Cruise Adviser — November 2017 by Cruise Adviser

CRUISE ADVISER THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

NOVEMBER 2017

SELECTION

Exploring the Galápagos Islands – the land that time forgot

PLUS HOW TO SELL: PRE AND POST EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CARNIVAL’S ARNOLD DONALD INTRODUCING MARELLA CRUISES

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November 2017 | Forward ED’S LETTER

The extra business of before and after Have you ever wanted to develop your business beyond cruiseonly bookings? Dynamic packaging – SELECTION where agents add flights, hotels, etc to a cruise – is big business and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. This month RCL, parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara, rolls out AirWaves, their new system to encourage packages (p11). The numbers are already impressive, with a trial leading to thousands more bookings. Staying with the same theme, we focus on pre and post-cruise stays – looking at what’s available with operators like train specialists Rocky Mountaineer, who, incredibly, say that about 60 per cent of their UK passengers also take a cruise (p31). CRUISE ADVISER THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

NOVEMBER 2017

Exploring the Galápagos Islands – the land that time forgot

PLUS HOW TO SELL: PRE AND POST EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CARNIVAL’S ARNOLD DONALD INTRODUCING MARELLA CRUISES

Liz Jarvis, editor of Cruise International, travels to the Galápagos Islands with luxury line Silversea for our cover feature to look at the archipelago that Charles Darwin once called a “world within itself”(p40). Incidentally Silversea has launched its own pre and post-cruise tours, too – its Couture Collection includes a journey to the actual South Pole. Elsewhere in this issue we focus on Shearings Holidays’ deal with A-Rosa (p34), take a cruise on the newly christened Marella Cruises (p22) and sail to the Danube Delta with Amadeus (p19). It would also be remiss of us not to mention our recent success at the Travel Media Awards, where Cruise Adviser took Trade Feature of the Year for Jeannine Williamson’s incredible feature on Cuba. As ever, thanks for reading, and let us know your thoughts by emailing us on info@cruise-adviser.com.

THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT

P19

THE DANUBE DELTA IS BEAUTIFUL The Iron Gates gorge features a huge rock sculpture of the last Dacian king, Decebalus

P28

JUNEAU IS THE SECOND LARGEST US CITY Well, it is in terms of area. Its population is a slightly more modest 32,000

P38

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SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS HAS BEEN GOING FOR A LONG TIME The company began running coach excursions way back in 1904. Now they do cruise, too

20 YEARS

OF EXPLORING

THE WORLD IN COMFORT

1997 - 2017

Easy

to please with Viking Cruises Keeping the customer satisfied is what it’s all about. And so it’s good to know that when you book with us you won’t just be meeting your clients’ expectations, you’ll be exceeding them. State-of-the-art river and ocean ships, super-friendly service, exceptional cuisine, an inspiring choice of itineraries and everything from wine and beer with lunch and dinner to daily excursions included in the price, make Viking Cruises easy to sell and hard to beat.

Eight-day river cruises from £1,145pp Eight-day ocean cruises from £1,590pp For business development opportunities call Jenny on 07966 995 012 or Andrew on 07825 986 996 For agency sales call Kelly on 0208 780 7968 @VikingTradeUK

madefortrade.co.uk

Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. Single supplements apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.

WIN!

AS A CHRISTM R E HAMP E FROM CRURIS ! E ADVIS

p55

View across the rooftops of the Catalan capital, Barcelona, p31

Contents MIDSHIP 31

Added extras Why stop at booking just a cruise for your clients? A large percentage of travellers are keen to add pre or postcruise stays in cities, or bolt on additional tours by coach or rail

How to sell... Pre and post. Our guide to pairing land holidays with cruise offerings InFocus: Shearings Sam Ballard profiles one of the oldest tour operators in the UK, which has recently added a new river cruise

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option to its existing coach and hotel portfolio 40

Natural selection Cruise International editor Liz Jarvis joins Silverseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for an expedition cruise in the GalĂĄpagos Islands

AWARD-WINNING LUXURY RIVER CRUISES WITH POST CRUISE EXTENSIONS Keep your Riviera Travel holiday going with one of these superb post-cruise extensions visiting more of Europe’s incredible destinations. Our award winning river cruise collection will take you the extra mile, with more included tours, visits and experiences to enjoy.

RHINE CRUISE TO SWITZERLAND - GLACIER EXPRESS EXTENSION

THE BLUE DANUBE BUDAPEST EXTENSION

THE DOURO, OPORTO & SALAMANCA LISBON EXTENSION

FOUR-DAY GLACIER EXPRESS EXTENSION FROM £649PP

FOUR-DAY BUDAPEST EXTENSION FROM £399PP

FOUR-DAY LISBON EXTENSION FROM £399PP

• A further three nights in an excellent five-star hotel with breakfast and two lunches • Tour to the historic medieval town of Visegrád and the beautifully restored Royal Palace • Visit to picturesque Szentendre, baroque gem and ‘Montmarte of the Danube’ • Guided visit of Budapest’s iconic Parliament Building • Visit the National Gallery with its world-class collection of Hungarian masterpieces • Tour of the Royal Palace and stunning gardens at Gödöllo‘‘ • Experience the dramatic ‘Puszta’ on our scenic tour into Hungary’s Great Plain and watch a performance by some of the most famous horsemen of the region

• A further three nights at a centrally located five-star hotel with breakfast • Guided tour of Lisbon with its magnificent squares, Baixa and Moorish quarters, cathedral and castle • Visit to the spectacular historic town of Sintra and its Royal Palace • Visit the astounding Monastery of Jeronimos with its outstanding 16th century stonework • See the holy shrine of Fatima – famous for its apparitions and one of Catholicism’s most renowned pilgrimages • Tour Coimbra University, one of Europe’s oldest seats of learning with its astonishing gilded baroque library of 300,000 medieval volumes

Departures from April to October 2018

Departures from April to November 2018

• A further three nights in a charming three-star superior and four-star hotel with breakfast • Visit to historic Chur – spectacularly located at the very heart of this magical Alpine landscape •

Experience one of Europe’s most scenic rail journeys on board the legendary Glacier Express

• Visit world famous Zermatt – home to the iconic Matterhorn – symbol of Switzerland • Opportunity to ride the famous cog railway to the Gornergrat and experience some of the most breath taking Alpine scenery in the world Departures from May to September 2018

To book, call: 01283 744370 Visit us online at www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents For agency sales support, email: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply. Prices correct as of 17/10/17.

November 2017 | Forward

FORWARD 3

Ed’s letter

News Cunard and Azamara reveal more about their new ships, Thomson rebrands, Celebrity announces that Edge will sails its first summer season in Europe. Plus, find out more about cruise adviser’s partnership with Equator Learning

Abta Convention: round-up All the latest news and opinion from the conference in the Azores

Interview: Arnold Donald and Paul Ludlow We sit down with the president & CEO of Carnival Corporation and the senior vice president of P&O Cruises

Amadeus River Cruises Heading south from Budapest to the Black Sea, Jeannine Williamson discovers scenic wonders and wildlife Marella Discovery 2 Sara Macefield experiences the flagship of the newly rebranded Marella Cruises – formerly Thomson Cruises — after its refit Ports of Call: Juneau The capital of Alaska handles almost a million cruise passengers a year and is only accessible by sea or air

AFT 46

New crew All the latest staff news

Fam trips / incentives The best agent opportunities

Talking point Will Atol be reformed?

Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place

Games room/ competition

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Recipe Warm water lobster salad, apple coleslaw and mild curry vinaigrette, by Azamara

On the road We speak to the people who make your job easier. This month: Hurtigruten’s Danny Miles

Final word

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

SELLING ALASKA LAND+SEA JOURNEYS

Amazing Alaska.... Alaska contains a million acres for each day of the year, North America’s highest mountain, largest freshwater lake and greatest number of glaciers. Holland America Line operates seven ships in Alaska in summer 2018.

2017

Alaska Land+Sea Journeys Our spectacular Land+Sea journeys include up to 3 nights at our own McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali National Park.

Unforgettable Alaskan sights include:-

coastal glaciers, with glimpses of whales, dolphins • Great and seals; National Park, with Mount Denali and sightings of • Denali grizzlies and moose; • Gold Rush settlements and native Indian cultures via classic sternwheeler, vintage rail, glass-domed railcar • Travel and coach, with hotels included en-route. Every Land+Sea journey includes at least 3 nights scenic cruising on an elegant Holland America Line ship.

Get selling Alaska Now!

email salessupport@hollandamerica.co.uk Ways to book: POLAR online: via www.hollandamerica.com and click on Partnerships Reservations by phone – 0344 338 8600 Online training – www.halacademy.co.uk Visit www.hollandamerica.com

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

NEW SHIP

Cunard aims to grow audience with new ship The historic luxury line’s brand new next-generation vessel – to be launched in 2022 – will combine new features with “the nostalgia Cunard is known for” Cunard has promised that its new, next-generation ship will cater for both its past and future guests, according to the company’s bosses. The company’s fourth ship, which will be built by Fincantieri, will be launched in 2022. Speaking at the recent Abta Travel Convention in the Azores, Simon Palethorpe, senior vice president, Cunard said that the new ship will “keep a lot of features people associate with Cunard but there will be a lot of new features and new experiences to have on board. It’s very much playing

to existing guests but with a forward look to the guests we’re going to have in the future.” Arnold Donald, Carnival Corporation president and CEO, added: “It will have a lot of new features but it will keep the nostalgia and feel that Cunard is renowned for.” Palethorpe added: “We have only recently marked the 50th anniversary of one of Cunard’s much-loved ocean liners, the legendary QE2. What better way to celebrate her important role in Cunard’s past than by announcing our commitment to Cunard’s future

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with the commissioning of a new ship. Cunard offers unrivalled luxury ocean experiences and the new ship firmly underpins our plans to continue our growth across international markets.” According to Fincantieri: “The 113,000GRT ship will carry 3,000 guests and be the 249th to fly the Cunard flag, the first since 2010 when Fincantieri delivered the Queen Elizabeth, three years after the Queen Victoria was built in 2007. Marking the first time since 1998 that the luxury cruise brand will have four ships in simultaneous service.”

November 2017 |Forward

AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES

Azamara welcomes Pursuit and looks to expand further

The new acquisition, which launches in quarter three 2018, is the first step in the line’s growth plans The boss of Azamara Club Cruises hopes to add to the company’s fleet beyond Azamara Pursuit, the line’s recently announced third vessel. Richard Twynam, managing director of Azamara Club Cruises, told Cruise Adviser: “This is the first step in our growth and I don’t think you’ll see us stop here. The good news for travel agents is that this gives them more of an opportunity to earn more commission.” The deal for Azamara Pursuit – which will join Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest – means that the line will have the three youngest Renaissance Cruises vessels to have been built before the company went bust. Until recently, Azamara Pursuit was sailing as P&O’s Adonia. The new ship means a 50 per cent addition to Azamara’s fleet. Twynam added: “The one question I’ve been asked more than any other in the four years I’ve been doing this job is: ‘When are you getting a new ship?’ Now we’ve actually got that new

ship that says what we’re doing as a brand, our brand concept, how the business is performing and, most importantly, what we mean to the Royal Caribbean corporation, has been validated. “For them to spend serious money on the upgrading of Journey and Quest and to buy a new ship – and upgrade that, too – shows you how well the business is doing. Royal Caribbean are committed to specialist cruising, boutique hotels on the ocean. Our repeat booking rates serve to back that up as well.” The new ship went on sale last month and will be launching in quarter three 2018. “We are a top-end product and we pay a top-level of commission to reflect that,” added Twynam. “And let’s be clear: we would not have grown without the support of UK travel agents.” Read the full interview with Richard Twynam on cruise-adviser.com

CELEBRITY CRUISES

Celebrity Edge to be based in Europe in 2019 Celebrity Cruises’ new flagship will be based in Europe for its 2019 summer season, the company has announced. The cruise line will have five ships in Europe, stopping in 27 different countries, with overnight stays in 16 cities, and visits to more than 90 destinations. These include three new ports of call: Nauplion (Greece), Rijeka (Croatia) and Santa Margherita (Italy). “From our expansive new itineraries, including three exciting new ports of call and overnights in 16 cities across the region, to our specially curated shore excursions, there’s a reason we’re continually recognised and win multiple awards,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Edge will also sail out of Southampton in May 2019, LutoffPerlo announced at a media and trade gathering in London.

