Cruise Adviser — December 16/January 17

CRUISE ADVISER THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Where next for cruise?

The new ships, destinations and innovations arriving in 2017

INSIDE

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

2018

ITINERARIES NOW OPEN FOR RESERVATION

Like nowhere else on Earth. At sea.

Your clients can weave an unforgettable tapestry of memories with Silversea’s superb 2018 itineraries.

With over 850 destinations and almost 300 maiden calls this is your clients’ chance to discover the world in a completely unique way. From iconic city destinations to extraordinary expedition cruising, they could soon be experiencing the incomparable living museum of evolution that is the Galápagos Islands, meandering the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik or sipping a rum punch in St. Barts. From Asia to Africa, Antarctica to Alaska, Australia to America, Silversea’s 2018 itineraries cover every corner of the globe. With almost 300 new destinations, exclusive landing rights and more overnights and late departures than ever before, plus exceptionally high levels of personalised service and elite dining, Silversea’s cruises are like nothing else on Earth. At sea.

For more information on our 2018 itineraries please call 0207 340 0700 or visit Silversea.com/2018

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward ED’S LETTER

The ultimate destination for those selling cruises We’re incredibly excited to present Where next to you the newfor cruise? look CRUISE ADVISER: bigger, better and more regular.

We’ve upped the page size, undertaken a huge redesign and increased the frequency. CRUISE ADVISER will now be published ten times a year – monthly, with double issues in December and July.

Each magazine will contain all the in-depth features and analysis you’ve come to expect, as well many new extras: a more extensive CRUISE ADVISER THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

The new ships, destinations and innovations arriving in 2017

INSIDE

KRISTIN KARST,

GILES HAWKE, EDIE RODRIGUEZ, ANDY HARMER AND MORE SHARE THEIR

PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

news section, details of fam trips, incentives, new hires, plus games, competitions and a new, easy-to-use directory. Throughout the magazine you will find example cruises, tips and expert input, all designed to help you sell more cruises.

In this issue, we’ll be looking forward to 2017, particularly with our Where Next For Cruise? special (p18), featuring opinion from some of the industry’s biggest names. It’s sure to be another massive year, as more and more people are tempted to try cruise for the first time, and you, as travel agents, can play a huge part in this. We hope to be with you along the way.

THIS MONTH WHAT WE FOUND OUT THIS IN THIS ISSUE P14

CLASS OF 2017 An incredible 31 new ships across ocean and river – including Silver Muse, Viking Sky and Norwegian Joy – will launch next year.

P34

HOT STUFF Switching between an ice room and hot steam room, as we did in Viking Star’s spa, boosts circulation – and is surprisingly fun.

P44

is brought to you by Waterfront Publishing cruise adviser

Publisher Sam Ballard sam@cruise-adviser.com +44 (0)78 0962 2541

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is published ten times a year (monthly, with doubles in December and July)

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ELECTRIC DREAMS The hybrid technology on Hurtigruten’s new ships will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 20 per cent.

December 2016 / January 2017| Forward

Contents Midship

adviser speaks to Robin West about reinventing the luxury shore excursion

This month’s features 34

Viking invasion Anthony Pearce sails from New York City to the Caribbean on the elegant Viking Star

40

New Ventures As Seabourn rolls out its Ventures programme, cruise

44

48

Electric dreams We investigate what measures the cruise lines are taking to reduce their environmental impact Meet the experts The last year has been

difficult by anyone’s measure.

But what does the future hold for the cruise industry?

We ask three travel agent bosses to explain how they found success under the hardest of circumstances 52

A family affair Five cruise-loving families explain why they have the time of their lives at sea

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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MADE FOR THE SPA LOVERS

From stretching out on a poolside sun lounger to rejuvenating in the spa; hotting up in the sauna to chilling out in the snow grotto; downward dogs on deck to jogging in the gym, a Viking ocean cruise is the perfect place for your clients to relax, unwind and love doing nothing much at all.

S AV E £ 5 0 0 P P O N ALL OCEAN CRUISES 8-day ocean cruises from £1,490pp with all this included in the price: Private veranda stateroom All meals on board in multiple dining venues Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board Complimentary speciality teas and coffees 24/7 Free 24-hour room service Included excursion in almost every port of call Free use of spa facilities Free Wi-Fi* Evening entertainment, lectures and port talks Return scheduled flights from the UK

BOOK YOUR SPA-LOVING CLIENTS ON A VIKING OCEAN CRUISE AND EARN GREAT COMMISSION

CALL 020 8780 7985 THE MEDITERRANEAN

◆

SCANDINAVIA & THE BALTIC

@VikingTradeUK #madefortrade

◆

THE CARIBBEAN

◆

THE AMERICAS

madefortrade.co.uk

Terms & Conditions: Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom available on Iconic Cities of the Western Mediterranean departing on 11 January 2018. Prices valid until 31 January 2017. Single supplements apply. *Restrictions apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

FORWARD Regulars

9

News This month’s most important cruise news

18

Where next for cruise?

New ships, new destinations, new innovations. Six industry insiders share their predictions for 2017

26

Ports of call The first in our new destinations special, beginning with perhaps the great cruise destination: Italy

30

InFocus Our monthly, in-depth look at a particular cruise line.

This time, we speak to Edie Rodriguez about Crystal’s head-spinning expansion

your lunch break. Plus – win £100 in SuperBreak vouchers by answering one very simple question.

72

In the galley Oceania Cruises lays claim to the finest cuisine at sea – but can you recreate it at home? Now is your chance to try with the first of our monthly recipes

72

On the road Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Laura Cann shares her favourite things about being on the road in the first of another new regular feature

74

Final word cruise adviser comment: Here’s hoping for less upheaval in 2017, but, whatever happens, the industry will remain resilient

What are your thoughts on the new-look cruise adviser? We’d love hear them. Share them by emailing info@cruise-adviser.com

AFT Listings (and fun stuff) 59

Five minutes with…

Stephen Winter, of luxury French line Ponant, drops by for a quick chat

59

New crew Keep up with who’s hired who with our new hires section

60

Fam trips / incentives A quick recap of the recent Clia River Conference in Amsterdam – plus a round-up of agent incentives to look out for

62

Jargon buster Our new monthly look at some of cruise’s more esoteric terminology

63

Directory Got a query? Let us assist you.

Our extensive listings provide you with the vital contact details for all the major cruise lines operating in the UK — meaning trade sales support is never more than a phone call away

70 Games room The cruise adviser crossword, sudoku and quiz to keep you occupied on

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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BEST SPECIALIST CRUISE LINE 2016

A friendly and comfortable ship, with space to call your own OUR GREAT VALUE FARES INCLUDE

NEW CRUISE - JUST LAUNCHED

A VOYAGE THROUGH THE MIDDLE SEA NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

17 DAYS from ATHENS to FUNCHAL April 17, 2017 Fares from £2,195pp • Athens • Santorini • Heraklion • Chania • Valletta • Catania • Palermo • Trapani • Malaga • Cadiz • Portimao • Madeira Voyages to Antiquity is pleased to announce a new premiere itinerary for 2017 – a 17-day spring voyage from Athens to Funchal in Madeira, departing in April to chart a course through what has been known in centuries past as the Middle Sea. Historian John Julius Norwich’s epic history of the Mediterranean is the inspiration for this incredible journey, featuring maiden visits to Catania and Portimao, with guided excursions included in the price for every port of call.

Regional departures are also available at a supplement.

• Shore excursions with expert guides • Guest speaker programme • All meals on board with a choice of 2 restaurants • Wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for restaurant and cabin staff on board • Transfers and baggage handling overseas • Return flights from London where applicable • Hotel stays where applicable OTHER 2017 CRUISES Date

Cruise Name

Days

From/To

Fares pp from

May 3

MADEIRA, MOROCCO & SEVILLE

13

Funchal to Seville

£2,445

May 11

HISTORIC SPAIN, SICILY & ITALY

19

Seville to Rome

£3,295

May 25

THE RENAISSANCE & RIVIERAS

13

Rome to Nice

£2,445

June 6

FRENCH RIVIERA & MOORISH SPAIN

14

Nice to Seville

£2,495

June 15

IBERIA, FRANCE & ENGLAND

15

Seville to London

£2,495

June 29

ICELAND, FAROES & SHETLANDS

15

London to London

SOLD OUT

July 13

ENGLAND, IRELAND & SCOTLAND

16

London to Edinburgh

£2,495

July 24

CELTIC SCOTLAND & IRELAND

16

Edinburgh to London

£2,495

Aug 8

ICELAND, FAROES & SHETLANDS

15

London to London

SOLD OUT

Aug 22

THE BEST OF FRANCE & PORTUGAL

15

London to Lisbon

£2,595

Sept 1

MEDITERRANEAN ODYSSEY

17

Lisbon to Rome

£2,795

Sept 13

ITALIAN & ADRIATIC HIGHLIGHTS

15

Rome to Venice

£2,595

Sept 27

DALMATIA & ANCIENT GREECE

13

Venice to Athens

£2,345

Oct 5

CLASSICAL GREECE & AEGEAN ISLANDS

14

Athens to Athens

£2,445

Oct 16

ANCIENT GREECE, SICILY & SPAIN

18

Athens to Seville

£2,695

Oct 29

ANDALUSIAN SPAIN & MOROCCO

12

Seville to Malaga

£2,350

Nov 9

SEVILLE, MOROCCO & CANARY ISLANDS

12

Malaga to Tenerife

£2,095

Fares are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. The cruise sailing in April 2017 has different terms and conditions so please see website for further information. No single supplement applies to 17th April cruise only. Ship’s Registry Panama WINNER

AWARDS

2015 VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY BEST FOR ENRICHMENT

Visit www.vtaexpert.com for full details or call Reservations on 01865 302550

NEWS

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

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

AMERICAN QUEEN STEAMBOAT COMPANY

AQSC to focus on luxury sector with American Duchess launch The new ship holds up to 166 guests and will be based on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers as parent company embarks on a plan to enter the premium market The American Queen Steamboat Company has unveiled more details of its third vessel, as the firm embarks on a plan to enter the premium market, including upmarket pre-cruise hotel stays in Chicago, Memphis and New Orleans.

American Duchess, its upcoming 166 guest paddlesteamer, will be all suite and is capable of embarking on cruises from as far north as Chicago.

It will be based mostly on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

Speaking to CRUISE ADVISER, Ted Sykes, the company’s president and chief operating officer, said: “The company is currently running at

94 to 96 per cent capacity so we’re having to add additional inventory.

“Our new vessel is a higher proposition than the Queen. It’s going to be all suite, which is a big deal. It’s also going to be single seating dining, which again is a big thing to our guests.”

The new ship will feature a main restaurant, with 160 covers, and a grill, which will be reservation only and have 80 covers.

The American Duchess will be ten feet wider than the American Queen and 100 feet shorter. The three owners’ suites will be 550 square feet, which is twice the size of their nearest competitor, according to Sykes.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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“We are also going to have four loft suites,” he added. “These won’t be on the bottom decks – they will be real loft suites, on our second and third decks. They’ll feature huge windows with the bedroom upstairs.”

The company will also be using more upmarket hotels for its precruise stays, such as The Drake in Chicago, The Peabody in Memphis and The Roosevelt in New Orleans Lead in prices for the American Duchess start at £3,195 per person for a seven-night voyage from Memphis to New Orleans including flights and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay.

Experience the Ponant Moment 10:45 am 62° 56’ 27.35’’ S 60° 33’ 19.35’’ W

Whales, penguins, breathtaking vistas of the White Continent’s ice flows & icebergs, zodiac expeditions in the company of experienced and passionate guides and naturalists...

All aboard a luxurious yacht on an intimate scale, live the intensity and privilege of a real expedition in 5-star comfort. A Bilingual French crew, refined gastronomy, landings inaccessible to large ships: discover the treasures of the World by sea with PONANT.

Winter 2017-2018 - 14 departures starting at 8 990 € (1) Flights roundtrip from Paris included

Contact your travel agent or call our UK call center at 0800 980 4027

www.ponant.com

(1) PONANT Bonus Fare per person based on double occupancy, subject to change, economy class flights to & from Paris included subject to availability, pre and post services included subject to availability, port and air taxes included. PONANT Bonus fare is susceptible to change depending on availability at the moment of reservation. More information is available at www.ponant.com. Document & photos non contractual. Photo credits: © PONANT- Nathalie Michel - François Lefebvre.

Antarctic 5-star Expedition Cruises

AT L A S T A N O F F E R A S EXTRAORDINARY AS

OUR

SERVICE

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, THIS WAS A 12.

Patrick, European Jewels Turn your clients’ travel fantasies into luxurious reality with Our Best Offer Ever, an exceptional new promotion on select 2017 itineraries*

BOOK BY 31 DECEMBER 2016

0808 168 9110 | uniworld.com/OurBestOfferEver @UniworldTradeUK |

Uniworld Trade UK |

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ABTA No.Y6200

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*Our Best Offer Ever is for new individual bookings on select 2017 itineraries and departure dates only, made from 09 Nov 2016 to 31 Dec 2016. Offer applies to full-fare bookings only. Offer is not valid for Junior Suites, Presidential Suites, Royal Suites or Owner’s Suites. Availability of suite categories cannot be guaranteed.

