April 2020 we will launch 2022 deployment), which means we’re easier to work with than we’ve ever been.
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January 2020 | Forward
PORTS OF CALL
Dubrovnik Jane Archer on the charms and attractions to be found both in and out of this historic Croatian city With its picture-perfect red roofs set against the deep blue Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik has become one of the most adored Mediterranean ports for cruisers. That adulation is both a boon and a bane. On the one hand, it brings more and more cruise ships and passengers to the city – some 466 cruise calls were recorded in the first eight months of 2019, up from a total 475 in 2015 – which in turn brings port fees and people with money to spend. On the other hand, the medieval old city, which is about the same size as Disneyland Paris, is too small to accommodate the thousands of tourists and cruise passengers trying to squeeze into its narrow streets each summer (2019 saw some 1.5 million overnight visitors and about 800,000 cruise passengers, according to the Dubrovnik Tourist Board). When Unesco warned in 2017 that it might revoke the city’s World Heritage status due to overtourism, the authorities acted. In 2019, a limit of two ships and a maximum 5,000 cruise passengers at any one time was imposed. Additionally, starting January 1, 2021, the city is slapping a tax on cruise ships of between 2,000 and 40,000 kuna (£227 to £4,525), depending on their size, which works out at an average £1.20 a head. It sounds draconian but it should make things more pleasant for everyone, and so far at least cruisers are not missing out as schedules have been juggled to make sure ships passing through the Adriatic can still visit. Viking Cruises, MSC Cruises, Silversea, Holland America Line, CroisiEurope, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are among the many cruise lines
that will be there in 2020, along with Celestyal Cruises, which is visiting Dubrovnik for the first time in December on new out-of-season Romantic Adriatic voyages round-trip from Venice. Small ships such as SeaDream’s diminutive duo anchor off the old city harbour and tender passengers ashore, but most vessels dock in Gruž, about 1.5 miles from the old city. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the port to the city, and there is a steepish hill to negotiate, but it’s a pleasant walk. Alternatively there are always plenty of taxis and shuttle buses. Taxis take euros, and you can use them in most restaurants and bars, but Croatia’s official currency, kuna, will be needed for the key attractions. Once inside the pedestrian-only city walls, most first-time visitors make a beeline for the steps that lead to the top of the city walls. It costs about £22 and the full circuit is just over a mile, but it takes ages because you have to keep stopping to admire the fabulous views over the city’s picturesque terracotta rooftops, turrets and towers on one side and the calm Adriatic on the other. Another good vantage point is from Srđ Mountain behind the town. There’s a cable car to the top (about £19), and you can visit the Homeland War Museum remembering the 1991 conflict with Serbia while there, but most people are content to enjoy the views. The best way to explore the old city is to just wander the maze of narrow streets, marble-paved squares and steep alleyways, peeking into churches and admiring the beautiful palaces you stumble across here and there. For a cultural fix, there are
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January 2020 | Forward maritime, modern art and history museums to explore. For those keen to get an insight into the city’s history, culture and cuisine there are various walking tours, including Game of Thronesthemed outings that take fans to locations where scenes from the programme’s fictional city of King’s Landing were filmed. Guides take GoT devotees to the 11th-century Fort Lovrijenac that guards what was known in the HBO series as Blackwater Bay, and share behind-the-scenes stories at locations such as Pile Gate and the Jesuit Stairs. An optional extension to Viator’s Games of Thrones Tour visits Trsteno Arboretum, which doubled as King’s Landing’s palace garden. Cruisers back in Dubrovnik for a second or third time and keen for something new to do can take a 15-minute ferry ride from the old harbour to the island of Lokrum, where there’s swimming, snorkelling and a botanical garden to explore, or see the old city from a different vantage point on a kayak tour around the walls. There are also trips to Cavtat, about 12 miles south of Dubrovnik, a pretty town with sandy beaches, a picturesque waterfront and plenty of restaurants, while oenophiles can go wine-tasting in the Konavle Valley, an hour outside the city.
THREE CROATIA CRUISES Romantic Adriatic
Greece and Croatia
Greece and Dalmatian Delights
Celestyal Cruises – Celestyal Olympia Venice to Venice December 5, 2020 From £699 per person cruise-only
Royal Caribbean International – Rhapsody of the Seas Venice to Venice, May 23, 2020 From £995 per person cruise-only
Seabourn – Seabourn Odyssey Piraeus (Athens) to Venice August 15, 2020 From £3,299 per person inc flights
City walks, a Games of Thrones tour and wine-tasting in the Konavle Valley await as Celestyal makes its Dubrovnik debut in December 2020 on new one-week Adriatic cruises.
Passengers get eight hours to explore Dubrovnik’s old town, visit the beach and try the local seafood on day two of this voyage that includes calls into Kotor, Santorini and Katakolon.
Seabourn will linger in Dubrovnik from 9am until 8pm on this cruise that lists seafood-tasting, biking in the Konavle Valley and a photography walking tour among optional excursions. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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January 2020 | Midship
NEW SHIPS
The class of 2020 This year promises to be a vintage one for the cruise industry. There are UK ship launches from Celebrity Cruises, P&O, Saga and Princess Cruises, while Virgin Voyages will be making its much anticipated debut. There will also be new ships from Carnival, MSC and Royal Caribbean, and Crystal Cruises will be launching its first expedition ship, Endeavor. Clearly, there’s plenty to keep us all busy over the next 12 months. Sam Ballard gives a rundown of all the major ocean-going ships setting sail this year...
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January 2020 | Midship
February Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Seven Seas Splendor Regent claims to be the most allinclusive line at sea, with everything from alcohol to shore excursions included in the fare. Splendor is the ship that will go the extra mile. The ship’s top suite, the aptly named Regent Suite, is almost 4,500 square feet and includes a private spa with steam room and sauna (with complimentary treatments). When occupants head off ashore they will have their own personal driver. It doesn’t get more luxurious than this.
March Hurtigruten – Fridtjof Nansen Although Hurtigruten’s first hybrid ship, the Roald Amundsen, may have been delayed, progress on the second ship in the series, the Fridtjof Nansen, has carried on unabated. Even better news is that UK agents and customers will get the chance to see the ship as it takes three five-night inaugurals from London Tilbury (March 7), Liverpool (March 12) and Portsmouth (March 17).