MARELLA CRUISES

Thomson rebrands as Marella Cruises Thomson Cruises has changed its name to Marella Cruises, the line has confirmed. The new name comes as part of Thomson’s overall rebranding to TUI. TUI Cruises already exists as a separate brand in Germany. During an announcement at the Abta Travel Convention in the Azores, the company confirmed that the ship names would be altered to Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery II, Marella Explorer, Marella Dream and Marella Celebration. The Spirit will be leaving the fleet. The company also announced that it would be embarking on an extensive Asia programme in Winter 2018 on Marella Discovery (see p22). CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Forward

RCL CRUISES

AirWaves platform expanded The repackaging platform led to 2,000 additional bookings RCL Cruises – the parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises – has said that the recent travel agent trial of AirWaves, its new repackaging platform, has resulted in 2,000 additional bookings since August 1, 2017. More than half of those bookings included a cruise with flights, hotels and transfers – around double the typical figure. Following on from the pilot, which was the largest collaboration ever

conducted across the three brands, AirWaves will launch to all RCL partners in November. The system allows agents to repackage a fly-cruise with flights – including on low-cost carriers – from 30 regional airports as well as more than 2,500 hotels – in just four steps. The company says it has been developed to increase its fly-cruise and new-to-cruise agent business.

“Our trade partners have been with us from the word go,” Claire Stirrup, director of sales at Celebrity Cruises, told Cruise Adviser. “We’ve taken their feedback on board right from the beginning, rather than just building something and showing them.” See cruise-adviser.com for the full interview about AirWaves

AGENT TRAINING

EXCLUSIVE

Cruise Adviser partners with Equator Learning

CroisiEurope to start sailing in Canada

Cruise Adviser has partnered with Equator Learning, the online travel and leisure training provider, to give agents all the tools they need to sell cruise. Since 2005, Equator Learning and its sister brand Travel Uni have provided innovative and engaging learning platforms for those selling travel. As part of the partnership, Cruise Adviser will provide digital versions of its unique How to Sell guide, competitions and comments pieces to Travel Uni readers. “We are delighted to partner with Cruise Adviser, the UK’s preeminent publisher of quality cruise news to the travel trade,” said Chris May, managing director, Equator Learning and Travel Uni.

“Our unique brands combined will offer suppliers and travel agents the elite in travel agent training opportunities, with a UK & Ireland reach of 60,000 users. We are looking forward to taking travel trade engagement to an all new level” Anthony Pearce, co-publisher of Cruise Adviser, said: “Since we published our first magazine in 2014, our aim has always been to educate and entertain front-line travel agents to help them sell more cruises. “By partnering the Equator Learning and Travel Uni, Cruise Adviser is cementing its reputation as the most education-focused trade publication covering cruise. With these similar aims, our companies are a perfect match.”

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

CroisiEurope, the French river cruise line, has announced plans to start sailing from a river in Canada. The company will begin sailing the Saint Lawrence river, which connects the Atlantic with Canada’s Eastern Seaboard, in 2018. The nine-night cruise will give guests the opportunity to call at the Great Lake Ontario, running fom Quebec to Toronto (or reverse). In a statement, the company said that the new tour, which will be priced from £2,750pp will operate on a new ship and gives guests the chance to explore “Canada’s earliest European settlements and admire the spectacular scenery.”

November 2017 |Forward

ABTA ROUND-UP

Cautious optimism from Abta Sam Ballard reports from Abta’s annual Travel Convention in the Azores where one of the key messages was how holiday habits are changing Under the banner of The Next Chapter and with the shadow of Monarch’s recent failure looming overhead, the industry’s famous faces descended upon the Azores for Abta’s annual Travel Convention. Mark Tanzer, Abta’s chief executive, opened the conference with sentiments that echoed many in the room: cautious optimism. He criticised the government’s decision to repatriate Monarch customers who were not protected by Atol and pass on the cost to credit card companies and Atol holders, calling it “completely unsatisfactory”. Few argued when he added that “the industry is left wondering what

is the point of Atol protection if everyone gets brought home anyway”. See Talking Point (p48). Tanzer made it clear that Abta would be working with the Department for Transport to develop a new approach to any future airline failure. With Brexit also looming, it looks like the association is going to be kept busy over the next few years. Arnold Donald, the president & CEO of Carnival Corporation, was the conference’s most high-profile speaker and he didn’t disappoint. Across multiple engagements, Donald spoke of the Caribbean as still being very much “open for business”, despite the recent hurricanes.

Out of 47 islands that the company visits across its 10 brands, just five sustained significant damage, he said. However, media reports about islands such as the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have meant that many tourists believe the hurricanes had devastated the entire region. When asked whether an issue such as Brexit was a concern he countered that the corporation dealt with regional issues all the time. To handle them was built into its business plan and, he added, companies such as P&O Cruises could handle Brexit because onboard pricing was in pound sterling, thus negating the weak pound.

Clockwise from above: Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer; Royal Caribbean’s Ben Bouldin; G Adventures’ Brian Young; Carnival’s Arnold Donald

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November 2017 | Forward

A panel discussion later in the conference on the hottest trends in travel produced some interesting points, too. Executives involved included Ben Bouldin, managing director and associate vice president of Royal Caribbean, Brian Young, managing director of G Adventures and Janet Parton, head of sales for Cosmos Holidays. Bouldin highlighted that for Royal Caribbean multi-generational holidays (or “3G holidays”) were making up about 20 per cent of the company’s bookings. Of that group, 32 per cent were new to cruise. He

added that the line sold solo cabins quicker than any other, although he admitted the line did not do as much as it could to make it “easy” for solos. Young said that solo guests were a strong part of G Adventures’ touring programme, particularly solo female travellers. In a previous interview with our sister publication, Solus, the company said that more than 50 per cent of its bookings have only one name attached. The discussion was backed up by Abta’s own Holiday Habits Report, which was published at the conference itself. About 12 per cent

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of people travel alone while 21 per cent of people travel with extended family (classed as family members outside the household). One of the key messages to take away from this year’s convention was this: our holiday habits are changing and the way we buy them is developing (20 per cent of people now book their holiday with a mobile, up from 13 per cent last year). But, as the number of Britons taking a holiday rose to 87 per cent (the highest it’s been since 2011), it’s clear that our appetite for travel is only growing stronger.

Promotion

WINCHESTER

Park and cruise packages in Winchester According to a recent survey*, Winchester is the best place to live in the UK. Thanks to its proximity to Southampton it’s also an ideal pre or post-cruise stop Whether travelling from Birmingham, Bradford, Blackpool or Basildon, 99 per cent of cruise passengers driving to Southampton will directly pass the city of Winchester, making it an ideal place to stop overnight before cruising out of Southampton. If there was an award-winning four-star hotel in Winchester, situated just five minutes from the M3 and 30 minutes from the Southampton Cruise Terminals, offering parking for up to 28 days, transfers to and from Southampton and a great night’s sleep followed by a fantastic breakfast wouldn’t it be perfect for your customers? Wouldn’t they love

to start their cruise early with a day exploring Winchester and all it has to offer? Wouldn’t they love to let someone else take them to their ship already rested and relaxed? If your answer is “yes”, you need to book them a room at the four-star Holiday Inn Winchester. With 141 air-conditioned spacious bedrooms there is a room type for everyone. Generously sized double or twin bedrooms perfect for couples and friends, larger family rooms with two double beds and additional space for a cot or z bed, accessible rooms with wet rooms for those with additional mobility requirements and, of course,

the luxury suite. Each room is en suite and offers free wi-fi, toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen televisions, iron and ironing board and hairdryer. Explore England’s ancient capital The highlight of the package is the ability to explore Winchester itself – a city steeped in history and packed with historic buildings, monuments and museums. Guests can drop off their bags at the hotel and take the short bus journey from the end of the hotel’s drive to King Alfred’s Statue near the Guildhall – a great starting point for exploring this magnificent city which is popular with historians and tourists alike. A visit to the worldfamous Winchester Cathedral is a must – with its hidden treasures and spectacular architecture. Take a walk down the longest medieval nave in Europe and you will find yourself alongside the tombs of Jane Austen and Izaak Walton as well as St Swithun and several of the early English kings. We highly recommend a guided tour of Winchester College – founded by Bishop William of Wykeham and believed to be the oldest continuously running school in the country.

*The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live Guide CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Winchester is also famous for its legendary Arthurian Round Table. A striking sight, the table has been housed for over 700 years in the incredible 13th century Great Hall. If your clients prefer to shop, Winchester has a wonderful array of high street and boutique shops. Here you can find everything from jewellery and lingerie, to shoes and gifts and mixed among these are fantastic tea rooms – the perfect way to rest those tired feet! For those wanting to explore Winchester in a more leisurely manner, stroll along the river and out to the water meadows and you’ll be walking in the footsteps of Keats – his inspiration behind the famous poem To Autumn. From here the beautiful Hampshire countryside can be truly appreciated in the tranquil peace and quiet.

won’t be surprised to find sausages made by local butchers The Hog Shack, Hampshire saddle of lamb, cod battered in local Hampshire brewed beer and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight cheeseboard all featured on the menu. There are a number of mouth-watering options all cooked fresh to order by our head chef and his award-winning team. After a great night’s sleep, your clients are guaranteed to awake feeling refreshed and ready to join us for full English breakfast. Here they can choose from eggs and bacon, hash browns and sausages, cereals and muesli, fresh fruit and yoghurt, pastries and fresh bread, continental

Relax and dine After your clients have taken time to enjoy Winchester, they can return to the hotel, check in and wander downstairs to the bar, lounge, restaurant and outdoor terrace. The hotel offers a number of dining options from 24-hour room service to the all-day bar and lounge menu and a full à la carte menu served in the two AA Rosette rated Morn Hill Brasserie. The hotel prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients, so they

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meats and cheeses and, of course, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Items can also be made to order such as pancakes, omelettes, poached eggs to name a few. After breakfast, guests can either retire to their bedroom until checkout at 11am, or relax in the lounge while awaiting their transfer. This will then arrive in plenty of time to deliver them and their luggage safely to the cruise ship – no stress, no hassle and no sat nav! And don’t worry about the return transfer as that is covered, too. Go to holidayinn.com/winchester and visitwinchester.co.uk and this could be your easiest trip to sell yet

November 2017 | Forward

INTERVIEW

“P&O is on a real roll at the moment” Sam Ballard talks to Carnival Coporation CEO Arnold Donald and P&O’s Paul Ludlow As the biggest travel and leisure company in the world, Carnival Corporation is big news. With 10 brands and more than 100 cruise ships, the company has led the industry for decades. It is building ships for virtually all of its brands including P&O Cruises, which will get its biggest ship ever in 2020. We sat down with president & CEO Arnold Donald and Paul Ludlow, senior vice president of P&O Cruises to discuss the company’s next steps. Cruise Adviser: You’re ahead on higher value bookings. What does that mean for Carnival and P&O? Arnold Donald: It means we’ve had some success. People are recognising

a great vacation experience and the great value that cruising is. We’re ahead on price and bookings, we have less to fill than we did last year at this point in time. It’s a great indicator, but we’ve got a way to go. Paul Ludlow: When we place the orders on new ships we look at the markets that have momentum and the UK is doing well at the moment. P&O Cruises is on a real roll, 2016 was a great year for us and it gives us the confidence to bring a new ship into the market. You’re the world’s largest travel and leisure company. What is the biggest challenge that you face? AD: There are two real challenges for

us and the biggest one is personnel. Each brand has a very identified way of being. There are very specific communities on board with different service cultures and that kind of thing. We have to keep that intact so that we can exceed guests’ expectations. So, when he [Paul Ludlow] expands, he has to get new people. When they come in it has to be seamless to the guests. It has to be what they have always experienced with P&O. We’re good at it, it’s what we do, but it’s still a challenge. In terms of specific macroeconomic situations, this stuff happens all the time, the real issue is if it becomes global and you take