Rates and savings vary by itinerary, departure date and category of accommodations. Offer is not combinable with any other promotional offer or programme, except River Heritage Club savings/amenities. Offer is capacity controlled and may be modified or withdrawn at any time. Other restrictions may apply. For complete details, general information, and terms and conditions applicable to all Uniworld trips, please visit www.uniworld.com/OurBestOfferEver.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

VIKING CRUISES

Debs makes a splash on the Sea Department store debuts swimwear collection on Viking Viking Cruises has helped to launch Debenhams’ spring and summer swimwear collection on board its new 930-guest ocean ship, Viking Sea. The department store unveiled designs by Matthew Williamson, Frost French, Jasper Conran and more during a catwalk show inside Viking Sea’s luxurious spa in Civitavecchia, Italy.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Debenhams because we know

that our guests often shop there for clothes and swimwear for cruises and other holidays,” said Wendy AtkinSmith, managing director of Viking Cruises UK. “The Viking Sea is the perfect place to launch the collection – it will provide a stunning backdrop for the photoshoot, while the deluxe spa with its unique Norwegian snow grotto really is a spectacular space for the catwalk show.”

TRAVEL AGENTS

NEW SHIPS

Crusise Nation to open interactive shop

11 new ocean ships to launch in 2017

Cruise Nation, the Swanseabased tour operator, is to open an ‘interactive store’ at its head office.

The company also plans to increase its presence in resorts, with representatives for excursions and transfers, as well as launch a dedicated TV channel. Further announcements included partnerships with Wendy Wu, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Cruising Excursions, Holiday Taxis and Do Something Different.

There will also be a Cruise Nation homeworking division.

Phil Evans, managing director of Cruise Nation, said the company had “expanded rapidly to meet the huge customer demand”.

Eleven ocean ships are set to launch in 2017, each illustrating the great diversity in the current cruise market.

The expansion of the luxury sector continues with Seabourn’s Encore arriving in January, plus Flying Clipper, the latest in Star Clipper’s tall-ship fleet, and Silversea’s Silver Muse will be launched later in the year. Meanwhile, no-fly cruise experts Cruise & Maritime Voyages will introduce Columbus, which, at 1,400 guests, will become the largest vessel in its fleet.

Full list of 2017 ocean launches: Cruise & Maritime Voyages Columbus (June)

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“It is great to be partnering with Viking Cruises to showcase our swimwear collection on board such a stylish and glamorous ship,” said Christine Morgan, head of PR, Debenhams. “Our vast offerings across Designers at Debenhams and also with our additional own brands enables us to capture trends in a variety of styles with options for every body shape.”

Linblad National Geographic Quest (June) MSC Cruises MSC Meraviglia (May); MSC Seaside(November) Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Joy (spring) Princess Cruises Majestic Princess (summer) Seabourn Seabourn Encore (January) Silversea Silver Muse (spring) Star Clippers Flying Clipper (late-2017) Viking Cruises Viking Sky (February); Viking Sun (October)

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

NEW SHIPS

20 launches in big year for river cruise

FATHOM

History-making Adonia returns to P&O Carnival’s ‘social impact’ brand Fathom is to lose its only ship when it returns to P&O in 2017.

Adonia, made history in May by becoming the first ship to call at Cuba from a US port in 50 years.

Fathom branded excursions will in future be offered across Carnival’s existing fleet.

FRED OLSEN

Giles Hawke, CEO, Cosmos Tours & Cruises and Avalon Waterways UK, says 2017 will be “the year river cruise blasts off” At the recent Clia River Conference in Amsterdam, Giles Hawke, the chief executive of Cosmos Tours and Cruises and Avalon Waterways UK, argued that, although river cruise is “probably about 10 years behind where ocean is”, 2017 could prove a landmark year. “We are in launch position,” he said. “This is the year that river cruise is going to blast off.”

With 20 new ships set to join the market, equalling that of last year, river indeed looks set to continue its impressive rise.

There are some big stories, too: Crystal Cruises is launching its first ever purpose-built river ships the Crystal Mahler and the Crystal Bach, while CroisiEurope is expanding to Africa and also increasing its presence in Portugal with the Miguel Torga set to sail the Douro valley.

Riviera and Emerald Waterways will also debut there with their new ships Douro Elegance and Emerald Radiance, while the latter will also be joining Uniworld and Amadeus in introducing new ships onto the French waterways.

Full list of 2017 river launches: Amadeus Cruises Amadeus Provence (Rhône/Saône) AmaWaterways AmaKristina (Rhine) American Queen American Duchess (Mississippi) Belmond Belmond Pivoine (Marne) Belmond Lilas (Marne) CroisiEurope Miguel Torga (Douro); Indochine II (Mekong) African Dream (Chobe and Zambezi) Crystal Cruises Crystal Mahler (Rhine, Main, Danube); Crystal Bach (Rhine) Emerald Waterways Emerald Liberté (Rhône/Saône; Emerald Radiance (Douro); Emerald Destiny (Rhine, Main, Danube) Riviera Travel Emily Brontë (Rhine, Main, Danube); Thomas Hardy (Rhine, Main, Danube); Oscar Wilde (Rhine, Main, Danube); Douro Elegance (Douro) Viking River Cruises Viking Hild (Rhine, Danube); Viking Herja (Rhine) Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Joie de Vivre (Seine)

New division created with internal restructure Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is to create a product and customer services division as part of an internal restructure. Clare Ward, previously senior commercial planning manager, will head up the new team. The new division will look after areas such as customer services, itinerary and experience development and reservations.

CLIA

Cruise360 to launch in Copenhagen next year Clia has announced the launch of Cruise360 in Copenhagen in 2017.

The event will focus on giving delegates practical advice and support to grow their cruise sales.

It was originally slated to launch in 2016 in Marseille.The inaugural European event will be held on September 9, 2017.

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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

We’re now trade only, says Carnival

Department store debuts swimwear collection on Viking

Carnival Cruise Line’s UK office has announced that they will only sell through agents from the new year.

Ian Baillie, vice-president for UK and international sales, said that the London-based team would in future focus 100 per cent on agents, and not on direct sales.

Baillie, who was promoted to the role from managing director for UK sales in November 2016, said: “All our focus is on the trade due to their [agents’] historic support and partnership over the years, as well as their customer reach, which allows Carnival to continue to be successful.

The trade has really added value to our business and found ways to differentiate our offering to customers in the UK market.”

He added: “We will be dialling down other UK sales channels and focusing on the UK trade. All of our staff with sales connections will now be 100 per cent trade-focused.”

He added that “agent partners have been integral to Carnival’s success”.

This move means that the UK sales team will no longer be representing the cruise line at any consumer cruise or holiday shows.

Carnival Cruise Line launched its latest ship, the 3,936-guest Carnival Vista in May 2016. Its sister ship, Carnival Horizon will arrive in 2018.

It will be the 26th ship in its fleet.

Going overboard...

Travel’s more unusual news...

British Airways is planning to introduce “digital pills” for passengers, allowing the crew to monitor their sleeping pattern and well-being during flights.

According to the carrier, the pills would allow members of cabin crew to tell if passengers were hungry or uncomfortable through “digital pills or other ingestible sensors”.

The airline has filed a patent for pills that would relay information

on body movement, sleep phase, stomach acidity as well as temperature back to its staff who would then be able to act accordingly to make them more comfortable.

British Airways told the Evening Standard that it hoped the pill would “provide information on the physiological state of the passenger and/or environment conditions in the vicinity of the passenger”.

The eventual aim is to create technology that would control the environment for passengers.

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Win! £100 in SuperBreak vouchers, see p70 See p59 for new hires and p60 for details of fam trips and incentives Visit cruise-adviser.com for more cruise news, and sign up to the cruise adviser mail out at cruise-adviser. com/subscribe For cruise line listings, see Directory, p63

December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name Promotion

EMERALD W

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W

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S

What’s new for 2017 from Emerald Waterways?

With exceptional cuisine, fine wines and adventurous excursions from new ships that perfectly combine luxury with innovation, Emerald Waterways is taking river cruise to the next level The new year promises a number of exciting new developments in the world of Emerald Waterways. With its brand new Star-Ships, fresh itineraries and EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE excursions and activities, it’s time to find out just how much better European river cruising can get.

Sail the Rhône and Saône in 2017, as part of the new Sensations of Southern France itinerary, an eight-day river cruise from Lyon to Avignon, on the latest edition to its Star-Ship fleet, Emerald Liberté. Custom-built to sail

the rivers and with a capacity of just 138 guests, this is where innovation meets luxurious comfort.

Exceptional cuisine and an outstanding knowledge of wine ensure pairing your food and drink is always a pleasure, made even better by the fact that your choice of beverage is complimentary. The onboard standards match the gastronomical achievements of the country, with five-course finedining in the Reflections restaurant, or more casual al fresco, café-style lunches at The Terrace on the Horizon Deck.

Spend your days on board relaxing on one of the ship’s four decks. Whether you’re taking in the magnificence of the Mediterranean weather on the Sun Deck as you play a bit of golf on the putting green, or simply sit back and watch the picturesque riverbanks pass before you. The Horizon Deck offers the chance for relaxation in the pool, which innovatively transforms into a cinema by night, while the Horizon Bar and Lounge provides a wonderful opportunity to retreat for post-dinner drinks and conversation, as well as local entertainment. A well-equipped wellness and fitness area makes keeping fit and feeling great a simple task; visit the gym before indulging in a spa treatment, and even a haircut from the onboard hairdresser.

Break up visits to culturally-rich cities with perusals of numerous vineyards, from the Renaissance architecture of Lyon and the Roman influences in Arles, to the burnt sienna, buttermilk and rose buildings of the Mâcon wine region, made even better through the new EmeraldACTIVE excursions. Make use of the onboard bicycles on a cycle tour of Mâcon, or Glun, a commune in the Ardèche area of southern-west France.

The Douro invites intrepid explorers on a round trip of Porto, scooping up Pinhão, Salamanca, Pocinho and Régua CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name

on its route as part of the Secrets of the Douro eight-day itinerary.

Embarking on its first trip in 2017, the Emerald Radiance Star-Ship has been specifically built for this river.

The open-air aspect makes the most of the Portuguese sun as you relax on the Sun Deck, taking time out in the Serenity Pool or enjoying lunch on the Horizon Deck at The Terrace with new-found companions. With all the favourite components of a Star-Ship and more, the Horizon Bar and Lounge remains the hub of activity, while new Riverview Suites, located on the Horizon Deck at the ship’s rear, boast floor-to-ceiling windows, Emerald Waterways’ innovative balcony system, and panoramic views of the passing landscapes. Expect exceptional service with a capacity of just 112 guests and a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:3.

Excursions to look forward to throughout the journey consist of the Six Bridges Illumination Cruise, an evening cruise showcasing six spectacular bridges that unite Porto and Gaia, in all their illuminated glory.

This, as well as a walking tour of Régua to visit the Douro Museum, gives a lovely insight into just how wonderfully thought-out Emerald Waterways’ itineraries are.

With everything from return flights

from five UK airports, to transfers, onboard tipping, an extensive finedining menu with complimentary drinks to accompany lunch and dinner, and fascinating day trips ashore, it’s no wonder that Emerald Waterways were awarded ‘Best For Value 2016’ by Cruise Critic., which cements Emerald Waterways’ thriving dedication to fulfilling its promise of Exceptional Emerald Value.

This year has also seen the launch of Emerald Waterways’ River Rewards scheme, designed to reward agents for every sale they make, giving each

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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individual the chance to win a broad selection of prizes. From meals out at favourite restaurants, to the latest technological gadgets, it gives the company an opportunity to show their appreciation for all the hard work that goes into letting the world know about European river cruising with Emerald Waterways. In January and February, it will also be doubling points on selected itineraries across our Danube, Rhine and French cruises.

So, here’s to a magnificent 2017, promising adventure, exploration and luxury innovation by the boat load.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Andy Harmer VP operations, Clia Europe Six industry insiders share their predictions for cruise in 2017 – starting with Clia’s Andy Harmer At the Clia Conference in May 2016 we used the theme of ‘revolution’ to explain the fast pace of change that is happening within the cruise industry. With each new ship and with each passing year we have witnessed product enhancements that have, without doubt, set the standard in the whole travel industry.

Where else in the holiday space can you wake up and dine on a balcony overlooking Stockholm or Barcelona or Dubrovnik, choose from literally thousands of different shore experiences, watch an ice-dance show, eat in a Marco Pierre White restaurant, relax by the pool, have a spa treatment, learn a local language, take a cookery class with James Martin, skydive, take part in a singing contest, or simply relax and unwind with family and friends.

We often take time to compare the holiday offerings of the cruise lines, but rarely do we compare with our true competitor – the experiences available in a hotel or resort.

On every possible measure, cruise wins! Whether that measure is the multiple destinations we visit in one holiday while unpacking only once; the astonishing good service we enjoy; the choice of experiences available; or simply the incredible value for money we offer with all of these ‘inclusive’ holiday choices.

Many of the changes we are witnessing in our industry come down

to ‘choice’ – there is a steady increase in the number of cruise ships each year and huge investment in refurbishment programmes. Our ships contain more onboard options than ever before – in dining, wellness, entertainment, accommodation and activities – while the use of new technologies and connectivity further increase the choices that guests have for their holiday.

In addition, the number of cruise ports being offered also grows to allow the cruise guest to see a range of ports never offered before. Twenty, even ten years ago many cruise lines offered the Med in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter; and while these destinations remain incredibly important to our guests, they also now have the choice of new destinations, new ports and new onshore experiences. Add in the chance to undertake voluntourism, or stay overnight or longer in port or more in-depth land programmes and you can see where that 2016 revolution is heading: choice.