April Virgin Voyages – Scarlet Lady Arguably one of the most hyped cruise ship launches of the past few years. Virgin Voyages has promised that Scarlet Lady will rewrite the rule book. There will be no buffets, no main dining rooms – and no kids. There will be tattoo parlours, record shops and the perfect spot for outdoor yoga. Look out for the ship visiting the UK this February.
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January 2020 | Midship
April Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Apex The UK is to get its own Celebrity Edge-class launch this summer when the bottle smashes on Apex in Southampton. Apex will have all of the cutting-edge facilities that made Edge such a hit – Eden, Magic Carpet and one of the nicest gym/spa areas on any ship.
May P&O Cruises – Iona Ship launches in the UK don’t get much bigger than P&O. And, considering that Iona is the biggest P&O ship ever to launch, we’re expecting this to be massive. Iona, which will be based out of Southampton, will include the new SkyDome – a space under a huge glass dome that will act as an entertainment space from day to night – and a multiscreen cinema.
June Princess Cruises – Enchanted Princess The fifth ship in Princess Cruises’ Royal-class will launch in Southampton this summer, so expect to see plenty more about Enchanted Princess as the year goes on. The ship will be fully fitted with Ocean Medallion – the company’s revolutionary tech that allows keyless entry to cabins and the ability to order drinks to your lounger (as well as much, much more). Expect some familiar touches (SeaWalk, Sabatini’s and Movies Under the Stars) as well as some new venues, such as a standalone Salty Dog Gastropub.
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January 2020 | Midship
August Saga – Spirit of Adventure Carnival – Mardi Gras Crystal Cruises – Endeavor Saga’s Spirit of Adventure launches in the UK with a big agent event for the trade to try out the new hardware. Carnival will launch its biggest ever ship, Mardi Gras, which will be split into six zones, from the French Quarter to the Ultimate Playground. Crystal Cruises will launch its first expedition style ship, Endeavor, fully equipped for well-heeled travellers wanting to see parts of the world that were previously the domain of intrepid explorers.
September MSC – Virtuosa Virtuosa, the second ship in MSC’s Meraviglia Plus-class, will launch this September. The ship is big – like its sister, Grandiosa – and can carry almost 6,300 guests when at full capacity. It has all of the great partnerships that MSC has become synonymous with, such as Cirque du Soleil, the vast LED promenade and even a contemporary fine art museum. The ship will be all about fun and entertainment.
November Royal Caribbean – Odyssey of the Seas The second ship in Royal’s Quantum Ultra-class, following the launch of Spectrum of the Seas last year, will launch this November. These ships have all the bells and whistles – a greatest hits of Royal’s most recent innovations, including an upgraded SeaPlex and FlowRider, Ripcord by iFly, North Star and Skypads. Odyssey of the Seas will be in the Mediterranean for summer 2021.
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ITINERARIES
New routes New ships, fresh itineraries and exciting experiences – 2020 is set to be big for cruise. Anthony Pearce shares the unmissable sailings
January 2020 | Midship
Left to right: P&O Cruises’ Iona will head to Norway; Holland America Line will sail to Argentina; Coral Expeditions will expand its Great Barrier Reef programme
It’s set to be another bumper year for the cruise industry. Aside from all the new ships launching (see p26), there are plenty of new itineraries worth getting excited about. Here, we take a look at new routes, emerging (and returning) destinations and themed cruises that have caught our eye. Return to the Nile In 2010, 58,000 people took an Egypt river cruise, but that was down to 3,600 by 2016, a 95 per cent fall. However, it rose to 4,700 people in 2017 and 5,700 in 2018, according to Clia. Although we’re still far from pre-revolution levels, numbers do look set to grow again. Avalon Waterways has become the latest cruise line to return to Egypt, joining the likes of Scenic and Viking. The line has not operated in Egypt since 2016 but has scheduled an initial 15 departures between September and December. Its new Taste of Egypt itinerary will be on board luxury ship
MS Farah. The ten-day cruise will explore the Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza and visit the Ramesses II and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, as well as Cairo’s oldest church – the Hanging Church – and Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Egyptian Museum before a Nile cruise. From £2,732pp (cruise only). Crystal Esprit, Crystal Cruises’ ultra-luxury yacht, will offer new historically significant itineraries exploring the Rose City of Petra, Egypt and the Holy Land on a nine- or 11-day journey; Cyprus and the Greek Isles of Mykonos, Delos, Paphos, Santorini and maiden call Naxos on a nine-day voyage; and the United Arab Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Manama in Bahrain and Doha, Qatar on an eight-day journey. Total solar eclipse in Argentina On December 14, 2020, a total solar eclipse will be visible over Chile and Argentina. Guests can experience
this spectacle of totality – where the moon passes between Earth and the Sun, obscuring the sun – with Holland America Line on board Westerdam. The 22-night voyage features the highlights of South America, four days in Antarctica and the opportunity to experience the eclipse in Argentina. From £3,469pp (cruise only). Party through Norway’s fjords Not just a cruise, but a festival. On board P&O Cruises’ Iona guests can take in a seven-night fjords cruise with a difference. Ionafest will mark the naming of the new ship, the line’s largest to date. More names are due to be added to the bill, but so far Clean Bandit, Trevor Nelson, Jo Whiley, Sara Cox and Blur’s Alex James have been announced. Strictly Come Dancing 2019 contestant Chris Ramsey, along with professional dancers from the show Amy Dowden and Ben Jones, and judge Motsi Mabuse, CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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January 2020 | Midship
will also be on board. The sailing departs from Southampton and takes in Olden, Innvikfjorden, Nordfjord, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Sunnylvsfjorden, Storfjorden and Bergen. It departs on July 4, 2020 after the christening ceremony. From £1,299pp. New European dockings Carnival Cruise Line returns to Europe this year with a host of new sailings. There’s a 16-day Northern transAtlantic crossing from New York to Dover on June 3, featuring calls at Qaqortoq, Reykjavik, Lerwick, Belfast and Cork; and a nine-day Norwegian fjords cruise round-trip from Dover on June 19 visiting Bergen, Olden, Molde, Trondheim, Alesund and Stavanger. There’s also a nine-day Western Europe from Dover to Barcelona trip on June 28, visiting Le Havre, La Coruña, Leixoes, Lisbon, Gibraltar and Malaga, plus nine- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises between Venice and Barcelona
calling at the likes of Marseilles, Livorno, Rome, Naples, Kotor, Corfu, Valletta, Dubrovnik and Rijeka. Reach remote Australia Australia’s pioneer of expedition cruising, Coral Expeditions, has launched a completely reimagined programme of Great Barrier Reef expeditions from June 2021. The new seven-night Outerknown Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef will focus on the lesser-seen outer reefs and islands of the northern region and will offer guests an authentic and immersive experience like no other available on the reef. New destinations include Hope Island, Escape Reef and remote Osprey Reef, described by Sir David Attenborough as “an oasis for living creatures of all kind”. Osprey Reef lies beyond the continental shelf and is an isolated seamount rising 2,000m above the seabed within the outer limits of the Coral Sea Marine Park.