Carnival president and CEO Arnold Donald and (above) P&O Cruises’ senior vice president Paul Ludlow

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November 2017 | Forward out all of Asia or all of Europe – that’s a major problem. That’s never happened and we’re hoping and praying that it never happens. P&O are going to launch their biggest ship ever, but you will also be getting rid of Adonia which has a very loyal following. How do you take on that change? PL: One of the reasons guests love Adonia so much is for the places that she goes. Given that she is a smaller ship, she can visit many of the smaller ports on our Discoverybased itineraries, so many of our repeat guests can visit places they’ve never been to before. The neat thing about our fleet is that there are other ships that can do those itineraries, so Oriana will now be placed on Discovery itineraries. We’re seeing many guests who were booked on Adonia moved on to Oriana and they will still get the same enjoyment from their holiday. We’ve also got guests who thought that the smallerstyle ship cruising was for them, but then they move up to the larger ships and love it even more. Many of our guests end up trying new experiences with us and realise they just love P&O Cruises, because we have a golden thread that goes through all of our ships. Why do you think that Carnival is going through such a successful patch, economically? AD: The key thing is creating demand. The brands have always done a good job with the guests on board. P&O are now proactively promoting cruise outside that – whether it’s Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway or Lorraine – whereas before we would be slashing prices. We’ve done that in many, many different ways, we were the keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show, for instance, and had umpteen million media impressions through vehicles that had never talked about cruise before. We were able to talk about what cruise really is, the great vacation experience it provides and help create that demand through Ocean Medallion, an incredible onboard experience. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Forward

AMADEUS RIVER CRUISES

“It felt as if we were on safari deep in the Amazon...” Heading south from Budapest to the Black Sea, Jeannine Williamson discovers the scenic wonders and wildlife along the lesser-known lower Danube As our small safari boat nudged its way slowly through towering reed beds populated by neon blue dragonflies our guide turned off the motor and we drifted silently into a vast open expanse of water. Ahead, a flock of pelicans swooped and dived as they snapped up fish swimming close to the surface, filling the cavernous pouches beneath their beaks with the afternoon bounty. It felt as if we were on safari deep in the Amazon, yet we were at the mouth of one of Europe’s most popular rivers that is best known for grand capital cities and inspiring a namesake waltz. With most Danube

itineraries running from Vienna to Budapest, it’s understandable to think there’s not much to see south of the Hungarian capital. Yet it really is a river of two very distinct halves; and as we sailed into Bulgaria and beyond we experienced breathtaking sights, including a glimpse of some of the last wild horses in mainland Europe and converging waters where the captain of Amadeus Brilliant announced we had reached “zero kilometres”, the navigational point where the Danube ends its epic 2,860km journey through 10 countries and flows out into the Black Sea.

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It’s much quieter and more remote than the upper stretch of the Danube, where our cruise began in Passau. The sight of passengers waving from sleek vessels operated by various mainstream lines was soon replaced by gritty working barges and small wooden fishing boats. For days we didn’t see any other river cruise ships. Cities and villages lining the banks gave way to dense forests and there was a growing sense of adventure as we sailed on to Serbia and Romania, where the river forms a natural boundary between the two countries. Although the lower Danube and its delta is a little-known destination,

November 2017 |Forward it has been on the radar of Austrianowned Amadeus River Cruises since the line started more than 30 years ago. The cruises are now far more accessible to UK passengers since Amadeus partnered with Fred River Cruises, and agents can sell packages including flights. For clients who prefer not to fly, cruises are available through Great Rail Journeys. Marcus Leskovar, executive vice president of Amadeus, said: “We were actually one of the first lines to establish cruising on the lower Danube. Many passengers think the Danube stops at Budapest, but there are amazing sights further south where the number of cruise vessels drops and the river is less crowded. “We offer two options that include the Danube delta, there’s the 15-night Beautiful Blue Danube and nine-night 1,200 miles on the Beautiful Blue Danube. Both itineraries are perfect for clients that have already taken one of the classic Danube or Rhine cruises and are ready to look for something new. It’s an undiscovered part of Europe as far as many people are concerned and the Unesco-listed Danube Delta reserve boasts the third largest biodiversity in the world with over 5,500 species of flora and fauna, exceeded only by the Great Barrier Reef and the Galápagos archipelago. “The itineraries combine some of the traditional capitals of Europe with highlights of the Balkans and the delta itself. We are the only company to offer sailings to point zero kilometres on the Danube and enable passengers to participate in a delta safari. Part of the itinerary is very exotic, yet it is still ‘close to home’.” Agents should point out that on the lower Danube ships have to go through routine customs checks as they pass from country to country, which is not required on the upper reaches. Although this paperwork does not involve passengers directly, it can lead to delays. Excursions are never cut short, but timings can change so clients should be made aware of this in advance. Any hold-ups on our cruise were easily offset by the overall experience, which brought new sights each day. Highlights included the incredible

The lower Danube is much quieter and features sights such as the Iron Gates (above) and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including pelicans

rock formations at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains at Belogradchik, the faded elegance of the Black Sea resort of Constanta with its beautiful yet crumbling casino, the unexpected magnificence of opulent architecture in the centre of Bucharest, the dramatic splendour of the Iron Gates

gorge where a giant carving of a Dacian king dominates one of the soaring cliffs and the unforgettable spectacle of the nature-rich channels, swamps and lakes of the delta. For clients that want to sail on the wild side, this less-travelled stretch of the Danube won’t disappoint. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

THREE DANUBE DELTA CRUISES 15-night Beautiful Blue Danube

Amadeus River Cruises (sold through Fred. River Cruises) – MS Amadeus Silver II Passau (round-trip), April 11, 2018 From £2,799pp Optional excursions include Constanta and the Black Sea coast, the rock formations of Belogradchick and a Delta Safari boat trip.

19-night Danube Delta to Prague

Avalon Waterways — Avalon Passion Bucharest-Prague (city stay and cruise), June 13, 2018 From £5,181pp This itinerary includes pre and post-cruise nights in Bucharest and Prague as well as a 15-night cruise from Oltenita to Nuremberg.

11-night Danube to the Black Sea

CroisiEurope – Vivaldi Linz-Tulcea (or reverse), July 7, 2018 From £1,847pp Culture-rich cruise to seven countries with optional trips including the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, guided Budapest bike ride and Dracula-themed tour.

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November 2017 | Forward

REVIEW

Marella Discovery 2 has its own persona that will appeal to all Sara Macefield experiences the flagship of the newly rebranded Marella Cruises – formerly known as Thomson Cruises – following its multi-million pound refit It’s been a year of sea change for the former Thomson Cruises. Not only has the line become Marella Cruises, but gained a new flagship in the summer when it welcomed TUI Discovery 2 – now renamed Marella Discovery 2. The ship’s arrival has given a further boost to Marella Cruises’ bid to modernise its fleet and turn it into a stronger force to be reckoned with. It’s a transformation that started in summer 2016 when Royal Caribbean International’s Splendour of the Seas joined as the then Thomson Cruises’ flagship and was

renamed TUI Discovery (now Marella Discovery) at a glitzy celebration in Palma. This paved the way for former RCI stable-mate, Legend of the Seas, to follow in June as the line’s new flagship, bringing with it a host of fancy features not found on the line’s older vessels. Marella Discovery 2 – Marella Cruises’ largest ship yet at 1,830 passengers – boasts an extended lineup of bars and restaurants, climbing wall and on-deck movie screen – clear markers of its American heritage. There’s also a more up-to-date feel which comes from the airy atrium

with its glass elevators and sweeping marble staircase, but a multi-million pound refit has clearly put the brand’s stamp on this ship. While it is virtually a carbon copy of Marella Discovery, there are features that give the new addition its own persona which will appeal to couples of all ages, families and first-time cruisers. One of the biggest differences is the Virtual Reality Experience, a fun new attraction that transports users into virtual worlds, from battling with space pirates to casting magical spells in a Harry Potter-style chamber.

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November 2017 | Forward Buried on Deck 3, it replaces the Break Out and Escape Room on Marella Discovery, and unlike that attraction (which carries a £10pp charge), it is complimentary. Next door is the Green Screen Experience, a photobooth with fun backdrops where users can pose for pictures. While Marella Discovery 2 has electronic information boards and booking kiosks which first appeared on Marella Discovery, it has debuted a downloadable app called Navigate. Not only does this enable passengers to monitor their onboard account and check entertainment schedules, they can book extras such as spa treatments, excursions and speciality restaurants. Another bonus is that Navigate is free as it is hosted on the ship’s network and opens on any browser, so passengers don’t have to download it or pay for wi-fi to access it. Away from techno frills, Marella Discovery 2’s cabins have been overhauled and modernised, helped by fresh new en suite facilities. There are 918 cabins with balcony cabins accounting for 40 per cent, the highest proportion of any Marella ship, plus six ocean view staterooms, added during the refit, with floor-toceiling windows. Marella Discovery 2 launched as an all-inclusive ship, which means that, in addition to gratuities, most drinks are included, too, apart from speciality coffees, selected cocktails and premium spirits. Dining options are varied with five complimentary options and four speciality venues. The main restaurant, 47° – named after the latitude of the French shipyard where the vessel was built – is light and airy serving “traditional fare with a modern twist”, while upstairs on the balcony level is Gallery 47°. On Marella Discovery, this was an Italian restaurant, but has been scaled back and now offers the main dining menu or Italian alternative. At £9.95pp, the Hot Stone dining option in The Glass House solarium, is the cheapest of the fee alternatives, but it’s worth paying extra at £19.95pp for the Kora La Asian restaurant. Its location overlooking CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 |Forward the pool deck means the views alone justify the extra cost, though dishes like the hallmark duck and watermelon salad make it a cut above the ship’s other venues. On a similar level is the Surf & Turf steakhouse, costing £24.95, which has more of a private club-style ambience along with an impressive line-up of succulent prime cuts. Marella Cruises knows how to rock the boat when it comes to entertainment and Marella Discovery 2 is no different. The hub of its nighttime scene is the Live Room where revellers sing along to classics belted out by live bands, while a pianist on the neon yellow grand piano leads rousing singalongs. When these venues run out of steam, the DJ at Bar Eleven spins into the early hours. Anyone who’s cruised on Discovery will feel at home on Discovery 2. However, it will soon be followed by another duo, Mein Schiff 1, which joins as Marella Explorer next May, and Mein Schiff 2, whose name and arrival date have still to be confirmed. Both ships were built for RCI brand Celebrity Cruises and currently sail for Marella’s sister line, TUI Cruises, serving the German market. A six-night Iconic Italia itinerary from Palma to Corfu on Marella Discovery 2, departing April 28, 2018, costs from £774pp.

THREE MARELLA CRUISES Seven days in the Aegean

Seven days in the Caribbean

14 nights in the Far East

Marella Discovery 2 Corfu (round-trip), June 1, 2018 From £1,292pp

Marella Discovery Bridgetown (round-trip), February 4, 2018 From £1,520pp

Marella Discovery Malaysia (roundtrip), January 2, 2019 From under £2,100pp

A week in the Aegean taking in the beauty of Mykonos and Santorini. Includes an option to extend your stay pre or post-cruise in Corfu.

A leisurely week around the Caribbean taking in Barbados, St Lucia, Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe.

Marella's new Asia cruise programme includes this two-week cruise that calls at Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and has return flights from Gatwick.

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– ASIA The launch of our new river cruise programme to mysterious Asia

– ACTIVE Learn about our new excursions for the healthconscious cruiser

EMERALD EXPLORER

– GOING DUTCH 24 hours in the beautiful city of Amsterdam

– MOVING ACROSS Jane Archer on making the switch from ocean to river

– RHINE OF YOUR LIFE Why the mighty waterway remains a river cruise classic

FE AT U R E S | R O OM SE RVIC E ME NU | SHOR E E XC U R SIONS

– A NEW DAWN Introducing the latest Star-Ships in our fleet

EMERALD EXPLORER

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FAMILY GUIDE 2015–16

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LUXURY GUIDE 2015–2016

FJORD FOCUS A JOURNEY TO WEST NORWAY

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CRUISINGPOWER.CO.UK

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On a Royal Caribbean® holiday, your family can explore somewhere new and incredible every day — and only unpack once. With amazing features designed with the whole family in mind, including thrilling activities, spectacular entertainment, and award-winning kids’ clubs, there are countless ways to make memories that will last a lifetime.