That revolution has been about investment and innovation and meeting the ever-changing needs of our guests. What it has created is a range of cruise holiday choices that can now attract all customer types, from singles and couples to families and multi-generational families, with guests of all ages.

It means that there really is a cruise holiday for everyone – we are no longer constrained to just one ‘type’ of customer, and we can now – probably for the first time – really compete with all other holiday choices. And that is an incredibly powerful message for 2017 as the industry continues to evolve and develop.

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MS Serenade 1,

Titan’s exclusive charter for 2017

Castles and Cathedrals of Germany

From Beautiful Budapest to Stunning Vienna

Aboard Titan’s exclusive 2017 charter - MS Serenade 1

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Basel - Breisach - Strasbourg - Speyer - Mannheim Rüdesheim - Lorelei Rock - Koblenz - Cologne - Dusseldorf

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Featured in Titan’s NEW river cruise brochure Includes Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service† For more information please visit www.titanagents.co.uk uk k Excludes Scottish islands and Sark, where vehicle access is restricted. Home transfers are not included on Titan’s ‘Essential Collection’ holidays. Terms and conditions apply on some offers.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Joseph Grimley

Head of trade sales, Riviera Travel Next year is set to be an amazing year for river cruise with the launch of many brand new state-of-the-art ships.

We at Riviera Travel are especially excited to be introducing three brand new ships, built for us by Scylla AG of Switzerland. Following on from the success of the recently launched MS Lord Byron and MS Jane Austen, Scylla are building us three ‘all-suite’ five-star ships: the MS Thomas Hardy, MS Emily Brontë and the MS Oscar Wilde. These ships will be among the finest sailing Europe’s iconic waterways in 2017.

It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary these outstanding ships really are and exactly what distinguishes them from similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’, but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level.

In addition to the three brand new Scylla ships, Douro Azul are

building the brand new five-star Douro Elegance for our 2017 Douro programme. If cruising is an art, then this ship has truly mastered it; constructed with the very latest technology and a strong environmental ethic in mind, yet simultaneously retaining a classic, refined elegance reminiscent of cruising from a bygone era.

The addition of these four brand new ships will increase our fleet to 11 vessels for 2017. This is an increase of some 40 per cent which

demonstrates the success of our river cruise programme. We anticipate that Riviera will overtake the market leaders in 2017 and carry more Brits on European river cruises than any of our competitors.

With so many operators now offering river cruises it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. We have a number of unique selling points which really give us a huge point of difference from other operators. We are the only British company selling river cruises at the top end of the market, and being British we tailor our cruises to the UK market. Small but important differences include tea and coffee making facilities in all cabins, one onboard language, and probably the most unique is that we haven’t followed the crowd and jumped on the ‘all-inclusive’ drinks bandwagon.

Feedback from our UK clients tells us that they would much rather ‘pay as they go’ when it comes to drinks as a lot of them either don’t drink, don’t drink much, or would prefer to have the choice to go ashore in the evenings to sample the local drinks without feeling that they’ve paid twice. At the end of the day it’s all down to choice.

We have the best quality-to-price ratio in the premium sector.

With our unrivalled repeat booking ratio agents are starting to enjoy repeat bookers, who come back time and again to book their next river cruise with Riviera Travel and experience an alternative river such as the Douro or the Rhone. Agents have told me they love the fact that we never discount, meaning they have a great sales tool up their sleeve and can reassure customers (hand on heart) that, if they book early, they will not see the cruise sold cheaper later.

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Brand new MS Thomas Hardy

LUXURY FIVE-STAR RIVER CRUISIN G

RH IN E, M O SELLE, DAN UBE, M AIN , RH O N E & SEIN E Why choose Riviera Travel?

• • • • • • •

Three brand-new five-star all-suite ships launching in 2017 Brand new five-star ship launching on the Douro in 2017 - MS Douro Elegance More of our customers would travel with us again than any of our competitors* We never discount 2017 selling fast, book now to avoid disappointment Dedicated agency sales support Online booking at www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

To book, call

01283 744370

Web: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents Subscribe to our newsletter email:

agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

Holidays organised by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, Staffs, DE14 1SP. ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430. Prices are based on two people sharing a twin cabin. Additional entrance costs may apply. *Source- Independent research in Autumn 2014 by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

ABTA No. V4744

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Ben Bouldin Sales director, Royal Caribbean The cruise industry is thriving and showing no signs of slowing down in 2017. There are 49 ships in the order book between now and 2030 across the industry, with an expected total investment of more than $17 billion.

What’s more, consumer demand is also growing with 1.7 million UK consumers choosing to go on a cruise holiday in 2016, which has almost doubled since 2002. Couple this with a 4.8 per cent share of the travel market spend, we’re expecting to see this increase as we enter the new year.

In 2016, Royal Caribbean launched the largest ship in the world, Harmony Of The Seas. With its innovation, Harmony has helped to whet the appetite of Brits who had never considered cruise before. It also showcased the choice and variety of destinations you can travel to on a cruise holiday, as well as the amazing things you can do on board. Who would have thought ten years ago that you would be able to use a skydiving or surfing simulator on a cruise ship? It’s this extraordinary blend of beautiful destinations and thrilling onboard activities which is attracting

it’s important that agents focus on the following tips when helping customers choose their cruise holiday – particularly if it’s their first:

a new, less formal and younger audience to cruise and we expect to see increased interest from these types of holidaymakers in the years to come.

We also have a strong pipeline of new vessels with the impending launch of a new Oasis Class ship in 2018, a Quantum Class ship in 2019 and new Icon Class ships from 2022.

These will continue to help provide holidaymakers with the right type of cruise holiday for them.

As we enter into what will be another booming year for the industry,

1. Holidays are the high points of everyone’s year. People want to live the dream and sign up for exciting experiences. A cruise shouldn’t be badged as a cruise; it’s a holiday that offers a vast range of opportunities.

If it’s not on a customer’s shortlist, put it forward for consideration.

2. The biggest converter is still destination. A focus on itineraries – and the breadth of destinations – is imperative. After all, where else do you get the opportunity to wake up in a new city or country each day?

3. Cruise is not ‘one size fits all’. There is a cruise to suit all tastes and budgets, so always work out what’s important to your customer. Are they looking to relax or be active? Are they more interested in food or entertainment?

You’ll then be able to pinpoint the perfect itinerary and ship for them.

4. It’s not all about price. Helping customers understand what they get for their money is a crucial part of their decision-making process – there’s not a lot of other holidays that throw in front row seats at a West End show!

5. Don’t write anyone off because their last holiday was land-based, they may just have wanted an alternative break.

A nudge in a sea-based direction may be all it needs.

The next year will be an exciting time for cruise, complete with more industry firsts and technological innovation to help make ships more efficient and make the guest experience even more enjoyable.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Kristin Karst Co-founder, AmaWaterways I am absolutely positive and excited about the future of cruise. In the US, river cruise is the fastest growing segment in the cruise and wider travel industry. But, even with our increased capacity, not just AmaWaterways, but all the cruise lines, we haven’t even touched the surface: we haven’t reached five per cent of the general cruise market – 80 per cent of our guests come from ocean cruise, and a small percentage come from land tourism. River cruise combines all of the advantages of ocean cruise: you unpack once, pretty much everything is included, but it’s on a smaller scale, everything is so intimate.

So often, we are docked right in the heart of the city – you can just walk out.

It offers our customers an absolutely wonderful experience, which more and more people are trying.

We will welcome AmaChristina in 2017 and AmaLea in 2018, both of which are sister ships to the AmaViola and the AmaStella, the two ships we welcomed this year. They are the first of our ships with a set of connecting doors, and a cabin with a third bed. The suites are even able to accommodate four guests, which is great for families.

I think it’s important in the river cruise market to think about our next generation. It’s interesting because we’re seeing families coming in their 50s, taking their mum and dad. We’re also increasingly seeing solo travellers coming on board, which is because river cruise offers such a safe environment.

I see the river cruise market continuing to grow and grow. People say, “What about the traffic on the river?” But there are so many more freight ships than passenger ships. The limit is not reached, at all. The docking places can become tight in the main season, but that’s why it’s so important

to consider the pre and post season.

I was on the Seine at the end of October, and I think it was the most beautiful week of the year. We had fantastic weather, blue skies, the autumn colours were at their peak, and we had no ship next to us.

On existing rivers, you have to find new destinations and introduce new itineraries – such as the Rhine and Moselle combined, which will be new for us in 2018. A lot of clients still like

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to stay with the traditional rivers, and we offer a lot of shore excursions – guests may say, I have done this excursion on the Danube, but guests will come back and do a different one.

From Linz, for example, guests can go to Český Krumlov or Salzburg or the Austrian Lake District.

There’s evolution and revolution within river cruise. It had a reputation of being a very passive holiday about 15 years ago, like you needed to be about 80 to enjoy a river cruise. Today, our average age has dropped down to late 50s, we see so many younger guests coming on board, taking advantage of the biking tours, the hiking tours.

It’s now much more appealing for the younger market. You always want to offer different things to different guests. The grandpa might want to take the Vienna city tour, the parents might take the culinary tour and the teenagers might take the bike tour.

They all go out and do what they want to do and come back for dinner – I think this trend will become stronger and stronger in the future.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Giles Hawke CEO, Cosmos Tours & Cruises Next year will see the cruise industry continue to prosper and more people than ever from the UK enjoy the benefits of cruising, “You cruise types say this every year” I hear you say.

So what makes me believe that this will continue to be the case?

Firstly, we will be benefitting from a significant increase in capacity which this year’s additional ship tonnage, in both the ocean and river cruise sectors, will bring.

Secondly, although the market may bounce back a little from fewer Americans travelling to Europe during 2016, we are unlikely to see a return to previous levels. This means that there will be more capacity available to Brits, both for early bookers and potentially in the lates market, too.

We are already seeing cruise lines who sell to international markets coming out with some great offers for next season in recognition of this fact.

What is likely to happen is that the best deals will be available early so

that, as cruise lines get a good fill rate early on, they can avoid discounting to very cheap late deals. This benefits everybody and avoids early bookers feeling disappointed that they could pay too much for their cruise.

Ultimately, it ensures cruise lines can manage their load factors to avoid losing money and continue to provide great cruise holidays in the future.

Thirdly, we will see more innovation coming into the market, especially in the river sector, as lines look to differentiate further and broaden their offering to appeal to a wider range of customers. This includes themes such as active cruises with more specialised experiences, and the option of new cruise lines offering something unique (watch this space!). An increase in awareness of river cruising through targeted marketing and a higher number of brand partnerships will see more agents proposing a river cruise to their customers.

And finally, I see the continuing trend of holidaymakers wanting a more authentic holiday with more local experiences in the destination, only set to increase in the next few years. Cruise lines will continue to adapt excursions and activities, to be able to personalise holidays more and offer this while ensuring customers have a great ‘onboard home’ to come back to every evening.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

WHERE NEXT FOR CRUISE?

Phil Evans MD, Cruise Nation The easing of travel restrictions between the US and Cuba is a historic moment for the cruise industry. MSC Cruises is expecting to double its presence in Cuba after it announced in July this year it would become the first global cruise line to homeport in Havana.

Restored relations between the US and Cuba are now paving the way for new routes to the island. As a result there is set to be a great emergence of cruise line operators, which will play a key role in helping to develop Cuba’s infrastructure and tourism, while supporting its cultural heritage.

Visiting Cuba is a little like stepping back in time, from its brightly coloured buildings to rows of 1950s Cadillac cars. Largely untouched by US tourism for around 50 years, Cuba is one of the most exciting Caribbean islands and offers unspoilt landscapes, sugar cane farms, tobacco plantations and beautiful beaches.

In Havana, holidaymakers can relive the legacy of the former residents of the island, sampling daiquiris at one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite watering holes – El Floridita. Guests will also relish soaking up the sunshine of

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Cuba’s largest resort, Varadero. Home to arguably one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, the 200km stretch of white sand and perfectly clear waters makes it one of the most idyllic spots for those seeking relaxation.

However, while Cuba is an exciting destination for cruise passengers, the presence of cruise ships needs to be carefully managed so that tourism is sustainable. The increase in tourists will lead to a rise in demand for investment in new hotel, restaurant and leisure facilities and it will be interesting to see how these industries will affect Cuba’s culture.

It is also important to recognise travel requirements for entry to Cuba, as all passengers will need a Tarjeta de Turismo (Tourist Visa) for entry and exit from the island.

With cruise lines creating itineraries in Cuba for the first time, many are determined to make a good impression. There is often a risk of local residents and communities feeling exploited by corporations as the economy depends more on an increase in tourism. However, it is encouraging to see cruise lines focusing on responsible travel and being aware of grass roots tourism.

The cruise industry is prepared to meet the increasing demand for travel to Cuba and can work to create a mutually beneficial experience for both tourists and residents. I’m excited to see how the industry will continue to support the new and evolving tourism infrastructure within the island. This will provide guests a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions that make Cuba one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

PORTS OF CALL

La dolce vita Is there a country in Europe more suited to cruise than Italy? From exquisite cuisine to ancient history – not to mention many miles of coast – the country has style in abundance and offers something for pretty much everybody For British tourists, there is little wonder that the Mediterranean is officially the most popular cruise destination in the world. It is generally safe, hot and could rival any region in the world for its history and culture. Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is the jewel in the Mediterranean’s crown.