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New private islands Private islands are becoming de rigueur for cruise lines, with Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay having taken the experience to a new level. Virgin Voyages, which debuts this year as a new cruise line, will have its own beach club on Bimini, while Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve will be MSC Cruises’ offering. Found in the Bahamian tropics, it opened in December 2019 and is focused on “restoring the existing natural beauty into a flourishing marine reserve”, according to the line. The private island will offer visitors the chance to learn about the local ecosystem, the protection of the oceans and the importance of preserving coral reefs. A series of “edutainment” programmes will also be available for all ages, alongside snorkel safaris, kayak tours and paddle-boarding classes that will be held in the island’s surrounding 64 square miles of protected waters.
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January 2020 | Midship
WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?
Andy Harmer
SVP membership & director, Clia UK & Ireland
As we enter a new year and a new decade, we invited industry heads to share their predictions on where the cruise industry is headed. The answers range from greater sustainability to more choice for ultra-luxury voyages – and much more besides. Clia recently published its 2020 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report, bringing together much of the research and data we’ve collected over the past year to put a spotlight on the top trends we’re seeing across the industry. The cruise industry has certainly cemented its role as a mainstream holiday choice over recent years, with more than 32 million guests expected to sail globally this year. As demand for cruising reaches new heights, the industry is accelerating its efforts to be a leader in responsible tourism. As such, environmental sustainability and destination stewardship are at the very forefront of the industry’s priorities for 2020 and beyond. Looking ahead over the coming year, Clia cruise lines will continue to make substantial investments in reducing its environmental impact – having already invested more than $22 billion in the development of new energy-efficient technologies and cleaner fuels. Last year, Clia cruise lines made the first-ever industry-wide emissions commitment, pledging to reduce the rate of carbon emissions across the industry fleet by 40 per cent by 2030. Moving forward, cruise lines will continue to explore new ways to become more sustainable. For
example, 44 per cent of the new ships being built currently will rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel for primary population. LNG fuel has virtually zero sulphur emissions, resulting in a 95 per cent to 100 per cent reduction in particulate emissions and a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Two cruise ships already run on LNG while at sea and in port – AIDAnova and Costa Smeralda – and two new ships will be launching this year, P&O Cruises’ Iona and Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras. Mutual respect and collaboration With the ever-increasing growth in the cruise sector comes the responsibility to work closely with cruise destinations through mutual respect and collaboration. In 2020 and beyond, the cruise industry will continue to explore new and creative ways to manage the flow of visitors and implement the highest standards of responsible tourism. Partnerships with local governments, ensuring staggered arrivals and departures, and diversifying shore excursions are all ways in which the industry is working towards positive destination stewardship.
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Cruise lines are also developing ways to be more environmentally sustainable on board, for example by reducing or eliminating the consumption of single-use plastics. Clia’s 2020 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report found that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their personal environmental impact when travelling. The study found that more than eight in ten cruise passengers recycle (82 per cent) and reduce using single-use plastics (80 per cent) while on holiday. It’s not only the cruise and wider travel sector that is placing high importance on environmental sustainability – consumers are too, and it’s essential that travel agents and their guests are aware of the efforts being made by cruise lines to create a sustainable future. Better sustainability strategies Looking ahead over the new year, we can expect to see cruise lines upping their sustainability messaging strategies to equip agents with the knowledge they need to be able to answer the questions customers may have. As an industry, we will continue to ensure best practices are applied to protect the oceans we sail and the destinations we visit, while continuing to always find new ways to enhance the guest experience. To read the full 2020 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook findings, visit cruiseexperts.org/media-centre.
January 2020 | Midship
Lynn Narraway
Managing director UK & Ireland, Seabourn and Holland America Line
The new definition of luxury Luxury has evolved, and continues to evolve over time as consumer habits and tastes change. There has been a shift in focus from ownership and status to experiential satisfaction. While in the past people might purchase an item of furniture or jewellery to mark a special occasion, now they are more likely to choose an experience. Today, luxury reflects consumer emotions, aspirations and passions. Within the travel sector, 63 per cent of wealthy consumers agree the definition of luxury is not the same as it was even five years ago. They are increasingly seeking exclusive and authentic experiences that resonate with their desires. It’s all about providing individual, bespoke products for the luxury traveller. Luxury consumers equate small with beautiful. They want curated experiences and access to places, spaces and faces – all that is personalised and authentic. Luxury cruise – the future According to GFK (Growth from Knowledge) the luxury sector is outperforming the mass holiday market. Although issues such as Brexit have had an impact overall on
That means more opportunity for travel agents to convert their luxury land lovers to ultra-luxury cruise. Luxury travellers need someone to really listen to them, to know their family, their lifestyle, their important milestones, their “passion points” – in fact, their mindset. As Alistair Pritchard from Deloitte says, “Holidays remain special to consumers and a travel business can set itself up for success by understanding what, when and how consumers want their holidays.” holidays, the luxury sector has shown strong performance and a more resilient booking curve. All-inclusive bookings have become more popular within travel, and many ultra-luxury travel companies offer a high-quality all-inclusive proposition, as even wealthy travellers are seeking value and ease, with all their gourmet cuisine and fine wines included. Within the ultra-luxury cruise sector there will be double-digit growth between 2019 and 2022. And more luxury capacity means more choice of unusual destinations only accessible on an intimate ship, such as tiny Greek and Caribbean islands, Greenland, Iceland and the Polar regions.