FAMILY GUIDE 2015–2016

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Issue one

GLOBE

ISSUE ONE

CRUISE ADVISER

– HISTORY To know where you’re going, you need to know where you’ve been

CRUISE ADVISER

– DESTINATION REVIEW The beautiful Danube and why it needs to be seen to be believed

LUXURY GUIDE 2015–16

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Page 1

Issue One

December 2016

CRUISE ADVISER THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

PREVIEW EDITION

D E C E M B E R 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

Explore

FEBRUARY 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

EX-UK 2016

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

WATERMARK

ADVENTURE 2016

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST HOLIDAYS IN THE WORLD

EX-UK GUIDE 2016–2017

ADVENTURE 2016

RIVER GUIDE 2015–2016

RIVER GUIDE 2015–16

WHY ARE CRUISES M A K I N G WAV E S ? SAILING SOLO O F F T H E B E AT E N T R AC K WHY ARE CRUISES M A K I N G WAV E S ? SAILING SOLO

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

Solus

I SSUE 0NE

HURTIGRUTEN

HOW TO SELL

Sam Ballard sails the Mississippi on a musicthemed tour from New Orleans to Memphis

Gary Buchanan takes in two of expedition cruise’s great destinations: Antarctica and the Galápagos

A brief history of the Norwegian shipping company that has been sailing the fjords since 1893

Our unique walkthrough guide featuring 14 fantastic adventure cruises

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thevillagepost Amazing Grace Introducing Tauck’s new ship on the mighty Rhine

Turning the tide An in-depth look at MSC Cruises’ forthcoming Seaside

Issue two

A world of luxury We consider the benefits of all-inclusive river cruising

O F F T H E B E AT E N T R AC K

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CRUISE ADVISER

FIRE & ICE

thetravelvillage

APRIL 2016

LUXURY 2016

WONDERFUL WORLD FOUR BUCKET-LIST STOPS

thecruisevillage

CRUISE ADVISER

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

ON THE HORIZON THE LATEST CRUISE NEWS

EMERALD WATERWAYS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

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CRUISE ADVISER

CRUISE & MORE HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME

AMERICAN QUEEN

Eastern promises Sailing Asia’s majestic Mekong with APT Touring

thevillagepost American Queen A music-themed tour of the Deep South on the mighty Mississippi

Fire and ice Explore the Galápagos and Antarctica with our handy guide

Issue three

Capital concerns Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest with Scenic on the Danube

COPENHAGEN WITH CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

EXTENSIVE EX-UK DEPARTURE LISTINGS

EUROSTAR RIVER CRUISE SPECIAL

INTERVIEW: P&O’ CRUISES' PAUL LUDLOW

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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

EMERALD EXPLORER

All around the world These epic cruises and flights will take you across the globe

Win!

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FAMILY

Sam Ballard takes a closer look at the history of Carnival’s exquisite ultra-luxury brand

Planning a holiday with the kids? We reveal the secrets to travelling in style

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CRYSTAL CRUISES

Jeannine Williamson speaks to Edie Rodriguez about the cruise line’s lightspeed developments

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THE GREAT BEYOND WHY TRAVELLERS OF ALL AGES ARE HEADING OUT ALONE

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SCENIC

From Passau to Budapest, Anthony Pearce takes in the wonders of the beautiful Danube

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LUXURY GUIDE 2016

£100

WINE COUNTRY WITH UNIWORLD

INFOCUS: EMERALD WATERWAYS

UNUSUAL RIVERS SPECIAL

UNIQUE HOW TO SELL GUIDE

A new trade magazine from the team at cruise adviser

CRUISE ADVISER

ISSUE TWO

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Issue two | Section Name

Issue three

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CRUISE ADVISER

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

H E L P I N G YO U S E L L S O L O T R AV E L

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017

MARCH 2017

PREVIEW GUIDE 2016

Where next for cruise?

PREVIEW GUIDE 2016

The new ships, destinations and innovations arriving in 2017

FJORD FIESTA

FROM THE TEAM

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THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

CRUISE ADVISER

CRUISE ADVISER APRIL 2017

SOLUS

INDIAN SUMMER WE EXPLAIN WHY THE COUNTRY IS BACK ON THE MAP FOR SOLOS

Norway with Cruise & Maritime Voyages

INSIDE

KRISTIN KARST, GILES HAWKE, EDIE RODRIGUEZ, ANDY HARMER AND MORE SHARE THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

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2017 EX-UK DEPARTURES OPINION: SVEN LINDBLAD THE RHINE WITH RIVIERA IN FOCUS: P&O CRUISES

A CMV CRUISE for two on Columbus

HAVANA CLUB

FIRST LOOK: SEABOURN ENCORE GREECE DESTINATION FOCUS FAMILY CRUISE SPECIAL WIN! A NIGHT ON MSC MERAVIGLIA IN LE HAVRE

Cuba with Star Clippers

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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HOLIDAY

A TITAN CRUISE See page 54

Princess Cruises in the Mediterranean

NEW TO CRUISE SPECIAL

MAY 2017

APRIL 2017

HOW TO FIND FIRST-TIME GUESTS

GREEK ODYSSEY

Jeannine Williamson joins Viking Sky in Rhodes

THE

FRENCH

CONNECTION

CMV’S NEW FLAGSHIP

WE JOIN COLUMBUS IN TILBURY

MERAVIGLIA LAUNCHES

MSC’S EXPANSION CONTINUES

Jeannine Williamson joins Uniworld in Paris

ENDS OF THE EARTH

ADVENTURE ON THE DOURO

By Katherine Lawrey

SILVER MUSE: FIRST LOOK

Adam Coulter explores Chile’s rugged wilderness

By Gary Buchanan PLUS:

HOW TO SELL RIVER CRUISE ABTA ON BREXIT WOMEN IN CRUISE SPECIAL

JO RZYMOWSKA ON CELEBRITY EDGE HOW TO MAKE A £100,000 BOOKING THE INDUSTRY’S MOST LUXURIOUS SHIPS

GOOD MORNING

THE JOYS OF MINI-CRUISE

VIETNAM

By Gilly Pickup

THE 5 MOST INNOVATIVE ROOMS AT SEA

Daniel Allen travels along the Mekong with Scenic

By Adam Coulter

PLUS OCEAN MEDALLION: GAME-CHANGING TECH THE GREAT SHORE EXCURSION DEBATE GILES HAWKE ON THE COSMOS RELAUNCH

PLUS SAGA IN SCANDINAVIA TITAN ON THE RHINE WIN A UNIWORLD CRUISE

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PLUS LUXURY BARGE HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE THE 10 BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATIONS INTERVIEW: VIKING FOUNDER TORSTEIN HAGEN

NORWEGIAN BLISS Meet our newest and most incredible cruise ship, custom-built for Alaska.

LARGEST RACE TRACK ON SEA

BALD EAGLE

FAMILY FUN ONBOARD

ONE-OF-A-KIND FOODY EXPERIENCE

DISCOVER PREMIUM EXPERIENCES ON BOARD

INVITE YOUR CUSTOMERS TO EXPERIENCE BLISS That’s what they’ll experience when they holiday on our newest and most incredible ship, Norwegian Bliss, coming to Alaska in 2018. Custom-built for Alaska, Norwegian Bliss features a revolutionary Observation Lounge to soak in every stunning moment, from bald eagles soaring over glaciers to whales breaching through calm waters in the inside passage. SPECTACULAR ALASKA After launching in Europe, Norwegian Bliss will be making her way to Alaska in June next year. Sailing from Seattle, her itinerary will take in fascinating ports like Skagway, once the gateway to the Yukon Gold Rush and still redolent of that wild era and Juneau, from where excursions include a seaplane flight over the 36 named glaciers of the huge Juneau Icefield. And what’s more, your customers will experience a brand new sense of freedom at sea with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Premium All Inclusive. Holiday budgeting has never been easier because there is so much more included in the cruise fare, like soft and branded alcoholic drinks in all bars, lounges and restaurants, service charges, speciality coffees in restaurants and mineral water in staterooms. So, on board they’ll experience the best dining, entertainment and amenities at sea against a backdrop of unrivalled natural beauty. There’s one word to describe the experiences awaiting them on Norwegian’s newest ship: Bliss.

ALASKA HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEATTLE

NORWEGIAN BLISS • 7-DAY CRUISE 01 June – 21 September 2018

Sawyer Glacier

SKAGWAY JUNEAU KETCHIKAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

VICTORIA SEATTLE

Premium All Inclusive Cruise only price from £1,119 p.p.* Premium All Inclusive Fly-Cruise price from £2,718 p.p.*

TO BOOK CALL 0333 241 2319 OR CHECK OUT OUR NEWEST SHIP BY VISITING EU.BLISS.NCL.COM

*Cruise fare based on 08 Sep 2018 departure, for double occupancy, depending on availability and subject to change. Including all Premium All Inclusive services at a value of more than £1,200 per stateroom (based on a 7-day cruise in stateroom categories up to Mini Suite and the current retail prices charged on board as well as the applicable discretionary service charge). Please see www.ncl.co.uk for full terms and conditions. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., Southampton, UK Office 4th Floor | Mountbatten House | Southampton | SO15 2JU. ©2017 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ships‘ Registry: Bahamas and United States of America. 35696.10.17

STYLISH STATEROOMS

TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL “JERSEY BOYS”

November 2017 | Forward

PORTS OF CALL

Juneau

The capital of Alaska handles almost a million cruise passengers a year and is only accessible by sea or air As a state capital, Juneau is like no other. Sandwiched between the coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean in the Alaskan panhandle, the city is only accessible by plane or ship: there are no roads in or out. Found in the Gastineau Channel, it is the second largest city in the United States by area, despite having a population of just 32,000. The city, sometimes known as ‘little San Francisco’, is among the most important when it comes to Alaskan cruises, handling almost one million passengers a year, most in the summer season. From Silversea to Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America, Royal Caribbean to adventure specialists UnCruise, nearly every line that sails to Alaska calls at Juneau. The city itself is charming: the Alaskan Brewing Company is well worth a visit; there are some excellent seafood restaurants, as you might expect; and the zip-line from Capitol Hill offers spectacular views (and a pretty fun descent). There are a few great bars, too, such as the Red Dog

Saloon (278 S Franklin St), an oldstyle saloon where guests can enjoy live music, drinks and Alaskan food. But Juneau – like the rest of Alaska – is about exploring nature: be it the vertiginous mountains, the sprawling lakes, the intruding glaciers, or the myriad wildlife. Whale watching is hugely popular – you’re virtually guaranteed to see humpbacks and sometimes even killer whales, and is thus one of the most popular shore excursions from Juneau. With Princess Cruises, for example, guests are taken to beautiful Auke Bay, where they board a water jet-powered catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. Steller sea lions, harbour seals, Dall’s porpoises, bald eagles, Sitka blacktail deer and, occasionally, bears are all on show as well as whales (the line promises a $100 refund if you don’t see one). Nearby is also Mendenhall, a huge, 20km-long river of ice – easily Alaska’s most accessible glacier. There are plenty of ways to experience it: whether that’s a hike, a visit to the scenic photo point and educational

November 2017 | Forward centre, or something more extravagant. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, offers a four-and-a-halfhour trekking excursions: Alaska is the perfect destination for the active holidaymaker who wants adventure, but given how immediate the beauty of the region is, it can be enjoyed from comfort, too. Holland America Line, which has been sailing to Alaska for 70 years, offers guests the thrilling chance to take a glacier helicopter tour and a dog sledding tour. Only from the air can you truly get a sense of the enormity of Mendenhall, and thus many operators offer this sort of experience. Dog sledding is Alaska’s state sport, so meeting professional mushers and their canine friends is an amazing way to spend a few hours. Nugget Falls, a waterfall that drops 115m onto a sandbar in Mendenhall Lake, is a must see. There’s also Douglas Island, from where you can also see the Mendenhall Glacier across the water. Cruise lines also offer kayaking excursions here, where guests can get up close to wildlife. For a bird’s-eye view of Juneau, guests can also take a five-minute aerial tram ride to the top of Mount Roberts, with a panoramic vantage point 550m above the city. From the 1880s until the last original mine was shut in the 1940s, gold mining supported the city,

which was put on the map by Richard Harris and Joe Juneau, miners and prospectors from Canada. Gold was discovered by the Native American Chief Kowee, but the Canadian pair profited from it, loading approximately 1,000 pounds of gold ore back to Sitka, Alaska, where they lived. Joe Juneau eventually persuaded – or rather bribed – townsfolk to name the city after him (it was originally called Harrisburg), and at one time it was home to three

of the world’s largest gold mines: the Alaska-Juneau, the Alaska Gastineau mine and the Treadwell mine. Guests have the chance to trace the route taken by Juneau and Harris – and Chief Kowee, who received almost no credit – in their search for gold. As part of this excursion, Carnival Cruise Line takes guests to Gold Creek Salmon Bake, where Alaskan-caught salmon is grilled over an open fire, with the beautiful Salmon Creek waterfall nearby.