That being said, Italy – or rather Italians – still have a curious relationship with the cruise industry. There is no doubt that the country benefits massively from its popularity, with ports such as Civitavecchia, Genoa and Venice attracting thousands upon thousands of cruise guests every year, eager to see the beauty of Florence or the treasures of Rome. In total the cruise industry generated about €4.6 billion in 2014. For a country with such a turbulent economy, it’s clear that foreign visitors have been something of a saving grace.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the cruise lines. Few will have failed to see the demonstrations by locals in Venice earlier this year, protesting at the large vessels they say are ruining the city. The Italian Transport Ministry banned large ships weighing more than 96,000 gross tons from sailing along the Guidecca Canal in November 2014.

However, that ban was then overturned in January 2015 by Venice’s regional court of appeal. The back and forth has continued for years.

It is hardly surprising that Venice has become so popular with tourists, including those who arrive in the city by ship. It is a magical place. The crumbling, renaissance buildings line the mile upon mile of canals that thread their way through the city’s islands. Cars don’t exist here; you either get about by water or by navigating the notoriously complex streets on foot. They say that

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward in Venice you can walk from your house to the exact same destination a different route every single day of the year.

It’s not just a destination for ocean cruise guests, though. Uniworld, the luxury river operator, offers a cruise on the Po river out of Venice. The ten-day tour includes hotel stays in Milan, visits to Verona as well as a chance to cruise to less visited towns such as Chioggia, Polesella and Taglio di Po. The cuisine is another reason why Brits are flocking to Italy in record numbers. From eating Neapolitan pizza with tomatoes harvested south of Mount Vesuvius to sipping a cool glass of pinot grigio in Tuscany’s famous vineyards.

Italian food has become a staple part of the British diet at home, but there is nothing quite like the real thing.

MSC Cruises, which is headquartered in Switzerland, prides itself on Mediterranean-style cruising, with a pronounced Italian twist. The company calls at more than ten ports across the country, from its northern hub in Genoa to Valletta, at the southern tip of Sicily.

It is the former that the famous author Gustav Flaubert described as “a beauty that tears the soul”. Its charm is bound up in the old town, which is all winding streets and cobbled piazzas. Some say that focaccia bread was invented by the Genoese – a claim that is disputed by others – however it’s still worth sampling some from one of the city’s many fine bakeries.

When writing about Italy, it would be remiss to not include something on the country’s fantastic capital. Rome is a city that offers something for everyone.

From couples who want to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, to history buffs who want to see the Colosseum or Circus Maximus or art lovers who have always wanted to see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, tucked away within the Vatican.

One of the most romantic destinations in Italy must be the areas within the Bay of Naples. Stunning towns such as Capri and Sorrento are synonymous with the glamour of Italian holidays, harking back to a more sophisticated time. With

sweeping vistas across sapphire waters, it is like paradise with Mount Vesuvius puffing ominously in the background.

Italy is a cruise destination that can constantly surprise and delight. From rugged and arid Sicily to the lush lands of the Alpine north. It has ancient sites such as Pompeii and Pisa as well as modern, thriving cities such as Milan and Rome. There are fashion weeks and ancient universities. Italy really does have something for everyone. It’s not a country one can do in one attempt.

However, part of the country’s charm is returning year after year and threading the pieces of its rich tapestry together.

THREE ITALIAN CRUISES Seven days

Silversea – Spirit Nice-Rome, May 6, 2017 From £2,655pp Board the beautiful Silver Spirit in Nice and travel to the Italian island of Olbia. This Italian focused itinerary also includes calls at Trapani and Syracuse in Sicily, the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento before finishing up in Civitavecchia.

Eight days

13 days

Ponant – Le Lyrial Rome-Venice, August 15, 2017 From €3,210pp This new Ponant itinerary includes visits to rarely visited Italian ports such as Monopoli as the decadent Lyrial cruises out of Rome and right around the Italian peninsula. Romantic calls at Amalfi and Taormina are an added bonus.

Voyages to Antiquity – Aegean Odyssey Rome-Nice, May 25, 2017 From £2,445pp Voyages to Antiquity have moved their business from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, for obvious reasons. This trip includes three days in Rome, as well as stays in Olbia, Elba, Florence and Livorno for the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

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ALL

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luxury travel higher than ever before. Welcome to the new Crystal. Where all-inclusive is All Exclusive.

Crystal Mozart ‘Best New River Ship’

Michael Dupont

Natalie Read

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Nan Short

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

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

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

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

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

020 7399 7601 www.crystalcruises.co.uk ©2016 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas.

ABTA No.V8548

™

December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward

INFOCUS

Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez’s speech at the Clia River Convention made some waves, but there’s no denying that Crystal’s luxury innovations are leading the way When Edie Rodriguez speaks people tend to listen, even if they don’t like what she’s saying. The boss of Crystal Cruises has seen her company come on leaps and bounds during her tenure. At the Clia River Convention in November she told delegates – travel agents as well as most of her competitor cruise lines – that Crystal River Cruises was the only luxury river operator in the world. While that might have ruffled a few feathers, it certainly got people’s attention.

Having been at the helm of Crystal since 2013, Rodriguez is now overseeing a period of rapid growth, after the company was bought by Genting Hong Kong in 2015 for $550 million.

Announcements about air, river and expedition followed the firm buying up a raft of shipyards. Residences for the well-heeled are also on the cards.

However, can the company sustain such growth as it goes forward?

“In terms of how we are going to maintain the quality of Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony across our new fleet, the answer lies in our staff,” Rodriguez explains. “Many people have left us over the years, simply because, in the past, they didn’t think they could grow within our company. Now, with all of the investment, they are coming back. Half of all the people we have hired for Crystal Mozart [Crystal’s first

river ship] have actually worked for the company before.”

The investment that has led to so many staff members returning to the fold is unlike anything the industry has ever seen.

Seven river ships, three expedition yachts, a fleet of aircraft, enhancements to their current ocean ships and the launch of an “exclusive class”, slated for delivery in 2022, along with their much feted multi-million pound residences, mean that Rodriguez’s life is not going to quieten down any time soon. Little wonder that the CEO is known as “speedy Edie” and reportedly sleeps for just four hours a day.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Forward “We are no longer just Crystal Cruises,” she says. “We obviously have been for 26 years, but a year-and-a-half ago, when we got our new owners, and they invested heavily in our brand we became simply ‘Crystal’ – the world’s most luxurious lifestyle and hospitality brand portfolio. We are now being spoken about in a myriad of different ways and so market ourselves to a myriad of different guests.

“Through that growth we are attracting the new to cruise market.

With Crystal Mozart, which was launched in the summer, about 50 per cent of our customers are not only new to Crystal, or new to river cruise, but completely new to cruise. With Crystal Esprit, our first expedition yacht, we are not only attracting new to cruise guests but, interestingly, a far younger demographic. The average age of guests on board Crystal Esprit is only 35 years old.”

The various touchpoints that Crystal is now able to disrupt the luxury holiday market is astonishing. With expedition and aircraft sure to attract a younger – while still phenomenally wealthy – client, the idea is that they will become a Crystal guest for life. Eventually they will graduate to the ocean and river product, thus the company will successfully populate the whole of its portfolio.

The only entry requirement is that passengers must be able to afford it.

THREE OF CRYSTAL’S GEMS Ten days

Seven days

Seven days

Crystal Mozart Vienna-Vienna, May 13, 2017 From £3,470pp Crystal River Cruises’ first ship, the Crystal Mozart, is a big deal. Twice the width of a typical river ship, passengers on this Danube cruise will also be able to enjoy a trip on the vessel’s very own Wider speedboat.

Crystal Esprit Dubrovnik-Venice, August 20, 2017 From £4,235pp Join Crystal’s first luxurious yacht, the Crystal Esprit, on a cruise out of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, calling at many of the country’s less popular ports, including Vis, Trogir and Šibenik, before sailing in to Venice.

Crystal Symphony Barcelona-Lisbon, October 3, 2017 From £2,000pp Take a journey on the newly refurbished Crystal Symphony, one of Crystal’s original ocean vessels. The two ships built up Crystal’s luxury offering over the years – before the major investment came in.

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voyages to faraway lands

new guinea circle New Guinea Circle

Cairns - Wewak - Darwin Departing 29th October 2017 25-nights from $19,480 pp twin share

Cairns to Wewak

Departing 29th October 2017 12-nights from $10,880 pp twin share

Wewak to Darwin

Departing 10th November 2017 13 nights from $11,880 pp twin share

At Coral Expeditions, we have built our reputation over 33 years by taking our guests on voyages focused on nature, history and cultures. The intimate scale of our three Australian ships, our trademark Xplorer ‘landing craft’, and our exceptional Expedition team all combine to create an atmosphere entirely unlike a normal cruise. With a maximum of 72 guests per ship, you will enjoy personalised attention, small batch cuisine, and no queues or waiting.

FEATURES AND INCLUSIONS • Shore-rich itineraries with local interaction • All meals featuring locally sourced produce • All shore excursions • Experienced Expedition Team • All Australian & New Zealand crew • Xplorer tender vessel allowing easy access

Online

www.coralexpeditions.com

Email

reservations@coralexpeditions.com

Phone

+61 7 4040 9999

For trade support, please contact our Sales department:

salesmngr@coralexpeditions.com

December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

NEW YORK CITY

Viking invasion Viking Cruises promised to “reinvent” cruise when it entered the ocean market in 2015. With two more ships arriving in 2017, Anthony Pearce boards Viking Star in New York to find out if it lives up to the hype In 2017, Viking Cruises will add two more ships to its fleet, the Sky and Sun, the third and fourth in its fledgling seafaring division, launched only in 2015. For a line that once christened 18 river ships in a single week, this quick expansion may seem par for the course, but, in reality, it’s nothing short of staggering.

Torstein Hagen, the company’s chairman, promised, rather grandly, to “reinvent” ocean cruise when the expansion was announced four years ago. But it’s fair to say that, even against its own lofty ambitions, Viking Ocean Cruises has enjoyed considerable success since, carving a unique place for itself in the market.

Ahead of these new additions, I joined the Viking Star – the first in the fleet – as it sailed from New York City down to San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital, where it is based this winter for the line’s Caribbean itineraries.

Although essentially a repositional cruise, this was too impressive a trip to miss out on. It also gave me chance to finally experience a ship about which I’d heard so much.

The day before the Star sailed out of New York for the first time, leaving behind the city’s illuminated skyline, I spent a night in Manhattan in a Midtown Hotel, a few blocks from the Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art and Tiffany & Co. That evening we

dined al fresco at an excellent Italian, in the shadow of the iconic Carnegie Hall, (drawing some confused looks, given the autumnal weather), allowing us to see some of New York’s eyecatching characters wandering by.

Among many other things, the city is the best in the world for people watching. In the morning, we gorged on waffles for breakfast at the nearby Brooklyn Diner, where portions start at supersize and get bigger, before heading to the Top of the Rock, taking in the world’s most famous skyline, the Empire State Building at its centre.

Leaving New York

The Manhattan port, where the Star was docked, is remarkably close to the action – a 20-minute taxi ride from our hotel – and backs right onto the city. That evening, from the aft of the ship, we were able to enjoy one of the world’s most magical sights: New York City transforming from day into night, lighting up as the sun set. Under this enchanting glow, we set sail, a little later than planned, by which time we were tucking into dinner at Manfredi’s – the magnificent presence of the New York City outside the window. There was tangible excitement as we approached the Statue of Liberty – even among the native New Yorkers on board – making for a truly special moment. Cruise can offer some amazing and unforgettable experiences, CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship and sailing out of this fascinating, towering city is one of them.

I’d heard so much about the restaurant’s steak – the best at sea, I’d been told more times than I can remember – meaning I didn’t have to consult the menu to pick my main. The rib-eye that arrived, marinated for four days with salt and chilli flakes, exceeded even those lofty expectations.

Scandinavian design

I had not been on Viking’s ocean offering before, but now had four days, with no sight of land, to explore it. It only took about 10 minutes to fall in love. The Star brings the intimacy and the elegance of river cruise to a 930-passenger ocean vessel – and looks beautiful.

True to the company’s Nordic ties is the influence of Scandinavian design on board, as seen on its river cruise Longships, most obviously in the beautiful wooden chairs and tables of the Explorer Lounge and Wintergarden.

It’s much more than that, however.

Viking has used the movement’s ethos of simplicity, minimalism and functionality throughout the ship: the Star may be luxurious, but nothing here feels superfluous or over-the-top.

The attention to detail is so impressive because of the many human touches you find in both the rooms and public areas. My cabin, a massive penthouse veranda, is full of a little surprises: there’s under-floor heating in the bathroom, where the mirror doesn’t steam up and the (amazing) shower is easy to use; there’s a pair of binoculars hidden away in a compartment in the desk with a vanity mirror.

The more you look around the more you notice these gentle, subtle touches. Mamsen’s (Norwegian for mum’s) serves mouthwatering waffles using the recipes of Torstein Hagen’s own mother, and there’s even a black and white photograph of her and his daughter on the deli wall, giving it the feel of a family-run café (a surprise for the chairman, I’m told). Nearby, at the entrance to this area, and beyond, in the Explorer Longue, are illuminated maps of constellations; and, on a huge screen in the atrium, either images by Viking photographer Alastair Millar or works of art by Edvard Munch, which the line

Viking Star sails past the Statue of Liberty

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship has a tie in, are displayed. In fact, all the artwork, like the calming décor, is incredibly tasteful.

Even more impressive is the retractable roof above the tranquil pool area (making it usable regardless of the weather – as it happens, it rained all week) and the huge amount of outdoor space – on decks two and seven are promenades that loop around the ship.