Converting the luxury land lover We advise travel agents to focus on the luxury land lovers and luxury travellers. This is a huge opportunity for growth and these clients will love a luxury cruise on an intimate boutique hotel, which just happens to be at sea! When talking to a client who stays at resorts and bijou hotels, use the language that luxury travellers will understand. For example, at Seabourn, we use the terminology “oceanfront suites” rather than seaview staterooms. We’ve even had one of the world’s top hotel designers create our latest ships, with hotelstyle ambience and amenities in mind. Expedition – an opportunity Growth in the expedition sector has shown that consumers’ keenness to explore can be a powerful driver. With more than 40 expedition ships on order between now and 2023, there is an opportunity to attract adventurous travellers with an appetite for authentic wildlife and nature. They can travel to the farthest reaches of the globe with an experienced expedition team, and all in complete luxury – perhaps aboard an all veranda-suite PC6-class ship, equipped with kayaks, Zodiacs and two submarines, Seabourn Venture!
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Among the smallest ships in expedition cruising
A very experienced polar operator & team
First passenger ship with the unique Ulstein X-BOWÂŽ
Maximum time on shore, we aim for 2 excursions per day1
Approachable team
Purpose-built for expeditions
Most extensive activities program
Open-seating dining Open bridge
Lowest polluting marine engines – 80% emissions reduction2
Informal atmosphere
Recycling program
Average 126 passengers per voyage
Pioneered by renowned mountaineer Greg Mortimer
For more information and to book, contact your preferred wholesaler or Aurora Expeditions: 0 808 189 2005 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk *Terms & Conditions apply. Valid on select ship voyages only and select cabin categories. Offer is valid on new bookings only aboard the Greg Mortimer or Sylvia Earle which must be booked and deposited by March 31st 2020, or until sold out, whichever comes first. Promotion is subject to availability at the time of booking and capacity controlled. The promotion is not available in conjunction with any other offer, can be withdrawn at any time and is not redeemable for cash. Prices and offers correct at time of printing and subject to change. Normal booking terms and conditions apply. Additional terms and conditions may apply - please visit www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 1 Weather permitting, excludes sea days. 2 Compared to old tier 1 engines.
January 2020 | Midship
Craig Upshall
Sales director UK & Europe, Aurora Expeditions
When our founder Greg Mortimer set off to climb Mount Minto in Antarctica back in 1994, few tourists were travelling to the white continent. Other than joining a research ship, the only way to reach the icy expanse was on a decommissioned Russian ice-breaker. Following his successful summit of Mount Minto, Greg chartered one of those vessels for intrepid family and friends – people whose sense of adventure had been ignited by the passion and stories he took back with him to Australia. Fast forward two and a half decades, and cruise passengers are embracing new and far-flung destinations like never before. According to Clia’s most recent Ocean & River Cruise Review (June 2019), cruise “exploration destinations” – including the polar regions, the Galápagos Islands and Antarctica – saw a 44 per cent increase in bookings in 2018 compared with the previous year. In March last year, Clia held its first ever Expedition Cruise Forum, with insight from veteran expedition leader Robin West and BBC broadcaster Monty Halls. The Russian Far East, Papua New Guinea, Antarctica and Greenland – destinations that until relatively recently were considered beyond the reach of most – were all discussed. Rise in expedition If proof were needed that expedition cruising is one of the fastestgrowing sectors in the industry, one need only look at the number of orders on the books (an Aurora ship too! But more of this later…). Between now and 2022 more than 15 expedition ships will launch, with big names like Silversea, National Geographic, Crystal and Hurtigruten among them.
Many of the new ships are luxury vessels and this step-up in comfort is another factor behind the rise in demand for expedition cruising. It is possible to go off the beaten path and travel in comfort and with equipment to really enhance your expedition experience. Here at Aurora we know from speaking to our own clients that many of them are seeking not only adventure but new and unique experiences. Immersive experiences People no longer want to stare at the wilderness from the other side of a rail. They want to be in it, experiencing it up close and witnessing its beauty and wildlife first-hand. They also want experts to enlighten them and to deepen their knowledge about the planet’s precious environments. Holidays now are as much about learning or pursuing a passion as they are about relaxing, and with historians, expert naturalists, geologists and photographers leading our voyages, we are well placed to meet that need. We will continue to offer our passengers new ways to engage with the regions we sail in, both above and below the water, whether that’s sea kayaking alongside whales, rock
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climbing in Greenland or going in search of guillemots in the Faroes. Age is not a barrier, last year we sent several happy cruise passengers in the 60-plus bracket, and some in their 70s too, on guided polar snorkelling, camping, ski touring and kayaking trips. As for Greg Mortimer himself, the spark that our founder ignited all those years ago did not fizzle out. Aurora Expeditions, the company that Greg and his wife Margaret grew from the ground up, continues to go from strength to strength. Last year saw the hugely successful launch of the company’s first purpose-built expedition ship, the eponymous Greg Mortimer. We have just announced a second expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle. Named in honour of the revered oceanographer, this new ship will again sail with the Ulstein X-Bow – cutting-edge bow technology that improves comfort and stability in rough seas. Into 2020 The year ahead is going to be another big year for us. We are excited about our first voyage to Franz Josef Land this summer where the Greg Mortimer will cross the Barents Sea to a world few have seen. Two more voyages are already planned for summer 2021. In the polar regions we will continue to be ambassadors for responsible travel. Our founder Greg Mortimer was instrumental in helping establish IAATO (the International Association of Antarctica Operators, set up in 1991) and we will continue to strive for best practice in Destination Stewardship wherever we go. For us, the focus on citizen science, responsible travel and ocean conservation has never been sharper.