THREE ALASKAN CRUISES Seven nights from Vancouver

Seven days from Seattle

Seven nights from Juneau

Holland America Line – Nieuw Amsterdam Vancouver (round-trip), September 15, 2018 From £1,149pp

Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Bliss Seattle (round-trip), June 2, 2018 From £1,469pp

UnCruise — SS Legacy Juneau (round-trip), June 1, 2018 From $3,995pp

This classic Alaska itinerary calls at Juneau after the Inside Passage.

This round-trip from Seattle takes in all the Alaska highlights, including Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

This seven-night small ship cruise includes two days in Glacier Bay National Park. SS Legacy is a replica 1898 coastal gold rush steamer. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

PRE AND POST CRUISE

Added extras Why stop at booking just a cruise for your clients? A large percentage of travellers are keen to add pre or post-cruise stays in cities, or bolt on additional tours by coach or rail. Over the next few pages we look at the many options available

November 2017 | Midship According to Abta’s new Holiday Trends report, the ability to see multiple destinations is what attracts most guests to cruise. But, as we discuss in our How to Sell Pre and Post guide (p36), the lack of time in port can be the most frustrating thing about seeing the world by ship. While a few hours in a pretty Greek port or half a day in a charming village on the Danube often makes perfect sense (and feels like enough time to explore) there are some ports that guests will have to tear themselves away from. The good news is often that these blockbuster stops – the likes of Barcelona, Budapest, New York or Venice – will be where cruises mostly begin or end, allowing guests the chance to extend their stay. For most, a pre or post-stay is a simple thing: a couple of extra nights before or after a cruise, allowing them to explore a city – in particular its dining scene and night-time culture, which they may not get to experience otherwise – before settling into a cruise or heading home. Although this is the most common form of land stay, it’s hardly the most extravagant. Pairing a week on land with a week at sea can make a holiday of a lifetime for customers and also earn some great commission for agents. In particular, it makes most sense for those travelling long-haul (meaning they can make the most

Barcelona, Budapest and New York are all popular pre or post-cruise stays and (below right) the Rocky Mountaineer

EXPERT OPINION Cruise Adviser’s Simon Leeming, spent nine years at Cosmos Tours & Cruises. Here he shares his advice for pre and post packages. The time of experiential travel is upon us, when what you do in a destination is now often more important that where the client goes. The same is true about what a client can do around their cruise. While previously working as a tour operator, it surprised me how frequently our travel agent partners hadn’t considered offering exciting hotel and tour extensions to their clients, without being encouraged. An incredible 60 per cent of customers travelling on cruise

products would take hotel extensions and the figure was even higher for those where coach tours could be added. Nowadays, packaging around the cruise is even easier and there are some important things to consider. It can make or break a client’s holiday, especially if it’s before their cruise. It’s important to get the extension right, especially when picking a hotel location or brand that suits the cruise your clients are going on. Why spend so long getting the cruise matched to your client only to not consider the hotel? Operationally and financially this can also be a burden. The recent collapse of Monarch served to highlight this, as it provides an extra

element that you take on financially when things go wrong, a risk that you can offload to a specialist operator such as a Cosmos, JTA or Kuoni. They have specialist operations teams who look after your clients, meaning that, even for a delayed flight, it’s time you don’t have to spend fixing things rather than working on new client enquiries. It’s worth taking advantage of their expertise. Most importantly, you should see this as an opportunity to make extra commission on your bookings – even using pre-cruise hotel packages on ex-UK bookings – at a time when the market makes it increasingly difficult for these to be high earners on base cabins.

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November 2017 | Midship of time-consuming and expensive flights) and those who don’t want to dedicate an entire holiday to cruise. For both customers and agents, there are ever more ways to do it: cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises and Seabourn, increasingly offer their own land-based extras, whereas lines such as Tauck – which began life in escorted touring – builds a day or two on land into most of its itineraries. Silversea recently revealed details of its 2018 Couture Collection, a portfolio of pre and post-cruise luxury land programmes ranging from five to 11 days. “Our guests are seasoned luxury travellers looking to discover the least accessible corners of our planet, where nature can still astound with its untouched beauty,” said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Silversea’s executive chairman. “The Couture Collection reveals the most exotic places, cultures and people on carefully curated journeys that feature all the extraordinary touches of comfort and luxury for which Silversea is renowned.” There are also many trade friendly operators willing to package up a cruise with a land holiday, including, but not limited to, Cosmos, Titan, JTA, Need a Cruise, Travel 2, Abercrombie & Kent and Shearings, from hotel stays, to treks, coach tours and rail. In fact, it’s rail and cruise – through the likes of Great Rail Holidays and Rocky Mountaineer – which truly goes hand in hand. A staggering 60 per cent of the latter’s UK passengers bolt its holidays on with a cruise, usually to Alaska. “A majority take us as a pre-cruise tour because they see the land portion as being a little more hectic than then the cruise,” says Craig Upshall, business development manager, Europe, Middle East & Africa. The most popular route for UK passengers is from Banff, which is the original rail route and the original Rocky Mountaineer route. “You will stay at a hotel overlooking Lake Louise, take a helicopter tour of between Calgary and Banff and see the highest freefalling waterfall in the Rockies. It’s a real tick-box tour of the region that goes to all of the must-see destinations,” says Upshall. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

PRE & POST CRUISE Cruise’s greatest asset is also one of its weaknesses. While visiting multiple destinations in a short period of time makes for a great holiday, you’ll often sail out of destinations wishing you could have spent a bit more time there. It’s why many guests will extend cruises with pre or post stays, be it for a night or two in the city or with another tour tagged on. If guests are looking for something more organised than simply a hotel stay, there are many trade-friendly operators who specialise in pairing land and sea holidays, while cruise lines are increasingly offering packages, too. We’ve spoken to experts and customers and come up with this How to Sell guide, with holidays divided into short and long-haul options, plus some that are a little different. For each, we suggest options based on whether the holidays are active, cultural or luxurious – giving your guests ways to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime.

Where would you like to go?

Short-haul p37

Long-haul p38

Something different p39

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Short-haul It won’t have escaped your attention that we love a cruise, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a land holiday, too. The choices below combine the two, providing an exceptional option for customers (and a great way to earn more commission for agents). Although operators, such as Cosmos or Travel 2, specialise in pairing holidays, these three options are created by the cruise lines themselves. We’ve divided them into active, cultural and luxurious, but these holidays offer a little bit of everything.

What sort of holiday do you want?

Active

Cultural

Luxurious

Who? Hurtigruten Where? Svalbard When? May 14, 2018 How long? Nine days How much? From £1,031pp

Who? Adriatic DMC Where? Croatia When? May-October 2018 How long? Seven days How much? From £1,030pp

Who? Tauck Where? Paris and London When? April-October, 2018 How long? 14 days How much? From £4,995pp

Guests will pack more adventure into this nine-day tour of Svalbard than most do all year. This special ski and sail trip includes a call at the remote (and very much off-piste) Bjørnøya, for those looking for a ski holiday with a difference. On cruises that start or end in Tromsø (such as this), Hurtigtruten offers the chance to spend a night on the ice – staying overnight in a Sámi lavvo (similar to a tipi) under the Arctic skies. Remember to wrap up.

Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is one of Europe’s most beautiful regions and this seven-night cruise on Mama Marija is a great way to explore it. Highlights include calls at Split, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet National Park and, of course, Dubrovnik. Guests can stay a few extra nights to explore the historic walled Old Town – which might be familiar as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. Guests have the option to stay in the gorgeous five-star Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik.

Tauck, which started out offering escorted tours back in 1925 and moved into cruises, knows what it’s doing when it comes to hotel stays. This Seine cruise on the Swiss Sapphire includes two nights at Trianon Palace Versailles (a Waldorf Astoria Hotel) in France and two nights at the Savoy in London. The likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Katherine Hepburn, Claude Monet and Frank Sinatra all stayed at the hotel, which is – with good reason – one of the world’s best known.

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Long-haul If customers regret only having a few hours to spend in, say, Vienna on a cruise, they can always hop on a plane and visit for a short city break. With longer-haul trips, it’s not that easy – which is why pre or post-cruise stays on land can make perfect sense. They are also great for first-time cruisers who don’t want to spent their whole holiday at sea. We’ve picked three options – based on active, cultural and luxurious holidays – for those looking to delve a little deeper.

What sort of holiday do you want?

Active

Cultural

Luxurious

Who? Holland America Line and Rocky Mountaineer Where? Canadian Rockies and Alaska When? Summer 2018 How long? 18 days How much? From £4,413pp

Who? Cunard Where? New York When? October 18, 2018 How long? Seven nights, plus hotel stay How much? From £1,379pp (including flights), plus hotel stay

Who? Seabourn Where? Australia and New Zealand When? January 21, 2018 How long? 22 nights How much? From £15,499pp

This Journey through the Clouds Outdoor Adventures itinerary includes guided hiking in Jasper, rafting on the Bow River and canoeing on Lake Louise. Guests join Rocky Mountaineer in Calgary, head through the breathtaking Canadian Rockies, and leave the train in Vancouver, from where Holland America Line sails to Alaska (where there are more opportunities to hike).

Cunard’s transatlantic voyage is one of the most iconic itineraries in the world of cruise, and this westbound crossing is particularly special. It hosts composter Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra. Cunard also partners with The Knickerbocker, the striking Beaux-Arts-style hotel located in New York’s Times Square.

Given Sydney is a 22-hour flight away, it’s hardly the sort of place you pop for a weekend break. Most cruises there are at least two weeks long, but many guests will want to extend that even further. On top of this 16-day cruise from Australia to Auckland with ultraluxury line Seabourn, guests have the chance to also spend seven nights exploring Sydney, Uluru (formerly known as Ayer’s Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef.

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Something different As well as short-haul and long-haul options, we’ve provided some more off-the-beaten-track ideas. Cruise holidays, which are often lumped together as if all the same, offer incredible diversity with itineraries to far-flung, otherwise inaccessible destinations. Want to experience the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands, the pristine wilderness of Antarctica, or the ancient history of the Nile? For travellers – both young and old – the answer is a cruise.

What sort of holiday do you want?

Active

Cultural

Luxurious

Who? Wendy Wu Where? China When? April-October, 2018 How long? 14 nights How much? From £3,490pp including flights

Who? Princess Cruises Where? Chile and Argentina When? January 3, 2019 How long? 16 nights How much? From £1,859pp plus flights

Who? Abercrombie & Kent Where? Northwest Passage When? August-September, 2018 How long? 23 nights How much? From £26,580pp

This incredible trip begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai, two of China’s most mesmerising cities. The tour includes a three-night Yangtze river cruise, including the imposing Three Gorges. For those looking for an active holiday, there’s a chance to take a hike over a quieter section of the Great Wall of China. Viking River Cruises also runs a similar land and river itinerary.

This incredible cruise begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina and ends in Santiago, Chile, with calls at Montevideo, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands on the way. It’s a 16-hour flight to the Argentinian capital (and a 14-hour flight back from Chile), so guests should make the most of their time away. Princess, as part of its land offerings, has created a two-night post-cruise Chilean winery tour.