“No casinos, no umbrella drinks”

The spa is perhaps the Viking Star’s most impressive area: I spent an afternoon there trying out the Norwegian take on thermotherapy (at first with a little scepticism) of going from really hot places to really cold ones, which is said to aid circulation.

That meant luxuriating in the enormous spa pool, Jacuzzi and steamroom and then standing in the snow room (quite literally a room full of snow) or under a bucket of icy water – and feeling, to my surprise, all the better for it (I did, however, wimp out of trying the freezing cold ‘plunge pool’). The rest of the day was spent reading on deck, by the infinity pool, and looking out to sea as the sun set. Blissful doesn’t even begin cover it.

Compared to some ships, there aren’t tons of features on board. Hagen, who, on Saturday morning, gave an entertaining talk about the company’s 20-year history and expansion from river into ocean, was keen to point out how the things that Viking doesn’t do – “no children, no casinos, no umbrella drinks” – sets it apart. As soon as I embarked I knew I wouldn’t be bored, that four nights at sea would fly by. I also knew it would mostly be spent eating.

After two days of pigging out – steak on Friday, exceptional lobster (followed by New York raspberry cheesecake) on Saturday, with burgers, pizzas and pretty much everything else in between – I decided to see it from the other side, taking some cookery classes in the Kitchen Table, an innovative space where guests are invited to help prepare meals. When the ship is in port, customers are invited to head to local markets with chefs to source the ingredients.

Inevitably, I ended up doing more eating than cooking, but just watching

The pool area has a retractable roof

The luxurious spa pool and Jacuzzi such an accomplished chef at work was a joy.

A philosophy that works

Viking’s ocean offering occupies an unusual place in the market. While it doesn’t brand itself as luxury, there is a lot included here. That is: beer and wine with lunch and dinner; one shore excursion option in each port; Wi-Fi; use of the spa; and access to speciality (it calls them “alternative”) restaurants, including a wine-tasting menu and private dining space. And what isn’t included is afforable: the drinks package of $19 a day, even with the prohibitive exchange rate at the moment, is very reasonable and includes premium spirits (save for a few of the most pricy options on the menu).

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Like the Longships on the river, Viking has found a product that works and now intends to stick to it. The changes to the new ships, Hagen says, will be tweaks, but the rest will remain the same, meaning guests will enjoy the same high standard regardless of which ship they sail on, allowing them to choose by destination. It’s a philosophy that continues to serve them well.

Viking Cruises will sail out of New York City on a 15-day New York, Bermuda & the West Indies itinerary on October 23, 2017 (prices from £3,090pp). It will sail into New York City on a 13-day Eastern Seaboard Explorer cruise from Montreal (September 23 and October 1; prices from £5,095). For more information, see Directory, p67

Activities

Promotion

Sophistication and soul at sea

A floating museum, acclaimed fine dining, soul-enriching onboard entertainment and worldwide destinations. With a proud Dutch history spanning more than 140 years, next year Holland America Line also celebrates 70 years of Alaska tourism

Holland America is the place for firsts at sea. From BLEND, on ms Koningsdam, its unique handson wine blending and tasting experience to Rijksmuseum at Sea, which debuts on ms Westerdam in April 2017 and brings one of the greatest museums in the world on to our ships. At the Culinary Arts Centre, available fleet-wide, guests may enjoy regional culinary demonstrations — and cookery workshops held by celebrate chefs; and learn new skills at complimentary digital workshops.

Culinary Holland America takes its food very seriously. All of the restaurants on board are overseen by its culinary council of five of the world’s best chefs, who between them have a galaxy of Michelin stars.

Fine dining restaurants include the Pinnacle Grill, with menus themed around Pacific North West Cruising, the pop up Sel de Mer, which specialises in French seafood, or Tamarind (onboard three ships), the southeast Asian restaurant, which Condé Nast Traveler said “rivals the top restaurants on land”.

Book a Holland America cruise: Reservations: 0844 338 8600 Sales Team: salessupport@hollandamerica.co.uk Online training: halacademy.co.uk hollandamerica.co.uk

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Promotion

Destinations Holland America offers a luxurious escape for guests as soon as they step on board. That’s nothing compared to what what they can do for them off the ship, however. From the idyllic Caribbean to exotic Asia; Patagonia’s mountains to tiny Pacific islands, guests can enjoy a more immersive experience with long days and overnights ashore, plus authentic destination guides. Nobody does Alaska quite like Holland America either — with 2017 marking 70 years of exploring the Last Frontier. Guests can stay at the McKinley Chalets and enjoy the amenities of Denali Square resort, with six million acres of untamed American wilderness at their door.

Entertainment No other cruise line in the world offers as sophisticated a roster of entertainment as Holland America. From partnerships with BBC Earth, which includes a live orchestra playing along to award-winning footage from Frozen Planet, to watching the incredible house musicians perform in B.B. King’s Blues Club, straight from the legend’s own bars in America’s soulful south.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name

SEABOURN

New Ventures Carnival Corporation’s ultra-luxury line is attempting to reinvent the shore excursion with its new education-heavy zodiac tours and hikes

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship “It’s the perfect marriage between expedition and luxury,” says Robin West, senior manager, expedition operations and planning, at Seabourn.

That job title, in short, means he is the mastermind behind the new Ventures programme, which is taking centre stage as the ultra-luxury line returns to Alaska for the first time in 15 years in 2017.

West describes the programme as having two parts: knowledge and adventure. Seabourn invites guests to truly immerse themselves in a destination. It hosts historians, ornithologists and geologists to provide insight into a region’s history, geography and culture through dozens of lectures – and then allows guests to go out and explore it. From the ship, they can head out in zodiacs, kayaks and then on hikes, all the time joined by these same experts.

“Kayaking allows our guests to explore destinations in a very different way,” says West, who we meet, along with Carly Perkins, the line’s marketing manager, for a coffee in central London. “No prior experience is required and we have qualified guides who will give a thorough briefing.”

“It’s making Seabourn an expedition choice for that traveller who wants an individual experience but who wants to do it in luxury,” adds Perkins.

Next year is a big one for Seabourn.

Its new ship, the 604-passenger Encore, is joining the fleet (sailing pre-inaugural cruises this month).

Designed by the acclaimed Adam D Tihany, it promises to continue the line’s reputation as one of the standard-bearers for ultra-luxury cruise. But Seabourn, with Ventures and its new marketing, is keen to promote experiential travel, rather than just the elegance of its ships.

“The idea is to sell Seabourn as an ultra-luxury brand without selling the actual hardware of the ship,” says West. “It’s selling a lifestyle.”

The Ventures programme was launched in 2015 in Northern Europe, in the Norwegian fjords, and has since been extended to the Amazon. Seabourn also launched the kayaking programme in Antarctica,

Seabourn guests can surround themselves with impressive wildlife

A zodiac tour of the Norwegian fjords

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Seabourn Quest in Tromso, Norway

and is about to expand into Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia with the launch of the Encore.

Ventures appears to be a perfect match for Alaska and has allowed Seabourn to return to the destination in impressive style, making it stand out from the pack, including from its sister brands at Carnival.

“We’ve built a very comprehensive Alaska programme for 2017,” says West. “Alaska was the first destination where we built the itinerary with Ventures in mind. For Seabourn to be back for the first time in 15 years, we really wanted to go back with a wow factor. Guests now have the opportunity not just to cruise in Holgate Glacier, Tracy Arm or Misty Fiords, they can get in the zodiacs and

kayaks. We’ve got hiking tours up on to glaciers and ice caves.”

West adds that returning to Alaska was as a result of various factors.

“With the introduction of Encore and Ovation, we need to spread our ships a little further. As we move forward our focus is destinations, we needed to start looking at destinations Seabourn hasn’t been to for a while.

And with the timing of the Ventures programme, Alaska worked nicely.

It’s a great area to explore.”

The way that Ventures works means that there’s always someone to answer any questions you may have about a destination. “How old are those rocks?” or “how deep is this fjord?” West says are common questions. This means that, if you’re

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in Antarctica, and you point at a penguin and say, “Is that a king or an emperor?” someone, likely your zodiac driver and resident expert, is able to tell you.

“You have a team of walking encyclopedias,” says West. “Any time you have a question, there are staff around to answer that. If the driver can’t tell you, then they can radio another expert and they’ll be able to.

Guests, who are smart, informed and passionate travellers, will come on board specifically hoping to see wildlife, so Seabourn has to be prepared. “In Antarctica, we have guys on board like Brent Houston, who has done 150 trips there, what he doesn’t know about penguins isn’t worth mentioning!” says West. “We have a guy called Dr John Ford who is the world’s leading authority on killer whales’ acoustics, and a guy called Dr Sean Todd, who has been studying humpback whales for, like, 50 years.”

The way in which Seabourn is pitching its new product is different from how you might expect.

“Talking to travel agents, we want to get Seabourn Ventures off the cruise map and onto the luxury travel experience. People who are going to Alaska to go kayaking, it’s not necessarily that they want to go on a cruise, it’s that they want to visit Alaska,” says Perkins. “It’s about leading with the destination and what you can do there.”

West believes Seabourn has found a perfect mid-point between adventure and luxury, particularly in the polar regions. “In Antarctica, you used to only be able to sail with old ships, polar research vessels,” he says.

“For the first time, there are ships going down there where there is no compromise of the onboard luxury.”

December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

GREEN TRAVEL

Electric dreams With new measures to tackle its carbon footprint, can the cruise industry improve its negative environmental image? Anthony Pearce investigates How environmentally friendly is a cruise? It’s a question that is asked with increasing frequency, particularly given the negative press that often surrounds cruise’s carbon footprint. The answer hasn’t always been forthcoming: there are many complicated variables, while some cruise lines have been criticised for a lack of transparency. It’s fair to say that, like all tourism, the impact is considerable, but the last few years have seen a change in attitudes Holidaymakers are ever more switched on about green travel and cruise lines have reacted accordingly.

Increasingly, when new ships are announced, operators talk about their commitment to the environment.

For example, when P&O Cruises recently announced plans to build, what it calls the “largest ship and most ambitious ship ever built for Britain”, its environmental impact was at the heart of the story. The ship is set to be powered by liquefied natural gas, as are two ships from sister company Carnival Cruise Line, while Royal Caribbean International is also getting in on the act with its Icon class ships.

Richard Branson has said that his cruise line, Virgin Voyages, will adopt a new clean energy technology called Climeon Ocean when it launches in 2020. The ships, he says, will be the first to transform waste heat from engines into electricity for onboard use.

Tom McAlpin, president and CEO of Virgin Voyages, told CRUISE ADVISER: “The entire Virgin Group is committed to changing business for good and Virgin Voyages will be no exception and we are inspired by Richard Branson’s leadership on the global issue of creating more sustainable businesses.

“Virgin Voyages is excited to be the first cruise line to work with the smart

people at Climeon. They have found a way to efficiently turn heat waste into electricity, saving stacks of CO2.

It’s just one thing we’re doing to meet our commitment to launch one of the cleanest fleets to sail the seven seas.”

The news was hot on the heels of Hurtigruten’s announcement to build hybrid-powered expedition ships – the first of which are called Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen. The company says the technology will make sailing with electric propulsion for 15-30 minutes a reality and will reduce emissions from the ships by 20 per cent.

Friends of the Earth, which monitors cruise lines’ environmental performances in its annual reports card, welcomed the move. Marcie Keever, oceans and vessels programme director, told CRUISE ADVISER: “Hurtigruten has also committed to not using heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, which is another positive thing it’s doing.

“One of the things we have been working on, particularly in the Arctic, but worldwide is to reduce this. By law, it’s allowed to be extremely dirty, at the moment it can be 35,000 parts per 1,000,000 sulphur; on road, diesel is 15 parts per 1,000,000. But, you have to get this down 1,000 if you’re in the US or at port in the EU, but worldwide it’s allowed and is incredibly damaging, both for health and the environment.

“In the Arctic, soot tends to sit on the ice and actually exacerbates melting, so when a company such as Hurtigruten commits to cleaner fuel we’re very happy about this.”

Keever points to Friends of the Earth’s report card, which it has been running every year since 2009.

In 2016, it graded 17 cruise lines and 171 cruise ships, focusing primarily the largest lines.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

It doesn’t make great reading for cruise lines, particularly upon first glance. Keever points to a problem with transparency, which brings the overall score down – but notes there are clear differences.

“If you look across our whole report card, you will see Disney Cruise Lines very high up, and some very low. There are positive environmental stories and negative ones. Across the industry there is a balance, which we think should be leaning towards to the higher end.

We’re always pushing for all cruise lines to do better,” she adds.

“Transparency is a problem, but over 60 per cent of cruise ships on a report card have installed advanced sewage treatment systems, there’s that kind of positive story. On the air pollution side, there are ships that are using cleaner fuel, they’re installing scrubbers, taking advantage of shore power.

“There are positives. In particular, Princess Cruises gets the highest grade for air pollution, almost every ship they have is fitted with shore power.”

Royal Caribbean International is getting an A with sewage treatment; I think they have just one ship to upgrade of its fleet of 25. It’s leaps and bounds better than older technology.”

Companies such as Hurtigruten and other smaller-ship cruise lines are not included on the list, and so the report is distorted by the lack of smaller, more environmentally friendly cruise ships.

But even among the bigger lines announced the waste-heat recapturing there are differences, says Keever. programme. There are lots of things “There are comparisons that people that the industry is looking at. can make, which is why we did the “Of course, it’s really challenging for report card. an industry that runs Passengers are entirely on petroleum INDUSTRY VIEW saying, ‘OK, at the moment. It’s which cruise difficult to know what Anthony Daniels, lines are better?’ will happen, because head of sales, Hurtigruten It’s not just the industry is so about choosing reliant on fossil fuel.