January 2020 | Midship
Neil Barclay
Head of sales, Viking UK
With all the political uncertainty we have been experiencing in the UK, value for money is more important than ever – and this will shape the future of the river cruise industry to a certain extent. River cruises represent excellent value generally when you look at the whole package, including flights and food and beverages – not to mention that guests can see multiple destinations in one trip. More and more, UK travellers are realising that it makes sense, both economically and in terms of the best use of their time, to visit a range of destinations in a week on a river cruise versus multiple city breaks. It is so much more relaxing and no time is wasted packing and unpacking and waiting at airports. Travel to Europe is more popular than ever. ABTA’s 2020 Travel Trends report revealed that Europe was the number one choice for British holidaymakers travelling abroad, with 84 per cent visiting the continent in 2019. We are so lucky in the UK that Europe is right on our doorstep and I think in 2020 we will see this reflected in an increase in bookings from travellers who want to do longer cruises but closer to home. Everyone is looking to discover something new or something that bit different and we’re all travelling farther afield to discover new continents and cultures, but how many of us have really discovered the heart of Europe, the villages, cities and lakes that are less than a twohour flight away? When you think about going to Europe for a week’s holiday, what generally springs to mind is the Spanish Costas or the Greek islands, but Europe has so much else to offer. The region boasts a variety of different experiences all year round – for example, the
already in place to meet this demand and I think we’ll see more excursions of this nature being added this year. Wellness is also important to today’s travellers, as we all know, and in response river cruise lines are offering more and more active excursions. For example, we have added a cycling tour on some of our shore excursions on the Rhine. Active walking tours and the walking tracks on board the ships are very popular and most cruise lines offer a huge range of healthy eating options. Christmas markets in December, the Seine in Spring, and the Douro is glorious in the height of summer and even has its own microclimate. Greater capacity Several cruise lines are adding capacity to meet demand. There are around 13 new river ships scheduled to launch in Europe this year, including four new Viking ships on the Seine and two new Longships on the Rhine and Danube. Travel brands have been talking about authentic experiences for some time and community tourism is another trend that is set to continue in 2020. Demand for shore excursions, which give cruisers an insight into local cultures, is as high as ever. River cruises offer the perfect platform for travellers to explore new cultures. There is something magical about arriving in a new destination by river and stepping off the ship into the heart of each town or city – it makes you feel connected with the local community. Many cruise lines offer shore excursions that provide more than the usual walking tour. Instead, they enable travellers to meet with local people, visit their homes and learn about their lifestyles. The infrastructure is
Family affairs Multigenerational travel looks set to show continued growth, with river cruising seen as an ideal environment to explore the world, discover new places and spend quality time together. Finding the right holiday that can cater for differing age groups with varying tastes can be a challenge – river cruising offers that mix of relaxation and exploration but enough quiet corners to spend quality time together. There is a cruise line for everyone, whether multigenerational means families with young children or older children travelling with their parents and sometimes grandparents. Some cruise lines like Viking only accept bookings for guests over 18 years old. The continued level of demand and repeat business we see also gives an indication that adult-only cruises are becoming increasingly popular.
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F E AT U R E S | R O O M S E RV I C E ME N U | S H O R E E XC U R S I O N S
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A world of luxury We consider the benefits of all-inclusive river cruising
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SECRETS OF THE DOURO Explore the wonders of Porto with our new itinerary for 2017
MEET THE FLEET Introducing a trio of new ships: Emerald Radiance, Liberté and Destiny
RAISE A GLASS Enjoy the world’s finest wines during our new cruise on the Rhône
WHICH RIVER ARE YOU? Find out which Emerald Waterways cruise best suits your personality
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Fire and ice Explore the Galápagos and Antarctica with our handy guide
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All around the world These epic cruises and flights will take you across the globe
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THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
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HIGH LIFE
ON THE HIGH SEAS The dazzling rise of luxury cruise
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T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W | TO K YO | C L I A R I V E R CO N F E R E N C E
THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
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Anthony Pearce explores the Caribbean with Viking Cruises
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EXPRESS YOURSELF WHY RAIL HOLIDAYS ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN
The added extras that can transform your clients’ holidays
INFOCUS: G ADVENTURES DISPELLING SOLO TRAVEL MYTHS COACH TOURING IN AUSTRALIA
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FEATURES | R O OM S ERV IC E MENU | S H ORE EXC UR S IONS
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PARADISE FOUND We return to the Caribbean with P&O Cruises and find it very much open for business after last year’s hurricanes
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BRILLIANT BANGKOK INFOCUS: INTREPID COACH VS CRUISE HOW TO SELL: SOLO TRAVEL
WHY THE THAI CAPITAL IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A BACKPACKER HAVEN
January 2020 | Midship
Ben Bouldin
Vice president of sales EMEA, Royal Caribbean Clia’s most recent research points to a tremendously exciting 2020 and I for one can’t wait to see what’s in store for our industry. With 32 million cruise passengers expected to set sail next year and $22 billion being invested in energy efficiency, clean emissions and working with local destinations, it’s no wonder one of Clia’s key 2020 industry trends is “Generation Cruise Positive”. Results show that more than 66 per cent of Generation X and 71 per cent of millennials now have a more positive attitude towards cruising compared with two years ago. It’s a testament to the hard work invested across our industry – in sustainability, product development and marketing – that we’re seeing this positive shift in attitudes, regardless of generation. And, it’s clear to me, thanks to the dynamic mindset and competitive resilience I can see across the current industry, that we will continue to see this percentage rise. It’s undeniable that our industry will continue to awaken the much coveted “new to cruise” guest to the potential of a cruise holiday; never before has there been so much premium hardware within such easy reach of UK and Irish guests. Next summer, Allure of the Seas – one of the world’s biggest and most innovative ships – will be arriving in Barcelona following a $165 million makeover, along with Carnival’s Radiance and MSC’s Virtuosa. And here in Southampton, we will welcome Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Quantum-class vessel; Iona, P&O’s next-generation ship; the brand new Enchanted Princess; and Saga’s Spirit of Adventure, to name just a few. There’s an exciting abundance of brand new ships on the horizon. From our RCCL family alone, there’s Celebrity Apex, Silversea’s Silver Moon
and Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas – and that’s just for 2020. There are a further 16 cruise ships scheduled to debut in 2020, resulting in a total of 278 ocean ships in operation by this time next year – not to mention new cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages, breaking into the industry, which shows the promise and wealth of opportunity our industry holds. Developments on land It’s not just developments at sea that are reshaping the future of the cruise holiday; new land-based projects are transforming the cruise holiday offering as we know it. We have seen tremendous success with the 2019 launch of Perfect Day at CocoCay, our exclusive island in the Bahamas, and we are moving full steam ahead with the development of our second Perfect Day concept in Lelepa, Vanuatu, which is set to launch in the Pacific in 2022. Further new and exclusive cruise destinations include the recently opened Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and the upcoming Bimini Beach Club, owned by Virgin Voyages. These continuous new and exclusive offerings, only accessible by cruise ship, are going to have vast
appeal to guests who are seeking out unique holiday experiences. A key development we’re seeing as we look to the future of cruise is the growing need for brands to clearly identify their target market and hone in on understanding and appealing to this audience. Cruise lines need to be crystal clear on who they are targeting and ensure that their marketing actions reflect their ambition. Virgin Voyages, for example, has set its sights on attracting couples with its adultsonly offering. At Royal Caribbean, we are laser focused on families, in all their various guises. Our strong appetite to attract families to our brand is demonstrated in our newly launched wave offering, which includes an ambitious TV plan, encompassing our new “One Family. One Holiday” ad campaign and sponsorship of ITV’s latest, prime-time family entertainment programme. My challenge to the wider industry would be to strategically identify their target guest and then ensure all channels are aligned accordingly. It’s in doing this that brands will be able to maintain their hold in an ever evolving and expanding marketplace. Working with the trade Lastly, but arguably most importantly for the future cruise industry, is the growing need for a mutual, supporting relationship between us and our trade partners. Last year particularly underlined the importance of this. I’m immensely proud of the relationship our team at Royal Caribbean has fostered with our trade partners over many years, and I am incredibly excited for the continuous growth and evolution of our award-winning Club Rewards programme.