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This incredible land and cruise itinerary follows in the footsteps of great explorers, but that doesn’t mean luxury is eschewed. After a couple of days in fascinating Montreal, guests are flown to Kangerlussuaq in Western Greenland, there joining luxury yacht Le Boreal (owned by French luxury line Ponant). From there, the ship traverses the Arctic, heading to Alaska.

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INFOCUS

Shearings Holidays Sam Ballard profiles one of the oldest tour operators in the UK, which has recently added a new river cruise option to its existing coach and hotel portfolio With a history that can be traced back to 1903, Shearings Holidays is not only one of the oldest tour operators in the UK, but one that boasts a surprisingly varied history, The company started as a coach operator, taking tourists from Wigan to the coast and countryside for a few hours after church on Sunday (when many people would only have one afternoon per week of leisure time) and steadily built up a reputation that has given it one of the strongest repeat booking rates in the industry. What started as a local operation, developed into offering coach tours to the continent – the company claims to be the first to take British tourists back into Europe after the Second

World War – as well as long-haul holidays, its own hotels and river ships. It now has a fleet of about 130 coaches, 44 hotels and a number of exclusively chartered river vessels. The latter of which recently took an interesting turn. “We have a repeat booking rate of 66 per cent, so it’s incumbent on us to introduce our customers to new product sets,” explains Jane Atkins, managing director of Shearings Holidays. “As the product grows, the company has grown its offering. The most recent manifestation of this is our partnership with A-Rosa, the German river cruise line.” While the news that Shearings Holidays was to begin taking its

passengers on A-Rosa ships took some people by surprise, few will argue that it doesn’t make sense. Shearings Holidays customers will get the chance to either book themselves onto a dedicated sailing (such as the Dutch Delights and Charms of Flanders cruise), which will include transfer by air, rail or coach, door-to-door transfer and a dedicated tour manager; or an Escorted by Shearings Holidays cruise, where a group of 40-50 guests will sail on an A-Rosa itinerary, giving the sailing a more international feel. Another perk is that all drinks are included for guests on A-Rosa. “It’s a premium product for us,” says Michael Bowers, national sales

Shearings Holidays recently announced a partnership with German river cruise line A-Rosa

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November 2017 | Midship manager. “We’ve got three and four star, so this is a chance for people to look at the portfolio and know that we’ve got something extra. The A-Rosa ships have got spas, you can do yoga on board, take a bike ride – it opens it up to a wider market. It will bring our average age down.” Given the infrastructure that Shearings Holidays has in the UK – more than 800 pick-up locations and a home connect service – the partnership will benefit both companies. For Shearings it adds that premium product to its books, for A-Rosa it means they can increase their exposure through a brand with more than 100 years of history. Shearings Holidays is planning on taking a number of travel agents to sample the A-Rosa product before sailings begin in 2018. There will also be TipTo events, Clia masterclasses and training by Shearings Holidays’ on the road sales team. “It’s really important that travel agents touch and feel the product,” explains Atkins. “River cruise is very in vogue but unless you’ve felt it and experienced it, it can be a hard sell.” Bowers agrees, adding: “It’s educating agents about what the brand stands for and engendering that trust to transition people to river cruise. Our brand is powerful. People see it and know what to expect.”

THREE SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS CRUISES Paris & the Seine Valley

Bavaria and the Danube

Scenic Rhine new year

MS A-Rosa Viva Paris (round-trip), May 4, 2018 From £1,204pp

MS Serenade 2 Wurzburg-Passau, May 29, 2018 From £1,444pp

A nine-day round-trip, including coach travel to and from the UK, taking in the French capital and beautiful Normandy.

Ten days on the Danube – including the Unesco listed Regensburg – plus return coach travel from the UK with overnight stays in Belgium.

MV Virginia Cologne (round-trip), December 29, 2017 From £846.50pp

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Usher in the new year with this fiveday trip along the Rhine, including flights to and from the UK.

GALAPAGOS

Natural selection Cruise International editor Liz Jarvis joins Silverseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Galapagos for an expedition cruise and is wowed by her close encounters with the archipelagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique flora and fauna

November 2017 | Midship It’s not every day you encounter a sea lion lying prostrate on a bench, looking as though he’s had one too many the night before, and audibly snoring. But then sailing around the Galápagos Islands is no ordinary cruise experience. For a start, there’s so much wildlife on display it’s like being in a nature documentary; there are times when you actually have to step over sea lions and lizards to avoid causing some sort of Jurassic Park-style chain reaction. There are blue and red-footed boobies everywhere, too, as well as iguanas; usually small black marine iguanas, which in large numbers can be slightly terrifying, but also colourful land iguanas as big as French bulldogs. And this is adventure cruising. Which means that while you can of course choose to kick back with a cocktail in the onboard Jacuzzi or be pampered in the Silver Galapagos spa, the whole point is to get off the ship and do stuff, including hiking and snorkeling, as often as you possibly can. Our Galápagos adventure begins in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, an intriguing, ramshackle city where you’re encouraged to eat the local chocolate because it’s good for altitude sickness. (Quito is 2,850m above sea level, although honestly I didn’t feel any different, but I still ate the chocolate). Highlights here include the stunning mountains and the Old Town. As an introduction to South America it’s certainly colourful and our hotel, the luxurious JW Marriott, was excellent. An internal flight the following day brings us to Baltra in the Galápagos, where we don life jackets and board zodiacs to reach our home for the next seven nights, Silver Galapagos. There’s an appealing rhythm to adventure cruising, and we all quickly settle into a pattern of waiting for our ship to anchor every morning and afternoon, putting on our life jackets to climb into the zodiacs and zip over the waves for our next adventure. Our daily schedules advise us how strenuous the activities on offer will be, so we can choose the ones that suit us best, and whether it’s going

Sea lions, giant tortoises, penguins and land iguanas are just some of the species to be found in the Galápagos

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November 2017 | Midship

to be a ‘dry landing’ (where you disembark the zodiac straight on to land) or a wet one (where you have to wade through water first, sometimes knee-deep). Wetsuits, snorkels and flippers are provided, so, apart from some decent reef shoes, walking shoes, sunglasses, swimsuit and sun protection, plus maybe a cagoule, and of course your complimentary Silversea backpack and water bottle, that’s really all you need. Most of the 100 guests on board Silver Galapagos hail from the US, although there are some Brits, Aussies and even Russians. We’re all united by a passion for wildlife and an infectious energy that means that no one misses an opportunity to get off the ship and nearly everyone rushes to go kayaking before breakfast. Which also means that, while the al fresco hot rocks dining tends to be popular and lively, as does the ship’s only restaurant, the bar is usually very quiet from around 9pm, with everyone tucked up in their comfortable suites, complete with custom-made Italian bed linen. While this is an expedition cruise it’s also a Silversea cruise, and that means it’s luxurious; even the most basic suite on board Silver Galapagos boasts sumptuous design and covetable amenities, and as soon as you get back after a day spent exploring the islands you can take full advantage of the amazing all-inclusive service, which includes every drink you could possibly wish for, as well as outstanding cuisine. I’m delighted to find that there are lots of local Ecuadorian dishes on offer in addition to the usual American food, including warm, freshly made yuca bread for breakfast, which is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. It’s amazing how quickly you can become used to having a butler, CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Midship and how much you miss them when you’re back at home. Our itinerary also includes the opportunity to explore a few of the towns, including San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz, which are small and friendly with bars, cafés, souvenir shops and stylish boutiques. But, really, this trip is all about the wildlife. Naturalist Charles Darwin discovered the biological origins of life here 159 years ago, and the variety and numbers of endemic species is breathtaking. Sharks, fur seals, albatross, penguins, giant tortoises, bright orange Sally Lightfoot crabs, owls, Darwin’s precious finches, and the fabulously prehistoric-looking frigatebirds, which swoop over our heads like pterodactyls, their red gular sacs flapping in the breeze. Unexpectedly, during one of our hikes we also spot a herd of goats, although these are not endemic and we’re told are likely to be exterminated to preserve the ecology of the islands (they also had a problem with rats, which were dealt with in the same way). As the Galápagos Islands are in fact a National Park, you’re only allowed to explore if you’re with an official guide, and all of the guides on Silver Galapagos are superb, their knowledge of the wildlife and terrain is staggering, and it’s a joy to spend time with each one. They love

Each one of the Galápagos Islands offers different scenery

GETTING THERE A seven-day voyage departing on September 8, 2018 on Silversea’s Silver Galapagos from Baltra, Galápagos, to San Cristóbal starts from £6,800pp based on two people sharing an Explorer Suite. The fare includes internal flights from Ecuador, Galápagos National Park fees, a highly qualified expedition team, excursions and activities, complimentary expedition gear, a butler in all suites, comfortable amenities with the largest expedition suites at sea, fine dining, beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, wi-fi and onboard gratuities. For more information, call 0844 251 0837 or visit silversea.com

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November 2017 | Midship answering questions and even on occasion join guests for dinner. Each day brings new islands to discover and the landscape is never the same. The scenery in the archipelago ranges from dramatic cliffs and cacti-covered lava rocks to red sand and sometimes white sandy beaches and translucent water with, occasionally, turtles bobbing about on the waves. But my favourite thing about the Galápagos is the sea lions; while some are content to just bask in the sun, their big brown eyes looking up at us as we walk past with only vague curiosity, we also see them fighting, playing, mating, in labour and giving birth; it’s basically the circle of life. Of course we don’t get too close, but they look so beautiful, particularly when they’re lying on the rocks, their coats shimmering in the sun. On our final evening on board Silver Galapagos we all gather in the Explorer Suite to sit down and watch the film that the onboard photographer has made of our week. Champagne is served and, by the end, most of the guests are in tears; hugs and email addresses are exchanged. For most of us a cruise around the Galápagos Islands is probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but it’s without a doubt one of the most extraordinary, unforgettable journeys you’ll ever take.

THREE GALAPAGOS CRUISES Seven days around Galápagos

70 nights to South America

Seven nights to the Galápagos

Silversea – Silver Galapagos San Cristobal-Baltra, February 3, 2018 From £6,600pp

Cruise & Maritime Voyages – Marco Polo Bristol Avonmouth (round-trip), January 6, 2019 From £10,639pp

Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Xploration Baltra (round-trip), December 16, 2017 From £3,875pp

Ultra-luxury seven-day voyage around the western region of Galápagos. Includes pre and post-cruise hotels and flights from Ecuador.

This epic ex-UK voyage includes an optional land tour in the Galápagos.

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This seven-night voyage around the southern loop includes all snorkelling equipment and national park fees.

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NEW HIRES

Lisa McAuley to leave Silversea Cruises for dnata Travel

G Adventures hires Rachel Coffey as sales director G Adventures has hired Rachel Coffey as sales director for EMEA and promoted Stu Darnley to national sales manager. Coffey spent 14 years at Virgin Atlantic. She replaces Uday Sodha in the position, who left in July. Brian Young, managing director for EMEA at G Adventures, said: “Rachel brings lots of experience in terms of strategy – she’s a big fan of G and has been on our tours in the past.”

Hurtigruten restructures its UK sales team Lisa McAuley has been appointed dnata Travel’s managing director, tour operations, B2B Europe. She will lead the marketing, trade sales, product and commercial teams across trade brands Gold Medal and Travel 2. McAuley, who is managing director UK and Ireland at Silversea Cruises, will report to John Bevan, who has been appointed dnata Travel’s new chief executive officer B2B Europe. She will join the company in January. Iain Andrew, divisional senior vice president, dnata Travel said: “I am

thrilled to appoint Lisa to this key role. Her leadership experience will be invaluable in driving our business from strength to strength to deliver even more for our agent partners.” In a statement, Silversea said: “Since joining Silversea in 2015, Lisa has overseen the development and launch of our newest ship, Silver Muse, in the UK market and created and maintained a strong relationship with UK trade agents. We wish her well and would like to thank her for her dedicated service to the industry.”

Hurtigruten has restructured its UK sales in a bid to increase trade awareness with a series of new appointments. Danny Giles has been named national explorer manager; Mark Walter has become national key accounts manager; Maria Ersmarker is now national events and sales manager; and Emma Coombs has been named third-party, MICE & group sales specialist. Katie Leigh has been appointed inside sales. The role of national sales hunter will be announced shortly.