“To have hybrids ships coming where you are “No-fly cruises is amazing – it’s a real step going, what are a good thing, in the right direction. I think activities because you don’t it will have an impact across you are doing – need an aeroplane the industry. Us partnering it’s also about to get there, but with a company as prestigious who is doing of course it’s still as Rolls-Royce proves how better from an energy-intensive to serious we are about it. I think environmental get a ship through there’s going to be a lot of perspective. the ocean. It’s other brands who are now “Like most difficult to nail going to have take stock of industries, down comparisons what they do. But also we have cruise lines are between this and to consider what we’re doing being pushed land-based tourism with the current fleet, so that’s by national and but of there are a why we’ve got the Hurtigruten international number of factors.

Foundation in place. On all the bodies to “I definitely think trips, we do a beach clean-up, do better. we are moving in and invite any guests to come Unfortunately, the right direction. along with us.” shipping and I think with efforts aviation were like ours, and from actually left out other groups, that of the Paris agreement on CO2. The try to push the industry to improve International Maritime Organisation, regulation – which, in my opinion, the which is an arm of the UN, sets industry should really stop fighting – standards for shipping. you can already see the differences, “Richard Branson has just even between different cruise lines.”

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name TRAVEL AGENTS

Meet the experts The last year has been difficult by anyone’s measure. But what does the future hold for the cruise industry? We asked three travel agent bosses to explain how they found success under the hardest of circumstances

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December Preview Edition | Meet the Experts

What makes a good travel agent?

Is it product knowledge? Customer service? A snazzy website? Contacts help, obviously, both in terms of a database packed full of clients and solid commercial deals with tour operators. But, how does a travel agent build their business – given the various challenges they face in today’s economy?

“The past few years have seen a testing time for travel and the world we live in has changed,” Michael Wilson, the managing director of Bolsover Cruise Club, says. “I believe that when times are so uncertain, it isn’t the cheapest price that people necessarily want, but the confidence that they will be taken care of from booking to the welcome home. The age-old adage is ‘you get what you pay for’ and this is certainly the case when it comes to travel agents.”

Bolsover Cruise Club, which has been selling cruise for 35 years, now has more than 100 staff based in its office in South Yorkshire.

The company, which started as an independent agent, now has its main call centre as well as a Cruise Bureau and a Cruise Holiday Shop

in Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre. The various touch-points mean that Wilson has been able to grow his company without having all of his eggs in one basket. There is one common theme that runs throughout the Bolsover Cruise Club brand, however.

“There are agents out there who specialise in cheap cruises, but it is our service from start to finish which has enabled us to become so successful. People book with us year-after-year, because they know that we will be there every step of the way.”

Phil Nuttall, the managing director of The Cruise Village, the Blackpool-based agency, says that a lot of his company’s success comes down to the brand’s family heritage.

“Without a doubt, the reason behind our success is because we are true to our identity as a fourth generation family business,” he explains.

“Customer care comes first and all of our team understand the ethos of great customer service.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship “We have been selling cruise for more than 40 years and we have seen a great deal of change and consolidation over those years.

Some good and some not so good, but the growth of cruise is certainly something to celebrate. We had the vision to open the first dedicated cruise only travel agency on the high street back in 2002 when we opened Save’n’Sail which is now The Cruise Village.

“Selling cruise is not a numbers game. It is about finding a product that you know delivers a great experience through its hardware and their on board service, including preand post-cruise attention to detail.”

When it does come to numbers, few can compare with Iglu. Simone Clark, the company’s managing director, says that her agency’s success is down to the roadmap set by their ethos when it came to selling ski – a similar market in many ways.

“We took what we had done well with ski as a specialist agent. You wouldn’t think there was much overlap between those two products at all, but there are. It was about

being online, which had obviously been growing. It was then about backing up that technology with knowledge and service.

“You have to put the right customer on the right ship as well as the right brand. I really believe that there is a right ship for everybody and that’s not necessarily the same cruise line every time. It depends who you’re travelling with and where you want to go. So finding out if they want

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formal or informal, long-haul or Mediterranean, culture or beach – do they want lots of entertainment?

Even within the cruise line there are lots of questions.

“If you get the wrong customer on the wrong ship then you’ve lost them.

They won’t come back to you.”

As we enter 2017, with the news broadcasts full of dour predictions for the economy and politics generally, the question on many people’s lips is: will the travel industry prove as resilient as it has in the past? Brexit, when the process officially begins that is, could lead to visa costs for travel onto the continent, while a Trump presidency has left many feeling jittery about future travel prospects. So, how does the British cruise industry make it beyond the 1.7 million passengers to the big two million mark?

Bolsover’s Wilson believes the industry’s future lies in those who have not even taken a cruise before.

“The key is to not only crack that elusive new-to-cruise market, but also to expand on what we can offer existing cruisers,” he explains.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

“People grow and their requirements change. If we continue to adapt, tailoring what we offer to suit the changing needs of our customers, we will see the industry continue to grow accordingly.

Everything has a knock-on effect; family cruisers go on to become luxury cruisers as the children fly the nest, and luxury cruisers become adventure cruisers when they seek a more immersive, experiential take on high-end travel. The key to the industry’s progression is not in bargain basement deals, but in giving our customers holidays so good, it leaves them with no choice but to keep coming back again and again.”

For Nuttall, the emphasis must be on the major innovations that the cruise lines release – and successfully getting across the messages that the big operators are putting out, whether that’s dispelling some of those pesky cruise myths, singing about the new features on board or looking at some of the key destinations.

“Innovation in new products is key,” he explains. “Be that the ships themselves or the experiences on board. Awareness of product and the dispelling of myths through social media is vitally important.”

Clark at Iglu agrees: “There has to be more ships. There is still a lot of capacity out of Southampton, but because Americans aren’t travelling over here as much as they were, some of the lines are moving their ships over to the Caribbean. The cruise lines have to support the British market. Keep bringing the big ships here, even it’s just for a couple of nights to really showcase it.”

The question of big American cruise lines supporting the British market is an interesting one. Global economics will play their part, of course. However, what really becomes obvious when you take a step back is that the cruise industry does still struggle with an image problem – be it in the US or UK. Cruising is for old people. Cruising is too formal.

Cruising isn’t for me. For agents on the front line, facing these questions, they need the support of the cruise lines to know how to handle the questions straight on and convert sceptics into seafarers.

“With so many products on the market, and more emerging constantly, it is so important that operators communicate with agents clearly, regularly and without overcomplicating things,” says Wilson. “Our sales consultants sell many different cruise lines, and clear information with regard to the product and specific offers can be the difference between them selling a certain operator confidently or not.

“Communication of facts and developments is so important, along with regular training. If yours is the product an agent feels most informed and knowledgeable about, it is the one they will speak about with the most passion. It would also be great to see more user-friendly booking systems, designed specifically for the UK market. Complex systems are a huge challenge to negotiate.”

For Phil Nuttall, who also acts as chairman of Clia UK & Ireland’s travel agent advisory committee and has 14 homeworkers as well as his instore sales staff, the onus should be on

agents themselves to get out there and learn their trade.

“It’s about what the agents can do to learn about the industry and then share their experiences with their customers. There is something for everyone in the travel industry and it’s our job to match the right product with the right customer.”

Clark has worked across a number of sectors within travel and says that, in her experience, cruise lines are “better than any when it comes to dealing with travel agents. From training to getting us on the ships or the amount of marketing materials they provide”.

However, that’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvement.

“For me, it’s about getting more people on cruise ships. The more the better – we need to get cruise out there to dispel the myths. It’s not just for old people, or just formal.

When the cruise lines put some of the bigger, newer ships out of Southampton it really helps, too.”

The agents we spoke to were all confident about the cruise industry going into 2017. As long as cruise lines keep pushing the boundaries and drumming up interest, agents will have requests from people interested in booking. For their part, agents have to prove their worth and maintain a partner relationship with cruise lines, not one where they are the subservient party. Travel agents fill a crucial role within a tour operator’s distribution network and, with the resources available, there is no reason why that won’t continue. They just need to be as innovative as the cruise lines themselves.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

Stephen Winter, Ponant cruise adviser sits down with the international sales director of the French luxury line Many ultra-luxury cruise companies are bringing out new ships. How will Ponant stand out in an increasingly crowded market?

I think you will see that, unlike most cruise companies who have continued to go bigger and bigger, we have decided to go slightly smaller with our four new builds. Our Explorer class ships will have 92 cabins and suites, all with balconies to increase the feeling of boutique intimacy and relaxation and to allow us to continue to lead the way to destinations where others do not or cannot go.

Why did you choose to invest heavily in exploration style cruise?

Simply because it is a successful business model! From the moment we built our four sister ships (Boreal, Austral, Soleal and Lyrial) we had immediate demand for charters, groups and individuals from markets all over the world. There seems to be a real demand for experiential travel without sacrificing the creature comforts – and who knows more about that then the French?!

The ships are designed “to give access to the most inaccessible

locations”. Could you give us some examples?

This means the likes of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, Cuba, the US Great Lakes, St Pierre and Miquelon, The Bijagós Archipelago (which is off Western Africa). There are so many – the Seychelles, the Maldives, the Kimberley in Australia, the Great Barrier Reef…

The ships look like they will have a focus on tropical destinations. Do you think this is emblematic of where the exploration cruise industry is going?

Not necessarily as we still will have a great deal of business and demand in the polar regions, but these ships and the destinations they will serve will complement them. There are hundreds of areas around the world that are begging to be discovered by ship and we are looking at how to bring our guests to them.

Tell us more about your onboard experience?

Cruising with the French touch means attentive service, excellent cuisine, a refined but relaxed atmosphere on board, attention to every detail and partnerships with such iconic French

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brands as Verve Clicquot champagne, Alain Ducasse, Ladurée, L’Occitane, Château Latour wines, Sothys spa, Fragonard perfumes and so on.

How different will the new vessels be to those already in your fleet?

The new ships will resemble our current yachts in design, only smaller and with less guests on board. They will be more open to the sea and nautical activities (sailing, deep sea fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, waterskiing, SUP). All cabins will have a balcony and the suites will have large private terraces. We are even working on finalising the details for an underwater lounge on all four ships, which would be a first in the world!

Could you tell us more about the environmentally friendly equipment you have on board?

Waste and sewage treatment on board, so no discharge of untreated waste water into the sea. Low energy light bulbs. Diesel engine using Marine Diesel Oil – less heavy and less polluting. Electronic propulsion system. Dynamic positioning that allows the ship to maintain position without dropping anchor and thus protecting the sea bed.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

FAMILY CRUISE

A family affair Five families, on five different cruise lines, share the highlights of their holidays

From sailing with Mickey Mouse and all of his chums to snorkelling on Royal Caribbean’s private island – if you can say one thing about a family cruise, it is that the choices are staggering whoever you go with.

But how exactly do you choose?

From renowned brands to some of the industry’s most exciting names, these are cruise lines that have partnerships with brands such as Lego, Dr Seuss and Pixar, with kids’ clubs for all ages, all while

sailing to some of the most exciting destinations around the world Whatever happened to a simple week in Skegness?

To help us find out what was so great about each one, we sent five different families on five different fun-filled cruise lines, and asked them to report back about what they loved and what they would change on their family holiday. From a multi-generational family to a couple travelling with their teenage

daughter, the diversity of a cruise holiday is what makes it so attractive to so many people. Everyone from bingo playing grandmas to Xbox loving sons are catered for, and they will be in good company, too. There’s a reason why cruise is fast becoming the most popular family holiday for Brits looking to get away.

It’s a tough job, but our families all coped admirably. Why not let us know who your favourite family cruise line is too!

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

Carnival Cruise Line The Galway family Have you been on a cruise before?

Yes. What did you most enjoy while on board?

The level of service from staff and crew, food, entertainment, the formal nights and childcare.

What was your children’s highlight?

They loved the daily activities like swimming and dancing. They also enjoyed the food like the Pizza Pigout.

What was the best feature of the ship itself?

That it was so big; there was so much

THE CRUISE WITH MUM AND GRAN Ship Carnival Sensation Destination Caribbean Ages 71, 68, 39, 36, 25, 12, 5

space. The staterooms had plenty of room for family. The older members of our party were catered for, too.

In what way could your experience have been even better?

The only way it could have been improved for us would have been if the ship had departed from the UK. It’s a shame that you have to fly to have the wonderful experience.

Would you go again?

Absolutely.

The staterooms had plenty of room for family. The older members of our party were catered for, too

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

Disney Cruise Line The Knight family Have you been on a cruise before?

Yes. What did you most enjoy while on board?

Cruising with Mickey and co and getting pretty much unlimited access for autograph-hungry children.

What was your children’s highlight?

Having a boogie with Chip ’n’ Dale.

What was the best feature of the ship itself?

Cabins were comfy and family friendly (with an area for children that can be curtained off at night) and in discreet

THE CRUISE WITH A SINGLE PARENT

Ship Disney Magic

Destination Barcelona to the UK Ages 40 something, 11 and 4

tones – there wasa not too much in-your-face Disney.

In what way could your experience have been even better?

The food was good, but not great.

Would you go again?

Definitely. Disney has the same attention to detail in cruise as it does with its theme parks.

Disney has the same attention to detail in cruise as it does with its theme parks

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

MSC Cruises The Simpson family Have you been on a cruise before?