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SELLING TIP – Always suggest a cruise to clients looking for holiday ideas
HOW TO SELL
New to Cruise
Jane Archer is the authority on all things cruise. This issue, she covers how to tempt new-to-cruise clients to try a holiday afloat – whether on the rivers or seas
Taster cruises
p46
River cruises
p47
Resorts at sea
p48
There was much rejoicing last spring when Clia revealed the number of Britons taking a cruise reached a record two million in 2018. It was a milestone that UK cruise executives had waited years to achieve, and joins the record number of cruisers being reported around the world (26.7 million in
2017 versus 18.5 million in 2018, according to Clia). Yet still only a fraction of the millions of holidays taken around the world each year are on cruises while lines are launching more and more ships. No wonder getting more people to cruise is the holy grail for all lines. It should be easy. Sybarites, families,
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sun-seekers, single travellers, river cruisers, budget-conscious clients – all can find a ship to suit. Whichever they choose, they’ll unpack once, visit a multitude of destinations and be looked after royally by the crew. Turn the pages to see three options for tempting first-timers to a holiday on the water.
January 2020 | Midship
Taster cruises Research consistently throws up holidaymakers who like the idea of a cruise but are reluctant to commit themselves to a week or more at sea in case they don’t like it. Cue taster cruises – a few days afloat so first-timers can see what it’s all about. The choice is dazzling, from ex-UK sailings that cut out the need to fly to short breaks in the Med and US that can be paired with a land stay, thereby ensuring first-timers are not entirely out of their comfort zone.
Value Who? Cruise & Maritime Voyages Where? Holland and Belgium When? August 28, 2020 How long? Three nights How much? From £289pp cruise-only CMV’s no-fly short sailings suit first-timers who want a low-cost taster cruise without any hassle. This cruise, roundtrip from Tilbury on Columbus, spends a day each in Amsterdam and Antwerp and has three nights on board so passengers can sample the food and entertainment.
Inclusive Who? Celestyal Cruises Where? Greece When? May 4, 2020 How long? Four nights How much? From £629pp cruise-only Pairing one of Celestyal’s mini cruises from Piraeus with a city stay in Athens
or a few nights in a beach resort gives first-timers the best of both worlds for their first taste of life at sea. This cruise, on Celestyal Olympia, visits Rhodes, Mykonos and other Greek island favourites, as well as Kuşadası in Turkey. Prices include drinks, two excursions and tips.
Cruise and stay Who? Disney Cruise Line Where? Bahamas When? September 10, 2020 How long? Four nights How much? From £669pp cruise-only First-timers are promised a Mouse-tastic time on Disney’s year-round three-, four- and five-night Bahamian sailings from Port Canaveral in Orlando, especially as they are easily paired with Walt Disney World. The cruise, on Disney Dream, visits Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, and has special guests Mickey, Minnie and the gang, Pirate Night parties and more.
SELLING TIP – Pair a short cruise with a hotel to give first-timers the best of both worlds
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January 2020 | Midship
River cruises An ongoing growth spurt has seen an unprecedented number of new river ships being launched, which means operators need to find more customers. Ocean cruisers are a likely source, as are clients used to road touring, but innovative designs, dining choice, active sailings and taster cruises have all made this a holiday for anyone and all ages, while increasingly inclusive pricing can be used to negate fears of exchange rate fluctuations.
Danube cities Who? A-Rosa Cruises Where? Danube When? October 4, 2020 How long? Eight days How much? From £1,509pp including flights Why visit just one city when you can tick off a couple on a single holiday? This cruise, round-trip from Engelhartszell on A-Rosa Donna, has overnights in both Vienna and Budapest so there’s time to fully explore the cities. The price, offered by Newmarket Holidays, includes transfers, drinks and wifi, and is based on flights from Manchester.
Rhine mini cruise Who? Avalon Waterways Where? Rhine When? August 19, 2020 How long? Five days How much? From £1,811pp including flights Avalon has added new short cruises for 2020
so first-timers can hop on board without committing too much time or money. This cruise, from Mainz to Amsterdam, ticks off castles, wine and canals in towns and cities along the way. Prices include transfers, tours, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, wifi and tips.
Cruising the Main Who? Fred Olsen River Cruises Where? Rhine and Main When? June 21, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? £1,499 including flights First-timers can book a river cruise with Fred Olsen secure in the knowledge that if after 24 hours they don’t like it, they’ll be flown home for free and refunded the holiday cost (Ts and Cs apply). Not that they’ll want to leave this beer-themed voyage from Regensburg to Cologne on Brabant, a modern ship geared to British tastes. Prices include transfers and wifi.
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SELLING TIP – Go on as many ship visits as possible so you can sell from experience
January 2020 | Midship
Resorts at sea Big resort ships surpass anything available on land when it comes to the variety of places to eat and activities on offer. Whether families, couples, old or young, first-timers will be dazzled by the ships out there, between them offering everything from wild and wacky water slides to upmarket restaurants and world-class entertainment. Focus on Europe so first-timers don’t have the extra cost of the long-haul flight.