Iglu.com appoints Ottokar Rosenberger to the board as its first ever chief operating officer Iglu.com has appointed Ottokar Rosenberger, as its first-ever chief operating officer. He will join the cruise and ski specialist’s board in the new year and oversee product, technology, commercial, sales and marketing. Rosenberger will report into chief executive Richard Downs. Downs said: “We are delighted to welcome Ottokar Rosenberger to Iglu.com. Ottokar brings two decades of experience in brand, marketing and digital platform leadership roles, and

his experience in driving international growth at digital businesses will be a great asset to our team and accelerate our growth strategies.” Rosenberger added: “I am delighted to be joining the board of Iglu.com at such an exciting time for the business. As cruises become ever more popular with a younger audience globally, Iglu.com has the opportunity to be the leading travel agent for the new generation with its flagship brands Iglu Cruise and Planet Cruise.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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FAM TRIPS / INCENTIVES

Titan offers 40 fam trip places

Titan Travel is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering agents the opportunity to win one of 40 fam trip places that will run throughout 2018. The ‘40 Places 40 Years’ campaign will be based on collecting Titan Miles. Agents collect the miles by holding Titan events, having a complete Titan window display or making Titan bookings. The campaign runs until May 31, 2018, upon which the 40 top agents will win places on Titan’s India Golden Triangle and Essential Vietnam & Cambodia tours.

Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager, said: “We thought it would be fun for agents to collect miles and complete a passport like document! I really hope that agents enjoy the concept.” The 10-day India tour will depart on September 21, 2018 and the 14-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour will depart on November 8, 2018. Agents can order their Titan passport by contacting Agency Sales on 0800 988 5166 or by emailing agentadmin@titantravel.co.uk.

Saga offering agents the chance to win shopping vouchers for every holiday booked in November Saga is giving travel agents the chance to win £50 worth of shopping vouchers for every ocean cruise booking and £20 for every holiday or river cruise booking in November. Simply email incentives@saga. co.uk with the details of each booking made and to receive the vouchers. Travel agents are also being encouraged to like Saga’s Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest trade news and competitions. The company recently went on sale with Spirit of Discovery and announced another ship, Spirit of Adventure, launching in 2020. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Silversea gives away Fortnum & Mason hampers Silversea is giving agents the chance to win one of 10 Fortnum & Mason Christmas Hampers worth £175, as part of its November incentive. The winning agents will be chosen from a shortlist provided by Silversea’s regional sales managers. “We hope to give agents an early taste of the holiday season with this month’s Christmassy prize,” said Connie Georgiou, Silversea’s sales director, UK and Ireland. The hamper includes Brut Reserve Champagne NV, Fortnum’s “spicy, fruity” Côtes du Rhône and “gorgeously crisp” Vihno Verde, plus a St James Christmas Pudding. Ten selected agents also have the chance to experience the ultra-luxury Silversea product themselves on a VIP fam trip at the end of 2017.

Azamara Club Cruises offers double upgrade Azamara Club Cruises is offering a double upgrade for interior stateroom bookings, meaning guests will stay in Club Balcony. The offer is for select sailings between April 20, 2018 and March 29, 2019. The offer, which ends on December 10, can also be combined with an early booking bonus, giving passengers $500 per stateroom when booking 12 months in advance. An example sailing is a nine-night Mediterranean cruise departing on May 15, 2018, priced from £2,205pp (giving a saving of £894pp).

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TALKING POINT

Is now the time for Atol protection reform? The collapse of Monarch – and the government’s intervention to bring passengers home – has raised questions about customer protection, says Anthony Pearce If anything good comes from the collapse of Monarch it will be long overdue reform to Atol protection. In the wake of the company’s demise, Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, told the House of Commons that “efforts [will] turn to working through the reforms necessary to ensure passengers do not find themselves in this position again”. His unexpected intervention will be music to the ears of many in the industry following the decision to fly home 110,000 stranded Monarch customers, in what he called the “largest ever peacetime repatriation”. A minority of passengers were on package holidays protected by Monarch’s Atol, meaning the government’s intervention has further muddied an already misunderstood scheme and set an uneasy precedent. As Mark Tanzer, Abta’s chief executive, said at the annual Travel Convention in the Azores, “the industry is left wondering what is the point of Atol protection if everyone gets brought home anyway?” He noted that the Monarch collapse accentuated “that the current system of customer protection is not understood and has a gaping hole”, adding that the clarity of the Atol schemed “has been blurred by the myriad ways in which travel arrangements are now assembled”. After the company announced it was folding, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) scheduled more than 500 flights to return passengers. Despite Grayling’s assertion to the transport select committee that Greybull Capital, which bought Monarch in 2014, had a “moral obligation” to contribute to the cost, it’s likely now that the taxpayer will have to foot this bill, while some MPs

have raised concerns that Greybull could profit as a secured creditor. Greybull’s takeover cost Monarch’s staff thousands in pension cuts and, ultimately, their jobs on the day of the collapse, raising many ethical questions, but as Grayling has himself noted, there is “no formal legal mechanism” to make them pay for repatriation. Grayling’s comments that he will try to recoup costs from “third parties” – tour operators – has unsurprisingly provoked fury. Derek Moore, chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), delivered a scathing assessment, calling it the work of an “unpopular” government trying to win votes. “When Monarch goes down, and the majority of seats are seatonly and not covered [by Atol], I can only assume that because the Conservatives were having a conference, and because they’ve got a slim majority and are not very popular, they decided to take some decisive action,” he told The Independent. “They are now saying, ‘You have to pay £250 as an operator for people to be repatriated.’ The travel industry is, frankly, disgusted.”

“Either the government sticks to the position that if you’re unprotected you’re on your own – which requires an honest communication campaign with members of the public – or they decide on principle to bring home stranded passengers, in which case they need to have a fighting fund raised by a levy on all airlines,” Tanzer said. “Abta has long argued for an all-flights levy, and been rebutted by successive governments, but surely the Monarch example makes an unanswerable and urgent case for revisiting the issue?” A spokesperson for the CAA told Cruise Adviser: “We know that Monarch’s decision to stop trading was very distressing for all of its customers and employees. This was the biggest UK airline ever to cease trading, so the government asked the CAA to support customers who were abroad. The two-week flying programme is now complete, with 98 per cent of passengers arriving home on the day of their original departure. “We will continue to support Atolprotected customers yet to return to the UK and have already started to refund Atol-protected passengers who have sadly lost their holiday.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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DIRECTORY Got a cruise query? Let us assist you. The cruise adviser directory provides you with the vital contact details for all major cruise lines operating in the UK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning trade sales support is never more than a phone call away

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November 2017 | Aft

A-Rosa Lucia Rowe, head of sales UK and Ireland 078 4202 6013 l.rowe@a-rosa.de Amadeus River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 080 0035 6411 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com American Cruise Lines Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 453 6800 susan@americancruiselines.com American Queen Steamboat Company Katrina Weston, general manager 01223 568 904 k.weston@aqgsa.com APT Touring Kate Ashman, sales and commercial specialist 01494 736 147 agentclub@aptouring.co.uk Atlas/Kompas Predrag Krivokapic, president +1 954 258 8531 / +385 9 1975 1735 kompas@kompas.net Aurora Expeditions Talia Schwartzman, sales executive +61 2 9252 1033 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Avalon Waterways Janet Parton, head of sales 020 8315 4545 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com Celebrity Cruises Isabelle Charlton / Victoria Shipp 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport@rccl.com Celestyal Cruises Andreas Genthe, country manager sales +30 216 400 9633 a.genthe@celestyalcruises.com Choosing Cruising Robbie White, managing director 07740 368 379 robbie@choosingcruising.co.uk Coral Expeditions Jan Jepsen, UK and Europe representative 07702 714 150 jan@intouchrep.com Cosmos Janet Parton, head of sales 020 8315 4545 agencysales@cosmos.co.uk CroisiEurope Gabrielle Alam, head of sales and marketing UK 020 8328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 0844 414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com Crystal Cruises Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk Cruising Excursions Simonne Fairbanks, chief operating officer 0800 091 8274 traveltrade@cruisingexcursions.com Cunard Line Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com

Belmond Alexis Viols, director of sales â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Road to Mandalay and Belmond Orcaella +66 2 267 4881 2 Ext 19 alexis.viols@belmond.com Tom Dumbrell, sales manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Afloat in France 020 3117 1408 tom.dumbrell@belmond.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk Heritage Line Andreas Schroetter, director of sales and marketing +84 120 395 2242 dosm@heritage-line.com Holland America Line James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, head of sales 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com

Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317 E

Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk eWaterways Emma Wild, head of sales 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.co.uk F

Far Horizon Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Becky Smith, trade support manager 01473 746 164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk Fred Olsen River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 021 3172 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk French America Line Kevin Griffin, director 020 7723 2450 kcgriffin@frenchamericaline.com

Intrepid Travel Andrew Turner, senior business development manager 080 8274 5719 ukbdm@intrepidtravel.com J

JTA Travel Anna Perrott, sales and cruise manager 0121 508 5512 anna.perrott@jtatravel.co.uk K

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

G Adventures Jerrine Barnett, new business development manager 07432 429 836 / 020 7243 9870 ext. 9948 jbarnett@gadventures.com

Latin Routes Jessica Bain, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

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

Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director +33 6 4803 7931 swinter@ponant.com Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 0870 068 9142 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com Ports Direct Karl Lapage, managing director 0843 0843 003 karl@portsdirect.co.uk Princess Cruises Victoria Snelgar, sales operations manager 023 8065 6613 victoria.snelgar@princesscruises.co.uk Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 0800 021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk

The Majestic Line Marie McGhee, sales manager 01369 707951 info@themajesticline.co.uk MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk N

Noble Caledonia Agency sales 020 7752 0000 agencysales@noble-caledonia.co.uk Norwegian Cruise Line Jeremy McKenna, head of sales UK and Ireland 07408 805 216 jmckenna@ncl.com Karen Kundi, partnership relations manager 023 8124 5242 kkundi@ncl.com

Oceania Cruises Priti Mehta, head of sales UK and Ireland 023 8024 8604 pmehta@oceaniacruises.com One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com

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

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Caroline Moody, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Anna Salter, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Royal Caribbean International Trade support team 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com Riviera Travel Darren Mussell, agency sales assistant manager 01283 744 307 agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

P&O Cruises Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com Pandaw Marco Rosa, vice president sales and marketing 07973 876 967 marco@pandaw.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk Travelsphere & Just You Polly Poulton, national account manager 01858 588 406 polly.poulton@Travelsphere.co.uk

Saga Travel Sukina Fagg, national account manager 080 0074 8021 sukina.fagg@saga.co.uk Scenic Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk Seabourn James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8610 james.scott@seabourn.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8610 lucy.harris@seabourn.co.uk SeaCloud Anja Ringel, vice president, international markting and sales +49 40 3095 9217 aringel@seacloud.com SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 07904 068 407 mschmitt@seadream.com Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 01942 823 449 sales.support@shearings.com Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com Star Clippers Danielle Dudley, UK sales manager 077 6585 2116 danielle@starclippers.co.uk

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises David Chidley, national sales manager 07408 855 544 dave.chidley@uniworld.com V

Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.co.uk Viking Cruises Andrew Schweitzer, regional sales manager (south) 07825 986 996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (north) 07966 995 012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com Volga Dream Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 021 3186 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels, head of groups and partnerships 01865 302 2565 m.daniels@voyagestoantiquity.com

Tauck Kathryn Coles, UK and Ireland sales manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk Thomson Cruises Andrew Isherwood Commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@thomson.co.uk

Wendy Wu Tours Adam White, trade support and marketing executive 020 7939 9560 adam.white@wendywutours.co.uk Windstar Cruises Sales team (The Cruise Line) 0800 852 7248 windstarUK@cruiseline.co.uk

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft THINGS TO DO

GAMESROOM

Each month, we bring you a selection of things to do on your lunch break or journey to the office

CROSSWORD See the next cruise adviser in November for the answer

OCTOBER SOLUTION

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Where the sea-sick wish to be (6)

2. Desert kingdom bordering the Red Sea (5,6)

5. Insolvent (4) 7. This is neither deck nor superstructure (4)

3. Duties (11) 4. Second sight (1,1,1)

8. Senior officer (6)

5. Biological parent (5,6)

9. Lives (11)

6. He found children cheaper by the dozen (5,6)

11. Hit for Mr. Gere and Ms. Roberts (6,5) 12. Take in (6) 14. Assassinates (4)

SUDOKU

See the next cruise adviser in December for the answers

OCTOBER SOLUTION

10. Youngest of the Little Women (3) 13. However (3)

15. Sources of shipboard lubrication (4) 16. The highest chair, perhaps? (6)

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

QUIZ

WIN! Christmas hamper with Cruise Adviser

See bottom of page for answers

1. The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin was about his journey where? 2. Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by which English band? 3. What is the name of Royal Caribbean International’s next ship? 4. Azamara Pursuit originally sailed under which cruise line? 5. David Chase created which acclaimed, six-series American crime show? 6. Umami is one of the five basic what? 7. What is the largest country in Africa by area? 8. Brian Jones was a founder and drummer in which band? 9. But Seriously is the autobiography by which sports star?