No! We didn’t think it was for us, but all our friends raved about it.

What did you most enjoy while on board?

We were blown away by the entertainment. There was so much to do, we didn’t even have time to do everything we wanted. We hardly saw the children as they were always in the clubs with their new friends.

What was your children’s highlight?

Our six-year-old loved the water park, whereas the older two loved the waterslide.

THE FIRST-TIME CRUISE FAMILY Ship MSC Preziosa Destination Mediterranean Ages 48, 43, 12, 10 and 6

We hardly saw the children as they were always in the clubs with their new friends

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What was the best feature of the ship itself?

For me it was the theatre, for my wife it was the spa.

In what way could your experience have been even better?

If we could have stayed longer! The weather in one port wasn’t great but, apart from that, we can’t complain.

Would you go again?

Definitely. We have already booked our second cruise.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

Norwegian Cruise Line The McMullen family What did you most enjoy while on board?

Even though we’ve sailed several times I always enjoy when you first set foot on the ship. We were in awe as we admired Jade – there was so much to see and do.

What was your children’s highlight?

My daughter Emily loved the variety of activities on board the ship – there’s so much for her to do – from sports, the pool and even a video arcade! On top of that there’s a wonderful atmosphere for families, and with the Tree Tops Kid’s Club and Wipe Out Teen’s Club there’s always somewhere for all

THE LONE TEENAGER FAMILY

Ship Norwegian Jade Destination Adriatic Ages 44, 40 and 14

We’re big fans of the fitness centre to help burn off the speciality dining!

the kids and teenagers to hang out together and make friends.

What was the best feature of the ship itself?

My husband and I love the speciality restaurants. The food was great – and on top of that the staff are so friendly. We’re also big fans of the fitness centre, to help burn off the speciality dining!

Would you go again?

Definitely! We’re big fans of Norwegian and the variety they have to offer.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Midship

Royal Caribbean The Ward family Have you been on a cruise before?

Yes indeed, we are lucky enough to have cruised seven times. It has become a favourite holiday choice which we try to do at least once a year.

What did you most enjoy while on board?

It’s hard to choose one thing! One of the main attractions is the feeling of luxury that comes with being so well looked after by the staff, coupled with the tranquility of the ocean and the onboard experiences. For the more energetic members of the family, the FlowRider, pools and top deck parties are firm favourites!

THE OLDER TEENAGE FAMILY

Ship Freedom of the Seas Destination Caribbean Ages 50, 49, 18 and 17

Although we have tried other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean remains our favourite

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What was your children’s highlight?

A definite highlight was making friends on board. Snorkelling on the private island of Cococay is something that will stay in our memories for a long time to come.

What was the best feature of the ship itself?

Our favourite area was the pool deck.

That’s where we had the most fun!

In what way could your experience have been even better?

By not getting off! Although we have tried other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean remains our favourite.

Park & Cruise

There’s no better place to stay

From

£209 Subject to availability

Make the Holiday Inn Winchester your pre cruise hotel With rates from £185 per room per night, including up to 28 days parking and transfers to and from Southampton Docks, why not stop over in Winchester the night before and visit some of our fantastic attractions including Winchester Cathedral, The Watercress Line and the Great Hall and King Arthurs Round Table. r 141 air conditioned bedrooms including twin rooms, double rooms, family rooms and a suite r 4 Star Hotel r Award Winning Morn Hill Brasserie r WiFi throughout r State of the art mini gym

r Spacious bar, lounge and outdoor terrace r Park and Cruise rate includes bed and breakfast, up to 28 days parking and transfers to and from Southampton Docks

To book please call

01962 670700

or email bookings@hiwinchester.co.uk

WINCHESTER WINCHESTER

www.hiwinchester.co.uk Stay at the gateway to the South

AA Rosette Award

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

NEW CREW

Royal Caribbean announces the appointment of Sophie Wilson

New head of retail role at MSC for Andrea Stafford MSC Cruises has announced the appointment of Andrea Stafford in the newly created role of head of retail, reporting to Steve Williams, director of sales.

Stafford joins from Thomas Cook, but worked for TUI/First Choice as an RSM for nine years, followed by six years at Royal Caribbean where she was field sales manager and strategic account manager heading up the TUI Account.

Martin Lomax joins Cruising Excursions Royal Caribbean has announced the appointment of Sophie Wilson as Regional Sales Manager (RSM) for the North East of England.

Wilson joins from P&O Cruises and Cunard Line where she held the position of Retail Partnership Manager for the North East, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

She will report to Sarah Weetman, head of retail, UK & Ireland. She will be responsible for growing and developing accounts in the North East as well as implementing new ideas and raising brand awareness in the region. Ben Bouldin, sales director, Royal Caribbean International, UK & Ireland said, “We’re excited to

welcome Sophie to our UK sales team.

We are in the process of building the strongest retail team in the industry and, as we continue to expand, we know that Sophie has all the unique qualities that we look for. The North East is a key region for us, and we know that the combination of Sophie’s great relationships with the trade and her in-depth knowledge of the cruise industry will help us attract even more guests to experience extraordinary holidays.”

Wilson said: “I’m thrilled to join such an innovative and ambitious brand and I look forward to welcoming even more people to Royal Caribbean’s world of extraordinary experiences.’’

David Hearn departs from Royal Caribbean and returns to World Travel in commercial director role David Hearn has left Royal Caribbean after three years to rejoin his former employers Ocean World Travel as commercial director. Hearn previously worked at Ocean World for seven years as a commercial manager.

Hearn said: “The reason I am going

back is the exciting opportunity I was offered, this is a real step up from the role I held before and it is great to go back to a team I already know. It’s such a great chance to grow our business in the next two or three years.”

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Martin Lomax has joined Cruising Excursions as sales director.

He will be responsible for the company’s overall sales and business development strategy and growth in the UK and international markets. He will report to Damien Mooney, CE’s managing director and work closely with CEO Simonne Fairbanks.

Lomax said: “This role represents a fantastic opportunity to grow commercial opportunities and increase brand awareness for Cruising Excursions.”

Celebrity Cruises expands MD Jo Rzymowska’s remit Celebrity Cruises has announced that UK and Ireland MD Jo Rzymowska will add Asia to her remit in the newly expanded role of vice president & managing director, UK and Ireland and Asia. Claire Stirrup has also been promoted to director of sales, while Kathy Barbrooke has been promoted to director of guest and trade services, UK and Ireland.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

FAM TRIPS

Take me to the river Agents descend on Amsterdam for the annual Clia River Convention

More than 220 travel agents and industry figures descended upon Amsterdam in November for the annual Clia River Convention.

The show, Clia UK and Ireland’s main river cruise conference, gave agents the chance to tour seven river ships from Emerald Waterways, CroisiEurope Amadeus, Uniworld, Shearings, Tauck and Riviera.

The conference was held on the back of a successful year for the river

industry, in which the sector has grown eight per cent in Britain.

“In 2017, the river cruise market has a great opportunity for further growth from UK travellers,” explained Giles Hawke, Clia deputy chairman and CEO of Avalon Waterways UK. “With more options for different styles of river cruise than ever before.

We are grateful to our travel agent partners who have been recognised by these inaugural awards for their

contribution to that growth in the popularity of river cruise.”

Andy Harmer, vice president of operations and director of UK & Ireland added: “It is tremendously important to recognise the individuals and businesses who make a contribution to the success of the industry – and we are delighted to be working with the whole river cruise industry in creating the first awards specifically for this sector.”

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

The winners included Reader Offers (best river cruise newcomer), The Cruise Village (best marketing promotion online), Juliet Archer (Clia river cruise agent of the year) and cruise.co.uk (best promotion of river cruise for a homeworker). Baldwins Travel won best marketing promotion of the year for retail.

Emerald Waterways hosted the official awards afterparty on its vessel Emerald Dawn.

Incentives round-up

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed that it will be reintroducing its Free at Sea offer for the 2016-17 Wave campaign. Between December 1, 2016 and April 7, 2017 passengers booking onto a Norwegian cruise will receive add-ons such as beverage, dining and internet packages.

Princess Cruises is continuing its agent competition by offering 200

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places on board Majestic Princess when it launches in 2017. To be in with a chance of winning agents must book a fly-Europe cruise. The prize is a four-night sailing from Trieste to Venice. Emerald Waterways and Scenic will be offering double points on their River Rewards scheme for all cruises on the Rhine, Danube, French rivers for Emerald and Bordeaux, Seine and Danube for Scenic.

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

JARGON BUSTER

Who are the friends of Dorothy and Bill W? Each month, we’ll unpick some of the more confusing language used in cruise Who are the friends of Bill W? On nearly all cruises, you’ll spot a meeting room or lounge area reserved for this mysterious man and his seemingly endless friendship group. Stick that question into Google and you’ll get any number of results, usually posted by past guests on cruise forums, accompanied by the query: “How can Bill W sail on so many ships and have so many friends?!”

But the phrase is deliberately esoteric, so much so that even veteran cruise-goers, and those working in the travel industry, will not know the answer. We were surprised recently to discover how well kept a secret this is.

The reason for the secrecy is because Bill W refers to William Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) along with Dr Bob Smith, and his friends are the members of that organisation. While the identity of Bill W is clearly kept quiet for good reason, it is worth

knowing that these get-togethers are available, should your guests ask.

You’ll also find Friends of Dorothy on most sailings: that is lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender meeting groups. While the origin of that name is less clear – it dates back more than

half a century, well before the cruse boom – it is as ubiquitous on ships as Friends of Bill W. More frequently, cruise lines advertise LBGT meetups, choosing to drop the Friends of Dorothy code. Cruise lines are becoming increasingly LGBT friendly.

THREE LGBT CRUISES Eight days on the Danube

Eight days in Alaska

Ten days in the Galápagos

Emerald Waterways Budapest-Nuremberg, July 29, 2017 From £1,695pp Earlier this year, Emerald announced the UK’s first LGBT river cruise, calling at the likes of Passau and Durnstein as well as the beautiful Austrian capital, Vienna.

Holland America Line — Oosterdam Alaska, June 25, 2017 From $1,499pp This cruise – which takes in the likes of Juneau, Hubbard Glacier and Victoria – is operated by Olivia, which provides cruise and other holidays for lesbians.

Lindblad Expeditions — MS Islander Galápagos, November 11, 2017 From $9,199pp Another Olivia-run cruise, this time on expedition expert Lindblad, the land Darwin called “a little world within itself”’, where over 80 per cent of animals are endemic.

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

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

CRUISE LINES!

Information missing or out of date?

Email info@cruise-adviser.com

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

+66 2 267 4881-2 Ext 19 alexis.viols@belmond.com

A

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.comX

American Cruise Lines Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 453 6800 susan@americancruiselines.com

American Queen Steamboat Company Katrina Weston, general manager 012 2356 89094 k.weston@aqgsa.com

APT Touring Kate Ashman, sales and commercial specialist 014 9473 6147 agentclub@aptouring.co.uk

Atlas/Kompas Predrag Krivokapic, president +1 954 258 8531/ +385 9 1975 1735 sales@atlas-croatia.com

Aurora Expeditions Talia Schwartzman, sales executive +61 2 9252 1033 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk

Avalon James Mortimer, agency sales executive 020 8315 4585 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk

Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 019 3283 4379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Tom Dumbrell, sales manager — Afloat in France 020 3117 1408 tom.dumbrell@belmond.com C

Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, senior partnership manager 0207 378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com

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

Celestyal Cruises Marios Shekeris, sales manager +357 2258 8270 m.shekeris@celestyalcruises.com

Coral Expeditions Jan Jepsen, UK and Europe representative 077 0271 4150 jan@intouchrep.com

Cosmos Tours & Cruises James Mortimer, agency sales executive 020 8315 4585 agencysales@cosmostours.co.uk

CroisiEurope Gabrielle Alam, head of sales and marketing UK 020 8328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com

Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 084 4414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com

Crystal Cruises Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

Cruising Excursions Martin Lomax, sales director 080 0091 8274 traveltrade@cruisingexcursions.com

Cunard Line Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com

B

Belmond Alexis Viols, director of sales — Road to Mandalay and Belmond Orcaella

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 017 5670 4704 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 084 4338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk

D

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 Cruises Emma Wild, head of sales 080 8168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.co.uk

Lucy Harris, business development representative 084 4338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk

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

F

Far Horizon Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 080 0035 3189 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Becky Smith, trade support manager 01473 746164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk

Fred Olsen River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 080 0021 3172 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk

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

I

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

K

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

L

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

G

G Adventures Jerrine Barnett, new business development manager 074 3242 9836; 020 7243 9870 ext. 9948 jbarnett@gadventures.com

M

MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk

H

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Mike Flanagan, sales representative UK and Ireland 079 2122 3176 mike.flanagan@hl-cruises.com

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

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Norwegian Cruise Line Jeremy McKenna, head of sales UK and Ireland 074 0880 5216 jmckenna@ncl.com Karen Kundi, partnership relations manager 023 8124 5242 kkundi@ncl.com

Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 080 0021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk

Q

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

O

Oceania Cruises Priti Mehta, head of sales UK and Ireland 023 8024 8604 pmehta@oceaniacruises.com

One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 079 5685 2197 debra@toucanmoon.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 019 3283 4379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Riviera Travel Darren Mussell, agency sales assistant manager 012 8374 4307 agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

The River Cruise Line Rebecca Brett, agency sales manager 07824 337 290 rebeccabrett@diamondhols.co.uk