American style Who? Royal Caribbean International Where? Mediterranean When? May 17, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £786pp cruise-only Land resorts should watch out as Allure of the Seas returns to the Med after a makeover that’s adding a ten-storey slide, a trio of flumes and glow-in-the-dark laser tag – all of it free for passengers to enjoy. This cruise, round-trip from Barcelona, visits the Balearic Islands, France and Italy.
European style Who? MSC Cruises Where? Mediterranean When? April 24, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £889pp cruise-only If clients want ideas for a lively holiday with plenty of things to do,
places to see and food to eat, look no further than MSC. This holiday is on the new MSC Grandiosa, which holds up to 6,334 passengers and has water slides, virtual reality games, a Balinese spa and numerous restaurants. The cruise, round-trip from Barcelona, visits France, Italy and Malta.
British style Who? P&O Cruises Where? Norwegian fjords When? June 6, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £749pp cruise-only P&O’s voyages to the fjords on new 5,200-passenger Iona are perfect for newto-cruise clients who want the facilities of a resort but a break from the usual holiday by the beach. Iona has lots of places to eat and drink, its own gin distillery and live shows. This cruise, round-trip from Southampton, serves up walks, waterfalls and glaciers as it nips in and out of Norway’s fjords.
SELLING TIP – An ocean-view or balcony cabin will make a better first impression than a room with no windows
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January 2020 | 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 – 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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January 2020 | Aft Celebrity Cruises Katherine Hulatt, trade support 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport.uk@rccl.com
A
A-Rosa River Cruises Simon McDermott, business development manager 07340 719746 simon.mcdermott@arosa-cruises.co.uk
Celestyal Cruises Jo Reid, UK and Ireland country manager 07368 207 881 J.reid@celestyalcruises.uk
Amadeus River Cruises Natalie O’Mahoney, head of sales 0800 035 6411 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk
Coral Expeditions Amy Sharpe, UK sales manager 020 3934 7170 UKSales@coralexpeditions.com
AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com
Cosmos Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@cosmos.co.uk
American Cruise Lines Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 035 0237 sales@americancruiselines.co.uk
CroisiEurope John Fair, sales director 020 8328 1281 jfair@croisieurope.com
American Queen Steamboat Company Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568 904 r.thomson@aqgsa.com
Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 0844 414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com
APT Touring Jessica Shelton-Agar, national sales manager 01494 736 147/07584 057 341 jessica.shelton-agar@aptouring.co.uk
Crystal Cruises Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
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
Cruising Excursions Kirsty Bachelor, trade sales manager 07784 357977 Kirsty.Bachelor@cruisingexcursions.com
Avalon Waterways Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk
Cunard Line Victoria Snelgar, business manager – sales operations 07773 253 279 victoria.snelgar@cunard.co.uk
Azamara Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com
D
Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317 juliet.holden@disney.com
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Belmond Yann Guezennec, worldwide director of sales & marketing, trains & cruises 020 3117 1395 yann.guezennec@belmond.com
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Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk
C
Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com
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January 2020 | Aft European Waterways Mark Robinson, sales and reservations manager 01753 598 555 sales@europeanwaterways.com
Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, UK general manager 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com
E-Waterways Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com Exotic Heritage Group Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com
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Intrepid Travel Andrew Turner, head of industry sales 080 8274 5719 ukbdm@intrepidtravel.com
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Far Horizon Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 035 3189 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk
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JTA Travel Dave Green, managing director 0121 508 5567 dave.green@jtatravel.co.uk
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Geoff Ridgeon, head of sales 01473 746164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk
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Katarina Line Olivera Lesinger, head of UK & overseas +38 5 51 603 409 olivera@katarina-line.hr
Fred River Cruises Hannah Logan, UK Sales Manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk
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G
G Adventures Stuart Darnley, national sales manager 07964 983 842 sdarnley@gadventures.com
Latin Routes Jessica Dennison, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk
Great Rail Journeys Lindsay Dixon, head of trade sales 01904 527 180 lindsaydixon@greatrail.com
Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk Lindblad Expeditions Jacinta McEvoy vice-president global sales +1 212 261 9000 jacintam@expeditions.com
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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Aishling McLoughlin, sales representative UK & Ireland 07852 488 471 aishling.mcloughlin@hl-cruises.com
Lotus Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com
Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk
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The Majestic Line Louisa Grant, cruise co-ordinator 01369 707951 louisa@themajesticline.co.uk
Heritage Line Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com
Manatee Amazon Explorer Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com
Holland America Line James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk
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January 2020 | Aft Marella Cruises Andrew Isherwood, commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@tui.co.uk
Paukan Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com
MĂśvenpick Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com
Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk
Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com
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Ponant Nabil Maillard, sales manager UK and Ireland 020 7092 6663 nmaillard@ponant.com
National Geographic Expeditions Simon Chambers, operations manager 01473 242 636 sales@fredholidays.co.uk
Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 020 3808 7787 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com
Nicko Cruises Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568904 rupert@lightbluetravel.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 – sales operations 023 8065 6531 mark.lowman@princesscruises.co.uk
Norwegian Cruise Line Eamonn Ferrin, VP & managing director for UK & Ireland 023 8124 5000 eferrin@ncl.com
Pullmantur Cruises Dave Chidley, agency sales manager 0800 021 3180 sales@fredholidays.co.uk
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Oceania Cruises Lisa Clarkson, national accounts manager 07809 351 545 LClarkson@OceaniaCruises.Com Agency Sales, 0345 505 1920 AgencySales@OceaniaCruises.Com
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Quark Expeditions Christiane Bach, business development manager +1 416 645 8248 christiane.bach@quarkexpeditions.com
One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com
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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
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P&O Cruises Brodie McIntosh, trade engagement manager 023 8065 5780 brodie.mcintosh@cunardpocruises.com
Riviera Travel Darren Mussell, agency sales assistant manager 01283 744 307 agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk
Pandaw Hannah Logan, product manager 020 8396 7320 uk@pandaw.com
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January 2020 | Aft Rocky Mountaineer Steven Harris, regional sales director 07970 519 164 sharris@rockymountaineer.com
Touchdown | Travel Industry Services Robbie White, head of cruise product 020 8607 3805 rwhite@touchdown.co.uk
Royal Caribbean International Trade support team 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com
Travel2 Colin Currie, head of sales 07891 257 160 colin.currie@travel2.com Travelsphere & Just You Sarah Weetman, head of trade sales 07748 843 244 sarah.weetman@travelsphere.co.uk
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Saga Travel Sukina Fagg, national account manager 080 0074 8021 sukina.fagg@saga.co.uk
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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
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Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk
SeaCloud Anja Ringel, vice-president, international marketing and sales +49 40 3095 9217 aringel@seacloud.com
Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.com
SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 07904 068 407 mschmitt@seadream.com
Victory Cruise Lines Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568904 rupert@lightbluetravel.co.uk
Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 01942 823 449 sales.support@shearings.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
Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com
Volga Dream Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 021 3186 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk
Star Clippers Danielle Dudley, UK sales manager 077 6585 2116 danielle@starclippers.co.uk
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Tauck UK country manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk
Widgety Sandra Barnes-Keywood, head of sales 023 8042 8000 – opt 2 sandra@widgety.co.uk
Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk
Windstar Cruises Sales team (The Cruise Line) 0800 852 7248 windstarUK@cruiseline.co.uk
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January 2020 | 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 SUDOKU 3
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ACROSS 1. Smartphone downloads (4)
DOWN 2. Tahitian capital (7)
4. Fighting (6)
3. Cruise excursion site (5)
7. Resist (6)
4. Stimulus (3)
8. X and Y, on a graph (4)
5. Florida beach (5)
9. Name on an insurance policy (11) 12. Martial arts (4-7) 15. Irish county (4) 17. Byron-esque? (6) 18. Putrid (6) 19. Coastal state between Benin and Ghana (4)
DECEMBER SOLUTION
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DECEMBER SOLUTION
6. “Yes, Captain!” (3) 10. WWII Supreme Allied Commander (3) 11. Ship’s motion when moored in a gentle swell (7) 13. All cruise ships must do this (5) 14. Onboard entertainment, maybe (5) 16. Gone by (3) 17. Imprison (3)
LOOKING FOR THE ANSWERS? —
See the next cruise adviser in February for the answers
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January 2020 | Section Name
January 2020 | Aft
QUIZ See bottom of page for answers
1. Idina Menzel stars in what Disney animated sequel, which broke records on its release in November? 2. Walt Disney himself provided the voice of what character until 1947? 3. Which 2013 film starring Ben Stiller was filmed in Iceland? 4. Which singer was born in the Icelandic capital Reykjavík in 1965? 5. Lake Toma in Switzerland is the source of which major European river? 6. Norwegian Encore is the last of what class of Norwegian Cruise Line ships? 7. Which explorer was the first to reach the South Pole in December 1911? 8. What is the name of the notorious body of water between South America and Antarctica? 9. It is named after which celebrated Elizabethan explorer? 10. Canadian rapper Aubrey Graham is better known by what name? 11. Which band launched their new album Everyday Life with a gig at the Natural History Museum in London? 12. Who won Artist Of The Year at the recent American Music Awards? 13. Which singer, born Anna Mae Bullock, celebrated her 80th birthday recently? 14. How many English football clubs has José Mourinho managed? 15. He is one of three Portuguese managers in the Premier League. Can you name either of the other two?
QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Frozen II 2. Mickey Mouse 3. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty 4. Björk 5. Rhine 6. Breakaway Plus 7. Roald Amundsen 8. Drake Passage 9. Sir Francis Drake 10. Drake 11. Coldplay 12. Taylor Swift 13. Tina Turner 14. Three: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur 15. Marco Silva (Everton) or Nuno Espírito Santo (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
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January 2020 | Aft
LOOKOUT
Pictures from our festive bash Agents join Aurora Expeditions, Scenic/ Emerald, Saga, Celebrity Cruises and Quark Expeditions for a night of festive fun at CRUISE ADVISER’s 2019 Christmas Bash in Manchester.
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January 2020 | Aft
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January 2020 | Aft
FINAL WORD
Where does the future of cruise lie? Sam Ballard looks far into the future at the cruise industry of tomorrow Envisioning what cruise will look like in years and decades to come is a tall order. But having asked some of the most recognisable people in our industry to give us their predictions (from p37), we thought we’d better take up the challenge ourselves. Cruise gets greener Cruise ships may be becoming more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but much more needs to be done. The newest ships will be fuelled by LNG – the “cleanest burning fossil fuel” – but unfortunately, that’s not going to cut it for future generations. The cruise ships of tomorrow will need to run on electric power from renewable sources. We’re seeing news stories heralding the “world’s first energy-positive hotel” (Svart, in Norway, opening 2022); how long before we see the world’s first energypositive cruise ship? On board, water filtration systems need to be installed to eliminate plastic bottles for good. It’s easy to
say that changes will happen in the future because of “new technology” but there is plenty that could be done now. Plus, there are hearts and minds to win. Recycling may be done on board a ship but too often ports either don’t have the facilities to deal with it or don’t have that kind of culture. Cruise lines need to use their influence to drive change. Become more local Anyone who has cruised the Caribbean will know the feeling of stepping out into an identikit market or cruise terminal where every concession is selling the same tourist tat – often imported. It’s doubtful that much of this cash goes back into a destination. There is nothing worse than having locals standing behind a barbed wire fence being treated as outsiders in their own country – especially if the port/cruise line gets to sell its wares inside said fence. Change needs to include working with local companies for tours
and making sure money stays in a destination. It’s win-win, with tourists getting an authentic experience. Land operation Cruise lines will take greater control of the land offering as pre- and post-cruise becomes an even bigger thing. Some cruise lines are doing this already (such as Azamara, Holland America Line and Princess), by owning lodges in Alaska or selling another operator’s African cruises, for example. But it will come down to offering a more complete experience in a destination, which will sometimes mean spending nights on land. Destination management also needs work. Having been on a shore excursion in Santorini this summer while four other ships were in, it’s clear that something needs to be done. Cruise lines must work with local destinations and each other to ensure that destinations don’t become overrun with tourists, giving our industry a bad name.
COMING NEXT TIME The world’s greatest show
Fitness first
How to sell: adventure
Gabrielle Sander joins Hurtigruten on a Northern Lights cruise in northern Norway taking in the spectacular scenery
Sara Macefield joins an Avalon Active & Discovery cruise on the Danube and explores cruise’s new healthy image
Jane Archer is back with her regular feature, How to Sell. This time she turns her focus to adventure cruise – a fast-growing part of the industry
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