Win a hamper in time for Christmas this month as part of Cruise Adviser’s social media competition! To celebrate our third anniversary, we want travel agents to:

10. Vaduz is the capital of what country? 11. Which port is capital of the Falkland Islands?

Like us on Facebook (@CruiseAdviser) and follow us on Twitter (@CruiseAdviser)

12. Eleven is a character in which hit, 80s-set Netflix show? 13. Nato bombed which Eastern European city in 1999? 14. Portside refers to which side of the ship?

Post pictures of you and your team at work holding this issue. Make sure you tag us! The best one will win the hamper.

Terms and conditions apply, see cruise-adviser.com/terms-conditions

15. Which poet wrote the ‘play for ears’ Under Milk Wood?

QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Galapagos Islands; 2. Radiohead; 3. Symphony of the Seas; 4. Renaissance Cruises; 5. The Sopranos; 6. Tastes; 7. Algeria; 8. The Rolling Stones; 9. John McEnroe; 10. Liechtenstein; 11. Port Stanley; 12. Stranger Things; 13. Belgrade, Serbia; 14. Port is the left-hand side, facing forward; 15. Dylan Thomas

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

THREE CRUISES FOR FOODIES 15 nights in the Middle East

RECIPE

In the galley Warm water lobster salad, apple coleslaw and mild curry vinaigrette, by Azamara Club Cruises’ corporate executive chef Robert van Rijsbergen Azamara Club Cruises — Azamara Journey Dubai–Singapore, November 24, 2017 From £2,248pp Guests take in Mumbai, Goa and Singapore with this Spices, Teas & Rubber Trees itinerary with the boutique cruise line

Sevens days across the Med

Ingredients (10 servings) 5 lobster tails, poached 200g lobster meat, diced 4 pieces Granny Smith apple, julienned 2 pieces cucumber, julienned 3 pieces jicama, julienned 1/2 cup flat parsley, julienned 1 teaspoon curry powder 2 cups mayonnaise 1 cup yoghurt Juice of half a lemon 1/2 teaspoon mint leaf, julienned 1 cup carrot, julienned and deep-fried Orange segments, halved Arugula Koppert cress

medallions, from the thick part down to the thin part, at an angle.

Curried vinaigrette 4 shallots, finely diced 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 cup apple cider vinaigrette 3 cups extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper

To finish the plate Arrange the lobster as per the picture, add the coleslaw on top of the lobster tail. Arrange the orange segments around the lobster and pour the vinaigrette around. Finish with the crispy carrot julienne, arugula and Koppert cress and it’s ready to serve.

To prepare the lobster Poach the lobster in a court bouillon for four minutes, until semi-cooked. Set aside and cool down. Cut in half and remove the grey intestinal vein. Before serving, slice the tail into six For more recipes, see cruise-adviser.com/tag/recipe

To prepare the coleslaw Mix the julienned apple with the jicama, add the curry mayonnaise, lobster meat, yoghurt, lemon juice and mint. Salt and pepper to taste. To prepare the vinaigrette Saute the shallots in a little olive oil until transparent, add the curry powder, stir for one minute, take off the heat. Add the apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper and olive oil. Do not blend. Set aside.

Note: This is not a heavily spiced dish. Please ensure there is only a lightly curried flavour in both the mayonnaise and vinaigrette.

Oceania Cruises – Riviera Barcelona-Lisbon, June 6, 2018 From £2,229pp This 10-day cruise calls at the gastronomic hotspots of Barcelona, Saint-Tropez and Livorno, Italy (for Florence). If that wasn’t enough, the food on board is great too.

12 nights in the Caribbean

Silversea – Silver Wind Bridgetown, Barbados (round-trip), December 2, 2017 From £3,500pp Silversea boasts some of the best cuisine at sea and this cruise – heading to the Caribbean in December – is a fine way to sample it.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

ON THE ROAD

Danny Giles, national explorer sales manager, Hurtigruten We speak to the people who make your job easier. This month: Hurtigruten’s Danny Miles What does your job entail? I have recently taken on the new role of national explorer sales manager which will allow me to tell everyone how Hurtigruten are going to be the largest expedition travel company in the world. For the last seven years I have been the sales manager for Scotland, Ireland and the North where I have had the responsibility of ensuring that UK and Irish travel trade have all the knowledge and support to grow their business with Hurtigruten. How long have you worked in the travel industry? I have been in travel since I left school at the age of 16 and have held many different roles – from travel agent to overseas representative, trainer and sales manager.

What’s the best thing about being on the road? Every day my office view changes from the stunning west coast of Scotland to the city landscape of Dublin and Belfast. I also get to spend time meeting travel partners who I now look upon as friends. What’s the worst? Traffic! There is nothing worse than being stuck on a motorway behind a lorry and not moving anywhere. Favourite place to visit? I’m very fortunate that all of the areas I visit have something different to offer – from driving the wild Atlantic way in Ireland to the Lake District. What do you listen to in the car? Radio 2 is my choice of station as they

have good traffic updates and music that I can (badly) sing along to. One thing you couldn’t live without on the road? My phone charger and my Kindle as there is nothing worse than no battery on a phone to catch up on my emails once I’ve stopped driving. Plus my Kindle for those overnights when dining for one in a hotel. What’s your favourite thing about Hurtigruten? Travelling with Hurtigruten allows people to tick off so much from their bucket list. Whether it’s the polar bears of Svalbard, seeing the amazing icebergs and meeting the wonderful Inuits of Greenland, to setting foot on the Great White Continent of Antarctica, to getting a selfie with a penguin or experiencing the midnight sun or northern lights along the iconic Norwegian coast. If agents want to find out more, what do they do? We have lots of information available via our YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/ hurtigrutenwebmaster), image bank (staging.imageshop. no/en/Hurtigruten) and online training portal (onlinetraveltraining.com/freecourses/providers/hurtigruten). Or you can call our agency sales team on 020 8846 2647 or email them on UK.agency.sales@ hurtigruten.com.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

November 2017 | Aft

FINAL WORD

Time to get excited about new launches With so many new ships being built, it’s sometimes easy not to appreciate the significance of lines such as Cunard, Azamara Club Cruises and Saga expanding Nowadays, it’s rare that more than a few weeks go by without a cruise line announcing that it is building a new ship. Incredibly, there are more than 35 vessels expected to enter the market before the end of 2019 – and that’s just in ocean cruise. For that reason, news of new ships doesn’t always carry the excitement it should do, especially when they’re part of an already established class of ship. That said, there were a few stories last month that really caught our eye. Firstly: the first new Cunard ship in 12 years. When it enters service in 2022, it will be first time since 1998 that the iconic line has had four ships in simultaneous service; also, at 3,000 guests, it will also be its largest ever ship. The announcement has come following substantial growth in the luxury sector, with many of Cunard’s competitors having built new vessels and boasting younger fleets. How the new ship looks and how Cunard

positions itself in the ever-changing market will be fascinating to see. Then there was the acquisition of P&O Cruises’ Adonia by Azamara Club Cruises. The ship, a firm favourite among cruise guests (and once part of the short-lived Fathom voluntourism line), is a former Renaissance Cruises ship, along with the Azamara Quest and Journey. The line went bust in 2001 and, although other Renaissance ships sail for Oceania and Princess Cruises, Azamara is reuniting the band somewhat. Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, said: “Our loyal guests and travel partners have asked for this expansion for a long time; we are very pleased to deliver this to them.” The ship, which will be named Azamara Pursuit, “is comparable in size to the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest”, the company said in a statement, meaning it will be able call at smaller ports.

In what turned out to be a busy few weeks in cruise news, Saga also announced its second-ever new-build ship, set to follow Spirit of Discovery. These launches are significant: Azamara will increase its portfolio by 50 per cent by adding a third ship, while Cunard and Saga will increase theirs by a third (although the new vessels will replace Saga Pearl II and Sapphire). While each of these cruise are each backed by mighty companies, it’s exciting to see operators with small fleets expand their offering. As Carnival Corporation boss Arnold Donald pointed out at the recent Abta Convention (see p12), every market in the world is underpenetrated when it comes to cruise, with it representing around just two per cent of total global travel. Cruise is expanding in all sectors – from luxury to river ships, adventure lines to family, small ships to large.

COMING NEXT TIME The year ahead

Ports of Call: Sydney

InFocus: Ponant

As the new year approaches, we speak to the cruise experts about what to expect in 2018

We explore why the capital of New South Wales is truly one of the world’s great cruise ports

We check in with the luxury French cruise line as it prepares to launch two new yachts

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

a brand new australian adventure is in the making

A quiet pioneer, built for discovery

Maiden Voyages

For 34 years, Coral Expeditions has been refining the art of small ship cruising. Now we have put all our knowledge and the very latest in shipbuilding technology into our fourth expedition ship – the Coral Adventurer.

> IN THE TRAIL OF TASMAN I

We remain stubbornly small. With only 60 cabins, you will not jostle for space, wait in line, or compete for service.

Retracing the historic explorations of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.

> THE KIMBERLEY > 10 NIGHTS > MAY TO OCTOBER 2019 > BROOME TO DARWIN, AUSTRALIA OR VICE VERSA go ela Acknowledged as one of the world’s last, and most beautiful, wilderness areas.

Ar c

The Coral Adventurer continues our proud tradition of Australian flagged vessels with friendly and professional Australian crew.

0° SINGAPORE Pulau Penuba Pulau Thousand Belitung Islands Karimunjawa N.P. Anak Komodo Bawean Krakatua Island Island Pulau Satonda Kelimutu N.P. 5° Sumenep Ujung Pulau Alor Kulon INDONESIA N.P. Lombok JAVA SEA Sumba Darwin TIMOR SEA AUSTRALIA 105° 120°

Bucc ane er

p hi

Timor Sea

go pela chi Ar te r Bigge a Prince Island Regent River Careening Bay Montgomery Reef

Vansittart Bay

Bo na p

The Coral Adventurer features our trademark ‘Dual Explorer’ tenders cradled on a hydraulic platform, enabling our guests to go ashore without having to climb a stair or get their feet wet. Together with our renowned expedition staff, she offers unmatched expedition capabilities.

> 18 NIGHTS > DEPARTS 24 APRIL 2019 > SINGAPORE TO DARWIN, AUSTRALIA

Raft Point Lacepede Islands

King George River Mitchell Falls

THE KIMBERLEY

Darwin

Joseph Bonaparte Gulf

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Horizontal Falls

Broome

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

NOW OPEN FOR BOOKINGS > +61 7 4040 9999 > reservations@coralexpeditions.com > www.coralexpeditions.com Great Barrier Reef > Tasmania > The Kimberley > Cape York & Arnhem Land > Papua New Guinea > Spice Islands & Raja Ampat

DEEPER ON L AND

TSEDENG, TIBET / PHOTO: ANDREA FRAZZETTA FOR SILVERSEA

Designed by Silversea destination experts, these exclusive, bespoke land experiences grant unprecedented access to the world’s most remote destinations in luxury before or after your client’s cruise. Discover our cruises and collection of UNPRECEDENTED land experiences. For more information or for reservations please call 0207 340 0700 Visit: silverseacouture.com | email salesuk@silversea.com