P

P&O Cruises Natasha Richardson, director of sales operations 023 8065 7259 natasha.richardson@carnivalukgroup.com

Pandaw Marco Rosa, vice president sales and marketing 079 7387 6967 marco@pandaw.com

Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk

Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com

Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director +33 6 4803 7931 swinter@ponant.com

Poseidon Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 087 0068 9142 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com

Princess Cruises Victoria Snelgar, sales operations manager 023 8065 6613 victoria.snelgar@princesscruises.co.uk

S

Saga Travel Sukina Fagg, national account manager 080 0074 8021 sukina.fagg@saga.co.uk

Scenic Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 016 1233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk

Seabourn James Scott, business development representative 084 4338 8600 james.scott@seabourn.co.uk CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

U

Lucy Harris, business development representative 084 4338 8600 lucy.harris@seabourn.co.uk

SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 079 0406 8407 mschmitt@seadream.com

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises David Chidley, national sales manager 074 0885 5544 dave.chidley@uniworld.com

V

Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 0208 324 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) 078 2598 6996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com

Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 019 4282 3449 sales.support@shearings.com

Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com

Swan Hellenic Georgia Lewis, business development manager 018 5858 8337 georgia.lewis@alh.co.uk

Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (orth) 079 6699 5012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com

Volga Dream Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 080 0021 3186 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Polly Poulton, national account manager 077 8700 5775 polly.poulton@alh.co.uk

T

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

Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk

Tripashore Graham Chuter, business development manager 078 0153 7446 graham.chuter@tripashore.com

Voyages of Discovery Georgia Lewis, business development manager 018 5858 8337 georgia.lewis@alh.co.uk Polly Poulton, national account manager 077 870 05775 polly.poulton@alh.co.uk

Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels, head of groups and partnerships 0186 5302 2565 m.daniels@voyagestoantiquity.com W

Wendy Wu Tours Adam White, trade support and marketing executive 020 7939 9560 adam.white@wendywutours.co.uk

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Founded in 2014, cruise adviser brings together the most insightful commentary, news and analysis for those looking to sell cruise holidays Published ten times a year, cruise adviser is aimed at front-line travel agents and other sellers of cruises Following this December 2016 issue, look out for the new guide — arriving in travel agencies on February 1, 2017

For the latest cruise news and interviews visit cruise-adviser.com (compatible on smartphone and tablet) You can find us on Twitter (@cruiseadviser) and Facebook (facebook.com/cruiseadviser) For more information about print and online marketing, please email advertising@cruise-adviser.com

December 2016 / January 2017 | Section Name

Launched in 2014, Waterfront, the publisher of cruise adviser, offers editorial, content marketing and design solutions.

Founded and run by journalists, the company puts immaculately written, bespoke content at the heart of everything it does.

In addition to cruise adviser, Waterfront publishes The Village Post for The Cruise Village; Explore for Advantage; Watermark for Clia; and Travelzoo Experience for Travelzoo For more information, contact info@waterfront-publishing.com

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft THINGS TO DO

GAMESROOM

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

1

2

CROSSWORD

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5

See the next cruise adviser in February for the answer

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ACROSS

DOWN

4. LNG-class Royal Caribbean ships (4) 5. Homeport of Magellan (7) 7. Spanish rice dish (6) 12. Montainous region shared between Chile and Argentina (9) 14. Danish concept of good living (5) 16. “The finest cuisine at sea” (14) 17. Seabourn’s new ship (6)

1. Capital of Ghana (5) 2. Norwegian ship to launch in 2018 (5) 3. Magical light show (15) 6. Capital of Cuba (6) 8. The White Continent (10) 9. New MSC Cruises class (7) 10. River that divides Buda and Pest (6) 11. Historic Norwegian cruise line (11) 13. Kristin _____, co-founder of AmaWaterways (5) 15. Torstein _____, owner of Viking Cruises (5) 16. Capital of Norway (4)

SUDOKU

See the next cruise adviser in February for the answer

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December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

QUIZ See bottom of page for answers

1. Name the capital city of Canada 2. The city of Constantinople is now known by what name?

3. In which English county would you find Leeds Castle?

4. In terms of area, what is England’s largest county?

5. What is the most populous city in Africa?

6. The Rio Grande is a river which forms a significant part of the border between which two countries?

7. What is known as the Old Lady Of Threadneedle Street?

8. What is the northernmost capital city in Europe?

9. Name three of the five countries that border Switzerland

10. What is the Gare Du Nord in Paris?

11. Orkney is separated from mainland Britain by which body of water?

12. Which was Britain’s first National Park?

13. Which English Football League club’s ground is furthest away from any other?

14. Hurtigruten means what in Norwegian?

15. What is the capital of Luxembourg?

Competition time!

For a chance to win £100 in SuperBreak vouchers, answer the following question by emailing info@cruise-adviser,com with the subject line ‘December Cruise Adviser competition’.

Name the town and country of this river cruise stop

Win!

£100 in

vouchers

Terms and conditions apply, see cruise-adviser.com/terms-conditions/ Sodoku: Kevin Stone 2016/brainbashers

5. Lagos (21 million) 6. Mexico and USA 7. The Bank of England 8. Reyjkavík, Iceland

9. France, Germany, Italy, Austria & Lichtenstein 10. Railway station 11. Pentland Firth

12. Peak District 13. Carlisle 14. Express Route 15. Luxembourg City

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1. Ottawa 2. Istanbul 3. Kent 4. North Yorkshire

QUIZ ANSWERS

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

THREE CRUISES FOR FOODIES

RECIPE

Ten days around Italy

In the galley The best culinary delights at sea. This month: Oceania Cruises’ miso-glazed Chilean sea bass Oceania Cruises –­ Riviera Rome-Venice, May 6, 2017 From £1,439pp Access to Oceania Cruises’ specialty restaurants – such as Red Ginger, which serves Asian fusion, and Toscana, an Italian – is free of charge. The latter will be popular on this cruise to Venice, but our favourite is French restaurant Jacques.

16 days to Canada

Silversea – Silver Muse Southampton-Montreal, September 12, 2017 From £7,245pp* Silversea’s new, 596-passenger ship Silver Muse will have an impressive eight restaurants. These include La Dame, a Relais & Chateux venue, Kabuki (Japanese) and Silver Note (tapas). This trip offers plenty of time to sample them.

Method In the top pan of a double boiler, combine the miso paste, palm sugar, sake and mirin, and place over simmering water in the lower pan.

As the mixture heats, whisk until the sugar and miso melt and the mixture is smooth. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely.

Place the fish in a large, air-tight plastic bag, pour in the marinade, press out any excess air and seal the bag. Make sure the marinade is evenly distributed over the fillets.

Refrigerate for one to two hours.

Remove the fish from the refrigerator about 60 minutes before cooking and preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Arrange the fish fillets in a single layer in a baking dish, leaving space between them. Pour in enough of the marinade to reach a quarter of the way up the sides of the fillets.

Place the fish in the oven and bake until fish is cooked and sauce caramelizes. Serve with lime wedges.

This fish is great when served with a coconut or jasmine rice.

Eight days in Cuba

Viking Cruises – Viking Star Cuba (from Miami), November, 2017 From £3,040pp** This cruise, which calls at Havana, Cuba, Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize, is on board the elegant Viking Star. Manfredi’s, the line’s Italian restaurant, serves the best steak we’ve had at sea. Cookery classes in The Table are great fun, too.

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*if booked before December 30, 2016 **if booked before December 31, 2017

Ingredients 1 cup white miso paste 2/3 cup coarsely chopped palm sugar 1/2 cup dry sake ¼ cup mirin 6 centre-cut sea bass fillets, 8 ounces each, boned and trimmed 6 large lime wedges

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

ON THE ROAD

Laura Cann, 29, Cruise & Maritime Voyages We speak to the people who make your job easier.

This month: CMV’s national sales manager What does your job entail?

My key objective is to work hand in hand with our key trade partners to help grow our mutual business.

Together we drive business through joint marketing initiatives and work on the awareness of our product through training, visits and events. I’m also here to offer assistance and guidance to our growing team of BDMs – having been here for a little while and previously worked in a sales support role, I have become a bit of a ‘go to’ person.

How long have you worked in travel?

Twelve years in total, starting from a trainee travel consultant fresh out of college, and just over three years with Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

What’s the best thing about being on the road?

Every day is different and certainly keeps you on your toes. It’s great to be able to get out and about, meeting our trade partners face to face, while exploring the amazing landscapes and scenery the uk has to offer.

What’s the worst?

De-icing the car in the early hours of the morning… Or pulling into a motorway services and finding a Starbucks instead of a Costa!

Favourite place to visit?

South Wales. I have always received a warm welcome from our Welsh trade partners, and I am delighted that CMV will be bringing two ships to the region in 2017 with the introduction of both Cardiff and Newport to our evergrowing cruise programme.

What do you listen to in the car?

The radio. I generally flick between stations, avoiding as much of the talking as possible! The new Heart Extra Xmas station is a current favorite, but you can’t beat a bit of Magic!

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without on the road?

My satnav. I wouldn’t get anywhere without it.

Favourite thing about Cruise & Maritime Voyages?

That’s a difficult question. Apart from having an excellent product with high customer satisfaction levels, I think we also have a very trade-friendly approach. Offering strong commission terms, no direct discounting and exciting early booking campaigns to help drive the business in early along with numerous trade initiatives throughout the year to help us get even closer to our trade partners.

Biggest myth about Cruise & Maritime Voyages?

That today’s cruise passenger is only looking for larger, resort-style ships with all the latest innovations, and that our ships are too small. Our sales success

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to date has shown the exact opposite, with passengers choosing to cruise on smaller ships, and enjoying the friendly and intimate setting this allows, while opening up more interesting itineraries, with our smaller to mid-sized fleet being able to access more ports of call.

If agents want to find out more, what should they do?

Visit the dedicated trade partners section of our website at cruiseandmaritime. com. Here our trade partners can learn all about our product with useful information on current promotions, competitions, ships visits or even meet our growing trade sales team! While online, our trade partners can sign up to receive our latest offers and promotions and, in addition, our dedicated trade magazine, Trade Talk. If anyone is unsure of their log-in details, they should contact our trade sale support team on 0844 414 6140 or email agents@cruiseandmaritime.com.

We are also proud to be members of Clia and Tipto which presents various training opportunities both online and out and about at numerous training events throughout the year – so make sure you come and visit us and learn more about our fantastic product at an event near you.

Finally, we offer an extensive programme of ship visits throughout the UK on all of our fleet. Details of our 2017 ship visits will be out soon – including opportunities to visit our new flagship Columbus – but be sure to book early as they are becoming increasingly popular!

December 2016 / January 2017 | Aft

FINAL WORD

Cruise control Here’s hoping for less upheaval in 2017, but, whatever happens, the industry will remain resilient If there’s one thing the travel industry will be hoping for, it’s an uneventful 2017. The dust has not yet settled on 2016, but it has been, whichever way you look it, a turbulent year. With terrorist attacks in mainland Europe, a failed coup in Turkey, the Brexit vote and, most recently, the election of reality TVstar Donald Trump as US President (not an event that screams stability), things have been difficult.

After the Paris attacks of November 2015, the travel industry reported an immediate downturn, with Americans avoiding travel to Europe. Both Expedia and TripAdvisor reported reduced revenues in the weeks after the events in the French capital, while Hopper noted a 13 per cent fall in searches in the first quarter.

Then Brussels, Nice, Munich and Istanbul happened, and the US State Department issued a stark, quite unhelpful, warning about the risks of travelling to Europe.

We won’t know the full impact of the vote to leave the European

Union for some time – even after the UK government triggers Article 50. Personal politics aside, the travel industry was pretty much united in its opinion that voting for Brexit was a bad idea – and the tumbling pound since that decision has suggested this wasn’t fear-mongering. Many Leave-voting holidaymakers must now be ruing their decision. British tourists could be required to register for a Europe-wide visa after 2020 following a mooted EU plan to introduce an American-style visawaiver scheme.

It’s not just tourism from the UK, either. Before the vote, research

by Travelzoo suggested European tourists to the UK could drop by a third following a Brexit, costing the UK’s tourism industry as much as £4.1 billion a year.

So what must the travel industry and cruise do to combat this turmoil?

Cruise customers have so far been relatively sheltered from the terrible exchange rate, given so much is included on a cruise – and provide,

like all-inclusive package holidays, a great way to holiday economically.

With Americans travelling less, there are more cabins that need filling on ships sailing in Europe – an exciting challenge, should you accept it.

The travel industry needs to work together and this puts cruise in good stead: it’s a sector within which even closest rivals work closely to achieve common goals. Cruise has faced challenges in the past, but has stayed strong over the last two decades of sustained growth. A recent discussion at WTM saw industry leaders predict the post-Brexit world, but Terry Williamson, chief executive of wholesaler JacTravel, perhaps struck the most defiant tone. “I have been in travel for 30 years,” he said, “and this is one hell of a resilient industry. Whatever challenges are thrown at it we have a way of working things out. I’m still exceptionally positive about this industry. There will be hiccups along the way, but I’m absolutely certain we can deal with them.”

COMING NEXT TIME Norway with CMV

Opinion from Sven Lindblad

InFocus: P&O Cruises

Anthony Pearce joins the ex-UK cruise line on a sailing direct from Tilbury to the majestic Norwegian fjords.

The photographer, cruise line owner and adventurer on expedition travel, the majesty of Antarctica and benefits of small ships.

We take an in-depth look at the historic British cruise line as part of our no-fly cruise how-to-sell special

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